Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

Time for one last Soldiers Angels Web Surfing post in 2010,
a 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels

This was a nice story out of Connecticut about an 'Angel'
Soldiers Angel is operating out of local home

and here's another good article
A former soldier becomes 'angel' to others


Soldiers' Angels Germany has a post about
Blankets of Hope X 90!

and also a post with the Big news of this past week
Video Story:Christmas with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan

And that's the end of the Year 'surf', short and sweet.
Thank you, for 'surfing' along with me this past year!

and looking forward to searching the web next year for more stories by or about
Soldiers Angels

Happy New Year!

New Year's Wishes for 2011

Comments by ZingerBug.com

For 2011, I found this poem (unable to find the author) that expresses best my wishes for all of you:

May you have enough happiness to keep you happy.

Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you thoughtful.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish depression.
Enough wealth to meet your daily needs.


Enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.
 
----------------
and for my wishes for myself? I liked this poem by Edgar Guest.
 
A New Year's Plea
 
Lord, let me stand in the thick of the fight,

Let me bear what I must without whining;
Grant me the wisdom to do what is right,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.

Let me be true as the steel of a blade,
Make me bigger than skillful or clever;
Teach me to cling to my best, unafraid,
And harken to false gospels, never.

Let me be brave when the burden is great,
Faithful when wounded by sorrow;
Teach me, when troubled, with patience to wait
The better and brighter to-morrow.

Spare me from hatred and envy and shame,
Open my eyes to life's beauty;
Let not the glitter of fortune or fame
Blind me to what is my duty.

Let me be true to myself to the end,
Let me stand to my task without whining;
Let me be right as a man, as a friend,
Though a thousand false beacons are shining.
-------------------
Wishing All of You  Happy New Year!

and Thank you, for stopping by my little blog,Dear Readers :)

Wednesday Hero

No Wednesday Hero post this week, posting will start fresh in the New Year.

Thank You! to all our servicemen and women for the job you are doing, and wishing you and your families all the best in the coming year.


For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Woot! Books:)

Got the above book that's been on my  Amazon Wishlist  from my husband for Christmas,Yay!:)

And then also got an Amazon gift card from my oldest son and his fiancee, so ordered 3 more books,woot!


















































I love to Read:)

Hope you got what You wanted for Christmas!!

Holiday Wishes

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday Hero~Christmas 2010

This week's Wednesday Hero post comes from the founder of Wednesday Hero


I sat here trying to think how to start this post. What did I want it to say? How long did I want it to be? I wasn't sure how to begin. I turned on some Christmas music to help get me in the right frame of mind to write a Christmas Wednesday Hero post, but it wasn't really helping. I mean, how do you properly thank a group of people who have given up everything in their lives to serve you and protect people all over the world with just a single post on a silly blog? Many of these Men and Women haven't seen their friends and families in months and many won't be seeing them for many more months. How do you thank them? They are away from home during the time of year when everyone should be together. How do you thank them for that? Some of them will never see their home or loved ones again because they laid down their life for a complete stranger. How do you thank them for that? I guess the better question would be are we able to thank them enough?

To all those who have completed their service, the ones who are serving, the ones who have payed the ultimate sacrifice and those who may have never served but help those who have and are, Thank You and Merry Christmas.


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.

Praying for Billy and his family and friends..

Aunty Brat over at Assoluta Tranquillita has a powerfully moving post up


God's Will


I have no words, other than to say that I'm praying for Billy, and his family and friends.

Boys & Girls Club Learn about Medal of Honor

Nice story from Army Live
Boys & Girls Club Learn about Medal of Honor

Sharing Christmas Magic via egreetings.com :)

Hey Redskin Fans!

Airman Mom has a great post up about
Former Redskin Line Backer-Current Backer of our Troops

11 Year old raising money to honor Maj. Dick Winters

(Got this passed on to me by a currently serving soldier, who wanted to spread the word on this)

This is a great story out of Pennsylvania,via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Boy, 11, raises $21,000 to honor World War II hero By Torsten Ove

and the website for Jordan's fundriaser is  Hang Tough 6-6-44

Back from Hawaii :)

Tony and I just got back from Hawaii, and celebrating the wedding of his son to a lovely young woman:)
I posted links to photos over on  my family blog

Military Christmas wishes making the rounds:) Happy Holidays!

Wednesday Hero

SSgt. Brent Schneider
From Amarillo, Texas
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment



A Green Country military mom is especially proud of her soldier son. He's on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, and now he's been honored for his bravery under fire with a Silver Star.

It's not his first medal.

For a mother with a son in a war zone, Lisa Wheat is pretty cool, calm and collected.

"I'm comfortable because I know the training he's had. He's had excellent training. And I just have all of the confidence in the world in him," Lisa Wheat said.

You can read the rest of the article here and the Stars &Stripes piece 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.    

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy





By now I'm sure you've all heard about 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines "Darkhorse" and the heavy casualties they've taken since being deployed to Afghanistan in September. Almost 20 causalities in October and November. Below is a list of the 3/5 Darkhorse Marines that I was able to find. If I've missed anyone please let me know. I'm not able to profile them all individually, but you can go here to find more information on these men.

