Dr. Turner was active duty Air Force for eleven years, and guard and reserve four years prior. In this photo she was serving as an aeromedical evacuation nurse in Bosnia for seven months during 1996. Second in command, she coordinated transport and flew aeromedical evacuations in and out of Tuzla earning an Air Medal for combat flying hours. While she served in the US Armed Forces, her duties often extended to coordinating the aeromedical evacuations of foreign national troops and local children in need of intensive care following land mine explosions and other catastrophic events. Barb is the Director of Academic Affairs, Asia/Pacific Military Programs.
Memorial Day is a Federal holiday celebrated the last Monday in May. The day commemorates men and women who died in service. This holiday was first dedicated in 1868 by General John Logan to honor soldiers of the American Civil War. Today, many celebrate the memory of military heroes by visiting cemeteries and decorating grave stones or flying flags at half staff. Memorial Day also signifies the start of summer and this anticipated three-day weekend is filled with barbecues and family gatherings.
Volunteer This Month in Honor of Memorial Day!
There are many ways to honor those who served, especially by volunteering at a military organization during our month-long tribute to our nation’s service members! We encourage all employees to visit VolunteerMatch starting in May to learn about volunteer opportunities at military organizations in your area.
Freedom Flag Phoenix Proceeds
In Phoenix, 100% of our Freedom Flag proceeds will be donated to the Salute A Soldier Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. Contact your Location/Campus Champion for details about your benefited nonprofits. If you are unsure who your Champion is, email community@phoenix.edu.
Salute A Soldier Foundation
The Salute A Soldier Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional assistance to the severely injured veterans, many of whom don’t receive the sufficient financial support they need to survive. The Foundation assists veterans in areas such as financial support for medical treatment, medical mobility such as wheel chairs, financial support for their families, and more.
While this is an Arizona-based organization, these veterans are not all from Arizona. Many of them grew up in your campus towns and many of them travel to facilities across the country for medical treatment. Our fundraising will not only help veterans financially, but it will show our support and gratitude to them for putting their lives on the line for our freedom.
“Your help during these difficult times was appreciated. Not sure what we would have done without your assistance. It has allowed us to keep our home. May God Bless You.”
- Assisted Veteran
You can learn more about Salute A Soldier at www.saluteasoldier.org.
Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. This non-profit organization was founded by veterans and brothers who were moved by the difficult stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Their services and programs include: advocacy, benefits counseling, caregivers retreats, coping/family services, peer mentoring, WWP Packs, and more.
The WWP Pack is their signature program. Backpacks contain essential care and comfort items including clothing, toiletries, calling cards and playing cards. They are provided to severely wounded service members being treated at military trauma centers.
"We are forever grateful for all the WWP packs you've donated for our wounded warriors that come through here to recover! I wish I could capture the expressions on their faces when we give them a Wounded Warrior Project pack with the basic necessities inside...it truly is priceless!"
- USAF Nurse, WWP Website
You can learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Helpful Links
www.usmemorialday.org
www.arlingtoncemetery.org
www.history.com/minisites/memorial