This Week's Post Was Suggested & Written By Mary Ann
Sgt. Kenneth G. Ross 24 years old from Tucson, Arizona 7th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment September 25, 2005
"He believed in serving his country," said Ross' father, David C. Ross. Gary Anderson, Ross' best friend and an Army infantry veteran who served nine months in Afghanistan and 11 months in Iraq during his active duty stint, was a classmate of Ross at Marana's Mountain View High School. "You know, I heard this news of Ken and I broke down and cried hysterically," said Anderson, now a firefighter for the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa. "He loved everyone; everyone who came in contact with him loved him. He'd always help everyone out that he could."
A 1999 graduate of Mountain View, Ross played drums in the marching band and orchestra, his father said. Ross enlisted in the Army right after graduation. "He just wanted to take part in history," Anderson said.
At the time of his death, he was a helicopter mechanic — acting as a door gunner on his last mission, his father said. SSgt. Ross was killed when his helicopter went down southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan. Also killed in the crash were Sgt. Shawn A. Graham, Warrent Officer Adrian B. Stump, Sgt. Tane T. Baum, Chief Warrent Officer 2 John M. Flynn and Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.
Along with his father, SSgt. Ross is survived by his mother, Mary Ross, 57, and his sister, Stephanie Ross, 30. "I know his last thoughts were for everybody else and not for himself," Anderson said. "I know he wanted to make sure everybody was safe and would go home."
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 Blue Star Mothers NY Chapter #1 is starting a canteen for vets and active duty soldiers, the first of its kind in the country. They have obtained an old Victorian house on long term lease on the grounds of the Canandaigua VA hospital.
This will be a place of rest, relaxation, entertainment, gardening, homecomings, picnics, holiday dinners, in a home-like setting, for Veterans and active duty soldiers home on leave. They will also hold their "Gold Star Tea Ceremony" there where the families of our fallen heroes in western NY receive their Gold Star banners.
The house has been neglected and needs a lot of cosmetics to make it nice, but is structurally sound.
This is the first of its kind in the country and needed approval from Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department in Washington and from Congress.
Anyone wishing to help provide supplies may send gift cards in any amount from Lowes, Home Depot or Walmart.
Blue Star Mothers NY Chapter #1 PO Box 426 Bloomfield, NY 14469
Anyone in the local area who would like to see the full wish list of furniture, supplies and entertainment items, please leave me a comment and I will e-mail it to you.
Air Force Chaplain (retired Lt. Col.) David Sparks counsels a fellow Port Mortuary team member at Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 21, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
Face of Defense: Chaplains Comfort Families of Fallen
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
Special to American Forces Press Service
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., April 24, 2009 – The night sky looked calm and tranquil from a gently soaring aircraft, miles above the Eastern Seaboard towns below. However, there was nothing tranquil or calm in the hearts of one family on board, traveling to Dover Air Force Base to witness the dignified transfer of their son’s remains.
Their son, their Marine, their hero had paid the ultimate sacrifice in the mountains of Afghanistan only the day before. The staff at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center would carefully prepare his remains for transfer to his final resting place.
As the family arrived at the Dover flightline, the mother’s tear chalice overflowed and her emotions began to stream from her eyes. Her husband quickly comforted her with his embrace as a Port Mortuary chaplain swiftly made his way over to console the grieving couple.
Later that night, an aircraft landed at Dover and an advance team boarded the jet to inspect and pre-position the transfer case. An honor guard of Marines reverently transported the fallen Marine from the aircraft to a specialized transfer vehicle waiting nearby. Among the few airmen and Marines respectfully performing their duties on the aircraft was a familiar face – another Port Mortuary chaplain, the counterpart of the chaplain who comforted the parents earlier that evening.
The Marine’s remains are meticulously prepared for their escorted delivery and final interment in a family plot in his hometown. Once the remains are prepared, a fellow Marine arrives at Dover to escort his comrade on the journey home. Before departing on this solemn mission, the escort receives a briefing from his Marine liaison team with Port Mortuary chaplains present.
The Port Mortuary chaplain staff consists of Air Force Chaplains (retired Lt. Col.) David Sparks, (Lt. Col.) George Ortiz-Guzman, (Maj.) Klavens Noel, and Master Sgt. Timothy Polling, a chaplain’s assistant. Throughout the dignified transfer process, they provide humble counsel to the family, Port Mortuary staff and escorts, and pray over the remains of the fallen hero. This process has been repeated thousands of times over the past several years, as the nation’s fallen continue to make their way back home through the Port Mortuary at Dover.
“As a chaplain, comforting grieving families and watching over the remains of those heroes who keep me safe is the greatest calling I could answer,” said Ortiz-Guzman, who added that he is humbled and honored to “serve those who serve.”
Working at the Port Mortuary can be horrific and overwhelming. Constant exposure to the fallen takes a mental toll on the mortuary staff, as they know well that it could be them or their brother’s or sister’s remains waiting to go home. The chaplains work the same processing system as the rest of the staff, but must remain strong during those distraught times.
“Remaining strong and sane for the sake of the mission is a defense mechanism humans use to perform amongst all that horror,” Ortiz-Guzman said. “But we try to be as real as we can with our troops. They know when you are ‘snowballing’ them. We cry with them and laugh with them. We are part of the team and they all know it.”
Chaplains must continue to convey the rock, and that rock is beyond any chaplain – the rock is God, Ortiz-Guzman said. When a chaplain begins to have difficulty dealing with the situation and cannot show his emotions to the troops, he bounces his feelings off a fellow chaplain in private, and relies on his faith, keeps his spiritual focus and draws on the support of the 436th Airlift Wing chapel staff, he added.
Chaplains use these resources to keep themselves spiritually ready to help others.
