Wednesday Hero

This Week's Post Was Suggested By Cindy


1st Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo
59 years old from Spanaway, Washington
August 18, 2009


Sorry for the presentation of this post, but haven't been feeling well and don't feel much like typing. You can read Sgt. Crisostomo's story here and here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

A (very) brief 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,

Soldiers Angels


With Twitter, and so many social network sites like Facebook out there now,
and of course the Soldiers Angels Blogwire

there are so many ways for you to get news and keep up-to-date about what's going on with
Soldiers Angels

that I'm not really sure there's a need for me to keep posting "Soldiers Angels Web Surfing" any longer?

I've been posting a review of news by and about Soldiers Angels since
May 7, 2007 (on the original incarnation of this blog)

It started out as a (usually) weekly post, and over the years has dwindled due to time constraints and the emergence of sites like Twitter, to basically just a monthly round-up of posts by or about Soldiers Angels that I don't see elsewhere, or just want to highlight.

Kind of hate to give up on it totally,though, since it is kind of 'my baby':)

So I'll keep mulling it over:) and move on to passing on the links I wanted to share with you in today's 'web surf'.........

What do your letters and packages mean to the deployed?

From SororitySoldier back in early September Gratitude

and on Soldiers Angels Network wow!(UNCLASSIFIED)


what were Angels doing in September?

Among other things, they were traveling
Soldiers Angels Texas California Here We Come

and volunteering with wounded warriors and their families

Soldiers Angels-Wounded Warrior Support What a Weekend!
(UPDATE: Soldiers Angels Germany's story HERE led me to the rest of the story on
SA:Wounded Warrior Support HERE )




Soldiers Angels Washington Angels & Warriors-A Great Day!


What's coming up in October?

Oct.3, the Sale-abration-National Yard Sale

Oct. 10, the "largest military baby shower" in Las Vegas

Oct. 26, the Soldiers Angels Day of the Deployed (from Soldiers Angels Kansas)

and I believe Oct. 26th will also be the kick-off for the Project Valour-IT fundraising competition


That's the 'surf'!

Go,MP's! 2009 Warfighter Competition

Let's just say I know someone who participated in this:)

An article in the Ft. Leonard Wood newspaper that describes the competition

MPs gear up for regimental week: Warfighter competition continues by Kerstin Mitchell


JP over at Milblogging.com posted about a civilian blogger who is blogging about her experience at Ft. Leonard Wood...........on her blog called Civilian Standpoint Tessa Long also had a post about the Warfighter Challenge..... Warfighter which was pretty cool to come across, considering we were quite interested in hearing about this!


The Guidon at Ft. Leonard Wood had this article up today as a wrap- up
2009 Warfighter Challenges Military Police by Kerstin Mitchell

and the Ft. Leonard Wood Facebook page had a photo album with pics from the event
2009 Warfighter Challenge

(those of you who know him will recognize one of the MP's in one of the pics! pretty cool,huh?)

This sounds like a pretty grueling and challenging event......congratulations, both to the winners, and to ALL who participated in this!
Go, Army MP's!

Sunday,September 27th-Gold Star Mother's Day

September 27, 2009, is Gold Star Mother's Day.

Every year the fourth Sunday of September is for honoring mothers whose sons or daughters died in the line of duty. The name references the single gold star on service flags displayed in the windows of homes that have lost a son or daughter to war.

Mothers of fallen servicemembers began calling themselves “Gold Star Mothers” during the First World War, but the sorrowful bond they share reaches back to every woman who has lost a son or daughter in uniform since our nation’s revolution. The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September in 1936.

The Presidential Proclamation for this year's Gold Star Mother's Day is HERE

From the Army.mil website Gold Star Mothers

From the American Gold Star Mother's,Inc. website Gold Star Mothers Sunday

Please keep the Gold Star Mothers, and Families, of our nation in your hearts and prayers, not only on this day......but every day.

Wednesday Hero

Lt. John Madea


Lt. John Madea holds his daughter as she is baptized with holy water from the ship's bell of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). This is the fourth person baptized aboard Tortuga since the ship's christening in 1988, and her name will be inscribed inside the bell as a tradition of the U.S. Navy.

Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy
Taken By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti-Medal of Honor Recipient

You can read more about this here

http://downloads.army.mil/medalofhonor/monti/

Wednesday Hero

This Week's Post Is Via Gazing At The Flag


PFC Thomas Lowell Tucker
24 years old from Madras, Oregon
B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
June 16, 2006


Flag Gazer has a great post up on the dedication of the PFC Thomas Tucker memorial.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The "Flag Still Stands for Freedom" campaign

On September 11th, Laura Kennedy of the Laura Kennedy Live show, launched the

"Flag Still Stands for Freedom" Campaign

"Flag Still Stand For Freedom", a Support Our Veterans campaign, honors and celebrates the thousands of men & women across the globe that have served in defense of this country. It rallies every citizen of the United States to collectively cover the U.S. in “Old Glory’s” symbolic colors of Red, White & Blue on November 11th, 2009—Veteran’s Day.

Go by the website and check it out HERE

Project 2996....I Remember.....Robert Fazio,Jr.

Name : Fazio, Robert
Rank: P.O.Shield #: 6667 NYPD
Command: 013 Pct.
Date of Death: 2001-09-11
Cause of Death: World Trade Center Attack


Police Officer Robert Fazio, 41, was appointed to the NYPD on July 16 1984, and began his career on patrol in Neighborhood Stabilization Unit 18. Prior to becoming a police officer, he worked as an auto mechanic and an electrician. Besides the 13 Precinct, he also worked in Patrol Borough Manhattan South, the Technical Assistance Response Unit(TARU), and the Property Clerk Division. At the time of his death he was enrolled at St. Joseph's College, where he was taking classes related to law enforcement.

At 41, Robert Fazio Jr. was still single. People would ask him when he was going to marry. But the pressure of society's conventions, said his sister, Carole Lovero, could not affect his decisions."He was a happy person, he was happy within himself," she said. "He would have gotten married if he had found the right person, but he was happy doing what he was doing."

What he was doing, outside of his job as a patrolman for the New York Police Department, was working on motorcycles, cars, boats and houses for anybody who needed a hand. "Half my neighbors, he fixed their cars," said Officer Fazio's father, Robert Sr.

Shortly after he got his driver's license, Robert Fazio Jr. could be seen on the weekend in front of the family's house in South Hempstead, on Long Island, hoisting engines in and out of cars with the help of a sturdy tree limb.


He had less than three years to go until retirement, his father said, and planned on setting up a motorcycle and car repair shop somewhere near his home in Freeport, N.Y., with a friend from junior high school, Gino Lanza. But though he had no children of his own, he spent as much time as he could baby-sitting for his nephew, Michael Lovero, and friends' children, who nicknamed him the "Tickle Monster."

Fazio was on his regular tour with another 13th Precinct officer, Moira Smith, when they spotted the first plane hitting the towers. Smith called in the information, and then she and Fazio headed back to the nearby precinct to interview witnesses. Within the hour, they were at the site of the World Trade Center, where the two officers were last seen before the buildings collapsed.

To fellow officers, Fazio was an example; he often embraced rookie cops and took the time to teach them the ropes.

PO Fazio is survied by his parents Felicia and Robert; sister Carole; brother-in-law Marc; and nephews Joseph and Michael.




(patch created by a volunteer for the
CubScout Pack 233 Memorial American Flag Quilt)


His sister Carole created a beautiful online memorial for Robert Fazio HERE


and there are memories from family and friends posted here

and in his Legacy.com online guestbook Here

------------------
This post is part of the Project 2,996 blogburst, which was started in 2006 to remember those who lost their lives on September 11,2001.

To the family and friends of Robert Fazio,Jr......... learning about him made me wish I'd had the chance to meet him.

I carry you all now in my thoughts and prayers, and will carry Robert's name in my heart each year on September 11th.





(patch from Barnum Woods Elementary School Quilt)

Wednesday Hero Year 3 Part II

Last week marked the 3 year anniversary of the Wednesday Hero blogroll .
Chris over at Right-Wing & Right Minded first started the Wednesday Hero posts in '05 and 'took the post public' and began the blogroll in '07, so that others could join in posting them every Wednesday.

