Soldier's Heart is a veterans' return and healing project addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of veterans, their families and communities.  Soldier's Heart promotes and guides community-based efforts to heal the effects of war
based on strategies presented in "War and the Soul".

Fall 2011

       Kate Dahlstedt, Editor

Soldier's Heart
500 Federal St Suite 303
Troy, NY  12180
518-274-0501
www.soldiersheart.net
info@soldiersheart.net

 We at Soldier’s Heart are feeling blessed by all of the wonderful people we’ve met and who have touched our hearts and informed our work. We continue to be awed by the courage of our servicemembers and veterans who devote themselves to the Spiritual Warrior Path and the dedication of non-veterans, especially family members, to helping them come all the way home.

As Veterans’ Day approaches we feel relief that our troops are finally leaving Iraq, but we are also aware of all of those who are still serving overseas.  We are also aware that the troops who are coming home face another great mission – Homecoming. We know what a difficult process that is, now made worse by our difficult economic times. This year lets all consider making 11/11/11 a Day of Listening to Veterans and work to make this a national event in the years to come.

                                                                **VETERANS DAY DONATION APPEAL**
                                       Please keep our troops and veterans in mind and make
                             a much needed and appreciated gift to Soldier’s Heart!

GRATITUDE CAMPAIGN: Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your appreciation, but weren’t sure how or it felt awkward?  There is now a movement to encourage a gesture that can be used. Please take a moment to watch this short video. We welcome your comments.
http://www..gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

RETREATS: This year we have held a record number of retreats – Atlanta, Pittsburgh
Lake Placid, Nevada City, CA,  and Asheville NC as well as one training retreat in Craryville, NY and a Healing Journey to Greece.  And we are not done!!  We are seeing more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and active duty troops than ever before as well as more women.

MENTORING: We now have a mentoring team of elder veterans who have been to several Soldier’s Heart retreats and trainings and who have volunteered to be mentors to those who want or need someone to talk to on an informal, personal basis. If you are interested in finding a mentor, please contact us and we will match you with the most suitable mentor.          

 *****IN MEMORY*****

Our hearts go out to the family of Doreena Plant who died suddenly on August 11th  after a short illness. Doreena was a Navy veteran who helped lead the  opening ceremony at the Case Western University Summit on Peace and War. She will be greatly missed.

*****CONDOLENCES*****

Our hearts also go out to Betty and Lou Rothenstein and their family who lost Betty’s daughter Catherine last month in a tragic car accident.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Seattle: Ed is presently doing several programs that include an evening of music, poetry, and stories with Soldier’s Heart’s Jason Moon, a meeting and ceremony with the Red Cedar Circle, an evening of sharing our Healing Journeys to Vietnam and Veterans’ Day celebration and events.

Ft. Knox Retreat: Nov. 17 -20  This retreat will be held off the base and will include several active duty troops from the Warrior in Transition Program at Ft. Knox.

Healing Journey to Vietnam: We leave on January 13th!! This year we will be there for Tet, the Vietnamese New Year!

Adirondacks: Stay posted for winter retreat in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains.

Atlanta: We are just beginning registration for a retreat at the lovely Center for New Beginnings. March 29 – April 1, 2012. Sign up now. It will fill up fast!

Susan Raby-Dunne’s Has Written a Book!

Soldier’s Heart Family member, Susan Raby-Dunne has written a book about some of her adventures around the world! Rest Your Head on the Wind is a woman’s story about a passion for motorcycles, travel, self-discovery, veteran advocacy, war healing and transformation. Both an explorer of the open road and a spiritual adventurer, Susan Raby-Dunne has lived life-by-motorcycle for over thirty years. Join her on an eclectic journey of the soul and the saddle from the highways of Canada to America and Europe. For more go to  www.restyourheadonthewind.com

John Fisher's book to be released 11/11/11 Endorsement by Ed Tick

The horrible road to war can be traveled far too easily and even against our will.  In contrast, the road home is long, difficult, confusing, and tragically unmapped.  John Fisher has walked these roads through war's furnace and home with his eyes, heart, mind and spirit wide open.  He has examined all that lies in his own conscience and soul.  He has peeked into corners of self, healing and society that few examine.  He has restlessly searched to understand war's wounding and contribute to its healing.  For all these reasons and more, John Fisher's witness should be heard and heeded.  With courage, devotion and love, John has transformed himself from veteran into spiritual warrior.  In this book, The War After the War, he maps his journey so that others can also find their ways home and to self 

Beyond PTSD: Soldiers Have Injured Souls

Check out this article by Diane Silver that features some of our Soldier’s Heart Family!

http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/beyond-ptsd-soldiers-have-injured-souls-34293/

A Poem by Kristen Lawler

Sand storm

My eyes long to open to the site of you next to me
My lips long for a breathless kiss long enough to taste your soul.

My hand longs to embrace yours only- to feel our symbols of commitment connect in the way that we used to.

Come out of the dark and into the light- do no bury yourself alive in brokenness and indifference.

There are no enemies within the walls of our home, the walls of my heart.

Dance with me slowly to music only we can hear to a place of security-
A place where you remember who you are, who I am, who we are together.

Who are those people in that picture you ask?
I don't remember them you say....

