I Was Just Thinking About...: The Real Heroes

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1月18日

President Barack Obama

Dear Ones,

On Tuesday, January 20th history will be made in this country. A Black man will become president of the United States of America. It will be a proud day for me and my family and for millions of people around the world.

I have posted a video where President-Elect Obama has taken the time to speak to people about the logistics of visiting our nation's capital on that historic day.

Please pray that nothing happens that will cause harm to anyone which would make this momentous occasion a tragic one.

I have taken the day off so that I can watch every minute of the festivities in the comfort of my home. I am thankful that my children will be at home as well.

Every time I am tempted to get on the train and head to DC on Tuesday I think of those thousands of port-a-potties I saw on the news last week. That is enough of a deterrant for me to stay home! Sick

So family...please pray for the world on 1/20 and if you can, try to do something to help somebody on MLK, Jr. Day.

Love,

Theresa

11月11日

Thank You!

5月23日

NEVER FORGET!

10月14日

God Bless Our Troops!!

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN , not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

VETERANS KNOW THAT THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE HAS NO

EXPIRATION DATE!!

God bless you and God bless our great nation!!

5月18日

Talking about War - what is it good for

I am proud to say this was written by my home boy Tim. Please stop by his space and show him some love when you can!!

Quote

War - what is it good for

Thanks to my friend Matthew Vadum for reminding me of the canonic veracity of the following quote:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill
Today's rising crescendo of voices against the war in Iraq begs the obvious question: Is the answer to an unjust war an equally unjust retreat?
Through the fog and information-overload of daily death and bombing statistics, arriving at an educated conclusion to the query, "where do we go from here" may seem impossible.
The United States is on the threshold of choosing a new Commander-in-Chief. If we select an individual based on his promise to stay or go in Iraq, we choose a simplistic response to a complex issue, and thereby abdicate our role and privilege as voters.
If we have blood on our hands now, cutting and running promises only more blood.
While few today still believe we should have invaded Iraq, our imperfect memories betray us; we tell ourselves we knew this was a bad idea to begin with - we told everyone it was a mistake....
The historic data confronts us, however, and reminds us that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike were fooled into believing that Saddam was a bigger threat than he turned out to be.
It takes little integrity to turn and look away when there's violence taking place in another part of the world. How often have we stood aside as genocide took place in Cambodia, Rwanda, and now in Darfur.
In Iraq, we have the unique complication of having stirred up much of the trouble we are encountering; how much more are we responsible, then, for addressing it, and not running away from it.
It strikes me as an excessive degree of hubris and hypocrisy that the same people who wag a self-righteous finger at Republicans for not doing something about Sudan are the same people who are clamoring for us to lick our wounds, turn tail, and flee from Iraq, advocating that we leave sure destruction in our wake.
"We only went into Iraq because of oil...." Regardless of your political point of view, I challenge you to rise above your paranoia and conspiracy theories to consider this fact: We, the United States of America, have created a situation where not only are scores of our own soldiers dying weekly, but thousands of innocent people are dying every month, and millions who at first welcomed us as liberators, are left wondering what went wrong, as a few radical Shi'ia and Sunni terrorize them daily.
War is a horrible thing. Doing nothing is more horrible yet. When 'bringing home the troops' is a euphemism for defeat, then we have succeeded not only in defeat as a nation, but as a symbol for all who seek to come to the aid of the downtrodden in the world.
Our simplistic answers to the world's problems are haunting us; 'democracy' is just one small step removed from mob rule. 'free elections' means a majority reads a mandate to slaughter the minority. And if we don't win easily and quickly, then we shut the drapes and turn our heads, and pretend we can't hear the screaming anymore.
No political party has a corner on making stupid mistakes. Our integrity as a freedom-loving nation respecting the rule of law requires us to rise above our mistakes, publicly apologize for our clumsy stupidity, and seek an international alliance pledged to the restoration of a lasting peace in Iraq.
The alternative is too ugly to consider.

1月30日

VETERANS' AID AND ATTENDANCE SPECIAL PENSION

THE AID & ATTENDANCE PROGRAM

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Special Pension provides benefits for

veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of

another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing

or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals

who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or

physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility

also qualifies.

The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,519 per month to a veteran,

$976 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,801 per month to a couple*.

Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application

for Pension or Compensation. This application will require a copy

of DD-214 (see below for more information) or separation papers,

Medical Evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net

worth limitations, and net income, along with out-of-pocket Medical Expenses.

