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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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




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


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


and there are memories from family and friends posted here

and in his Legacy.com online guestbook Here

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

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

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





(patch from Barnum Woods Elementary School Quilt)

Wednesday Hero Year 3 Part II

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

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

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

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

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

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


and Soldiers Angels Arkansas posted The $10.00 Box

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That's the surf!

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

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

Army Releases July Suicide Data

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

Flopping Aces Writer Major Chris Galloway Dead at 36

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

September: Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month


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

Wednesday Hero 3 Years

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

Christopher Lee
Right-Wing & Rightminded

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

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

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





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

A Message from the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team

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

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

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

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson


Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson, the electronic warfare officer of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, talks with local Iraqi kids while on a patrol.

Photo courtesy of United States Army
Taken by Pfc. Evan Loyd

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

It's been awhile, sorry about that....life gets busy, especially in the summer,huh? :)

While you can always keep abreast of Soldiers Angels news and posts via
BlogNetNews.com/Soldiers Angels

this is my random 'surf' of the web for posts by, and about
Soldiers Angels

Good post from my friend at View From the 8th Floor back at the beginning of August
"...seems like love really does make a difference"


Heart'warming' (groan, a pun:) article in the VenturaCountyStar
Camarillo office donates balnkets to give to the troops by Karen Hibdon


From Catherine's Vintage Style comes a Congratulations Soldiers Angels

Gathering of Eagles:NY posted on Aug.10 an AAR("after action review") of the
Soldiers Angels Beach Party 2009


Bayou Renaissance Man posted Soldiers Angels Needs Your Help


Friend Laughing Wolf has A Cooking Challenge for You


and lastly, Soldiers Angels New York posted
Listen to Your Mother

That's the surf!

Hope y'all enjoy the end of summer!

"Bubba's Belly Run" September 27

Wanted to pass on the word about the

1st Annual Bubba's Belly Run

to be held in Potomac,MD on September 27th.

(and yes....I'm obviously catching up on blogging a bunch of items that have been percolating in my inbox for the past month :)

Spread the word about this one, will you?

Milblog track at Blog World Expo

From the Warrior Legacy Foundation comes a listing of the panels and panelists that will be at the Blog World Expo 2009 that will be held in Las Vegas, October 15-17.

Even though the Milblog Conference moved back to the DC area this past April , the promoters of Blog World wanted to continue featuring a 'milblog track'.

With the anniversary of 9/11 approaching....

I get regular monthly updates from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center.
They have a construction webcam link Here if you'd like to check out their progress.


Upcoming events.....they will be in the Washington Metro area September 2-4 to record oral histories, you can read more about that Here

and the Inaugural World Trade Center Run to Remember will be Sept.6.

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

as for the blogging initiative Project 2996 , as you can see Here thus far as of my posting, only 570 bloggers have signed up to honor and remember someone who lost their life that day.

I have a longtime online friend who specifically started a blog just to be able to participate in Project 2,996, you can see her blog here Northstar96sc's Blog

Never Forget.

Wednesday Hero

Pfc. Tavonte Johnson


Pfc. Tavonte Johnson, a field radio operator with Headquarters Company, 7th Marine Regiment, provides security after a simulated attack by a suicide bomber on Aug. 8, as part of 7th Marine Regiment’s pre-deployment training exercise.

Photo courtesy of 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.

Soldiers Angels,Michael Yon, and a wounded British soldier

Michael Yon has the story here
Do Americans Care about British Soldiers?

an incredible effort by many.

Wednesday Hero

Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert


Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Gilbert, assigned to Headquarters Company of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB 74), donates blood during a blood drive for his six-year-old daughter at the Naval Construction Battalion Center base chapel. Gilbert's daughter has been diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor and is receiving chemotherapy at Tulane Childrens Hospital.

You can read more about Yeoman Gilbert and his daughter, Timia, here.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G. Wilber courtesy of United States Navy.

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.

Want to make your voice heard about the Military,Social Media, and Web 2.0?

