Armed Forces Day 2010

Today is Armed Forces Day a day to "thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country"

Here is the Presidential Proclamation for Armed Forces Day 2010

There are presently a little over 1,000 servicemembers on the Soldiers Angels website awaiting 'adoption'.........one way you might want to consider celebrating Armed Forces Day would be to adopt one of them:)

'Adoption' is a commitment to send at least a letter each week and a care package each month throughout a servicemember's deployment.

You can find out more about how to adopt, or other options to support our Armed Forces through Soldiers Angels, HERE

THANK YOU! to all those Armed Forces members currently serving, those who have served.....and to the servicemembers in my family! Tony, Lynn, and Dustin!

Kudos to the North Surry High School JROTC

From the Mt. Airy,NC news comes this story
NSHS Starts Work on Memorial

an idea that was originally to replace a flagpole, evolved into creating a memorial for alumni of the school who died in the line of duty while serving.

There is (of course) a Facebook profile HERE

If you'd like to make a donation to this effort? the information is:

Please mail your donations to:

NSHS JROTC Memorial Fund
2440 W. Pine St.
Mount Airy, NC 27030

Or, contact John Bowes at bowesj@surry.k12.nc.us or call 336-789-5055

Kudos, to North Surry High School, and all those involved in this very worthy project!

Where to go for help........

One of the DOD releases I receive in my inbox each month is the Army Suicide Data for the previous month.

April's Suicide Data release can be found HERE

In the release, it states:

" Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact Military OneSource or the Defense Center of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center. Trained consultants are available from both organizations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year."

The Military OneSource toll-free number for those residing in the continental U.S. is

1-800-342-9647

their Web site address is http://www.militaryonesource.com

Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource Web site for dialing instructions for their specific location.

The DCoE Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020

and the website is www.dcoe.health.mil

Check out "Boston and Back"

Meet John, who is bicycling from San Antonio,Tx to Boston,MA and back.

He is also using his ride to raise awareness, and funds, for the Fisher House Foundation , an organization that donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury

John's blog is Boston and Back Check it out!

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Kristopher J. Battles


Sgt. Kristopher J. Battles, the combat artist with the National Museum of the Marine Corps, stands in front of his paintings, May 5, 2010, at the John F. Kennedy School of Government for Harvard University. Battles showed several paintings, sketches and portraits for residents and tourists to see the artwork of a combat artist, in Cambridge, Mass., to help tell the Marine Corps story during Marine Week.

Photo Courtesy United States Marine Corps.

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

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Keith Dewayne Andrews, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action during the ground assault of Operation DESERT STORM. Sergeant Andrews showed extraordinary courage once he observed that air support had by-passed two Iraqi machine gun positions, leaving a Humvee with five soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division pinned down by enemy cross fire. Sergeant Andrews negotiated a minefield while fighting his way to the top of the enemy bunker, destroying it with a fragmentation hand grenade. Being out of ammo, Sergeant Andrews resourcefully obtained the enemy machine gun using it to fight his way up the second Iraqi fighting position. Over all, Sergeant Andrews single-handedly killed some twenty-five enemy combatants to secure two enemy bunkers. This allowed for the quick evacuation of the five wounded soldiers thus saving their lives. These brave and selfless actions of Sergeant Andrews bring great credit to himself, his unit and the United States Army.

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 'surf' of the web for news or blog posts by, or about,
Soldiers Angels


From Soldiers Angels~Wounded Warrior Support Anything is Possible Part I
and Part II


Loved this Soldiers Angels Block from Quilting Reader's Garden

A 'new-to-me' Aussie Angel blogger at Marion's Meepings

Big news! via United Conservatives of Virginia , Cooking with the Wounded has changed
Cooking With The Troops is Official

from Soldiers Angels -Medical Support
A very special young person who is helping our wounded soldiers

and lastly, from Soldiers Angels Louisiana
Packages are morale boosters


That's the surf!

Where Volunteering Takes You.....

Well, it's taken me a week to find time to give the 'after report' on my daughter and I volunteering at the 2010 Face of America Bike Ride, sorry 'bout that!



a link to our pics from the ride is HERE



and Angel friend/bike rider Greta's blog round-up of the ride is HERE



My daughter and I had the Most amazing time volunteering through Soldiers Angels at this event again (and check out Angelic Faces of America on the Soldiers Angels website :)



Because volunteering at this event has become a 'mother-daughter' tradition for my daughter,April, and I for the past 4 years, and because with my daughter heading off to college next year, this might have been the last year we have gone to volunteer together? (she may have scheduling conflicts next year, with college and exams)....I gave a lot of thought this year to how far volunteering has taken us.



From that first time we went to volunteer in 2007 for just a few hours on the first day of the bike ride, to making it an all day volunteer effort in 2008 , and then my daughter volunteering the first day by herself last year and then both of us for the first time also volunteering on the 2nd day of the ride last year?



We have been privileged to meet so many wonderful people each year, both volunteers and riders......and have looked forward each year to seeing the same volunteers we only see once a year, sharing laughter and work with them, and cheering on the amazing and wonderful folks who ride in the bike ride.



