Blake Lusty grew up sure of two things: He wanted to serve his country in the Navy, and he would always fight for what he believed in. A late-stage cancer diagnosis at age 20 only steeled his resolve. The first in his family to pursue a college education, Lusty was raised by his mother in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Rick Monday, who served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, later said he was motivated by his experiences with veterans and hoped to preserve respect for military figures all over the United States and abroad.
Lord Robertson stated, 'We need to sort of round up those who are available, fit, and willing to be able to do it.' This emphasizes the urgency of engaging former service personnel in the strategic reserve.
The dedication ceremony will begin with the first speaker at 1:30 p.m. and end with a 2:33 p.m. flyover by the West Coast Ravens that perform at air shows.
For me, this ruck is about honoring SSG Shaw and preserving the memory of a true hero who gave everything for his team. Moments like that stay with you forever. The courage, the sacrifice, and the reality that some men willingly stand their ground to protect their brothers, even knowing the price may be their life.
Kayla Stewart, a Marine veteran, shares her experience of sending care packages to her daughter, who is deployed in the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. She expresses pride in her daughter's choice to serve but also the anxiety of having a child in a wartime situation, stating, 'Never in a million years would I have thought I would have had a child in a war time situation.'
A growing number of people - including military veterans and former professional athletes - have spoken out about the benefits they have experienced from using psychedelics to address mental health issues, including PTSD. While there are some anecdotal reports of this phenomenon, a number of researchers have also conducted studies on it - and that has led in turn to a growing amount of data on psychedelics' use in this field.
The inaugural Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction & Celebration (KBCA) is rolling into town February 13-15, 2026, and it's not just another whiskey weekend. This is a three-day celebration of America's native spirit timed perfectly with the nation's 250th anniversary, and every dollar raised goes to supporting veterans, first responders, and their families through the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Translation? You can bid on rare bottles, sip once-in-a-lifetime pours, and help fund mental health care, housing assistance, and employment services for the people who've served our country.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union representing nurses across the state, is planning vigils for Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse who was shot and killed by federal agents. The MNA plans to host vigils for Pretti, who worked at a veteran's hospital, Thursday night at Boston Medical Center, Worcester VA Clinic, and Northampton VA Medical Center, the union said. The MNA aims to honor Pretti's service as a nurse, his advocacy for human rights, and the veterans and communities he served, said a spokesperson for the union.
"These five soldiers, in their separate moments of supreme testing, summoned a degree of courage that stirs wonder and respect and an overpowering pride in all of us," he continued. "Through their spectacular courage, they set themselves apart in a very select company. They represent the contribution of more than half a million young Americans to a world of order and of peace."
The government tabled what is known as a remedial order to remove the immunity clause after court challenges said it was incompatible with the European convention on human rights. Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the change would fulfil legal obligations while protecting veterans from vexatious prosecutions. Under the last government, they passed legislation which was struck down, leaving our veterans utterly exposed. We're putting in place proper measures to protect them, the prime minister said.
Inside the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gerry Gregg, wearing an A's baseball cap and a U.S. Marine Corps shirt, leans down to give rubs and scratches to Murphy, a fluffy golden retriever who is part of a pet-therapy team from San Jose nonprofit Furry Friends. How are you doing? Gregg, 60, croons to Murphy, who looks adoringly into his eyes. Yeah, I know, Gregg tells the dog.
WEBSTER SPRINGS, WV. In West Virginia, many of the thousands of bridges spanning mountain valleys and gorges are named for local veterans and on Main Streets in small towns, banners feature hometown soldiers, some of whom fought and died in past conflicts. It's a state with one of the country's highest per-capita populations of veterans. Service in the military including the various branches of the National Guard has long been seen not just as a patriotic duty, but as an economic lifeline.
