Monday, December 31, 2007

Operation New Year's Eve

A very cool way to send messages of support to our troops!

From  Paul Rieckhoff , of  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

comes this

Click here: Operation New Year's Eve

'Operation New Year's Eve' is a campaign that lets Americans send text messages of support to our troops via the tallest billboard in Times Square. Almost one million people will be in Times Square to see the sign, and people worldwide can view the sign by visiting www.operationnewyearseve.org. Visibility is limited during the day, but there will be a clear shot of the billboard all night long.

You can send your own message by sending a text to 94444. Just add the word 'CARE' before your message (for example: "CARE Thank you for everything you do!"). The word 'CARE' will not appear on the sign.

Standard rates apply, and posting a message to the billboard costs $0.99. Due to high volume, there may be a delay, and your message may not appear immediately.

The Durst Organization, Sign Lab Media, which runs the billboard, and Fountainhead.com, a media company, have all generously donated their time to put this project together. It hasn't cost us a cent, and a portion of the proceeds from the $0.99 charge will be donated to IAVA.

--------

Please spread the word!

 

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

Last one of 2007...Wow, where did the year Go?!

There were tons of holiday posts by and about  Soldiers Angels since Christmas, and I know I'd never be able to include them all.

So, I'd like to feature what I think is a most important  post by  Sgt. Hook

as it says once again why I continue to support Soldiers Angels, no matter what kind of 'grade' they receive from AIP.

And, because this post combines a story about both veterans, and adoption, two subjects of great interest to me, here's a post by Greta at Soldiers Angels Louisiana

(and,btw, Greta will be facing surgery directly after the New Year rolls in.....please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!)

This was a great post  Magi Inspired Gift #9 , that touts two of my faves....

Soldiers Angels  AND  Anysoldier.com   , among several other very worthy troop support groups.

I came across posts by Three 'New-to-me" Angels, nice way to end the year :)

1.  Click here: Inside Out - I'm An Angel! An enthusiastic new Angel who 'gets it'.
 
2.  And these are 'two teenage girls dedicating our time in efforts to save the earth" at, appropriately enough Save the Earth.....and they urge others to  Adopt A Soldier
 
3.  Support My Troops is a husband and wife team with the wife getting ready to deploy in January, and they are listing support groups for the troops, awesome! and of course I came across them because of  their post  Soldiers Angels
 
 
Lastly, as  she does every week...Life in the Northeast posts for us to  Remember
 
------
This week's featured Blog of the Week will be  Soldiers Angels Medical Support
 
Thanks! as always, for going on this 'surf' with me. I've enjoyed this the past year, and look forward to 'surfing' with all of you in the coming year! :)

 

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Happy New Year!!

To all my readers....wishing you and yours all the best for 2008!

 

Friday, December 28, 2007

Christmas 2007 in MN

We had a wonderful time, visiting with my family, all of us together for the first time in 4 years.

And, we had lots of Snow while we were there!

We also managed to break our camera screen, right after we got to the Redskins-Vikings game on the 23rd,but our pictures of the game still turned out!

I'll slowly get caught back up, on checking in on everyone else's blogs,etc. (I Hope!:) and get back into the swing of 'real life'......but just wanted to share the pictures, and also to wish everyone

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Wednesday Hero

This week's hero was suggested by Cindy & Kathi

 

Arlington Christmas Wreaths 

 

Each year, around this time, since 1992, the Arlington National Cemetery has something happen to it. It gets covered in vibrant green Christmas wreaths. The wreaths are donated by a man named Merrill Worcester who is the owner of the Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine. From the Worcester Wreath Co.'s website:
Each year Worcester Wreath donates Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of those who serve and those who sacrificed to preserve our freedoms. In 2007, over 10,000 wreaths are destined for the annual wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington. In addition, 2,500 wreaths will be sent to Togus National Cemetery in Augusta, Maine. Worcester Wreath also donates ceremonial wreaths that will be used as part of the Wreaths Across America events at over 230 State and National veterans cemeteries all across the Country.

Sometimes a hero is one who sacrifices everything in their life to help others. And sometimes a hero is one who sacrifices nothing more than their time.

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. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Merry Christmas!

Sending Christmas wishes,from Our House to Yours!

We'll be visiting family for the holidays,so...see y'all when I get back!

And Thank You, to all who read this little blog!

 

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Leo SSgt. Mike Mills

SSgt. Mike Mills    

Welcome to this week's installment where all the member bloggers of Wednesday Hero collectively honor many of the real hero's found in this country who's names and bio's have been provided to us for these humble tributes by blogroll creator Indian Chris @ Right Wing and Right Minded.


Many of them are those that have paid the ultimate price for our country protecting it both here and abroad from the many threats we face from our enemies wishing us and them harm, some are not. In either case they are the real American heroes of today and we now both salute and offer our prayers. To join us if you wish to please start by reading the post below.(Introduction courtesy of  Chicago Ray )
 
SSgt. Mike Mills
 

On June 14, 2005 SSgt. Mike Mills's life was forever changed. The HETT(Heavy Equipment Transport System) he was riding in was hit by an IED.

 

The attack resulted a cracked clavicle and scapula bones, dislocate shoulder, broken left hip, 4 out of 5 bones broken in his foot and being set on fire. The driver in the truck behind him ran with a cooler of melted ice which he threw on Sgt. Mills to put him out.

 

He spent three months in the Brooks Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston, TX with the injuries listed above plus 2nd, 3rd and deep tissue burns to 31% of the left side of his body.

 

The first thing he remembers thinking after the attack was that his soldiers needed him and he needed to get back to them. "Then the guilt set in about what I did to my family. I've totally screwed that up. Look at me, no don't. I look hideous. How can I face my kids looking like this. They'll be embarrassed to be seen with me. What if they won't love me anymore? Speaking of love, my wife, oh my god. How can I expect her to stay with me. I'm not a man anymore. She's not going to want be intimate with a freak. What if I can't work, how do I support myself, my family. I had the nightmares and couldn't sleep. I wasn't eating and was loosing weight. I didn't really care. If I didn't start eating, they where going to put the feeding tube back in. Who cares, I've totally screwed up my life anyways."

 

But he found out just how much is wife loved him, when she stood by his side throughout the entire ordeal. She was there for every wound dressing and even learned how to change the dressings herself.

 

 

 SSgt. Mike Mills now runs the site For The Veteran... By A Veteran in which he helps veterans, soldiers and their families find information they may not have been given after their medical discharge or retirement.

 

 

Some may say that Mike gave his country more than enough when he was severely maimed by an IED on that fateful day of June 14, 2005, but Mike continues to give to his fellow servicemen, as well as to his nation!

 

 

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 blog, you can go here.