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“Stand with us, not behind us”. That’s the slogan for the new organization in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, Veterans For Life (V4L). A few years back, I was fortunate enough to befriend a veteran by the name of Dennis Cave. Every generation of Dennis’ family has been in the military…. From his great grandfather to his nephews. When Dennis was only 17 years old, he volunteered to join the United States Army, and served for over 14 years between the Army and National Guard.  Commander of V4L, Dennis Cave at the Carolina Field of Honor If you’re a veteran in the Triad, you’ll find Dennis highly involved in veterans activities all over the community. Though Dennis was honorably discharged from the United States Army in July of 1975, he never stopped serving. Not only is he a member of AmVets, Disabled Veterans and the American Legion, but he has gotten V4L off the ground as a new organization, and now serves as the commander. I am always touched when I see veterans helping other veterans. There is a sense of brotherhood that I constantly hear about from every generation of service men and women. It’s an family-type bond that happens instantly with just an introduction, and seeing the kindness flow back and forth between those who have served is truly breathtaking.  The V4L Slogan, "Stand with us, not behind us" If you know of a veteran who needs anything, (yes LITERALLY anything), that’s what V4L is all about. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping their fellow brother and sister veterans. In monthly meetings, veterans and associate members discuss the needs of veterans in the community as well as personal veterans they know, and plans and connections are made to assist those needs. Dennis and the other members of the V4L board make it their job to get in touch with organizations who help veterans such as Goodwill, Saving Grace K9s, Horses that Heal and countless others so that when a veteran comes to V4L with a need, they can immediately make an introduction that might help them out… or even in some cases even save their life.  Members of V4L: Howard Watson, myself, Dennis Cave, Sandy Jolley & Don Timmons For anyone who wants to get involved with V4L or for any veteran who has a need, you can contact them through facebook at https://www.facebook.com/V4LPiedmont/. You don’t have to be a veteran to be a member, and you can truly make a difference from anywhere in the world.
Commander Dennis Cave always writes these words at the end of each post to his followers and members: “Always thank a veteran, tell your family you love them and remember to be humble and kind”. If you do that today, you certainly can’t go wrong. –Erinn xoxoxox
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 Richard's Coffee Shop (Photo: Zimbro Photography) In Mooresville, North Carolina, you will find a hidden treasure filled with love and honor. Years ago, an Army veteran named Richard Warren opened a tiny shop called “Pat’s Gourmet Coffee”, named after his wife. It developed into becoming not just a coffee shop, but a living history museum.  Part of the museum at the coffee shop (Photo: Zimbro Photography) Richard was a Vietnam combat pilot who flew a Huey attack helicopter (or “gunship”) with the callsign “Mustang 53”. He spent the last 14 years of his life honoring his fellow veterans until he passed away in 2009 of complications from exposure to Agent Orange. Just months before his death, he started forming a non-profit organization named “Welcome Home Veterans”, which oversees and keeps Richard's dream alive of recognizing, serving, supporting and honoring those who gave so much. And so, “Richard’s Coffee Shop” officially opened on July 4th, 2009 just down the street from the original site of Pat’s Coffee Shop… dedicated to honoring memories and offering support to all veterans.  Tribute to Richard Warren at Richard's Coffee Shop (Photo: Zimbro Photography) Though I never got to personally meet Richard, I feel like I know him as his legacy lives on in this incredible lively place! Respect, honor, duty and love of country is abundant in the hundreds of veterans who come to the coffee shop every single day. The history and stories that pass through those four walls is out of this world. There is now an amazing military museum with priceless artifacts from the veterans that visit the shop of all time periods, and many veterans still gather on a daily basis to share memories and stories with each other and the community. All veterans sign the “Book of Honor” the first time they visit the coffee shop which now carries the names of around 9,000 veterans from all over the WORLD! After they sign, each veteran is formally presented a two-row, beaded keychain that represents the American Flag, which they served, and either the branch of service or conflict they served in.  During a Letters From Home performance at Richard's (Photo: Zimbro Photography) For the past several years, the folks at Richard’s have become a second family to Letters From Home. We try to perform there at least once a year, and every time it’s like a family reunion filled with laughter, tears and patriotism! Richard’s Coffee and Welcome Home Veterans supports our mission as Letters From Home so much, and this year, we proudly sport their decals on our tour trailer all over the country.  The decal for Welcome Home Veterans proudly sits on the Letters From Home tour trailer. If you’re ever in Mooresville, be sure to stop by this magical place. You can visit their website at www.welcomehomeveteran.org. For veterans and patriot’s alike… there’s truly no place like it. –Erinn :) xoxox  Veterans and friends at Richard's (Photo: Zimbro Photography) (Repost from erinndiaz.com December 2017) This year, I wrote an entirely new holiday show for Letters From Home. One of everyone’s favorite parts of the show was not a song or a dance, but a monologue I wrote for Nelson that told the story of the Christmas Truce during WWII.  In the four years between 1914 and 1918, WWI killed or wounded more than 25 million people. The soldiers fighting in the cold trenches were familiar enough with the realities of combat to have lost much of the idealism that they had carried into war, and most longed for an end to bloodshed. The war, they had believed, would be over by Christmas, yet there they were in Christmas week still muddied, cold and in battle. But even through the devastation, there were still moments of joy and hope in the trenches of Flanders Field, and one of the most remarkable stories came during the first Christmas of the war. The first signs that something unusual was happening occurred on Christmas Eve. At 8:30pm, an officer of the Royal Irish Rifles reported to headquarters, saying: “Germans have illuminated their trenches, they’re singing songs and wishing us a Happy Christmas. Compliments are being exchanged but we are nevertheless taking all military precautions.”  The evening went on, and the two sides began serenading each other with carols….. the Germans sang silent night while the British started The First Noel. A few scouts met cautiously in no mans land… the shell-blasted waste between the trenches. A young man named Private Murker met a German on patrol, and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars, and a message to send back saying “If you don’t fire at us, we won’t fire at you”. Later that night, the truce began with a German soldier shouting: “English soldier, English soldier, a merry Christmas to you”! For some little time the troops were cautious, and did not even answer. Officers, fearing treachery, ordered the men to be silent. But up and down the line, the men started answering the Christmas greetings from the enemy. They did not resist wishing each other a Merry Christmas, even though they knew what tomorrow might bring. Blood and peace, enmity and fraternity…. War’s most amazing paradox.  Not a shot was fired.
