Operation COOL HERO

The above pic, emailed to me last summer from a soldier in Iraq, says it all. It's that time of year again,when the temperatures in Iraq are going UP!

Here's what Soldiers Angels is doing to help out the troops regarding the heat:

OPERATION COOL HERO

With temperatures ranging from 110 at night to 150 and higher during the day,
Soldiers’ Angels is answering the call to help provide our heroes with some cool comfort.

Pasadena, California -- Summertime is quickly approaching and here at home that means gearing up for family vacations; the end of the school year; graduations and celebrations; picnics, fairs and fireworks. Going to the beach, or perhaps a little fishing; camping in the family R.V. or in dad’s smelly old tent. The lazy days of summer are just around the corner. Not so over in Iraq and Afghanistan where the brave young men and women of our United States Armed Forces are working hard in arguably the most dangerous conditions our military has faced in several decades. The latest threat to their safety: high temperatures. Serving in a vast desert with a blaring sun, the temperature can reach 140 degrees and higher on any given day, with very little relief when the sun goes down.

Soldiers’ Angels is a nationwide all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to the vital mission of service and support to the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. It’s members work tirelessly to insure that those soldiers who are risking so much for our freedoms know that we support them and appreciate all that they do for us. Operation Cool Hero is the latest project designed to provide an additional layer of support and comfort to those brave soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen.

Through Operation Cool Hero, Soldiers’ Angels will be providing every soldier that has signed up with a cooling scarf. The cooling scarf is a great way to beat the heat. The "magic" in these cooling scarves comes from hundreds of tiny hidden non-toxic polymer crystals that hold many times their weight in water. By soaking a cooling scarf in cool water for 15 minutes, these crystals become "energized" and become a comfortable, portable evaporative cooler that can lower body temperature by several degrees.

Why is this important? Aside from the general morale and comfort of our soldiers, a recent letter from a soldier in Iraq to Patti Patton-Bader, Founder of Soldiers’ Angels, says it all: “It is HOT HERE! It is hard to think!” This can cause a major safety issue for our soldiers – when it is just so hot that they can’t think or react to what is going on around them.

If you would like to help us send these cool scarves to our brave heroes to help them feel a little more comfortable and let them know that WE CARE about them, please do so in one of the following ways:

1. PAY-PAL :: To send your donation via PayPal, visit their website at www.paypal.com and send to donations@soldiersangels.org. Make sure that you put “Operation Cool Hero” in the comments section. PayPal accepts all major credit cards and ATM/Check Cards. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this totally secure service.

2. Check or Money Order :: Send your check or money order made payable to "Soldiers' Angels" with Operation Cool Hero in the memo section to:

Soldiers' Angels
1150 North Loop 1604 West
Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248

Please also let your friends and anyone you think would be supportive of our brave soldiers know about this need and see if they would be willing to help.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call us at (615)676-0239 or by email at info@soldiersangels.org.

TO SEW COOL SCARVES TO SEND TO TROOPS CLICK HERE

 

Wondering what the weather is like 'over there'?

Click here: 10 Day Local Weather Forecast for Baghdad, Iraq - weather.com

Click here: 10 Day Local Weather Forecast for Qandahar, Afghanistan - weather.com

 

 

 

Want to see what the scarves look like? Visit the Soldiers Angels Store .

 

May 29,2006 Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, I could spend all day directing you to the numerous excellent posts that are out there about honoring this day, or remembering the fallen.....so I have decided to point to just a very few posts/videos that I feel capture the true meaning of this 'holiday'.

I found two posts about fallen soldiers,one that is primarily a pictorial account, and I felt that they both seemed to embody the spirit and meaning of this day.I think sometimes when the fallen are reduced to just 'numbers' it can seem overwhelming, or we lost track of  the fact that these are individual lives lost,lives which had a great deal of meaning to family and friends , and the loss leaves an irreplaceable hole for them, and their community.....and,I think, our country at large.

From Sieg's Welt  he lost a friend recently, and he first told us about it here and then  posted a link to the funeral photos  here  .

From  Argghhh!!!The Home of Two of Jonah's Military Guys    comes a several part posting on

"the impact on two families of the death of a soldier". I am putting a link  to the third posting  

The Burial

because it has links in it to the first two posts,which I urge you to also read.

Blackfive  has numerous postings up about Memorial Day, but I wanted to point in particular to the two video tributes he has posted  here  .

Kat at Yikes! emailed me a link to a video

Click here: YouTube - true meaning of memorial day

 

that she found on a friend's blog , who in turn had found it on another blog.

Trish has a thoughtful post  Click here: Yahoo! 360° - Trish's Blog - Never Forget.....

and Christopher Michel has an extemely good editorial on Military.com

I especially like his  urging to "honor the dead by supporting the living." So, on this Memorial Day, I'm once again going to urge you to check out  the links I have to some of the organizations supporting the troops......

