Alameda County Blue Star Moms

"There is, in my view, no higher duty for this nation, or for those of us in leadership positions, than to care for those who sacrifice so much and who must now face lives forever changed by wounds both seen and unseen,” Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Landstuhl-Germany

Military medical officials say they will stick with their current guidelines for Pap smears and mammograms despite recent recommendations by physicians groups that women relay or reduce the frequency of tests for breast and cervical cancers.

Last week, a government task force announced that women should get their first mammogram at 50 and every two years afterward.  But Dr. (Lt. Col.) Charles Tujo head of radiology at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center said the hospital will uphold the long-standing position of the American Cancer Society that women receive mammograms annually starting at age of 40.

Destination                  Express         1st Class       Priority          PAL           SAM         Parcel Post

APO/FPO AE 090-092     18 DEC         11 DEC           11 DEC          4 DEC        27 NOV        13 NOV

APO/FPO AE 093           N/A             4 DEC              4 DEC          1 DEC       20 NOV         13 NOV

APO/FPO AE 094-098     18 DEC         11 DEC            11 DEC         4 DEC       27 NOV          13 NOV

APO/FPO AA 340           18 DEC         11 DEC            11 DEC        4 DEC       27 NOV           13 NOV

APO/FPO AP 962-966     18 DEC          11 DEC            11 DEC        4 DEC       27 NOV           13 NOV

EMMS: Express Mail Military Service is available to selected military post offices.  Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO address.

PAL: PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 lbs in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined.  The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

SAM: SAM Parcels are paid at Parcel Post postage rate of postage with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined.  SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

For further answers to your mailing questions please contact (800) ASK-USPS or the MILITARY POSTAL AGENCY 1-800-810-6098.

A new Veterans Administration (VA) program adopts dogs from animal shelters and trains them to be matched with wounded warriors who are home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  The program was formed after Freedom Service Dogs recently partnered with the VA.  VA hospitals nationwide are integrating service dogs into treatment plans for disabled veterans.  For further information about Freedom Service Dogs, please go to the following link:  http://freedomservicedogs.org/

With an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter, the American Widow Project (AWP) a non-profit organization is dedicated to military widows, has produced a 75-minute documentary film that gives a candid look into the stories, struggles and perseverance of six military widows.  The film is distributed free-of-charge to all military widows and widowers as a key to the healing process.  For more information, please visit: http://americanwidowproject.org or call 1-800-AWP-Widow.

As more women serve in combat zones, the share of female veterans who end up homeless, while still relatively small at an estimated 6,500, has nearly doubled over the last decade, according to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. For younger veterans, this trend is even more pronounced; one out of every ten homeless vets under the age of 45 is now a woman. The trend has alarmed top lawmakers and veterans groups, who fear that the federal government which is already straining to care for new veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is ill-prepared to deal with the special needs of female veterans who find themselves on the street. The Obama Administration has taken some steps toward combating homelessness among all veterans, including allocating $75 million to public housing authorities in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

 By Joe Proudman
correspondent

It's been five years since Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Travis Layfield of Fremont became one of the first Alameda County service members to die in the war in Iraq.

On Saturday the Alameda County Blue Star Moms — a new support group that counts Layfield's mother Diane as one of its members — saluted Layfield and others who died with him April 6, 2004.

About 150 people attended the event, which started at 1:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Fremont's Niles district.

"I always honor them every year," Diane Layfield, said. "It's a remembrance celebration. We want to celebrate their lives."

The service was not open to the public, but some local dignitaries attended, including retired Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Helix and state Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro.  Also invited were Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman.

Layfield was 19 years old, just out of Fremont's Washington High School and three weeks into his deployment in Iraq when his unit was ambushed in Iraq's Anbar province. Nine other Marines and a Navy medic were killed alongside Layfield.

"I've been shedding tears all day long. I've been shedding tears every day, actually," Diane Layfield said. "Not one day goes by without thinking about him and remembering him."

Saturday's event featured a welcome by Diane Layfield and Layfield's sister, Tiffany Layfield, followed by some words from Corbett.

Two other families of service members who died alongside Layfield also attended.

They included the families of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle D. Crowley of San Ramon and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando "Doc" Mendez-Aceves of Puerto Rico.

Photos of all the service members were displayed in front of the hall and were featured in a slideshow.

