We are a group of dedicated Texans who have formed a recognized 501(c)(3) Texas tax-exempt/non-profit public charity, (Federal EIN 56-2656711), Operation Military Embrace, Inc., (OME) to assist our injured military, their families, and those military personnel accused of battlefield crimes in their time of need. OME is attempting to fill “gaps” in need that have not been addressed by the many other fine 501(c)(3) organizations that have come to the forefront to support our military during this time of global war against Islamic Terrorists dedicated to the destruction of Western Civilization...

Learn more at our website here:
www.operationmilitaryembrace.com

Stresses of Military Life

There were more military deaths in the month of January due to suicide than casualties of war. This is the first time this has happened in the history of the U.S. Military. We are on pace to have 250 suicides in the military this year, more than double the historic high. They are considering suicide in the military an epidemic.

Military Ministry is running to the pain. We are working with the American Association of Christian Counselors to develop materials and training to help military men, women, and families deal with the effects of war. We have produced two manuals that help chaplains and churches minister to men and women with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We are currently working on a 30 hour training video with AACC to help train thousands of counselors to help the hundreds of thousands of PTSD sufferers.

militaryministry.org

Puppies Behind Bars

In 2006, Puppies Behind Bars began raising service dogs for the disabled as it enabled us to affect a diverse group of individuals with varying needs and of different ages.  In addition to basic obedience, manners, and socialization, inmate puppy raisers are responsible for teaching the pups almost eighty commands...

Visit their website here: puppiesbehindbars.com

Introduction

Houston Freedom Fest is about serving our veterans. We hope you will join us on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 at Discovery Green (Google Map Click Here) as we will celebrate our veterans with fellowship, food, family fun and a live concert brought to you by URLABEL.NET. Admission is Free!

PTSD Foundation of America Gala

Reserve your table for the PTSD Foundation of America Gala on Friday, November 7th, 2008. Special guests include Lt. Col. Oliver North and Bill Balleza of KPRC Channel 2. To learn more about the gala "Click Here" to view the invitation. To reserve your table contact us at: info@ptsdusa.org

Our Mission

To help in meeting these needs requires an intentional, concerted effort by developing a "Corps of Compassion" (comprised of churches and other caring organization, armed with expanded resources and training), which reaches out to meet the needs at a personal relationship level. This kind of support goes well beyond bumper stickers and an occasional prayer to truly knowing and supporting individuals, to understand and help meet their individual needs.

Our Community

In many ways, Houston is a "military town": thousands of serving citizen soldiers, active duty families with parents, sons, and daughters serving around the world; various Reserve component headquarters, a major Veterans Affairs hospital, Bush Intercontinental Airport as a major thoroughfare of military personnel, and an absolute multitude of military veterans.

Following the caring response to the needs of the victims of hurricane Katrina, Houston is nationally recognized as a beacon of compassion. It is our hope that Houston can once again be a model for other cities in recognizing the urgent needs of military families and responding with a heart of compassion. This call also provides an opportunity for national healing, through properly honoring our military service men and women and their families for their service, rather than allowing them to sink into lives of isolation, poverty, and public alienation. Regardless of one's outlook on this war and conflict in general, these families need our compassion. No one supporting the Katrina victims was "pro hurricane" - they were simply responding to the human needs.

Houston Freedom Fest will partner with other like-minded individuals and organizations locally and nationally to execute its mission. It will enhance community cohesion by integrating many other existing groups that support military families, churches, and other ministries throughout Houston.

Wall of Honor - Champions Forest Baptist Church

A church in Klein is making sure that it honors its members and families who served or are currently serving in the military. Champion Forest Baptist Church began its Military

Stories, Comments and Photos from 2007 Houston Freedom Fest

If you would like to share a story or photo that touched your heart during Houston Freedom Fest, please email kat.dickerson@houstonfreedomfest.org and we will post it on our web site Ministry about a year ago as a way to recognize, honor and support church members in the military and their families... READ MORE HERE.

The Need is Urgent

The Iraq War began in March 2003 and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan started October 2001, with over 2,000,000 troop deployments to date. These deployments have averaged approximately 10 months at a time, with sometimes short returns home. On the national level, U.S. force have sustained over 25,000 casualties, with 3,000+ deaths and another 22,000+ wounded. With plans for bolstering deployments in 2007, many families will be facing their second, third, and even fourth deployment. Additionally, the Veterans Affairs reports over 400,000 untreated cases of PTSD, beginning from Vietnam forward.

From a Texas and Houston perspective, there are thousands of active, guard, and reserve troops and families in our local communities who are silently hurting - bruised and bleeding on our behalf. Men and women returning from service who face difficulty with the transition back to "normal" life, experiencing relationship or financial struggles and even post traumatic stress syndrome, "a ticking time bomb in this generation of returning warriors". The personal and societal effect of these burdens is dramatic, as seen in the rising military divorce rates and in the increased potential for substance abuse, domestic abuse, criminality and suicide.

Hence, there exists a moral mandate, and very practical societal rationale, for the leadership of Houston, Texas, to reach out to these military men, women, and children amongst us who so urgently need our support.

An Impact Houston and Military Ministry Initiative - www.impacthouston.net  / www.militaryministry.org

Houston Freedom Fest Thanks Houston Organizations Who Hire Vets for Their Support!  www.HoustonHiresVets.com

For Inclusion on this Employment Site, go to: www.HoustonHiresVets.com and click on Register