Mission Continues Blog - Stories that need to be told

An Update On Our Response to Hurricane Irma

September 28, 2017

After Hurricane Irma struck the southeast, many communities rallied together to help each other.

Our platoons in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville were no exception. They stepped up to help neighbors and community members recover from Hurricane Irma.

In Miami, the platoon mobilized to help the elderly, fellow platoon members, and veterans in the area with cutting downed trees in yards and debris removal. The Platoon is used online group chats and Facebook group to spread the word that members were looking to help out. Our City Impact Manager, Mateo and PLs in Miami and Broward got in contact with United Way – Mission United, Neighbors for Neighbors, Wounded Warrior Project, Team Rubicon, and the Red Cross to assist with additional recovery efforts.

What Platoon Leader Summit Means to Me

September 19, 2017
By David Riera, Platoon Member & Fellow Alum

The Mission Continues

This week is the Platoon Leadership Summit of 2017—a week of sessions in which Platoon Leaders and their leadership team members share experience, impart wisdom, and brainstorm new ways to create community impact.

Last year my platoon—the Miami 1st Platoon—was awarded Platoon of the Year for our work with the National Park Conservation Association. It was a truly special occasion for me, perhaps most of all, for the togetherness, camaraderie and sense of tradition.

We were honored to receive Platoon of the Year, as our competition was also very worthy. We were recognized for our impact through our relationship with the NPCA, which the platoon forged throughout the year.

In New York, Veterans Serve at Ellis Island

September 14, 2017

Veterans with The Mission Continues serving at Ellis Island in honor of 9/11

People say that in the days that followed, an overwhelming sense of appreciation and love emanated throughout New York. Last Saturday, for the 16th anniversary of 9/11, we brought that feeling to Ellis Island, where we helped preserve a piece of our nation’s history for future generations.

Ellis Island teaches many of us about our heritage — how many of our ancestors came to this country, and what they overcame to make a better life for themselves and their children. For many, it is an enduring symbol of the American Dream and acceptance.

For us, it’s a way of connecting with past and future generations of immigrants who have helped build the country we fought to defend.

What are you doing to honor 9/11? I know my answer.

September 8, 2017

Civilians and veterans gather to volunteer in their community

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 affected all of us in one way or another. For some, it meant deployment. For others, it meant the loss of a loved one and a charred city. And for all Americans, it meant a shaken country and the dawn of a new era.

“I remember the day well, as most Americans do,” says Melissa Shipley, a longtime volunteer with The Mission Continues. “I remember turning on the television and being in complete shock. I felt so many different emotions–anger, fear, sadness.”

But it wasn’t until she started getting involved with veteran service organizations like The Mission Continues that she met veterans who had actually deployed because of it.

Eric Leverone is one such veteran who enlisted in the United States Army to protect his country right after 9/11. “Up until that point, I had never even thought about joining the military,” he said.

#HoustonStrong: Rebuilding After Hurricane Harvey

September 7, 2017
Barry Mattson, Central Region Executive Director

It has been heartening to see our Mission Continues family rally together to help us in Houston during Hurricane Harvey. As we have worked with Houston communities for years, it is saddening to see the damage done. While our platoon members and staff are focused locally with neighbor-helping-neighbor efforts as well as working with their operational partners right now, we are planning our long-term recovery efforts too.

I know there are no quick fixes for all that Houston has endured. We weathered this storm and we are committed to rebuilding our communities. We are adjusting the objectives of all five of our Houston operations to include long-term, ongoing recovery operations. This is what Mission Continues is all about — we’re in it for the long haul.

To help us with this commitment, many generous Houstonians and friends from across the country have stepped up as we’re getting closer to reaching our Hurricane Harvey response fundraising goal to help our veterans continue to report for duty in our Houston communities.

Our Biggest 9/11 Projects Across the Country

September 5, 2017

9/11 Remembrance Day is fast approaching. What are you going to do to honor those who perished, those who fought, and those who continue on today? If you’re not sure, I’ve got a proposal for you. Whether you are a civilian or a veteran, volunteer for one day with veterans who are on a new mission to volunteer in their communities.

This is YOUR chance to join a highly skilled group of volunteers in your city to make a lasting impact.

Check out our largest projects across the country!

This Is for the Immigrant Veterans Who Inspired My Fellowship

August 29th, 2017
By Jin Kong, Fellow

My name is Jin Kong. I am a husband and a father, an immigrant and a veteran. I am not a rarity, but one of many immigrant stories from my military days.

One friend told me he walked across the Mexico/US border with his mother at a very young age. He was deported then and later came back to the US legally. Another medic was a Southeast-Asian Buddhist who converted to Mormonism and married before our deployment. One of our infantry brothers immigrated from Argentina. He took an injury to one eye in the war while serving as a sniper. He later became a photographer and traversed Iraq while the war was still on, armed only with a camera and a local guide.

Make Your Plans for the 9/11 National Day of Service

August 25, 2017

We all want to give back for important days of service like 9/11 and MLK Day, but few of us actually make it out day-of. Now is the perfect time to mark your calendar for the next big day of service, so when someone asks, what are you doing to honor 9/11? you can say: I’m going to serve.

The Mission Continues empowers veterans to make a difference, whether that’s building play spaces for youth, clearing trails in our national parks, or constructing houses for the homeless.

Veterans and their friends are out volunteering in their communities year-round through our Service Platoon Program, where a group of volunteers tackle a pressing issue in their city.

How We’re Going to Rock the Next 10 Years

August 24, 2017

Today is a big day for The Mission Continues — it’s our 10th birthday! Over the years we have strengthened and expanded beyond our core programs, and now have even more innovative opportunities for veterans to serve again, so that the next decade of service can be as kickass as the first.

The Mission Continues family is made by its people — fellows, alumni, platoon members, and supporters.

Project Phoenix Rising: Rebuilding Orlando after Hurricane Matthew

August 17th, 2017
By Robert Withers, Platoon Member

“This community may be ‘at risk’ — but the children are not.. they’re just good kids,” said Anna Dieuveuil, Service Director at the Taft Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, while volunteers from The Mission Continues Orlando 1st Platoon listened intently.