A DD-214 is issued to military members upon separation from active

service. DD-214s were issued to separated service members beginning

in the 1950's. The term "DD-214" is often used generically to mean

"separation papers" or "discharge papers", no matter what form

number was used to document active duty military service. If the VA

has a copy of a DD-214, it is usually because the veteran attached a

copy (or sometimes, the original) to his or her application for

disability or education benefits. If you've lost your original

DD-214 or a copy and you are receiving (or applied for in the past)

disability or education benefits from the VA, they may have a copy

or the original, if you gave it to them) on file. At the very

least, if you are currently receiving benefits (or did in the past),

they should be able to provide a Statement of Service, which can be used instead of a "DD-214".

1月19日

The Real Deal

Feeling frustrated after hearing the president's speech last night?

Stop by my friend Ron's space and take part in the poll. Voting will make you feel a little better.

Please continue to pray for the families of those who lost their lives this past weekend.

Fantastic piece on prayer. You will be blessed by this message!

Thank you Tim!!

Please go by and visit Tim's space and let him know

how much we appreciate his service to our country.

Thanks so much!

Just showin' some love to the troops from Great Britain

1月16日

The Inevitable...

Pentagon Ends Active Duty Limits on Guard, Reserve Troops

Friday, January 12, 2007 WASHINGTON

The Pentagon has abandoned its limit on the time a citizen-soldier can be required to serve on active duty,

officials said Thursday, a major change that reflects an Army stretched thin by longer-than-expected combat in Iraq.

The day after President Bush announced his plan for a deeper U.S. military commitment in Iraq , Gen. Peter Pace

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the change in reserve policy would have been

made anyway because active-duty troops already were getting too little time between their combat tours.

The Pentagon also announced it is proposing to Congress that the size of the Army be increased by 65,000, to

547,000 and that the Marine Corps, the smallest of the services, grow by 27,000, to 202,000, over the next five years.

No cost estimate was provided, but officials said it would be at least several billion dollars. Until now, the Pentagon's

policy on the Guard or Reserve was that members' cumulative time on active duty for the Iraq or Afghan wars could not

exceed 24 months. That cumulative limit is now lifted; the remaining limit is on the length of any single mobilization,

which may not exceed 24 consecutive months, Pace said. In other words, a citizen-soldier could be mobilized for a 24-

month stretch in Iraq or Afghanistan, then demobilized and allowed to return to civilian life, only to be mobilized a

second time for as much as an additional 24 months. In practice, Pace said, the Pentagon intends to limit all future

mobilizations to 12 months. Members of the Guard combat brigades that have served in Iraq in recent years spent 18

months on active duty - about six months in pre-deployment training in the United States, followed by about 12

months in Iraq. Under the old policy, they could not be sent back to Iraq because their cumulative time on active duty

would exceed 24 months. Now that cumulative limit has been lifted, giving the Pentagon more flexibility.

The new approach, Pace said, is to squeeze the training, deployment and demobilization into a maximum of 12 months.

He called that a "significant planning factor" for Guard and Reserve members and their families. David Chu, the

Pentagon's chief of personnel, said in an interview that he thinks Guard and Reserve members will be cheered by the

decision to limit future mobilizations to 12 months. The fact that some with previous Iraq experience will end up

spending more than 24 months on active duty is "no big deal," Chu said, because it has been "implicitly understood" by

most that they eventually would go beyond 24 months. A senior U.S. military official who briefed reporters Thursday on

Iraq-related developments said that by next January, the Pentagon "probably will be calling again" on National Guard

combat brigades that previously served yearlong tours in Iraq. Under Pentagon ground rules, the official could not be

further identified. Defense Secretary Robert Gates <javascript:siteSearch, appearing with Pace, announced several

other changes in Guard and Reserve policy: Although the Pentagon's goal is to mobilize Guard and Reserve units

no more frequently than one year out of six, the demands of wartime will require calling up some units more often than

that. They provided no details on how many units would be remobilized at the faster pace or when that would begin to

happen.

