(HT: Blackfive)
Okay, no login or password required. Vote "no" here to ensure the majority is heard.
I've always thought The Bachelor was a pretty silly, worthless use of television broadcast time, but if it does nothing else besides bring a little attention to this, IMO, very important mission, well fine. Just don't ask me to watch the show.
Hats off to those laboring away. And to those reminding us of the importance of the mission.
Til they all come home.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Mission Accomplished! Now It's Your Turn.
They made it! And I'm so pleased that I was in time to walk the last 1/2 mile with the Resolve to Win marchers.
After 16 days and 383.2 miles, they arrived at the Lincoln Memorial. I can't imagine how they must have felt (tho, this picture on their most recent web post may give you some idea!), but I was so VERY proud to be standing with them.
Each of the three core marchers (wearing grey Army jackets in the picture) said a few words at the end, and I think the message was: please use our efforts to explain to other Americans how serious our troops are about wanting to finish their mission in Iraq and the rest of the War on Terror successfully. They want to win.
A few more pictures are below, but a few final thoughts...
I love the Lincoln Memorial, partially because I think it is our most visually moving presidential memorial (what a fantastic sculpture), but even more because of the words that are etched on its inside walls: the text of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and his Gettysburg Address. I walk by the Lincoln Memorial on average 5 or 6 times a month. I don't actually climb the steps each time, but when I do, I always pause to read both speeeches again. They are not long, but oh my are they dense. Pithy. Important.
Dennis McCool's words today - the man who conceived of the Resolve to Win march - made me think of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. You can read it in its entirety here, but these are the words that rang in my head as I listened to Dennis:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
It's not a civil war this time, it's a Global War, but the words have no less meaning.
Our men and women in uniform and many others have stepped up again. Do we have their backs or not?
As Dennis told me today, he feels that their efforts have common cause with Soldiers' Angels. Go read Dennis' finish line web post and see if you don't agree. I hope you'll honor his request and accept the baton for the next leg of the Resolve to Win effort: support our troops and their families - active duty, reserve, or retired.
My gratitude to these guys for their original service, their return to duty to serve in Iraq, and now for making such a dramatic and awesome statement on behalf of our other boots on the ground.
Safe travels.
Dennis 
Carl 
Marc
Resolve to Win paparazzi
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Your Mom Will Understand. Really.
Vote for some other mom as America's Favorite Mom?
Personally, I know that MY mom is the best ever, but I can't vote for her every day until March 31st to try to get $5000 for Soldiers' Angels.
But we CAN cast votes for Patti Patton-Bader as America's Most Inspiring Mom at http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/ in hopes to win her the big prize.
Yes, you have to register. Yes, you have to remember another password, but that's not too hard, right?
Put a daily reminder on your calendar or pda to vote every day, too.
Still here? GO VOTE! *** CLICK HERE ***
Personally, I know that MY mom is the best ever, but I can't vote for her every day until March 31st to try to get $5000 for Soldiers' Angels.
But we CAN cast votes for Patti Patton-Bader as America's Most Inspiring Mom at http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/ in hopes to win her the big prize.
Yes, you have to register. Yes, you have to remember another password, but that's not too hard, right?
Put a daily reminder on your calendar or pda to vote every day, too.
Still here? GO VOTE! *** CLICK HERE ***
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Y'all, this is cool: The Resolve to Win March from SC to DC
Four more veterans to make you proud: Dennis McCool, Marc Breslow, Carl Herrup and Gerry McCool. (HT: Hugh Hewitt and Bonnie at Soldiers' Angels who sent us a "heads up" email!)
Check out their "Resolve to Win" March that is taking them from South Carolina to Washington, DC. A sixteen day trek. Why are they doing this? Here's the blog post from Dennis McCool just before he returned from Iraq earlier this year:
Read the rest here.
If you live along or near their route, you can join them or cheer them on. Tomorrow will be Day 7, but if you live between Rocky Mount, NC and DC, you've still got time to wish them well or join them for a little exercise. Links along the left side of their website show you the exact route planned for each day (and note, Day 1 = March 1, Day 2 = March 2, etc.)
I have a Soldiers' Angels committment through lunchtime on Day 16, but I hope to join them on the final stretch to the Lincoln Memorial as that bit is right near my front door.
In the meantime, best wishes, Gentlemen! And well done.