I had no idea in 2007 when I first answered the call in an 'Angel' email for volunteers, what a big part of our lives this would become each year, and what a wealth of shared memories my daughter and I would carry away from this volunteering opportunity. That, I think, is the wonderful effect of volunteering.......you have no idea when you start out, where the journey will take you, or what a profound and lasting effect it can have on your life :) and I'm so grateful to Soldiers Angels and World T.E.A.M. Sports, for giving us the opportunity this past four years, to together be a part of something so worthwhile to volunteer for, and to have this shared memory in our lives.

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

some of the memories I'll carry away from last weekend?



the sunrise over the Capitol building at the beginning of the ride, and standing with the other volunteers holding up the banners as the riders started out.....



as always, seeing the awesome banners that folks send in from all over the country for those of us on the 'Banner Team' to hang up to encourage and cheer on the riders.....



the great firefighters at so many of the rest stops, who were always so welcoming:)



pitching in at the second rest stop to help the 'food volunteers' get everything ready for the riders, and them discovering they had no knives to cut up the oranges! and the very nice lady at the little country store up the road who told us 'you can borrow this knife' because they didn't have any plastic knives on sale there......and watching my daughter become 'orange slicing queen',lol :)



the fabulous Boy Scout volunteers at the Sportsplex who did such a wonderful job! (only why did Three of them come by to tell me 'the food is ready inside'?? did I look That hungry,lol? or was it just I looked 'plump'???:)




having the chance this year at dinner the first night to hang out with 'Angels' and getting to speak further with some of the Riders.

the as always fantastic cookout at the end of the Ride at Seamus' place :)
---------------

that's my round-up of how our weekend of volunteering went last weekend!!

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Mark Bell


Capt. Ed W. Freeman
November 20, 1927 - August 20, 2008


For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, for numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), action against enemy aggressor forces at LZ X-Ray, Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on 14 November 1965 As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The infantry unit was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water, and medical supplies to the besieged battalion. His flights had a direct impact on the battle's outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies of ammunition critical to their survival, without which they would almost surely have experienced a much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers -- some of whom would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman's selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance, and intrepidity were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain Freeman's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

In 2002, Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman was portrayed by actor Mark McCraken in the movie "We Were Soldiers". Capt. Freeman passed away in 2008 due to complications of Parkinson's.

Here is a great article on Capt. Freeman and his award ceremony.

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.

End of 2010 FOA bike ride part 1.MOV

first part of the video of the riders coming in at the end of the 2010 Face of America bike ride

End of 2010 FOA Bike ride part 2.MOV

second part of the video from volunteering with Soldiers Angels this past weekend at the 2010 Face of America bike ride.

Volunteering this Weekend at the F.O.A. bike ride

After work Friday, my daughter and I will be heading out to spend the weekend volunteering through Soldiers Angels to help out at the

2010 World T.E.A.M. Sports Face of America Bike Ride


This will be our 4th year attending this event as volunteers, and I really don't have the words to describe what an amazing and inspiring event this is.

Our involvement has increased over the years, precisely because this is such a wonderful event to be a part of, we first drove north in 2007 to spend just a few hours volunteering on a Saturday. In 2008 , we were able to spend the entire day volunteering on the Saturday. In 2009 , we were out early Saturday to help at the beginning, and then my daughter spent the rest of her Saturday helping along the way while I attended 2009's Milblog conference.....on Sunday last year for the first time, we were able to continue along volunteering on the 2nd leg of the bike ride, which ends in Gettysburg,PA.

This year, we head out to devote our weekend to cheering along riders, hanging banners that folks have sent from all over the country to encourage and cheer on the riders......and I'm sure, despite the fact that the weather is calling for some possible showers, that it will be another inspiring and amazing weekend to volunteer!!

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy


John "Jack" Agnew (Right)
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division


John "Jack" Agnew, one of the original members of an Army unit that operated behind enemy lines in World War II and is often credited with having loosely inspired the movie "The Dirty Dozen", has died at age 88.

Agnew belonged to the Filthy Thirteen, an unofficial unit within the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He was pronounced dead last Thursday at Abington Memorial Hospital after becoming ill at his home in the Maple Village retirement community in Hatboro, where he and his wife moved about a year ago, his daughter Barbara Agnew Maloney said.

You Can Read The Rest Of The Article Here And More Info On The "Filthy Thirteen" Can Be Found 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.

April 16th.....Remembering.....

From Virginia Tech's website We Remember

My thoughts and prayers today are with the family and friends of those who lost their lives that day in 2007, and those who witnessed and survived that day.

