Dear Veterans, Thank You.

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Every year, fresh-faced men and women take the military oath, swearing to defend our country in any way deemed necessary.  Knowing their life will never be the same and knowing they may one day lose a friend or their own life, they bravely take the oath.

Today is Veterans Day.  It's the one day a year where the majority of us say, "Thank You" to the strangers who have saved our lives, even though they may never be a part of our daily lives.

No matter how many years someone has served, no matter how many times someone has deployed, no matter what the work he/she does on a daily basis, to me, that person is a hero.  From the Navy cook to the Air Force flight engineer to the Marine Corps machine gunner to the Army combat medic - they're all brave heroes.

It's the personal stories of our military men and women that can touch our hearts the most.  In their honor, I'd like to highlight some of these generous and courageous men and women...

Master Sgt. Minne Hiller-Cousins - Minnie is a Family Assistance Coordinator in the Army National Guard.  When soldiers deploy, her job is to take care of those soldiers families back home. She does everything from providing counseling to throwing baby showers.  She volunteered to go to Iraq to simply tell her fellow soldiers their families were in good hands.

Cavalry Scout Phil Bauer - As his chopper was leaving Iraq to take him home for a few days of leave, it was attacked and he found himself buried amongst sixteen of his deceased comrades.  After being in a coma, losing a leg, reliving the scars of his near-death experience, he had a total mental breakdown.  After years of suffering from PTSD, he found his passion for life and was able to heal by giving back to other soldiers through the Wounded Warrior Project, East Coast Assistance Dogs, and the Mission Continues.

Pfc. Henry Svehla - A fallen soldier from the Korean War whose remains were never found, was given the Medal of Honor 59 years after he courageously threw himself on top of a grenade to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

Iraq War Veteran, Bryan Anderson - Despite losing both his legs and one arm, Bryan is a true example of perseverance.  He made a documentary highlighting organizations in Chicago that exemplify volunteerism, and continuously encourages other to help their communities.

Our veterans were not born with super powers.  They were not born with a head start on the road to success.  They were born as regular boys and girls who grew up and decided to take the ultimate risk and be a hero.  And for that, I say, "Thank you."

Why all the drama?

The reason I started this blog was to bring positive attention to our military.  Today I went into Google News and typed in "US Military." My reasoning behind this blog was, unforunately, further confirmed.

Instead of news headlines reading, "US Navy ship returns home after successful deployment" or "US Marines make progress in helping Iraqis" or "US military continuing to risk their lives everyday for US civilian strangers," two headlines appeared:

"Rogue US army unit leader saw Afghans as savages" and "US Army private gets 10-year jail term for raping S. Korean"

I understand that journalism has gone downhill from strictly stating the news to sensationalizing the news (and picking which news story has the most drama, might I add).  But in a country where our current society was built by the men and women who sacrificed so much during WWII, and a society that claims to be sadden and bitter about the Iraq war ever having been started, why is the news of rape and killing within the military our only headline military news?  Is that really the only connection we want with our heroes?

I'm not saying we should ignore the unforunate bad acts some of our soldiers choose to engage in.  But, if we couldn't put "US Soldier..." in front of the story, would we make it that big of news?  Would it have the drama element newsmen are seeking?  No. Is every fight, every sexual assault headline news? No, they're not.

We can easily judge someone from afar when we haven't had to spend a day living the life they lead.  I'm not saying anyone has an excuse for rape or murder, but when you think of the horror that our soldiers see when they're serving overseas, how can we expect them to stay completely mentally happy and healthy? 

Everyday I wake up and I expect the same thing: My house is still standing. My husband is alive and well next to me. My vehicle won't get blown up or attacked. I won't see any murders on my way to work. There will be decent food and clean water for me to drink anywhere I go for lunch and at the end of the day, my comfortable bed will still be waiting for me, in my house that is of course, still standing.

I'd like to think in any situation I'd always make the right choice, but the reality is, haven't we all made a choice we wish we could take back?  Haven't we all hurt someone, whether on purpose or not?  Haven't we all felt so stressed we may have said out in anger, "Ugh I could just kill him!"  We all have.

If we take ourselves off our own personal pedastles for awhile, we may see that the life of a soldier is unimaginable unless we've walked a mile in his/her combat boots.

