May is Military Appreciation Month
May 1, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Courtesy of the Soldiers’ Angels blog:
As an all out effort to support National Military Appreciation Month, held in May, Soldiers’ Angels is asking Americans to show their appreciation for our military by adopting a deployed service member at www.SoldiersAngels.org.
This year more than any other, our service men and women need to know they are truly appreciated for their role in protecting and defending our nation’s freedom. It doesn’t take much time to become involved with Soldiers’ Angels.
To Adopt-A-Hero go to the website www.SoldiersAngels.org and click on the ADOPT button. Your commitment each month is simply a letter a week and a small package each month. Join our team. Our nation’s heroes need you. Soldiers’ Angels is the place to start to show your appreciation.
WHEREAS, The freedom and security that citizens of the United States enjoy today are direct results of the blood shed and continued vigilance given by the United States Armed Forces over the history of our great nation; and
WHEREAS, the sacrifices that such members of the United States Armed Forces and of the family members that support them, have preserved the liberties that have enriched this nation making it unique in the world community; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress, in two thousand and four, passed a resolution proclaiming May as National Military Appreciation Month, calling all Americans to remember those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and to honor the men and women of all of our Armed Services who have served and are now serving our Country, together with their families; and
WHEREAS, the months of May and June were selected for this display of patriotism because during these months, we celebrate Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Military Spouse Day, Loyalty Day, Armed Forces Day/Week, National Day of Prayer, Memorial Day, Navy Day, Army Day and Flag Day;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Patti Patton-Bader, Founder of Soldiers’ Angels, do hereby proclaim the period May 1, through June 14, 2009 as a special time to show appreciation for our Military and proclaim it as NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
Patti Patton-Bader
Founder, Soldiers’ Angels
In the news this weekend
April 13, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Courtesy of the Tuscaloosa News:
Airman JaMarvin A. Wells has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Barbara and Wyman Spencer and the late Marvin E. Sealey of Ralph. He is a 2007 graduate of Central High School.
Congratulations, Airman Wells!
Mitchell E. Baygents has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Randy and Sharon Baygents of Tuscaloosa. He is a 2005 graduate of Northridge High School.
Congratulations, Mr. Baygents!
The Sack Lunches
March 18, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
This was posted to Wingtip 2 Wingtip yesterday. Snopes has it listed as “undetermined” as to whether it’s a true story or not. However, I think that this story’s larger message about showing appreciation for members of the armed forces is a good one.
Feel free to copy and share! 
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. ‘I’m glad I have a good book to read and perhaps I will get a short nap,’ I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. ‘Where are you headed?’ I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
‘Petawawa. We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Afghanistan .’
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. ‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks. I’ll wait till we get to base ‘
His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. ‘Take a lunch to all those soldiers.’ She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. ‘My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.’
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, ‘Which do you like best – beef or chicken?’
‘Chicken,’ I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. ‘This is yours with thanks.’
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. ‘I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.’ He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Aircraft Pilot coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, ‘I want to shake your hand.’
Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand. With a booming voice he said, ‘I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.’ I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. ‘It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.’
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers… As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a co uple of meals. It seemed so little.
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to his country for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’
That is Honor, and there are way too many people who no longer understand it.
Bama Guard unit home from Iraq soon!
March 17, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Some great news published in The Birmingham News yesterday, the 128th Medical Company is due to come home near the end of this month. Based out of Ashland, the unit’s mission was mainly transporting hurt and wounded troops to combat support hospitals.
Read the whole article here.
Army specialist gets to know Iraqi people
March 16, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
The Clanton Advertiser has a great article this morning about Army Specialist Justin Corn, of Thorsby, who recently returned from Iraq.
Corn believes the U.S. is making a difference in Iraq. In the time he was deployed to Iraq, he saw a big difference in the people from when he arrived to when he left.
A great story, and a poignant reminder of why it’s so important that we support our men and women in uniform!
Because he was in a remote location of Iraq, Corn and his unit didn’t have much contact with family and friends. “Whenever we got to a base, everyone would run to the phone to get their five minutes to call our families,” Corn said.
During his tour, his family and his wife both sent him numerous care packages, which included personal items and snack foods.
“You don’t know just how much you miss that until you don’t have it anymore,” he said. “Some weren’t as fortunate as I was, so I shared with those who didn’t get any packages.”
You can read the whole article here.
In the news this weekend
March 16, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser:
Air Force Airman Andrew Williams has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of James Williams of Prattville.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Prattville High School.
Congratulations, Airman Williams!
Air National Guard Airman 1st Class LaDarius J. Reed has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. Reed is the son of Allison Gandy and Terry Essex, both of Montgomery.
The airman graduated in 2008 from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery.
Congratulations, AFC Reed!