Marine Sgt. Ian M. Tawney
Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk
Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph C. Lopez
Marine Lance Cpl. Alec E. Catherwood
Marine Lance Cpl. Irvin M. Ceniceros
Marine Pfc. Victor A. Dew
Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph E. Rodewald
Marine Lance Cpl. Phillip D. Vinnedge
Marine Cpl. Justin J. Cain
Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks
Marine 1st Lt. William J. Donnelly IV
Marine Lance Cpl. James B. Stack
Marine 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly
Marine Lance Cpl. Randy R. Braggs
Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon W. Pearson
Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Broehm (sadly,there were several more names to be added to this list before it was time to post this) (Dec.2) Marine Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate(Dec.6)      Marine Cpl. Derek A. Wyatt
Marine Pvt. Colton W. Rusk
(Dec.7) Marine Sgt. Jason D. Peto

Rest in Peace,Marines. Semper Fi. 
 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

Before the husband and I 'surf' off to Hawaii to attend his son's wedding:)

wanted to do a 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels

Love stories like these!

From the PostIndependent in Glenwood Springs,CO
Senior project provides warmth for deployed soldiers

and MaryAnn at Soldiers Angels Germany has a post with the same 'warm' theme
Angels at Tennessee Senior Center make quilts for Wounded Warriors


from Soldiers Angels- Medical Support comes another post about an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout Sam Morrill makes a difference

Congratulations! to Angel Adrie over at Adrie's Corner,
who received both a Wonderful Blog Award and A Priceless Gift

Angels are 'wrapping up' Christmas (sorry, couldn't resist:)
from Marion's Meepings in Australia
Pax'd and Posted  and  Warmed by Pax

and check out this poem from Rhetta's Thoughts in Middle Age
A Soldier's Angels Christmas

Lastly, from the Valour-IT blog  Wiihab

That's the 'surf'!  Until the next time!


-----------------
(oh, and FYI..the Deputy Sheriff son and the two dogs will still be home)

Linda Norgrove

Longtime blogger friend Guido at Atlantic Lines posted today about
Linda Norgrove

which led me to the page for the foundation that her parents have helped set up in her memory.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation

What a beautiful way for her parents to ensure that her work lives on.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Steve


Cpl. Ira H. Hayes
3rd Parachute Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 1st Headquarters Battalion, HQMC
January 12, 1923 – January 24, 1955


Ira Hamilton Hayes, participant in the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima, was a Pima Indian, born at Sacaton, Arizona, on 12 January 1923. In 1932, the family moved a few miles southward to Bapchule. Both Sacaton and Bapchule are located within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation in south central Arizona. Hayes left high school after completing two years of study. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in May and June of 1942, and then went to work as a carpenter.

You can read more about Cpl. Hayes 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. 

Via Blackfive: Help Honor Major Dick Winters

From Blackfive  Help Honor Major Dick Winters

I hope y'all know who Major Winters is?

Christmas Caroling memories...

Thought you might enjoy checking out a post over on my family blog
Christmas Caroling Memories

Great post....

over at The Sand Docs  Giving Thanks

Final Fundraising Totals for Valour-IT 2010

TEAM ARMY $27,255

TEAM NAVY $12,327

TEAM AIR FORCE $9,224

TEAM MARINE $38,853

No Branch Specified $7,546


Total   $95,205 !!!!!

 
Heartfelt Thanks! to all those who donated!

Dinner With Warriors Cookbook

Via Mike D's Army Mom  is the
Dinner With Warriors Cookbook from  FreedomExcursions

Congratulations to......

Cooking with the Troops !(via Blackfive) Nasdaq Opening Bell Ceremony


and over at Soldiers Angels, to Toby, Ann, and Lance!
Soldiers' Angels Continues Growth in Supporting Troops

Wreaths Across America~Help Sponsor a Wreath for Section 60 at Arlington

For the past several years my husband and I have participated both locally and at Arlington
in Wreaths Across America


(2007 Staunton National Cemetery)

(2008 Arlington National Cemetery)

(2009 Staunton National Cemetery)

On December 11th at noon this year, volunteers all over our country will once again be laying wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes. (we will be unable this year to participate, we'll be attending my stepson's wedding)
To find a location near you  where you can volunteer to participate, you can click on this link at the
Wreaths Across America website.

and also check out the tenative schedule for the 2010 Escort to Arlington   The Patriot Guard Riders will be joining in the escort.

But the main reason I'm posting is that on this Update on Section 60  the total number of wreaths sponsored for section 60 is 4800...of the 9,000 needed. Section 60 is the section of Arlington where many of our fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan lie, and this year Wreaths Across America had hoped to have wreaths sponsored for Section 60  WishUponAHero

The cut-off for sponsoring a wreath has been extended to Nov. 29, you can see the sponsorship options here

Spread the word, will you?

