Latest news with #WeAreTheMighty
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pin-Ups for Vets just completed their 50-state hospital tour
Since 2006, the non-profit organization Pin-Ups for Vets has been visiting veterans at their bedsides in military and VA hospitals. This month, they went to their 50th state! But the journey doesn't end here. When Gina Elise saw injured vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006, she decided to take action to help. She decided to create a fundraising calendar with images inspired by the pin-up nose art on World War II aircraft and donate the proceeds to a local VA hospital. She would also don the bright and iconic 1940s attire complete with a red lip and hair flowers and deliver the calendars to patients in hospitals herself. 'I saw the impact it had, being right there, for our veterans, in person and delivering a gift of appreciation. Small gestures can make a big impact. Many veterans would start to cry in their hospital beds when thanked for their service by a surprise visitor bearing gifts,' Elise told We Are The Mighty. She thought it was just going to be a one-time thing, but she was moved by the impact it had on the hospitalized veterans. 'Being in a hospital with an injury or illness can be incredibly isolating. Some patients are there for weeks or months on end. To have someone remember you and spend time with you during a challenging time can give someone a sense of hope,' she reflected. It took patients' minds off their troubles to see Gina coming in to see them with her warm smile, bright colors — a contrast to clinical hospital settings — and her 1940s liberty rolls and hair flower, an homage to her own Grandfather's WWII Army service. She realized quickly that she wanted to visit veterans nationwide and boost morale across America. Twenty years later, she has reached her goal. In April 2025, Pin-Ups for Vets brought gifts to hospitalized veterans in Alaska, the 50th state on their national tour. Coordinating visits over the past 20 years to all 50 states has turned Elise into a master of logistics. 'Sometimes I feel like I am conducting a pin-up orchestra! There are a million details that need to come together to make just one visit happen,' she laughed. Visits can include flights and travel itineraries for her Veteran Ambassadors, connecting multiple people from multiple locations around the country, securing their lodging and transportation, and arranging all the details with the facility they are visiting, including gifting calendars and medical equipment. They often visit multiple veteran facilities on one trip, as well. On their recent Alaska trip, they visited the State Veterans Home, the Anchorage VA Hospital, the Military hospital at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the BX and USO at Elmendorf-Richardson, the Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital, and the American Legion Anchorage. Having watched Elise in action myself, I can attest that she makes for an incredible command center coordinator. She is detail-oriented and a quick-thinking problem solver. She says it's servicemembers themselves who inspire her: 'I try to adopt the Marine Corps motto 'Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome!'' Notable Memories Ask any of the Pin-Ups for Vets Ambassadors — veteran and civilian volunteers alike — and they will tell you the same thing: there is something grave and special about connecting with our nation's heroes at their bedside where they need us the most. Elise is a natural, cheerful and uplifting or gentle and soothing as needed. She intuitively senses what each patient needs and offers it with charm and grace. Over the past two decades, she has built up many touching memories of her own. 'One time I was visiting a patient who was answering my questions very slowly and quietly,' she recalled. 'We had a light-hearted and brief conversation, and I delivered the calendar gift to him. When I left the room, the nurses rushed up to me to tell me that this veteran had suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) and that was the first time he had spoken in a month! I like to attribute that to the 'Power of the Pin-up!'' Other veterans, once learning that they are speaking with fellow vets, share stories and memories from service, sometimes for the first time ever. Volunteers and patients have cried together, laughed together, shared stories of service, danced together, and just held space for one another. 'Being there for someone going through such a difficult time can mean so much,' observed Elise. You can never really know what kind of impact you have on another person. Elise has received letters from veterans she visited long after meeting them. One Marine wrote to her after coming across the Pin-Ups for Vets Facebook page years after she visited him. Here is a short excerpt from the letter he sent her: 'I was a patient in the psychiatry ward suffering from severe PTSD and depression after my tour in Fallujah, Iraq, with the Marines. I had very little hope and felt a tremendous amount of guilt and loneliness, it was definitely one of the hardest times in my life. I cannot possibly express in words how grateful I am that you visited our unit in the hospital. Your kindness, generosity, and smile made a horrible experience for me a little more tolerable. Since that time, because of you and many other people who reached out to me when I was suffering, my life has improved a lot.' Over the last twenty years, Pin-Ups for Vets has individually visited over 20,000 veterans at 119 different VA hospitals, military hospitals, and state veterans homes in all fifty states (and Germany!) to deliver gifts of appreciation and express their gratitude. View this post on Instagram A post shared by pinupsforvets (@pinupsforvets) The organization has