Soldiers Angels

Anysoldier.com

Angels N Camouflage

Adopt A Platoon

GUEST EDITOR ENTRY

Since I started my journal to share my experience supporting the troops...I am extremely honored to be chosen as Guest Editor the week of Memorial Day.

 

I'm pretty new to the AOL journal 'fold' here, as I only started this journal in March. My little 'All About Me' blurb and my info at the top of the page pretty much has me covered 

My first journal entry describes how I came to join Soldiers Angels,and shortly after that I wrote why I started this journal.(I know,THAT should have been the First entry,but sometimes I do things a little backwards,lol.)

 

And I think that's enough to say about me:) because one of the things that all 3 of my readers (thanks,Mom, Sis, and Missy!)know is that I LOVE to post LINKS!!!

 

 

Reading MILBLOGS  is what led me to become a member of Soldiers Angels, and there are several very good milblogs right here on AOL:

 

Destination:Iraq    Carter is doing a wonderful job , in his words....."to  give  loved ones and strangers a small insight into the challenges and dangers soldiers are facing every day over here."

 

For the OTHER war front, Bruce's Deployment to Afghanistan is a treasure of weekly updates on what he is doing, and pictures.

 

 

My OIF Deployment is Kristi 's effort to tell you what it's like for an Army National Guard single mom to get ready to leave for deployment.(And I hope she'll be able to continue blogging after she reaches Iraq.)

 

 

In the non-AOL category, Matt at Blackfive's SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW series has introduced me to some amazing stories of heroism and courage.

 

Through Blackfive, I was led to Holly Aho-Soldiers Angel ....who blogs the way I aspire to, and is an awesome supporter of the troops in countless ways.

 

 

And another fantastic troop supporter,Kat at Yikes!  reminds us of what's important to remember,especially this holiday weekend.(and I have greatly enjoyed being able to participate in some of her projects.)

 

 

Joe told me "6 to 8" picks,lol, and I did want to particularly mention two more blogs listed on my 'Favorite Sites'.

 

Capt.Jason  is a blog about a soldier recovering from an IED. It's written by his mother, who is a hospice chaplain, and has been staying at Walter Reed as his caregiver....and she is also active in the peace movement. A most interesting perspective, and a very thought-provoking read.

 

And Learning to Live  is Heidi's blog of  her journey as a war widow,which seems an appropriate blog to conclude this list with on Memorial Day weekend.

 

 

And this Memorial Day, I urge all of you to consider pausing at 3 pm for the

 

National Moment of Remembrance

 

to " remember the sacrifices of America's fallen from the Revolutionary War to the present"

and to... "Recognize those who served and those who continue to serve "..

 

In closing,here is a link to the poem   "Will They Remember?"   by a Marine.

 

 

(The picture with this post came from the Arlington National Cemetery website. )

 

My thanks again to Joe, and AOL, for this opportunity to be Guest Editor! Thanks also to all of you who have stopped by here......please feel free to look around , or check out some of my other links on the left, and/or leave a comment....and y'all are always welcome to stop by again!

Welcome! and Good Luck! to the Canadian Angels:)

Via Milblogging.com  I just discovered that a group of 'Canadian Angels' have started  "The Canadian alternative to Soldiers Angels, carrying on their great tradition of caring for troops overseas....."

The webpage is here   Click here: Canadian Angels

and the blog is here   http://www.canadianangelsorg.blogspot.com/

Best of luck to them! and Welcome!

A video 'Thank You' to our Troops for this Memorial Day

A video 'Thank You' to our Troops for this Memo...

 

Using music from the Kory Brunson Band http://www.korybrunsonband.com/  (and if you want to download this song for yourself,click on the American flag on their page) and using pictures from many heroes,and letters from a first grade class in MI...I made this video as my small attempt to let the troops know that we say 'Thank You'.

Soldiers Angels Valour IT,CNN Specials,and This and That

I was getting ready to post about  Soldiers Angels Valour IT project  and saw where Laurie at Soldiers Angels New York  had beaten me to the punch!

That's OK, long as you learn something about this wonderful project.Check out all her links,she's got it covered!(Scroll back UP on the link,I am still 'half a geek' and can't figure out all this 'trackback' stuff very well....btw,any help in that area?feel free to email me and say "THIS is how you do it,silly!":)

I got an email from a military wife,alerting me to this special coming up  Click here: CNN PRESENTS: WOUNDED WARRIORS (airing Memorial Day weekend May 27th & 28th)

which seems an alternative for those of us who couldn't watch the HBO special that Missy mentions here Click here: Yahoo! 360° - Motormouth in all her glory - Something America needs to see -May 22, 2006

and CNN has a number of specials for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend,you can check them out here  Click here: CNN Pressroom

I received another unexpected  response today from a soldier....a wounded soldier I had sent a card to, who said "I made myself a promise to respond to each card and letter personally".and then thanked ME for taking the time to send a card!!!How incredible is that....I am always overwhelmed by the amazing soldiers I am privileged to come into contact with through  Soldier Angels.

