I am going to forego my usual Sunday night entry and give my time and the floor to Ms. Mary Lipsett.  She is a combat veteran and has earned the respect of those of us working on this project.  Please take the time to read her story and contact her for support.  This is exactly the kind of thing, The Graffiti of War Project & Foundation is all about, Supporting U.S. by any means Necessary!

Recently DC sent me a link. It's a overnight walk in NYC 18 miles for suicide awareness and prevention. They also sent me that 2011 about 343 US Army Soldiers committed suicide. That's nearly one a day, it's also stated the death rate in suicide is higher than those killed in combat. The highest are reservist and guards. Many of those called to duty were Police and Fire. I do not know if any fell prey to the demon called suicide.

I'm walking these 18 miles for my comrade's all past, present and future. Whom might consider entertaining that suicide demon. For my mother a Veteran. When my sister (a Veteran as well) died of an long term illness. My mother could not take her death and gave up on life. My sister died July 2008 then my Mother Sept 2008 exactly 2 months later to the day.

Myself upon returning from desert storm. Confused with PTSD and unknown illnesses. Trying to cope as well raising two small babies 3 and 5. I found the road was closed and I could not pass no matter how much I reached out. I too crossed the threshold and attempted suicide active duty. I'm here today because I had a good AF doctor that trust me to know me. He got word when my brother called him to inform him he was on his way to pick up my kids. Doctor told brother to stay put and next thing MP's and 1st Sgt were at my door putting me in handcuffs. Taking me into the hospital for days. When they came to get me they noticed I had given all my furniture away. My doctor said that was the point of no return. I continued to attempt to take my life. It's hard with memories of death and destruction, sick with unknown illnesses, 2 small babies and Army. I got a wake up call when a doctor said my OD level should have killed me. But went on to say I was lucky not to be in a coma. I knew there is one person stronger than I. God was not playing with me. I'm afraid of pissing God off and he then just leaving me bed ridden. I'll wait till he calls me home.

I am sick with Gulf War Unknown and the medication I take is unheard of. I know I am risking my health and life doing this walk. But I have to do it. I have no but to speak for them. We don't leave comrade's behind. I have what it takes to bring awareness to US Armed forces. That their is outside suicide prevention help as well. Military and VA are overloaded and need a back up help. I know this can reduce the rate of suicide's.

The walk is going to be very hard emotional. Remembering my incidents, my mothers and some fallen comrade's. One was when I was station in Fort Richardson. A E-7 had taken his family hostage with C4 in housing. The ending is that Soldiers released his family and shot and killed himself. He was a Desert Storm Veteran time frame 1994. My doctor had them come and get me when this was happening. Then he asked if I knew what was going on. I told him no I thought it was a training for MP's. He then informed me the Sgt being Desert Storm and killing himself. Then he ask how I felt. I told him I was pissed because he accomplished it and I can't. Doctor got mad but I told him if he wanted the truth or a lie. I was admitted for a couple of days. Nobody should ever have a heavy heart like mine thinking death is the only answer. Especially those who risk their lives for this country.

I would apperciate any help you can give to spreading the word. Although donations is for US Armed Forces. It also gives me the strength to walk it even more. I'm walking alone as I don't think this is for a spot light that I am doing good. This is something to save lives and heal some past hurt. This is the 20th year mark of Operation Desert Storms. God it's going to be hard and I anticipate crying the full 18 miles. Prayers are welcome

Please feel free to share this story
To donate
The overnight walk in NYC webpage
Mary Lipsett Participant 1903
It has a short story and will be updated.

Thank you so much for your interest
Mary Jane Lipsett
9322 3rd ave #190
Brooklyn New York 11209
202-696-5857
mjlfaithkeeper@yahoo.com

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Graffiti of War co-founders, Jaeson "Doc" Parsons and Melissa Parsons attend Q&A session with the creators of "Restrepo", the academy-award nominated documentary featuring, "One Platoon, One Valley, One Year" of footage showcasing the hardships of combat in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.

