Stacy Bannerman, wife  of two-time Washington Army National Guard Iraq War veteran and author of “When the War Came Home” (2006)  to discuss rapidly rising rates of veteran interpersonal violence, military kids mental health issues, the huge toll of unending war on the families left behind, and her landmark legislation.

Medford, Oregon – Stacy Bannerman, founder and director of The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families, a 501c3 project, and author of the book, When the War Came Home, (Continuum Publishing, 2006) is speaking this Sunday, May 2nd, 2010  9:30-10:45 a.m., Room M-108, East Shore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue, WA.

Bannerman is just back from Washington, D.C., where she was one of 50 military spouses world-wide invited to the first-ever Military Spouse Summit, hosted by the Congressional Military Family Caucus.  Bannerman has provided testimony to nine different US Congressional Committees and state legislative committees.  She spearheaded the passage of the Oregon State Military Family Leave Act, and secured sponsorship of the federal Military Family Leave Act of 2009.  On May 26th, Stacy is delivering a proposal for what could be this nation’s first Military Family Advisory Council to the Oregon House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.  After nearly nine years of war, America’s troops and their families have been stretched and stressed to the breaking point. Come hear Bannerman, a nationally-recognized expert on the human costs of war in military families and veterans, talk about the immense psychological toll of the wars, see a slideshow from past events for women veterans and military kids, learn how society’s apathy shapes the experience of today’s military families, and what more must be done to help our veterans and families who are struggling with the battles that begin when the war comes home.

50 US Military spouses worldwide invited to participate in flagship summit hosted by the Congressional Military Family Caucus in Washington, D.C.

Medford, Oregon – Stacy Bannerman, founder and director of The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families, a 501c3 project, and author of the book, When the War Came Home, is one of 50 military spouses world-wide who have been invited to participate in the nation’s first Military Spouse Summit.  Hosted by the Congressional Military Family Caucus, a 60-member assembly co-chaired by Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, R-Wa., and Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., D-Ga., the Caucus was created to look out for the interests of military families, including issues such as spouse employment and aid for families with special-needs children.  Bannerman is the wife of an Army National Guard soldier and two-time Iraq war veteran Iraq.  She will be joining Mrs. Sheila Casey, wife of General George Casey, Army Chief of Staff, and other military wives representing all branches of the Armed Services, to discuss the issues facing military families as the result of the ongoing wars, and strategies for improving programs, policies, and services supporting military families.  Bannerman spearheaded the successful passage of the Oregon State Military Family Leave Act, secured sponsorship of the federal Military Family Leave Act of 2009, and will be delivering a proposal to create the country’s first Military Family Advisory Council in Salem next month.  The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families recently held Camp Howdy for children of deployed National Guard soldiers, and is planning a Sanctuary Weekend for Women Veterans in July.

Local organizations team up to offer recreational horseback riding day camps for children of deployed soldiers and veterans March 27-28, and April 10-11.

Medford, Oregon – As a way of supporting southern Oregon’s military kids, The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families, a 501.c.3 non profit project, and Freedom Horses, LLC, are teaming up to offer recreational weekends of fun in a safe, wholesome environment where youth day campers meet other military kids for friendship, adventure, and inspiration. Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, inpatient and outpatient mental health visits among military children have increased 50 percent. Children of combat veterans have higher rates of social, emotional, and academic problems than civilian youth.  A recent study by Army War College researcher Leonard Wong on the effects of multiple deployments on military adolescents revealed that increased activity by children reduced the level of stress.  National Guard children struggle even more than military kids living on post, because they do not have the peer support or recreational/experiential activities available to active duty youth.  Based on Certified Horsemanship Association instruction, and using natural horsemanship skills, youth ages 8 to 18, beginner through intermediate, will love Camp Howdy for Military Kids. This fun day camp is located at the Flying L Ranch, 776 West Valley View, Ashland, Oregon.

Scholarships are available for children of deployed troops, and we are raising funds to offer this program at no cost to local military kids.  Munchies Restaurant and Bakery in Ashland is providing a free lunch for the moms while their children are at camp.  Call Stacy Bannerman at 253-217-2153 to register or make a tax-deductible donation.

Blue Star wife introduces proposal to create landmark committee of military family members bearing the burdens of repeat deployments and caring for our veterans.

Medford, Oregon – On February 23rd, a proposal for what could be this nation’s first state Military Family Advisory Council (MFAC) will be delivered to the Oregon Senate Veterans Affairs Committee at a 3:30 pm hearing in the State Capitol.  Presented by Stacy Bannerman, wife of a two-time Iraq War veteran, the Oregon Military Family Advisory Council is modeled after state veterans’ boards and commissions.  Ms. Bannerman successfully spearheaded the passage of Oregon H.B. 2744, providing two weeks of time off for employed military family members during the mobilization of a loved one, and the introduction of the federal Military Family Leave Act of 2009.
Bannerman’s proposal to establish a state Military Family Advisory Council is believed to be the first time a state legislative body has been petitioned to empanel military family members in an advisory capacity.  According to Stacy Bannerman, “With the protracted wars and multiple deployments, military families are struggling with finding day care, health care, dealing with relationship issues, domestic violence, and deployment-related financial and mental health problems.  Military family members are the primary unpaid caretakers of veterans, and when a veteran comes home with a physical or psychological injury, the whole family hurts, but help for the family member can be hard to find.  The Military Family Advisory Council would provide a voice for our military families to assist the state, including the Oregon military and Department of Veterans Affairs, in better serving us and our loved ones. I salute the Oregon State Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for recognizing the sacrifices and service of Oregon’s military families.”