Via a subscription to the DOD Military Health System newsletter, I was sent a link to


-A Blog for YOUR Participation in the Discussions about Web 2.0 and Social Media in the DoD

it's called the DOD Web 2.0 Guidance Forum

In the Welcome post, it states in part: The Department of Defense (DoD) Web 2.0 Guidance Forum is a new initiative to solicit input from the public.......The Web 2.0 Guidance Forum will allow the public to comment and make suggestions to key DoD decision makers regarding useage of Web 2.0 capabilities.

The Web 2.0 Guidance Forum is open to the general public for comments. That said, the public stakeholder groups we are most interested in hearing from include the following:

Families of military serving overseas

DoD interest groups, including veterans groups, think tanks, academia and others

The Web 2.0 technology community

Government-Industry groups focused on how government and industry collaborate, and

most importantly
Soldiers and sailors and civilians currently using Web 2.0 tools

(They plan plan on keeping the Web forum available and open for comments through the end of August. )
-----------------------
Thus far, I have found very few comments posted.....so I wanted to try and help spread the word about this. You can't make your voice heard, and make a difference, if you don't even know where to go to do that......so, now you know..........


of particular interest to me, was this post
Use of Web 2.0 Capabilities by Military Families

You can read the link, but the main focus is here:

We want to examine the importance and relevance of Web 2.0 capabilities to Military families and get your view of its impact. We have three questions we would like to pose for discussion:

Q. How valuable and what are the benefits of Web 2.0/social media tools to military families with love ones who are deployed? Is this a critical necessity, or merely a useful addition to your options?

Q. What impact would there be to families, with loves ones who are deployed, if Web 2.0/social media tools were NOT available to military members serving over seas?

Q. When communicating with your love ones who are deployed, which social medium do you use most frequently?

-----------------------------
I'm going to email that link to all the military families I know.....we need to get in on this discussion!!

And now, I'm off to add my 2 cents worth to the discussion above......please, help spread the word, and consider adding your own views to the discussion.

Came across several new-to-me blogs...thanks! to Doc in the Box

So last night I peruse Sean's post about he and his bride's 4th anniversary
4 Year Anniversary in San Francisco
(and belated Happy Anniversary wishes to both he and his bride! :)

and he posts a link to a Navy "IA" (Individual Augmentee) blog.....which sent me on a troll of all the links listed on the first blog, and so on to all the links listed after that....you know how it goes, you start out in one place online and the next thing you know, you've been reading blog posts for several hours,lol.

anyway, came across a hilarious post on one of them that had me FOTCL ("falling out of the chair laughing" :) ....from In the NARMY now....... Narmy Strong

nice to see that there's plenty of good blogging still going on, from both Iraq and Afghanistan, and yes, even one from Djibouti......and I learned that there's a whole world of Navy IA bloggers out there, who knew?

so, thanks! Doc in the Box ,for including the first link that sent me on my way reading :)


If you're interested in checking out the links? (and yes, I submitted them to Milblogging.com , because that's just what 'milbloggers' do,LOL, they tell other milbloggers about new military blogs) ....in no particular order, here they are.......

Djohn's Djibouti Djournal


Uncle Cobs joins the Narmy


Deploying in a "Sea" of Sand .....


bellevuepete


In the NARMY now


Highland Sailor


There's sand in my...


Kickin' through the sand


3rd time,new country


All these folks are quite interesting, and it's a privilege to be able to read about the jobs they are doing.....Thank You! to each of you, for your service......and, for blogging about it, so we can share a bit of your journey!

Wednesday Hero

Lance Cpl. Jeremy P. Tamburello
19 years old from Denver, Colorado
1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
November 8, 2005


His parents didn't want him to enlist, but it was his passion for helping people that led L/Cpl. Jeremy Tamburello to the military. "He was a very noble, very compassionate, very brave man" said L/Cpl. Tamburello's father, Kevin. "He knew that he was going to have to go to Iraq and he knew that he might die, but he went anyway."

L/Cpl. Tamburello was killed by an IED while conducting combat operations near Rutbah, Iraq.

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 2,996 Project

What is 2,996?