“I have the greatest admiration for these loyal chaplains,” Air Force Col. Bob Edmondson, commander of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, said. ...
Go read more about these special Every Day Heroeshere.
I'd like to introduce you all to a new author here at SA NY. Ellie is a NY angel who has contributed quite a lot to our local area angel activities. She has agreed to help me out with keeping up on posting more local activities. She is also a good photographer, and perhaps she will share some of her photos with us.
Kabul, Afghanistan - Members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan conducted an unusual mission handover on Monday.
Rather than discussing troop disposition and battle status, the soldiers were passing along information about bottle feedings and sleeping schedules.
For the past few months, the CJSOTF-A troops have been caring for an Afghan baby boy named Ramazan, who is approximately nine months old. On this day, the troops said good-bye to Ramazan as they transferred his care over to a team of doctors at a medical facility in Kabul.
The wide-eyed baby was first put into the care of the Americans after his father brought him to a Special Operations Forces clinic in Shindand District, Herat Province, in late January....
Go over to Bouhammer's and read the rest of this story that you wil NOT see in the msm. Here.
04/22/2009 - U.S. Soldiers and actor Robert Patrick, from the television show The Unit, cheer while watching actor Max Martini race Soldiers on Combat Outpost Deysie, Afghanistan, April 22, 2009. The two actors are touring the U.S. Central Command area of operations with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen as a part of a USO tour. Mullen is in the area to meet with counterparts and visit troops. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy/Released)
Read More......
Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Moy, commander of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Paktia province, speaks with contractors following a bidders conference at the governor's compound in Gardez, April 2, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Andrya Hill
Afghans Bid on Brighter Future
By Army Pfc. Andrya Hill
Special to American Forces Press Service
PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan, April 23, 2009 - Village elders here, in conjunction with the Paktia Provincial Reconstruction Team, held a bidders' conference at the governor's compound in Gardez this month to give local contractors a chance to compete for construction projects in the area.
In the past, the PRT has selected contractors from a pool of bidders based on pricing and reliability. But Afghan elders expressed their concern that several contractors have not met expectations on various projects, which has initiated a change, Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Moy, PRT commander, said.
"Through this process, we are getting two things done at once," he said. "We are completing the project, which is how people see it is getting better, because they see that the government is capable of getting things done here. We are also enabling the Afghanistan government to build its necessary organization infrastructure, coordination and capacity to do these projects.
"It takes a lot of planning, discussion and meetings for the government to put one of these projects together," he added. ...
MATHER, Calif. (4/21/09) - The distinctive hum of the UH-1 helicopter faded into the distance Monday as the last “Huey” took off from Mather Air Field in Sacramento on its final flight for the California Army National Guard.
The Huey has been renowned during its 50 years of military service as “the sound of freedom,” the Swiss-Army knife of helicopters and as a symbol of America’s efforts in Vietnam. The California National Guard has retired its Hueys and replaced them with more advanced UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
“This is kind of a sad day for me, but also an important day, as we mark the end of an era for a tremendous machine that has contributed so much for the freedom of the United States and become a symbol of Army Aviation,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Nelan, assistant adjutant general of the California Army National Guard, who has flown more than 3,500 hours in UH-1 aircraft. “The Huey has been the backbone of Army Aviation for a number of years.”
The U.S. military first used the Huey in 1959, and the last Huey rolled off the production lines in 1976. More than 16,000 of the aircraft were produced, including 7,000 that were used during the Vietnam War.
The California National Guard had used the Huey since 1971 for firefighting, search-and-rescue, medical evacuation and other operations.
“This aircraft, the Huey, has been an icon of Army Aviation since the late 50s, definitely an icon of the Vietnam War,” said Chief Warrant Officer Randall Weatherhead, who piloted the California Guard’s last Huey to Fort Hood, Texas, on the helicopter’s final Guard flight. The helicopter will be turned over to Army Materiel Command....
Operations Specialist 3rd Class Leonel Yanez (Right), from Huntington Park, Calif., monitors a radar screen in the Combat Direction Center aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.
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.
On Tuesday, April 28th, Stranger Than Fiction (a weekly documentary series) will be showing THE WAY WE GET BY – a film about three senior citizens who dedicate their time to greeting U.S. troops arriving at a tiny airport in Maine....
The composer for THE WAY WE GET BY, Zack Martin of the band Carrigan, will open the show with a live performance. Following the screening, enjoy an exclusive Q&A session with director Aron Gaudet and producer Gita Pullapilly. Then we’ll head to 99 Below (99 MacDougal Street) for discussion and drink specials and then to Santos for a party hosted by the Camden International Film Festival from 11:30 on (www.santospartyhouse.com).
THE WAY WE GET BY was first screened as a work in progress by the Camden International Film Festival in the fall of 2008 and has been sweeping the festival circuit in 2009....
The Bangor International Airport in Maine is an official exit and entry point for the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. THE WAY WE GET BY is a moving film about three seniors who support these men and women with handshakes and hugs and explores their shared concerns of service and mortality.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 28th at 8 pm
WHERE: IFC Center – 323 Sixth Ave. @ 3rd St. (New York City)
WHY: Great Documentary. Emerging Talent. Only $15 per ticket.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, deputy commanding general for operations, MND-Cental, recloses the top part of Staff Sgt. Matthew Harvey’s uniform after pinning a Purple Heart on him during an award ceremony March 20. Harvey, a construction supervisor with Co. E, 2nd Combined Arms Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., was awarded his second purple heart after being shot in the helmet during a route clearance mission in Najaf Feb. 10.