And regarding "supporting the troops"? Kat has an important 'rant' up that I think is worth a read  

 Click here: Yikes!: "ARE YOU TIRED?"

Speaking for myself, yes, there are times I lag behind on writing letters because life has gotten busy, or just don't seemto have the same level of motivation ...but then I think of all the times I have received a letter, or email, or note in reply to something I've sent ....notes that say to me that what I'm doing DOES mean something to someone,that it is important to them to know that someone cares?    And I find renewed committment.

I don't mean to imply that I'm doing it BECAUSE I've received replies....those are rare (and treasured!:) I just mean that those few replies have made me feel that all the others who haven't replied? it probably meant just as MUCH to them, to receive a word of support or encouragement. And so, I keep writing, or sending cards.

Because, as Kat says...."if we won't do it,who will?"

 

Things I didn't do this weekend,lol,things I did, and Girl Scout Cookies!

Well, I didn't make it to the 142nd New Market Battle Reenactment.

Where 257 Cadets from the
Virginia Military Institute
made the difference between
victory and defeat...

But you can find out more about it here   Click here: New Market Home Page

(We've been other years,just had stuff to do on Sat.)While I was surfing the site,I came across something about one of the cadets, which led me to search for the book it inspired

Click here: The Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin

 

which reminded me that a fellow Soldiers Angel member has ALSO written some books.Her site is here, go check it out!

Click here: loribakewell - loribakewell's Home Page

 

I also didn't go to the Joint Service Open House at Andrews AFB up the road, but if you like planes, check out this page from their site 

 

Click here: Joint Service Open House 2006 - Warbird and Other Static Displays

 

Things we DID do this weekend were go to church for Youth Sunday to hear my daughter sing a solo, and she did a wonderful job! and to hear her cousin preach the sermon...he also did a great job! I can't put a link to my church because we don't have a web page, gasp(and the pastor has never responded to my email about that yet!)

 

and then we all went back to my aunt and uncle's house for a big 'feed',so we had a great time of food and fellowship. (and then waddled home afterwards to watch Detroit beat Cleveland.:)

Speaking of food the Soldiers Angels store now has Girl Scout cookies in that you can ship to a soldier!!!  

Click here: http://www.angelsstore.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GSCookies

 

Why not send a little bit of 'home' to some hungry soldiers?

 Have a great day!

JULY 4th PROJECTS--They're All Around!:)

I am going to mention again 3 different projects that you might be interested in getting involved in. I know....July 4th seems far away, but the troop supporters doing these projects need to have time to review the cards, and get them boxed up with whatever else they are sending.......and mail them by June 16th, to ensure that they arrive in time!

Kat at Yikes! is organizing OPERATION:THANKS FOR FREEDOM

Click here: Yikes!: OPERATION: THANKS FOR FREEDOM!

 

She says:  Let's show our troops we love and support them!!!! Let's celebrate freedom and those who protect that freedom for us! For the next several weeks, I will be collecting cards to send to troops stationed in high-combat areas in Iraq. Mail from home helps to keep our troops' morale strong, making a very real difference in their lives! If you wish to participate in the Operation: Thanks for Freedom! Fourth of July card drive, please send cards to the address below:

Mrs. Kat Orr
Operation: Thanks for Freedom!
740 Thompson Lane
Loganville, GA 30052

The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand-written or typed letter is just as wonderful! Let's all band together and overwhelm our heroes with support!!!!!

You may also send emails of support and encouragement to the following email address: THANKS_4_FREEDOM@YAHOO.COM . Any e-mail received to this e-mail account will be printed and mailed, together with the all the other cards. If you have any questions about this campaign, please e-mail me at me at the above address.

**ALL CARDS AND EMAILS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2006**

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or pictures. I will be reading and screening every Card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to (please don't seal the envelopes, by the way)! Any card deemed inappropriate will not be sent! Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them!

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

Proudfan at Freedom Isn't Free is also organizing a card drive....

 

Click here: Freedom Isn't Free: Calling all patriotic souls...

 

and she says:

 I have started a new project and need your help.
I am trying to get together a bunch of cards to send over to Iraq to give to the Redbull soldiers, aka Desert Bulls, that my blog was started in honor of.
These men and women deserve the best support that we can offer them, and I am asking that you will help me to honor them this Independence Day by assisting me in filling care packages to them with cards and letters of support, hope, and thanks. I realize that this doesn't give everyone a lot of time to go out and buy cards or write letters, but it is important enough to me that I know I have to try. If you are willing to help me to honor these men and women please send all cards and letters for them to me so I can pass them on.