From the link above:
Project 2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
On September 11, 2006, more than 3,000 bloggers joined together to remember the victims of 9/11.
Each year we will honor them by remembering their lives, and not by remembering their murderers.
------------------------
With only 38 days left until September 11th......as of this posting, there are only 216 bloggers signed up to remember a victim of 9/11.........the list of 2009 participants is HERE

While I know so many of us said " Never Forget " immediately after September 11th....there are those who are now saying "Isn't it time to move on?"

Well, that choice is up to you........however, I Can tell you that I Meant it when I said "Never Forget"....and in 2006, when Dale Challenger Roe first came up with the idea of a 'blogburst' honoring and remembering the victims of 9/11,
I learned about 3 of those victims whom I now carry in my heart, and remember their families and friends in my prayers

Jonathan Neff Cappello

John Patrick Salamone

Gerard (Jerry) P. Moran

because I participated in Project 2,996,

and in 2007, I learned the names and a little about the lives of two more of the 9/11 victims
Yuguang Zheng and Shuyin Yang

because I again participated in Project 2,996

In 2008, I was privileged to learn a small bit about the life of another 9/11 victim
Catherine Carmen Gorayeb

In 2006, and 2008, many bloggers joined in to do just the same, you can see the list of their tributes on the Project 2,996 website Here and Here
-------------------
There is Still time left, to receive the name of one of the victims of 9/11 to honor and remember, and learn just a small bit about the Life they lived, and share it with others in the blogosphere.

If you think you'd like to sign up to join Project 2,996 this year......go HERE

(and please...help spread the word about this to other bloggers.)

Capt.Michael Scott Speicher will finally come home

Having had a stepson who was based at COB Speicher (formerly FOB Speicher) while he was serving in Iraq? (and since I asked him at the time "Do you Know whom the base is named after?")
I'd be remiss in not acknowledging the recent announcement that Capt. Speicher's remains were finally found and identified.
Others blogged it, a few of them are:

View From the 8th Floor Welcome Home, Captain Speicher

Assoluta Tranquillita Rest in Peace, Captain Speicher ( and she links to a good post about the same by CJ at A Soldiers Perspective Capt. Scott Speicher to Come Home )

Cassy Fiano BREAKING: Remains of Navy pilot Scott Speicher found

and One Marine's View Heros Call-WELCOME HOME WARRIOR- Captain Michael Speicher

Condolences to the family and friends, and may finally having Capt. Speicher come home bring them peace.

WW I Heroes are passing on.....Farewell, and R.I.P.....

Atlantic Lines had this post Harry Patch RIP

which led me to search to find out more about Harry Patch.

There is, of course a Wikipedia entry

and this article (which mentions the death of Henry Allingham prior to Harry Patch's death) from the Telegraph.co.uk I found quite interesting

The heirs of Harry Patch are fighting in the fields of Helmand by Bryony Gordon

and I found two books that I'll have to add to my Amazon wishlist

The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches by Harry Patch and Richard van Emden

and

Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Surviving Veteran of the Great War by Henry Allingham and Dennis Goodwin


One of the best books I've ever read about WW I I reviewed on the previous incarnation of this blog in 2007
Just Finished Reading "A World Undone: The Story of the Great War,1914 to 1918" by G.J. Meyer


Wikipedia also had a List of last surviving World War I veterans by country

one of whom lives only one state away from me Frank Buckles

I had never given a lot of thought to how we honored (or didn't ) our World War I heroes, until I visited the Mall in DC in February 2007 A Visit to the Wall and Other Memorials and came upon the DC WW I Memorial in a very dilapidated state.......on Frank Buckles Wikipedia page I saw that he had been designated the honorary chairman of the WW I National Memorial, and a link to here stated at the bottom of the page:

In September 2008, Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, with the support of Frank Buckles, the last living US veteran of World War I, proposed a bill in Congress stating the memorial should be expanded and designated the national memorial to World War I.

Considering that just a few months ago my daughter and I visited briefly at the Gettysburg memorial, and that is a massive memorial to those who fell on that field back in the Civil War? I do not see how we could do any less as a nation, to honor and remember those who fought in WW I ......so I'd like to add my small voice to those calling for the current WW I memorial to be expanded and nationalized.....and perhaps, maybe before the last few surviving veterans have all passed on.