Arriving a bit in a rush, we entered the Creative Arts Center at West Virginia University with high hopes of garnering a moment of time from these amazing documentary giants.  Sitting in the auditorium filled with a wide range of demographics, from the stereotypical college journalist major to a Lt. Colonel in uniform, we waiting for the entrance of whom we came to see.  I had seen their film, a few times, and was moved by the footage they captured, the emotion that seemed to leap out of the 2-dimentional screen.  I had so many questions but had only a moment to introduce the project without overly plugging our interests.  I had narrowed down my list to a manageable 3 questions to ensure that I wasn't scooped by questions posed by those cued before me.   We listened intently as Sebastian and Tim recounted their experiences with the men of 2nd platoon.  You could feel their affection, see it in the way they recounted the experiences of their year in combat with America’s premier fighting force.  Through their words and select photos, you had a sense of how these journalists grew into a part of the platoon’s family.  Their influence, the men of 2nd platoon, remained on the lips and stares of these two men before us.  Tim spoke of his preconceived notions of what he expected to capture while with these men, and how this notion evolved throughout the year he spent with them.  After getting inside, through the walls that soldiers put up to outsiders, Tim explained he learned of the reasons of their dedication to each other.  Sebastian discussed the brotherhood that existed, beyond a friendship, the bond of one soldier to another, on service member to another.  This unbreakable, ultimately unbiased in combat, bond between the men who share horrors and live in hell together.  It was incredible to hear their stories, not just for the dialog and action, but to hear the love that still exists between these men and their brothers of 2nd platoon.  A bond, not to be lost in the years ahead. 

After the Q&A session, they graciously stayed after to sign autographs and take time to speak to each and every fan and curious student.  Their willingness to allow this type of access to them in light of their mainstream fame ahead of the Academy Awards this weekend, speaks volumes about their character as journalists/film makers and humanitarians.  I was able to speak with Tim and gave him a brief summary of the project, our latest brochure and a partial list of who we are working with.  He expressed real interest in the project and stated he will look over the materials and website in a few days when his schedule slows a bit. 

I also spoke with Sebastian Junger, who graciously signed our copy of his book.  The grueling schedule and long nights of lectures and "meet & greets" had taken their toll on him, but he spoke to us at length about the project and offered some insight into some of our questions.  He also stated he would take some time to look at the project and offered assistance in giving us some direction in the weeks and months ahead of our trip to Southwest Asia. 

We wish Sebastian and Tim the best of luck in the upcoming Academy Awards this weekend and we believe they are a shoe-in for "Best Documentary".  We encourage all of our fans to purchase "Restrepo", especially those who are not familiar with the struggles of deployed service members.  Their film gives an inside look into war from the perspective of the fighting soldier.  We are going to try and offer this DVD via our website for our fans and supporters in the weeks ahead. 

This is exciting news and a fantastic opportunity to the project in terms of support and direction.  We will continue to keep everyone posted regarding the reaction from Sebastian and Tim after they have had time to review the materials and visit the website.  In addition to the above, we have quite a bit of new developments in the works and we will be posting an update tomorrow with a full list of what is ahead and what our staff have been working on and the success behind it all.  Thank you to all of our fans and supporters, to Sebastian and Tim for risking their lives to create this film for America and the world to see, but most of all, we thank each and every warfighter, past and present, for their sacrifice behind the scenes, outside of the eye of the world media working and fighting so we at home don't have to.  Thank a veteran, thank a warfighter this week for what they have done and continue to do. 

Always Forward!

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons
docparsons@unconventionalmilitaryart.com
304.841.8203

Dear Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters,

This project & brand new foundation has been rapidly developing over the course of these chaotic, at times, but constructive, months.  We have, from the beginning, wanted to do something for our fellow veterans and current service members that would benefit every aspect of their life.  From their emotional and mental state to their creative minds and incredibly selfless acts of service.  And it really comes down to this:

When we were going through Basic training, either as Soldiers or Marines, Airmen or Sailors, we were getting yelled at, belittled, pushed to our physical and mental limits, but one thing kept us going, each other. 
When we were going through Advanced Training for our jobs, many of us, 68W you know what I am talking about, thought we were gonna have it easy and just go to school, then went through Basic all over again!  But we got through it, not because we like being yelled at, or being treated like red-headed step kids (no offense to our "ginger" fans out there).  We got through it, and had some fun, because of each other.
When we went to war, some foreign hot (or frigid) hell-hole thousands of miles from our warm beds, we didn't quit.  When we did some of the most difficult things, ever to be asked of a citizen of this Nation, we did it, not because of some politician, or policy maker, some President or Congressman, we did it because of US.  We did it for our brother on our left and our sister on our right.  We did it, and would do it all over again, because we had each other's back. 
Our reminders were everywhere, on our Tanks and Helicoptors, on those rucks we carried and those aid bags we wiped clean of blood, U.S........Us, you and me, and those we lost......US.