Check out their "Resolve to Win" March that is taking them from South Carolina to Washington, DC. A sixteen day trek. Why are they doing this? Here's the blog post from Dennis McCool just before he returned from Iraq earlier this year:
As a soldier leaving Iraq after a one year tour of duty I have very mixed emotions about leaving here. I think all of us who volunteered to come here had hoped to see this situation in the Middle East resolved satisfactorily during our period of service. Now there is such a turbulent political climate in the US, the future is totally uncertain. What can we do now?
Out of desperation and an intense desire for the American people to understand the perspective of those who have served here, I have an idea, perhaps as drastic as volunteering to come out of retirement to do a tour in a combat zone. So, maybe if you are a Patriot, this idea will appeal to you as well.
Read the rest here.
If you live along or near their route, you can join them or cheer them on. Tomorrow will be Day 7, but if you live between Rocky Mount, NC and DC, you've still got time to wish them well or join them for a little exercise. Links along the left side of their website show you the exact route planned for each day (and note, Day 1 = March 1, Day 2 = March 2, etc.)
I have a Soldiers' Angels committment through lunchtime on Day 16, but I hope to join them on the final stretch to the Lincoln Memorial as that bit is right near my front door.
In the meantime, best wishes, Gentlemen! And well done.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Doubt. Question. Suspend Judgment.
Those are three things you can do when you see negative stories in the press about our men and women in uniform.
This was sort of my informal New Year’s resolution. Not that I didn’t do it before, but it seemed as if it was becoming more important.
When I first joined Soldiers’ Angels, I often felt that my role was partially to reassure someone who had volunteered to wear one of our nation’s uniforms that someone, like me, who hasn’t volunteered for that job, is still steadfast in my support of the job they have offered and trained to do.
Does my resolution seem a little over the top? Maybe giving too much benefit of the doubt? Maybe. But just maybe, our men and women in uniform and all those that have served before them are due a little more than the average benefit of the doubt. More questioning of stereotypes. More presumption of innocence.
Anyone deserves it. They have done plenty more to earn it. We, as a nation, have let them down in the past, so I think going a little overboard is okay. Especially as many others are still singing the same baseless tune that condemned or diminished our Vietnam vets for decades.
So, I will follow the lead of Mrs.G over at Mudville and offer you some contrast to any shock story you might see…
Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble, USA
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN
Major Bruce P. Crandall, USA
Corporal Jason Dunham, USMC (and here)
Corporal Tibor Rubin, USA
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA
Those are the six most recent recipients of our nation’s Medal of Honor. Three received the award based on actions in our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans of Korea and Vietnam received the other three. Read the citations. Visit the Jason Dunham memorial website.
As a reminder, Mrs G. does you a favor on a routine basis by doing her “Dawn Patrol” round-up of web/blog reporting on the military and the GWOT. Check it out.
Want to read more? Go back and read here, here, or here.
Remember, bad apples aside, we should never be anything less than proud to call them “ours”.
This was sort of my informal New Year’s resolution. Not that I didn’t do it before, but it seemed as if it was becoming more important.
When I first joined Soldiers’ Angels, I often felt that my role was partially to reassure someone who had volunteered to wear one of our nation’s uniforms that someone, like me, who hasn’t volunteered for that job, is still steadfast in my support of the job they have offered and trained to do.
Does my resolution seem a little over the top? Maybe giving too much benefit of the doubt? Maybe. But just maybe, our men and women in uniform and all those that have served before them are due a little more than the average benefit of the doubt. More questioning of stereotypes. More presumption of innocence.
Anyone deserves it. They have done plenty more to earn it. We, as a nation, have let them down in the past, so I think going a little overboard is okay. Especially as many others are still singing the same baseless tune that condemned or diminished our Vietnam vets for decades.
So, I will follow the lead of Mrs.G over at Mudville and offer you some contrast to any shock story you might see…
Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble, USA
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN
Major Bruce P. Crandall, USA
Corporal Jason Dunham, USMC (and here)
Corporal Tibor Rubin, USA
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, USA
Those are the six most recent recipients of our nation’s Medal of Honor. Three received the award based on actions in our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans of Korea and Vietnam received the other three. Read the citations. Visit the Jason Dunham memorial website.
As a reminder, Mrs G. does you a favor on a routine basis by doing her “Dawn Patrol” round-up of web/blog reporting on the military and the GWOT. Check it out.
Want to read more? Go back and read here, here, or here.
Remember, bad apples aside, we should never be anything less than proud to call them “ours”.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Interested in accurate reporting on the war?
Donate to support embeds for independent journalists in 2008!
