Veterans Day

From http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day–a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans–living or dead–but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Casady 5th graders started to make Christmas cards for soldiers during DEAR/Study Hall Time at Mrs. Cherylynn O'melia's classroom.  Mrs. O'melia is the volunteer coordinator at the Middle Division.  The cards will be send in care packages to active military personnel serving overseas during the holiday season.

Casady YAC will volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club at Memorial Park, on Veterans Day, 11/11/2016 after school.  The teens will serve as needed.  A group will bring supplies to make Veterans Day Faith based holiday cards.  The cards made will be provided to Mrs. O'melia who donate the holiday cards to Blue Star Mothers of Edmond.  The warm wishes and art work will be placed in care packages for active military serving oversees. 

National Veterans Day Ceremony

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

November 10, 2016 | Volume 23, No. 45                             s YSA Now Accepting Applications from Local Organizations to Be Recognized as YSA Community Partners           Does your organization work with and/or share a commitment to mentoring, engaging, or empowering young people? If so, we want YOU as a Community Partner! YSA's Community Partner Program is a coalition of organizations that share a vision of youth as leaders today and tomorrow. While some Community Partners may be an affiliate or chapter of a larger organization, like a local Girl Scout troop, most are medium to small organizations working directly with youth. We're looking for like-minded organizations that share a vision of youth as leaders to join YSA's Community Partner Program. Receive resources, tools, best practices, and networking opportunities to strengthen your organization's work and create quality programming opportunities for young people in your community. To learn more about the Community Partner Program and apply, visit www.YSA.org/CommunityPartner     NEWS FROM THE FIELD It's what we need today. And that means, please, no jokes about moving to Canada. No thoughts about giving up on the nation you belong to, even if its majority and its institutions anger you. No opting out.  GRANTS & AWARDS 2017 Youth Garden Grant  Deadline: December 15 The 2017 Youth Garden Grant is an award designed to support school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities. Any nonprofit, school, or youth program planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 3 and 18 is eligible to apply. A total of 20 programs will be awarded packages valued at $750 or $500.    Puffin Foundation Grants for Socially Conscious Art Projects  Deadline: December 16 The Puffin Foundation offers grants for arts projects that discuss a wide range of social and civil justice issues.  A grant could provide valuable support to an afterschool program seeking to inform the local community about an important issue through the arts. Average grants range from $550 - $2,500. Bank of America Student Leaders Program Deadline: January 27 Every year, through the Student Leaders program, Bank of America connects 225 community-minded high school juniors and seniors to employment, skills development, and service. They're awarded paid summer internships with local nonprofits and participate in a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C. EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Deadline: January 31 EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants program provides financial assistance to community-based organizations, and local and tribal governments working on projects to address environmental and public health concerns. EPA awards grants that support activities designed to empower and educate affected communities and to identify ways to address environmental and public health concerns at the local level. Approximately 40 one-year projects will be awarded at up to $30,000 each nationwide.      STORIES OF SERVICE Everyday Young Hero: Sarvesh Sadana   Sarvesh Sadana (16, Fremont, California) is an anti-poverty advocate who provides California homeless residents with shoes. He co-founded a non-profit organization called Shoecyclist that donates gently used footwear to individuals without homes. California has approximately 116,000 residents experiencing homelessness. Lack of access to good shoes leads to a lot of foot-related medical issues.  So far, Shoecyclist has provided 2,000 pairs of gently used shoes to the Bay Area homeless. RESOURCES & TRAININGS The Be an Everyday Young Hero series provides project replication guides to enable you to tackle pressing local, national, and global community issues.

SERVICE SONG OF THE WEEK "Spread a Little Love Around" - Ricky Skaggs "Sometimes this crazy world can make us all feel bad. I sit and watch the news and just get mad. We need to stop and smell the roses in the ground So get out today Spread a little love around Talk to a neighbor Volunteer a favor ... We can change the whole world if we start in our hometown So get out today Spread a little love around." The complete Service Songs of the Week playlist from 2012-2016 is at  http://bit.ly/servicesongs