Broken

Source

RED Friday

Don Your RED!

#RedFriday

 

Prevention: How to Help Someone who is Suicidal.

Lcpl D. A. Short, 28 April 1989 ~ 29 August 2012.  3rd Battalion, 6th Marine, Lima Company, 2nd Platoon––Infantry  After two back to back deployments into Afghanistan, he faced the brutal front line battles of Helmand Province (Marjah), this young Marine returned home–honorable discharge in hand. But the battle for him had just begun. 6 months later & the day before my birthday, he took his own life.

He was 23 years old.

 An article appeared on the web soon after featuring his story and an interview of his CO. The title of the article was eerily called: “The 8,000 Mile Sniper Shot.” There’s another picture of him on page 2. 

Rest Easy, my friend. You are missed.

Francesca Van der Geld originally shared on Google Plus. Although my blog focuses on our military, this article has the warning signs for teen and elderly suicides. There is a lot of information here; it’s a good post to bookmark.  Please pass this on, we can never too informed when it comes to suicide. Thank you.

How to Help Someone who is Suicidal

Suicide Prevention
A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean that help isn’t wanted. Most people who commit suicide don’t want to die—they just want to stop hurting. Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and taking them seriously. If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might be afraid to bring up the subject. But talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.

US Navy Trivia UPDATE: Answers!

This was posted yesterday on Google Plus. I thought it was an interesting question. I don’t know the answer..yet. Enjoy!

I’ve posted the answer to this trivia question below, per United States Navy Band

*

United States Navy Band

#TriviaTuesday: On this day in 1945, Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Nations to end World War II on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri. Displayed was a 31-star flag seen here with General Douglas MacArthur. Whose flag was this and why was it significant? Bonus: What’s the connection with General MacArthur? Guessing encouraged, googling discouraged!

ANSWER:

The flag was Commodore Matthew Perry’s flown when he forced the opening of Japan’s harbors to foreign trade 92 years prior. The flag was so old and disintegrating that it had to be reinforced on one side (the side it is hung from). Technically it should have been hung vertically with the stars on the left. 
The bonus answer is that MacArthur was a direct descendant of the Perry family and cousin of Commodore Perry.

A Look at Veterans by the Numbers

America’s Investment

 

Protect their investments

Crusading Women

“I’m
thankful
 for my 
struggle
because
without it
I wouldn’t
have
stumbled
across my
strength.”
Alex Elle 

The above quote and image are from a post I shared on Google Plus last night. One of the comments (by a veteran) brought up the question of women on the battlefield during the crusades. I told him that like he, I doubted their presence BUT I wouldn’t put it past the women of that time; throughout history women have been joining their husbands, brothers, and fathers on battlefields–though they were “forced” to hide their identity (women didn’t belong there).