CAMP ECHO, Iraq (Army News Service, April 3, 2009) - A 4th Infantry Division Soldier whose life was saved by his Advanced Combat Helmet received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge in south-central Iraq March 20.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Harvey, construction supervisor with Company E, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, received the awards after being shot and continuing to return fire during an enemy attack in Najaf, Feb. 10.
The attack came during a route clearance mission when Harvey, who was truck commander of the lead vehicle, dismounted to clear debris that became tangled underneath his vehicle.
"As I was leaning forward, I saw three rounds hit by my feet," the Houston native said. He added that he quickly turned and identified the enemy shooter, partially concealed behind a berm. "I returned fire and yelled back up to my driver and gunner."
He continued to return fire until he saw the enemy go down. He then stood up and scanned the area.
"I saw something to my five-o'clock and called up to the gunner. As soon as I turned, I got hit. The round went through my Kevlar," he said, pointing to a point above and behind his right ear.
The Kevlar altered the course of the bullet, channeling the bullet around his head and down the back of his neck.
Harvey said the force of the impact slammed his head into the vehicle, cutting a gash on his cheek. He went down and noticed blood flowing from his left cheek. In his shock, he said he thought the bullet had passed through his face.
"I yelled up that I was hit," he said.
As Harvey lay on the ground, he said he continued shooting at the enemy, becoming increasingly disoriented.
"I was trying to shoot the guy. (All of a sudden) I thought I was at a pop-up range, because I couldn't hit the target," he said.
"I could see my rounds impacting. Pow! Pow! Pow! I remember thinking: Man, this pop-up target won't go down. I'm going to get a bad score," he shook his head with a laugh.
"I thought: this is probably it. I kept shooting and shooting and yelled up to my dudes and told them, 'Sorry' and told my wife, 'I'm sorry,'" he reflected with a smile.
His Soldiers continued engaging the enemy and another vehicle in the convoy pulled around to cover him and load him into their truck.
"They pulled off all my gear and the medic came up and checked me out," he said.
Other than minor shrapnel wounds, cuts and a possible concussion, the medic told him he was fine. The other Soldiers downplayed the incident and told Harvey that he was probably just hit with shrapnel from bullets striking the vehicle and ground.
"I told them, 'No, I'm pretty sure I got hit,'" Harvey said. "That's when their squad leader picked up my Kevlar and said, 'Hey man, you've got a bullet hole through your Kevlar!'"
"I still had my adrenaline going, so I wasn't really in that much pain," Harvey continued. "I still wanted to (command) my truck."
However, his platoon leader made him try to relax and rest. They limped the vehicle back to Forward Operating Base Endeavor on a flat tire.
"I smoked a cigarette and drank a Rippit. By that time, my adrenaline stopped and I started puking and got dizzy," said Harvey. "I was kind of going in and out of it. The (medical evacuation helicopters) came in and medics checked me out and gave me (intravenous fluids)."
"I came to as I was going into the hospital at Balad. They checked me out and told me I was lucky," said Harvey.
They gave him additional tests and treated him for minor shrapnel wounds, cuts and a bad concussion.
After a few days of tests and evaluations, he was sent back to Camp Echo and saw his Soldiers for a day before going on his pre-planned environmental morale leave.
"I was already scheduled for leave, so I went home and hung out there," said Harvey. He said his wife Crystal, whom he has been married to for more than a year, was shocked when she found out, but also strong and supportive.
"She's pretty strong. She got through it and understands ... but she told me to stop getting hurt," he laughed. "I get hurt too much," he added with a shrug.
About a month after the attack, he said his headaches began to subside and have now almost completely stopped. But he said the headaches are a small price to pay for his life, thanks to his helmet.
Harvey has been in the Army for more than seven years and has deployed to Iraq four times. He said he has been shot at or hit by roadside bombs during each deployment and has been saved a number of times because of the equipment and armor provided to him by the Army.
This is Harvey's second Purple Heart. He received his first during a deployment to Iraq in 2003 after a roadside bomb explosion injured him in the head and neck. In that incident, his older-style helmet stopped or hampered the destructive passage of shrapnel. He said he feels his helmet helped save his life then as well.
He said the incidents increased his confidence in the equipment he uses. The members of his command and his fellow Soldiers are also more confident after seeing the deadly effects of a bullet thwarted by the helmet that many of them once complained about having to wear.
"You guys looked at that Kevlar and saw the direction that (round) was going and where it went out. It did exactly what it was designed to do," said Lt. Col. Leo Caballero, commander, Special Troops Battalion, to the company formation during the award ceremony.
Harvey received his awards from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, deputy commanding general for operations, Multi-National Division-Center.
"(The Purple Heart) is a significant award," said Buchanan, during the award ceremony. "It's in recognition of the American people and the sacrifice that you personally made. It's in recognition of your selfless service."
For Harvey, his Purple Hearts are reminders of the sacrifices he has made and is willing to make for his country and his people. They are also reminders of how close he came to dying and how precious life is.
"I feel lucky. This wasn't the first time I've been hit, but it kind of opens my eyes a little more," he said"
He said he appreciates life and what he has more than ever.
"I wasn't married for my other deployments. We've been married a little while and are trying to have kids," said Harvey. "It kind of made me think more, but I still plan on staying in. This is what I do. They'll probably have to kick me out after 30 years."
However, he said he hopes, as does his family, that he receives no more Purple Hearts.
(Sgt. Rodney Foliente serves with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.) [here]
Thank you for your service, Staff Sgt. Harvey!
Read More......
Final UPDATE!!!>>>> Roselle WON...the vacation for her soldier and his family.
Thanks to all who voted!
With less than 7 hours to go, our SA is less than 2 dozen votes behind the leader. PLEASE vote and pass this on! Thank you!!!