So the next time you see a negative headline about a soldier, don't think, "Oh, that's what our money is being spent on, soldiers hurting other people?" Instead, think, "I wish those soldiers received more help for their PTSD.  I wish they didn't have to be gone from their families for so long.  I wish they didn't have to see anger and hurt and pain every single day."  And, of course, "I wish I knew about all the good things they're accomplished thus far."

God bless!

Holiday Help for Homeland Heroes

You might be thinking, "It's September, is the chatter about the holiday season really going to start already?"  Well, it's almost October, which means Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations will soon be on clearance before the holidays even pass, and in a few weeks we'll be hearing tunes of jolly old Saint Nicholas.


Every year when the big holiday season is amongst us, we tend to get bombarded.  Bombarded with holiday music, holiday decorations, holiday food.  Bombarded with to-do lists and events.  Bombarded with requests to help anyone and everyone who has some sort of need.  We can feel exhausted and quickly lose our holiday cheer.  As much as we'd all love to help everyone and anyone, the reality is we just can't.


This year, while you're thinking about what organizations you should send a donation to and how many children you should buy gifts for from the church angel tree, keep our homeland heroes in mind as well.


"How?"  "What should I do?"  "What can I do?"  Don't worry, I've done the research for you...


Let's Say Thanks - While we're all gorging ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, let's say thanks to those serving overseas.  A card may not seem like that much, but words of thanks, encouragement, and appreciation can go a long way.


Marines Toys for Tots - A simple, yet loving concept.  Picking up an extra toy at the store can make a little boy or girl smile this Christmas and it can help remove guilt and worry from military parents.


Adopt A Military Family for Christmas - You can become Santa Claus himself this Christmas by adopting a lower-enlisted ranked military family.  It's not only an amazing gift to them, it's an amazing gift to your own heart.


For ways to assist that are not specific to any holiday (but can still be donated to/assisted with during the holidays)...


Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - "The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs."


VA Medical Center - There are VA medical hospitals around the country that assist wounded soldiers daily.  A soldier in need, needs a volunteer/friend indeed.

For more ways to donate and support our troops, you can visit Support Our Troops.

When the holiday season is upon us and we begin to feel overwhelmed and bombarded, remember to stop and think, "Is what I'm doing bringing joy to others this holiday?"  Whether you're baking cookies for coworkers, buying gifts for relatives, dropping coins in a Salvation Army bucket, sending care packages to a soldier you've never met, or giving a toy to a child you'll never know - if any of these things are on your to-do list this year, then embrace the holiday spirit and don't feel overwhelmed, feel overjoyed.

When A Sister Deploys

Even though there are several couragous women serving in our armed forces today, I still tend to conjure up an image of a young man when I hear the word "soldier."  Maybe that impression is leftover from watching films about WWII and being confronted with the reality of young men (boys really) being sent off to war, away from home with, in those days, not that much training and a strong likelihood of never returning - and if they did return, they weren't the same as when they left.

But it's not just men who deploy these days, it's women too.

My sister is currently enroute to Afghanistan for the second time and it's an odd feeling.  Once a little girl with blonde curls, chubby cheeks, and bright blue eyes, she now wears camoflauge and combat boots with her hair cut short to obey the military's uniform code.

No one can completely prepare you for when the time comes that a spouse, a parent, a child, or a friend must enter a war zone.  By no means is it easier to see a young man go off to war, but I imagine parents of little girls never dream of their little angels growing up to become combat soldiers.  A nurse, a teacher, a tough cookie in the boardroom - probably.  A soldier who may be required to save lives or even give up her own life to save another - probably not.

While my sister and I currently live across the country from each other and may not know what goes on in each other's lives on a daily basis, we're still close and still tied together by our childhood memories.  Every Christmas morning she would cut the string off our stockings hanging on the banister so we could sneak a peak at our gifts before Mom and Dad woke up. Now, as an Army Medic she will be cutting bandages to help heal another soldier's wounds.  We used to write notes to each other and pass them under our bedroom doors when we would get in an argument.  Now, it will take several weeks before we receive word from each other that we're both okay and everyone at home is fine.  We used to play in the woods in an area we dubbed "Fern Gully" (we were Secret Garden fans) climbing over rocks and through bushes.  Now, she will have to walk through the hot, sandy terrain of Afghanistan.

War doesn't just affect those in it.  It affects friends and family.  While we may not experience physical effects, there is always an emotional tug on our hearts, because to us, they're not just soldiers - they're sisters, mothers, brothers, fathers, spouses, children - they're everything.

Purebred Badasses

Tough. Dedicated. Purebred Badasses...

