The TAPS Daily - November 4, 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. Follow 2020 Election Results Live: Nation Waits for Final Vote Counts
   Time
   Votes are still being counted across the U.S. after Election Day failed to deliver a definitive result, the outcome to be determined by final tallies in a familiar handful of battleground states.
2. What veterans and service members want from the next commander in chief
   Military Times
   Veterans, active duty service members and advocates have weighed in on what they want to see done for the military community over the next presidential term.
3. Ninth U.S. service member dies from the coronavirus
   Stars & Stripes
   A ninth service member has died from the coronavirus as the military nears 59,000 cases of the disease, according to Pentagon data.
4. COVID-19 Cases Reaching Record Highs in Military, Among Veterans
   Military.com
   The VA is seeing a resurgence of patients with COVID-19, with the number of active cases at 6,454 as of Tuesday, exceeding the record high of 6,424 set July 20.
5. Tax Breaks Coming to Some Vets, Surviving Spouses in These 3 States
   Military.com
   Voters in three states moved decisively to approve measures aimed at offering support and appreciation -- in the form of tax breaks -- to veterans.
6. Military ballots likely among those left to be counted
   The Hill
   Tens of thousands of military ballots are likely among those that still need to be counted in key swing states where the presidential race remained too close to call on Wednesday.

• A Stone Drum Is at the Center of This New National Veterans Memorial
  Military.com
  Native American veterans will finally get their own memorial on this Veterans Day at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial – why listing the names of the fallen matters
  We Are The Mighty
  Listing the names of the fallen matters for all the obvious reasons and the way returning veterans were treated in the US after coming home from war.
• WWI Museum will get jump on Veterans Day: Skydivers to start daylong celebration
  Stars & Stripes
  The "Legacy Jump" will kick off the Veterans Day celebration November 11 at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
• Veterans History Project celebrates 20 years with virtual concert series
  Connecting Vets
  The Library of Congress Veterans History Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of online concerts and panel discussions starting on Friday and running through November 14. 

• 48 Ways to Cope with Teenage Grief
  Teenage Grief Sucks
  Finding ways to cope with hard situations is essential. Here's a list of 48 ways you can cope with teen grief.
• Things Weren't Perfect, & That's Okay
  Teenage Grief Sucks
  "When someone dies, we collectively tend to only remember the good parts of them. At least, we only talk about the good parts."
• Bereavement Reactions Of Children & Young People By Age Group
  Kids Health
  Bereaved children and teenagers will need ongoing attention, reassurance and support. It is not unusual for grief to resurface later on, even well after the death.
• Grades K–5: Grief Drawing Activity
  Scholastic
  Teachers are in a unique position to witness children struggling with grief. This activity is intended as a resource that teachers can draw on when they encounter grief in the classroom. 

• 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.

• Number of veterans serving in Congress could slightly decrease after election
  Stars & Stripes
  53 veterans ran as Democrats for House seats and 110 ran as Republicans. In the Senate, 19 veterans ran in 17 races — including some of the tightest races of the night.
• There are still tens of thousands of military absentee ballots yet to be counted
  Military Times
  Ballots from military and overseas U.S. citizens are still being accepted by 29 states, including some states where the results are still up in the air.
• Former Naval Aviator, Astronaut Mark Kelly Defeats Martha McSally to Claim Senate Seat
  Military.com
  Senator Martha McSally, a Republican and retired Air Force colonel, has lost her Senate seat to Democratic challenger, Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and NASA astronaut.
• Iraq Veteran Joni Ernst Wins Senate Reelection in Nail-Biter Race
  Military.com
  Senatore Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican and retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, won her race against Democrat Theresa Greenfield late Tuesday.
• Representative Elaine Luria Defeats Scott Taylor in Showdown Between Navy Veterans in Virginia
  Military.com
  Representative Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat and retired Navy commander, edged out her Republican challenger to keep her seat in the House.
• Election 2020: Women veterans run for Congress race results
  Connecting Vets
  1 upset, 4 re-elections and challengers fall short in women veteran races for Congress so far.
• Former White House Doctor, Navy Admiral Ronny Jackson Wins House Seat in Texas
  Military.com
  Dr. Ronny Jackson, a retired Navy flag officer, has picked up a congressional seat representing Texas in the state's right-leaning 13th District.
• Army Emergency Relief looks to convert $1 million into grants for soldiers
  We Are The Mighty
  Army Emergency Relief expanded its support to keep up with the evolving impacts of COVID-19. Now they’re going a step further in easing financial burdens for soldiers and their families.
• In Change, Fitness Gear OK’d for Wear at Military Commissaries, Exchanges
  Military.com
  It just got a lot easier for troops and families to hit the commissary or exchange after the gym or their child's soccer game.

• How to manage post-Election Day stress, anxiety as results roll in
  FOX News
  Remember to stay focused on what you can control, experts say.
• National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit
  IACP
  The Action Alliance, of which TAPS is a member, recently released a new National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit in conjunction with partners that is designed to support agencies and departments to address officer mental health and wellness concerns.
• The searing pain of losing a service member to suicide calls us to action
  Military Times
  Stay in close touch with loved ones and friends in uniform. The usual conversations are fine, but in your conversations with them, be unafraid to go deeper.
• Teens who spend more time in sports and art and less in front of screens have better mental health
  CNN
  If you're worried about your kids' mental health, particularly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing mandates, less screen time and more extracurricular activities will help.
• How I Learned to Find Joy During Times of Grief
  Vogue
  You don’t just wake up feeling full of joy when it feels like the world is falling apart. Instead you have to make a plan to celebrate and enjoy the things that you love.
• The 5 Best Foods to Eat When Anxious, Says a Harvard Psychiatrist
  The Beet
  Incorporate more stress-busting foods that allow you to be pro-active in taking better care of yourself.

• The military community reacts to the 2020 election
  Military Times
  A nervous nation is bracing for what some have warned could be a contentious election as final results of this long-fought race are tabulated.
• New Mexico Air Guardsmen help the state COVID-19 mission with the CARES Act team
  Connecting Vets
  The CARES Act allowed for members of the Guard to be put on orders full time to support the needs and assistance of New Mexicans during the global pandemic.
• Army distributes 1.6 million flu vaccines, reaffirms importance during  COVID-19 fight
  Connecting Vets
  With the annual flu season now upon us, the Army Medical Materiel Agency is working to distribute nearly 1.6 million doses of influenza vaccine.
• Osan airman found dead in dormitory
  Air Force Times
  Senior Airman Richard Samaroo, 21, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, was discovered in his dorm at about 12:25 p.m. that day, Osan said in a release Tuesday.
• Behold the glory of the Air Force chief’s very own BBQ brisket recipe
  Task & Purpose
  While many people know General C.Q. Brown as the top officer of the Air Force, he also has a passion for BBQ that goes all the way back to his Texas childhood.

• How veterans power the polls in 2020 election
  Military Times
  Across the country, veterans volunteered to work at the polls during the 2020 election.
• Alabama teacher and Army veteran crowned Ms. Veteran America
  Stars & Stripes
  The judging criteria included a grueling interview, knowledge of military history, fundraising and advocacy for homeless female veterans. Prior Ms. Veteran America winners have volunteered at TAPS Good Grief Camp mentors.

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