Happy Thanksgiving!

‎"So once in every year we throng


Upon a day apart,

To praise the Lord with feast and song

In thankfulness of heart.”

Arthur Guiterman
 
I'm Thankful for all those who take the time to stop by here,
and wishing each of you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
 
 
Comments by ZingerBug.com

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Beth


PFC Chance Phelps
19 years old from Dubois, Wyoming
3 Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
April 9, 2004


"I don't think anything can prepare you for two young men standing in the living room telling you your son’s been killed," said Gretchen Mack, mother of PFC Chance Phelps. "It's just surreal. They were crying." The last time she had talked her to son was a few days before his death. "He said, 'Mom, I'm fine.' He sounded great. It was really good to be able to talk to him. It made us feel better."

PFC Phelps was KIA while battling insurgents just outside of Baghdad, Iraq.

Friends recall Phelps as a fun-loving, hard-nosed kid. "He was big but didn't throw his size around to intimidate people", said Jarod Estey. "He was probably the toughest kid I knew growing up in grade school. He was probably the biggest kid, too — well-built and strong. But he was real easy going. He always had a smile on his face."

"He was very in tune politically," said his mother. "He knew what he wanted for this country. ... He told me after 9/11, 'I absolutely have to go. I've got to do something.'" But joining the military isn't anything new for the family. His father, John Phelps, is a Vietnam veteran. And his sister, Kelley, works at the Pentagon and is engaged to an Army sergeant.

"He had an unusual amount of zest," said his mother. "He just possessed this quality that he had to be in the thick of things all the time. He was very, very positive, very funny. ... His main thing in life was making people laugh."

You can read more 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. 

Fallen Hero Memorial Arrives....With Several Errors

Back in October, I posted Sadly, Controversy Surrounds a Memorial for a Local Fallen Hero

The questions being asked at the time of Clayton Murwin, "where is the memorial? or where is the money that was donated for the memorial?" have now been answered.

The memorial is here.....
It just, sadly, has several errors (from  the WHSV TV story)
Long-Awaited Memorial Arrives with Multiple Errors

The word 'commemorated' is misspelled on the front of the memorial,and  the Turner Ashby high school name is transposed into "Ashby Turner High School" in the list of donors on the back.

Now, Clayton Murwin is NOT responsible for the spelling errors on the memorial,

 but he Is responsible for Commissioning a memorial, that was Paid for by donors from the Broadway and surrounding communities.

Via the Daily News-Record (behind a subscription wall) is this story
Memorial Arrives-Misspelled

Mr. Murwin's attorney in the above newspaper article, says that" a bronze plaque will be placed over the engraved text to cover up the spelling mistake on the front", but apparently nothing can be done to rectify the mistake on the donor list.

After my original post about this issue, I chose to say nothing further until  our community saw If and When the memorial arrived. The entire issue of this memorial seemed to have degenerated into some of the nastiest commenting back and forth that I have ever seen on the Internet, and  it seemed pointless to get involved in all that ugliness when time would tell whether a memorial had ever actually been ordered.

Time has indeed proved the friends of Mr. Muwin correct, that the memorial would arrive.

It's just a memorial ,paid for with $6800.00 of donated money, that has mistakes engraved on granite which will be partially fixed by covering up the text on the front with a bronze plaque, and not fixed at all in the donor list.

And Rockingham County schools say it cannot be placed on Broadway High School grounds until the errors are fixed.

This whole situation would seem to have verged into farce....if it were not just so unutterably sad.

Minnesotans remembering their Fallen Heroes.....

....and money raised will go toward a $2 million pledge for the construction of the
Fisher House at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center


My Mom sent this article from the Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune
State's fallen get tribute in calendar by Mark Brunswick

which led me to this website (the link in the article seemed to be incorrect?)
Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation

and there's more about the calendar project on the Minnesota National Guard website Here

This is a Beautiful Idea!

Just came across this
Virginia Memorial Quilt Project

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

Time for a 'surf' of the web for news by, or about,
Soldiers Angels

and there's lots of holiday news, with the USPS Military shipping deadlines
fast approaching the cut-off dates to get packages to our troops before Christmas.

First up, from the Ft.Campbell Courier
Soldiers’ Angels’ sends packages on wings of love

Then, from the University of North Alabama
UPC to Hold Veterans Ball to Benefit Deployed Soldiers

Via the Pasadena,CA Star-News
Montebello YMCA care packages on their way to overseas troops

This Australian 'Angel' is sending cool gifts:) from Marion's Meepings
Pax'ing Presents

From TCPalm in Florida
Soldiers phone home for the holidays

and lastly, from the Seacoastonline.com in Maine,
Former first lady Laura Bush to headline 'sweet' event


That's the 'surf'! Glad to see so many folks sending 'Happy Holidays' to our troops:)

When you stop by the Soldiers Angels website, check out the
12 Days of Christmas in November  for easy ways to support our troops!

Wounded EOD Tech is an inspiration,IMHO

This story  Wounded EOD Technician Shares Experience, Choice   from 10News.com.
is about a relative by marriage, of a relative of mine (are you following all that?)