I strongly doubt that will ever become the official motto of the US Navy Seals, but in my mind, that's who they are: a group of tough men dedicated to their country, their jobs, their fellow soldiers, that are so "badass" they have to be born that way.

Most recently the Navy Seals had two well-known, successful missions.  In 2009, a small team of seal snipers killed Somalian pirates who were holding a cargo ship captain hostage.  The seals didn't just come in, shoot, and go on their merry way.  They were setup for days waiting for the right moment to kill the pirates and when the time came, the pirates were killed and the captain saved.  The other most recent event was the killing of Osama Bin Laden.  Since we all know what happened there, I'll just say "well done" and "good riddance."

Boot Camp, Plebe Summer, Cadet Field Training, whatever you want to call it, is physically and emotionally intense.  Anyone who has ever gone through it has learned that your body really can do more than you ever thought possible.  But seal training takes it a whole new level...

I've said a few times in my life that I'm thankful that other people work some jobs so that I don't have to.  I typically say that jokingly out of not wanting to be a molecular engineer or accountant.  In this situation, I am truly thankful for our Navy Seals.  They get up every morning with the possibility of going somewhere dangerous and never returning.  They test their bodies to the limit no matter what the consequences.  They risk their lives to save our lives, in ways we may never know about.  And for that, I am thankful.

God bless our Navy Seals!

Medal of Honor

On Tuesday, Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama.  This high honor is awarded to military personnel who show "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

If you haven't heard Petry's story, it's one that will leaving you thinking, "What a courageous man" and "Wow, what a badass!"  After taking bullets to his legs, Petry grabbed a live grenade to throw away from his fellow soldiers.  As he was throwing the grenade, it exploded, causing him to lose his hand and part of his arm.  He saved not only his own life, but the lives of his fellow soldiers.

Many of us have had some training experience in our lives, whether it was training for a sport or on-the-job training.  We learn all about the the position, the expectations, the day-to-day requirements, and so on.  Our military men and women are constantly involved in rigorous training and are prepared to do "whatever it takes."

But... How many of us have been aware of what we need to do to succeed in a job or sport?  How many of us have from time-to-time done something maybe we weren't supposed to do at work (like go on Facebook or browse the Internet)?  Yet when work gets busy, we do what we need to do.  We pull late nights, we skip lunch, we do a rush job on emergencies, and so on.

I've come to learn that most our of military heroes are very humble.  I'm sure the Medal of Honor winners would say, "I just did what I had to do" but in reality, they did more than that.  No amount of training can make you mentally prepared to throw a live grenade after already being shot.  No amount of training can make you instantly land on a grenade to save your friends and fellow soldiers.  That comes from within.  That comes from being a natural hero.

For a list of all recipients of the Medal of Honor and their unbelievable stories, you can go here: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-archive.php

Freedom Is Not Free

After having DVR'ed the History Channel's "WWII in HD" two years ago, my husband and I finally finished watching the series yesterday.  The series is comprised of real footage from WWII.  It is extremely informative and extremely heartbreaking, which is why it took two years to watch...

It is now 2011, and we are still engaged in a war.  While I am by no means trying to undercut the severity of the current fighting, it does not compare to the ferociousness of the battles of World War II.

In WWII, 415,000 American soldiers died.  In total, between 50-70 million people died, from all over the world, and they weren't all soldiers...

Today, it is very easy to feel removed from the fighting in Afghanistan.  We are not asked to purchase war bonds to support and fund the war.  We do not anxiously sit around the radio to hear the latest news.  Civilian men are not being forced to leave their families to do a job they've never been trained to do.  Civilian women aren't required to leave the home to become welders or to produce heavy machinery.

While we may not all be connected to the current war as we probably should be, it is important to understand the freedom we enjoy everyday did not, and does not, come free.

The topic of war is typically a heated and divided discussion.  Many support the efforts but are skeptical of a positive outcome, especially those having lived through the Vietnam War era.  Many disagree with war in any shape or form.  And, many others don't know what to think...

But whether we agree with war or not, as we celebrate our Independence Day, we should remember that without our Continental Army, we may not have become the United States we know today.  Without the young and courageous men and women of the two world wars, our country may have endured more civilian casualties.  Without the volunteer heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan, September 11th may not have been the only sad date we'd have to remember.

