Veterans Care Trust Fund

10/31/2026

BEFORE WE JUDGE THE STRUGGLE, UNDERSTAND THE JOURNEY.

We talk about addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other behaviors. But we don’t talk enough about people becoming accustomed to adrenaline, urgency, anxiety, and chaos.

Military service may require years of constant readiness. Then someone comes home and is suddenly expected to slow down, sleep normally, sit quietly, and just “adjust.”

For some veterans, calm may not immediately feel familiar.

That doesn't mean we judge the struggle.
It means we need to understand it.

Instead of asking, “What is wrong with you?”

Maybe we need to ask:

“What have you lived through, and how can we walk beside you now?”

Awareness matters. Education matters. Compassion matters.

We can do better. We can learn. We can listen. And we can walk beside people instead of judging them.

BEFORE WE JUDGE THE STRUGGLE, UNDERSTAND THE JOURNEY.

Awareness • Understanding • Compassion • Support

10/30/2026

Where do we find these people?

The ones who keep fighting when the battle gets hard?

They are our servicemembers.
They are our veterans.
They are our neighbors, spouses, parents, children, and friends.

Military service teaches people to keep moving forward and to protect the person beside them.
Maybe that's something all of us can learn from:
Don't leave someone behind simply because their battle is one we cannot see.

10/30/2026

I have tremendous respect for the Canadian veterans who have been willing to speak out and have these difficult conversations.

If veterans had not raised their voices, important questions might never have received the attention they deserved. One example is mefloquine, an antimalarial medication given to military personnel during some deployments. Concerns raised by veterans ultimately became part of Canadian parliamentary studies examining veterans' mental health, su***de, and the medication's potential neuropsychiatric effects.

That is exactly why the words in this video about having honest conversations struck me.

We need Honest Adult Conversations about what happens during military service, what happens afterward, and what happens within the family.

The impact of service does not always end with the servicemember or veteran. Spouses and children can experience shared impact and secondary trauma, and their struggles need to be part of the conversation too.

Sometimes change begins because someone has the courage to say, something isn't right, and we need to talk about it.

Keep speaking. Keep asking questions. Keep listening.

10/30/2026

Before the football, it was a camp where Confederate prisoners died...

10/29/2026

What a Year! Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers for an amazing season and having players that shows the love of the game while supporting eachother and having fun!!

Teams Make it Happen!

10/29/2026

Need a reason for a Sunday date? Here it is! ❤️🍷
Brunch. W**e. Beautiful surroundings. Someone you love.

Sounds like a pretty great Sunday to us! 🥂

Join our amazing partners at Wollersheim W**ery & Distillery for their final Sunday Brunch of 2026 on November 8 from 9:30 AM–3:00 PM.

Bring your spouse, sweetheart, best friend, or the whole family and enjoy a little time together while supporting a business that supports The Eagle’s Journey/Veterans Care Trust Fund and our veteran community. 🇺🇸

No reservations needed, just come hungry!
🍳 Brunch
🍷 W**e
🥂 Cocktails
❤️ Good company

🇺🇸 Supporting those who support our veterans
Don't miss the last one!

10/29/2026

The Numbers Behind the Headlines

Recently, reports highlighted that the number of veterans receiving a 100% VA disability rating has nearly doubled over the past five years. While that statistic is accurate, it only tells part of the story.

Today, the United States has approximately 17.9 million living veterans, and about 6.3 million veterans receive VA disability compensation. Of those, roughly 1.85 million are rated at 100% service-connected disability.

Think about that out of 17.9 million veterans only 6.3 million veterans are service connected.

What is often missing from the conversation is the "why."

The veteran population is aging.

New generations of veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other post-9/11 operations are filing claims.

The PACT Act expanded eligibility for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

Improvements in outreach, technology, and awareness have also helped more veterans access benefits they should have had for years.

But there are important questions that still need answers:

• How many veterans receiving compensation served one enlistment versus a full career?
• How many served on active duty versus the National Guard or Reserve?
• How many deployed multiple times?
• How many claims were completed through Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD)?
• How many veterans still have not filed claims or remain underrated?
• How many Guard and Reserve veterans continue to struggle with missing orders, records, and documentation?

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that initial disability compensation claims from National Guard and Reserve members were approved 11 to 20 percentage points less often than claims from active-duty veterans between 2012 and 2021. The report also identified challenges involving service records, training documentation, and proving qualifying duty periods.

The conversation should not be limited to asking why more veterans are receiving benefits. We should also be asking whether every veteran has equal access to the records, documentation, and support needed to receive the benefits they earned through service.

The number of veterans rated at 100% may have increased, but the real story is much larger than a single statistic. Understanding service history, deployments, duty status, records availability, and claim outcomes is essential if we want an honest discussion about veterans' benefits and access to care.