That was our mission and still is, as veterans, former soldiers and marines, and airmen and sailors.  US, By Any Means Necessary!  Why should our care for one another stop when we get our DD214, why should our support of one another cease when we get assigned to Fort Couch?  It doesn't have to and it Damn well shouldn't.  So, our mission at the Graffiti of War, is to continue that tradition of support and camaraderie to support our brothers and sisters to our left and to our right.  Why should we let the civilians corner the market on success.  We are millions strong now, our numbers have grown.  Our great-grandparents and grandparents did it in WWII, they came home and grabbed their success, took it and made it their own.  We can learn from the mistakes of Vietnam, we shall not be judged by those who never took a man's life for their country, that never watched their buddies die in their arms, that doesn't know what it is like to taste the blood of their brothers and sisters-in-arms while their life is sucked away thousands of miles from their loved ones.  We are strong, we made it through, we can accomplish anything because of what we have already accomplished. 

So join me, join US to ensure that never again will homelessness be in the same sentence as veteran.  Never again will a veteran go without, be without and be anything other than a success in this life that they have been graciously given, paid with the price of the blood of their friends.  Let us truly, Support US, by any means necessary.

Always Forward!

Jaeson

We can't express how important it is to know that other people believe in this project as much as we do.  Here's part of an email we just received:

Thanks again for everyone's support and help as we struggle to see this project through to completion.  Sometimes the mountains of paperwork, the un-answered emails, our lack of a giant budget, and all the other little annoying details seem to pile up.
Then, we get an email like this and it's all worth it.  Thank you to all of our supporters!

This has been a tough day, a tough week.......really a tough last 9 months.  You know the old saying...."Two steps forward.....One step back".  Well, I feel every time I take a few steps forward my face gets kicked in and I'm shoved in the dirt by the people I'm trying to help.

Case in point:

I have been pulling long; long hours working on do everything I can to get this project on the path that I believe we need to be on.  For starters, in order for this project to be a success, we MUST get the photos from Iraq before these walls; hescos, toilets, etc vanish forever when the drawdown is complete by next year.  I know that I am running out of time and this is partly my fault because of my loyalty to an organization that perhaps isn't as loyal to us as I had foolishly once thought.  So for the past few days and weeks I have been trying to do everything I can to find an alternative, with little to no response or success.   4 steps in the right direction......and pushed in the dirt.

In addition to that, because we don't have a team of people working on this we are forced to "wear" many hats around the organizations.  Unfortunately, this causes a bit of chaos with my life.  I have a wife, I have 4 children, I have a 19 credit hour schedule at West Virginia University and I have a multi-cultural, multi-faceted project with a non-profit foundation that is looking to earn (and believe me, you are NOT granted 501(c)(3) status, you earn that with blood sweat and tears) our tax-exempt status from the IRS.  In a perfect world, we would have a department for this, or at the very least, hire a service to help guide us through.  Of course, with our limited funding sources (all sources are my personal bank accounts) we don't have the capital to secure this service.  All of our capital (including my savings) is tied up in marketing this project and recently created non-profit foundation.  So, I have spent more time than I really care to count, on jumping through the hoops of the IRS, created, documenting, promising and forecasting (that's right, I have to attempt to see into the future for the IRS on how much I anticipate our foundation will raise every year for the next 3 years) and then, I have to prepare for exams for my Accounting class, my Biology class, my Math class and my History class and I can assure you they are not all multiple choice.   A few steps forward.......then spun around and booted in the back.

 And I would do this all over again, many times over because I think, I THINK what I am doing is going to help my brothers and sisters-in-arms and the veterans I served with and the family members that didn't get their loved ones back from the desert.  However, when I go and try to ask other organizations for help spreading the word, I get the door in the face, or hung up on, or told, there isn't enough room for another organization that helps vets and troops, that I am stepping on their toes.  And then I get flak from the very people I thought I was doing all of this for, the troops and vets themselves.  I take a few steps forward.....then kicked between the legs. 

 Maybe this project isn't what I thought it was.  Maybe there really just isn't a market out there for it.  Maybe it was just not the right idea.  But surely the foundation is a good idea, right?  I mean therapy available online!  That has got to work out well.  I would much rather go to groups or my therapist at home then to trudge in the snow or rain and drive and drive for a 45-minute group.  Surely this would be something that could really help, really change people.  But then I post it to a military forum along with the interview with SSG D from KCEN.  I conform to the "no outside links" and just let them know about the interview and that we are working on this now, since the forum is called "In The News".  And it’s for a good cause....surely they will want to know about it........here's your hat, don't let the door hit you in the @$$.