~proudfan


The sooner the better! If you are willing and able to help out - please send all cards and letters to me at the following address by June 16th:

Tabitha McCoy
PO Box 143
Chilhowee, MO 64733

 

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

 

And,the Family Readiness Group Leader of the 1016th

is ALSO trying to get together a Fourth of July mailing to the unit  If you would like to send a postcard ,card,or letter to "Any Soldier"?You can send them to:   

    

Carla TenEyck

339 Gladstone Street

Idaho Falls ID  83401

 

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

 

You can mail cards or letters to any or all of them! I found red,white and blue "stars and stripes" 'thank you' cards at the dollar store,so it doesn't have to cost a lot.Or, you could always send postcards from your home state,I've had more than one soldier tell me that  picture postcards feel like they are getting a little bit of 'home' in the mail:)

 

Throw a bunch of post cards or cards in a mailing envelope...or, just send one card or letter or post card. How many you send doesn't matter (although the more the merrier:)the important thing is here are three great ways to let some soldiers know that you appreciate them, and that they are being thought of by folks back here.

 

So, why not START YOUR FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION EARLY,and get something in the mail today? to any or all of these wonderful ladies

(and pass the word on to all your friends!)

 

THANKS A BUNCH!

 

 

Weekend 'Surf' Report

I don't think I've quite run out of pics from our Hawaii vacation yet, for my 'surf' report.

Once again,here's some sites to check out:

U.S.CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS

This guy has awesome pictures Click here: Dan in the Desert: May 2006 Archives

And Cindy is on her way home

Click here: Yahoo! 360° - White Rose's Adventures - May 18, 2006 Going Home

 

And don't forget she has a book coming out!

Click here: Simonsays.com > SimonSays > Cindy in Iraq: A Civilian's Year in the War Zone (Hardcover)

 

MILBLOGS

 

Michael Fay is one of two combat artists for the United States Marine Corps.He's home now,but check out some of his posts...beautiful pics and drawings,and he writes good stuff,too!

 

Click here: Fire and Ice: Afghan Images, Afghan Memories

 

Click here: Fire and Ice: Afghan Images.....Continued

 

Click here: Fire and Ice: Remembrance

 

An awesome post from Trevor:

Click here: the will to exist - a blog about life » The janitor and his sunflowers

 

Another good post from Halo:

Click here: The Perfume Palace, Baghdad at Midnight in Iraq - A Marine's blog. Live from Fallujah.

 

The Online Chaplain is always a good read:

Click here: The Online Chaplain: Chaos

 

THIS guy is the VERY FIRST milblog I ever started reading.He's on his THIRD deployment.(And he met his wife via...you guessed it! Soldiers Angels   Although they are NOT a dating service!!!sometimes, things just happen.)He has pics posted on this link, but check out more of his blog posts if you have time.

 

Click here: Doc In The Box

 

Via Holly Aho,there's a new kind of blog in town...go read her to find out!

Click here: Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho - Milblogs - the blog? It's cool!

 

And this explains why I actually had more than two hits this week,lol. Remember on May 1 when I posted that Just Another Thunderhorse Roughneck had a wish to be in the top 100 at Milblogging.com?

Well,JP ended up featuring him as the Milblogger of the week this week! And Pete posted a thank you link to me!which was totally unexpected and a very nice thing to do.

   Thank YOU,Pete!!!(You wouldn't have been featured if you weren't doing great writing,no matter how many emails I sent JP!)

 

BIKERS

 

And via Soldiers Angels Germany , there are other bikers besides the Patriot Guard Riders doing things to support the troops.

 

Click here: Ride For Americas Patriots

 

MILITARY FAMILIES

 

A military mom.She's not new to blogging,but I just came across her the other day.

Click here: kbug

 

And a military wife.Click here: An Army of Two

 

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

 

Lastly,Kat at Yikes!  alerted me to the fact that The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION online was featuring a remembrance of the fallen from the recently returned Georgia National Guardsmen of the 48th Infantry Brigade.(the comments section is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.)

Click here: Remembering the 48th's fallen | The 48th goes to war | ajc.com

 

Well, that wraps up me trying to give you some places to check out!

Have a good weekend, and God Bless our troops!

 

 

 

 

 

What a Fantastic way to celebrate your 101st birthday!

Via Soldiers Angels Germany,comes THIS wonderful story!

Click here: Soldiers' Angels Germany - Soldiers' Angel Celebrates 101st Birthday Filling Care Packages for Soldiers

 

God bless 'Aunt Mary'!

"May No Soldier Be Forgotten"

The motto of Soldiers Angels is:

"May no soldier go unloved.
May no soldier walk alone.
May no soldier be forgotten,
Until they all come home."