It's been an honor and privilege to be a part of the blogroll, and I thank Chris so much for extending the privilege of posting on a weekly basis about our heroes to so many other blogs, my own little blog included.

Because of working extra hours , I totally blanked on putting together the annual slideshow that I send Chris each year for the anniversary until After his Anniversary post

but he has kindly this week sent out that slideshow to the members of the blogroll, so I include it again here

On the first year anniversary of the Wednesday Hero blogroll, the idea just popped into my head that a review of the year's posts in pictures would be a nice way to mark the anniversary. And so I put together a slideshow and sent it to Chris
The One Year Anniversary of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll


After the slideshow I made for the second year anniversary
Sept.1-Two Years of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll

Chris very kindly asked if I'd like to continue to do this every year for the anniversary.

My apologies to Chris, and the Blogroll members, for Not remembering to get the slideshow done in time for the anniversary post.........(next year, I have given Chris permission to send an email jogging my memory that the anniversary is coming up once again.)

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best ones.....and that's how I view Chris' Wednesday Hero posts........every Wednesday, he makes it possible for bloggers to highlight a Hero that we might never have known about, and makes it possible for so many others on the web to view that Hero also.

Thank You, Chris, for coming up with the powerful idea of the Wednesday Hero posts, and Thank You, for extending the privilege to all of us who belong to the

Wednesday Hero Blogroll
(for a listing of all the blogs that participate in the blogroll? you can go here )

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

Another 'surf' of the web, for news by, and about
Soldiers Angels

Times are tough, on that I believe we can all agree.

As I'm posting this, the number of soldiers listed as waiting for adoption on the main website is at 1,366.
Never since I joined Soldiers Angels back in '05 has there been such a backlog of soldiers waiting to be adopted.

Angels are stepping up with suggestions for how to support our troops in these tough economic times, however.........

Mike D's Army Mom (among many others) had a post about
Supporting troops on a budget


and Soldiers Angels Arkansas posted The $10.00 Box

and you don't have to do it alone......Soldiers Angels Network thanked a group of middle schoolers for their efforts to support the troops
THANKS to Sartaria Middle School

get a church or school group involved in adopting one of the 1,366 who are waiting on the website:)

If you can't send a package right now? 'Band' together with others to make blankets, as
View From the 8th Floor posts here
Mark Your Calendar! Blanket Making Bash 2009!


While the great need right now is for adoption ......if you just feel like you can't make that commitment right now due to budgetary concerns? there are so many other ways that you can at least make a small contribution to supporting the troops through Soldiers Angels, one way is to sign up to join the Letter Writing Team

This is actually how I first came to Soldiers Angels, is via the LWT, as we call it :) I was unemployed for 5 months during '05, and didn't feel I could commit to one care package a month. But I Did feel I could commit to at least sending a Letter........and although the LWT says to never ExPect to get a letter in return? Once a few soldiers Did write me back, and then I wrote them Again.....well, somehow I found a way to send small items to several of them.

One of them just asked for writing paper and pens, and a trip to the Dollar Store plus a small sized padded mailing package fulfilled his request:) While that may not be the first thing you think of when you think 'care package'? That's what he asked for, and I got together the coins to make it happen............and found out in the process that I Could send a 'care package', it didn't have to be elaborate and cost a bundle!

As so many Angels pass on? be Creative :) Another soldier who returned a letter jokingly said that he and those with him all missed going to ....Wal Mart,lol. While it wasn't a 'care package' per se? I have a color printer , so I printed out a picture of a Wal Mart from his hometown and sent it on it's way in my next letter. A very small thing, but it made someone smile:)

The possibilities are endless, for you to creatively come up with ideas yourself.

If you're not a 'letter writer' , but perhaps enjoy sending cards for all occasions? Soldiers Angels has the Cards Plus Team Are you 'crafty'? There's all kinds of possibilites for crafters to contribute to supporting the troops on the main Soldiers Angels website check them out!