The next morning, the war was on again, and there would be no further truce until the general armistice of November 1918. Many of those soldiers who celebrated Christmas together that year would not live to see the return of peace. But for those who did survive, the truce was something that would never be forgotten. The holidays are a time to reflect, love one another and be grateful for the good things that we have and see every day. This holiday season, we hope that no matter what battles you may be fighting in your OWN life, that you’ll allow the spirit of the season to bring peace into your heart. -Erinn :) xoxox (Repost from erinndiaz.com from November 2017) Cedar Rapids, Iowa is an outstanding city! We arrived yesterday afternoon, and went to load in at the stunning theatre located inside the Veterans Memorial building in downtown Cedar Rapids. What an incredible building! Not only does the building host a amazing theatre, but there is a museum in the front, and a memorial to Spanish American War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, AmVets, The Marine Corps League and veterans of WWI.  This show was a concert to benefit “Healing at English River Outfitters”, one of the most effective and humble organizations I have ever been honored to perform for. Healing at English River Outfitters (HERO) started on the belief that there is healing in nature, and they emphasize an outdoor experience where veterans can fish, hunt, and hike in the woodlands surrounding their facilities. Veterans with physical disabilities are able to participate fully using all-terrain wheelchairs that HERO provides.  HERO all started in May 2008 by 23-year military veteran Chuck Geertz, During its first year, English River Outfitters hosted just 6 veterans. The property was a very primitive site with no buildings, electricity, indoor plumbing or water. It was so effective and there was such a need that during the next 5 years English River Outfitters experienced tremendous growth. The site now features a finished lodge that is 30 x 40 and can accommodate 10 veterans at a time. In addition to having running water and electricity, the facility also has a deck and patio with a fire pit and fishing pond for families to enjoy, and the grounds have numerous trails and woodlands for hunting and hiking. Now, over 2400 Veterans and their families have been served by HERO, 3 families have avoided divorce through HERO’s peer-to-peer approach, and 19 veterans with PTSD who were considering suicide experienced healing and restoration at HERO!  There were Korean, Cold War, Golf War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in attendance, and I was especially excited to see so many lady veterans at the show who were a part of HERO. There were shared tears of remembrance, laughter and honor. My heart explodes with love for these men and women, and for humans like Chuck Geetz, who truly make a difference in this beautiful country.  Support Chuck and his efforts at HERO by visiting his website at www.englishriveroutfitters.org -Erinn :) xoxox  Veterans day has become my favorite holiday over the years. A day of celebrating those who served so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do EVERY single day. It’s not a day of mourning or remembrance, but a day to smile, feel proud to be an American and shake the hands of our true heroes.  This veteran’s day was especially beautiful. We had the honor of being in the 21st annual Phoenix Veterans Day Parade in Arizona. This parade is one of the largest veteran’s day parades in the country, and it is truly a spectacle to see. There were over 45,000 in attendance, not including the 2500 participants who were in the parade!  Our float was sponsored by APS, lead by the incredible Terry & Deb Ricketts. They are wonderful, warm and vibrant people who feel like family the minute you meet them. The float was surrounded by over a dozen clowns dressed like Uncle Sam and a beautiful eagle with a moving torso and head!  As we were waiting for the parade to start, we had a few hours to meet so many of the parade participants. Active military, Korean war veterans, Vietnam veterans, Reenactors, The Miss Arizona's, and so many of the country’s supporters, including Colonel Martha McSally, who is now a congresswoman, and was the first woman fighter pilot in history! Martha flew in combat following the 1991 lifting of the prohibition on woman combat pilots, and flew the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt 'Warthog' close air support aircraft over Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Southern Watch.  One of the most amazing honors of the day was hugging and singing to Ray Chavez, the oldest living Pearl Harbor veteran who recently had his 105th birthday. Ray was in the United States Navy, and if you’d like to watch a short documentary the History Channel produced on him you can CLICK HERE. My hands were shaking as I met this true hero.  As the parade started on it’s route, I was overcome with emotion. My dad would have been so happy to see so many patriots showing nothing but LOVE for our country. Not only were they honoring our veterans, but they were excited about America. Little kids, teenagers, adults and seniors alike were lined up on the streets in their red white and blue with genuine happiness, thanks and love towards our country. Even passing by the veteran’s home, there were dozens of men and women in their wheelchairs smiling, waving flags and saluting.  It’s this kind of love that I talk about in every show. With things like the news and facebook trying to get into our homes and hearts with negativity, the beautiful acts of love are not always featured on the news and in the media like I believe they should be. Our lives are our own and free because of those who put their fellow man before themselves. I am a humbled, proud American and so thankful for our veterans every day. -Erinn :) xoxox
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