May is Military Appreciation Month
National Military Appreciation Month is celebrated every May to encourage Americans to unite in honor of our military. The awareness month recognizes both current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was started as a simple idea; to gather America around its military family to honor, remember, recognize and appreciate those who have served and those now serving and to know the history behind it all.
The month of May was also chosen because of the many individual days set aside to recognize the U.S. military’s achievements. See some of those recognition days listed below:
|
|
Friday, May 8
Traditionally set for the Friday before Mother’s Day, this day honors military spouses with ceremonies and activities, signifying the important role our military families play in keeping our Armed Forces strong and our country safe.
|
|
Saturday, May 16
Americans come together on this day to thank U.S. military for their patriotic service. This day honors everyone serving in the U.S. Military branches; Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, Space Force. There is also
Armed Forces Week
which typically leads up to Armed Forces Day.
|
|
Monday, May 25
A federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May, this day is in remembrance of our veterans. It commemorates the men and women who died while in military service. All Americans are encouraged to pause, wherever they are, at 3:00 pm local time for a minute of silence.
|
|
In this issue's Employee Spotlight, meet our Cohen Clinic's new Outreach Coordinator, Jenny Lynne Stroup, who is a military spouse we are recognizing in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 8).
Yes, I Signed Up For This!
By Jenny Lynne Stroup
It’s the resounding rhetorical question almost accusation in the military community, “But you signed up for this?”
In my years as a military spouse it’s the question I love to hate, because the short answer is, “Yes.” The longer answer looks more like a list of the hardships and the joys that come from living this Navy life.
Originally, I signed up to marry an enlisted sailor on shore duty.
Turns out I also signed up for Officer Candidate School, beginning on our first wedding anniversary and my spouse moving to Rhode Island, while my three-month-old son and I stayed in Virginia.
Within the course of one year I signed up for a traditional Navy ship deployment, immediately followed by a combat deployment to Afghanistan.
I also signed up to give birth to our second son while my husband was deployed. As a military spouse, I signed up to make friends with every permanent change of station. I also signed up to leave those friends and make new ones wherever the Navy sends us.
Unknowingly, I signed up to meet Presidents and First Ladies, attend fancy balls, tear up at change of command ceremonies.
Mostly, I signed up to live life with the man I love and learn together how to live a life where the only constant and consistent force is change.
I am grateful to join Cohen Clinic team, because we help people - like me - address the lists of hardships and joys that grow with every deployment and every once-in-a-lifetime memory.
Jenny Lynne comes to the Cohen Clinic at VVSD as a seasoned military spouse who has spent her time at each duty station fostering community. She is passionate about being a bridge builder and sees her role as a military spouse as an opportunity to reach communities. Prior to her role at the Cohen Clinic, Jenny Lynne taught elementary school and spent her time working with several military organizations and spouse groups. Originally from Virginia, Jenny Lynne has taken her love of Southern cuisine and hospitality to create community wherever the Navy has sent her. To connect with Jenny Lynne, email her at
jstroup@cohenvvsd.org
|
|
|
Upcoming Virtual Workshop Series
|
|
|
|
Intro to Behavioral Health
Monday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. PST
Dr. Nikki Watkins
, Psy.D, LMFT
Associate Director/Lead Clinician
Learn all about behavioral health, including what therapy and treatments look like at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD. To register, visit
https://bit.ly/35jFl13
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telehealth 101
Wednesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. PST
Marla Monk
, MA, MSW, LCSW
Clinican
Understand the ease and convenience of Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy, when it comes to your mental health care. To register, visit
https://bit.ly/3bTIasi
|
|
|
|
Our Case Manager Ashley Tatum provides the following resources in the community:
- Support the Enlisted Project offers emergency financial assistance and drive-thru Warehouse on Wheels distribution, which includes food, diapers and paper goods. For more information on how to apply, click HERE
- The New Children’s Museum is hosting several events on their Facebook page. These include toddler Tuesdays, interviews with artists who have contributed their work to the museum, arts and crafts videos, recipes and more. For more information, click HERE
- The San Diego Padres have partnered with UC San Diego Health to put together daily activities for kids. They can be found by clicking HERE
- The San Diego Air and Space Museum is hosting live events on their Facebook page, including interviews with astronauts and STEM activities. For more information, click HERE
- Courage to Call is hosting a live Facebook series called Wellness Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. For more information, click HERE
- Crunch Fitness is hosting daily live workouts on their Facebook page. For more information, click HERE
|
|
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic
at Veterans Village of San Diego
Phone
: (619) 345-4611
Email
: info@cohenvvsd.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
