July 21, 2023 Dan Berei

July 21, 2023 | Just a Few Things

Welcome to this week's edition of Just a Few Things, where I share just a few things from the week that have inspired, motivated, interested or made me stop and think.

Why does Just a Few Things matter? Because we often find inspiration in the most unexpected of places. Maybe you'll see something in this week's edition that spurs you to action, inspires you to read something new or maybe you'll be moved to share a thing or two from your week with us!

And if you're thinking “wait, what does this have to do with flags?” Well, it has absolutely nothing to do with flags. Combat Flags has always been about more than flags - it's about community, sharing ideas and constant improvement. Let’s get to it.

An update: The 2022 Stop Soldier Suicide Impact Report

Stop Soldier Suicide recently released their 2022 Impact Report, a full report on the organizations activity, strategy, findings and impact from 2022. Top-line data points include more than 1,400 people served, a 23% increase in new clients and 78% of medium and high-risk clients reported being able to manage their thoughts and feelings related to suicide after receiving care.

You can read the full report at stopsoldiersuicide.org

A good read: Grateful Sicilians protect legacy of US paratroopers, nurse killed in WWII operation

Cristoforo Ventura, an elderly Sicilian, has dedicated his life to tending a memorial honoring 38 U.S. Army paratroopers and a Navy nurse who died in Sicily during World War II. Ventura, along with a local historian established the memorial on the 41st anniversary of the invasion. The memorial pays tribute to the fallen soldiers with their names inscribed on a plaque. Efforts by Ventura and others aim to counter revisionist efforts and ensure that the sacrifices of the Allied troops are never forgotten.

You can read the full story at the Stars and Stripes.

A story: Going to an actual music store

In last week's edition I shared the ways in which my family has been exploring and enjoying music through vinyl of the past few years, with a special emphasis on my son becoming more interested in music in recent months. It dawned on me after sending last week's email that he hasn't been to an actual music store... ever. So, on Saturday we packed up for a journey to a record store near Charlotte. He took no interest in the records (because, as he put it "we have these at home"), but he was FASCINATED by cassettes. Luckily we didn't leave with any cassettes, but we may find a boombox in our future with him.

Alright, that's it for this week's edition of Just a Few Things. I hope you've been inspired to try something new, read a book, reflect on your week or listen to a new podcast.

Please feel free to drop a comment or email with a thing or two from your week that I can share with others!

Have a good one!

-Dan

*You'll notice I included links in this week's Just a Few Things. These are not affiliate links (we get nothing in return for including them), I simply want you to have the chance to navigate to what I'm sharing easily.