Married to the Army

Gold Star Family Support

This video says it all. Wow. Especially the very end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaGmeFhqEpk

Here is the website:

http://goldstarfamilysupport.org/

Civilian Clothes

I recently heard that Tim McGraw was adding a tribute to soldiers on his website. It features stories from soldiers and their families, pictures that have been submitted as well as where supporters can post. I was browsing through the pictures and ran across this one...

http://www.timmcgraw.com/photo/Heroes/joey_in_alaska__last_time_we_saw_him_before_he_left_for_iraq_he_was_killed_12262006_?tag_name=Heroes#photo

As you can see, this picture shows Joey in Alaska. It was the last picture that was taken of him before he was killed in Iraq on 12/26/06. I don't know Joey or his family but for some reason this picture really got to me. I would find myself thinking about it at odd times and it would just sadden me every time that I did.

Just like all of you, I hear about the deaths of soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan every day. I see their pictures on the news or in the newspapers. So why was this one different?

And then it hit me. He's in civilian clothes. The picture is not of him in his military uniform. And it makes him seem more human. It's not "just another soldier" who was killed. It was a young guy who had spent some time in Alaska before deploying to Iraq. By him being in civilian clothes in that picture, it allowed you to see him for him and not to see him as his job.

I wonder what the impact would be on the American public if instead of the news saying "Four more soldiers were killed in Iraq today" while showing pictures of soldiers in uniform...they said "An 18 year old from smalltown, USA was tragically killed today. He leaves behind his parents and two younger siblings..." all while showing pictures of him in normal everyday activities minus the military uniform. Would people wake-up then and realize its not just another soldier or just another number added to the count? At that point, would they realize who he was?

I'm not sure. But I know it sure hit home for me to see Joey standing beside the river in Alaska with the caption "last time we saw him before he left for Iraq..."

Another YouTube Video

Let's hope I have a little more luck posting this video. I found the link to this when I was on the Ranger website. When the video first started, I wasn't too sure about it but I'm glad I watched to the end. It is a great message about our military and very powerful.

You can check it out here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BETZxl_itYg

Congratulations Chelle!

A few days ago, I received a call from a member of the message board and contributor to my website. Chelle was calling to tell me that not only had she been selected as one of the top ten spouses by Military Spouse Magazine, she had been selected as the TOP spouse! She is going for her photo shoot tomorrow for the cover of the next magazine. In addition, she will also have a column in the magazine for a year.

I am so excited for her. She has endured a great deal but has continued to be a wonderful resource and a supportive and inspirational military spouse and friend. Seriously, I dare you to find a question about military life, Tricare in particular, that she can't find an answer to...I don't think we've stumped her yet!

Congratulations Chelle! You deserve it!

Below are some of her articles on the Married to the Army website:

Taking Control of Your Health

Surviving & Beating PTSD

Facing Deployment with Children

A Little Different View of Deployment

I ran across this blog posting today and wanted to share it with you. This is the first time I've ever read Cassandra's blog (Villainous Company) and I was disappointed to see that she is retiring from blogging. I'm sure I'll be scouring through all of her previous posts.

Read her view of deployment...here's a small excerpt. But really you must read the entire post!

As time passed and I stretched my wings, I became more confident. Free of the necessity to accommodate another adult, I reordered my life to suit me. I had time to do things I couldn't do when he was home. There were advantages to being alone, as well as drawbacks.

And I counted the days, and as I grew and changed, I tried not to grow too far apart from the woman I had been before my husband left. Because that is the danger; when you put your feelings on the shelf, when you try to cope well, there is always the risk of overcompensating, of forgetting how very much you need that person on the other side of the world.

What a Way To Say Thanks!

I heard bits and pieces of this news story a few days ago but I've just run across the video on YouTube thanks to a poster on my message board. EDITED: The YouTube video was removed (thanks for letting me know Kasey!) but here is another link to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298842,00.html

Marines returning from Iraq were not allowed in the terminal at the airport in Oakland, California. Because of that, they did not have access to food, water or bathroom facilities...and perhaps most importantly, family waiting inside the terminal to greet them.

This is absolutely ridiculous. And the excuse from the airport? They couldn't be sure that the Marines had been properly screened. Therefore they weren't allowed in the airport.

It is my understanding that this is the ONLY airport in the nation that subscribes to these supposed extra security measures. If every other airport in the nation allows our troops in the terminal, what makes Oakland think they're so special as to be the only one who doesn't?

And since when are our troops a security THREAT?! Last I checked, they are there to protect us and to serve our country. What a complete outrage that they return after serving in Iraq only to be greeted in this manner at an airport in their home country. I can only imagine how they felt when they were told they wouldn't be allowed into the terminal.

Oakland needs to get their act together. Put political beliefs to the side and welcome our troops home in the proper manner. If that means bringing in additional screeners so the officials at Oakland feel like they're doing their job, then so be it. But don't disregard our troops and send them out to sit with the baggage for three hours while waiting for their next flight. 

I'm Still Alive!

Wow, this has been a hectic few weeks. Just seems like there is so much going on with a deadline attached. I promise I will soon get back to being a regular poster on here!

Good news to share though - I did really well on the GMAT. I have been studying continuously for this test since August. I was dreaming every night about triangles, a2+b2=c2 and all of that alegbra and geometry that I forgot as soon as I finished the class way back when. I took the test last Thursday and did really well. So now I'm preparing my application for grad school which includes four essay questions. I'm hoping to apply by the early deadline of November 2nd.

So just wanted to post a little note that I will be back full force very soon!