Veteran Veritas

Tucson Chapter 106 of Vietnam Veterans of America presents:

The 22nd Annual

NAM JAM

November 7, 2009
Kennedy Fiesta Park
9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

FREE Parking & Admission
Beer Sales Start at Noon
Bike Show & Poker Run with Los Vatos South Siders Tucson

PARTICIPATING BANDS

The Rowdies
Angel Perez & Band
Blue Horse Blues Band
Sarge Lintecum
Dirtnap
Bobby Soto & Los Recuerdos
Steel Ribbon
Vicki Nelson presents The Veterans

For further information, go to www.TucsonNamVets.org

Well over a million troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since the advent of, “Shock and Awe” in March of 2003. A recent study by the VA has indicated that approximately 30% of the returning combat veterans are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder upon returning to civilian life. Most of these are young men and women are the future of our communities and our country. If these young and some not so young, as we have seen a much larger population of career soldiers and Marines in this conflict, are not diagnosed soon after coming home they frequently turn to substance abuse and behaviors that may interrupt relationships with family, friends and superiors. The Vietnam experience witnessed vets being reviled, rejected, misunderstood, and misdiagnosed,(PTSD entered the DSM in 1980). Many of these men and women isolated themselves, rebelled and eventually drained our society of its most precious resource; their productive lives. Will history repeat itself for this new generation of veterans? This must not come to pass again

There is a sacred place here in Arizona that is duty bound to prevent and ease the pain of transition to polite society. It is called the Merritt Center in Payson, Arizona. The Veteran Program that is now in its fourth year has been the source of healing and camaraderie for combat veterans from 7 Wars. From WWll to Tekrit the Merritt Center has hosted men and women who have one thing in common; War.

Since its founding in 1987, the Merritt Center, a non-profit organization has been working with individuals seeking positive ways to move past traumas that have disrupted their lives. The Center has a virtual potpourri of offerings from Sweat Lodges to native talking circles and deep massage therapy so as to get back in touch with the body and its ways of holding pain and emotion. The professionals who volunteer their time are all highly skilled in alternative techniques that bring a sense of closure to past bodily and emotional disruptions.

By observing the needs of the new returning veterans, by way of there trained mentors who are spread across Arizona, and noting the sad history of neglect by their predecessors- the Center has chosen to offer a free program for returning veterans of war.. A series of 4 weekend retreats over the course of 5 months, separate ones for men and women bring a perspective of healing and renewal to the veteran who will most likely not find anything quite so potent inside conventional medicine and therapy.

Over these four weekends the participants are given presentations about the core nature of trauma, its signs and symptoms, and guided at all times by combat veteran mentors who are graduates to the program, many of whom have been helping their comrades for years. A few of the techniques that are learned are; trauma release exercises, body energy work, guided visualizations, drumming, journaling, and Native American talking circles that are quite popular with the vets. Concluding the program is a Sweat Lodge ceremony to purge the toxins of the mind, body and spirit. At the final session the veterans new and home families gather in harmony to celebrate their strong bond and new commitment to healthy living.

The four weekend program seeks to achieve the following goals.

* learning to recognize and release the triggers of trauma
* releasing the negative experiences of combat
* learning new skills to reduce nightmares, flashbacks, and hostile behavior
*reprogramming the mind to expect and trust safety
*creating a new “band of brothers and sisters” who will share the lessons and spread the word
to others vets returning to civilian life.

The nearby ancient Pueblo Ruins coupled with the spa, forest paths, flower garden, hammocks, meditation areas and a ton of quiet places, makes the Merritt Center one of the most unique places in all the west. I for one have been enriched beyond words with the honor to be one of the mentors for this most blessed program that is 100% FREE

For information, contact Betty Merritt at 928-474-4268 or visit the website at;”www.MERRITTCENTER. ORG”

The first play I saw about women in the military, “Piece of My Heart,” was outstanding, though heartbreaking. I look forward to seeing this new one adapted from the book “Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, From Vietnam to Iraq.”

“Coming in Hot,” a one-woman play about women in the military, will debut in Tucson Sept. 24 through 27 at the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave.

Tickets for opening night are $50; all other shows are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, veterans and seniors. Tickets are available online at www.korepress.org.
Show dates and times are 7 p.m. Sept. 24 through 26 and 2 p.m. Sept. 27.

Courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star, Sunday, September 13. 2009

To view the book trailer, go online to You.Tube

On Saturday, July 25th, 6-10 pm, Hotel Congress has been gracious in opening the stage at no charge for a performance with the group “Still Cruisin” The proceeds from voluntary donations at the door go to the Merritt Retreat Center Veteran Program (501-C-3), in Payson, Arizona. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; with other vets welcome, have been attending free retreats in a series of 4 spread out over 6 months, for the past two years. These retreat/ workshops are very powerful and of immense practical use in transitioning to civilian life. This writer, is a Marine combat veteran of Vietnam, and serves as a Mentor and contact for southern Arizona. Please join us for some real rock and roll! Still Cruisin is a treat! Mike/ Veteran Service Officer/American Legion. 808-3907.