All articles tagged with #military veterans
On Veterans Day 2025, numerous U.S. restaurants and service providers are offering free meals, discounts, and special deals to honor veterans and active-duty military personnel, with Texas Roadhouse providing free meal vouchers redeemable through May 2026, alongside offers from Applebee’s, Wendy’s, IHOP, Dunkin’, Starbucks, and others.
King Charles III led the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in London, honoring fallen soldiers with wreaths, a two-minute silence, and military marches, amid a backdrop of global conflict and increased defense spending by Britain.
The article reports on the increasing arrests and injuries faced by US military veterans during protests against ICE's immigration enforcement and Trump's deportation policies, highlighting specific incidents involving veterans like Dana Briggs and John Cerrone, and discussing broader concerns about government brutality and militarization affecting veterans and civil liberties.
The West Point alumni group canceled the official celebration for Tom Hanks as the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award recipient, citing a focus on core military priorities, though Hanks will still receive the award. The decision comes amid broader changes at West Point and controversy over political and social issues.
Lisa Jakub, who played Robin Williams' daughter in "Mrs. Doubtfire," recalls his dedication to supporting military veterans by hiring them on his film sets. She also reflects on his kindness and openness about mental health, which helped her with her own struggles. Williams, who battled severe depression, passed away in 2014.
A study conducted at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center demonstrated that combining brain stimulation with virtual reality exposure therapy resulted in significant reductions in PTSD symptoms among military veterans. The innovative approach outperformed traditional exposure therapy, offering new hope for individuals struggling with PTSD. The combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and virtual reality exposure accelerated psychological adjustment to trauma, indicating a potentially more effective approach to PTSD care.
A Stanford University study found that military veterans with traumatic brain injuries experienced "dramatic" and "life-changing" improvements in symptoms and cognitive functioning after receiving ibogaine treatment in Mexico, with significant reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The veterans' disability ratings dropped, and cognitive assessments showed improvements in concentration, memory, and impulsivity. The study suggests that ibogaine could be a powerful therapeutic for psychiatric symptoms related to TBI and combat exposure, prompting increased interest in psychedelic research and potential DEA production quota escalation.
Manufacturing giant 3M has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle hundreds of thousands of claims brought by military veterans who alleged that its earplugs caused hearing loss and tinnitus during their service. The settlement, which resolves one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history, includes $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in stock. While 3M denies any liability and maintains that its earplugs are safe when used properly, the company is prepared to defend itself through litigation if certain terms of the settlement agreement are not fulfilled. The case originated from a whistleblower lawsuit filed by rival earplug maker Moldex-Metric on behalf of the U.S. government, alleging a known defect in the earplugs.
Guatemala's largest military veteran organization, the Guatemalan Military Veterans Association, has endorsed presidential candidate Sandra Torres after previously opposing her in two previous bids for the presidency. Torres and the veterans painted her opponent, Bernardo Arévalo, as a threat to the country's democracy and families, despite Arévalo not explicitly stating his support for the policies criticized. The veterans' association represents around 380,000 veterans across Guatemala and cited Torres as the "better option" due to concerns over Arévalo's party and the possibility of same-sex marriage. However, not all veterans were convinced by the endorsement.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologized to LGBT military veterans who experienced sexual abuse, violence, bullying, and harassment while serving in the armed forces before the ban on homosexuality was lifted in 2000. An independent review published on Wednesday recognized the impact of the policies and made 49 recommendations, including enhanced healthcare provisions and a financial award for LGBT veterans. The government accepted the majority of the recommendations and will respond after parliament's summer break.
Military veterans criticized the Biden administration for placing a Pride flag at the center of a display over the weekend, accusing it of diminishing the American flag and violating the US Flag Code. The White House held a Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn Saturday afternoon, and the decorations included a rainbow-colored flag at the center of the White House balcony with one American flag to each side. Defenders of the administration argued that the flag atop the White House roof ensured compliance with the flag code because it was positioned higher than the Pride flag.
Retired Marine Osbert Orduna has launched the first licensed home delivery cannabis service in New York City, using his military logistics expertise to ensure safe and efficient deliveries. The Cannabis Place, which has a sophisticated surveillance and GPS system, delivers to Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island, with no delivery fee. The minimum purchase is $150, and all products are lab-tested. Orduna, the first disabled vet to open a state-approved marijuana sales business, works with other veterans and "justice-involved" individuals in the cannabis industry.
A judge has ordered the CEO of 3M, a company that supplied earplugs to the US military, to attend mediation for lawsuits filed by military veterans who claim the earplugs were defective and caused hearing loss. The mediation will attempt to reach a settlement between the parties involved.
An Indiana man died and his two children were injured after a grenade found in their grandfather's belongings detonated. The family was going through their grandfather's belongings when they found the explosive device and someone reportedly pulled the pin, causing it to detonate. The investigation is ongoing. The FBI warns that some military veterans brought back explosives as souvenirs from past wars, and anyone who finds a grenade or other explosive ordnance should move away from the device and call 911 immediately.
Military veterans are criticizing National Security Council spokesman John Kirby and the Biden administration's after-action report on the chaotic Afghan pullout. Kirby defended the withdrawal as largely successful and noted the report's purpose was "not accountability." However, veterans like Chad Robichaux, a retired Marine, and co-founder of the Save Our Allies group, called Kirby's presentation "a national tragedy" and accused him of lying. Retired Green Beret Scott Mann also criticized the lack of accountability, while retired Lt. Col. Danny Davis disagreed with Kirby's claims of "not chaos" on the ground in Kabul. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also expressed outrage at criticisms of the previous administration.