I received two emails today about a project that will only take a couple of minutes of your time. I found the info posted at Miss Ladybug (here) so am just copying hers since she set it out so clearly:
A Soldiers Angel has planned a special gift for her Soldiers homecoming. She needs help in voting for him. See below:
My name is Roselle Portin and I am a friend of Lorraine Blacklock.
I have a favor to ask of you. Your consideration of this would be greatly appreciated.
I am a member of Soldiers Angels. My family and I have been blessed to receive Kxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as our adopted soldier. Through the program we write to him, send care packages and keep him in our thoughts and prayers every day. He has a family in NY that he will be returning home to soon.
I wanted to do something very special for Xxxxx upon his return. In order to do this I entered a contest to win a family dude ranch vacation in Idaho. The kids went door to door, we asked our church family for help, we asked everyone at school, everyone we came into contact with throughout the day and all our friends and family for help. We were winning.
Now we are not. My family will cover air fare for the Family but we cannot afford the ranch if we don't win it.
I was wondering if you had a network of people that would be willing to help me out in this. It is VERY easy to vote. No personal info is required and it only takes a minute.
I know it's a big favor. I just wanted a really special way to send a very big 'thank you' to Xxxx and his family (he is not aware of this). If you could help I would be so thankful.
Please let me know what you decide.
Thanks for your time and all you do, Roselle Portin
I've voted. Currently, Roselle is 313 votes behind the story with the most votes (currently in the lead with 827 votes). [bratnote: I voted and we seem to be gaining..] Please help. It will, indeed, only take a minute...
Updated: The code was supposed to embed the poll, but it's doing the results, instead:
Time is really critical here, but I know we can get 'er done - for this hero.
GO! NOW! And vote...And then pass this on to everybody you know..Thank you..
Pfc. Alan R. Blohm 21 years old from Kenai, Alaska 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division December 31, 2006
Alan R. Blohm enlisted in the Army in 2004 because "He wanted to serve the country," his brother Jeremy said. "His grandfather had been in the Army, and it's just something he wanted to do."
Blohm graduated in 2004 from Bay City Western High School, where he was a 250-pound defensive player for the football team. Blohm's size prompted coach Jim Eurick to nickname him "Biggins Blohm," his brother recalled. "I know he paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life," Mark Boileau, Blohm's former school Principal, said. "We know Alan will be in a better place because of the sacrifice he made, because of his love for our country."
PFC. Blohm died of wounds suffered when an IED detonated near his unit while on combat patrol in Baghdad Besides his brother, he leaves behind his parents and a younger sister.
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.
Army Chaplain (Capt.) David Curry serves with Task Force Eagle Assault, an elite unit based in Kandahar, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paul David Ondik
Face of Defense: Chaplain Serves Commander, Soldiers
American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Jan. 7, 2009 – Army Chaplain (Capt.) David Curry, based out of Kandahar, Afghanistan, with Task Force Eagle Assault, is accustomed to multitasking.
He is a member of an elite division deployed halfway around the globe to fight terrorism. He’s also a relationship counselor, an event coordinator and senior advisor.
“There are three, maybe four hats that a chaplain wears,” Curry said. “The chaplains fill an advisory role to the unit’s commander as a member of the commander’s staff. He is a counselor to the soldiers of the unit, as well as its minister.”
Curry balances all of these responsibilities.
“Chaplains serve in every unit, and every unit’s chaplains have to learn their particular unit’s vernacular,” Curry said.
A native of Louisville, Ky., Curry, 40, earned a master of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a lot of “firsts” in his family – he’s the first to go to college, the first seminary graduate, the first minister and the first military officer.
“I’ve always had a respect for soldiers and what the military does,” Curry said.
He served eight years as an Army reservist. After a six-year break that saw him ministering in the civilian world, he and his family decided he would go back into the Army as a chaplain. Two weeks later, a pair of passenger planes struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, changing the nature of military service immediately, radically and for the foreseeable future.
Curry spoke again with his family, knowing his service would be dramatically different from what they previously thought it would entail. They agreed to press on, and seven years later, he’s halfway around world and happy with his decision.
In Afghanistan, much of Curry’s job involves helping soldiers communicate with their families.
“I think it is safe to say that 70 percent [of soldiers’ worries are] family related, or that is the root problem,” said Curry. “Strong relationships are not harmed by deployment. They only get stronger. But weak relationships are very much in danger.”
Curry has to juggle a large number of troops and all of the issues they bring with them. Through his skills and experience, he sees the similarities.
“You begin to see that the people are different, but the situations they’re going through are the same,” he said.
His office has developed a rhythm as the deployment has worn on and has expanded its reach.
“Those initial months after you deploy, the counselings are through the roof,” Curry said. “The Army family, in some ways, endures more hardships than the soldier does.”
Those close to Curry feed off his energy.
“I’ve worked for four chaplains, and Chaplain Curry is by far the most passionate,” said Army Sgt. Matt Mellott, a chaplain’s assistant from Newcastle, Pa. “He’s passionate about his job, about the soldiers, and he’s the hardest-working chaplain.”
A large part of Curry’s job is coordination. The coordination between himself and his counterparts is also one of his biggest sources of pride.
“I think one of the most important things is the relationships between these chaplains here,” he said. “That’s been the most fulfilling. I think the other thing is in the moment of tragedy, being able to be a shepherd, and leading people through.”
It all came together over Thanksgiving, when the chaplains from Kandahar travelled out to visit soldiers at isolated bases throughout southern Afghanistan. Curry coordinated the trip.
“We went ahead and said, ‘We’re going to try to treat this like another big, religious day,” he said, likening it to the treatment the chaplains give Christmas or Easter.