I think that John is truly an inspiration, and am awed by his courage and his attitude.......and then, in reading the comments on the story? sort of torqued off that more people seemed concerned about correcting the facts and grammer they felt were wrong in the story, than in commenting about  a truly heroic young man. 

Who among us, if we had lost both our legs while doing our job, would say 'I want to go Back?"......I'm not sure I could....but whether I could or not, it doesn't seem to me that the appropriate place to have a hissy fit over grammer is in the comment section of a story about someone who Did.

so please, consider taking the time to leave a comment on the story saluting the courage, bravery,aand attitude of John Kremer.

and, after that, perhaps you might want to check out the  Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation website.

God Bless Our Troops, and God Bless John and his family.

Came across two great blogs this past week

The first one, via  The Sandbox  is called  The Sand Docs

The second, via a post on Michael Yon's Facebook page is called  One Life to Give

Well worth checking out!

CwtT 2011 Calendar Cooking with the Troops

United Conservatives of Virginia: CwtT 2011 Calendar Cooking with the Troops

(ConcreteBob beat me to this,it was on my list of 'things to blog this evening'.....spread the word about this calendar, looks like it would make a great gift!:)

and after you check out the calendar? check out the rest of the
Cooking with the Troops store

Do you know the Medal of Honor recipients from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Guinta is the most recent recipient, of course.....but, how many ordinary citizens know the names of  the 7 other men who have been recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor
since Army SFC Paul R. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2005, for actions in Iraq in 2003?
Did you know that two years later in 2007, Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham was  also posthumously awarded the Medal?
When you hear the names of  Navy Lt. Michael P. Murphy  , 
Navy PO2 Michael A. Monsoor ,
Army  PFC Ross A. McGinnis ,
Army SFC Jared C. Monti ,
and Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller  .......do you instantly know "oh,yes, Medal of Honor"?

We all should, you know.....we should know the names, and the stories, of those who have been considered worthy of the highest honor our nation can bestow on those serving our country, particularly in these days of war.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy


SSgt. Salvatore Giunta
25 years old from Ceder Rapid, Iowa
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team


Yesterday, SSgt. Salvatore Giunta became the first living recipient of the Medal Of Honor since the Vietnam War.

From the official citation:

Then-Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifle team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on October 25, 2007. When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta’s squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover. Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Specialist Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security. His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.”  
 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 Honor and Remember Across America Journey Concluded at Arlington on Veteran's Day

You can read about it here
Day 157-Arlington National Cemetery

Spread the Word about Mission:ABLE

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America 

"Did you know that?


More than 44,000 American veterans live with paralysis.


Spinal cord injuries cost up to $3 million per person in healthcare expenses, yet veterans' benefits aren’t always guaranteed.


An estimated $25 billion in veterans’ benefits dollars goes unclaimed every year"
 
This is an introduction to   Mission:ABLE
 
Paralyzed Veterans is leading the mission to make sure our veterans are:


Able to receive the benefits they've earned

Able to access the quality of care they need to live a full life

Able to get job training and opportunities for new careers

Able to enjoy competition and camaraderie though sports
 
See this video from the Band OAR in support of Mission: Able
 




and then check out this worthy cause for yourself!

Thank You.

Update on the AmericInn Troop Giveback

The AmericInn™ Troop Giveback Concludes Reaching its Goal of 15 Care Packages.

AmericInn Troop Giveback reaches hundreds of soldiers serving in Afghanistan with supplies and recreational items


The program was met with an outpouring of support from hotel owners, guests and soldiers’ families



CHANHASSEN, Minn. – Nov. 11, 2010 – When AmericInn Hotels kicked off its Troop Giveback in October, the company knew the campaign to send care packages to troops serving in Afghanistan would be well-received by its supportive and patriotic guests and hotel owners. But the hotel chain did not expect such an outpouring of support and success that greeted the introduction of the month-long effort.


Each time a member of AmericInn’s Easy Rewards loyalty program stayed with the hotel chain during the month of October, that guest contributed to the delivery of another care package. When the AmericInn Troop Giveback program was introduced, the company was flooded with words of appreciation from hotel owners who have been running their own care-package programs for troops, thanks from employees with relatives who received some of the care packages, and guests who offered supplies to include in the care packages. AmericInn even received a letter of thanks from American Red Cross staff working at an airfield in Afghanistan.

“I can barely begin to express how much I appreciate the AmericInn Troop Giveback program,” said Jodi McClellan, owner and manager of the AmericInn Lodge and Suites of Borger, Texas. “As someone who regularly sends out care packages with help from friends and groups in our community, it means the world to me that AmericInn is supporting our troops.”

In all, AmericInn guests and hotel owners helped the chain meet its goal of delivering 15 large care packages – each including enough food, personal care, communication and recreation items for about two dozen troops – to bases across Afghanistan. Those care packages provided supplies for about 350 troops.


