Sgt Patrick R McCaffrey Sr
Foundation for War Veterans
His last day, two hours before his own death, Patrick on
the right, helping a friend who had collapsed from heat
exhaustion, June 22 2004, Balad, Iraq

PROJECT PROPOSAL

VETERANS’ VILLAGE







Problem

As the conflict continues in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places, the prevalence of
soldiers coming home with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will become a major
concern for our society. PTSD is characterized by hyper-vigilance, anxiety, nightmares,
flashbacks, anger, emotional numbness, paranoia, depression, and insomnia. Any
where from 13 to 16 percent of veterans are diagnosed with PTSD but as many as 30
percent are affected. While the disease was first named in the aftermath of the Vietnam
War, still very little headway has been made toward treatment in comparison to other
mental illnesses. Treatment can be very costly as medical insurance often do not pay
for a sustained treatment. The Veterans Administration, facing financial strain, cannot
provide adequate care for all affected by the disease. Consequently, a disproportionate
number of veterans suffer from ill health, turn to substance abuse and often end up
estranged from their loved ones or unable to hold down jobs, unemployed. The longer
it is left untreated, the harder it becomes for the veterans to recover. If left untreated,
they will become a social liability as they turn to criminal activity or drop out and
become homeless. A retreat center proposed herein can provide a much needed
sanctuary away from distractions and other daily pressures for veterans traumatized
by memories of war to fined peace and healing.


A Soldier’s Story
"Within six weeks from returning from a 12 month tour of duty in Iraq, I was diagnosed with
acute post traumatic stress syndrome.  I was experiencing depression and anxiety, and felt very
angry.  I unfortunately, took this out on my wife and daughter, who did all they could to be
helpful and understanding.  But they weren't able to heal me.  I found myself trying to hold the
enormity of my pain and the anger inside.

While attending a Veteran's Retreat lead by Vietnam Veteran and Buddhist Monk, Claude
Anshin Thomas, I began to learn how to accept my feelings and not to suppress or discard
them.  Through this awareness and meditation exercises, I began to learn how to control my
anger, anxiety and irritability. The time spent with other Veteran's at the retreat provided a safe
environment for me and I was relieved to see that I was not the only one with PTSD.

This experience was definitely the catalyst to the beginning of my healing process.  This retreat
provided me with the tools to learn how to start understanding and accepting the person I had
become as a result of my experience in Iraq. I believe that all returning Veteran's should be
offered a safe place to decompress after deployment.  When I returned from Iraq, I was given
one week between living in a war zone and returning to civilian life.  There is no doubt that the
Veteran's Retreat I attended was a turning point in my life."

Stephen L. Edwards, Jr.


Project Description

Drawing upon palliative treatments such as meditation techniques described by the
veteran, Stephen Edwards, the goal of the Veterans’ Village is to create an oasis for
healing as modeled by spiritual leaders like Thich Nhat Hanh and Claude Anshin
Thomas.

In the first phase, the Foundation will launch the building of the Veterans’ Village
complete with living quarters, conference center, therapy center, recreation and art
center, art gallery, restaurant, and a common dining area. Consonant with the spirit of
healing, the retreat center will be constructed with ecology and energy efficiency in
mind.  As a self-sustaining community, the living unit will have organic vegetable
gardens, solar energy panels, farm animals, and possibly its own irrigation and potable
water supply. All participants will be expected to play a role in the upkeep and
maintenance of the physical grounds.

Upon completion of the building, the project will enter into its second phase as the
Veterans’ Village opens its doors. Health and wellness activities such as exercise and
massage, art therapy, and counseling will be provided by trained staff and volunteers
for veterans. The Village will maintain a core permanent staff (FTE) including doctors,
nurses, psychologists, therapists, a career counselor, accountant, nutritionist,
receptionist, and a public relations representative; along with trained volunteer
counselors. Overseeing the coordination of all activities in the Village will be Nadia
McCaffrey. Ms. McCaffrey has training as a nurse, over 5 years of experience providing
care for veterans and many more years in hospice care.