And with so many recent casualties, I thought maybe it was time to focus on what Soldiers Angels does to help ensure May no soldier be forgotten.

We have a team called LIVING LEGENDS and they handle the LIVING TREES FOR FALLEN HEROES 

Soldiers Angels provides a living tree to the families of the fallen. We hope the tree will grow and flourish so all can remember their bravery and heroism. So many have sacraficed for our freedoms. We hope this helps to ensure that we never forget what it takes to keep our liberties.

 

They also have a blog,to honor and remember those we have lost who were 'adopted' as part of Soldiers Angels. Click here: Fallen Heroes

 

The team does a lot of other things,like handling notifying the 'angels' of the fallen soldiers,and also sending out condolence cards to the families. As one of the angels on the team said

 This is the most difficult and emotional team to be on.

but they do this to do their part to ensure

 may we never forget them and their sacrifice.

 

My hats are off to the members of this team,and my prayers are with them....just as my prayers go out to all the families of the fallen.

 

If you would like to find out more about LIVING TREES FOR FALLEN HEROES?

 

Click here:  http://soldiersangels.org/Living_Tree_Donation.php

 

 

 

Monday Surfing

When I was compiling this, I discovered the 'theme' seemed to end up being "Pics and Videos"

From One Marine's view Click here: ONE MARINE'S VIEW 

I was led to this photographer's site (warning!some pictures are graphic!)

http://www.lucianread.com/indexpages/marinedrop.htm

 

AfghaniDan always has great photos posted 

Click here: AfghaniDan: The Marines have left the building...

 

As does, TalkingSalmons  Click here: Talking Salmons

 

And Midnight in Iraq 

Click here: Midnight in Iraq - A Marine's blog. Live from Fallujah.

 

Via Soldier's Angels in Germany 

Click here: Soldiers' Angels Germany - The Difference Between Iraq and Vietnam

 

I was led to the Pentagon Channel (d'oh! I didn't know there was a channel! always a day late and a dollar short!lol)  Click here: Pentagon Channel  (Click on "FREEDOM JOURNAL IRAQ")

 

Hurray! Bruce is posting again!

Click here: Bruce's Deployment to Afghanistan

 

And via Mudville Gazette Click here: Mudville Gazette

 

I was ledto this video

Click here: Lazy Ramadi The Middle East Response

An Awesome Essay

Be sure to read this wonderful essay by Holly Aho

Click here: Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho - It's not social activism, It's patriotism

the 1016th July 4th Project,An Awesome Poet, Wounded Marines,Bears

Hey, remember the 1016th from Idaho? Click here: 1016th

Their Family Readiness Group (FRG) is ALSO trying to get together a Fourth of July mailing to the unit  If you would like to send a postcard ,card,or letter to "Any Soldier"?You can send them to:       

Carla TenEyck

339 Gladstone Street

Idaho Falls ID  83401

 (So now that's THREE July 4th projects I've alerted you to,lol. Three great ways to support our troops! See my previous post for the other two projects.)

And I came across this site last night   Click here: Tennessee Poet's Website

This Marine writes Wonderful poetry. I emailed him, and received a very gracious reply....go check him out!!!:)

Via another Soldiers Angel member, I became aware of this site

Click here: Newsradio 850 KOA

This guy does a newsradio show in Denver, and the station has adopted the Delta Company Marines. If you click on WOUNDED DELTA COMPANY MARINES NEED YOUR LOVE on the page, it lists their addresses and he is asking for folks to send cards to these injured Marines. You can also click on MARINES READY FOR ADOPTION, CONTACT AND SUPPORT on that same page, and it will tell you how to mail letters/postcards/whatever to the deployed Marines. I found someone from my state!see if you can find someone from yours!   At the very least, please consider sending a card to each of the wounded he lists, and Thank you!if you do.

Lastly, isn't the above bear adorable?:) You can find them here

Click here: BraveHeart Bears™

The reason I'm telling you about them is that 'small stuffed animals' is one of the things listed in this SoldiersAngels Germany post asking for donations

Click here: Soldiers' Angels Germany - Donations Needed for Landstuhl Outpatients - Please Help Us Support Your Soldiers!

 

Landstuhl is the hospital in Germany where the soldiers wounded overseas are taken. You can find out more about it here  Click here: LRMC Home Page

 

Hope everyone has a great day!

More About Soldiers Angels, A Wounded Hero, and Some Projects!

I think I've said before that I'm part of the LWT(Letter Writing Team) at Soldiers Angels, and also part of the CARDS PLUS team, and the WOUNDED TLC team.You can get more info about these teams by going to the Soldiers Angels forum 

Click here: Soldiers Angels Forums

 

and clicking on the logos of each of the teams.

 

When you are on the LWT, and you see this comment with the name you are recieving to write to?

