And another "tune in" [Greyhawk - May 12, 2008 11:25 AM]
JD Johannes of Outside the Wire will be a guest on the Dennis Miller radio program today.
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Tune in Tonight [Greyhawk - May 11, 2008 09:28 PM]
"America's Favorite Moms" from several categories will be crowned tonight. NBC, 7PM eastern/6 central. We'll be watching at haus Greyhawk, and ready to cheer for Patti.
Update: Golf ran late, so NBC bumped the show in our area (if they ran it at all) but...
SOLDIERS' ANGELS FOUNDER WINS!Patti Patton-Bader Named "America's Favorite Mom"
May 11, 2008, PASADENA, CA -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 Donnie 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 prize winner, she will receive $250,000, a set of household appliances, and other valuable items. Patton-Bader hopes to apply the winnings to her plans for a small ranch that will allow newly returned soldiers to relax with their families after deployments.
"I really am lucky to know so many heroes in my life," said Patton-Bader, who herself has two sons in the Army, one currently deployed to Iraq. "Whether they are the troops who serve our country or the amazing mothers here on this America's Favorite Mom program, I am honored to be in the presence of such inspirational people and also am humbled to know that America thinks the same of me."
Patton-Bader is also excited about the opportunities this platform gives her to help people learn more about America's military heroes and options for supporting them and their families. The attention she has received through the America's Favorite Mom events has already drawn a number of new volunteers who want to use their talents and connections to help support the troops.
In a nationwide online poll last March, Patton-Bader was voted "America's Most Inspirational Mom" after having been nominated by her eldest son for founding and leading Soldiers' Angels. On May 5, 2008 she appeared on the Today show as one of three selected finalists in the "Favorite Military Mom" category. A nationwide online poll was again conducted, and the results were announced on May 11, 2008 with Patton-Bader being named winner in both the "Favorite Military Mom" and "America's Favorite Mom" categories. More information is available at www.americasfavoritemom.com.
Soldiers' Angels is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit comprised of around 200,000 volunteers in over twenty different teams and programs with unique and effective ways to support members of the U.S. military. Soldiers' Angels operates internationally to provide letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support for their families at home. They also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call (615) 676-0239.
America's Favorite Mom was presented by NBC Television and Teleflora, America's leading source of hand-arranged floral bouquets, plants, and gift baskets. For more information, see www.americasfavoritemom.com.
"May no soldier go unloved, may no soldier walk alone, may no soldier be forgotten, until they all come home." ~ Patti Patton-Bader.
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At Stars and Stripes... [Greyhawk - May 11, 2008 08:23 PM]
A comparison of competing GI Bills.
In addition to the many reasons they give for Webb's bill being the more desirable for the troops (and veterans) I'd add one they neglected - the last minute Republican alternative doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Baghdad.
I've been following this story...
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Mother Ships [Eagle1 - May 11, 2008 06:36 PM]
What do these women have to do with Navy ships?
Answer here.
Happy Mothers Day to all military moms!
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Troof [Greyhawk - May 11, 2008 02:23 PM]
Over 750 billion soldiers per day are suffering brain injuries in Iraq. Twice that number try to kill themselves after returning to the states - EVERY HOUR!! You can't walk down a major city street in America today without having one of them hit you up for spare change at a red light (offering to clean your windshield with drool), while another lands on your car hood after jumping from the top of the nearest skyscraper.
However, they do have one remaining hope - Barack Obama can heal them (yes, even the dead ones) simply by the laying on of hands.
More here (including a test to see if you are brain damaged.)
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So, you think that this is untrue? Here is an actual experience that highlights some of what is said. Ft. Campbell KY an army wife becomes concerned because her active husband is acting agitated and hostile. She gets him to the mental health facility on base and he is released within 1/2 hr after admittance with a sheet of paper that tells him "What to do for vaginal discharge"!!!! I am guessing that this is only one of many insidents that indiciate that the active and veteran health system is stretched to its limit and it will cost my grandchildrens grandchildren to pay for it.
