Veterans Issues

Vincent and Leslie Hynes, brothers and veterans of World War II, were added to the bricks along the Military Memorial Pathway in James Park.

When Mitchell Reno returned home after fighting overseas with the U.S. military, he says he had to face a whole new battle: substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. But now he is three and a half years sober and on the road to recovery, thanks to BraveHearts equine therapy program for veterans.

Returning to civilian life can be very difficult for veterans, but the organization "Helmets to Hardhats" is trying to make it easier, helping retired and transitioning active-duty soldiers find career opportunities.

Simonette Lezama had never ridden a horse before until she joined a therapeutic riding program through Great Strides Long Island. The nonprofit offers horseback riding lessons to veterans and their immediate families free of charge. The program, which so far has 13 veterans enrolled, includes taking care of, riding and interacting with the horses. It is offered seven days a week for an hour each time.

We know how to celebrate veterans. Once a year, Veterans Day parades are filled with smiles and appreciation. But the next 364 days that follow leave some veterans feeling forgotten.

Relay for Heroes race, which starts and ends at the Intrepid Museum, benefits the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a nonprofit that supports the construction of traumatic brain injury treatment and research centers on military bases across the country.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation announced an exclusive partnership with the NFL to support the leagues initiatives for military veterans.

Marine Corps Sgt. Kirstie Ennis and Air Force Senior Airman Katelyn Sheehan have both retired from the service. Though, for the past two years, they've been prepping for a new mission: the pair plans on becoming the first all-female veteran team to summit Denali, the highest peak in North America.

WeWork and Bunker Labs are offering a new Veterans in Residence Program that gives military veterans-turned-entrepreneurs access to free workspace and programming to help them grow their ventures. The program has 100 veterans participating in 6-month cohorts in 10 cities in the country. Mike Steadman is community manager of the Veterans in Residence Program here in New York City. He is also a Marine. Mike served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps for five years. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and then to Japan and the Philippines in 2014.

President Donald Trump made an off-colored remark during an event honoring Native American war veterans at the White House on Monday. Trump hosted three Navajo code talkers from World War II to the Oval Office. While praising the group and their longevity, Trump referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., by the offensive nickname he gave her during the presidential campaign.

Sports teams like the Rangers and the Knicks often try and give back to veterans on Veterans Day but this year they did something like never before. And the experience won't soon be forgotten by anyone involved. Friday night at the Knicks and Rangers training facility in Tarrytown, Westchester County, military members thought they were for a unique chance to play the games they love at the practice grounds of the pros. What they got, was a lot more than that.

Saturday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a special chance to not just to recognize that service but also to draw attention to issues impacting today's veterans. About 40,000 people from 30 states are expected to march in Saturday's Veterans Day Parade, the largest Veterans Day parade in the country. This year's parade grand marshal is astronaut and retired Air Force Colonel Buzz Aldrin.

Adam Neumann is co-founder and CEO of the shared work space company WeWork. He is also a veteran of the Israeli army. Neumann met with U.S. veterans at a WeWork space in Midtown Manhattan as he launched the new Veterans in Residence program, which provides sponsored work space and networking opportunities for veterans in 10 different cities, including New York.

Roy DeYoung Jr. isn't a landscaper by trade. Respect for his country is why he is carrying a shovel in a cemetery in New Jersey. During a recent visit to clean his father's grave at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, the volunteer firefighter noticed the graves of dozens of other veterans needed similar attention. So he rounded up some friends and said this is something that must be done.

A stable in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, doesn't just house beautiful horses. These animals bring tranquility to those who need it the most: veterans. Military veterans spent a few hours at the serenity stables. Almost all of the veterans have PTSD. The program From Combat to Calm was founded in 2015 by Rene Stone. Her father was a disabled veteran who suffered from PTSD. She knew she had to help those who fought for our country in some way. Equine therapy was the answer.

Allison Jaslow did two tours in Iraq, rising all the way up to Army platoon leader. When she came home in 2008, she admits she felt invisible. As executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jaslow's primary objective is providing support for all veterans. Particularly women vets, whom she said are greatly underserved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Healthcare is just one of the problems.