"The simplest letter can bring so much ease to a
hard and stressfull day"

believe me, you really want to send off a note to the soldier that wrote that right away!

 

And as part of the CARDS PLUS team, I just yesterday had the nicest and most unexpected thing happen to me. A soldier wrote a 'thank you' letter for a simple Birthday Card that I had sent as part of that team!!! I was just awestruck that A. something so simple for me to do had meant so much to someone, and B.  the soldier had actually taken the time to write a letter in response to a card.....what an extraordinary person this soldier must be!I walked around with a smile on my face the rest of the day.....how nice it was to know that I really made a difference for someone!

 

While I am committed to all these teams, I think as an LPN the one that perhaps strikes the deepest chord for me is the WOUNDED TLC team. And this is the team where you can expect the LEAST response, because these soldiers are focused on recovery and adjusting to the changes in their lives. (However, even here I was pleasantly surprised...there was actually one soldier who made an effort to track down and thank every single Soldiers Angels member he could find,just for sending him cards.. Truly 'one in a million'...which is not to say that the others were not grateful, only that sometimes you are afforded the privilege of meeting someone rare and unique when you least expect it.)

 

I think part of why this team holds a special place in my heart is because ,having been to the VA hospital a few different times with my boyfriend and seeing some of the veterans of  previous wars there....it's very important to methat those who have suffered wounds be reassured that they are NOT forgotten during their recovery process. (and even beyond their immediate recovery.) I just can't bear to think that someone who has served our country, and suffered injury because of that service, would ever think for a MOMENT that perhaps no one remembers or cares.

 

Which leads me to the next part of my post ....via Kat at Yikes! I was alerted to a posting by David at The Thunder Run about a recovering hero who could use some letters or cards . 

Click here: The Thunder Run: A Wounded Soldier Needs Our Letters and Encouragement.

 

No, he is not as far as I know right now under the Soldiers Angels umbrella, or I could not be posting the information about him. But I'm hoping that the good folks who read this will feel led to send him a card or a note!Thank you, if you do

 

And then there are 3 projects I want to mention. One is a Soldiers Angels project  

Click here: Soldiers' Angels Germany - "IT IS HOT!! It is hard to think..."

 

and the other two are fellow bloggers who want some help in letting our troops know we support them. You may think it's early to be thinking of the Fourth of  July? but when they are sending out cards and letters via the mail to places far away!

 

They are Kat at Yikes!

Click here: Yikes!: OPERATION: THANKS FOR FREEDOM!

 

and "Proud Fan" at Freedom Isn't Free

Click here: Freedom Isn't Free: Calling all patriotic souls...

 

Whatever you get involved in, that's what I'm hoping you'll be motivated to do....get involved!

 

And wishing a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! to all moms!

 

Milblogging.com--Your One Stop site to find Milblogs

Hey,folks, I know I keep plugging JP's site (and he's not even paying me for it,lol:)but it is the best place on the web to go to find listings of military blogs, military supporters blogs, and even gratuitious comments about the Olsen twins.

And the reason I'm mentioning him again today is that he's looking once again for nominations for 'Milblogger of the Week". Do you have a favorite Milblogger? Want to see them featured? Just send JP an email with your nomination. All you have to do is click on "Contact Us' up at the top next to Milblogging.com and fill out the email form.   

Click here: Milblogging.com : The World's Largest Index of Military Blogs (Milblogs)

 

And the picture above is of something called a "Boobah", which someone actually sent in a care package to JP back when he was deployed. (I'm pretty sure it terrified him,lol.) I came across someone else who was terrified of Boobah's here 

Click here: Yahoo! 360° - Kimberly F's Blog - The Top Ten Weirdest, Creepiest, Freakiest Childrens' Television Shows  scroll down her list for her description:)

 

 

Remembering the Fallen in Our Prayers

I was distressed to read Monday of the deaths of 10 soldiers in Afghanistan in the helicopter crash, and also of the British deaths in a crash. My heart always feels such compassion and concern for the families of those lost.

My friend Missy has a reminder on her 'blast' on Yahoo 360 to remember those families in our prayers.(and if her blast has changed, the link she has is here ) 

http://wwnytv.net/72k/full-story.asp?uid=11114&area=home+page

 

I have been mulling what to post about this since late Monday night, because when I first saw the news stories about the deaths, I made the mistake on clicking on the link to AOL message boards under the stories

Click here: AOL Message Boards -- The War in Iraq

 

I am all for the right to express differences of opinions,but I suppose I am uber naive. The viciousness of some of the posts in response to the news of so many fallen soldiers took my breath away....I actually came across a post headed 'THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS"which completely sickened me.Even if you are totally against the war or our administration....how on earth does that translate into thanking God for lives LOST?

