Harry Ruffin Jr. American Legion Post 206

VA doesn’t pay for PTSD service dogs for veterans. House passes bill to change that. The VA does not yet officially recognize service dogs as a viable method to treat PTSD in veterans.

8-year-old boy raises over $50,000 for homeless veterans 8-year-old Tyler Stallings has been on a mission to help homeless veterans since he was 4 years old, and so far, this little "superhero" has raised over $50,000.

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541 military service members died by su***de in 2018, DOD report shows The Defense Department’s latest report on the epidemic of active duty and reserve service members shows 541 took their own lives in 2018. The Defense Department says it’s taking further…

Some great information from our non-profit, 206 Inc.!

Hey troops, we hope you all had a blessed and safe new year! Please keep our brothers and sisters in uniform and their families in your thoughts and prayers and tensions rise once again in the Middle East. They all look for support in these difficult and uncertain times. May God bless our troops and the United States of America!

~ Post 206

From all of us here at HRJ 206, Merry Christmas to you and your families!

Hello Post 206! We wanted to introduce you to one of our newest members, Jeff Bizzarro, CEO of Sacred Paws Service Dogs. Go ARMY! Jeff comes to us with a very special mission. Check him out! Not all hero's wear capes!

Sacred Paws Service Dogs Inc. (501c-3) joins Harry Ruffin Jr. American Legion Post 206 and 206 Inc. Jeff Bizzarro the founder, applies all donations directly to the dogs, their care and training.

We are excited by his enthusiastic commitment to the training of service dogs for veterans. Jeff’s life experience and the many benefits he receives from Annie, his service dog, drive his passion to train service dogs. Jeff and Annie inspire the awakening of possibilities that many veterans with PTSD or brain injuries never imagined were attainable. And that is to be able to function without a lot of medications and to have a supportive companion.

"For many veteran's life isn’t always so straightforward and peaceful. Flashbacks, bad dreams, difficulty sleeping, guilt, depression, fear and worry plague roughly one-third of the men and women who have spent time in war zones. Many veterans dealing with the crippling effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience hopelessness and fear that there’s no viable solution. In fact, less than 40% of veterans ever seek treatment, and countless others face wait times at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that can stretch into months or years."

But a recent upsurge of a simple, relatively inexpensive technique has changed veterans’ lives for the better. This solution comes with four paws, a wet nose and very specialized training: service dogs. Veterans who utilize service dogs report lower levels of depression and anxiety, fewer hospitalizations and numerous other benefits.

Many heroes have two legs, but some have four. For these brave, specialized working dogs, the greatest joy in life comes from partnering with a veteran who needs them.
https://www.companionsforheroes.org/our-services/benefits-of-service-dogs-for-vets/

Jeff Bizzarro created Sacred Paws Service Dogs to become a major driving force in the training of service dogs for veterans.

We at Harry Ruffin Jr American Legion Post 206 believe in Jeff Bizzarro’s vision and trust his ability to change and improve the lives of many veterans. Join us in giving him a warm welcome!

Benefits of Service Dogs for Veterans – Companions For Heroes

Good afternoon! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

We have a huge vote on funds tonight at city hall in Middletown at 7pm for 206 Inc's Veterans Helping Veterans Project! Show your support!

- HRJ 206

Middletown Legislators Join Veterans to Testify in Favor of Veterans Center Projects Today, State Senators Mary Abrams (D- Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) and Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and Representive Quentin Phipps (D-Middletown) stood alongside Middletown military veterans as they testified in favor of a bill, introduced by the legislators, that would provi...

https://www.middletownpress.com/middletown/article/Middletown-s-Ruffin-American-Legion-Post-to-12302477.php

Middletown’s Ruffin American Legion Post to honor Gulf War/Desert Storm vets at gala MIDDLETOWN - Fifteen individuals will be recognized next month when the Harry Ruffin Jr. American Legion Post 206 hosts its fifth annual veterans recognition day gala and banquet, honoring local men and women who served in the Gulf War/Desert Storm in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post 206 presents veterans...