Page 1 - Executive Summary BC III - final
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Veterans in Our Midst:
                                                    A Summary of the Process



               The opening session (about 100 attended)

               This third annual Big Conversation event on Jan 26 was a panel presentation on the challenges
               faced by returning military men and women and veterans, followed by a moderated question and
               answer period.  Middleham and St. Peter's Episcopal Parish has offered these "Big Conversation"
               events in the belief that communities can benefit from the opportunity to learn about important
               issues through open and civil dialogue.

               The goal of the session was to provide the audience with a much broader understanding of the
               challenges faced by returning military men and women  and veterans, the resources that are
               available to them, and what we might do as individuals and communities to support them.

               Panelists

               Dr. Al Brewster         Battle Buddies
               Dr. Mark Chapin         Team Leader, Annapolis Veterans Center
               Alan Crawley            Local Veterans Employment Representative
               Lawrencia C. Pierce     Deputy Secretary, MD Dept. of Veterans Affairs
               CDR Mary Vieten, PhD  Clinical Psychologist / expert in treating PTSD

               Moderator:  David Deaderick

               The Follow on sessions  (about 30-40 attended each session)


               Each of these provided for a much deeper discussion of the topic and the implications for our faith.

               January 29     Veterans' Roundtable /Family Impact Issues - Lawrencia Pierce
               February 5     Veterans Who Slip Through the Cracks / Homeless Veterans -
                              Lanny Lancaster
               February 12    Soul Repair:  Moral Injury and Reconciliation - Bob Stephenson
               February 19    PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury -CDR Mary Neal Vieten PhD


               Next Steps  April 30


               21 people convened to set plans for next steps.  See summary description for the details.

               Contact information:

               www.middlehamandstpeters.org

               Hugh and Diane Davies  410-326-0370  daviesh@comcast.net
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