AmericInn, a national hotel chain with more than 215 locations nationwide, developed the Troop Giveback program with the help of an employee who served in Iraq for a year. His stories about the heart-warming impact of receiving mail and care packages – from family and strangers alike – helped AmericInn arrive at the idea for the Troop Giveback program.

“The care packages we sent will reach hundreds of troops with supplies that might help make their day a little easier and a little brighter. It’s a token of our appreciation for the sacrifices they make in service to our country,” said Mike Strong, director of marketing at AmericInn. “With thousands of guests taking part in the program, I hope we’ve made people take a second to appreciate everything our soldiers do for us.”

Also, don't forget Carol For A Cause contest......

The deadline to submit your videos is fast approaching, don't for the contest!
Carol For A Cause

Mark Your Calenders....Nov.29,9 pm, NatGeo channel...

Restrepo

North Platte Canteen

Got the video link in an email, and was blown away by the story, which I hadn't heard before. Found the website
North Platte Canteen

and found out there was a book written about it,also:

Royal College of Nursing Pays Tribute to Bravery of Defence Nurses

As both a nurse, and a supporter of our troops, this story touched my heart.

RCN pays tribute to bravery of defence nurses

and be sure to check out the Home page of the Royal College of Nursing , to see the video interview with Ethel Lote, a nurse who served in WW II.

God bless Dr. Yvonne McEwen , an "historian and former nurse" for spending over 10 years completing the lists........
and God Bless my fellow nurses who've served in wartime over the years.

---------------------

National Resource Directory State Widget Available

Show Your Support of Service Members and Veterans with the New
National Resource Directory State Widget



The National Resource Directory (NRD) , an online resource for Wounded Warriors, Service Members, Veterans and those who support them, now has a state widget. The NRD state widget allows individuals and organizations to display resources tailored by state and subject area on their own websites, blogs or Facebook fan pages. The NRD state widget can be personalized by color scheme and size, and can display resources by either popularity or by newest additions to the site. Creating an NRD state widget is easy and maintenance free as it automatically updates when new information is added to the NRD.


A collaborative effort between the U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, the NRD provides Wounded Warriors, Service Members, Veterans and their families with access to thousands of resources to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.

To learn how to create an NRD state widget, visit http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/
 

Veteran's Day:Honoring All Who Served

Thank You, to all the Veterans!

Thank You, for Making the Valour IT Fundraiser such a Success!

As we enter the last day of the Soldiers Angels Valour IT fundraiser, a heartfelt Thank You, to all those who donated to make this fundraiser such a success!

(and from the Soldiers Angels website, there will be 100 laptops given today, thanks to a special grant)

100 Laptops for 100 Warriors


On Veterans Day (November 11), Soldiers' Angels is honored to host a celebration of thanks for America’s veterans at the Soldiers’ Angels Support Center, our warehouse and support complex in San Antonio across from Brooke Army Medical Center.



In recognition of America’s wounded heroes and to give them a “hand up” as they adjust to life as a wounded veteran, Soldiers’ Angels will hand out 100 new laptops to severely-wounded military personnel at the event. The laptop distribution is funded by the third TRIAD grant Soldiers’ Angels has received for Project Valour-IT, which provides technology to support the recovery and reintegration of wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including nearly 6,000 adaptive laptops in the last five and a half years.



Local members of the public are invited to the event, where they will be encouraged to pack care packages for deployed troops, fold small American flags, and write personal notes of gratitude that will be distributed to veterans and active duty personnel.



The sponsor for this event is Bank of America. Organizations partnering with Soldiers’ Angels for this event are Operation Homefront, Mission Serve, Grainger, Best Buy, Herr Foods, eFusjon Energy Club, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Miss San Antonio 2011 Dominique Ramirez, and local military and political leaders. Food will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the mementos and thank yous from the heroes Soldiers’ Angels has supported.



Soldiers’ Angels invites all San Antonio residents to this celebration of true American heroes, honoring those who have served and sacrificed in the defense of all Americans! For more information about this event, Soldiers’ Angels, or how to donate to help our troops, contact Soldiers’ Angels at mlopinto@soldiersangels.org.



About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, $.95 of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs. For more information about Operation Homefront, please visit OperationHomefront.net.



About TRIAD: Funding for the Soldiers’ Angels Project Valor-IT project was provided in part by the Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. For more than 40 years, the San Antonio Area Foundation, a publicly supported philanthropic institution, has been administering donors’ funds and granting gifts from those funds to worthy charitable causes that significantly enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi


Capt. George Vujnovich
95 years old from Queens, New York


66 years after he was instrumental in the rescue of almost 500 bomber pilots who had been shot down over Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia, Capt. George Vujnovich was finally awarded the Bronze Star in October.

You can read the rest of Capt. George Vujnovich's story 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. 

Went to a Veteran's Luncheon yesterday, with my Aunt

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a Veteran's  Appreciation Luncheon
 hosted by Sen Mark Warner

with my aunt, who is  a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army Nurse Corps

The luncheon was held, appropriately enough, at the New Market Battlefield Museum

At  the beginning of the luncheon there was a moment that was profoundly moving to me, some young cadets from Massanutten Military Academy were posting the colors, and of course, all of us in the room were standing.
 
