My weekly surf of the web for news by, and about Soldiers Angels
Pictures!
starting out with a wonderful picture posted at Soldiers Angels Germany that was included with a blanket sent to a wounded hero "Thank you for all you do to protect our freedom."
1st. Lt. Thomas M. Marti 27 years old from Ward, Arkansas
C Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division October 14, 2007
An Eagle Scout, Thomas M. Martin took on cleaning up an old red train caboose as a service project. "He remodeled it to make it where people could go inside. If you saw it before and looked in it after he was through - it was daylight and dark", said his former principal, Robert Martin, who is no relation. "Tom was involved in Key Club, German Club and band, making All-Region Band his sophomore year", said Robert Martin. "He was a wonderful young man. Those that knew him knew he was funny and outgoing."
Lt. Martin died in Al Busayifi, Iraq of wounds sustained from small-arms fire when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations. He enlisted in the Army in 1998 after graduating high school and served in Korea before accepting an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 2005. "He was very polite and respectful. I can't think of him ever overreacting; he had a wonderful, good-natured personality", said Pat Hagge, a family friend. "It's a terrible tragedy; he was a great young man." Lt. Thomas Martin is survived by his parents, Edmund and Candis.
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.
Our local newspaper had this story this morning
Kite Receives Silver Star for Actions in Iraq by Jeff Mellott
Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite, who hails from Elkton,VA and is a 1998 graduate of Spotswood High School in our area, was awarded the Silver Star on July 16 at Ft. Lewis Washington.
You can read more about the award ceremony and see a picture of SFC. Kite HERE
Various places I've been surfing this morning (instead of organizing my storage room in the basement)
Two pleas for help.......
Boston Maggie had this posted the other day, and updates follow
Supporting a Friend I Haven't Met Yet
and Aunty Brat sends out this Soldiers Angels Alert
Please spread the word about both of those needs,if you would!
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Did you know there's now "Milblogs TV"? Check out the first episode at The Mudville Gazette http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/030575.html and then check the sidebar for links to other postings.
Continuing over at Mudville, the husband and I have been watching the HBO miniseries
and the second review that The Mudville Gazette links to is worth the read http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/030583.html
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I made Milblogging.com :) JP has the write-up about our meet-up here
Milblogger Meets up with Friends
(and links back to me, so you may get dizzy,lol,going in a circle. Once again, what a Great time we had, meeting up with he and his family! :)
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Lastly, Michelle Malkin is just one of the many who blogged about the death yesterday of Randy Pausch Randy Pausch, R.I.P.
and if you've not yet taken the time to view "The Last Lecture", it's posted (along with other videos) on Prof. Pausch's homepage HERE
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
My weekly 'surf' of the web, for news by and about Soldiers Angels
Last week was light surfing, LOTS of great links to pass on This week!
First up, two 'new-to-me' Angels, yay! always happy to come across new Angel sites :)
Over here at What's Up with the Marsh Fam , 'Momma' Marsh blogs about joining Soldiers Angels
and then coming across this post on Steph's Crop-Life Documented led me to this website Scrapping for Soldiers
Two! 'Meet and Greets'!
Penny Sandford blogged about the Mississippi one in A Mississippi Hero with two and four legs
and then Stacy at Keep My Soldier Safe, a/k/a G.R.I.T.S. blogged more on the same event at WOUNDED WARRIORS ARRIVED IN MISSISSIPPI
and in Texas, Texas Soldiers Angels posted about the Austin Area Angels have Meet and Greet
and there's also been some Houston VA Hospital Bingo going on in Texas :)
Soldiers Angels of Alabama told about a Local family welcomes one of their own Welcome Home! to Will and all the 'Waterdawgs'!
The Soldiers Angels Ladies of Liberty had the 62nd QM CO Commander- DeShaunda Reports in
This was a 'cool' story on the GoDanRiver.com website Church helps soldiers stay cool
Soldiers Angels-Medical Support blogged Chaplain Bell Puts in "The Fix" at Bagram E/R
And Willie at A German-American Friendship Bracelet had
19.07.2008 news and stories around Soldiers` Angels
and
19.07.2008 wounded heroes news and stories
Life in the Northeast posted last Sunday for us to Remember...
and lastly, the Fayetteville, NC Observer posted about what was done by the widow of a fallen soldier, Sgt. Adam D. Quinn , with the tree that she was given by the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team in this story
Tree honors husband, father By Meghan Cooke
That's the conclusion of the Soldiers Angels Web Surfing for this past week.