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

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

Over at Angel Wings and Heartstrings , check out Soldiers Angels-Blankets of Hope

Soldiers Angels Washington posted WTB Soldiers Enjoy the View

For more about helping our Wounded Warriors? Soldiers Angels-Wounded Warrior Support had a post about Southern Mississippi Angels

From the Photo Reporter comes this editorial
Wanted: Volunteer Portrait Photographers for Our Soldiers


What are you doing Saturday,Aug.1 ? If you live in PA? you might want to check out
"Little" Sturges posted at webster107 ....Rock 107 and the Soldiers Angels Riding Club are sponsoring.

Short 'surf', but don't be fooled......it's summer, and there's Lots going on out there with Soldiers Angels.

I helped at a Soldiers Angels booth at the Sweet Dreams Event in Stuarts Draft,VA last Saturday. Angel Debbie did a Wonderful job of getting everything set up, and several other Angels came from around Virginia to pitch in and help .

(this would be the point in the post where it would be really cool, if I had a picture or two to share of the great table that Debbie put together? but alas.....my broken camera has still not been replaced:(

and it was also cool to come across this short notice locally (to me:) in the Community Pages of the News-Leader in Staunton,VA:

Ruritans make blankets for wounded soldiers, veterans: Kay Connor, a member of the Spottswood-Raphine Ruritan Club Citizenship & Patriotism Committee, introduced the Soldiers' Angels Foundation's Blankets of Hope and Blankets of Gratitude projects to the club after she spent 300 hours making blankets for the projects. Other Ruritans and women in the community pitched in and helped, with the end result of 26 blankets.

Fifteen fleece Blankets of Hope were mailed to the Transient Medical Detachment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The blankets will be given to wounded soldiers for their medi-flight back to the states. Ten knitted and crocheted blankets were delivered to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Salem for use in wheelchairs by local veterans.


What's going on in Your community for Soldiers Angels this summer?

Feel free to send me an email ( to kasee60@gmail.com )with a link to a blog post, or a local news article, about what Angels in your area are doing, and I'll be more than happy to post about it.

Or, you can check out some of the many Soldiers Angels blogs that might be local to you:

Soldiers Angels of IL posts about State Fair Veterans Day coming up Aug. 16.

Soldiers Angels Louisiana writes about several upcoming events in Angel Help Wanted

(to name just a few)

That's the Surf!

Wednesday Hero

This Week's Hero Was Suggested By Deb


SSgt. Darrell "Shifty" Powers
86 years old from Dickerson County, Virginia

E Company, 2nd Battalion,
506th Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
June 17, 2009

The world lost one of it's true heroes a couple of weeks ago. Darrell "Shifty" Powers passed away on June 17 of cancer. "Shifty" was part of the famed E Co/2/506 of the 101st Airborne Division. Easy Company. The Band Of Brothers.

"I loved everything about my daddy," said Margo Johnson, daughter of SSgt. Powers. "He never bragged about what he did in the war. And for a lot of years, he never even talked much about what he did � unless someone asked him about it. But he truly was a hero to me. Just like he'd been to the people who know him as a soldier in a [mini-series].


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

For this week's Wednesday Hero, please go to this link HERE

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

There's a lot going on out there in the blogosphere, of news by, and about
Soldiers Angels

(and you can read about it at BlogNetNews.com/soldiersangels )

My 'surf' today really only has one particular post I want to point out.....because I think this gentleman did an Excellent job of reminding people that we.....our country.....still have soldiers serving in a two-front war., and asking us what we are doing about supporting those who are serving?

He's a member of Soldiers Angels that I've featured posts from in the past, and without further editorial comment, I'm going to ask you to go read this post by Glenn Bartley, of Ballseye's Boomers
Are They On Your Mind - Or Have You Forgotten?



--------------------
Thank you,Glenn, for saying so passionately and well, so many of the things that I believe and feel,also.

While it might be 'preaching to the choir', for those of you who are reading My post, sending you to Glenn's post? It was a post that I feel was most timely, and reminded us in an excellent way of why we do what we do, to support the troops.

