The Brandon Caserta Foundation (BCF), a non-partisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to address military deaths by suicide, issued this message on Memorial Day, which is observed the last Monday in May, in honor of all American service members who died in the active military and veterans.
“We join with all American families who remember and mourn the passing of their loved ones while serving in uniform,” explains Teri Caserta – Brandon Caserta Foundation President and Co-Author of the Brandon Act.
“America honors many courageous men and women who died at the hands of the enemy in conflicts around the world.”
“These troops paid the highest price while wearing a uniform they willingly accepted with pride and dedication to protecting our freedoms.
“This Memorial Day, we also pray and demand accountability on behalf of other servicemembers America has lost, like our son.”
“Brandon died at the hands of an enemy far closer every day and just as deadly because they looked like him and they surrounded our son.”
(Two words “Brandon Act” may soon save the lives of military service members. That’s because Patrick and Teri Caserta don’t want anyone else’s child to die by suicide, like their son. The Brandon Act will allow service members to receive confidential mental health care and bypass the traditional chain of command by stating they have a “Brandon Act” concern. Courtesy of Inside Edition and YouTube. Posted on Dec 23, 2021.)
“During one 20-year period alone, our nation lost 35,000 servicemembers to training accidents and suicides,” continued Mrs. Caserta.
“Today, we continue to suffer the consequences of mistreatment by toxic commands and military leaders who are denying men and women access to mental health services under the threat of retaliation.”
“Gold Star families of these service members are just as worthy, and their loss is just as painful. Our foundation will continue to advocate so that their loved ones are remembered and celebrated with honor.”
Brandon Caserta was a naval squadron flight electrician who had been chronically bullied and abused by a toxic command that denied his requests for mental health services.
He died by suicide in June 2018 on the flight line of his helicopter squadron in Norfolk.
His death led his parents to write the Brandon Act, which was successfully passed with bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
(This video was created by the With Honor Organization, a cross-partisan movement dedicated to promoting and advancing principled veteran leadership in order to reduce polarization: Principles before Politics. Please visit www.withhonor.org for more information on this great organization. Courtesy of The Brandon Act and YouTube. Posted on Jan 22, 2022.)
President Biden signed the measure as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2022-2023.
“As Americans, we all have the duty to remember the principles for which our military loved ones served this Memorial Day,” added Patrick Caserta – Brandon Caserta Foundation Co-Founder and Co-Author of the Brandon Act.
“We need to speak out when service members are denied their right to mental health care. No one has the right to mistreat our men and women in uniform, no matter their rank or branch of our military.
“Also, our elected and appointed leaders can ensure that the Brandon Act is implemented worldwide to protect our servicemembers, save their lives and keep our military defense ready.”
“This is our moment to demand change from the top to the bottom in the military culture that allows some to prey on others in their ranks and abuse their authority without answering for their actions. We say that we care about our military service members.”
“If we do, we shouldn’t just honor them on Memorial Day. Every day, we can let our politicians know we are watching and expect them to remove those not worthy of their leadership posts. No more.”
(Is it possible to drive a mentally and physically healthy person to suicide? Yes. Courtesy of Military Families for Justice and YouTube. Posted on May 25, 2020.)
The Brandon Caserta Foundation was established to address military deaths by suicide. BCF’s mission is to develop new educational awareness initiatives, advocacy outreach with elected and community leaders, and policies and programs that can be deployed nationally.
Their goal is to help create a safer environment for America’s military service members, free of reprisal for seeking mental health services or resources.
To Learn More, please visit https://www.thebrandonact.org/.
Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?
If you have been thinking about suicide, it is important to get help right away. If you need to talk with someone right now, resources are available 24/7.
Please call the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs, (many of them are Veterans themselves), at 1-800-959-8277.
For survivors in need of immediate suicide postvention support, please contact us at 800-959-8277 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Frank Larkin Honored in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
Frank Larkin
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Excellence in Public Safety
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In honor of Mr. Larkin’s career service to our Nation as a United States Secret Service Special Agent and First Responder to the World Trade Center; as a Navy SEAL and extraordinary leader who now leads a global effort to recognize early signs of TBI in our service members to prevent generations of grief to families and to society in the absence of these future leaders. His efforts result from the loss of his beloved son Ryan, a Navy SEAL to suicide following repeated undiagnosed percussive injuries.
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Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator First Class (SO1) Ryan F. Larkin, a decorated Navy SEAL operator and explosives breacher, Ryan was regularly exposed to high-impact blast waves throughout his 10 years of service. Ryan was a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL that had served his country honorably, including four combat deployments.
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Ryan started experiencing headaches and other health issues and was diagnosed with PTSD. From research of him and his family it seems that his frustrations with his PTSD diagnosis, continued medication changes, and no improvement were beginning to wear thin on him.
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Ryan was honorably discharged from the Navy and sought out continued treatment at the VA. It seems as though his frustrations with his deteriorating health continued. He suffered nightmares, insomnia, and daily headaches.
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Ryan was vocal about his concerns and expressed that there was more going on within his brain. He also voiced that if something were to happen to him then he would like his brain to be donated to science for further research. After Ryan passed his family did just that. They had Ryan’s brain tissue donated for research.
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It was found that the “invisible wounds of war” that are so frequently discussed were a very real part of Ryan. His brain showed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and lesions called astroglial scarring, which are lesions closely related to blast exposures. These microscopic tears are undetectable via standard MRI or PET scan.
(Listen to surviving dad Frank Larkin share lessons learned on the lookback in an effort to save lives in honor of his son, Ryan. At TAPS they say that “postvention is a critical component of any comprehensive suicide prevention strategy.” Learn about suicide risks and protective factors as well as our field-leading TAPS Suicide Postvention Model at https://www.taps.org/suicide. Courtesy of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and YouTube. Posted on Oct 8, 2020.)
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
The United States was forever changed 20 years ago on September 11th, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical needs of protecting our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000 member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.
Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton of the New York Police Department, the Boston Police Department, and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department was also live at the event, meeting with attendees and signing copies of his latest work ‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America,’ courtesy of the generosity of our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Premier Sponsors.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS), New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, and guardDog AI, and returning Sponsors to date, Automatic Systems, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters
So be on the lookout for exciting upcoming announcements of Speakers, Presenters, Book Signing Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2022 in New York City!
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | COVID Innovations |
| Workforce Management | Government Security Programs | And Many Others to Choose From! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- DHS Science & Technology (S&T)
- The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)
- The American Red Cross
- The InfraGard National Alliance
- The Metropolitan Police (MPD)
- The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
- Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)
- The Federal Air Marshals Service
- The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their record of accomplishment include:
AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local level as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