Happy birthday to....Sue!
Happy Birthday to....Ben!
Happy birthday to....Dustin!
Hope you each have a wonderful day!
(posting this early , Wednesday will be reserved for another post this week.)
This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Toni
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.
For more about the battle that killed 9 soldiers in Afghanistan.......I came across this link, those losses hit home in a personal way for a Soldier's Angel
Click here: Fuzzilicious Thinking: CPL Jonathan R. Ayers
FBL went on to post an update
Click here: Fuzzilicious Thinking: "Normal Humans Wouldn't Do That"
which linked to a Stars and Stripes article with an interview with some of the wounded from that battle
Soldiers recount deadly attack on Afghanistan outpost
For more on the battle, another Soldiers Angel friend has a very good post up, and it got featured on Milblogging.com
In the Blogs: Not for Nothing, And Knowing It: A Special Thanks to Milbloggers (Again)
Those left behind continue to be held in our thoughts and prayers.
My weekly surf of the web for news by, and about Soldiers Angels
This past week, Soldiers Angels Louisiana told us Reason #gazillion why I’m an angel
Soldiers Angels Texas asked us to Give a Veteran Some Tank Support
Stacy at Keep My Soldier Safe, a/k/a G.R.I.T.S.
Got the Mississippi Soldiers Angels VA Website up and running,hurray!
And then Willie at A German-American Friendship Bracelet keeps us updated on
News and stories around "Landstuhl regional Medical Center"
and
News and stories around "Brooke Army Medical Center"
That's all for the 'surf' this week!
Gotta give a shout-out to the wonderful folks at
America's Freedom Broadcast Radio
America’s Freedom Broadcast Radio is dedicated to the men and women who carry on the fight for our freedom and liberties and to those that precede them in defense of Freedom and Democracy World Wide. Our goal is to give our Military, their families, Veterans and first responders a place to listen in from any where in the world so they can connect to their loved ones through music and messages of support. Our Staff is dedicated to letting everyone serving this country know we here at home are supporting them and their families, no matter where they are deployed to in the world.
They found out through a mutual friend that Dustin's 21rst birthday was on July 23, and they posted a great picture on their website for several days wishing him a Happy Birthday! They also recorded messages from family and friends to be played for him on his birthday.
Thanks a million,AFB radio!!! You guys are awesome!!
When the sad news first came out about the deaths of 9 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan on July 13 U.S. troops died in Taliban attempt to storm base
I recalled that Michael Yon had predicted something like this attack on this outpost would happen.
I went back and found the two quotes of his that I recalled.....and, though he was off by a year in his original estimate, his words seem chillingly prescient now.
From an October 30,2006 article in The Weekly Standard, in his article Censoring Iraq
the pertinent quote by Yon is: (emphasis mine)
"Early this spring, when I reported from Afghan farms about this year’s bumper opium crop, people thought I was using that opium. Now it is common knowledge that the opium trade is fueling a Taliban comeback. Mark this on your calendar: Spring of 2007 will be a bloodbath in Afghanistan for NATO forces. Our British, Canadian, Australian, Dutch, and other allies will be slaughtered in Afghanistan if they dare step off base in the southern provinces, and nobody is screaming at the tops of their media-lungs about the impending disaster. I would not be surprised to see a NATO base overrun in Afghanistan in 2007 with all the soldiers killed or captured. And when it happens, how many will claim they had no idea it was so bad and blame the media for failing to raise the alarm? Here it is: WARNING! Troops in Afghanistan are facing slaughter in 2007!"
and here, in his 3 part series on a visit to Afghanistan in 2006
The Perfect Evil, Part I of III
Perfect Evil Part Two of Three
The Perfect Evil, Part III of III
is this quote:(again,emphasis my own)
"There is a widespread notion that Afghanistan is safer for our troops than Iraq, yet Coalition and NATO combat deaths in Afghanistan are per capita nearly identical to those in Iraq. In 2007, per capita combat deaths will–-in my opinion–-likely be significantly higher in Afghanistan than Iraq. Why? There are many reasons, but one of the most important is that after years of neglect and dawdling, our European allies are awakening to the reality that a monster really is under the bed. But this awareness is not keeping pace with the threat. Our European friends are still not providing their people with proper equipment, all while the Taliban is getting stronger from the billion-dollar narcotics backwash that floods enemy coffers. As in Iraq, troop numbers are also dangerously low in Afghanistan, where the handfuls of friendly forces additionally lack sufficient air power to stretch their security resources."