 

ALL the deaths in this war on terror distress me...both civilians AND soldiers. It's terribly upsetting to see that there are so many people who seem to view only CIVILIAN deaths as 'worthy' of compassion? Or who seem to view the loss of a soldier's life as merely another excuse to rant and rave about how much they HATE.....our government, our military, our country?

 

Well, I've made a decision to steer clear from now on from these message boards. So much viciousness and hatred just fills me with despair.Life is troublesome enough at times...why seek out more distress?

 

After reading the message boards, I Googled 'Prayers for Fallen Soldiers',just seeking some sense of solace and compassion.

 

I came across this,which was sung by the West Point Glee Club at the end of the movie"WeWere Soldiers"

 

"The Mansions of the Lord"
Words by Randall Wallace

To fallen soldiers let us sing
where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
to the mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
just divine embrace, eternal light
in the mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard tho the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep the mansions of the Lord

and here's a link to the song  Click here: Mansions of the Lord

 

And something else that brought me comfort from all the hatred was this post by a new blogger I came across, the wife of a soldier  

Click here: Consider How the Lillies Grow

 

So rather than stress and despair anymore over the hatred I have seen on the message boards, I am going to adopt her question

 

What do you do with the privledge of prayer today?

 

And use it to motivate me to pray as she suggests.

May is Military Appreciation Month!

May is Military Appreciation Month, and there's a post up about that at AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU.

Click here: America Supports You - National Military Appreciation Month - 2006

 

The picture is to say WELCOME HOME! to a great bunch, some of whom I had the privilege of getting to 'know' online.

Kat has a post up about a welcome home ceremony. AndPaulette has been posting for several days about these guys coming in.(And I should mention here that Kat is already gearing up for another project   Click here: Yikes!: OPERATION: THANKS FOR FREEDOM!

 

Since it IS Military Appreciation Month? I'm going to take a minute here to again urge you to check out the troop appreciation sites listed on the left, and think about getting involved

 

While they are all worthy programs! I can write the most about SOLDIERS ANGELS,since that is the group I am most involved in.So,here is a link to the current listings of programs at Soldiers Angels:

 

Click here: Soldiers' Angels

 

and here is a link where you can get more information about some of the Soldiers Angels teams:

 

Click here: Soldiers Angels Forums

 

But, whatever way you choose to get involved? MAY would be a great month to start doing it!

 

 

And now, for a little mini "Monday surfing"....Michael Yon  and Dave Earney both have awesome photo essays of dust storms.

 

Destination:Iraq has a new post up  Click here: Destination Iraq

 

And I found 2 new blogs. Via Milblogging.com  a young woman who's husband will soon be coming home 

Click here: Missing My Soldier

 

And from clicking on a homepage of a comment made on someone's blog (are you still with me here,lol?)I came across an Air Force vet who is now in seminary

Click here: swimming in the deep end: "Lord Have Mercy"  and has a profound story about a murder that was committed by a childhood friend of his.And this young man was led to re-establish contact with the murderer,even though he abhorred the murder,in order to witness to the man. Some pretty deep stuff about living out your faith,and worth a look.

 

Lastly,I'm happy to report that CJ over at A Soldiers Perspective is not TOTALLY retired,Yay!

Click here: A Soldier's Perspective  Check out what he's going to be doing, and if you know any military bloggers who want to take him up on his offer, send them his way!

 

And I close with a THANK YOU to all our troops! and also a big THANK YOU to all those who are supporting our men and women in uniform!

 

 

 

'Weekend Surfing'

Just thought I'd include a few places to 'surf' so if anyone gets bored over the weekend and is hanging out on the Internet, they've got some places to check out.

The above pic was taken on our 2003 trip to Hawaii for my brother's wedding(no,he doesn't live there, they just thought it would be a nice place to get married and since I was invited, I wholeheartedly agree!)

Every morning the week we were there, I'd wake up early and go on the balcony to have a cup of  coffee and watch the early morning surfers.The memory of those quiet mornings still brings a sense of peace and calmness.

(And then I'd go wake up my kids and say "hey, what are you doing sleeping?!when are you ever going to be in Hawaii again?Get up so you can start enjoying the day!"and they would all groan"MOM!" and throw stuff at me,lol.)

Yesterday, I found another chaplain   Click here: There and back again

And then today I came across this,about free camp for military kids, via a fellow Soldiers Angel member   Click here: NMFA Operation Purple - Free Camps for Children of Deployed Military

This was an interesting site  http://www.operationcomfort.org/index.html

and so was this   Click here: Intrepid Museum | Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund :

For the actual site of the soldier battling cancer mentioned yesterday, it's here  http://www.gregsnotes.com/

and his wife's site is here  http://twobluelines.blogspot.com/

And here is the site of the other young man mentioned yesterday 

http://www.deielectric.com/DevonGibbonsUpdate.htm

And I found this http://homesforourtroops.org/

because this recovering soldier has been selected to receive assistance from them! 