It is you and me, the way we were, and the way we could be again.

I will lead your lost soul on a march
from the boiling heat and the blinding sand back to a time
when you had it all.

A Story with a Happy Ending

By Debbie & Jessica Ingraham

This is the story of a peace activist, Ana Campo, who is a board member of The Peace Alliance www.ThePeaceAlliance.org. Ana chose NOT to ignore a homeless man.  It turned out the man was a disabled Vietnam Veteran who was living in an animal cage. He had had 3 heart attacks and was on a defibrillator.
 
Jessica and I provided intense daily (and nightly) support to Ana through Facebook by giving her as much information as we could about the VA, Veterans, the military, benefits, etc.  We also spent hours and hours lifting her up and giving her a place to share and vent.  Safe to say it is a shock when civilians, especially peace activists, see the ‘system” in action.
 
It took my friend and 40 adults, 2 Congressman, a Senator, Facebook and 6 weeks before we could get any kind of housing or money for this man.  In Florida, the VA does NOT provide housing for disabled vets, only ones who can work.
 
 If I had heard the way this Veteran and his advocates were treated, as a third hand story, I would not have believed it and would have tossed it off as "civilians not understanding the system."   I would not have believed how little the community cared about this man, or the kind of run around and misinformation that would be given to civilians trying to help a disabled Vietnam Veteran. My friend's hair was literally falling out from the stress of the situation and lack of care and regard for this Vet.
During the process, we learned that hundreds of homeless Veterans in Florida sleep in the parking lots of the VA, a lot safer than the streets or the bushes.  
 
Yesterday we learned, that this community effort that was lead by a peace activist succeeded in getting Jerry 100% disability - a check for $2,700 month, $2,000 back pay, education paid for and housing.  Peace activists taking care of Vets ROCK!
 
My heart is breaking as I get closer and closer to the day to day realities of what war does to spouses, significant others and children.  But I wanted to share this story as an example of the big things that can happen when the community listens, learns and gets involved - really gets involved.  Whatever the future holds for all military families, surely it is the community that we need to bear witness, help to mend the broken hearts, and help piece together lives and "families of the heart" that are safe, and have joy and meaning.
 
WEB OF CARE, UPDATE FROM REGIONAL CONTACTS

One of our favorite dreams in the Soldier’s Heart office is that of weaving a web of care, support and resources in and among communities across the country so that every veteran and family member will feel held, valued and honored! That’s big work, but it’s being done, thanks in large part to the efforts of our Regional Contacts.

We’re blessed to have about 25 folks who serve as Regional Contacts for Soldier's Heart around the country, in Canada, the UK and in Viet Nam. We offer quarterly conference calls for Regional Contacts to provide a time for sharing ideas, information and support.

We appreciate each and everyone who serve in this way. Here are just a few examples of the exciting war healing work happening around the country –

Sally Jo Gilbert DeVargas, in Seattle has worked diligently to plan the Veteran’s Week Healing Festival November 6-11, 2011 with Special Guests Edward Tick, PhD and Jason Moon, singer-songwriter, Iraq Vet and tireless advocate for veterans’ issues and peace.  The goal is to shift community awareness from war to peace, from wounding to healing, and from despair to hope.  Events feature music, poetry, story-telling, healing rituals, drumming, film and dialogue.  All events are free and open to the public.  The week will culminate in an all-day healing festival on Veteran's Day with a special Armistice Day Message by Dr. Ed Tick at 11:00 am on 11/11/11.

Al Plapp, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri has been holding monthly healing circles and also participated in our VA medical center stand down for homeless veteran.  He will be speaking, 11/15, at the local VA medical center to veterans and staff about Soldiers Heart, Warriors Journey Home ,and energy medicine techniques. Al is also working to plan a Soldier’s Heart retreat in his area in Oct. 2012.

John Schluep, in Tallmadge, Ohio reports the exciting news that Warriors’ Journey Home Ministry: Listen – Speak – Heal has incorporated and has filed the application for 501c3.  WJHM: L-S-H is also the recipient of a grant large enough for us to employ an Executive Director to help move WHJM:L-S-H forward.  On April 16, 17, 18, 2012 they will hold their first facilitator training in Akron, Ohio.  The workshop will be facilitated by Shianne Eagleheart and John Schluep. Red Bird Center for Healing, WJHM:L-S-H, and Freedom House  continue to hold monthly healing retreats at Red Bird Center for Healing.  For more information you may log on to Red Bird Center or the Warriorjourneyhome.org web page. 

Michelle Worden, in Laramie, Wyoming  recently took part in a VA sponsored seminar for Clergy and "others" about understanding our warriors and how we might start encouraging area spiritual centers to do more veteran work.  She introduced  Soldier's Heart and offered to be a resource to any congregations interested in hosting a community training on spiritual warrior-hood. Michelle is amazed by her communitiy’s desire to meet the need of Veterans and their families.

Shelley Corteville, in Oregon has been working towards starting a women veterans support/talking circle. It looks like this will begin around the first of the year. Also, in collaboration with Darcy Woodke the Oregon National Guard Family Assistance Specialist, she is working toward creating a spouses educational group. This group will also begin after the first of the year.  

THANK YOU!

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