Hello Angels!

I’ve been making an effort to be more active in the Soldiers’ Angels forums recently and wanted to take a few minutes to share a few things that I’ve found with you…

There are so many helpful Angels that I’ve run across, I honestly don’t know where I would have been without their help! Any new Angel member would be wise to check in Angel Boot Camp. It has a TON of tips and helpful advice posted there and is a great place to ask questions. OR, if you’re a seasoned Angel, you could post(…)

Courtesy of Shelle Michaels over at the Soldiers’ Angels network blog, Suzan French with the Saturday Evening Post is looking for stories to print in this weekend’s edition:

Currently in exploratory stage: Looking for uplifting military/veterans/patriotic stories. Whether you support the war or not, you MUST support the troops. Tell me about a joyful or poignant homecoming/celebration or maybe a tragic homecoming with a silver lining. What has the Dept of Veteran Affairs done to help a returning soldier and/or his/her family? What are local communities doing to support troops overseas? Helpful tips for veterans/families are welcome, but this is NOT

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Hooray! Patti Patton-Bader was named “America’s Favorite Mom” last night! Congratulations, Patti!!

Press release:

PASADENA, CA May 11, 2008 –Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader was named “America’s Favorite Mom” in a primetime television show Sunday night on NBC. Sponsored by Teleflora and hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond, the show highlighted fifteen outstanding mothers who had distinguished themselves in categories ranging from Working Moms to Military Moms and “Non-Mom” Moms.

Humbled by the honor, Patton-Bader is thrilled to be able to use it to continue the Soldiers’ Angels mission of “May No Soldier Go Unloved.” As the grand

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Courtesy of The Birmingham News:

An Alabama Army National Guard unit that has spent the past eight or so months on convoy protection missions in Iraq is due back in the United States next weekend.

More than 150 members of Cullman-based Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment, are slated to arrive May 18 at Camp Shelby, Miss., then head to Cullman a few days later, said Gina Fulmer, wife of a battalion member, Sgt. Joseph Fuller of Argo.

Charlie Company has been based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, since September, and its soldiers have traveled thousands of miles throughout Iraq

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Today is National Military Appreciation Day. Do you know a soldier’s email address? Send him or her a nice e-card thanking him/her for his/her service and support! American Greetings has a nice selection in their Celebrate the Date section.

Also, don’t forget that the Friday before Mother’s Day (tomorrow!!!) is Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

(x-posted to my blog)

Just a quick reminder that today is the day we need to vote for Patti! The polls are open from 9am to 9pm EST. You can vote 10 times for each email address, so vote often!!

To vote, go here: www.nbc.com/Americas_Favorite_Mom/vote

Patti is listed in the “Military Mom” category.

Here are a few entries from the Soldiers’ Angels forums that I keep bookmarked and refer to now and again. These may be useful to Bama Angels who’ve adopted a soldier:

• Where is my soldier located?
• How to Find out More about your Adoptee
• Care package suggestions
• Themed Care Package Ideas List
• Important Phone Numbers & Sites for Shipping
• Customs Forms Are Online
• Flat Rate Boxes (new!)
• website for free return address labels
• Getting more involved

Courtesy of Lori, a video montage is available containing photos from the farewell party for the 46th Eng. Btl. at Fort Rucker a few weeks ago:

Nice work, Lori. You and your team did a great job!

I ran across a post in the Alabama Soldiers’ Angels forums from Lisa regarding the upcoming Armed Forces Day (May 17th). Gathering of Eagles is planning to set aside that day to “visit as many recruiter offices as we can and to pay some type of tribute to them,” calling it Operation Recruiter Appreciation.

An excellent idea! Recruiting is a tough and sometimes thankless job and we want to make sure that these hardworking men and women know that they are appreciated!

If you are interested in helping, contact Lisa at hottie0427 @ hotmail.com (remove the spaces before emailing).

To find(…)

I’ve been running across several really good threads in the Soldiers’ Angels forums, and thought I’d share a few of them here!

• Kids Corner - Spotted in Angel Boot Camp
• Can my spouse help me? - Spotted in Angel Boot Camp
• Hand-written or typed? - Spotted in Questions
• Vets on a Mission Run to the Wall 2008 - Spotted in General
• Helpful military links - Spotted in Military Family Support
• Flat rate boxes - Spotted in Questions
• National Remember Our Troops Campaign - Spotted in Events & Fundraising
• Free Lawn Care for Families of Deployed Soldiers - Spotted in Military Family Support
• Where we can Vote on Monday May

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