Secretary Gates Says "Farewell"

As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, The Pentagon, Wednesday, June 29, 2011

To the Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces: Tomorrow, 30 June 2011, I will retire as Secretary of Defense.  It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve and to lead you for the past four and a half years. All of that time we have been engaged in two wars and countless other operations. 

It has been a difficult time for you and for your families, from long and repeated deployments for those in all four services -- and the associated long separations from loved ones -- to the anguish of those of you who have lost friends and family in combat or those of you who have suffered visible and invisible wounds of war yourselves.  But your dedication, courage and skill have kept America safe even while bringing the war in Iraq to a successful conclusion and, I believe, at last turning the tide in Afghanistan.  Your countrymen owe you their freedom and their security.  They sleep safely at night and pursue their dreams during the day because you stand the watch and protect them.

For four and a half years, I have signed the orders deploying you, all too often into harm's way.  This has weighed on me every day.  I have known about and felt your hardship, your difficulties, your sacrifice more than you can possibly imagine.  I have felt personally responsible for each of you, and so I have tried to do all I could to provide whatever was needed so you could complete your missions successfully and come home safely -- and, if hurt, get the fastest and best care in the world.

You are the best that America has to offer.  My admiration and affection for you is without limit, and I will think about you and your families and pray for you every day for the rest of my life. God bless you.

                  Original message found here: http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1590

The US Army: Year 236

Tomorrow, June 14th, marks the 236th birthday of the US Army. It's hard to fathom the changes that have taken place over the past couple hundred years. Several wars have started, taken soldiers lives, ended, and peace treaties signed. Weapons have evolved. Intelligence has expanded. Dedication has continued. Amazingly, with all that has been thrown at our military - emotionally and physically - they've successfully prevailed.

Here is what the VFW has to say about the Army's birthday...

June 14, 2011 marks the 236th year of service from The United States Army.  Since it was originally organized as the Continental Army in 1775 it has come a long way; battlefields have transformed, weaponry has evolved, faces have come and gone, uniform styles has varied, but there is one thing that remains the same: the bravery and the heart of the individuals who wear the uniform…their mission remains constant.   

From the American Revolution to the War on Terrorism, the men and women of the U.S. Army have always put duty above self, always ready for battle and always prepared to defend our nation to ensure we remain the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave.”   

From the VFW and its Auxiliaries we wish to issue a worldwide “thank you” to all American soldiers –past and present- and to their family members for their courageous sacrifices for all American people.  On this great day we not only celebrate the U.S. Army for its service, but also the flag which it protects.  

We are proud to be an Americans, but even more proud of those who fight for our freedoms...they are true heroes and deserve to be honored, thanked and welcomed home.

Faces Of The Fallen

Yesterday the United States observed Memorial Day, a day in which we honor, thank, and remember our fallen military heroes.  It got me thinking, "How many soldiers have died?" 

The Washington Post has a list entitled, Faces of the Fallen, of all soldiers who have died while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  While there are not many details included, you can see the faces of these very young and brave men and women.

It is very easy to feel removed from the stress and pain of war.  Even if we say prayers and give thanks to our military, it's still difficult to feel a direct connection, but, with a name, a face, and an age I believe the sad reality is able to sink in.  I recommend, and encourage, everyone to look through the hundreds of faces of the fallen...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

I know, you're probably thinking, "Oh girl, do you really want to go there?"  Yes, I do and I am.

This past December, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was officially repealed, years after several thousand service members had been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation.  For many of us from the young, and seemingly more liberal, generation it's hard to imagine why this policy was put into place to begin with.  If you look back, racial segregation was in place until the 1950s and it took until the 1970s before women were allowed to serve.

Unless you lived during the days of serious racial and gender discrimination, it's nearly impossible to imagine being told as a woman, or as a black man, that you're not good enough to stand watch on a ship or fly a jet or wear combat boots.  But, to many, that was reality.

I am amazed by the courage of all of our service members, but I am even more wow-ed by the women, the blacks, the Hispanics, the immigrants, and the gay members who dealt with the discrimination and dealt with the criticism because they still wanted to protect our country.  It takes a truly strong individual to protect a country and work alongside people that may not accept who you are.

Our military - and our country - have come a long way.  While there will always be some individuals who will never accept another person who they believe goes against their personal beliefs, it's wonderful to see how our military has improved by acceptance.  Women were recently given the right to serve on submarines and there are thousands of non-whites serving and proving themselves everyday to be true heroes.

