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

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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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Courtesy of The Birmingham News:

U.S. troops deployed around the globe will be able to watch this year’s Iron Bowl live on the Armed Forces Network, Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions said today.

Responding to requests from Alabama service members, including some with the Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing deployed in Kyrgyzstan, Sessions’ office asked the Pentagon to set up a live broadcast of this year’s game, and the request has been granted.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit with our troops in the Middle East on numerous occasions, and I frequently see an Alabama or Auburn flag flying below the Stars and Stripes,” said Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is a huge game and it has huge national interest. I’m sure that all our military personnel who can will be glued to the television.”

The Iron Bowl, pitting top-ranked Alabama against archrival Auburn, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 29 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Auburn has won the last six contests.

Thank you, Senator Sessions!

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I received an email from another Alabama CTL with information about Applebee’s salute to our military for this upcoming Veterans Day:

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants invite all active duty and veterans to one of 164 participating restaurants nationwide to pull up a chair for a delicious meal and heartfelt thanks this Veterans Day. With gratitude for their service and sacrifice, active duty and veterans will eat free at participating locations on Veterans Day (November 11, 2008) during regular business hours.

Veterans and active duty with proof of United States military service will be able to go to one of the participating Applebee’s and select one complimentary entrée from a selection of delicious favorites: a savory House Sirloin, hearty Riblet Basket, zesty Fiesta Lime Chicken®, a juicy Quesadilla Burger or fresh Oriental Chicken Salad. All the traditional sides are included.

“It’s an honor to host an event that helps the neighborhood come together and say thanks to our veterans and active servicemen and women,” said Mike Archer, President, Applebee’s Services, Inc..

Proof of military service includes:

• U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card
• U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card
• DD214
• LES
• Citation or Commendation
• Photograph in uniform
• Veterans Organization Card

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The Madison County Record writes that the Redstone Arsenal is honoring military retirees with Military Retiree Appreciation Day going on September 5th and 6th. Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer and Madison Mayor Arthur “Sandy” Kirkindall will proclaim September 6th as Military Retiree Appreciation Day in their respective cities.

Me personally, I would greatly love to see that happen elsewhere in Alabama!

Event information:

September 5th: the event will be at the Redstone Officers and Civilians Club (ROCC) from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day special MWR activities will be held at various locations across Redstone Arsenal with bus tours leaving from the ROCC.

September 6th: the event begins with a pay-as-you-go breakfast buffet at 7 a.m. in the ROCC. The event finishes out with dinner at The Soldatenstube ending at 10 p.m.

For more information, call: (256) 876-2022

The Anniston Star had a flurry of happenings printed this morning:

Warrant Officer candidate Bill Braxton of Jacksonville, above, participated in a 10K road march on July 13. Braxton had to successfully complete the road march within two hours while carrying a weapon and a 35- to 40-pound rucksack. The road march is a requirement for the Warrant Officer Candidate School at the National Guard Training Center at Fort McClellan. Braxton currently works in the ROTC department at Jacksonville State University.

* * *

Warrant Officer candidate Matthew Otwell of Anniston, above, participated in a 10K road march on July 13. Otwell had to successfully complete the road march within two hours while carrying a weapon and a 35- to 40-pound rucksack. The road march is a requirement for the Warrant Officer Candidate School at the National Guard Training Center at Fort McClellan. Otwell is following in his father’s footsteps. Retired Chief Warrant Officer Randy Otwell, Matthew’s father, retired from the Alabama Army National Guard with more than 40 years of service.

* * *

Tabatha L. Burris recently joined the U.S. Army under the Delayed Entry Program. She also went for Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. She is the daughter of Teresa Burris of Villa Rica, Ga., and John Burris of Anniston.

* * *

Army Reserve Pvt. Sonya Y. Smith has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Earline Penn of Anniston and is a 2003 graduate of Anniston High School.

* * *

Army Reserve Pvt. Haleem R. Santiago recently graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. He is the son of Hector R. and Belinda G. Santiago of Anniston and is a graduate of Saks High School.

* * *

Navy Seaman Landon M. Ford, son of Judy L. Davis of Jacksonville, recently completed U.S. Navy Basic Training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

* * *

Navy Ensign Nicholas F. Vilardi, whose wife, Cynthia, is the daughter of Sharon D. Downing of Salem and Jonathan C. Mattox of Ashland, recently completed the Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit course at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command at Goose Creek, S.C.

Congratulations, soldiers!!

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Courtesy of the Army Times:

Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan will get to call home for free Aug. 17 courtesy of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“Free Call Day,” according to an Army news release, is a VFW Operation Uplink program that uses contributions from supporters so service members can call loved ones in the United States free of charge.

All existing users of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Prepaid service and all new users will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Here’s how it will work: Follow the regular dialing procedure to place a call using your SPAWAR prepaid personal identification number. When the system plays an announcement that says your call is being sponsored, it will mean the call is free.

The free calls will take place between 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Iraq time on Aug. 17, a Sunday. Calls to Canada and other countries will be charged at the standard rate, the release said.

The VFW is composed of current or former members of the U.S. armed forces. It is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.

Since the program began in 1996, the VFW has provided deployed service members and hospitalized veterans with millions of minutes of free phone time.

The program is part of VFW National Military Services, which includes initiatives that boost morale, aid struggling military families and encourage troop support, the release said.

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The Birmingham Barons will be celebrating Military Appreciation Night Saturday, July 12th, when they take on the Carolina Mudcats.

According to the Patriot Guard Riders site, “the Birmingham Barons will be honoring those veterans who have served our country and soldiers who are presently active duty with a discounted $3.00 General Admission ticket.”

Sounds good to me!

For more information, you can call the Birmingham Barons at (205) 988-3200 or visit their website at www.barons.com.

Anyone interested in joining the Patriot Guard Riders in the infield should contact them at their website, www.patriotguard.org.

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Courtesy of The News Courier, the 151st Army Band will appear in concert Father’s Day, Sunday, at 2 pm at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives. This year’s concert is the second appearance of the band of “citizen soldiers” who are based in Union Springs. The group consists of concert, marching, jazz and show bands, as well as woodwind and brass quintets. The band was officially charted in 1968 as a unit of the Alabama Army National Guard.

For more information, call the museum at 771-7578.

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Per the Montgomery Advertiser, today is Enlisted Appreciation Day at the Montgomery Zoo. This event welcomes enlisted military personnel and their families and includes zoo tours, train rides and a cookout luncheon. Attendance is free to enlisted military personnel and their families with a valid military ID.

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Per the Patriot Guard Riders:

After a year in the sand box, the 1206th Transport Unit out of Opelika, Alabama will be making their return trip home June 13th, and have requested the PGR escort them home. The PGR proudly escorted this Unit to Ft. Bragg North Carolina, with escort through Georgia and then North Carolina took them into Ft Bragg. Please join us in welcoming home these true American Heroes that will once again be reunited with their loved ones and their community.

Coverage from Opelika-Auburn News:

The city of Opelika will hold a homecoming ceremony on June 13 to celebrate the return of the 206th Transportation Company Army reserve unit following a yearlong tour in Iraq.

The event will be held in front of the Veterans Memorial Monument at the Opelika City Hall at 204 S. 7th St. and is open to the public.

The celebration will begin after the troops arrive in town on buses, which is expected to be between 8 and 8:30 p.m., Opelika Community Relations Specialist Jan Gunter said.

Welcome home, heroes!!

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