Army officials had been saying for some time that more frequent mobilizations were necessary because the active-duty

force is being stretched too thin. Gates' announcement is the first confirmation of the change. To allow for more

cohesion among Guard and Reserve units sent into combat, they will be deployed as whole units, rather than as partial

units or as individuals plugged into a unit they do not normally train with. Extra pay will be provided for Guard and

Reserve troops who are required to mobilize more than once in six years; active-duty troops who get less than two years

between overseas deployments also will get extra pay. Details were not provided. Military commanders will review their

administration of a hardship waiver program "to ensure that they have properly taken into account exceptional

circumstances facing military families of deployed service members." As part of Bush's plan for boosting U.S. troop

strength in Iraq, a brigade of National Guard soldiers from Minnesota will have its yearlong tour in Iraq extended by 125

days, to the end of July. Navy officials said the carrier heading to the Gulf region is the USS John C. Stennis

which previously had been in line to deploy to the Pacific. It was not clear Thursday how the Pentagon intended to

compensate in the Pacific for the absence of the Stennis in that region, where a chief worry is North Korea.

The Marines announced that two infantry units - the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, 6th

Marine Regiment - will stay in Iraq 60 to 90 days longer than scheduled. That will enable the Marines to have a total of

eight infantry battalions in western Anbar province, instead of the current six, by February. Once the 60- to

90-day extension is over, an additional two battalions will be sent in early from their U.S. bases. Also, the 15th Marine

Expeditionary Unit, which combines infantry with a helicopter squadron and a logistics battalion, totaling about 2,200

Marines, will stay in Anbar for 45 more days. Those extensions conform with Bush's announcement that he was

ordering 4,000 more Marines to Anbar. The military tries to avoid extending combat tours and sending forces

earlier than planned because it disrupts the lives of troops and their families and makes it harder for the services to get

all troops through the education and training programs they need for promotions. But in this case it was deemed

unavoidable.

1月12日

Send Some Love!!

You guys PLEASE visit Spence...he has some GREAT tips to make your spaces better. He's the green martian in my friend's list

Hey Family,

I know Christmas is over but I wanted to pass along some addresses and a web site where you can go get information on how to send a care package to our brave men and women overseas. If you can't send a package at least send a card. I know cards are 2 for $1.00 at the dollar stores in your area. They know in their hearts that we love and support them but it's so nice to get some mail! So please make a soldier smile by sending them a little love in the mail.

Thanks so much and have a wonderful weekend!!

ECare Package Info

Addresses:

MGySgt Dale Cutts

4^th CAG HQ Det

Unit 72060

FPO AE 09509-2060

MGuns Cutts is the Ops Chief for the 4^th Civil Affairs Group in Ramadi. He was LPL’s Chief in 04-05 when we were in Falluja.

MGuns will distribute any letters you send him to the rest of the Marines in the unit – especially those who might not get a lot of mail.

Iraq

IS2 Jacob Briggs

STRATEFF COMMS-DIV

APO AE 09316

IS1 Deborah Long

MNC-I C2 CACE

APO AE 09342

LTJG Kenneth Carter

MNC-I C3

CJTF TROY (J2)

APO AE 09342-1400

Afghanistan

ISC James Miller

PRT Sharana

APO AE 09354

IS3 Chris Harmon

PRG 6-1

APO AE 09354-3005

The Marines of

2d BN 3d MAR Echo Co

UNIT 44050

FPO AP 96607-4050

They’re in Anbar Province at Hidatha. For periodic updates check out 1-866-775-1706 option 1

358th CililAffiars is based at 1625 Berks Rd.,Norristown,Pa. 19403 (610) 584 1111

This info was passed on to me by an active duty Army officer

1月11日

Underused Benefit

Navy News | January 04, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance.

"Veterans have earned this benefit by their service to our nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson. "We want to ensure that every veteran or surviving spouse who qualifies has the chance to apply."

Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility. The Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities.

Many elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for a VA pension may still be eligible for the special monthly Aid and Attendance benefit if they have large medical expenses, including nursing home expenses, for which they do not receive reimbursement. To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance.

The basic criteria for the Aid and Attendance benefit includes the inability to feed oneself, to dress and undress without assistance, or to take care of one’s own bodily needs. People who are bedridden or need help to adjust special prosthetic or orthopedic devices may also be eligible, as well as those who have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment.

For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for this special monthly pension, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which was during a period of war, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Wartime veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980, (October 16, 1981, for officers) must have completed at least 24 continuous months of military service or the period for which they were ordered to active duty.

If all requirements are met, VA determines eligibility for the Aid and Attendance benefit by adjusting for un-reimbursed medical expenses from the veteran’s or surviving spouse’s total household income. If the remaining income amount falls below the annual income threshold for the Aid and Attendance benefit, VA pays the difference between the claimant’s household income and the Aid and Attendance threshold.

