The TAPS Daily - November 13, 2020

Welcome to The TAPS Daily - curated news and resources relevant to military, veterans, and their families. For more news and resources, visit our Government Resources page.

1. TAPS, Wreaths Across America team up to honor those who served and died for our country
   Honor and remember our country’s fallen heroes by sponsoring a Remembrance Wreath that will be laid on the graves of our military and veteran loved ones.
2. General Milley’s wife saved vet who collapsed at Veterans Day ceremony
   NBC News
   When a bystander collapsed at the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the spouse of the nation’s top military officer rushed to his aid. Hollyanne Milley is a practicing nurse and a TAPS Ambassador.
3. NFL increasing grants to military organizations
   ESPN
   The NFL has expanded plans to honor, empower and connect the nation's military service members, veterans and their families. TAPS is among the organizations partnering with the NFL.
4. NFL on Twitter: "John Kelly keeps his father Colonel Paul Kelly's memory alive through service.
   NFL
   As part of the NFL’s Salute to Service program, New England Patriots legend, Willie McGinest, put together a special surprise for a TAPS survivor following in his fallen hero father’s footsteps.
5. The power of nature inspires and heals
   Military Times
   A new outdoors program launched by TAPS, A Breath of Fresh Air, supports families of the fallen and veterans by focusing on tools like grounding techniques through nature’s metaphors, how the changing landscapes of the natural world change the inner landscapes of our hearts and minds.
6. Many military families are struggling in the era of COVID
   NBC News
   “That is going to have detrimental effects on military families for years to come.”
7. Navy Veteran, Contractor Killed in Apparent Steam Pipe Explosion at VA Hospital
   Military.com
   A Navy veteran who worked at the Veterans Affairs medical center in West Haven, Connecticut, was one of two men killed in an apparent steam pipe explosion at the facility.
8. CDC: Proportion of pediatric ER visits for mental health increased sharply amid pandemic
   The Hill
   The CDC data found mental health-related emergency room visits increased 31 percent for children between the ages of 12 and 17 from March to October compared to the same period in 2019.

• Supporting A Bereaved Child
  Winston’s Wish
  Advice on supporting bereaved children and young people, including guidance on topics including talking to children about death, attending a funeral and coping with anniversaries.
• NAGC Holiday Toolkit: Supporting Grieving Children During the Season of Family
  National Alliance for Grieving Children
  This holiday toolkit provides ideas and inspiration for families to celebrate loved ones, those present and those who have died.
• 10 Myths About Children & Grief
  COPE Foundation
  Learn more about common misconceptions about children and bereavement.
• It's Okay to Laugh
  Teenage Grief Sucks
  It's okay to embrace the happy moments that come with grief.

• NFL increasing grants to military organizations
  WTOP
  Since 2011, more than $44 million has been raised for military and veteran support organizations to include TAPS, an official NFL partner.
• 3 Step Hiking Guide to Prepare for Any Trail - Even Grief
  There is power in pairing movement with time spent outdoors for our physical, mental and emotional health. Get the resources for your future hiking.
• TAPS Magazine Winter 2020
  Check out the latest issue of TAPS Magazine.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Upcoming Events
  Make plans to join your TAPS Family at an upcoming event.
• TAPS News Archive
  Catch up on all the TAPS news stories over the years on the TAPS media resource page.

• Shake-Ups Coming for Some Military Congressional Committees After the Election
  Military.com
  The makeup of the Senate and who chairs its committees is another matter, dependent on the outcome of two runoff elections in Georgia on January 5.
• Buchanan joins sponsors of bill to assist veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
  Herald-Tribune
  Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) signed on as a co-sponsor to the proposed Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. TAPS is a supporter of this legislation.
• Retiring Rep. Phil Roe, a powerhouse legislator on veteran issues, leaves a powerful legacy
  Stars & Stripes
  Dr. Phil Roe, the top Republican on the House Veterans Affairs committee, is retiring. He has been a leader at critical times for veterans and families of the fallen. Here's a look at his legacy.
• Senators introduce key bill to help protect veterans who experience VA medical malpractice
  Connecting Vets
  A key House bill has been introduced in the Senate, signaling further bipartisan support for game-changing legislation aiming to protect veterans who experience medical malpractice at VA.
• Veterans Often Pay More For VA Loans, Costing Them Thousands More
  NPR
  Their service entitles them to low-cost loans, but veterans often pay more.
• Navy faces lawsuit for allegedly falsely denying retirement disability claims
  Connecting Vets
  A class-action lawsuit is accusing the U.S. Navy of unlawfully denying military disability retirement benefits to more than 16,000 Navy and Marine Corps veterans for more than 15 years.
• ADA supports legislation to help military families
  ADA.org
  The Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act of 2020 would give military spouses with valid professional licenses in one state reciprocity in the state where their spouse is currently serving.
• Smith's outdoor therapy vets bill clears Senate
  Insider NJ
  Legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to help veterans heal through outdoor recreational therapy cleared the Senate and was on its way to the President’s desk for signing.
• Pentagon differs on post-election Hatch Act rules
  Federal Times
  Civilian and servicemember Department of Defense employees may have to refrain from certain political behavior for longer than their colleagues at other agencies.

• Pandemic, Prejudice Leave Many in Need of Mental Health Help
  US News & World Report
  COVID-19 is highlighting disparities in mental health – and in the factors that fuel it.
• Prayers and grief counseling after COVID-19: Trying to promote healing in long-term care
  CNN
  A tidal wave of grief and loss has rolled through long-term care facilities as the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 91,000 residents and staffers.
• COVID stress taking a toll on children's mental health, CDC finds
  NBC News
  The findings "highlight the importance of continued monitoring of children’s mental health throughout the pandemic."

• Top contender for Biden Defense chief would be historic pick
  The Hill
  One of President-elect Joe Biden’s leading contenders to be Defense secretary wouldn’t challenge Washington's defense orthodoxy, but she would break barriers in another way.
• Puerto Rico to activate National Guard to fight COVID-19
  Military Times
  Puerto Rico’s governor announced she will activate the National Guard to help enforce a curfew and other measures aimed at curbing a rise in COVID-19 cases.
• Pentagon Denies Reports that Marine Raiders Are Training Troops in Taiwan
  Military.com
  The U.S. is disputing reports that Marine special operators are spending a month in Taiwan to train local forces -- a move that likely would have drawn strong criticism from China.
• Enlisted sailors on Navy warships are at higher risk of COVID-19 than officers, study finds
  Task & Purpose
  Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are more likely to spread among enlisted crew members on Navy ships, a new study released this week found, due to the sailors' tight living and workspaces.

• Native American Veterans Have Unique Transition Needs. They Deserve the Nation’s Help
  Military.com
  Our nation’s armed forces have a rich heritage of Native American and Alaska Native service, from Ely Parker in the Civil War to Ira Hayes at Iwo Jima.
• For WWII veteran, medals mark a measure of survival
  Connecting Vets
  Fred Becchetti doesn’t hesitate when asked what he was doing on December 7, 1941.
• Across All Generations, More Veterans Are Finding Jobs
  Military.com
  Veterans are faring better in the job market than the general population.

• The Wild Gang is a group of fiancées who lost their military partners, fighting for recognition
  We Are The Mighty
  Because none of the Wild Gang was married, they don’t receive any Gold Star benefits and are largely forgotten by the larger military community.
• Uniform belonging to veteran of both world wars returned to family
  Connecting Vets
  When Ann Siegel found an old uniform in her mother’s house after she died in 1986, she was quick to recognize that it had some form of historical significance.

Banner photo courtesy of the School of Advanced International Studies | John Hopkins University.