(In an editorial aside? I have no idea Which of the several videos posted about the procession for SFC John Beale it was that Glenn had featured in his post......computer 'issues' on my end.......however, it led me to try and find the video, and there are several posted.....the one I watched was the longest one listed, and moved me to tears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9306gUTzUOc )

If, after reading Glenn's post? you are motivated to do something to support the troops, and want to learn more about Soldiers Angels ? There are over 800 soldiers listed as waiting for 'adoption' on the main Soldiers Angels website HERE

and there are so many Other ways to get involved, if ' adoption ' is not quite what you are looking for or can commit to right now.........a recent news article told of how Soldiers Angels helps those who are wounded
Injured soldier at Walter Reed; helped by Soldiers' Angels By Sarah Fay Campbell
The Times-Herald

Are you a baker? Check out SA Angel Bakers Team B a new-to-me Angel blog I recently came across. Soldiers Angels supports the troops with Angel Bakers (and is anyone else hungry now?after checking out that blog?:)

or, as Soldiers Angels of Alabama asks
Can You Write an Extra Letter or Two?

There are 28 listings of ways to get involved under Teams & Projects-How To Help on the main Soldiers Angels website

so please, consider getting involved!

That's the 'surf' !

July 20: Virtual Memorial for Darrell "Shifty" Powers

Spread the word....today is a Virtual Memorial for Darrell "Shifty" Powers, from the
Band of Brothers

Blackfive has the post about it here

Airborne Icon and Hero Passes On - Godspeed, Darrell "Shifty" Powers


Rest in Peace, to another of the Heroes from the 'Greatest Generation".

Prayers Needed for PFC Bowe R. Bergdahl

I'm sure I'm only one of many sending up prayers,

Assoluta Tranquillita has a post up here


Pfc. Bowe Robert Bergdahl: Prayers needed

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez & Jacko
35 years old from Weidman, Michigan
K-9 unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP Brigade
September 2, 2008


"I asked Greg if anything ever happened to him where he'd prefer to be buried," Sgt. Rodriguez's wife, Laura, told the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant, "and he told me Arlington, as he wanted to be among the best and the brave."

"Rod," as he was known to his Army buddies, was a Red Wings fan who loved to hassle fans of other hockey teams he met during his military career, said Laura. "Greg loved to push everyone's buttons and get people going with his rare, unique sense of sarcasm," she said. At the same time, her husband, a military police dog handler whose dog, Jacko, survived the fatal ambush, was "a very committed, loyal individual and could be counted on whenever needed."

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez died of wounds suffered in Ana Kalay, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol came under small-arms fire.

"My brother liked to be the law," said Lisa Dombrowski. "He liked justice. If it wasn't right, he made it right."

He is survived by his sister, wife and three children.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

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

Cpl. Reynold Armand
21 years old from Rochester, New York
2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
August 7, 2007


Reynold Armand didn’t want to wait until he turned 18 to join the Marines. He persuaded his adoptive mother to sign papers allowing him to sign up a year early.

"I'm very proud of him," said his father, Carl Armand. "When he was home, he gave no sign of being afraid." Armand didn’t speak much about his experiences in Iraq, according to family members, saying only that most Iraqi civilians he encountered were very nice.

"We used to send him a lot of candy," said his mother, Alma Armand. "He would pass it out."

Manny Rodriguez, 21, of Rochester met Armand five years ago at New Day Church in Rochester, where both young men were members of the youth group. "He was such an amazing all-around person. He was so easy and comfortable to be around. He liked people for who they are."

No definitive report could be found on how Cpl. Armand died. Some report that he was killed when shot and others report that he was killed by an IED that exploded near his vehicle in Balad, Iraq.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com with help from Kathi

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

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

From My Trip to BAF ( a milblog I recently stumbled across) comes a post
June bug! with several nice mentions of Soldiers Angels.

From Between the Sandhills and the Sea , Wendy, a ..."Volunteer with Soldiers Angels for 5 years"....has a very good post here called Truth,Lessons and Deployment

My friend over at Little Drops....Into the Pool of Life had a post back on June 27 called
Help For Landstuhl's Wounded Warriors


Soldiers Angels New York posted Freedom is not free: Aaron Fairbairn
and for more on that story, the DOD has released Pfc. Aaron Fairbairn's name, and the name of the soldier who was killed along with him , Pfc. Justin A. Casillas , Here

Our thoughts and prayers are with both their families, and the Soldiers Angels
Living Legends Team will be supporting both families.....(as we do for the families of all our Fallen Heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq, on behalf of Soldiers Angels.)