Air Force Airman Jeremiah L. Hand has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of Tommy and Rose Hand of Pine Level.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Marbury High School in Pine Level.
Congratulations, Airman Hand!
Air Force Airman Tommy J. Giles has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of Kimberly and Tommy Giles of Deatsville.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Holtville High School in Deatsville.
Congratulations, Airman Giles!
Coast Guard Seaman Corey S. Campbell recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Campbell is the son of Rita W. and Scott E. Campbell of Eclectic.
The seaman is a 2007 graduate of Elmore County High School in Eclectic.
Congratulations, Seaman Campbell!
Coast Guard Seaman Zackery B. Cooley recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Cooley is the son of Lisa R. and Vonzie E. Cooley of Montgomery.
Congratulations, Seaman Cooley!
Air National Guard Airman John W. Pitch ford has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the grandson of Lamar Pitchford of Tallassee.
The airman is a 2007 graduate of Tallassee High School.
Congratulations, Airman Pitch!
In the news this weekend
February 22, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Courtesy of The Anniston Star:
Army Reserve Col. Roy A. Hall recently graduated from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pa. He is the son of Thomas D. Hall of Weaver. He graduated in 1980 from Anniston High School and received an associate degree in 1982 from Marion Military Institute. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1984 from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.
Congratulations, Col. Hall!
Air Force Staff Sgt. Shane Law was recently decorated with the Air Force Commendation Medal. He is the son of Larry and Connie Downey of Piedmont. He graduated in 1993 from Piedmont High School and received an associate degree in 2006 from the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery.
Congratulations, Sgt. Law!
Air Force Airman 1st Class Nicholas W. Byars recently arrived for duty at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M. He is the son of Christopher W. and Sherry D. Byars of Jacksonville. He graduated in 2007 from Jacksonville High School.
Congratulations, Airman 1st Class Byars!
Army Pvt. Jesse D. Harper recently graduated from the Land Combat Electrician Advanced Individual Training course at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. He is the son of Timothy L. and Karen D. Harper of Anniston.
Congratulations, Pvt. Harper!
Army Pfc. Corbett L. Futral was one of more than 300 Army soldiers who participated in the “Spirit of America 2008″ performance for the residents of Rochester, N.Y., and Worcester, Mass., on Sept. 12 and 13, respectively. Futral, an infantryman with two years of military service, is assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Harry Futral of Oxford and Shannon Moreira of Gulf Shores. The private is a 2004 graduate of Gulf Shores High School.
Congratulations, PFC Futral!
In the news today
February 20, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Published on The Birmingham News‘ Breaking News blog, a story about a troop of would-be officers for the Army National Guard participating in an accelerated Officer Candidate School who capped one of their training exercises by ending a seven-mile, full pack and gear march in 2 and half hours — concluding with a lap around the Talladega Superspeedway.
View the blog post and pictures here.
Courtesy of WTVY News 4, news of another library benefiting from Governor Riley’s connecting families program. The Houston-Love Memorial Library in Dothan has two computers dedicated to providing folks live access to see and talk with members of the military stationed stateside or overseas.
To read the whole article, go here. For more information on the web cam program, call the Houston Love Memorial Library at (334) 793-9767.
Last but not least, this isn’t Alabama-related but I can’t resist sharing: a great story from Right Pundits about Detective Ken Leonard of the High Point, North Carolina Police Department. He served his country in Iraq training local Iraqis to become policemen. He lost his feet by IED. After a long road of therapy and prosthetics, he has made it back onto the police force and has recently joined the blogging world. His blog is called “No Feet Required!” and he is up for John Walsh’s AMW All Star First Responders Award.
If you have time, drop by No Feet Required! — I’m sure Ken would love to hear from everyone!
Heroes come in many shapes
February 18, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
This was posted to one of my favorite sites this morning, I Has a Hotdog (funny pictures of dogs). It serves as a gentle reminder that heroes do indeed come in many shapes:
2009 National Veterans Golden Age Games Registration Open
February 16, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
The Birmingham VA site updated this weekend with news of open registration for this year’s upcoming Golden Age Games. The National Veterans Golden Age Games is the “only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors’ competition program for older veterans.” Designed to improve the quality of life for all older veterans, these games include those with a wide range of abilities.
The Golden Age Games will be held in Birmingham June 1-5, 2009. The Birmingham VA is the official host of the games. Over 700 Veterans from all over the coun competing in 16 different events. This will be an exciting set of games.
The Golden Age Games are sponsored by the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Canteen Service, and Help Hospitalized Veterans. All registration packages must be received no later than March 31, 2009.
For more information about the games, please visit the website at www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov
The VA will need over 1,300 volunteers for this event. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Voluntary Service office at (205) 933-4396.
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