In previous years, the Layfield family has held a simple family remembrance to mark the sad anniversary.

This year, the Alameda County Blue Star Moms decided to organize a larger service.

"Diane is one of our moms and this is the fifth anniversary and we wanted to do something special to honor her sacrifice and her son's sacrifice," said Julie Ramirez, president of the group. "We wanted to make sure she knew we feel very strongly and deeply for her loss."

http://www.mercurynews.com/video?bcpid=1578089393&bctid=18616240001

Family and friends attended the five-year remembrance held April 4,2009for Lance Corporal Travis Layfield who was killed in Iraq on April 6, 2004, along with 10 other Marines. The event, held at Veterans Memorial Hall in Fremont, was hosted by the newly formed Alameda County Blue Star Moms. Other families whose relatives have died in Iraq and Afghanistan were on hand as well including two parents of Marines who were killed the same day as Travis. (Pauline Lubens/San Jose Mercury News)

Diane Layfield, right, comforts her daughter, Tiffany Hicks, during the five-year remembrance held April 4,2009 for Lance Corporal Travis Layfield, Tiffany's brother. (Pauline Lubens/San Jose Mercury News)

12 candles were lit during the five-year remembrance held April 4,2009 for Lance Corporal Travis Layfield who was killed in Iraq on April 6, 2004 along with 10 other Marines. (Pauline Lubens/San Jose Mercury News)

Bryan Harris, left, and James Epperson, of the Scottish American Military Society carry an American flag during a folding demonstration at a remembrance service for Lance Corporal Travis Layfield, of Fremont, and 10 others killed in Iraq in 2004  (Dean Coppola/Staff)

Likeness of Lance Corporal Travis Layfield displayed during a remembrance for Layfield, of Fremont, and 10 others killed in Iraq in 2004  (Dean Coppola/Staff)

Sandra Aceves,whose son petty officer Fernando Mendez was killed in Iraq, lights candles for Lance Corporal Travis Layfield, of Fremont, and 10 others killed in Iraq in 2004(Dean Coppola/Staff)

Travis Layfiled's mom Diane Layfield, right, is consoled by Sandra Aceves. (Dean Coppola/Staff)

ACBSM would like to thank the following who helped make this event so memorable for us all: Senator Ellen Corbett; Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty; Field Representative Mr. Oraiu Arima; Brigadier General Daniel Helix; 7-Up Bottling Company; Chili's (Fremont); Costco (Fremont); Hooter's (Fremont); Round Table Pizza (Fremont Blvd/Peralta) Scottish-American Military Society; Stuart Rentals (Fremont/Milpitas); VFW Post 1917; Quilts of Valor (Fremont); and all of our Families and Friends.

Many families need more than just job training or education to thrive after deployment and injuries sustained during war. Veterans in an approved VA Vocational Rehabilitation program can live with their family at the VFW National Home for Children while they prepare for their new civilian career. The National Home is a community that offers help to families as they work toward new goals and adjust to civilian life. The children stay in school, play in a safe community, have tutoring and counseling available, make new friends and learn new skills. The parents go to school, work, counseling and tutoring to refocus their lives. The VFW National Home for Children provides a community of support during a challenging time of adjustment. Call (800)851-0238 for more information.
Since 1925 the VFW National Home for Children has provided Help, Hope and Honor for the children and families of our nation's military and veterans. For more information please  visit www.vfwnationalhome.org

Department of Defense officials are warning all military personnel to temporarily avoid drinking dairy shakes found in Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) and Unitized Group Rations-Express because they might contain Salmonella.  There are potentially 12 million dairy shakes in MREs that could be affected. 

A great blog for military families and tons of information, great resource as well. ParentsZone.org

HASMO-helping our military members who are in need: Operation Help A Service Member Out

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.  bluestarmothers.org

Defender's Own (www.defendersown.com) is a brand new (we literally launched the current BETA test version of the website three months ago) social network designed exclusively for the military community, so active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, as well as active and inactive reservists, veterans, military families, and recruits. We are trying to connect the entire military community on a unique and specially built Internet platform that is secure both secure and supportive.   defendersown.com

Founded in June 2004, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.  http://www.iava.org/

Information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) straight from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/information/

redcross.org

It all began one Army mom connecting to another Army mom.Army of One Mom