FOUR VVA SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED
The founder of the National Veterans Foundation, Floyd ‘Shad’ Meshad has been working with Veterans since 1970. Meshad was a Medical Service Officer during the Vietnam War, where he counseled soldiers in the field who were suffering from a multitude of psychological and emotional problems resulting from their experiences in combat, including what would later become known as ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,’ or PTSD.
After the war, Shad continued to counsel Vietnam veterans through his work with the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles. He co-founded the VA’s ‘Vet Center’; program — 206 storefront facilities throughout the country, located away from VA Hospitals, where veterans walk in off the street to receive mental health counseling. He also authored a critically acclaimed book called “A Captain for Dark Mornings,” which chronicled his experiences both during the war, and after coming home.
Today, Meshad remains one of America’s most sought after experts on Combat Stress, Trauma Therapy, and the readjustment issues confronting returning soldiers and their families.
In 1985, Shad founded The Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation (VVAF), a non-profit, 501- c (3) human service organization. The mission of the VVAF was to help veterans and families in need with a variety of issues. Due to an overwhelming number of requests for help, the VVAF established a toll-free number in 1987 to help veterans and families in need more easily connect with the assistance they required. The VVAF was the only veteran’s outreach service offering nationwide benefits information, resource referral, and crisis counseling via a toll-free helpline. By 1992, VVAF had become a recognized resource for veterans of all wars who were struggling to access benefits, locate services, or overcome the emotional scars of war. As a result, in 1992, the VVAF formally changed its name to the National Veterans Foundation, a human service agency committed to serving the crisis and information needs of all veterans and their families.
Staffed by a team of veterans (from Vietnam, the Cold War, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan) who are specially trained in the delivery of crisis information and referral services, as well as a team of licensed volunteer counselors to whom all crisis calls are routed, more than 275,000 veterans in need of medical treatment, substance abuse or PTSD Counseling, VA benefits advocacy, food, shelter, employment training, legal aid, or suicide intervention, have now been served by this unique, one-of-a-kind resource. Also, as a recognized leader within the community of organizations that specialize in providing human service programs to veterans and their families, NVF frequently plays a key role as advisor, partner, and collaborator.
Over the past two decades, this has included providing financial assistance, training, and donations of food, clothing, and other goods to other non-profits serving the specialized needs of veterans’ including New Directions (CA), The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (NJ), LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (CA), Desert Storm Justice Foundation (OK), Point Man of Northern California (CA), Veterans Coalition of the Hudson Valley (NY), Westside Stand Down (CA), Stamford Homeless Project (CT), US VETS (CA), and Swords to Plowshares (CA), among many others.
The NVF’s extraordinary record of service has not gone unnoticed. As one of the world’s most sought after experts in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the U.S. Government asked Shad Meshad to provide training to the counselors at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The NVF continues to evolve. Shad, his team and the board of Directors are committed to continually seeking and developing the most effective means to help those who have served our country and their families. The NVF is open to all who seek emotional support and other assistance.
firebase116.org thanks the NVF for all they do to help and support our Veterans.
Please visit http://www.nvf.org for more information
VA offers a number of services that can provide you with the support that’s right for you. Whether you and the Veteran you care for could use some help at home or you just need someone to listen, we’re here to support you.
If you are the Family Caregiver of a Veteran who was injured post-9/11, you may be eligible for additional services through VA, including a stipend, comprehensive training and medical coverage through VA if you are not already covered by a plan. Follow the link to learn more about the newest services and to see if you are currently eligible.
Have questions about VA Caregiver Support Services? Contact VA’s Caregiver Support Line:
(1-855-260-3274) or your local Caregiver Support Coordinator for assistance.
All Veterans Save the Date!
On June 20, 2012, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m., Bedford VAMC and VA Boston Healthcare System will be hosting a one-day benefit and service conference at Bunker Hill Community College.
Veterans will learn how to locate and land jobs and sign up for VA healthcare and benefits. They can attend seminars on resume writing, financial planning, learning life skills (focused on healthy family interaction) and explore ways to achieve higher education.
So, If you are a Veteran or someone you know is a Veteran, spread the word and come see what’s new for you at the VA!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 20, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Center, Building G, 250 New Rutherford Ave., Boston MA. for a day full of information, camaraderie and fun!
You Served Us….We Honor You
Directions: http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/inside/65 or call 857-364-5934 for more information. Free Parking and accessible by the Orange Line.
Sponsored by:
Bedford VAMC; VA Boston Healthcare System; MA. Dept. of Veteran Services; Bunker Hill C.C. in conjunction with the cities of Boston, Chelsea, Everett, and Revere
To see who will be attending, just click the links below:
Visit -> The Boston – Bedford Veterans Expo 2012 <-website by clicking here or on the Title.
View the Expo Flyer here! -> Boston_Vets_Expo_2012_Flyer <– You’ll need Adobe Reader!
Our Annual Meeting at the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial went well. It was good to see and hang out with our Brothers. We walked around the Place of Names taking time to remember our Fallen Brothers, stopping to pause and to remember our friends, relatives, neighbors, classmates and Brothers. One thing I noticed was that we all seemed to touch their names when we talked about “These Brave Few”. I personally felt a healing effect. I know in my heart that Their deaths will never be in vain and that They will never be forgotten.
* firebase116.org would like to thank “the nice lady with a Chihuahua” for taking the photograph of all of us at the Memorial.