It will no doubt take some time for some to adjust to living with a gay roommate on a ship or working alongside a gay comrade, but I believe eventually we will be able to look back on these days, as we do with racial and gender segregation, and think, "Wow, did we really descrimate like that? I can't imagine doing that today."

As the popular phrase goes, "When all is said and done..." I believe we will all look at what is important.  It's not whether someone is white or black, man or woman, gay or straight, but that that individual is willing to serve, and serve well, for our country, and in my opinion, that automatically makes him/her a hero.

Armed Forces Day: "United In Strength"

This Saturday we celebrate Armed Forces Day.  We were introduced to the first Armed Forces Day back in 1950 through President Truman,

"Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense."

It is a day of unification amongst the different military branches - Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force.  You can see a history of quotes associated with this day, which will give you an understanding of what our nation has gone through over the years, here: http://www.defense.gov/afd/military/history.html

Although I try to remember to pray for our military everyday, I will most definitely remember them this Saturday and I hope that you do too.  I for one, will buying some 50 Back, and saluting to these courageous men and women...

National Military Support Organizations

In a previous blog, I highlighted organizations in the New England area supporting the military through various programs.  Thankfully, there seems to be a phlethora of supportive organizations throughout our country. 

Here is a highlight of some of these generous organizations:

VFW National Home for Children:  Founded in 1925, this organization provides a support system that spans throughout the entire country.  Military families in need of support, guidance, advice, or shelter can call the organization's hotline.  Those in need can receive local guidance, or when needed, may be given a place to stay at the VFW campus that provides housing and educational programs.  Their website is here: http://www.vfwnationalhome.org/page.aspx?pid=527

National Military Family Association:  What keeps this association going strong is their idea of, "Not only do we support military families – we are military families."  What started off as a group of military wives looking out for their widowed friends, has turned into a full blown association with all different sorts of military personnel who testify before Congress to fight for important legislation and to ensure military families receive the benefits they deserve.  Their website is here: http://www.militaryfamily.org/

Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences: This nonprofit organization strives to bring hope and encouragement to military spouses who are working to overcome miltary life challenges and to ensure spouses are aware of the resources available to them.  Their website is here: http://wings4women.org/

Military to Medicine: This organization understands that many military spouses struggle with keeping a stable career when moving around the country every few years.  Their goal is to give spouses medical training, access to a network of employers, and most importantly, a portable career.  If you're interested in the medical field, here is their website: http://www.militarytomedicine.org/index.html

It is absolutely wonderful to know there are organizations out there providing support and opportunities to our military and their families.  Sometimes this world seems to be consumed with too much negativity, but the generosity of these organizations - and the people who volunteer their time within these organizations - lets a light of positivity shine through all the gloom.

Military Spouses Who Rock!

May 6th (today) is officially recognized as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  It's a simple idea, like many other holidays, to say "Thanks" to the husbands and wives who pack up their lives and start anew every time their spouse gets re-stationed.

As a military spouse, you never know for sure where your next home will be, where you will work, where your kids will go to school, what church you will go to, so on and so on.  Basically it's a bunch of unknowns, and you better be ready for it!  But, there's also a lot of wonderful opportunities along the way.  You learn who of your friends are really that important and special to you.  You get to see places in the country - and sometimes in the world - that many other people never get the opportunity to see.  And, you also have a great excuse for quitting a job you may hate, "Sorry, spouse is being relocated, see ya!"

Every year, someone is named the Military Spouse of the Year.  Hundreds of men and women are nomiated and I have no doubt they all do wonderful service to their spouses and the military communities around them.  This year's winner is Biana Bianca Strzalkowski, whose husband serves in the Marines.  You can read Biana's story here: http://www.msoy.milspouse.com/

If you've been a military spouse for several years, I'd like to say "Thank You" to you for taking the hard times in full stride and making the most of it.  I'm certain there are times when you've cried, when you've yelled, when you've felt frustrated and lonely, but you hung on because you're tough!

If you're a newlywed, or soon to be newlywed, just remember there are so many of us out there.  I'd like to think we're almost a whole separate community, where there are rules against being rude to one another - one spouse must help another spouse in times of need.  So if you need someone, find one of us!

Thanks to all of you wonderful, giving, and dedicated spouses out there!

Celebrating Women In The Army

On Twitter, I came across the National Membership Secretary for the Women Marines Association. They had posted an article about celebrating women in the Army (apparently every March the Army celebrates Women's History Month by recognizing and celebrating their female soldiers).