In the past, he said, events like this had failed to come together. But this time, the chaplains were successful, as Curry worked with his commander to ensure that the chaplains received helicopters for the mission.
“In my 21 years [of service], he’s the best chaplain I’ve ever met,” Army Lt. Col. Tommy Stauss, commander of Task Force Eagle Assault, said.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 101 news release.)[here]
April is Month of the Military Child! This special celebration is a legacy of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger – established to underscore the important role children play in the Armed Forces community. Army Garrisons plan numerous events ranging from picnics and parades to recreational fairs and fun festivals – all to recognize and applaud Families and their children, who are everyday heroes, for the daily sacrifices for they make in supporting America’s Army.[here]
Military child takes the lead to protect children
Mar 30
ByTom Budzyna, USAG Schinnen [okay so I screwed the picture up. Go follow the link to see the picture...oops!]
Sean Ballard, 16, a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 100, Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Netherlands, is pictured with his siblings, Will, 13, and Maryn, 6. Sean's Eagle Scout Project includes registering military community children for ID packets.
SCHINNEN, the Netherlands -- April is the Month of the Military Child, and one might expect an article describing the nouns and verbs that could be embroidered on a military child's "been there, done that" t-shirt.
But this is a "here now, doing something" kind of story.
It begins with U.S. Army Garrison Schinnen hosting a Tri-Border Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at the Joint Force Command Sports Fields in nearby Brunssum. Events begin 10 a.m., with the first Easter Egg Hunt starting at 10:45 a.m.
And in the midst of a bunch of grown-ups who've dedicated time to set up community service information booths, refreshment stands, egg decorating events and more, there is one teenager in charge of a Child Safety Awareness and Missing Persons Identification booth.
Sean Ballard, a 16-year-old Life Scout in Troop 100, and his Eagle Scout project is all about helping parents protect children. More than 2,000 children go missing every day in the United States and, depending on its population, police in European countries face anywhere from four to eight reports of missing children each day.
Time is the enemy when a child goes missing.
Stateside, there is the Amber Alert Program, a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.
Ballard's booth will introduce visitors to a European version of Amber Alert. In fact, many European nations, including the Netherlands, have adopted the "Amber Alert" moniker to describe the network they use to search for missing children.
"The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a secondary distribution source for the AMBER Alert program," says Ballard, pointing out that it has been used in the Netherlands to help authorities find children who've gone missing. Visitors to his booth will receive information about this organization and be given the tools necessary to register their children.
Ballard points out that the best way to help protect the ones you love is by gathering important information before an emergency. That means right now is a good time, or you can take action at the Brunssum Easter Egg Hunt.
Ballard will take pictures of children and then provide the picture on a compact disc with the forms required for the registration process to be completed.
The intent is to give parents and children the tools to complete the registration process with clear heads - when parents and children can think through safety precautions and be ready should the worst case scenario ever occur.
Ballard, whose booth will also feature presentations to educate children and parents about child safety awareness, has taken his Eagle Scout project to the airwaves and can be heard in the tri-border region on Canadian Forces Network radio.
'Here now, doing something' is the precursor of the best kind of 'been there, done that' t-shirt a military child, or parent, can wear.
Besides the first hunt that begins promptly at 10:45 a.m., there will be additional hunts, divided by age group that will take place throughout the morning. Face painting, egg decorating, scavenger hunts, and many more activities go on until 1 p.m. Save the date. Get your Easter baskets ready; the rabbit will be there.
So will Sean Ballard - making things happen for military children. [here]
04/09/2009 - U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Cassandra Carpenter signals aircraft on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a vertical replenishment in the Arabian Sea April 9, 2009. (DoD photo Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rafael Figueroa Medina, U.S. Navy/Released)
Group Donates Easter Baskets for Month of Military Child
By Sharon Foster American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2009 – A California based troop-support group has collected and mailed more than 600 Easter baskets as part of April’s observance of the Month of the Military Child.
“Because the Easter bunny and children go hand-in-hand, our Easter project was directly targeted to the children,” said Karla Davis, Pennsylvania state coordinator for Soldiers’ Angels. “We were blessed enough with support for sending out over 610 Easter baskets this year. There were also several hundred gift cards sent with the baskets to help the parents in purchasing Easter dinner.”
The majority of the baskets went directly to Fisher Houses and military bases to be distributed to military children.
“Fisher Houses and military bases have contacted me already, to say, ‘Wow, we received the Easter baskets,’” Caren Vink, vice president of Soldiers' Angels, said. “They say, ‘This was awfully nice of Soldiers' Angels outreach to honor our families.’ This mission focused on supporting military families with children here at home for the Easter holidays.”
Soldiers' Angels collected Easter items by posting a letter of invitation on the group’s Web site several months ago, asking Americans to support military families with children for the Easter holiday. Americans were asked to drop off Easter baskets at different Soldiers' Angels locations.
“We had such a great outpouring by our donors and angels,” Vink said. “We had many donors that were prepared to send pre-filled Easter baskets, sealed bags of Easter candy and gift cards across the country to these kids.”
Military families not at Fisher Houses or military bases were able to request Easter baskets via e-mail.
In the past, Davis said, Soldiers’ Angels had received many requests for help with purchasing Easter baskets and felt honored to reach out to military families during the Month of the Military Child.
“These children are making as many sacrifices for our country as our heroes,” she said. “They are lending their hero to the entire world. Soldiers' Angels has always paid particular attention to military children during this month and every month.”[here]
Cpl. Aaron L. Seal 23 years old from Elkhart, Indiana 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve October 1, 2006
With sleet gushing from gunmetal gray clouds, some 30 Marines standing in three trim lines saluted the U.S. flag that four of their brethren used to christen a new pole.
