Wounded Warrior Project Applauds Reintroduction of Major Richard Star Act to Senate, House

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2021 -- The Major Richard Star Act of 2021, S. 334 / H.R.1282, is a major legislative priority for Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), which supports its reintroduction in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The act was formerly introduced during the 116th Congress as S. 3393 and H.R. 5995.

Under current law, when service members retire from the military, they are entitled to retired pay from the Department of Defense (DoD) and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if they were injured during service. However, only military retirees with at least 20 years of service and a disability rating of at least 50% can collect both benefits simultaneously. For all other retirees, there is a dollar-for-dollar offset of these two benefits, meaning they must forfeit a portion of the benefits they earned in service.

Black History Month Stories to Read with Your Children All Year

Wounded warriors and their families have joined award-winning children’s book author Jesse Byrd multiple times during the last year for book readings, storytelling tips, and ways to connect with each other.

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) gatherings — virtual and in person — offer injured veterans the chance to form bonds with one another, their families, and their communities. These events help warriors and their families remember they’re not alone and that no matter what they’re going through, there are people who care about them and can help.

Feeling Stuck? Your Fitness Plateau Might Not Be a Bad Thing

Michael Cumming served 12 years in active duty infantry in the Marine Corps, with deployments to Iraq. He faced PTSD and survivor’s guilt when he returned to civilian life and remembers feeling lost.

A VA counselor learned Michael used to mountain climb and encouraged him to reclaim it as a healthy hobby. Being in good shape for climbing, and understanding the psychological aspects of reaching summits, gives him an edge on his fitness training. But even Michael is not immune to hitting fitness plateaus. That’s why a Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) class on the subject got his attention.

Warrior Runs to Remind Veterans: “I can, you can, we can. Never alone.”

On Dec. 18, Marine Corps veteran Guadalupe Hernandez began a 250-mile run from Dallas to Houston to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and veteran suicide. She is registered with both Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) and the Travis Manion Foundation, a WWP partner that unites communities to strengthen America's national character by empowering veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop and lead future generations.

A Super Surprise: Warrior Rewarded For Community Efforts

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2021) — James Martin didn’t flinch.

When the coronavirus pandemic brought life to a screeching halt last year, the Marine veteran continued forward, reaching out to injured veterans and their families who were isolated at home. He was one of the first to join the Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Discord server, which connects injured veterans to one another virtually.

“I remember in the first week or two, it went from 25 to 300 participants, from 300 to 500, from 500 to 700. And I’m like, ‘Wow, this is going to be epic,’” James recalled.