We are all aware of the impact that military service has on those serving as active military members. Still, we all don't think much about the impact military service has on the children of service members. As with the general population, military families come from diverse backgrounds and cultures. While military children face the same barriers as children from non-service families, some unique aspects add additional challenges to their lives. April is the month to pledge support to military children and shed light on how important it is to ensure they are protected. Let's take a look at the ways of supporting military children and easing the challenges they face. Challenges Faced by Military Children 1. Mobility Mobility is when the whole family has to move from one place to another, resulting in a school change for the child or young person. Many families from the Armed Forces community move within the US and the rest of the world regularly. Most children can cope with these changes, but some may need extra help. Frequent moves can be particularly difficult for children with identified additional support needs. 2. Deployment Deployment is when the family member is away from home on an operation or a long-term training exercise. It is challenging for military children to cope with the deployment of a military parent. During deployment, children and young people can be separated from their parents for long periods, causing them to develop [...]

The National Medal of Honor Day is celebrated each year on March 25th to honor our Medal of Honor recipients' sacrifices and heroic efforts. The Medal of Honor is the highest military distinction awarded to U.S. military personnel by the President of the United States for extraordinary heroism acts beyond the call of duty.  There are three versions of the Medal of Honor: Army, Air Force, and the Navy. The Medal of Honor for the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard are awarded the Navy's version. The History of the National Medal of Honor Day On March 25, 1863, Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, presented the first-ever Medals of Honor to six members who participated in the Great Locomotive Chase, an American Civil War raid, in April 1862. Among the recipients were William Bensinger, Elihu H. Mason, Robert Buffum, William Pittenger, Jacob Parrott, and William H. H. Reddick.  Since then, 3468 Medals of Honor have been awarded to Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guards, and Marines. The country has been celebrating the National Medal of Honor Day since 1991, when George H. W. Bush signed Public Law 101-564 on November 15, 1990, which the 101st United States Congress passed. The Story of Edward C. Byers, Jr. – A Medal of Honor Recipient Chief Edward C. Byers Jr. is a retired United States Navy SEAL. He was born on August 4, 1979, in Toledo, Ohio. He received the Medal of Honor on February [...]

Before entering the military life, soldiers undergo a ‘boot camp.’ However, transitioning from military to civilian life is an equally tricky process and should be assisted through a ‘reverse boot camp.’ […]

Sending off your loved one to far-off lands to serve and protect your country is not an easy task. Soldiers are widely acknowledged and appreciated for being brave enough to come face-to-face with death on a daily basis to serve their country. We should equally praise military families for putting up a brave front in times of financial and emotional crises. […]

The holidays are a time for merriment and celebration, but during the excitement, let’s not forget about our veterans and first responders. According to one survey, 1 in 5 veteran families lives paycheck to paycheck. […]

To spread happiness and joy this holiday season, We Are One! Incorporation, CA, held a Thanksgiving gifts distribution drive as part of its Holiday Fundraising Campaign. 36 food baskets and 36 gift cards were donated to the American Veterans (AMVETS) Thrift Store located in Long Beach, California. We Are One! Inc., CA’s Holiday Food Basket Drive for Military Families One of the goals for We Are One! Inc., CA, during the holiday season 2020 is to raise $3,000 for more than 2,000 military service families and veterans currently living in Southern California. We aim to provide holiday food baskets and gift cards to as many military service and veteran families as we can. American Veterans (AMVETS) is a volunteer-led, non-partisan association formed by World War II veterans of the United States military. The organization is an advocate for all its members and supports causes that it deems helpful to the nation. Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, we donated 36 gift cards and 36 food baskets on November 17, 2020, to the AMVETS Thrift store located in Long Beach, California. These food baskets and gift cards will help mitigate emergency financial hardships for military veterans and their families throughout the Los Angeles area during the holiday season. We Are One! Inc., CA, is halfway through its goal and needs your help and support to raise the remaining half to reach the $3,000 goal! With your contributions, we will [...]