I can Explain... [Greyhawk - May 11, 2008 01:12 AM]
...this disgusting story in two words:
The U.S. military has, since 2001, cremated some of the remains of American service members killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere at a Delaware facility that also cremates pets, a practice that ended yesterday when the Pentagon banned the arrangement."Lowest bidder".The facility, located in an industrial park near Dover Air Force Base, has cremated about 200 service members, manager David A. Bose estimated last night. It uses separate crematories a few feet apart to cremate humans and animals, he added, insisting that there had "not been any people gone through the pet crematory."
Pentagon officials said they do not think that human remains and animal remains were ever commingled at the facility. "We have absolutely no evidence whatsoever at this point that any human remains were at all ever mistreated," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said at a news conference hastily convened last night.
Regardless, the Pentagon will no longer permit crematories not located with funeral homes to handle the remains of U.S. troops, defense officials said.
Officials said they do not know the number of service members cremated at the Kent County facility, which is identified on a billboard as Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service.
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Having done the Dover thing. I can attest to the fact that the "human remains contractors" were most repectful.
Yes..they all used the euphemism "small, medium, large". Small being a child, medium generally being a female and large being a male.
I think Yon's picture of a "small bleeding out" in
a soldiers arms in Mosul captured the general sentiment of handling a "small". Handling a small was an awful experience.
I'm sorry, but as long as nobody got Fido instead of their brother I don't see the problem. A crematory furnace by definition burns pretty hot; the previous body doesn't contaminate the next one.
Question... [Greyhawk - May 10, 2008 11:37 PM]
Does anyone know if an American journalist has reported from Sadr City before?
If not, blogger Bill Ardolino is first.
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Michael Gordon has been there...
Before I Was a Soldier's Mom [Soldier's Mom - May 10, 2008 05:26 PM]
Before I was a Soldier's Mom
I never tripped over a rucksack or knew the words to the Army song.
I didn't worry whether or not my child could shoot or had "zeroed up".
I never imagined saying, "Good job!" when my child told me he had jumped out of a perfectly good airplane... or when he qualified with a grenade launcher.
I could not have told you the difference between division, brigade, regiment, battalion, company, platoon or squad.
I cheered for Navy.
Before I was a Soldier's Mom
I never looked into a soldier's eyes and cried.
I didn't understand "HOOAH".
I never imagined I could be so gloriously happy over a simple "Hey, Ma."
Before I was a Soldier's Mom
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
I never sat up late staring at a computer screen or woke in the middle of the night just to check if the computer and cell phone were working.
Before I was a Soldier's Mom
I never knew that so few words could affect my life so deeply: Deployment. Bradley. Wounded. and I never knew the alphabet could rob me of breath: OIF. IED. RPG. WIA. KIA.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop my child's hurt.
I didn't weep at the sound of "Taps", the National Anthem or "American Soldier".
I never held back a scream or had my knees go weak at an unexpected knock at the door.
Before I was a Soldier's Mom
I never had so many sisters! (and brothers) nor so many sons and daughters!
I never felt fear so completely.... and
I never felt such pride.
x-posted at Some Soldier's Mom
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Before you were a Soldier's Mom, so many other Soldiers' moms had no voice of experience to turn to. Thank you for sharing your experiences and helping others learn what to expect, the good, the bad and the ugly.
We love you. HOOAH!
I read an article yesterday about a woman that had 18 kids.
She's got nothing on you, Mom.
Happy Mother's Day from one of your oldest kids!
Before you were a soldier's mom, you were still "mom" and always will be.
Happy mother's day to you and all of those great ladies.
Re: Welcome Home [Greyhawk - May 10, 2008 04:51 PM]
Meanwhile, another deployment begins. (bonus: a trip to the White House.)
Read this, too:
Yesterday someone called to say goodbye to my husband before he left, not knowing that he'd been bumped forward. And in the conversation, this person asked if my husband thinks that being in Iraq is worth it, if his job means anything, and if he thinks we should've gone there in the first place. How do you answer that question 1) politely and 2) succinctly? And then what do you do when that person says, "Well, I don't think it was the right idea in the first place"?Sarah was one of the first spouse milbloggers - she's been there and done that before.
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