Military Veteran Project

10/10/2026

Way to go Evergy !

Save the date! Join Evergy’s Mission Transition: Veteran Career Expo on November 6, 2026, in Kansas City, MO. This free event is open to veterans, exiting service members and their spouses. Come explore careers, meet hiring managers and make local connections. Don’t miss out – register now!

Learn more and register here: https://www.evergy.com/landing/mission-transition

10/10/2026

Information from Fisher House.

World Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health matters and no one should have to face difficult moments alone.

Checking in, starting a conversation, or simply being there for someone can make a difference.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Let’s continue creating communities where asking for help is met with compassion and support.

10/10/2026

Su***de rate among veterans update below.

The rate of su***de among military veterans has remained consistent in recent years, despite efforts to drive it down.

Nearly 18 veterans died by su***de every day in 2024, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual report on the topic. The report found that 6,488 veterans killed themselves in 2024, slightly fewer than a revised number the VA now says died in 2023.

The report, released last week, looked at trends in veteran su***de from 2001-2024, the most recent year for which the VA has data. Notably, the report added close to 300 su***de deaths to its previously released 2023 estimate for veteran su***des. In February, the department’s 2023 report said 6,398 veterans took their own lives that year, but the new 2024 report revises that 2023 figure up to 6,662.

10/10/2026

On November 5, 2009, Hasan opened fire inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas. Twelve soldiers and one civilian employee were k!lled. More than 30 others were wounded.

The 13 victims were Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55; Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52; Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54; Capt. Russell Seager, 51; Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow, 32; Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29; Spc. Jason Hunt, 22; Pfc. Frederick Greene, 29; Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19; Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22; Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23; Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21; and retired Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill, a civilian employee at Fort Hood.

These weren’t just names attached to a headline. They were soldiers preparing for deployments, medical professionals, husbands, wives, parents, children, friends, and coworkers. One year later, Fort Hood unveiled a granite memorial bearing all 13 names so they would not be forgotten.

10/10/2026

Thanks Veteran Tickets Foundation - Vet Tix

10/09/2026

Did you know the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration provides a United States flag to drape on a casket (or coffin) or place with an urn in honor of the military service of a Veteran or Reservist. Find out how to apply for this burial honor, visit: www.va.gov/burials.../memorial-items/burial-flags/

10/07/2026

Great information from The Bobby Henline Foundation

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃: 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢-𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐎𝐑’𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐓

Sometimes surviving can come with a question that refuses to stay quiet: “Why them and not me?”

For veterans and first responders, survivor’s guilt can appear after a death, serious injury, traumatic incident, deployment, fire, crash, shooting, rescue, or any moment when someone else did not make it home.

𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
“I should have been the one.”
“They had a family.”
“I could have done more.”
“Why did I get another chance?”
“I don’t deserve to be happy when they’re gone.”
“If I move forward, am I leaving them behind?”

Survivor’s guilt can turn survival into something that feels undeserved.

A person may begin to punish themselves for being alive.

They may avoid joy.

Pull away from people.

Feel guilty celebrating milestones.

Take unnecessary risks.

Or believe that suffering is somehow a way to remain loyal to those who were lost.

But your pain does not prove your love.

And continuing to live does not erase the person you lost.

Grief can convince us that moving forward means moving on.
Those are not the same thing.

You can carry someone’s memory without carrying a sentence against yourself.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝.

Sometimes healing begins by asking different questions.

Instead of: “Why did I survive?”
Maybe: “What will I do with the life I still have?”

Instead of: “Do I deserve to be here?”
Maybe: “How can I honor the people who are not?”

There may never be a satisfying answer for why one person survived and another did not.

But survival itself is not a betrayal.

If survivor’s guilt continues to weigh heavily on you, consider talking with a trusted peer, chaplain, counselor, mental health professional, or someone who understands military and first responder experiences.

Sometimes finding steady ground means allowing two truths to exist together: “𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.”

If you are in crisis or need immediate emotional support, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can call 988 and Press 1, or text 838255 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. If there is an immediate danger or medical emergency, call 911.

Forging Forward | The Bobby Henline Foundation

10/07/2026

Plans to build veteran home in Topeka near VA lacks federal funds.

Kansas announced plans to build a new veterans home in Topeka near the VA hospital, but a lack of federal funding means the project hasn't happened. See link below ⬇️

📸 Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal

10/07/2026

Info from VFW

09/30/2026

Great job Green Star Families!