Trauma workshop for families
The Brookfield Institute supports veterans and their families, because we know how service affects everyone.We have teamed up with Clear Path for Veterans and Jennifer Baubitz, an adjunct professor at Assumption College, for a June 18 Trauma and the Military Family workshop.The workshop is designed for spouses, parents, children and all family members of anyone…
Veterans can learn to meditate at Welcome Home Place
Phil Milgrom, a yoga and meditation instructor and co-owner of The Centered Place in Warren, will teach participants about yoga-based meditation — and lead a group meditation practice — at the March 23 Welcome Home Place.
Helping get veterans out on the trails
Bobby Curley knows nature heals. He’s seen it heal others and it has healed him.
He wants to help other veterans capture that feeling, even if their mobility isn’t what it used to be. He’s bringing a Freedom Chair and his therapy dog Celtz to Welcome Home Place Saturday, Feb. 23. Welcome Home Place is a veterans resource center hosted by The Brookfield Institute’s Care for the Troops program. This month’s gathering will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Holyoke Community College’s E2E Center, 79 Main St., in downtown Ware.
Character, play ‘ring true’
For Harry Pearson, his character — and all the other characters in “Welcome Home” — rings true.
A pinning ceremony in Maine
We helped in a long-distance way to get Randy Tenney, left, a Vietnam War pin at a ceremony recently in Ellsworth, Maine. The newly inducted head of VFW Post #109 presented the pin to Mr. Tenney, who then chose to join the post! Good job Randy and VFW Post #109.
Moral injury healing rooted in service, mission
As a licensed independent clinical social worker and a readjustment counselor for Readjustment Counseling Services at the Manchester (NH) Vet Center, Mary Heck works with veterans, many of whom are dealing with moral injury. She’ll be presenting at our Almost Home workshop Sept. 28.
‘The families get forgotten about a lot’
Jeannine Germain’s husband served 25 years in the U.S. Army, often gone 300 days a year. Homecomings were not always the blissful scene we see pictured and life after the Army is also tough, Germain says.
WELCOME HOME PLACE A LABOR OF LOVE — AND RESPECT
When Bill Andresen processed out of the service in 1968, nobody talked to him about resources and services available to veterans. He wants to make sure other veterans, younger veterans, new veterans as well as old veterans, know what’s available. That’s why he volunteered to help open Welcome Home Place, a veterans resource center hosting…
The Power of Pinning
Belinda Morrone was so moved by her first pinning ceremony, she quickly organized another. The retired Air Force colonel first pinned Vietnam veterans at a ceremony in West Boylston, MA in March. The pinning ceremony was organized by The Brookfield Institute’s Care for the Troops program and held after a Yoga Warriors class. Col (ret) Morrone is active in Yoga Warriors and knew many of the veterans. The pinning was part of the American Vietnam War Commemoration and the Brookfield Institute is a Commemorative Partner. The pinning ceremony requires an officer to present the pins and Col Morrone was more than happy to oblige. What she hadn’t foreseen were the emotions.
Fascinating WWI account by nurse from Holyoke
While at Dannes-Camiers, Base Hospital No. 5 frequently was attacked by enemy aircraft, and on the night of September 4, 1917, suffered several casualties. Lieut. William T. Fitzsimons, M. C., was killed, Lieuts. Rae W. Whidden, Thaddeus D. Smith, and Clarence A. McGuire, M. C., were wounded. Lieutenants Whidden and Smith subsequently died. Three enlisted men were killed and five severely wounded; one nurse and 22 patients were wounded. These deaths were the first among the American Expeditionary Forces clue to enemy activity.