 I think I'm taking some time off.  I've reached my exhaustion point and I'm starting to forget why I got into this whole thing.  I am forgetting what it is all about.  I'm sorry for pushing you all.  I'm sorry for bitching and moaning.  I know this sounds corny, but really, I really want to help people, to change people, to change me too.  But the costs are adding up and this uphill fight for the last few months is wearing on me beyond what I can bear, right now.  I'll take some time off and get rejuvenated and be ready to fight again.  Take two steps forward........take a nap.

 In the mean time, if you need anything, my partner Jason "SSG D" Deckman is fully capable and able to answer your questions, comments, concerns, etc but you all rarely ask, but when and if you do, he is here to help, info@unconventionalmilitaryart.com.  If anyone comes up with ideas, let us know, if you think we should go into a different direction, let us know.  We are doing this for each other, for us and for you.  Thanks for listening, I needed that.  Please forgive my moaning and don't take offense.  We appreciate all of our fans, supporters, listeners and posters.  I'll be back soon.

 Always.

 Doc

This is the interview of Jason "SSG D" Deckman by KCEN Central Texas Now

The last couple of days I've been working on integrating our web presence.  Last week I developed a very simple app for our Facebook Page that embeds the tracking widgets for our Kickstarter project.  Our Page is also now set up to feed into Twitter, so if you're following us on Twitter, you won't miss a thing.  I've also figured out how to use HootSuite to monitor all of our feeds in one place, and I'm playing with some other social web tools like ping.fm and yoono.  I'll report here on how it works, but the overall goal is simple - to make sure our fans are kept up to date on what is going on.
This blog is listed on MilBlogging but hasn't been officially claimed, so this post should reconcile that.


As always, thanks to all of our fans for your support and assistance in giving us the benefit of your word-of-mouth advertising. You can't beat the personal touch!

- - SSG D

As many of you may know, this week we are awaiting the decision of our undisclosed media organization regarding the summer trip to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.  This decision will determine whether we are a "Go" for travel or that we need to secure an alternative sponsor(s) for our endeavor.

I posted an update on Kickstarter.com detailing the options we have and I will briefly indulge our supporters that haven't had a chance (shame on you) to visit our page on Kickstarter.  If indeed the unnamed media organization decides, in our favor, we have mountains of paperwork and requests to file with DOD but our staff, (the 4 of us there is) can handle this busy work with a smile.  This, obviously, is our best option and we remain confident that the organization in question will decide in our favor.  However, we need to prepare for the alternative. 

That being said, our loyalty to this particular media organization limits the depth to which we can investigate alternatives prior to the official decision.  Some may think that our loyalty puts us at a disadvantage if in fact the decision is not in our favor.  We, on the other hand, disagree and believe that this project's loyalty to the organization is one of the facets that will provide for a favorable decision.  This organization has been an avid support of this project, from the beginning, when our idea was just that and nothing more.  Now that we have grown into a cultural movement, we feel this also pushes the scale in our favor.

Now, if the winds of fate blow in another direction, the trip to Southwest Asia is not, by any means, reduced to rubble.  We do have options, but this is where the work spread from our desks and brains to ALL of our desks and brains.  We MUST have the help and support of a large portion of our fans and supporters.  According to Facebook, we have breached through 1,700 fans.  If 1/3 of our fans, even 1/4 of our supporters put in some work, we can and will achieve success in our endeavor to travel to the areas of operation we desire. 

You may ask, "But Doc, what do you mean by 'work'?"  I know many of our supporters are not financially able to provide in that manner.  Don't worry, that isn't what I mean by work.  That is one of the reasons we launched the Kickstarter campaign and that has gone so much better than I had predicted.  What I do mean is if we are to persuade prospective sponsors we will need all of the help we can get to a) persuade them of the merits behind the project and foundation and b) fully explain the lack of alternatives in capturing the images by this summer (2011).  To do this, we will need people to write emails, letters, etc to media organizations, troop support organizations and more to ensure we get the exposure we need to accomplish our goal.

Nothing is impossible, remember that.  They said it was impossible in 1776 but our Forefathers did it.  They said it was impossible in 1850, but President Lincoln did it in 1863.  They said it was impossible in 1932 but FDR said the only thing we had to fear was fear itself and we pushed through and WE did it.  They said D-Day was impossible, but WE did it.  Nothing is impossible and though the previous examples are far more important than this project, we really don't know what may become of it, who knows.  So, stick with us, we need your continued support more than ever.  We will never give up, that is a promise, we hope you won't give up on us and help us serve those who serve us.