A "new-to-me" Angel online Dian's Soldiers Angels blankets

and a new blogging Angel had this as her beginning post Well Hello There at Just A Soldier's Angel

That's the surf!

Happy 4th of July!

Comments by ZingerBug.com


Wishing everyone a Happy 4th! and,as always,
God bless our Troops!

Wednesday Hero

Force Protection Team


Members of the force protection team at Camp Eggars, Afghanistan, assess damage resulting from an explosion near the gate. A vehicle-born improvised explosive device exploded near the German Embassy and a U.S. base. Eliminating threats such as the VBIED is the focus of Army's 3rd Counter-IED Conference that was scheduled July 28-30.

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.

A few items that might be of interest.....

Old Soldier has a good post over here
Old soldiers take care of their own, keeping watch on VA cemetery


Here's another book to add to my Amazon wishlist

from the New York Time Book Review Father’s Tribute, Fulfilling Son’s Wish


A fellow Angels' blog that I've been meaning to pass on for awhile
D-Day Daughter


and lastly, as a nurse, and a military supporter, I wished to say "Godspeed" after I read the obituary of COL. Patricia A. Stemm

"When Death comes...."

A most excellent and thought provoking read on Examiner.com

When death comes-celebrity deaths

not what you might expect, given the title......well worth the time to take a look.

Wednesday Hero

Band Of Brothers


Something a little different this week. Instead of profiling a service member, Wednesday Hero will be profiling a movie. Band Of Brothers. It was a miniseries tha aired on HBO in 2001. It follows Maj. Richard Winters, Cpt. Lewis Nixon and the men of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, aka E-Company or Easy Company on their march to Germany. From their training to their battles at Normandy and Bastogne, their liberation of the Kaufering IV concentration camp to their taking of Hitler's Eagle Nest. A great cast and great writing make this one of the best war movies ever made. But it is graphic in visuals and language. And parts of it may be hard to watch, but it is worth it.

What the men of E-Company did will never be forgotten. They are the heroes that helped the cause of freedom.

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

Pvt. William Long
23 years old from Conway, Arkansas
D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry
June 1, 2009


"My brother taught me valuable lessons and made me the man I am today," said Pfc. Triston Long, brother of Pvt. William Long. "My commander said, 'Make your brother one of us.' I will miss my brother with all that I am, and I serve in honor of him."

Pvt. William Long had just completed basic training and was set to ship out on June 8 to his first duty station in Korea when he and Private Second Class Quinton Ezeagwula were shot outside a Little Rock, Arkansas Army-Navy Recruiting Center by Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad. They were in Little Rock to speak to with potential recruits about their experiences.

Pvt. Long's father, Daris Long, a former Marine, wrote a letter to give to him when he shipped out for South Korea. In that letter he wrote, "Your day only ends when you’ve done your duty. You and your brother … are both heroes for having the moral courage to stand up when your country needs you most. You are in my hopes and my thoughts and my prayers. You are my son, you are my hero. I love you. Semper fidelis."

Along with his father and brother, Pvt. William Long is survived by his mother, Janet, who had served in the Navy herself.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From RedState, Sipsey Street Irregulars & Army Times with help from Kathi

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

My "this used to be weekly, but now it's just...random" surf of the web for news by,
and about,
Soldiers Angels


Sadly, part of the reason for the recent lack of blogging on my part has been because the
Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team (of which I'm the Co-Leader)
has been far more busy than we would wish to be, supporting the families of our Fallen Heroes.

The Living Legends Team supported the families of 36 Fallen Heroes in the month of May, 25 Fallen in Iraq and 11 Fallen in Afghanistan.