In searching for the quotes, I came across this post on The Captain's Journal:
Nine U.S. Soldiers Killed in Kunar, Afghanistan: What Can We Learn?
which seemed a well-reasoned summary of the possible lessons to be learned from this tragedy, to prevent a recurrence.
And then, I was appalled to come across this article in the Military Times
U.S. pulls out of attacked Afghan baseBarely have the families of the 9 fallen soldiers begun to mourn, when they find that the outpost their loved ones died fighting in has already been abandoned.
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I close this post by remembering those 9 fallen heroes.
I have included a link with each soldier's name, for you to learn just a little bit about them individually.
From the DOD website:
The Department of Defense announced the death of nine soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They diedof wounds suffered when their outpost was attacked by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.
This past weekend, we visited Arlington National Cemetary for the first time. I've put together a slideshow of the pictures that Tony took.
What I don't think our pictures, or any pictures I've ever seen, convey....is the Vastness of Arlington. It's just immense.
We walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and JFK's memorial, and could see the Pentagon in the distance in one section we were in.
It was a quiet and reverant place to visit.
It's also the place where the Run for the Fallen will finish up the cross-country run to honor our fallen heroes from OIF on Final Day Event: Sunday August 24
We hope to make it up to Arlington again, for that final day of the run, but I also noticed last evening on the Run for the Fallen website that on Day 63,August 16, the Run will be quite close to us here
RFTF.Day63.Aug16.Waynesboro, VA to Shannon Hill, VA (49.81 mi.)
and there is a link on Flickr to the fallen heroes that the Run will be honoring that day HERE
If you haven't checked out the Run for the Fallen Website? take some time to look over it HERE
Spc. Kisha Makerney 23 years old from Fort Towson, Oklahoma 120th Engineers, Oklahoma Army National Guard
Spc. Kisha Mackerney isn't being profiled today because of something she did on the battlefield. She's being profiled because her spirit and determination.
In 2002, Makerney joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard out of a sense of patriotism, because, as she put it, "I love our country and our people." Between 2004 and 2005, she served in Iraq as a gunner and helped provide battalion security.
She returned home in early 2005 and was in a terrible motorcycle accident on June 25, 2005. The front wheel of her brand new bike had blown out and sent her flying into a highway sign. She looked up at her now mangled bike and was angry.
That's when she noticed that her left leg below the knee was missing. The first thing she thought of when she saw her leg was that her military career was over. Makerney pulled herself out of the ditch that she had landed in and was able to flag down a passing motorist. She was taken a hospital in Hugo, Oklahoma before being flown to Dallas, Texas.
As soon as word spread about her accident, her fellow soldiers, her second family, rallied and rushed to her bedside. "Even before I was out of surgery they were waiting in the halls," she said. Continue reading Spc. Kisha Makerney's story here.
(There are some despicable comments by a few readers on the story. Just ignore them. )
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 Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look
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 'webmaster' of Milblogging.com ,that is. (And, you know what? he looks more like a Boohbah than I thought he would :)
This past weekend, my husband and I had the pleasure of meeting JP and his family, and also seeing his mother again,( whom I'd met at the 2007 Milblog conference.)
(yes, JP temporarily lifted the restraining order, lol......however, he Did make sure that we met in a public place :)
Back in 2005 when I sent my first email to a blogging National Guard soldier stationed in Afghanistan, I had no clue that I'd become one of those legions of ladies who are JP's fans.....affectionately referred to as 'Crackheads', or 'Crackhead Hausfraus'.
And I could never have imagined that we'd stay in touch online over the years after his first deployment,while JP went on to found Milblogging.com and become a megastar in the Milblog world.
(I was not paid to write that....heck, JP's such a wheeler-dealer that I had to Pay, to get a Milblogging.com T-shirt :)
Seriously, when you spend several years online chatting with someone, and following the adventures of he, and his family, and his Platoon on his second deployment......and praying for him, and worrying about he and his family and platoon......I don't think I can quite describe what it feels like, to finally meet your online friend in person and give him a big ole Hug.
My husband and I had a wonderful time at the meeting, and it was a meeting filled with laughter, and talking, and More talking,lol. My husband and JP both share a snarky sense of humor, so they got along as well as I always thought they probably would.