A recorded version of the Music to the Star Spangled Banner began playing, and almost immediately, a few of the veterans in the room began singing along with the music.......more and more, until they all were singing. I had tears in my eyes, listening to this.....and also, my heart swelled with gratitude, for my aunt and all the others like her who were there, from WW II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, down to the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan......the room was filled with an unbroken line of honorable service.

And we can never say 'Thank You' enough, can we?

-------------------------
(when I told my husband and son the above story, they asked 'why didn't you take the camera out and get some video?".......and I replied "you know what? there's some things you don't spoil, by hunting for the camera or cell phone to take a pic or record it......there are some moments you should just live right then while they're happening, and treasure them forever afterwards in your memory"

that sounds really good, huh? but actually, I'd completely Forgotten I had the camera in my purse:)

The Current Valour IT team totals in the fundraiser

The current totals as of yesterday were:
11/7/2010



TEAM ARMY$18,883

TEAM NAVY$6,142

TEAM AIR FORCE$4,420

TEAM MARINE$27,605

No Branch Specified$6,671

Total$63,721

Great Valour IT post over at.......

Hooah Wife & Friends  Technology for Heroes

Thanks,Greta! GO,TEAM ARMY!

Team Army Reaches their Goal! now the bar is set higher:)

Woot!  as Blackfive says  Team Army-First to Take the Objective

....."Thank you to everyone who has donated their valuable time and hard-earned money to our cause!"

the next objective, $25k.........

(and to help reach the new objective)......20% of all sales this weekend at Ranger Up will go to the Soldiers Angels Team Army fund to help wounded warriors heal and reconnect with the rest of the world.  The incentive starts Saturday, November 6th (0:01AM EST) and continues through Sunday the 7th (11:59PM EST).  On Tuesday, Ranger Up will donate the 20% of all items sold this weekend to Valour-IT!

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Michael


Lt. Wilson W. Brown
Company F, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Dec. 25, 1839 - Dec. 26, 1916

Private Wilson W. Brown was part of "The Great Locomotive Chase" or Andrews' Raid. It was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army commandeered a train and took it northwards toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A) from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga as they went, pursued by other locomotives. Because they had cut the telegraph wires, no warning could be sent to Confederate forces along their route. The raiders were eventually captured and some were executed as spies. Some of Andrews' Raiders became the first recipients of the Medal of Honor, including Pvt. Wilson Brown who was able to escape and later promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. His citation read:

"One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta".  
 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. 

Cool ways to give to Valour IT (and get something in return,too:)

From over at the YouServed blog:

Another option to help is to purchase something from the Bouhammer Gear Store from October 28th until November 11th and I will donate 100% of the proceeds to Valour-IT. You will get a great looking decal, T-shirt, hat or polo style shirt and they will get some more money to help fund the Valour-IT initiative.


One last way to give and really get something cool is to keep an eye on the
 You Served Blog and Radio show ebay store
 starting the 28th of October until the 11th of November. Many in the milblogging community have been working tirelessly to get items donated that can sell there of which 100% of the proceeds will go towards Valour-IT. If the listing does not specify it is going to a specific team (Army, Air Force, Marines, or Navy) then the winner of the item must specify it after they win the auction. There will be new items going up all the time from Oct. 28th until Nov 4th. The items will each be listed for a maximum of seven days.
 

Military Monday~Support Wounded Warriors

For Military Monday this week, please consider giving to the Soldiers Angels Valour IT fundraiser
which helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.

Aunty Brat has a Valour IT Update.......

as always, Aunty Brat says it much better than I could.....please go check out
Valour IT Update

Time for Stars & Stripes Holdiay Message!

Stars and Stripes is now accepting personal Holiday messages for

publication in worldwide editions of our daily newspaper. To get your
message to a loved one in print, visit our Stripes Holiday Messages

Messages received by November 29 will be printed in the Stars and Stripes on December 18 in
its Middle East, European and Pacific editions.

Online: Messages received after the Nov. 29 print deadline will appear online only. We will accept online only messages until Dec. 17.

Soldiers Angels Valour IT Fundraiser starts today.....Go,Team Army!

The 2010 Soldiers Angels Valour IT Fundraising competition begins today and runs through Veteran's Day.


Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:



Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).


Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

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While this blog, of course, is  Army All the Way  :)  we don't really care Which 'Team' competing in the fundraiser you choose.....please just give what you can, and spread the word!!!

Wednesday Hero

GySgt. Carlos Hathcock
May 20, 1942 – February 23, 1999


Carlos Hathcock was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps. His fame as a sniper and his dedication to long distance shooting led him to become a major developer of the United States Marine Corps Sniper training program. He was honored by having a rifle named after him: a variant of the M21 dubbed the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather.

