To mentor and support Veterans with behavioral health, substance use, physical and other challenges who are either involved in the criminal justice system or otherwise struggling with marriage, family, employment, housing and other issues. http://lavmp.org/
Why do I write about this valuable resource in our community? My daughter-in-law, Catherine enlisted my help in the recognition of veterans in this valuable program 14 embroidered ribbons ago. She is a Marine veteran involved with the program. Each veteran's initials, rank and graduation date were embroidered on a colored ribbon representing their military branch. These ribbons were to be presented in Veterans court upon graduation of the program. Sadly a few were black recognizing a death.
What is special about the 14th ribbon? No I did not know the veteran. Rather it was more awareness of their struggles of rehabilitation through my own little mishap of a broken hand. Not having the use of my left hand for 3 months showed me how I took my left hand/arm for granted. It was life changing and not to mention painful and then asking for help was not much easier. It will take daily discipline to do the soaks, stretches and exercises to hopefully get full mobility of my hand and arm back in the next 1-2 years. Confession time- I was not always happy to drop my regular sewing jobs to set up 2 machines to make one ribbon here or there throughout the years. Since my little accident, making this ribbon was one of my first sewing projects on the road back to recovery. Every ribbon after this one will be done joyfully, cause I can ! And to do it with gratitude for those who have a way longer road to recovery. A big thank you to all service women and men everywhere. May they know when to ask for help, stay committed to doing the work of recovery and to live with gratitude for what is now.
Why do I write about this valuable resource in our community? My daughter-in-law, Catherine enlisted my help in the recognition of veterans in this valuable program 14 embroidered ribbons ago. She is a Marine veteran involved with the program. Each veteran's initials, rank and graduation date were embroidered on a colored ribbon representing their military branch. These ribbons were to be presented in Veterans court upon graduation of the program. Sadly a few were black recognizing a death.
What is special about the 14th ribbon? No I did not know the veteran. Rather it was more awareness of their struggles of rehabilitation through my own little mishap of a broken hand. Not having the use of my left hand for 3 months showed me how I took my left hand/arm for granted. It was life changing and not to mention painful and then asking for help was not much easier. It will take daily discipline to do the soaks, stretches and exercises to hopefully get full mobility of my hand and arm back in the next 1-2 years. Confession time- I was not always happy to drop my regular sewing jobs to set up 2 machines to make one ribbon here or there throughout the years. Since my little accident, making this ribbon was one of my first sewing projects on the road back to recovery. Every ribbon after this one will be done joyfully, cause I can ! And to do it with gratitude for those who have a way longer road to recovery. A big thank you to all service women and men everywhere. May they know when to ask for help, stay committed to doing the work of recovery and to live with gratitude for what is now.
RSS Feed