also donated $130,000 in rehabilitation equipment to VA hospitals in 25 states to help expand physical healthcare programs for recovering veterans. Pin-Ups for Vets has also purchased much-needed household items for homeless veteran programs across the U.S. for the veterans who are transitioning into housing, as well as delivered food, clothing, and gift cards for unsheltered veterans. Pin-Ups for Vets has provided days of pampering with morale-boosting make-overs, meals, fashions, and photo shoots, for female veterans, military spouse caregivers, and Gold Star wives — all of whom have sacrificed so much in support of defending our nation. Pin-Ups for Vets at the Chris Kyle Patriots Hall in Alaska. April 2025. Photo courtesy Pin Ups for Vets. Elise is currently in production for the 20th annual Pin-Ups for Vets fundraising calendar, which will feature more incredible female veterans as models. Though the organization has reached all fifty states, they will continue to conduct return visits and find new facilities to support. 'We would also love to visit some more international bases,' shared Elise. 'We have done morale-boosting visits to 25 different military bases and would also love to visit more domestically, too! Our troops deserve to know how much we value and appreciate their services and sacrifices.' To support the Pin-Ups for Vets initiatives, be sure to check out their website and online fundraising store.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dolly Parton's husband of nearly 60 years and US Army veteran, Carl Dean, dies at 82
Dolly Parton has sung for decades with her loyal husband Carl Dean by her side. The two met in the early 1960s and it was love at first sight. The two met on Dolly's first day in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964 at the Wishy-Washy Laundromat. Dean said, 'My first thought was 'I'm gonna marry that girl. My second thought was, 'Lord, she's good-looking.''Dolly had dated only a couple of men back in her hometown and was not quite sure yet about him. On her website, Dolly shared, 'I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face, a rare thing for me. He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.' She took him to meet her family and then they went on their first date. Dean had to keep his commitment to the U.S. Army National Guard, so he completed his enlistment, which was for two years, in the stateside U.S. The two were engaged once he completed his assignment and they still had to keep the wedding on the down low because of Dolly's record label. The label did not want her marriage to be public. They married on May 30, 1966, and it lasted nearly 60 years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) Dean supported Parton's singing career in all its aspects. Parton's 60-year career has included 49 studio albums, 100 million records sold worldwide, 25 singles reaching No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, composing over 3,000 songs, an actress in top-level Hollywood films, and 11 Grammys from 50 nominations — just to name a few of her accomplishments. All through this time their marriage endured and was strengthened. Although his personal taste in music was more hard rock, he still supported Parton in her passion. He ran an asphalt paving company in Nashville while she traveled the world singing and entertaining. He kept out of the limelight, rarely walking on the red carpet or being seen out in public with Parton. Parton called him 'romantic' as he did spontaneous things to surprise her and wrote her poems. Parton wrote songs for him, such as Jolene, Just Because I'm a Woman, From Here to the Moon and Back, Forever Love, Say Forever You'll Be Mine and Tomorrow is Forever. He even showed up on the album cover for Parton's My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy. When leaving their estate in Nashville, he would supposedly tell paparazzi that he was the 'gardener.' Parton said, 'Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone for 50 years, but I have been. He has been the love of my life and the life of my love.' Their commitment included a renewal of their vows on May 6, 2016, for their 50th wedding anniversary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) Dean passed on Monday, March 3rd, 2025, at the age of 82. His funeral will be a private ceremony with the close family in attendance. We Are The Mighty provides our sincerest condolences to the Parton and Dean families.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medal of Honor Month: Earl Plumlee
On March 5, 2025, Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee will stand alongside fellow Medal of Honor recipients to ring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closing bell. The event marks the beginning of Medal of Honor Month, a time dedicated to honoring the extraordinary sacrifices made by service members and keeping their legacy alive. Ahead of the event, We Are The Mighty sat down with Plumlee to discuss his transition from the military, the importance of veteran success in corporate America, and why preserving the stories of Medal of Honor recipients matters now more than ever. Now working in business development for Saab, Plumlee understands firsthand the challenges veterans face when transitioning into the civilian workforce. One of his biggest lessons? Corporate America doesn't owe veterans anything – it has to be earned. 'Veterans bring a unique skill set, but they have to articulate their value,' Plumlee explained. 'The military teaches us how to lead, how to problem-solve under pressure, but in the corporate world, nobody hands you responsibility just because you wore a uniform. You have to prove yourself.' He also warns transitioning service members to manage their expectations—the pace of promotion in the private sector is far different from the military. 