Eric Edmundson

So, I hope everyone has a great weekend! And if you're still looking for places to go, there's always   www.soldiersangels.org     or any of the other troop support sites listed on the left!

Entry for May 04, 2006 National Day of Prayer

It seemed fitting for the National Day of Prayer to feature THE ONLINE CHAPLAIN 

Click here: The Online Chaplain

 

Here I found a prayer for our troops    

Click here: A Prayer For Our Troops

 

And via Kat at Yikes!

Click here: Yikes!: A Badly Wounded Hero Needs Prayer  

 

Via Soldiers Angel-Holly Aho 

Click here: Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho - This Military Family Needs Your Prayers

 

I would also ask that you continue prayers for my relative who was hit head on last week by a drunk driver. I recieved an update yesterday that he had to return to the ICU for at least 24 hours. He's 83 years old, and one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met.

 

I will be praying for all of you today, and I thank God for each of you and the blessings you bring to my life!

 

I leave you with this:

 

2006 Prayer for the Nation Dr. Henry Blackaby
Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history.
From the beginning, You have
been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right
arm has saved us. We have
been amazingly and
graciously blessed.


Today, we confess our sin
of not responding to Your
right to rule in our lives and our nation. Too often we have
despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we
are now facing the consequences
of our disobedience.
Draw us back to Yourself
that we may return to Your
ways once again.
Without You we can do nothing.
You have promised that if we
honor You, You will once again honor this great nation.


That is our fervent prayer.
For Your honor
and glory we pray,
Amen.

Hey,Go Vote:)

There is a troop support site called 'Save the Soldiers' 

Click here: Save The Soldiers: www.savethesoldiers.com - VOTE-Military Site Awards

  and they are having voting from now until May 5  for 'Military Website/Blog Awards'.

I'll list  their nominees, because some are folks that we 'know' here in the blogosphere

Best Soldier Site/Blog

A Soldier’s Perspective 

 Wordsmith At War

Soldier's Mind

The Air Force Pundit

Ablekaneadventures

Fly Army!

Best Soldier Family or Friend
Support Site/Blog

Base Saving Grace

God Bless our Military

My Rambling Mind    

 The Captains AMERICA

Yikes    

Some Soldier's Mom 

In The Company of Soldiers

Families Support Our Troops

Best Military Site/Blog

A Soldier’s Perspective
Soldier's Mind

Best Political Site/Blog

Atlas Shrugs

News Sarasota

Texas Rainmaker

Two Babes & A Brain

So why not go vote?(and you can vote every day until it ends)And after you vote, check out the Save the Soldiers site, they have a lot of good stuff!

Potpourri--Blogs,Books,Anysoldier.com,etc.

Posting the pic to ask you to remember my previous post

Came across a blogger today who reminded me of  why I joined Soldiers Angels, and why I started this blog  Click here: The Babylon Blog: Mail Call! and what caught my eye in his post was this....."Even in this high-tech war of email and satellite phone communication, there’s still something special about old-fashioned mail."

And when I went by Anysoldier.com today, they have started a new system   

Click here: http://anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/

Then I came across a blogger who has a wish that you might be able to help with

Click here: Just Another Thunderhorse Roughneck!

On the side of his blog, he has posted in part....."You know I’d like to be on the Top 100 of Milblogging.com.........So, I’m asking you to go ahead and go over to www.milblogging.com and register.After registering you'll have to sign in, and click on “Add to Favorites” while viewing the milblog on Milblogging.com.You'll be able to find my listing after doing a search for THUNDERHORSE ROUGHNECK. Remember, just scroll to the bottom of my listed page and click ADDTO FAVORITES.....Thanks!"

Think y'all could help him get his wish? (Ha! and I know new dad JP probably wouldn't mind the traffic and the registration,lol,over at  www.milblogging.com.)

I had posted previously that I had read Kristin Henderson's book  Click here: Kristin Henderson and While They're at War  and yesterday she had an interesting article in the Washington Post magazine on Chaplains   Click here: 'In the Hands of God'

I also just finished reading "No True Glory"  Click here: Amazon.com: No True Glory : A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah: Books: Bing West  which was an incredibly riveting book about the 2004 battle for Fallujah. There were MANY Marines I consider heroic featured in the book, but two who I know have recently received medals are    Carlos Gomez-Perez    Click here: Article: News - Camp Pendleton Marine receives Silver Star 

and then Blackfive had a post today about  Brad Kasal receiving a medal  

Click here: BLACKFIVE: Brad Kasal - Someone You Should Know Radio 

 

Lastly, deployment draws nearer for a blogger I've posted about before at "My OIF Deployment"   Click here: 21 Days Til I'm on Federal Active Duty!!!!