A large engraved stone set at the base of the 38-foot pole explained the occasion: "In memory of Corporal Aaron L. Seal. Who gave his life for our country. 1982-2006."
The Marines from Engineer Company B joined several dozen community residents and well-wishers at a ceremony Wednesday honoring Seal, the 23-year-old Elkhart reservist who died last fall in Iraq. Seal's family also attended the 20-minute tribute at Elkhart Community Schools' administration building adjacent to Memorial High School -- the fallen Marine's alma mater.
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 am writing to ask your help in getting the word out to people about a good friend of mine, Massachusetts Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Kevin Dupont. Kevin was seriously wounded while serving in Afghanistan. On March 8, 2009, Kevin was riding in a convoy of vehicles in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. Kevin’s Humvee was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device.
The blast destroyed the vehicle and turned it into a raging inferno...
That is from BlackFive, and they have all the details about how you can help this hero. As you read, marvel as I did about this man who had already more than served his country, and yet at 52 years old he volunteered to go to Afghanistan.
I haven’t heard of one news story about Kevin since he was wounded. I am hoping that you will be able to let people know. Kevin volunteered to be deployed to Afghanistan. He didn’t have to go. He could easily have stayed here in Massachusetts doing his National Guard duties instead of where he is now, lying in a hospital bed unconscious, with feeding and breathing tubes keeping him alive and bandages over most of his body....
I am more than a tad ticked off this story is not being covered by the msm BUT I know full well that the milblog community (and that includes all the readers of all the sites,) can and will step up and do what we can.
There are addresses at BlackFivehere, so please go over there, read the story, and do what you can. Meantime, prayers are also welcome.
Since we have just finished Womens History Month in the US, I have to share this every day hero with you. Colonel Sally Murphy was interviewed by Troy and CJ on YouServed on BlogTalk Radio this week. You were listening, weren't you? If you did miss it, follow the link to Blog Talk Radio and you will find YouServed featured on their front page.
In the meantime, take a look:
Also, there is this on Fox News. Col Murphy is an inspiration. There is more:
Retired Col. Sally Murphy, the Army's first female helicopter pilot, meets Fort Myer Military Community Garrison Commander Col. Laura J. Richardson, also a helicopter pilot, at a "Freedom Team Salute" ceremony March 26 to honor Murphy.
FORT MYER, Va. (Army News Service, March 27, 2009) -- Members of "Freedom Team Salute" honored retired Col. Sally D. Murphy, the Army's first female helicopter pilot, Wednesday at Fort Myer Spates Community Club.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Murphy's graduation from the Army Aviation school at Fort Rucker, Ala., when she became the Army's first female helicopter pilot. She joined the Army's Women Army Corps in 1972, and entered the aviation school when women were first allowed in.
Murphy flew helicopters for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan., and commanded the 62nd Aviation Company in Germany and the 78th Aviation Battalion (Provisional) in Japan.
Col. Laura J. Richardson, Fort Myer Military Community garrison commander, is one of thousands of women who have followed in Murphy's footsteps as a female aviator. She spoke at the event about how Murphy's shadow loomed over her during aviation training.
"From my own experience as a female helicopter pilot, I understand and appreciate the time, effort, knowledge and dedication it took Col. Murphy to become the Army's first female helicopter pilot," Richardson said. "More importantly, I appreciate the tough road that Col. Murphy forged, making it possible for me and other female Army aviators to follow along in a ready made path, making it so much easier for us."...
Go - NOW - and read more on this amazing woman here.
Air Force Maj. Alan Brown, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, is an amputee C-130 pilot deployed from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 187th Airlift Squadron. He is finishing up his third deployment since losing a leg in a hunting accident. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erik Cardenas
Face of Defense: Amputee Pilot Completes Third Deployment
By Air Force Maj. Carie Parker
Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, March 31, 2009 – What sets Air Force Maj. Alan Brown apart from other airmen in the gym at Camp Cunningham here isn't his workout routine. It's his right leg.
"When people see me in shorts at the gym, there's definitely a pattern," said the 42-year-old mobility pilot from Pine Bluffs, Wyo. "They glance at my eyes, look down at my leg and then look back at my eyes. It happens every time."
Brown, who is deployed from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 187th Airlift Squadron as part of Bagram's 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, shot his leg in a hunting accident more than 10 years ago. After four weeks in a drug-induced coma and three weeks of grueling rehabilitation, he was released from the hospital as an above-the-knee amputee. His family made the decision to amputate after several attempts to restore blood flow to the leg failed. That decision saved his life.
"My body was shutting down, and they made the tough decision to amputate, not knowing how I would react," the major said.
Once he woke up, remembering the accident, his eyes were drawn to his leg. He asked the obvious question: "I lost my leg right?" Then he asked if his then-girlfriend -- now wife, Gina -- was still around. His third question provided his family some kind of relief: "What can I do to fly again?"
The answer to the last question already had been researched while the major was comatose. Knowing how passionate Brown was about flying, squadron mates had done some homework to find out exactly how he could fly again. Upon hearing his question, they shared with him the names of two civilian amputee pilots who had returned to the cockpit following similar procedures.
Despite recommendations from medical professionals, Alan left the crutches and wheelchair behind, focusing on being back to normal. He never looked back.
"Attitude is everything. Either you're going to let an injury like this ruin your life, or you resume your life," Brown said.
Brown returned to work just nine weeks after the accident. He said he's found that if he's willing to give everything he has toward a goal, people are willing to give everything they have to assist. One of those goals was getting back in the C-130 Hercules cockpit, re-establishing himself as just another pilot.
"I had invested a lot of time and energy into becoming a pilot," he said. "I wasn't about to walk away from the only career I had known."