The Aid and Attendance income threshold for a veteran without dependents is now $18,234 annually. The threshold increases to $21,615 if a veteran has one dependent, and by $1,866 for each additional dependent. The annual Aid and Attendance threshold for a surviving spouse alone is $11,715. This threshold increases to $13,976 if there is one dependent child, and by $1,866 for each additional child.

Additional information and assistance in applying for the Aid and Attendance benefit may be obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000. Applications may be submitted on-line at www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Information is also available on the at www.va.gov or from any local veterans service organization.

1月10日

Marine Salute

Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four US soldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and = standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5ft deep and 8ft wide crater.

The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7in knife to probe the ground. "I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew I was screwed."

Realizing he had been sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant's feet. "A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb exploded," he recalls. "As I was in the air, I remember thinking, 'I don't believe they got me.' I was just ticked-off they were able to do it. Then I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down."

His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. "My dad's a Vietnam vet who's paralyzed from the waist down," says Sgt Burghardt. "I was lying there thinking I didn't want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a real sharp pain and blood trickling down. Then I wiggled my toes and I thought, "Good, I'm in business."

As a stretcher was brought over, adrenaline and anger kicked in. "I decided to walk to the helicopter. I wasn't going to let my team-mates see me being carried away on a stretcher." He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up a one-fingered salute. "I flipped them one. It was like, 'OK, I lost that round but I'll be back next week'."

Copies of a photograph depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald, adorn the walls of homes across America and that of Col John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit. Sgt Burghardt's injuries - burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks - kept him off duty for nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his father - who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action in Vietnam - he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans.

How Marines Say Goodbye

Get your tissues ready...

1月9日

An FYI for all Military Veterans

SOCIAL SECURITY - SPECIAL MILITARY EARNINGS CREDIT

There is a little known program/benefit for people who've served in the military prior to Jan 2002. In a nutshell it boils down to this:

Credited for years of active duty through 2001 (the program was done away with in January 2002)

Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit (see below websites for more details) Credited at time of application

Bring in DD-214 to Social Security Office - you must ask for this benefit to receive it!

Soc Sec website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/military.htm

9月8日

The Real Heroes

If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time
that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I'd see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would spare an extra minute
to stop and say, "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would be there to share your day.
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
and certainly there's another chance
to say,"Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
and today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear.
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

2月1日

Dream Keeper

Tribute To Coretta

1月31日

A Rose For Coretta

12月7日

A Soldier's Christmas

BLESS YOU LIZ!!

’Twas a Soldier’s Christmas

’Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom home made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
And to see just whom in this house did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see.
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

Medals and badges, and awards of all kinds,
And a sober thought came into my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and small.
I had found the home of a soldier, that’s all.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.

They enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers, like the one laying here.

I couldn’t wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, this is the life of my choice.”

“I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep.
I couldn’t control it and continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
And we both shivered from the cold winter’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice soft and pure,
“Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day and all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

11月18日

Last But Not Least...

Well guys, this is the end of my series on links to oranizations helping to support our troops overseas. It has been a labor of love BELIEVE ME! I have met so many wonderful people during this series. It feels so good to know how much support is out there right now for our loved ones 'over there'. Please keep sending them your love and praying for their safe return home. God bless you and God bless our great nation!!

Here are some more links that I hope you will visit.

Spread the word!!

These are my peeps holdin' it down in PA

HOLLA!

These folks are supporting our troops in Aurora, Colorado

HOLLA!

These folks are sending holiday love to our troops in Ft. Riley, KS

HOLLA!

These folks in Los Angeles have a beautiful site you must see!

HOLLA!

Angels 'n Camouflage believes in leaving NO Veteran behind.....

HOLLA!

These folks have not only shown support to our troops

but have given love to the

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita survivors as well.

Know someone who needs a hug??

HOLLA!

An organization specifically established to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. They are there to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness.

HOLLA!

Thanks so much for all of your support!

11月17日

Operation Mom

Please check out the brainchild of Dotty and Gloria - Operation Mom which is based in Castro Valley, CA. Thanks SO MUCH ladies!!

Hi Sandra

11月16日

Show Your Support!

Please check out The Kitchen Table Gang - don't cha just love it?

Like their website reads on their main page - "We aren't trying to sell you anything, we don't even want your money, we only want you to remember and honor our hospitalized veterans, troops overseas, and homeless veterans who have served our country with honor and distinction."

Go holla at the Kitchen Table Gang and get some good information!

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