The question isn't just how many veterans are receiving benefits. The question is whether every veteran who earned those benefits has a equal opportunity to receive them. 🇺🇸

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10/19/2026

The Mighty Prickly Pear Cactus: More Than Just a Desert Plant

Standing tall across the deserts of the Southwest, the prickly pear cactus is one of nature's toughest survivors. For thousands of years, Native American tribes relied on this remarkable plant for food, medicine, and tools. Its juicy fruit, known as "tuna," provided a sweet and nutritious food source, while the cactus pads, called nopales, were used in cooking and traditional remedies. https://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/prickly-pear-a-treasured-fruit-of-the-southwest-from-ancient-times-to-modern-delights/ https://ranchingheritage.org/the-prickly-pear-cactus-a-legacy-of-resilience-and-resourcefulness

What many people don't know is that the prickly pear also played a surprising role in military history. Tiny cochineal insects that live on certain prickly pear cacti produce a brilliant red dye called carmine. Spain built a lucrative trade around this dye, and it eventually became famous for coloring the uniforms of British soldiers. Those bright red uniforms earned them the nickname "Redcoats" during the American Revolutionary War. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/lakeco/2026/07/20/red-dye-sourced-through-the-cochineal-mealy-bugs/

Beyond its connection to military uniforms, the prickly pear has helped travelers, settlers, ranchers, and soldiers survive harsh desert environments by providing food and moisture when resources were scarce. Its thick, thorn-covered growth has even been used as a natural defensive barrier around settlements and property.

Today, the prickly pear remains a symbol of resilience, strength, and adaptability. From ancient cultures to military history and modern cuisine, this extraordinary cactus continues to leave its mark on the world.

And if you've never had this delicious fruit, you're missing out! 🌵🍉

10/17/2026

💜 During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize every survivor who found the strength to keep going.

Love should never leave bruises. Love should never create fear. Love should never take away someone's voice.

Domestic violence affects men, women, and children. It does not discriminate by age, gender, race, or background. Every victim deserves to be heard, supported, and protected.

May we continue to raise awareness, support survivors, and remind every person that they deserve to be safe, respected, valued, and free from abuse.

💜

“A Man Don’t” from Drew Baldridge’s new album FARM FAITH FAMILY out...

06/23/2026

Community Support Needed for Veteran Bedbug Mitigation
Our community has always stepped up for veterans — and today, we need your help again.

The Veterans Care Trust Fund (VCTF) is currently assisting a veteran facing severe bedbug infestation, and the mitigation process is extensive, costly, and urgent. This veteran has been removed from the home for safety while the work is being done.

How This Started
This situation was first discovered by the veteran’s friends, who immediately stepped in and asked for help.

Together with VCTF, they have:
• Called
• Emailed
• Reached out to

More than 10 veteran serving organizations
They asked for assistance, guidance, and support.
What they were told by several organizations was deeply concerning:
“Volunteers can help clean up.”
“You don’t need professional cleanup.”
“Just spray and it will be fine.”

This is not accurate.
This is not safe.
This is not best practice.

And we ask those same organizations and leaders:
Would you volunteer to clean up an active bedbug infestation?

Why Professional Cleanup Is Required
Bedbug remediation is not a simple spray and done situation.
A full, safe, and effective cleanup requires:
• First professional spray
• Professional cleaning crew to vacuum, disinfect, and remove contaminated items
• Moving furniture so exterminators can reach all sides
• Bagging and disposing of infested belongings
• Second spray, followed by more cleaning
• Third spray if needed
• Replacing beds, clothing, and furniture that cannot be salvaged
This is why the average cost is $6,000–$8,000.
Skipping any step leads to reinfestation, often worse than the first time.

Why Volunteers Cannot Do This Work
Volunteers are the heart of our community, but bedbug cleanup is not safe for them.
Volunteers are not trained, not insured, and not equipped to handle:
• Active infestations
• Contaminated furniture
• Hazardous disposal
• Protective gear requirements
We protect our volunteers the same way we protect our veterans, by refusing to put them in unsafe situations.

What Has Already Been Provided
This veteran has gone to many organizations seeking help.
Here is what has been provided so far:
• Sauk County Veterans Service Office through the Veterans Relief Program: $2,100
• Veterans Care Trust Fund (VCTF): $2,000
These contributions have helped, but the total cost of mitigation is $6,500.00, we are asking for our communities to come together for the $2,400.

Why We Are Asking the Community for Help
We cannot do this work alone.
We cannot help everyone without community support.
And this veteran needs assistance now.
We are a community that does not sit in judgment but takes action to support those who served.

How You Can Help
If you would like to assist this veteran directly, you can donate to the Veterans Care Trust Fund.
Your support will go toward:
• Professional cleaning
• Pest control treatments
• Replacement of essential items
• Temporary needs while the veteran is displaced
Every contribution helps us continue this work.

💛 We are a community of action, not judgment.
If you would like to help this veteran directly, please donate to the Veterans Care Trust Fund.
Every dollar helps cover cleaning, pest control, and replacement essentials.

👉 Donate here: Donate to Change Lives – Veterans Care Trust Fund:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-change-lives-1568