Through referrals from city hospitals, public health offices, other networks such as Iraqi
Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, and the VA, veterans will be invited to
apply to participate in the retreat village. With an initial screening for general health and
a psychological assessment, the participants will be admitted into the Village free of
charge. The Village will not be equipped to service those with any serious medical
condition requiring ongoing treatment. Veterans with families may also apply and will
be admitted upon availability of space. The Center will be able to house 100 participants
at any given time so as not to exceed the counselor to participant ratio of 1 to 15. As a
self-sustaining community, the general upkeep of the physical compound as well as
daily duties including cleaning, laundry, and cooking will be handled by the veteran
participants.

Applications will be made available in paper or online via Veterans’ Village home web
page. Participants may sign up for a week-long retreat or longer upon assessment. All
participating veterans will be eligible to come back for follow up visits at any time. The
Village will make available scheduled as well as walk-in counselors for any veterans
needing to talk. The goal of the Veteran’s Village is to equip individuals with tools
necessary to cope and promote continual healing of the self and a successful
reintegration into society. For evaluative purposes, the participants will be tracked for
short term and long term successes.

At the core of the healing program are one-on-one therapy sessions as well as group
and family sessions to address specifically coping mechanisms for living with PTSD.
The arts, including writing, painting, wood carving, gardening, video productions,
photography, or music will also serve as a healing medium. Career and educational
assessment and counseling will also be made available to anyone needing to think
about next steps. Wellness activities include meditation sessions, exercise such as
horse-back riding, swimming, jogging or walking.
Sgt Patrick Ryan McCaffrey
May 26 1970 * June 22 2004
Oil Painting 2007 by Jo Ann Musser
To Hear the Moving Song Click on the Link Below

"Veterans are the light at the tip of the candle, illuminating
the way for the whole nation. If veterans can achieve
awareness, transformation, understanding, and peace, they
can share with the rest of society the realities of war. And
they can teach us how to make peace with ourselves and
each other, so we never have to use violence to resolve
conflicts again"

Thich Nhat Hanh
www.veteransvillage.org
© 2007-2008, Nadia McCaffrey, the Patrick McCaffrey Foundation &  the Veteran's Village, all rights reserved ©
Formed in 2006, the organization is a peace based organization for
members of the military who have served in the war, we are focusing on the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts, however, this foundation is to help
all war veterans . We believe the best way to support our troops is to bring them home now and take care of them when they get here.
501c3 Nonprofit Charitable Corporation
"DO GOOD ANYWAY"

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and
some genuine enemies.  
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  
It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa
Tracy has picked out new subdivisions in which streets will
be named after troops killed in the Iraq war.
By John Upton

Tracy casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom will be honored on street signs in new Tracy
neighborhoods.
A 20-year-old City Council policy instructs developers to name at least one street in every new
subdivision after a current or past resident killed while serving in the armed forces.

Sgt. Patrick McCaffrey lived on a Street named after one of Tracy’s casualties of’ the Vietnam War
until he was killed in Iraq in 2004.
After he found out he was going to deploy, said McCaffrey’s mother, Nadia McCaffrey, he said,
"Well, I hope there’s not going to be a street named after me" of course, we laughed at the time.
A street named after Patrick McCaffrey will be in the Southgate subdivision, according to Lombardo.
which is being built south of the western end of Schulte Road.
“My grandson is now 12,” Nadia McCaffrey said. “He was talking about it this Memorial weekend, and I
said, ‘Yeah, if you’re patient, we will be able to go into the street that’s named after your dad.’ He’s
really excited — he always asks about it”
A street there will also be named after Sgt. Steven Bridges, who died in December 2003. His mother, Loreta
Bridges, said Thursday she was excited by the news.
Streets in the Yosemite Vista subdivision will be named after Pfc. Jesse Martinez and Lance Cpl. Brandon
Dewey. Yosemite Vista is being built east of MacArthur Drive and south of’Schulte Road.
It will keep Jesse’s name and him alive in the town’s eyes,” Martinez’s mother, Jan Martinez, said Thursday.

A street will be named after Sgt. 1st Class Tung Nguyen in Tiburon Village — a 103-home project planned
northwest of the corner of MacArthur Drive and Valpico Road. Kimball Lornes spokesman Bill Stanton said he
expects home construction to begin in Tihuron Village next spring.
Joseph Menusa Lane, near Lowell Avenue and Corral Hollow Road, was named for Sgt. Joseph Menusa after
he became (he first serviceman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. Tracy casualties of the war in
Iraq will be honored in new Tracy neighborhoods, following a 20-year-old City Council policy
NEVER FORGET...