Article Preview:

"Female Soldiers play a vital role in today’s Army. Leadership opportunities for women abound with female soldiers serving in a variety of missions and in many different capacities. They are part of the Army team and Army family and are welcome and sought after for a variety of careers that offer personal and professional growth. Women, both uniformed and civilian, have served with distinction in every war this nation has ever fought and continue to play a vital and crucial role. Their sacrifices, professionalism and bravery set and exceed the standard and underscore their dedication and willingness to share the responsibility of countering the enemy threat."

You can read more about our women warriors here: http://www.army.mil/women/

Making A Difference

You may be familiar with the NBC Nightly News with (my personal favorite) Brian Williams and their nightly segment, "Making A Difference."  If not, it's a segment that closes out the broadcast every night where people who are making a difference in someone(s) life are highlighted.  Some of the stories told have pertained to servicemen and those serving the miliary and their families.

One that really stood out to me was the "Defending The Blue Line" story where military children were given the opportunity to play ice hockey through generous monetary and equipment donations.  These kids understand that his/her parent is defending the front line and now they can relate by defending the blue line.

Defending The Blue Line video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#42313529

Joining Forces

This week, the Obamas and the Bidens launched the Joining Forces, an initiative "that mobilizes all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned."

I think it is a wonderful initiative and I applaud the President, First Lady, Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden for making it happen.

The highly popular, Huffington Post, wrote an article about the initiative that I think does a great job of detailing what the initiatve is about and why it is important.

Here is the article written by Kevin O'Brien from the Huffington Post for their Military Families Week: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-obrien/america-comes-together-to_b_849048.html

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Retires

General George Casey, the 36th Chief of Staff for the United States Army retired today.  His letter to soldiers, families, and interested civilians was posted on the Army's Facebook page and is displayed below. I apologize that it's a bit hard to read, but if you're able to zoom, it's worth it to read it.

Government Shutdown

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock, I'm sure you're aware of the potential government shutdown that is about to occur.  There's been much talk about what will be closed, who will or won't have to work, what beneftis will still be available, and so on.  As usual, the Democrats and Republicans are telling different sides of the story as we all standby and just pray for a positive outcome.  But I'm not here to talk about politics...

As with every company, the organizations that make up our government have good employees and bad employees. There are dedicated people that go to work everyday, do their job, and don't mope around and complain when maybe at times they have every reason to do so.  I am certain there are also employees who don't work as hard as they could and manage to fall through the cracks, just squeaking by year to year wasting taxpayers money.  But, there is no time, or money (obviously), to figure out who is good and who is bad, so in the end, innocent government employees will have to suffer, including our military men and women.

If you have no connection to the military, you may have never put much thought into how much a soldier gets paid.  If you manage your money correctly and don't experience any dire life circumstances, you will do just fine, but trust me, you will never strike it rich in the military.

Military ranks start at E-2 (sometimes E-1) and go up to O-10. "E" stands for "enlisted" and "O" stands for "officer."  Enlisted personnel are lower ranked than officers. To put it in regular civilian terms, if you're an E-2, you are similar to an intern for a huge corporation and if you're an O-10, you're probably the CEO or CFO.  However, in the military, it does not matter what your rank is, you will have a lot of responsibility at an early age and endure a lot of sacrifice and compromise. So don't mistake the responsibilities of an E-2 for the responsibilities of an intern.  They may have similar ranks for explanation purposes, but their responsibilities and importance to their companies are much different.

An E-2 in the military, just starting out, will make just under $20,000 a year in salary.  He or she will also collect a housing allowance, which covers the cost of rent for whichever area the servicemember is stationed.

To put it in perspective, an E-2, also known as a "Private" in the Army, will most likely be fresh out of high school, have completed training in special operations for combat situations, and go to Afghanistan, Iraq, or any place where there is conflict.  He is 18 or 19 years old.  A kid.  The year before he would have been playing soccer, hanging out at the mall after school, living a carefree life.  Then he signed up for the military.  He makes less than $50,000 a year when all is said and done.  He shows up to work, no matter what the hour is, no matter how tired he is, no matter how sick he is.  He goes to war when he is asked.  He leaves his family, his friends, his life behind.  And when the government says they will take his pay away, he still puts on his combat boots and goes off to work, because he is a soldier and that's what soldiers do.

I'd like to think that during this government shutdown drama, there are many who are thinking about our troops.  Thinking that it's not fair to punish our already under-respected heroes with no pay when they're already receiving less pay than their work deserves.