'You're not going to jump into a senior leadership role on day one. Be patient, be humble, and keep working,' he said. Plumlee believes that businesses must do their part, too. With the NYSE receiving the Circle of Honor Award for its commitment to veterans, he hopes more corporations will actively invest in hiring, mentoring, and retaining former service members. Plumlee was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 28, 2013, when he engaged a group of suicide bombers during an attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. But to him, the Medal isn't about individual heroism; it's about the men who didn't come home. 'This Medal isn't mine. It's a unit award,' he said. 'It represents the guys we lost. The ones who didn't get to live out their lives. That's why it's our job, as recipients, to carry their stories forward.' That responsibility isn't just about remembrance. It's also about education. Plumlee and other recipients are working to preserve the Medal's history and the values it represents, especially as the number of living recipients dwindles. 'The World War II guys are gone. The Vietnam guys are getting older. Eventually, it's just going to be those of us from the Global War on Terror. If we don't preserve these stories now, they'll disappear,' he noted. For Plumlee, purpose didn't end with his military career—it just changed form. 'In the military, your purpose is clear. It's mission first. When you leave, you have to redefine that purpose,' he said. For him, that meant building a balanced life, one that honored the discipline of his service while prioritizing what matters most: his family. 'When I was on active duty, I missed a lot. Now, I'm home for the milestones. I'm at my kids' games, their events. That's my new mission.' Plumlee emphasized that finding structure and a sense of responsibility post-service is critical. 'I stayed in [service] longer than I probably needed to, just to show other veterans that you don't quit just because something is hard. You set the example.' Plumlee also discussed the future of the Medal of Honor itself. With fewer conflicts leading to fewer awards, Plumlee sees a shift in how the Medal is perceived. 'Most recipients receive it posthumously. The Medal of Honor represents a tragedy as much as it does valor. Honestly, I'd love to see a long break without any new awards, because that would mean we're not fighting new wars.' That's part of why the Congressional Medal of Honor Society focuses so much on education. Through programs like the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, recipients are working to ensure that future generations understand the values of courage, sacrifice, and service, even if they never wear a uniform. 'The Medal's legacy isn't just about those of us who wear it. It's about teaching every American, military or not, that service and sacrifice matter.' Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at or find them on Instagram |Facebook Participate in Medal of Honor Day on March 25 by sharing a recipient's story Support veteran hiring and transition programs in your workplace Teach younger generations about the values of courage, sacrifice, and service Medal of Honor Month isn't just about recognizing history. It's about keeping the mission alive for the future. Observe Medal of Honor March on We Are The Mighty here.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could a hybrid draft save America?
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of We Are The Mighty. 'Would you like to grab a bite? My treat.' Coming from a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains I didn't meet many people different than me. My military service exposed me to the true melting pot of this country. So, one morning after I had befriended a French engineer at a conference, I bought him breakfast as we both waited for our delayed flights. While we talked, he bemoaned the end of France's draft. 'Now, the rich will not socialize with the poor, and our kids will turn out as bad as American kids.' At the time, I thought he was wrong. I used to believe the all-volunteer military was superior to conscription. I still somewhat believe that, but now that I've left the military and I see what America has become, I no longer believe our country is better off for having gotten rid of the draft. Now I argue that the US would be better off if we were all forced to serve, to hang out with people we normally don't talk to, to learn that just because someone votes a certain way that it doesn't make them your enemy. What I do know for certain, though, is my military service turned me into a much more tolerant and open-minded person because of what I experienced first-hand. Like that old Louis Armstrong song, 'Hello Brother.' But no matter where you go, you're gonna find that people have the same things on their mind. Today the United States stands on the edge of a potentially treacherous future. Enemies around the globe are expanding their physical and economic borders at a dizzying pace. Twentieth-century American exceptionalism (and our foregone assumptive dominance) is being challenged worldwide. Meanwhile, our nation is divided by political lines at home. Social media has only accelerated this schoolyard game of separating ourselves into echo chambers of opinions. A societal course correction is needed now, one that will strengthen our national resolve, our national security and realign our national identity. What's more, should a large international conflict arise, we remain unprepared for the necessary ramp up of a large-scale force. Across the globe, many countries are discussing a return to conscription. Nineteen nations currently have some form of a draft on the books (including Russia and China) with many more actively discussing it. After World War II, a period of relative global peace supplanted large-scale warfare. Proxy wars have been fought, but the world's most powerful countries have not engaged in the kind of conflict our grandparents and great-grandparents suffered through over 100 years ago. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the harsh new reality of mutually assured destruction. Countries came to the realization that a future global conflict with nuclear weapons would be cataclysmic to life on earth. And so, we settled into our comfortable bunkers to ride out the Cold War. As limited conflicts flared up and died out, military commanders and politicians decided that an all-volunteer force would be sufficient to keep the peace. War-weary Americans took the bait, and now almost 94% of our citizens have been sedated by an existence devoid of any sacrifice or investment in our own safety and security. As President Eisenhower warned, the military-industrial complex gleefully watches their rising stock prices with each new skirmish, while our citizenry remains safely ambivalent, knowing their kids will never have to fight. Meanwhile, Americans withdraw into their social, economic, political and religious enclaves, all too happy to throw up the white flag of division. Our founding fathers would be aghast at how nearly twelve and a half score years later, we have become so disinterested in the great experiment which they gifted us. The disconnect between veterans and civilians is only widening. Without some form of shared experience to draw us together, American core values continue to drift outward to the fringes of society. It's difficult to convince people of right versus wrong when they can't even view others as human beings. A hybrid draft would promote a return to the basics of civilized society and national unity. It would encourage greater civic engagement and engender a sense of duty in all of us. Resilience, leadership and collaboration – qualities that are essential in civilian life as well would again be the standard, not the exception. Some understandably debate that forced conscription is a violation of individual rights. That's not the true issue. It's about civic duty, not a reduction in personal freedoms. But a hybrid draft could satisfy both arguments. How could a hybrid draft work? Young citizens could be given a choice, to serve or bypass. Those who do serve would be rewarded with free college or trade skill training in exchange for a nominal period of service, say two or three years. Instead of just offering it to all citizens, the recently proposed zero-cost American Academy could be used as the accredited educational institution of choice. Service options could be based on aptitude tests but be limited to entry-level responsibilities as determined by the military, with a possible exclusion of career fields considered to be critical, such as aviation or combat-oriented jobs. This could also help alleviate our growing overreliance on military contractors. At the end of their commitment, draftees would be given the opportunity to reenlist and compete for new occupational specialties, promotion to noncommissioned officer positions, reserve officer training slots, or select service academy opportunities, assuming they meet the requirements. In this way, the US would maintain the professionalism of the all-volunteer force and reduce our dependence on contractors while simultaneously providing a chance for our civic-minded citizens to get their hands dirty in the business of national service. For those unwilling or physically unable to serve in the military, civilian options could be created, with slightly longer commitments required to receive the educational and training benefits. There would have to be increased scrutiny on deferments, but with a non-military option, that would be easier to implement. Only those with the most serious disabilities would remain exempt. Healthcare, construction, infrastructure and first responder jobs could be created through industry/government partnerships similar in concept to SkillBridge. National service would foster teamwork and engender a sense of patriotism as diverse groups of young people are forced to work daily with those they may never have chosen to interact with otherwise. The experience these Americans receive would create more skilled laborers and tradesmen, offsetting associated costs through industry partners and giving a boost to our domestic workforce and our stateside manufacturing capacity. Those who still choose to bypass service could pay additional taxes to support this endeavor directly. Some would advocate for a bypassing civilian to receive a revocation of their voting rights, ala' Starship Troopers. 'Citizen versus Civilian.' I believe that to be unnecessary, but a subsequent service bypass tax is arguably the most fair and equitable solution for those unwilling to do their fair share. As we begin to ask ourselves what it means to be an American, I think the answer was from President Kennedy, as he spoke some of the most neglected words of the last century, 'Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.' A return to military conscription and the creation of an accompanying national service program is a complex conversation. For those of us who've served, its value is clear. Service fosters a sense of unity that most Americans have never experienced, the kind of fellowship we experienced on September 12, 2001. A hybrid draft could play a pivotal role in enhancing national security, strengthening critical service and infrastructure shortages at home, bridging the gap between divided citizens, forcing international cooperation by creating a roadblock against unnecessary conflicts and instilling a new sense of national camaraderie not seen since the Greatest Generation saved the planet from global tyranny.
