Naval daughter part of military family legacy
“My daughter is a water baby. Always has been. She was part of the Sea Scouts group here in town for four years. She got certified in scuba when she was 14. She learned how to...
Tagged: veterans
Layla helps with post-Army life
Spa day with Layla, a Boxer-Bullmastiff mix. “I got her in Fort Hood, Texas, at one of the local shelters right outside the base. “I had just returned from my second tour in Iraq and was...
She expresses her feelings through her poetry
“I probably got my love for writing from my mom. She’s a retired English teacher. I’ve always wanted to write. I remember writing plays when I was young, and having my sister and brothers act in...
Seeing homeless veterans ‘just breaks my heart’
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gained a real level of respect for the homeless. For these people to be able to wake up every morning and only have whatever they can fit in their bag or...
There’s no ‘magic pill’ for someone who stutters
“My parents would always tell me to slow down. Because as a stutterer, when you are trying to speak, you want to get everything out in one breath. But you can’t really do that. And when...
Helping veterans deal with heavy burden
He was born in Egypt, but he became a U.S. citizen and served in the military here. As a licensed counselor and director of the Veterans Center at Lee College, Ehab Mustafa has made a difference...
Center offers guidance for military veterans
“When I started here, I met a veteran who was 100 percent disabled. About 80 percent of his disability was PTSD. Doctors had told him that his injuries and mental issues were so severe that he...
Egypt native gladly serves his new country
“I’m originally from Egypt. But ever since I was a kid, I was a big fan of American movies. My dream was always to come here one day. “When I was in my mid-20s, I had...
Making a difference for veterans with health issues
Sometimes, one incident can change your path in life. For Derek Coy, it was the death of a close friend to gun violence in 2004. “He was everybody’s best friend. It was one of the hardest...
Painter’s mission in life is to honor fallen soldiers
Any time an 81-year-old takes a nasty fall, visions of broken hips dance in your head. While Ken Pridgeon managed to dodge that bullet during a recent tumble, his right hand didn’t fare so well. And...