You Can Read More About GySgt. Hathcock Here

You can watch an interview with Gunny Hathcock
Here
Here
and Here

I have to say that it's kind of sad that the best source of info I could find on Gunny Hathcock was on Wikipedia. There should be a lot more sites honoring this man.


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.

Sadly, Controversy Surrounds a Memorial for a Local Fallen Hero

UPDATE: Dec.3.2010: Interesting, in checking out the links on my post here, it seems that now some of the things they linked to have totally disappeared.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Local Fallen Hero,  Army Spc. Brian M. ('Bucky') Anderson  died  June 12, 2010  in service to our country.

On June 26, I linked in this post to a blog post by a local graphic artist, about a memorial for Bucky Anderson....(the link now says "Page not found")

In the past few days, our local newspaper and local TV station have broken stories with questions about the memorial and controversy over it......see HERE for the latest WHSV TV story and  HERE for the beginning of the article in The Daily News-Record (the rest is behind a subscription wall)

In the Daily News-Record story, the attorney for the graphic artist is quoted as saying this memorial was "not intended to specifically honor" Bucky.

Yet, I found this June 20th WHSV TV story
Local Artist to Memorialize Soldier's Sacrifice


(Update:Dec.3,2010: The discussion thread on the Sean Hannity forums now seems to have completely disappeared, so I have struck-through the original posted item)
On the Sean Hannity Discussion forums, I found this thread  HERE  and this was posted at the end of the thread:
"Help us Erect a Memorial in Honor of SPC Brian Bucky Anderson



Heroes Fallen Studios Inc. a 501-c3 (still awaiting tax exempt status from IRS) along with Florida Fallen Heroes.org & VFW Post 9660 in Broadway VAis seeking donations for Memorial Statue to be erected in Broadwayy VA . for SPC Brian "Bucky" Anderson KIA June 12th 2010. If interested please contact me at cmerwin6@gmail.com . Thank you! Here is a link to the information on SPC Anderson http://heroesfallen.blogspot.com/2010/06/r.html "

From the Shenandoah Journal comes this July 13th story
Carwash helps fund soldier's memorial

(Update:Dec.3,2010: the link here has also disappeared, so again, I struck-through the original posted item)

and on this cached Google page  Here  is a snapshot of a page from the aforementioned  graphic artist's blog as it appeared on Aug.10,2010....with one of the pertinent (now disappeared ) links as below:


Celebrity Car-wash Fundraiser for SPC Brian Bucky Anderson July 10th Timberville VA



Jul 2, 2010


We have raised so far $4,050.00 of the $6,800.00 needed for the memorial for Bucky. We hope this event will push us over the top. Once we have reached the goal amount We will post it here and on our main website that donations will no longer be...

----------------------
I also found the web page for Florida Fallen Heroes ,which was  the company that Mr. Merwin stated was going to provide the memorial?
UPDATE:
After posting information about Florida Fallen Heroes a few days ago, I was contacted by the President of Florida Fallen Heroes, who wished to clarify that Florida Fallen Heroes "in no way raised any monies for the monument"

(It appears that they were simply a company that was contacted BY Mr.Murwin, and they would refer any further questions About Mr. Murwin's involvement with them, to Mr. Murwin himself)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In closing........I don't know where this story will end up heading? but it makes me incredibly sad for the Anderson family, that this whole controversy has arisen.



-------------------------
UPDATE 11/7/10: I was kind of astonished, that my posting here (on what I  admit is a 'D' list type of blog in the scheme of blogging, I have no illusions about my blog :) would generate these 2 posts in response:

Bouhammer Steps in to the Merwin/Anderson Controversy

and

What Would Bucky Do?

Those 2 posts are by folks who freely admit that they are friends of Mr.Merwin(or Murwin,I'm unsure of the spelling?)( Update: apparently the correct spelling IS" Murwin.")

I have never met Mr. Murwin, nor have I met the Anderson family......some of my sons knew him, and my husband and I stood with the Patriot Guard Riders at Bucky's funeral

but I don't think the questions that the community is asking of Mr.Murwin:
1. where is the memorial?
2. or where is the money that was raised for the memorial?

are so 'slanderous and libelous' (as Anonymous posted in the comments), or such unreasonable questions, that the proper response to them would be to malign a grieving family and community for Asking those questions?

just my opinion......

-------------------
UPDATE 11/8/10     Wow, I'm speechless.......(and apparently,'ignorant' or at best 'uninformed'?)
In an effort to present all sides of this story? I direct you to this post over at A Soldiers Perspective
Hero Maker Under Fire

Oct.26: Soldiers Angels "DAY OF THE DEPLOYED"

Proclamation Day of the Deployed October 26




WHEREAS, this nation is kept strong and free by the loyal citizens who preserve our precious heritage through their positives declaration and actions; and



WHEREAS, our deployed service members have courageously answered their nation’s call to service by defending our freedoms on foreign lands; and



WHEREAS, Americans are encouraged to reaffirm their patriotism and allegiance to our flag and country, and honor the brave men and women currently deployed to protect and preserve our way of life; and



WHEREAS, since 2006 Soldiers' Angels has honored our deployed heroes with a day set aside in recognition of their hard work, dedication and commitment to the United States of America; and


NOW,THEREFORE, Soldiers’ Angels hereby proclaim October 26 as DAY OF THE DEPLOYED
throughout the United States of America and where ever our service members are serving.



