Wednesday Hero on Hiatus

Wednesday Hero is temporarily on hiatus due to computer issues for the founder of the Wednesday Hero posts .

Volunteering for the Face of America Bike Ride for 5 years

In 2007, I found through Soldiers Angels an opportunity to volunteer at an event, the
World T.E.A.M.Sports Face of America Bike Ride
(which that year was a ride from Gettysburg to Bethesda)
and so my daughter and I drove up to MD for a Sunday afternoon of volunteering in 2007

(daughter April was a freshman in high school that year)

A link to more pics from 2007  HERE 

We enjoyed so much being a part of the event that in 2008 we went up to Bethesda,MD again to volunteer on the 'Banner Hanging Team' on the first day of the event (the ride that year was from Bethesda,MD to Gettysburg)

More pics from 2008 HERE

In 2009 for the first time we were able to volunteer for the entire weekend (well, my daughter was,lol, I went to the Milblog Conference the first day and left her to volunteer, and then we both went to hang banners along the stops on the second day of the trip up to Gettysburg:)

here's April with a friend that we made over the years of volunteering

and here's me that year with another  friend we never would've met if we hadn't volunteered:)

Pictures from 2009  HERE


Again in 2010 we volunteered on Saturday and Sunday to hang banners  made by folks all over the US to cheer the riders along, at all the rest and lunch stops, and at the beginning and end of the bicycle ride. The ride that year for the first time started in DC, but ended at Seamus' house in Gettysburg as it had in prior years.

Pics from 2010 here


Last year in 2011 my daughter was a college freshman! and we were able to volunteer for almost the whole weekend once again.

and pics from 2011 are here and here


Thanks! to Soldiers Angels and World T.E.A.M. Sports Face of America Bike ride for 5 years of wonderful memories while volunteering!

Face of America Bike Ride 2012

The year the WORLD T.E.A.M. Sports Face of America Bike Ride will be April 27-29, from Washington,DC to Gettysburg,PA.

My daughter and I spent the past 5 years volunteering at this event, and although we won't be able to attend this year, I can't say enough about what an amazing event this bike ride is to be a part of,so I wanted to be sure to pass the information on about the ride.

Only One Woman has Received the Medal of Honor

In doing a search yesterday for my National Medal of Honor Day post, I came across the fact that only one woman had ever received the Medal of Honor, for her work during the Civil War.

and wow, what an interesting woman she was! Read more
Mary Edwards Walker, Civil War Doctor

Just wanted to share this, as I'd never heard her story before.

National Medal of Honor Day

Today is National Medal of Honor Day, as I was reminded by a post at Mike's Place this morning just before leaving for work.

I came home to find others had posted to remember the day,such as
Soldiers Angels Germany and
Assoluta Tranquillita

and then via Medal Of Honor News  discovered to my chagrin that this year the day had actually been celebrated on Friday the 23rd 

but I still wished to take a moment  to honor and remember all of those who have received this nation's highest honor.

Somebody's Son

(linking to Airman Mom's Friday post  Somebody's Son )

I happened upon this photo on Soldier's Angels Official Facebook page. I have no idea who this brave Warrior is...and truly it matters not. He is brave, he is strong and he loves his Mom.
May Almighty God heal his body, mind and spirit.
May Almighty God provide strength to his family.

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Friday posts are random photos of our Soldiers.
We must remember each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine have a face.
Our brave Heroes have family and friends who love them so.
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(and I missed posting a link to a  previous  Somebody's Son, you can go
Here  to view her post on March 16 )

Godspeed..

Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sgt. Jamie Jarboe ...