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Stacy Bannerman is the founder of The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families, which provides Sanctuary Weekends™ for Women Veterans, and advocates on behalf of the women who serve at home and in harm’s way, developing and promoting policies for military family support, and improved prevention, care, and treatment of the invisible wounds of war in our veterans and their families.  To arrange an interview with Stacy Bannerman, please contact her at 253-217-2153 or stacy@stacybannerman.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 2, 2009

SENATOR WYDEN AND STACY BANNERMAN, ARMY WIFE,
ANNOUNCE MILITARY FAMILY LEAVE ACT OF 2009.

Military wives applaud Senator Wyden’s sponsorship of landmark legislation to support military family members bearing the burdens of repeat deployments.

Medford, Oregon – On July 3rd, Senator Wyden (D-OR) will be joined by Stacy Bannerman, wife of a National Guard soldier serving his second tour in Iraq, to announce the federal Military Family Leave Act of 2009 at the Medford Armory.  Ms. Bannerman spearheaded the national Military Family Leave campaign to amend title 38 in order to grant military family members two weeks of unpaid leave during the deployment of a loved one.

According to a statement issued by Senator Wyden’s office: “Despite current efforts to allow family members to spend time together in response to significant events including military deployment, many individuals – such as those who hold part time jobs and work for small businesses – do not have this privilege.  The Military Family Leave Act of 2009 would make sure that everyone is given this right regardless of the hours they work or the size of the company that employs them.”

Stacy Bannerman said, “I have heard from too many spouses who had to choose between work and family while their soldier or Marine was serving this nation.  I am one of them.  I am delighted that Senator Wyden has championed this bill to support the families who support the troops, and have sacrificed so much over the past eight years of war.”

Earlier this year, Ms. Bannerman secured sponsorship of H.B. 2744 in Oregon to provide Military Family Leave.  The bill had unanimous support in the House, and recently passed the Senate, and is now awaiting Governor Kulongoski’s signature.

Military spouses from 6 states meet with dozens of congressional offices to request support for military family members bearing the burden of deployment.

Medford, Oregon – Military spouses and family members from across the country are keeping the pressure on Congress after spending several days on the Hill seeking support for a National Military Family Leave Act (NMFLA).   Stacy Bannerman, wife of a National Guard soldier serving his second tour in Iraq, says, “Recent changes to the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for caregivers of a service member who suffers a serious injury or illness while on active duty, or for family members of military personnel on or called to active duty for ‘any qualifying exigency’ are long-overdue.  But the general FMLA requirements render it meaningless for the majority of military family members.”

Active duty spouses re-locate frequently, while more businesses are becoming a virtual workplace, and replacing full-time workers with contract positions. Most Guard and Reserve families live in rural areas and work for small business.

In meetings with Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley, staffers for Montana Senators Tester and Baucus, and others, military spouses pushed legislators to provide for 15 business days (3 work weeks) or 21 calendar days unpaid leave for immediate military family members during any deployment lasting 180 days or more for which the service member would receive hazardous duty pay.  “When the soldier goes to war, so does the family and the burden of multiple deployments is really taking a toll at home.  Perhaps that’s why during Vietnam, married men without children were exempted from the draft for years, and married men with children were consistently deferred from military service because service would cause hardship upon the family. Those two populations comprise the bulk of today’s Armed Forces,” stated Bannerman.

Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Awards $5,000 for Flagship Project

January 22, 2009

Medford, Oregon – Sanctuary One at Double Oak Farm received a $5,000 grant today from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation.  These funds will launch a series of Sanctuary Weekends for veterans and military family members.  The first Sanctuary Weekend retreat for Women Veterans is scheduled for April 10-12.  Women veterans are the second-fastest growing demographic in the veteran population.  This community-based retreat will be one of the first in the nation to focus exclusively on the needs of women veterans.  Facilitators are women veterans and female therapists who are also family members of veterans.  The weekend includes outdoor activities at the 55-acre Double Oak Farm in the Applegate Valley; lodging at the Applegate River House; tools for stress management; a chance to meet and connect with other women veterans; and more.  Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2009, and scholarships are available, including travel reimbursement for Oregon residents.  More information is available at www.sanctuaryone.org.  Sanctuary One is a 501.c.3 organization, and is currently raising funds to make this weekend available at no cost to women veterans.