Patti Patton-Bader, Founder


Shelle Michaels, National Comm. Officer

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Beth



SSgt. Robert J. Miller
24 years old from Wheaton, Illinois
Company A, Third Battalion, Third Special Forces Group
January 25, 2008


Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller was awarded the Medal of Honor
posthumously in a Pentagon ceremony on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. He
died in Afghanistan saving his fellow soldiers in an act of heroism
that is honored as courage above and beyond the call of duty.

You can read the rest of SSgt. Miller's story  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 AndWomen 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 'surf' of the web for news or posts by, or about,
Soldiers Angels

Going all the way back to Sept.24th, Woot! SA makes the Army.mil page
Soldiers, Angels send letters, snacks overseas

Yum. From the Kennebunkport Post
Fudge that is fit for the troops

Great post from Girls Giving Back
Soldiers Angels-August 14,2010
(and great idea for a blog:)

Moving story from MLive.com
High school volleyball teams will honor coach's soldier husband, who died in Iraq


Lastly, From NorthJersey.com
Soldiers’ Angels service award presented to Dumont woman

That's the surf!

 Until next time........

Wednesday Hero

First Lieutenant Gregory F. Ambrosia
28 years old from Knoxville, Tennessee
2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade


The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Gregory F. Ambrosia, United States Army, for gallantry in actions while serving as Executive Officer, Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, in action in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Afghanistan, on 25 - 26 September 2007. First Lieutenant Ambrosia's gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: On 25 September 2007, Able Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry air assaulted into the village of Qowru and conducted a search and attack through the village and surrounding caves in order to disrupt Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in the Watapor Valley. The Company Executive Officer, First Lieutenant Ambrosia air assaulted into OP REDSKINS, one of two company observation posts (OP's) overlooking Qowru, in order to establish a command radio relay station and overwatch the mounted assault element in the valley with 60-mm. indirect fire. Upon occupation, ICOM intercepts informed the OP that the enemy was mobilizing and massing for an attack on both company OP's and the mounted maneuver element in the valley. Immediately upon insertion, the 22 Soldiers of 1st Platoon which assaulted OP REDSKINS linked up and moved towards their position overlooking the valley. There were explosions and shots fired across the valley during the night, but no fires were directed at OP REDSKINS. By morning the OP observed the rest of the Company move into position and begin their search and attack through the valley. A fire team plus-sized element of Anti-Coalition Militia was maneuvering to high ground to the east of the company when they made contact with the position at OP REDSKINS. The first individual that came close to the OP was an enemy scout. The individual was engaged immediately and within minutes several of the ACM fighters engaged the observation post with an intense volume of fire. Without any hesitation, First Lieutenant Ambrosia immediately assessed the situation and reported to the Company Commander who was located down in the valley and by this time under fire as well. He gave the enemy situation and without any concern for his own safety remained in place while exposed to heavy enemy fire from ACM forces advancing on his position to within hand grenade range. He continued directing fires and making critical radio transmissions using both FM and TACSAT communication. His timely and accurate calls for 40-mm. and 81-mm. danger close fire were the only effective defense for the OP. While the rest of the element were throwing hand grenades and engaged in close combat with a flanking ACM force, First Lieutenant Ambrosia held his position under heavy direct fire during the 4 hours of the engagement without deviating from his radio transmissions. He requested fire missions, using three different indirect fire assets and close air support simultaneously. First Lieutenant Ambrosia's strong character gave him the tools he needed to repel the enemy attack. First Lieutenant Ambrosia's indirect fire was able to hold the enemy front, which allowed the rest of the OP to fight back the enemy's attempt to turn their flank. First Lieutenant Ambrosia continued providing covering fire simultaneously as he had to make corrections on the 500 pound bombs dropped all within danger close. He gave the Battalion Commander updates of the enemy and friendly situations as they developed. He continued to hold his position even though he was constantly exposed to close heavy enemy fire. First Lieutenant Ambrosia kept keeping Close Combat Air updated on the enemy's location allowing the AH-64 (Apache) to effectively engage and kill three ACM fighters. Despite constant signal intercepts suggesting advancing and flanking maneuver forces, his ability to continue setting the tactical conditions gave the Non-Commissioned Officers and all junior leaders the ability to maneuver their Paratroopers. First Lieutenant Ambrosia's actions throughout the entire engagement were of the highest degree of valor. He performed honorably while under direct enemy fire and effectively engaged the enemy under the most difficult circumstances. First Lieutenant Ambrosia was a key leader during the battle, providing true leadership to the entire element. Even when events became dire, he kept his demeanor and without hesitation took the fight to the enemy. His actions are the true embodiment of the Infantry Warrior Ethos. 

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.