By His Side

One of America's Best Sgt. Jamie Jarboe

The gift of 11 months Sergeant Jamie Jarboe

Godspeed Sergeant Jamie Jarboe

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

Capt. Joseph McConnell 32 years old from Dover, New Hampshire 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing January 30 1922 – August 25 1954  At the age of 28, Joseph McConnell was considered too old be a jet pilot in Korea, but he wouldn't let that stop him. He persisted and was assigned to 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in 1952 and was credited with shooting down 16 enemy planes in a four month period and became America's first Triple Jet Ace when he shot down three of those planes in a single day.  You Can Read More About Capt. Joseph McConnell here and here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

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

  

Wednesday Hero

Maj. Britt Reed    Maj. Britt Reed reads a Dr. Seuss book to children during a celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday at Fort Rucker Primary School March 2.Photo Courtesy U.S. Army Taken By Angela Williams   These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of Wednesday Hero. 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 Michael
Capt. Albert H. Rooks 50 years old from Colton, Washington December 29, 1891 - March 1, 1942 On March 1, 1942, Captain Albert Harold Rooks, along with the majority of the crew of the USS Houston perished in the line of duty. The mere 368 survivors of the crew of more than 1,000 would be taken into captivity by the Japanese for the duration of the war and subjected to hard labor. Rooks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the Houston.                                      You Can Read More About Capt. Rooks  Here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

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

   

Somebody's Son

(linking to Airman Mom's Friday post  Somebody's Son )

Airman Daniel Fournier, of Mansfield, Conn., and the 103rd Security Forces Squadron, admires his 3-month-old son Hunter, who was born during deployment at the Bradley Air National Guard base in East Granby, Conn., Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. Twenty-five Connecticut National Guard airmen, who were responsible for security at Bagram Airbase, returned home after their July 2011 deployment. source: Charles Krupa | AP

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Friday posts are random photos of our Soldiers.
We must remember each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine have a face.
Our brave Heroes have family and friends who love them so.

The US Army Field Band

My daughter and I went to a great concert by the Volunteers section of the US Army Field Band this past Thursday evening (March 1).

The audience was heavily on the 'older' side, as my daughter duly noted by looking around and saying 'I feel Young',lol, and quite clearly made up of many veterans, such as my aunt Lynn .

The band started off with a beautifully done version of the Star Spangled Banner, and what swelled my heart was to hear so many of the audience join in singing the words. The Volunteers do a little bit of everything....soft rock, oldies (the Command Sgt. Major rocked the version of 'Hot Rod Lincoln':), and patriotic songs.

When they did the 'Salute' to each of the service branches, I realized that I actually know the words to  the songs for each branch, and was trying to remember where I learned that...Mrs. Guess' music class in 7th and 8th grade,maybe? I wonder if they still teach that in school music classes today?

The band closed with Lee Greenwood's 'Proud to be an American', and invited the audience to stand and sing along, which we did with gusto and fervor:) and the show truly did remind me how proud I am to be an American, and how thankful I am for the men and women who have served, and are serving, our country.

Click on the link for the United States Army Field Band above, and see when they'll be coming somewhere near you, and go out and see the show, I guarantee you'll have a great time!

Outlaw Platoon:Book Review

Received a copy of Outlaw Platoon by Sean Parnell with John Bruning to review, and I must say this is one of the best books I've recently read. I highly recommend it!

The book pulls you immediately into the story of these  young men and their leader,Parnell, and I found myself turning pages late into the night for several nights, caught up in their stories as they faced so much day after day.

The vignettes Parnell and Bruning use of the interactions between the men to illustrate their differing personalities makes you quickly come to care about each of them, and also the platoon as a whole, just as Parnell did as he led them.

Parnell says in the beginning that "Stephen Ambrose had perpetuated a myth....that Band of Brothers thing?..was based on the fading and seductive memories of the Greatest Generation...there was 'truth wrapped up within' the myth...but the 'reality was far more nuanced and complex" and then his book goes on the present that reality in all it's complexity and nuances.

 I've seen a lot of reviews by military folks for this book, but as a civilian, what resonated more with me , was how this book so perfectly told the story of that reality.

Thoughts and Prayers with a Gold Star family today

Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of
Sgt. Timothy J. Conrad

as they lay him to rest today.