The crew over at Public Multimedia Inc and The Long War Journal are ramping up for another important year of reporting, and they need your support.
Not only is it a great cause, your donation is 100% tax deductible. I make automatic monthly donations just like I do with other charities and non-profits.
Why?
After adopting my first Marine through Soldiers' Angels, I became a war news junkie. I wanted to know how things were going where my guy was in Iraq in December of 2004.
Milblogs like Blackfive and Mudville Gazette immediately started to fill in some gaps and to give some insight from a military point of view.
Still, it is Bill Roggio and company's reporting over at The Long War Journal (http://www.longwarjournal.org/) that has taken war news blogging to a new level. Initial reporting and analysis based on Roggio's own embeds with troops in theater has morphed into a non-profit organization - Public Multimedia Inc (PMI) - that provides daily updates on the global war on jihadism, or The Long War. In addition to operating the news web site, PMI covers expenses of independent journalists who join our boots on the ground to provide first hand reporting.
And not only has The Long War Journal become a staple of those who get their news from the web, it is now becoming a resource for other media outlets. Last Thursday when news broke that a top Al Qaeda leader had been killed in Pakistan, the FOXNews TV news ticker credited The Long War Journal as their source confirming the Al Qaeda member's role in the terrorist organization.
I gave a small cheer from my hotel room in Philadelphia and sent Bill an email. Kudos to FOXNews for giving credit where credit was due.
So! Help PMI help us keep tabs on the war - donate today!
If you're interested in supporting consistent and in-depth reporting, don't hesitate. As PMI posts on their webpage:
"PMI believes an informed public is necessary for a functional republic, and PMI helps to provide that information. Accurate reporting of The Long War is critical for the American citizenry and her allies to make choices in the important decisions that affect their lives."
I agree.
Plus, I'm an Angel who wants to keep tabs on her current adopted soldier. :)
Friday, February 1, 2008
Lone Survivor: An Inspiring Story
I got this book, Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10, as a Christmas gift from my sister.
I'd read Froggy's posts here and here (now linked among the Blackfive.net archive of "Someones You Should Know" posts) shortly after the events of June-July 2005 and had made a mental note to add the expected book to my reading list when it came out.
I was reminded that I hadn't read it yet in October of last year when Lt Michael Patrick Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Not long after the New Year, I stayed up all night to finish reading the whole story.
**Tissue alert**! as we Angels like to say. As I continually grabbed for extra kleenex, I laughed as a vignette from the book came to mind, "Hydrate!" the Afghani said. Leak enough and you have to put down the book and get a glass of water. Or two. And be forewarned, have your tissues handy even for the introduction. I started this book on the plane from Texas back to DC and had to put it away -- I might have worried the flight attendants....
ANYWAY.
It's a heartwrenching story, made truly readable because we have Marcus to cheer for.
Leading Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell offers a priceless gift by telling his team's story. It's his tribute to those who couldn't make it back, but it's also a story every American should know. While it may be okay that a small percentage of citizens go into battle to defend the rest of us, I think we have some responsibility to understand how they train and what they are prepared to do on our behalf. They are a credit to everything for which our country stands. If you doubt that, read the book.
Kudos to co-author Patrick Robinson; thanks for whatever assistance you provided in getting this story down on paper.
I'd read Froggy's posts here and here (now linked among the Blackfive.net archive of "Someones You Should Know" posts) shortly after the events of June-July 2005 and had made a mental note to add the expected book to my reading list when it came out.
I was reminded that I hadn't read it yet in October of last year when Lt Michael Patrick Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Not long after the New Year, I stayed up all night to finish reading the whole story.
**Tissue alert**! as we Angels like to say. As I continually grabbed for extra kleenex, I laughed as a vignette from the book came to mind, "Hydrate!" the Afghani said. Leak enough and you have to put down the book and get a glass of water. Or two. And be forewarned, have your tissues handy even for the introduction. I started this book on the plane from Texas back to DC and had to put it away -- I might have worried the flight attendants....
ANYWAY.
It's a heartwrenching story, made truly readable because we have Marcus to cheer for.
Leading Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell offers a priceless gift by telling his team's story. It's his tribute to those who couldn't make it back, but it's also a story every American should know. While it may be okay that a small percentage of citizens go into battle to defend the rest of us, I think we have some responsibility to understand how they train and what they are prepared to do on our behalf. They are a credit to everything for which our country stands. If you doubt that, read the book.
Kudos to co-author Patrick Robinson; thanks for whatever assistance you provided in getting this story down on paper.
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