Always Forward!

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons

We are currently working with Michele Rosenthal and HealMyPTSD.com to start providing "Virtual Support Groups".  We are still in the beginning stages of this new service, so please be patient with us as we stumble through what we need to accomplish and how.  Right now, you can go to www.HealMyPTSD.com/healing/supportgroups you can request more information about the services she provides.

In the coming weeks we hope to begin providing the ability to offer support groups to our veteran and service member supporters.  One of the issues with our VA system at the moment is the availability of groups for the times you need them.  In addition, many service members and veterans feel awkward, or embarrassed to seek help at medical facilities.  We want to put an end to non-treatment due to the stigma surrounding seeking help for your mental health.  Through the Graffiti of War Foundation, soon, our service men and women will be able to seek help from the comfort of their own home.  We hope that in the future we can offer therapy through the help of the VA and organizations willing to donate their time or provide services at for a very small fee.  We will continue to contact facilities and organizations to determine whether we can count on them to provide access to health care for veterans suffering from PTSD.  

Michele has been a great help to us in answering our questions and helping guide us down the right path.  We hope to continue to work with her, especially as the foundation continues to take shape.  Make sure you visit her website, www.HealMyPTSD.com and share it with your friends.

I want to encourage all of our fans to continue to share the idea behind this project with those they feel might be able to help.  Remember, you don't have to be in the military or a veteran to help, we appreciate anyone willing to support the cause.  And, supporting the cause doesn't always mean donating cash.  Believe me, I understand money is tight and jobs are scarce.  We can use your help in spreading the word via Facebook, or looking at websites that deal with PTSD that might not know about the project.  Further still, you can contact your local media networks, newspapers, TV stations, radio stations and let them know about the project.  The sky is the limit when it comes to spreading the word, the bigger you think, the better it is.  There is one thing I learned from my days as a financial broker (steady now, don't throw stones!), it is that if you shoot for the stars, at least you will hit the moon.  There is no one that I won't try to speak with about this project, celebrities, sports stars, politicians, etc.  I believe in the project, I believe in this foundation and the harder I work at spreading awareness, the chances of changing lives gets that much higher.  So, just because you can't donate, doesn't mean you can't do amazing things for this project, remember that.

Well, this week is coming to a close and I am ready for the weekend.  Thanks for all that our supporters do, and we hope we can count on you in the weeks, months and years ahead.  Don't forget to spread the word!

Always Forward!

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons

Among the thousands of things going on right now, we are in the middle of a massive change over to our new merchandise partner, Zazzle.com.  We have launched (in part) the store with some limited merchandise with the larger share over the course of the next few days.  However, I didn't want to put it off any longer so we have a limited assortment of new designs and images.  I can tell you now that this site is exponentially better, in a whole other class, than our last partner.  The amount of choice we have in the designs and our ability to manipulate images, text, etc far outpaces the previous store.  Therefore, this should solve any issues we had with our merchandise store and the relative lack of assortment.  In addition, the prices are lower and our cut of the pie is larger.  All around, this was a fantastic move, just a logistical nightmare that I have happily passed to Jason "SSG D." Deckman.

We have added a new page to our site, "The Foundation", which will be continuing to grow in the days and weeks ahead.  I encourage all of our fans and supporters to check out the page and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.  We have quite a bit happening in the next few days, too much to list.  I hope to be freed up from the merchandise page going forward so I can concentrate on operations and marketing.  Please forgive my relative absence in posting blog updates, I have been stretched pretty thin as of late.

The Kickstarter.com campaign has gone much better than expected and we have already passed the half way point.  We hope to raise 150% of our goal to further the cause and new directive.  We have made some fantastic new strategic alliances and have garnered the support of some key individuals at certain areas of the Veteran's Affairs.  I hope to have more on that front to update by next week.

As always, we appreciate each and every one of our supporters, from the loyal and steadfast early-birds from last spring to our newest ones from today.  Without your help and willingness to spread the word of the project and goals of the foundation, we would be far behind in our efforts.  We encourage you all to continue to help and support us by spreading the word and posting on social media outlets.  We have gained dozens and dozens of supporters through these channels and continue to do so as the day’s progress.  I look forward to hearing your comments and please feel free to contact me directly at any time with any question at docparsons@unconventionalmilitaryart.com. 

Always Forward!

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons