FLOWER OF THE DRAGON

Let's Live For Today (Uncensored Version) Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupLet's Live For Today (Uncensored Version) · The Grass RootsLet's Live For Today℗ A Geffen Records Release; ℗ 1967...

The lecture today called 'The Warrior's Journey Home' at the Santa Rosa Junior College had a great turnout. Kelly Sturgeon, Oral Historian, once again pulled off a great event.

Old faces were seen. Like Terry McLaughlin, Arden Kremer and Christine Yaeger (sorry I don't have her married name.) And it was great to see Veterans from both Desert Storm and Iraq join the conversation with their experiences. We even had the niece of a Viet Nam Vet attend because she had always looked at and touched the scars on her uncle's body and now she wanted to know about his psychological scars.

Lonny Weissman, Bill White, Al Liner, Randy Fowler and Peter Cameron represented the early founders of Flower of the Dragon on this panel. History Professor Anne Donegan gave a great introduction with a brief history of the Viet Nam War. History Professor Terry Mulcaire and Psychology Professor Marilyn Milligan rounded out the panel with their educated perspectives. Professor Miligan was teaching at the JC when The Flower of the Dragon first began and continues to teach there today. She spoke of the huge impact Viet Nam Vets had on campus in the 70s and how there are many similarities between all the vets, no matter what war they fought.

It was a surprisingly emotional afternoon. What started out as a history lesson, ended with emotional stories of how these Viet Nam Veterans on the panel were still working through the damage that was done to them. That it never goes away, but is a process of uncovering. To find the authentic self which includes their experiences in war.

One thing that was really emphasized today was this: PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is not a disorder. It's the normal reaction to a traumatic experience. The "disorder" label creates a stigma, as if the normal reaction isn't normal. Let's drop the stigma and just call it PTS.

Professor Mulcaire pointed out that many, if not most, of the books about the Viet Nam experience are oral histories. That Veterans need to be able to talk about their experiences. He concluded with the statement that "veterans need to be heard, so just listen."

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Thanks to Kelly, for all your hard work. To Soneile, Editor and videographer extraordinaire, for your help and focus.

“The Warrior’s Journey Home,” a free lecture from noon to 2 p.m. April 18 at SRJC’s Student Activities Center in Bertolini Hall.

A good article from the Press Democrat about FOD today:
http://santarosa.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2012/04/news/flower-of-the-dragon-war-stories-at-srjc/

Founders of FOD to share stories at “The Warrior’s Journey Home” At the end of the ‘60s era a small organization of Vietnam veterans emerged in Santa Rosa known as the Flower of the Dragon. Its name comes from an old V

Check out the link below. A great description of Flower of the Dragon by Lonny Weissman
http://vimeo.com/25165015

Flower of the Dragon: An Interview with Lonny Weissman The Vietnam War challenged Californians on social, cultural, and political levels. Vietnam veterans were challenged by the pain of that war, and by a democracy in deep conflict about it. In Santa Rosa, a group of veterans came together to respond with...

Hi Everyone,
If you type in "Flower of the Dragon" above in the Search area, you will see two Flower of the Dragons. The new site will now be the permanent site. It is a "group" rather than a page off of my personal page. Now you can post your photographs, videos, and comment freely. So leave this page behind and go to the new site to do any communicating. Bissie

More photos coming soon.....been scanning! So keep checking, Bis

About the Photo: Flower of the Dragon Baseball Team Top Row, left to right: Dennis Blair, Bill White, Charlie Boyd, Tom Cavallero, Jim Stuart Bottom Row: Allan Schallar, Russ Evans, Jim Stickney, Larry Phillips, Bob Moody Not Shown: Rick Elliot and Ray Todd

Hi Everybody, So I started this site but somehow did it wrong so it's attached to my personal page. I'm waiting for a response from the facebook staff to help me (probably) start a new one without losing everything everybody has written. So until then, sorry, be patient and enjoy this new photo. I'll be adding everyone's names soon. Bissie

Peter C. has a great photograph of the original baseball team with some guys I'm sure you will all recognize. It's getting scanned now and will soon be up here.