Lifestyle
A Legacy of Service: How family stories shape service
Legacy of Service: Discover how military service creates lasting family legacies across generations. Explore powerful veteran stories from the Veterans History Project, including Pearl Harbor survivors and Code Talkers, and learn how to preserve your family’s service history.
Last Updated on February 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff
A Legacy of Service: How family stories shape service
(Family Features) Major historical events like war or military service make a lasting impact on family identity, values and traditions, often reverberating across multiple generations.
Veterans frequently speak about their military units as if they were family, given the unbreakable bonds that develop between comrades. However, for some veterans, “brothers in arms” is more than a figurative turn of phrase.
Throughout the 20th century, entire families felt the firsthand effects of war, with multiple generations serving. Brothers enlisted together. A father’s military legacy inspired his children to join up. Sweethearts met and married while in uniform. These stories not only illustrate the experiences of individual veterans but also provide an intimate glimpse into family legacies of military service.
Consider the Veterans History Project, a program overseen by the Library of Congress, which collects and preserves the firsthand remembrances of U.S. military veterans and makes them accessible for future generations to better understand veterans’ service and sacrifice. These personal stories encompass original correspondence, memoirs, diaries, photographs and oral history interviews, all offering deeper insight into the long-term impact of military service.
Veterans’ narratives are collected by volunteers, and anyone who served from World War I to today can submit their personal story, regardless of whether or not they saw combat. The collections frequently shed light on the importance of family in military experiences. Whether expressed through heartfelt letters home, enduring family legacies of service or the experience of serving alongside loved ones, these stories reflect profound connections.
Family Identity
During the Cold War, Jennifer McNeill rose from Army Dental Assistant to Command Sergeant Major at the Army Eisenhower Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. Her collection includes a poignant photograph of her mother sharing images of her four military daughters in uniform, underscoring how family identity and military service are closely connected.
Values
Military service makes a lasting impression on veterans, shaping the experiences and the values that guide them through life. Ray Chavez is one such example. He was the oldest known Pearl Harbor survivor before his passing in 2018. For most of his life, he remained silent about his experiences, but in 1991, his daughter, Kathleen Chavez, who served in the U.S. Navy during Desert Storm, convinced him to return to Pearl Harbor. That trip marked the first time he spoke openly about his service. Kathleen shared their family’s deep military legacy in her oral history for the Veterans History Project.
Traditions Across Generations
Serving in the military is a deeply personal journey, but for many veterans, it’s an experience that transcends generations. Bill Toledo enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1942 at the age of 18. Along with his uncle, Frank Toledo, and cousin, Preston Toledo, he served as a Code Talker transmitting military messages through secret codes. In his oral history, Bill vividly recalled both the challenges of combat during the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945, and the treasured moments spent with his uncle.
These and many other family stories of military service and remembrance are available to the public at loc.gov/vets.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (men looking at scrapbook)
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress (man and woman on park bench)
SOURCE:
Library of Congress
Author
Blog
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability.
By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time.
But nope.
He had other plans.
“Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.”
Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail.
Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints.
While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
- A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
- Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
- A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
- And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard.
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?”
“We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually.
The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated.
But then I showed her my diagram.
She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief.
“This isn’t our house,” she said.
“Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly.
Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely.
Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds.
Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know.
But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) It’s the time of year when Star Wars fans from across the galaxy gather to celebrate May the 4th, also known as Star Wars Day. Inspired by the iconic catchphrase uttered in the first film of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: A New Hope, May the 4th has grown in size and enthusiasm over the years. Fans who don’t want to limit the Star Wars celebrations can keep the festivities going all month long.
To kickstart your Star Wars Day, check out these family-friendly ideas, activities and out of this galaxy adventures that are perfect for every fan.
Movie Marathon Month
You never need an excuse to watch these movies, but what better time than in May? Once a week, friends and families can unwind and have a movie night. Whether it’s in chronological order or picking out your favorite Star Wars movie, spending time together watching the Skywalker Saga is a great highlight to everyone’s week.
Costume Contest
Before you start your movie, host a themed costume contest. Encourage family and friends to break off into teams and dress up as their favorite characters. Each alliance can battle one another in hopes of winning the ultimate title of “Best Dressed in the Galaxy.”
Drink Blue Milk Straight from the Star Wars Galaxy
Bring the big screen to your home with Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk. The blue beverage was previously available exclusively at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney parks, but now fans can enjoy a new take with this vanilla flavored, low-fat milk that harnesses the power of protein-packed, real-dairy milk with 8 grams of protein per 8 fluid ounces to fuel adventures of all kinds, and goes perfectly with any showtime snack.
Try Out Themed Recipes
You can’t watch a movie without something to munch on – especially if you’re going the marathon route. Get creative in the kitchen and bring to life recipes reminiscent of your favorite Star Wars stories. Better yet, grab your blue milk and mix up a blue milkshake or ice cream pie.
Get Crafty
Grab your scissors, glue, boxes, and any other art supplies you have laying around and challenge everyone to make their own starship, drawing or craft from their favorite Star Wars film, series, game, book or more. Display your creations and continue to add more to your collection all month long.
To find interactive trivia, crafts, recipes and Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk products near you as well as details about Star Wars white milk, both available for a limited time through July 2024 at select retailers in most major markets, visit StarWarsMilk.com.
*The Star Wars milk from TruMoo qualifies for the Star Wars check. To learn more, visit starwarscheck.com.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (family watching television)
May the 4th Be With You!
SOURCE:
TruMoo Milk
https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle
What is Star Wars Day?
Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by filmmaker George Lucas. [^1] Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977. [^2] [^3]
The date originated from the pun “May the Fourth be with you,” from the Star Wars catchphrase “May the Force be with you.” [^1] Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans have chosen to celebrate the holiday. [^4] It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
In addition to fan activities, businesses and organizations often participate in the festivities by offering special promotions, themed merchandise, or hosting charity events. Fans engage in cosplay, marathons of the movies, and discussions about their favorite Star Wars moments. Social media channels are also abuzz with memes, quotes, and fan art dedicated to the Star Wars universe on this day.
The release date of the original Star Wars movie, May 25, 1977, is celebrated by some as Geek Pride Day. [^5] This day is set aside to honor all things geeky, and Star Wars enthusiasts often join in to celebrate their beloved franchise.
Overall, Star Wars Day on May 4th has grown into a global phenomenon, uniting fans from different backgrounds in their love for the rich and expansive Star Wars universe. From young Padawans to Jedi Masters, the celebration is a testament to the lasting impact of George Lucas’s visionary creation.
[^1]: New York Times Article
[^2]: Wikipedia Reference 2
[^3]: Wikipedia Reference 3
[^4]: Wikipedia Reference 4
[^5]: Geek Pride Day Reference
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Lifestyle
Reclassification of marijuana opens doors for much‑needed medical research into the benefits and risks of the drug
The DOJ’s move to reclassify medical marijuana as Schedule III could unlock long-blocked cannabis research—while raising new questions about safety, regulation, and risk.
Carey S. Cadieux, Binghamton University, State University of New York
When the U.S. Department of Justice moved to reclassify medical marijuana to a Schedule III drug on April 23, 2026, it set the stage for a vast amount of medical research that has been hobbled for decades by its more restrictive Schedule I classification.
The Justice Department also called for an expedited federal rescheduling process, with proceedings expected to begin in late June 2026, but for now cannabis at the federal level remains a Schedule I drug.
I’m an associate professor of nursing and I edited a textbook for nurses about providing care with cannabis. Cannabis is the umbrella term for the plant genus that includes both marijuana and hemp – two varieties of the same plant distinguished primarily by their content of THC, one of the active components of cannabis.
Moving cannabis to a Schedule III drug ushers in the end of the cannabis prohibition era and the beginning of the regulation era, potentially creating promising opportunities around research and new therapeutics.
How are drugs regulated by ‘schedule’?
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 categorizes all substances regulated under existing federal law into one of five schedules. The act regulates the manufacturing, importation, possession, use and distribution of substances on each schedule.
Several factors determine schedule placement, including the drug’s medical use, scientific evidence of its benefits and pharmacological effects, patterns and history of abuse, public health risk level, degree of physical or psychological addiction potential, and whether the drug can be used to make another controlled substance.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s rescheduling of marijuana will move it from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, defined as having a high risk for abuse and no accepted medical use, to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. While still tightly regulated, Schedule III drugs are considered to have moderate to low risk for physical and psychological dependence and to have some medical benefits.
Other Schedule I drugs include heroin, psilocybin, LSD, peyote and MDMA, or ecstasy. These drugs cannot be dispensed or prescribed, with some exceptions. Current Schedule III drugs include ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, products with less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit and some cannabinoids.
The move to reclassify medical marijuana products as Schedule III drugs applies only to those products certified by state-level medical cannabis programs. All other cannabis products remain a federal Schedule I drug, including those available from states’ recreational cannabis programs.
Impacts of cannabis reclassification
This legal order acknowledges that medical marijuana has some medical value and asserts that it has a lower potential for abuse than under the previous Schedule I classification.
The reclassification also ensures that state-registered medical cannabis patients continue to be permitted to purchase medical cannabis products without changes to their current certification or recommendation.
One of the challenges with this new law is that states have not standardized medical cannabis regulations, and each state will have its own quality and testing standards. In Maine, for instance, medical cannabis is not tested for molds, fungus, heavy metals or pesticides, while recreational cannabis is.
This means that the Schedule III medical cannabis in Maine could be contaminated, while the state’s testing of recreational cannabis makes it much safer to consume.
What are the implications for marijuana research?
For decades, researchers have struggled to conduct high-quality research studies due to their lack of access to the cannabis products that patients actually use and restrictions on their processes.
With the reclassification, researchers who are registered with the DEA to research cannabis will be able to obtain cannabis flower and plant material, as well as manufactured cannabis products, such as tinctures and edibles, directly from state-licensed businesses that are DEA-registered.
This means researchers will no longer need to rely on the federal DEA registry for access to cannabis products for research, which were often inferior in quality and variety in comparison to the everyday products medical cannabis patients typically have access to. Instead, they will be able to study cannabis products that patients use in daily life, such as vapes and various edible products.
This shift in access will now allow researchers to undertake the gold standard of research approaches: the randomized controlled trial.
Randomized controlled trials will help researchers like my colleagues determine how effective cannabis is in treating people with complex medical needs. This includes patients who experience nausea and pain while undergoing cancer treatments, multiple sclerosis patients with severe muscle spasm and stiffness, and chronic pain patients who strive to find relief without using opioids.
Might rescheduling send mixed signals?
Rescheduling may lead people to believe that cannabis is safe for all people to consume.
However, a growing body of research points to possible adverse effects from cannabis use, particularly in vulnerable groups, such as people who are pregnant, adolescents, people with preexisting mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or psychosis, and those with cardiac issues.
Cannabis can also lead to adverse drug interactions. Therefore, medical patients should use it with discretion and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
For most medical cannabis patients, THC doses should start low and gradually be increased.
Rescheduling will be a big step toward helping researchers build a greatly needed solid body of evidence around both the benefits and potential harms of cannabis. But rescheduling should not be interpreted as a signal that cannabis is harmless.
Carey S. Cadieux, Associate Professor of Nursing, Binghamton University, State University of New York
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