First, Brown had to prove he should stay in the National Guard. Once he convinced leadership he was dedicated to the mission, the next step was to convince them he could deploy. His current deployment, soon to end, is his third since he regained his worldwide qualification in 2005.
In the meantime, a well-meaning co-worker offered him a handicapped parking spot so he wouldn't have to walk so far to work.
"I laughed, thanked her and explained that I wasn't handicapped," he said. "It totally went against everything I was trying to achieve. In my mind, I couldn't be handicapped and convince people I was able to fly a plane."
Brown’s last and most challenging task was to assure anyone who would listen that he wouldn't be a liability as a pilot. He had to prove this with a testimonial from a flight doctor that he could perform as a two-legged pilot.
Before the accident, Brown had flown for almost five years. From start to finish, it took another seven years to get back in the saddle with the military. His dedication to the mission helped to motivate him toward requalifying, he said.
"In my mind, I need to be deployed with my buddies,” he said. “We've been training and flying together for years. It's not an option to stay home while they're here taking on the mission. Flying is in my blood. It's what I do. And besides, I believe in what we're doing in Afghanistan."
Brown admitted flying is different with a prosthetic.
"As a pilot, using your feet is second-nature," he said. "I just had to learn how to operate in a different way after the accident."
The deployed environment does present one significant challenge to the pilot.
"The gravel is rough," he said with a laugh. "I haven't fallen yet, but I can tell you that I know where every paved surface is on the base."
Brown’s prosthetic leg is slightly shorter than his remaining leg to ensure he doesn't drag his foot on the ground. He has a hydraulic knee to aid with stabilization, but it's much less maneuverable than his own leg.
That lack of flexibility limits him at the gym with weight training and cardiovascular activity, he said, but he discovered he can ride the stationary bike with the help of a custom strap crafted by the unit's life-support crew.
"Just about every day, someone approaches me to ask what happened," he said. "People aren't sure if I'm sensitive about it. But once I let them know that I'm not offended and explain what happened, everything is fine."
The one thing the major is reluctant to talk about is how he's helped others in his situation. But he takes every opportunity to encourage other amputees there is life after a lost limb.
"This isn't about me and what I've accomplished,” he said. “I made a big mistake. There's no one to blame for this but me, and I don't want to stand out. Being comfortable with my situation gives me a chance to answer questions other amputees may have on what they'll face."
On a recent trip to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Brown visited many veterans facing the future without a limb.
"I just wanted to answer any questions they had," he said. "Coming home and not knowing what the future holds can be overwhelming."
Brown emphasized how impressive it is that the military has taken a wider approach with amputees in light of the recent increase in those losing limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also said he understands the importance of friends and family when facing difficulty.
"Everyone faces challenges, but having the right mindset and the right people to support you makes the difference," he said. "I'm the most fortunate guy around. Not only do I get to fly, but I am surrounded by great people who have supported me and have now accepted me as just another pilot. That's all I've ever wanted."
(Air Force Maj. Carie Parker serves with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.)[source]
Servicemembers wait in line to meet former World Wrestling Entertainment divas at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 24, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Opal Hood
Wrestling Divas Visit Troops in Afghanistan
By Army Spc. Opal Hood Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, April 1, 2009 – Troops from different service branches and different countries eagerly got into a line that wrapped around the inside of a tent here March 24 to meet four former World Wrestling Entertainment “divas.”
For more than two hours, Terry Runnels, Nora “Molly Holly” Greenwald, Christy Hemme and Shelly Martinez signed autographs and posed for photos with servicemembers and civilians at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation gym.
“Events like having the divas here give the troops a break,” Air Force Capt. Carey Caudell of Task Force Warrior said. “When you work seven days a week, you need something to take your mind off the day-to-day and just relax.”
This was the first trip to visit deployed troops for three of the divas; only Runnels had made a trip to Kuwait to visit troops before. They were invited as part of MWR’s effort to keep the morale of deployed troops high.
“The morale of troops is important, because we are away from family and friends,” said Army Pvt. Nathan Brown, 101st Airborne Division Special Troops Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “Things like this helps remind us that we are still supported.”
Hemme said she wanted to do the tour because she didn’t want the “filtered version of the war” and wanted to see things for herself.
“People back home will never really understand how things are here without actually having ever been here,” Martinez agreed.
In addition to Bagram, the divas also visited a couple of forward operating bases, but weather forced cancellation of planned visits to some smaller bases. “It felt as if my heart was ripped out when we realized we were going to miss a few stops,” Hemme said.
The women made every moment count by visiting with the troops as often as possible. Aside from meals, sleeping and an hour of shopping, the majority of their time was spent with troops. But even during meals, they were happy to take a break for photos and autographs. Their goal was to show their appreciation to the troops and remind them that people back home support them.
“It makes us happy to see [troops] happy,” said Runnels, who added she felt honored and humbled by her experience here.
The divas never said “You’re welcome” when troops thanked them for being here, Kevin Dessart, the diva’s tour manager, observed. Their response always was “No! Thank you,” he said.
From the looks on the troops’ faces, the divas succeeded in their mission to boost morale.
“The divas are the best tour we have had so far because of their genuine concern, curiosity and overall love for the troops,” Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Gore, an MWR planner, said.
(Army Spc. Opal Hood serves with the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)[source]
More entertainers supporting our troops! And that IS B*N*S*N!!
Read More......
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2009 – Afghan and coalition forces killed five enemy fighters in operations yesterday and overnight in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported.
The overnight operation in the province’s Nad Ali district, targeted a mid-level Taliban commander responsible for attacks against Afghan civilians and coalition forces, including a suicide-bomber attack on the Musa Qala Bazaar and an attack on coalition forces that killed 12 Afghan civilians in Musa Qala, both in December.
