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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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

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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Courtesy of the Soldiers’ Angels newsletter:

LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire/ — Teleflora, the world’s leading floral wire service, and NBC today revealed the 15 semi-finalists in the nationwide search for America’s Favorite Mom. The inspirational stories of the three top moms in each of the five categories — military moms, working moms, single moms, “Non-mom” moms and “Chairman of Everything” moms — will be featured on NBC’s “Today” show May 5 through May 9 during the 9 o’clock hour. Each day, America will vote on who will continue into the final round. The winning mom will be crowned

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Something that several people have asked lately: What do our soldiers need?

SA’s Shelle Michaels answered this question with a well-formed post detailing a lengthy list of items that our brave men and women need:

• Powdered Drink Mixes (the individual packets are best because they can be added to a bottle of water)
• Cookies
• Chips
• Pretzels
• Tuna in a pouch
• Beef or chicken or turkey jerky
• Cheese spread (no aerosol cans please)
• Ramen Noodles
• Snack Cakes
• Gum
• Nuts
• Granola Bars
• Pop Tarts
• Dried Fruit
• Trail Mix
• Pistachios
• Raisins
• Red licorice twists
• Tootsie Rolls (both the candy and lollipops)
• Peanut Butter
• Triscuits
• Wheat Thins
• Canned Meats – No Pork Products
• Hard Candy – Individually Wrapped
• Face Cleansing Pads
• Moisturizers
• Wet wipes
• Eye Drops
• Lip Balm
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Soap
• Body Wash
• Shampoo and Conditioners
• Deodorant
• Sun Block
• Foot powder
• AA

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Well, for my first “official” event, I think things went very well. I had plenty of fliers made and came home with just a few left. I had a huge stack of cards with the Soldiers’ Angels mission statement and web address on them, and every single one of those disappeared! (I guess it makes sense … those cards are small enough to fit into a pocket or purse without too much fuss or folding, and the fliers had a TON of information on them!)

Mental note: print more cards next time!

With the exception(…)

It’s no secret I’m a huge PostSecret fan. One of the postcards listed in today’s edition broke my heart:

From hearing from my own adopted soldiers, and friends and family who’ve served or are still serving, I can only imagine how that soldier feels. It’s got to be one of the worst things in the world — feeling forgotten, unloved.

I hope whoever that card was meant to reach got the message. But how many others are out there feeling the same way?

At the Magnolia Festival yesterday, something struck me as I explained to those who came by(…)

Courtesy of Lori, Soldiers’ Angels Southeastern US VA Team Leader and CTL, there will be a farewell party for the 46th Eng. Btl. at Fort Rucker tomorrow, Saturday April 19.

Per her post to the Alabama forums:

The party will start at 5 pm and will be held at Lake Tholocco on the west beach. If you are attending, please be sure that you have your drivers license,tag receipt or registration and proof of insurance to get on base. I have made arrangements at the Jameson Inn - 334-774-0233 - if you would like to stay the night on Saturday. Tell them

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Courtesy of Shelle Michaels and the SA Blog, there is a bill being introduced into legislation that would give Americans up to a $500 tax credit for their role in providing support to US troops and their families. Credit for the idea goes to Catherine Dalton, a Soldiers’ Angel member and Indiana University Kelley School of Business professor.

Great idea, Catherine!

Read more on the bill at the SA blog.