No matter how you come to Soldiers Angels ? once you get started, and start making connections, I believe that the idea of sending a 'care package' will not seem like such a burdensome commitment after awhile. Here in my own household, although my husband has been out of work for awhile, we save all our change in a jar, and then were able to send two care packages this past month.....it's amazing, how those nickels and dimes add up!

What kind of difference can you make? even if you feel you Can't commit to sending a care package a month right now?

Well, I recently heard from a CTL (Community Team Leader) who had held a donation drive, and been somewhat discouraged as she was packing up at the end of the day.....she said "I know school is starting,etc, and times are tough all around..." but she had been hopeful more folks would donate items to send in care packages, or tip a few coins in the jars.

And as she was packing up, she was approached by a woman who wanted to give her a hug....the woman's son had been injured in Iraq several years ago, and Soldiers Angels had supported him. After she shared her story with the CTL (and they both shed some tears together) she announced that she wanted to Join Soldiers Angels, and give back to others, now that her son was healing and getting on with his life.

Full circle. The mother of a soldier who was a recipient of caring by Angels decides to become an Angel for someone else herself:)

A blanket here for a wounded soldier, a letter or card there.........
and, as our founder Patti Patton-Bader says........
"These little ripples of kindness add up to oceans of greatness"

Whether you can commit to 'adopting' today? or just want to check out the website for a way you Can contribute to supporting our troops?

Please go by the Soldiers Angels website and see if you can become involved in starting a 'ripple' today!

That's the surf!

The Military Health System says : SPEAK UP REACH OUT : September is Suicide Prevention Month

On August 13, 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense posted this news release

Army Releases July Suicide Data

Sadly, also on August 13, the bloggers at Flopping Aces posted that one of their writers had taken his own life on June 30.

Flopping Aces Writer Major Chris Galloway Dead at 36

Many others in the blogging, and mil-blogging, communities, also posted about Major Galloway's death around that time,such as:

Michelle Malkin: Maj. Chris Galloway,R.I.P.

C.J. at A Soldier's Perspective: Suicide Solution is No Solution

While I have never had to deal with the suicide of a close friend or family member, one of the sad truths I learned during the 2 years I assisted in researching the lives of fallen soldiers as a part of the Living Legends Team (which supports the families of the fallen on behalf of Soldiers Angels) was that, all too often, when a DOD news release about a death contained the phrase: died of injuries from a non-combat related incident......further research about that fallen soldier would reveal that they had taken their own life.

Suicides by those in the military, or those who have recently left the military, have become a growing concern not only for those in the military community, but also for those of us who have family members serving, or simply the many,many people out there who so avidly support our troops.

They've posted links before about ways for those serving, or those who have family members serving, to get help.....(for example, over at Hooah Wife and Friends , the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is posted prominently at the top left of the blog)


I received a link today in an email from the Military Health website that I wished to pass along, and I urge all of you to please help spread the link:

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month in September, the Military Health wants to pass along suicide prevention resources and information. The link on the website is here

September: Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month


As it says on the MilHealth link? SPEAK UP REACH OUT

Wednesday Hero 3 Years

Today marks the third anniversary of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. Not the actual Wednesday Hero posts. Those posts were started in 2005. This marks the third year of when these posts went public for anyone to post them. And it's taken off like gangbusters. People have signed up and wanted to take part in honoring those who do what they do in the name of freedom. At one point reaching over 100 participating sites. Thank you all who have signed up and those of you who read and comment on these posts. These people, whether they're actually in the military or are just doing something to aid those in the military, deserve to be remembered.

Christopher Lee
Right-Wing & Rightminded

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.





( I was late getting this to Chris, but again this year, I have put together a slide show for the third year anniversary of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll....I'm honored to be a small part of the many folks who belong to Wednesday Hero)

A Message from the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team

While I have taken a break from working with the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team? I still wholeheartedly believe that it is one of the most difficult and yet rewarding Teams to be a part of in Soldiers Angels, and I still firmly believe in and support their mission as a Team.

Recently, one of the Angels from the Team had a message to send out, and Soldiers Angels Germany (among others) posted it.....you can read it there

Angels of Comfort: A Message From the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team