JP and his family are just plain 'good folks'. His wife is every bit as beautiful in spirit as well as person, his sons are adorable (and yes, his youngest child Is a 'Care Bear':) and his mother has been just as supportive of Me over the past months of my stepson's deployment, as I had tried to keep her spirits up, also, while Her son was deployed.
I always say I love the Internet......but this past weekend was the real reason why I do. It's all about the People that the Internet gives you an opportunity to become close to.
It was Great, meeting the 'Webmaster of Milblogging.com" and his family:)
Thanks,JP!..... as always...dude, you rock!
My weekly surf of the web for news by, and about, Soldiers Angels
I start out with very sad news today, via Soldiers Angels Germany
The news that the bodies of Sergeant Alex Jimenez and Private Byron W. Fouty(who were kidnapped along with PFC Joseph Anzack during an ambush in May 2007),have been recovered.
Anzack's body was recovered earlier this year.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.
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Life in the Northeast posts the names of other recent Fallen Heroes in her July 5th Remember... post.
Keeping the families and friends and fellow soldiers of all our Fallen Heroes in our prayers,also.
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Before continuing with the 'surf', I wanted to remind you that you can always find the latest major blog posts by members of Soldiers Angels anytime at blognetnews.com/soldiersangels
and so I have lately been altering my Soldiers Angel Web Surf to try and highlight the posts I come across by lesser known Angel bloggers.
For instance, an Angel whose blog I've mentioned before has heard from her Adopted Soldier :)
Penny Sanford blogs Yippee! We heard from our Adopted Soldier!
A 'new-to-me' Angel blogs about becoming a member of Soldiers Angels in this post New Button on her blog All About Kimberly and she has a brother who is currently serving in Iraq.
It turns out that July 12 is his Birthday! as she posts here on His blog http://tommienotes.com/?p=44
So why not stop by and wish her brother a Happy Birthday!
Quilts and a quilting Angel were the subject of this news article from an online TN news outlet: Woman seeks volunteers to make quilts for wounded soldiers
and then a quilting Soldiers Angel who is retired from the Air Force and a current military wife blogs on Sew Bee It Quilts for the Troops
Lastly, 'Brat', posting at Soldiers Angels New York introduces us to a 109 year old Every Day Hero
That's the 'surf' for this past week, thank you, as always, for taking the time to stop by and check out the links.
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.
Via the Soldiers Angels website :
Moment of Thanks is a special website where anybody can personally thank America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines for their service and sacrifice. Soldiers’ Angels has teamed up with Shezoom.com to support their goal of sending 100,000 support messages via the Moment of Thanks website. To ensure the troops themselves see the encouraging messages, Soldiers' Angels has been given postcards about the site from SheZoom, which will be included in the care packages sent to deployed service members.
Sponsored by Kodak and led by SheZoom.com, Moment of Thanks offers several ways for people to share their heartfelt wishes with the troops, including uploading videos and photos, and sending written messages. It also includes messages of gratitude for the troops from stars of the entertainment, sports and politcal world.
It's so important for our troops to know they are loved and appreciated for their service, so please check out the Moment of Thanks website and leave your message of thanks for all our service members do for us. If you're a service member yourself, please visit and take at look at all the grateful Americans who value your service!
For more about the idea behind Moment of Thanks, you can listen to founder Stacey Artandi on a SpouseBUZZ podcast.
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UPDATE: Here's our Thank You we posted there http://momentofthanks.com/node/526
Because of a story in our local paper
Wounded Find Healing Waters by Jenny Jones, Daily News-Record
I found out about This very worthy project
Please go read more about them, they are doing great work!
(and there's also another good article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Streams of Solace for Injured Vets by Rex Springston
My apologies, the SA Web Surf didn't appear last week, because I was quite busy with the Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team
There were 56 US casualty announcements sent out by the DOD for the month of June, 29 soldiers fallen in Iraq and 27 soldiers fallen in Afghanistan, and the Angels on the Living Legends Team worked diligently to support the families of each of them.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to each of those families.
On June 22, Life in the Northeast posted some of the names of those fallen soldiers in her Remember... post, and you can find out more about those soldier's lives at the Living Legends Team Fallen Heroes blog.
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I am also in the process of making some changes in the Soldiers Angels Web Surfing.
Click Image For Full Size
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 Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look
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.