Thus far in the month of June? we have supported the families of 18 Fallen Heroes, 5 Fallen in Iraq and 13 Fallen in Afghanistan. (you can find out more about how the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team supports those families, by reading about the Team on the main Soldiers Angels website HERE )

One of the things about being a part of this Team in Soldiers Angels that always awes me, is the parents and families of Fallen Heroes who, after being supported by this Team? contact us and ask how to join the Team so they may help support other families of our Fallen Heroes. I am always humbled, by those who choose to 'give back' in the midst of their own grief, and reach out to others.

I thought of them, when I came across this blog Shane and Ryan's Story and a blog post titled
The Parents Who Did Something Grand about why this mother, who has suffered such tragedy, became a member of the Letter Writing Team of Soldiers Angels.

An article on the web from Patricia Walston at the Atlanta Faith and Family Examiner that has a lot to say about supporting the families of our Fallen Heroes and is well worth the read, (and also mentions Soldiers Angels) is
National Guard - Who are they? What are they. - Part Two -Georgia Fallen Heroes

A new Angel at
When I Look At My Life, The Greatest Happiness is My Family's Happiness
weighs in about supporting the Troops with this post Want to be a Soldiers Angel?

Companies also join Soldiers Angels in supporting the Troops, check out this post
Fairytale Brownies Cares by Ellie Perry

And in Arizona? Check out this story Valley company collects golf equipment for the troops


Lastly, for news By an Angel, read this Citizen Journalism story in the Washington Times by a freelance writer who is a member of Soldiers Angels and the USO of metropolitan Washington,D.C.
WWII vets live out their days in care home by Gayle S. Fixler


That's the surf. Until next time.....please consider checking out Soldiers Angels
for the many, many ways you can get involved in supporting our Troops.

Wednesday Hero

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee
28 years old from Hood River, Oregon
Navy SEAL
August 2, 2006


"Marc was amazing. He was my best friend, my love," his widow, Maya, said.

Petty Officer Marc A. Lee joined the Navy in 2001 and became an AO after completing Naval Air Technical Training. Later that year he attempted to complete the grueling BUD/S program but caught pneumonia and had to drop out. He tried again in 2004 and completed the course.

On August 2, 2006, Marc A. Lee became the first SEAL to be killed in combat in Iraq when he was fatally wounded in a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq. The following is from the award citation:

"During the operation, one element member was wounded by enemy fire. The element completed the casualty evacuation, regrouped and returned onto the battlefield to continue the fight. Petty Officer Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an unidentified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire from an adjacent building to the north.

"To protect the lives of his teammates, he fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. His brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates"

"It was so like Marc to give up his life to save his friends," his mother, Debbie Lee, told the Hood River News. "I am so proud of him. He is my hero."

Petty Officer Lee was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with combat "V" for his actions in Iraq during his team’s combat tour and the Purple Heart medal.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

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

Sgt. Pablo A. Calderon
26 years old from Brooklyn, New York
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
November 30, 2004


"He wanted to fight for his country," said his heartbroken younger sister, Lilliana Calderone. "He always wanted to be there."

Pablo Calderon joined the Army in 1997, right out of High School. "He went straight to the army from high school," said his sister. "He wanted to improve himself. He was proud. He loved his country."

Sgt. Calderon was killed when an IED was detonated near his vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Sgt. Jose Guereca of Missouri City, Texas.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & NYDailyNews.com

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 by, and about,
Soldiers Angels

You can tell it's almost summer! As happens every year, we have Angels promoting
Sun Protection Care Packages for our Troops here on The Asberry Family blog
and also here at Beauty 4 Moms (and I'm sure there are more posts out there)
Thank you, Operation Mary Kay !


Found a very nice Book Review by Thomas Anthony Longo of Patti Bader's book
May No Soldier Go Unloved


Welcome! to more Angel blogging at Hudson Valley Soldiers Angels


A military mom, Linda Jewell, blogs Support Our Troops by Praying for Soldier’s Angels
and also Support Our Troops by Modeling Troop Support to Your Children

Nice post here about Soldiers Angels from a blog with the awesomely wonderful name of
Bring the heat,Bring the Stupid

There's an Angel profiled at the UnionLeader.com in the story
Angel to her soldiers by Gretyl Macalaster


and a story about a Canadian member of Soldiers Angels here on The Windsor Star
Walk a thanks for overseas troops by Sharon Hill

That's the surf!