The TAPS Daily - November 3, 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. America Votes on 2020 Election Day
   Time
   After a nearly 2-year campaign cycle upended by a pandemic, Election Day of 2020 has arrived.
2. Election Night Viewer's Guide: Why You May Need To Be Patient
   NPR
   You're probably anxious about the results, but patience may truly be a virtue on election night.
3. More National Guard Troops Activated in Preparation for Election Day Unrest
   Military.com
   On the eve of election day in the U.S., more National Guard troops were notified to be at the ready in case of civil unrest as results roll in.
4. Federal judge orders USPS to rush delivery of mail ballots as deadlines near
   The Hill
   A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday ordered the U.S. Postal Service to sweep facilities for remaining mail ballots and rush their delivery, as receipt deadlines close in.
5. How to get work done on a huge news day
   BBC News
   Millions will be watching the election – but they also have to work. What's the best way to stay on task when days are filled with headlines and breaking news?
6. DoD continues to train as COVID-19 cases spike
   Connecting Vets
   The Department of Defense is soldiering on, so to speak, despite reporting a new record high number of COVID-19 cases almost every day in October.
7. More than 61,000 children got COVID-19 last week, a record
   NBC News
   Pediatric cases now account for 11 percent of all cases in the U.S.
8. The "tough conversation" families should have before gathering for Thanksgiving this year
   CBS News
   With coronavirus cases rising across the country, families should have "tough conversations" before they decide to gather for Thanksgiving or other holidays.
9. The WWII Memorial and the role of Gold Star families
   We Are The Mighty
   There are 4,048 gold stars on the Freedom Wall of the National World War II Memorial . Each one represents 100 American military deaths.

• History of Veterans Day
  VA.gov
  In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
• 2020 Veterans Day Teachers Guide
  VA.gov
  A guide to help your students connect with veterans who served in the past, as well as service members now on active duty.
• A roundup of free food and discounts for Veterans Day for those who served
  Stars & Stripes
  Here are some of the freebies and discounts being offered in appreciation on Veterans Day.
• Local Gold Star Mom honors her son and all veterans every day
  Florida News Line
  “I just wanted people to know that Charlie was a regular kid growing up with a dream to serve our country. There are so many more kids like him, and they want to do something for others.” 

• Can Kids Feel Election Stress?
  Motherly
  As with the pandemic, it's essentially impossible to insulate kids from the impact of this election. This means we don't have to, and probably shouldn't, shy away from discussing it with them.
• Supporting a child with grief and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic
  YoungMinds
  Tips, advice and where to get support for your child's mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Five Ways to Help Your Child Remember and Celebrate Loved Ones
  HealthyChildren.org
  Here are five ways from TAPS Advisory Board member, Allison Gilbert, parents can help their children and teens remember lost loved ones in healthy, healing ways.
• GriefTalk Live
  National Alliance for Grieving Children
  Learn how different organizations help grieving children and their families. Free webinars all of November, Children’s Grief Awareness Month.
• What Children Want You to Know When A Grandparent Dies
  Our House
  Here's what to say, and what not to say, when a child loses a grandparent.

• 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.

• These 2020 State Ballot Measures Could Offer New Benefits to Veterans
  Military.com
  Here's what you need to know about 2020 ballot measures affecting veterans.
• Troops Are Voting Absentee in Record Numbers. But How Many of Their Votes Will Count?
  Military.com
  Service members have been mailing absentee ballots at a record pace this election.
• After 8 Months of Delays, VA Launches New Electronic Medical Records System
  Military.com
  After several months-long delays, the VA has announced a major milestone in adopting a new electronic health records system.
• Jon Stewart, Veterans Advocates Rally for Bipartisan Burn Pit Legislation
  Military.com
  During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military burned trash in open pits , a process which releases dioxin; the same chemical in Agent Orange that caused problems for Vietnam veterans
• Pentagon study says not enough rape cases are going to trial with proper evidence
  Military Times
  A group of criminal justice experts who reviewed nearly 2,000 military rape cases found that a good number had been sent to court-martial without enough evidence to convict.
• TRICARE Flu Resources
  Tricare.mil
  According to the CDC, the flu vaccine prevented 4.4 million flu illnesses and 3,500 flu-associated deaths. Make sure you and your family are protected for flu season. Get vaccinated. 

• How to stay calm on Election Day and beyond, according to meditation and mental health experts
  Insider
  Experts in mental health and wellness share how to deal with feelings of anxiety surrounding the election, from setting clear boundaries to allowing yourself space to process.
• Kevin Love Is Backing the World's First Mental Health Gym. So, What's That?
  Inside Hook
  TAPS friend, Kevin Love, is helping to give people the ability to pursue emotional fitness in the same way they would physical fitness - through a local gym.
• How to talk about your mental health at work when everything is stressing you out
  CNBC
  Even with formal avenues to get support at work, talking about mental health can still be daunting or just awkward. Here are some strategies that can help.
• Talking About Mental Health with Your Employees — Without Overstepping
  HBR
  You may have checked in with your employees back in April when the crisis was acute, but you need to keep doing it.

• National Guard Election Day update: More than 3,600 troops active in 16 states
  Military Times
  The National Guard is gearing up to activate across the country to support the November 3 general election in several capacities.
• Meet Wyoming Guard's Everest-climbing, ranch-owning, one-man Election Day cybersecurity army
  Army Times
  More than 15 states have activated or plan to activate National Guard troops in connection with Tuesday’s election. By comparison, the Wyoming National Guard has activated one soldier.
• SAPRO Director Pledges 'Zero Tolerance' for Sexual Assault, Harassment
  Defense.gov
  The new director of the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office hit the ground running after being in the field for many years.
• Dozens of new coronavirus cases reported at Army base in Wiesbaden
  Stars & Stripes
  More than two dozen coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S. military community in Wiesbaden in a little over a week, a German official said Tuesday.

• In Memoriam: Famous Veterans Who Died in 2020
  Military.com
  Remembering a few notable U.S. veterans who made a lasting impression both in and out of the military before leaving us in 2020.
• Sports Heroes Who Served: Golfer Landed in Normandy During WWII
  Defense.gov
  Golf icon Bobby Jones who founded the Augusta National Golf Club and co-founded the Masters Tournament was also part of World War II's D-Day landings on the French coast of Normandy.
• Program clears bike trail for recovering soldiers during pandemic
  Connecting Vets
  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Soldier Recovery Unit has used the time constructively.

• Military Family Support
  Defense.gov
  DoD recognizes the service and sacrifice of our more than 2.6 million military family members, and dedicates resources, services, policies and programs to support them across the globe.
• Mother-daughter share MMIII test launch experience, decades apart
  Connecting Vets
  In the early morning of June 8, 1994, a then-1st Lt. Linda Tonnies helped launch an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM. Little did she know that 26 years later, her daughter would do the same.

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