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Maj. James E. Booker
Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force


The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Major James E. Booker, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Sergeant Major, Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from February to September 2004. Sergeant Major Booker courageously exposed himself to enemy fire while leading Marines and eliminating enemy forces in several battalion engagements. On 31 March 2004 the forward command element came under intense machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire. With utter disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Major Booker dismounted the vehicle, engaged the enemy and forced their withdrawal. He pursued his attackers down several darkened city streets and mortally wounded a rocket-propelled grenade gunner who was engaging the Command Group. Sergeant Major Booker subsequently led a search that resulted in the arrest and capture of an eight-man cell and several weapons. On 10 April 2004, the forward command element came under fire from insurgents during cordon and search operations. He calmly led a team of Marines in a counterattack, personally clearing several buildings, eliminating one insurgent fighter, and facilitating the evacuation of a severely wounded Marine. Sergeant Major Booker's efforts enabled the forward command element to regain freedom of maneuver and inspired Marines to fearlessly engage the enemy. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and loyal dedication to duty, Sergeant Major Booker reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

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 Missed the) 2010 Milblog Conference....

so, fo course, Garry Trudeau had attended this year....dang it! wrong year to have a work conflict with the conference schedule,sigh.
(and if you're wondering why Mr. Trudeau would attend a milblog conference? go check out
The Sandbox )

I have not yet found time to watch all of the live stream video from YouServed of the conference , just bits and pieces of it, because I was also 'surfing' around looking for blog posts about the conference this morning....just wanting to see what folks were saying after the fact....(or,catching bits of some posts that were put up During the conference, but I wasn't on the computer much this weekend,either)

JP over at Milblogging.com says
Fifth Annual Official Milblog Conference a Huge Success (with more posts to come)


My dear Angel friend over at View From the 8th Floor put up posts Here , and Here and Here and Here


Small Wars Journal had This to say and Wings Over Iraq had a Wrap-Up post


There's a mention on the ArmyLive blog, Blackfive had a Semi-Live post with updates,
and Homefront 6 posted Here and several other posts.

I'm sure there's more to come, and I still want to finish watching the video coverage.....but just wanted to pass these tidbits along! for others like me who didn't get to go.......or for those of you who are still saying 'what's a 'milblog'?"

If you go check out Milblogging.com you'll see the 'milblogs' aren't just blogs written by those currently serving in the military, but also by veterans, and troop supporters, and spouses, and parents.......my little blog here fit into the 'milblog' umbrella at first because I was a 'troop supporter' as a volunteer with Soldiers Angels and then later because I became a military step-mom,also.

The 'milblog' community has bloggers who are a Lot smarter than myself,ROFL.....but it's a community that it's a privilege to be a part of.....and for all the reasons why it was such a bummer to have missed the Fifth Annual conference, go watch the live stream video , which is what I'm off to finish doing now! :)

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

While everyone else (it seems) in the Milblog world is at the
2010 Milblog Conference

since I couldn't make it this year, I can at least do some blogging while I'm sitting home:)

so, another 'surf' of the web for news/posts by and about
Soldiers Angels

First off, she's been a Soldiers Angel for 5 months, but Adrie of Adrie's Corner is putting up some great blog posts about Soldiers Angels....such as
Soldiers Angels-What We're About

and

Care packaging 101: Pt 1

(for someone like myself, who's been in Soldiers Angels for 5 years now? it's refreshing and renewing, to see enthusiasm like Adrie's..... reminds me all over again, why I joined, and why I still am 'Angeling'........keep it up, Adrie! and 'Happy Angeling':)


From the Cleveland Daily Banner , comes an update about residents at Morningside of Cleveland, I posted a link to an article about them in a previous web surf
Morningside residents adopt, correspond with two soldiers


A Major's Perspective sends a shout-out to Bake Me A Wish and Soldiers Angels
Bake Me A Wish Birthday Cakes

(and we sent one of these to Our Army MP through Soldiers Angels for his 21rst birthday, celebrated during his deployment to Iraq, and he said it was wonderful,also!)


Willie from A German-American Friendship Bracelet has great pics on her post
Good Friday 2010 at Fisher House Landstuhl

and,lastly, Jeff Bader,posting at Toby Nunn's Briefing Room , has great pics of
Sassy (the new Soldiers Angels Support Center )

That's the surf!

Fifth Annual Milblog Conference and Milbloggies

And so this evening kicks off the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference lots of folks I know will be there, hate that I couldn't make it this time....but hope y'all have a fantastic time!!!

also, the Milbloggie winners are listed Here

Wednesday Hero

Airman Sasha Sales and Sgt. Richard Montes


Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Sasha Sales, from Gulf Shore, Ala., looks away as Sgt. Richard Montes, from San Antonio, Texas, draws blood samples during a blood drive at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Photo Courtesy United States Navy taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio

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.

Free Access to Caregiver Network for Military Families

(Cross posted from over at Hooah Wife and Friends )

April is the Month of the Military Child

which makes it seem a good time to pass on this story on defense.gov
Military Families Get Free Access to Caregiver Network


The main website is Sittercity.com
and, as it says in the above article, military families can sign up at
www.sittercity.com/dod


For those of you who might wish a little more background checking besides a DOD endorsement?Sittercity.com carried an “A-” rating when I checked them out with the Better Business Bureau


We thought this would be worth passing along,and if you’ve had any dealings with Sittercity.com and would like to share that with other military families who might be considering using them? Please feel free to leave a comment!