Upon arriving at the targeted compound, assault forces killed two guards who attempted to engage them. Afghan forces called out for all noncombatants to leave the compound, and two armed militants who didn’t comply were killed during the assault on the building they occupied. Forces removed AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns and chest racks from the compound, preventing militants from using them against civilians or Afghan and coalition Forces.
Five men, 10 women and 21 children were protected during the operation, with no collateral damage reported to the compound, officials said.
In northern Helmand yesterday, a combined force on a combat reconnaissance patrol was attacked by insurgents with small-arms, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire. The combined forces closed in on enemy fighting positions and returned fire, killing one attacker.
In a separate incident, a coalition forces convoy vehicle struck a roadside bomb, damaging an ambulance carrying medical personnel and supplies on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to villages in Helmand’s Kajaki district. No injuries were reported.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.) [source]
During a lesson about numbers, an Afghan woman asks her colleague to write the number 100, March 23, 2009, in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province. The women are enrolled in a two-year U.S. Agency for International Development-funded program called “Learning for Community Empowerment,” designed to increase literacy and numeracy education, while also providing vocational training. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Amanda Cutler
Empowerment Program Helps to Educate Afghans
By Air Force Capt. Stacie N. Shafran Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, March 31, 2009 – Thousands of people living in northern Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley are improving basic reading and math skills, and local teachers are receiving training, under a U.S.-funded program.
In Panjshir’s Anaba district, a classroom of 10 women -- all teachers -- practice a lesson plan to teach their future students about numbers. The women are enrolled in a two-year U.S. Agency for International Development-funded program called “Learning for Community Empowerment.”
The program is designed to increase literacy and numeracy education, while also providing vocational training. More than 5,700 of the Panjshir Valley’s men and women participate.
“The goal is to educate and provide vocational skills to those who have not previously had the chance to attend school because of social reasons or because of the war-time environment,” said Jeremy Richart, the USAID field officer assigned to the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team. As such, students tend to be older, ranging in age from high teens to 30 years old.
During the first six months of the training, the students are provided with literacy and numeracy training. Then, they select their vocational track and, ultimately, become more competitive in the job market.
After villages are identified for the program, up to 25 men and 25 women are selected as students. Additionally, the program trains the teachers who will go on to teach the students selected for the program around Panjshir.
During a March 24 visit to the Anaba classroom, Army Sgt. Amanda Cutler, a member of the PRT’s civil affairs team and also a women’s affairs liaison, visited with the female students.
Cultural sensitivity prevented Richart, the overall activity manager, from checking the women’s classroom progress, Cutler had the opportunity to interact with and learn more about the Afghan women.
“The class was an extraordinary site. The women were so happy about being in the class, and it was obvious in their eyes and the way they took in the information,” Cutler said.
The women also were excited to talk about the program. When one woman stopped talking, the next woman started, Cutler said.
“The women are ready and enthusiastic to start teaching others,” she said.
As students graduate from the program, their success is shared through word of mouth, encouraging others to participate.
“At first, we had problems getting women to the classes, because the families were scared that the women becoming educated might hurt the family,” Roh Afza, the female student’s trainer, said. “Now that the families are seeing the benefits to the class, there are women waiting left and right for the classes. The support from the villages is growing at a rapid rate.”
On her own time, Afza also travels to the village of Tawakh to train a woman whose family does not permit her to leave the village. Afza said she does this so the women in that village are able to receive the same opportunities the other villages receive.
(Air Force Capt. Stacie N. Shafran serves with the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team public affairs office.) [source]
Circus Helps Group Ship Care Packages to Deployed Troops
By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2009 - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus recently presented a $12,636 check to American Recreational Military Services to help the troop-support group ship care packages overseas to deployed servicemembers.
The check included a $10,000 donation and a portion of the circus's four opening-night proceeds from performances in New Jersey and New York earlier this month.
"We had been scrambling for months to cover costs as donor fatigue and the economic decline had cut into our donations," Ronnie Micciulla, executive director at American Recreational Military Services, said. "The average cost for shipping an individual box overseas is $10. We are very thankful for this support."
The American Recreational Military Services goal this year is to provide a care package for every tri-state area servicemember, Micciulla added.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus learned about the New York group's woes from an employee while riding in a New York cab. After hearing about the group's struggles from a media news story, the employee started thinking of ways she could possibly help.
"I have a brother who fought in Iraqi Freedom, so I know first-hand how important it is for the troops to receive these packages," Amy Alter, director of marketing for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, said. "When I heard about this group having all these packages stored in a warehouse, but no funds to ship them, I knew we had to do something. It just seemed like the right thing to do."
Throughout the four circus performances, American Recreational Military Services had 90-second spots at each show to say something about the group and serve as the guest ringmaster. The group also was allowed to set up a table at each event to hand out pamphlets about the group and talk about how Americans can support the nation's troops.
"All the money raised will be going to either shipping packages to our troops or buying supplies that our troops need and can't get," Micciulla said. "We also will use the money to take care of the families back home, ... helping to pay bills they can't pay, helping when a disaster hits a family and running a food pantry so our families don't have to go without." (source)
Spc. Jeffrey Scantlin, Sgt. 1st Class Erich Phillips, Sgt. John Hayes, 1st Lt. Aaron Thurman, Sgt. Hector Chavez and Spc. Tyler Hanson 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
In the early morning hours of July 13, 2008, Soldiers from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment were not thinking about medals as they fought off roughly 200 insurgents attacking their vehicle patrol base in Afghanistan.
No Soldier in combat does.
The Army, however, takes pause afterward to honor those who distinguish themselves in battle and recognizes them before their peers.
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.