I have faith that in the end, our government will make the right decision and I have hope that the innocent government employees will not have to go without pay for long.

God bless.

Military Heroes

I was curious to see what all has been written in regards to highlighting our military heroes and came across this website: http://ourmilitaryheroes.defense.gov/  The site includes photos of military service members and a quick bio about them (very baseball card style - in a nice way).

I came across a post, "To Honor A Military Hero" on the Amazing Salvation blog.  I loved the story and I think you will too...

Mike Monsoor was awarded "The Congressional Medal of Honor" last week,
for giving his life in Iraq, as he jumped on, and covered with his body, a live hand grenade, that was accidentally dropped by a Navy Seal, saving the lives of a large group of Navy Seals that was passing by.

During Mike Monsoor's Funeral, at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, in San Diego, California, The six pallbearers removed the rosewood casket from the hearse, and lined up on each side of Mike Monsoor's casket, were his family members, friends, fellow sailors, and well-wishers. The column of people continued from the hearse, all the way to the grave site. What the group did not know at the time was, every Navy Seal (45 to be exact) that Mike Monsoor saved that day was scattered through out the column.... 

As the pallbearers carried the rosewood casket down the column of people to the grave side, the column would collapse. Which formed a group of people that followed behind. Every time the rosewood casket passed a Navy Seal, he would remove his Gold Trident Pin from his uniform, and slap it down hard, causing the Gold Trident Pin to embed itself into the top of the wooden casket! Then the Navy Seal would step back from the column, and salute.

What is a Navy Seal Trident Pin?
After one completes the basic Navy Seals program which lasts for three weeks, and is followed by Seal qualification training, which is 15 more weeks of training, necessary to continue improving basic skills and to learn new tactics and techniques, required for an assignment to a Navy Seal Platoon. After successful completion, the Seal is awarded the Navy Seal Trident Pin. With this pin they are officially Navy Seal's.

It was said, that you could hear each of the 45 Slaps from Across the Cemetery... By the time the Rosewood Casket reached the grave site, it looked as thought it had a gold inlay from the 45 Trident Pins That Lined the top!

New England - Helping The Troops

When I think of military areas, New England definitely does not come to mind first, or second, or third...  I think of Texas, southern California, Virginia, Colorado and north Florida.  I'm certain these areas are filled with various organizations that support the military and their families.

My husband and I are currently stationed in Massachusetts and while it isn't a prevalent military area, I have come across some great organizations that support the military.

Homes For Our Troops - Based out of Taunton, the volunteers involved with this organization raise money and build homes for veterans who are severely injured and "provide maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently." They've already successfully built home in 26 states and are currently working on homes in 15 states.  It's a wonderful, selfless idea and I applaud these volunteers for stepping up.  Their website is here: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer

New England Center fo Homeless Veterans - Based in Boston, this private organization reaches out to veterans who are suffering from addiction, trauma, unemployment, or mental illness.  Sadly many veterans don't receive the help they need after they serve (or while they're serving).  The organization was actually started by a group of Vietnam Veterans (Awesome!).  Their website is here: http://www.nechv.org/

Helping Our Troops - Based out of Stoneham, the mission is simple: the send out as many care packages as possible to soldiers overseas.  The H.O.T. was also started by two war veterans.  Volunteers drive around the community picking up packages while others gather, sort and pack boxes to be shipped out.  Their website is here: http://helpingourtroopsma.org/Home_Page.php

Organizations like these give a little light of hope and positivity in a society filled with negative news and constant political banter.  God bless these organizations and the service they give.

Welcome!

I like to think the majority of people have an innate desire of wanting to do something for the greater good.  Problem is, most of the time we don't know what we can do that will really make a difference.

My husband, my sister, my brother-in-law, and several friends I've made over the past few years are all serving in the military.  My father, uncle, and grandfathers all served at some point in time.  I love the military and our service men and women.  Serving in the military is not for me, but I vow to help serve and appreciate our military. 

Too often only negative press is associated with the military and we forget about all the good our unsung heroes have done.  That must change.

I'm by no means an expert on the military, but I do know more than many.  There are stories left untold and soldiers who deserve to be more famous that most celebrities.  I want to find these stories and share them with you so we can all be more aware.  I won't forget about those many wonderful civilians and organizations who do their part by serving as well.

So welcome, and thank you for joining me.