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.

-----------------------
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.