Remember Vietnam Veteran Thomas Jones

Last Chance! If you haven't already been to the Illinois State Museum's Unsung Heroes Exhibit yet, it will be available until June 10, 2018, located at 502 South Spring Street, Springfield IL. With Memorial Day upon us, it is even more of a poignant time to experience this special exhibit. Among the heroes featured is Thomas R. Jones Senior who was an Illinois native and Navy Corpsman. 

 

Thomas R. Jones, Vietnam Veteran/author/playwright/motivational speaker, led an extraordinary life in public service. Tom Jones ‘Career Legends’ were transposed into a Proclamation from the Illinois Senate and issued by IL Senate President John Cullerton “in recognition of his exemplary career and dedication to Illinois public service and his sacrifice for the civic good of our nation”.

In his later years, Jones was instrumental in being able to get Springfield designated as a Purple Heart city, Sangamon County a Purple Heart County, and Illinois a Purple Heart state. 

Earlier in his career, Thomas Jones was assistant director of  Illinois Department Veteran Affairs in Governor Jim Thompson's cabinet. During that time Jones was an integral part in establishing the Vietnam Memorial here in Springfield, and also played a role in the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.  In D.C. he led his team where they were responsible for the Illinois contingency and were involved in some of the planning. 

Thomas R. Jones Sr. was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Services Medal. His book, a historical fiction novel, the Lost Survivor tells the story of a marine corpsman of the Third recon battalion who spent most of his time in Da Nang.  His multimedia stage production Long Way Home was based on his novel.

This exhibit highlights his work as a veteran advocate in the Springfield area, Illinois, and the nation. Currently, photographs and artifacts from his life are still on display as part of the Unsung Heroes Exhibit at the Illinois State Museum through June 10, 2018. Please see the museum's website for more information at http://www.illinoisstatemuseum.org/content/unsung-heroes

Memorial Day has become Patriotism for Profit

Do you believe that veterans are worth the costs of a cup of coffee or a drink?

We are producing a Reality series called, Horses and Heroes. It combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. We will be bringing together the veterans from WWII to the current conflicts. They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find new solutions. They know the talk, because they have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face the ghosts. When it airs, it will reach into the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone and give them the information as well as the permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back to the world. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start; but they can start from now and make a brand new end.

But we need your support. We need to raise $8,000.00 in development funds to keep the project going, while we raise the production funding. To honor those who gave their all and give veterans the ability to rebuild their lives, please support our efforts to produce Horses and Heroes by giving us the gift 5.00 through our website by clicking here.

Horses and Heroes: Changing Reality TV from Theresa Chaze on Vimeo.

Patriotism for Profit from Theresa Chaze on Vimeo.

HARTH Foundation: Helping Veterans reclaim their lives

Until You Walk The Path, You Won’t Know Where it Goes will be chatting the founder of HARTH Foundation, Sherry Atherton on May 19, 2016 at 3 pm eastern as we talk about the foundation's efforts to help veterans.

During her extensive business career, Sherry Atherton worked as a ‘high-tech’ executive, who participated in three company IPOs. Being very familiar with what it takes to make a business successful, she has built first class, scalable organizations from the ground up and knows how to build teams oriented for success.  After leaving her fulfilling, corporate life, Sherry became an independent consultant and worked with several start-ups at various stages in their development.

A cancer survivor, Atherton has experienced firsthand the challenges of dealing with major life trauma and the healing power of being around horses  Now she wants to leverage her experience to build a respected organization that focuses on helping others that can benefit from horse assisted counseling. 

HARTH Foundation is a Texas 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Burnet, just NW of Austin on the shores of beautiful Lake Buchanan. The Texas Hill Country is the perfect environment to escape the hectic demands of everyday life, and focus on healing and recovery with the horses that are the heartbeat of the HARTH programs. It provides free horse assisted counseling and programs for veterans, active duty service members, and their families.

HARTH provides a range of services for each individual by developing a person-centered program that works best for him/her. At HARTH, both the horses and the environment in general are an integral part of the therapeutic process. All of the programs at HARTH Foundation are offered free to our veterans and active duty service members. The programs are funded entirely by donations and the generosity of our sponsors and supporters.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HARTHFoundation/timeline

Website: http://www.harthtx.org/

Tune intohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze on May 19 at 3 pm eastern to learn more about how working with horses help veterans reclaim their lives. The phone lines and chat will be available for those who wish to ask questions. The phone number is (347) 838-9927.

The interview will be available in the archives at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze/2016/05/19/until-you-walk-the-path-you-dont-know-where-it-goes

 Horses and Heroes is a Reality TV series, which combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each season will bring together the veterans from WWII to the current conflicts. They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find new solutions. They know the talk, because they have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face the ghosts. When it airs, it will reach into the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone and give them the information as well as the permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back to the world. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start; but they can start from now and make a brand new end.

Horses and Heroes: Changing Reality TV from Theresa Chaze on Vimeo.

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