Posts Tagged ‘Military Appreciation’
They are away from home risking everything for America and the world:
Yuma Marines celebrate Independence Day in Afghanistan
7/5/2011 By Pfc. Sean Dennison , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)Â
 KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — US Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 513, deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Airz., celebrated Independence Day at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, July 4Events at the Afghanistan airfield included an oath reaffirmation ceremony headed by Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO International Security Assistance Force commander, while the Marine attack squadron held its own barbeque at the squadron’s hangar.
“America can never thank you enough,†said Petraeus. “I think it’s important to note that unlike the soldiers of my generation, each of you joined knowing there was a possibility you’d be facing hostile combat activity.â€
“Being in Afghanistan on the birthday of our nation is one of the most rewarding moments of my life,†said Sgt. James Vickrey, Marine Attack Squadron 513’s career planner. “While it is not easy to be away from my loved ones on this day, I know that in some small part that what I am doing on this is making this world a better place to live.â€
Connect with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) throughout the deployment. Stay up to date with the latest 2nd MAW (Fwd.) news, photos and videos at http://www.facebook.com/2ndmawfwd.
The Army Team is in the lead. We need to work harder if we are going to catch up and pass them!
Please consider a donation to Project Valour IT Marine Team to ease the burden of those wounded in service to our country.
Thank You.
Wollf, who blogs over at Howling at the Moon was kind enough to send me a reminder and an invite to join the Marine Team.
Semper Fi!
Now, as if you need some more motivating to click on the banner to the right, here ya go.
In 2005, I was wounded. For some months, I was unable to use my hands. They were simply too badly damaged from the blast, and the surgeries to make them usable again left me unable to do anything for myself.
Then came Soldier’s Angels, who gave me a laptop, and paired it with special software that allowed me to control the computer, using only my voice! Â Imagine, being able to do anything you can do with a mouse and keyboard, using just your voice. Â For me, it allowed me to do one thing, that I could do before I was wounded.That one thing–when everything: feeding, cleaning, scratching, everything had to be done for me–that one thing I could do for myself allowed me to connect to my soldiers, friends, and family. That one thing… that one thing began a long road to recovery. Â It gave me hope; that I could learn to do other things like I did before.
That one thing is only possible if people like you care enough to help. Â We have provided thousands of these systems since 2005, but the needs for these systems is still increasing. Â I visit military medical facilities and meet with wounded troops, and know that there are ways to help them… and right now, I have to tell them to wait because we need funding.
Should our wounded have to wait for something that can help them heal, take their mind off their pain, or bring them a little sense of self?
Please help us raise $100,000 between July 1-14; to keep us in the business of providing for our wounded.  It seems like a lot of money, but every single dollar  helps.  Every dollar donated goes to the troops.  None of the VALOUR-IT donation goes to administrative or other costs.  You’d be hard pressed to find any charity that does that, but it was a stipulation I made when we set it up.  That number seems huge, insurmountable.  But you know how you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time.  Give what you can, please.  I know times are tough.  Times were pretty tough for me, too, and are pretty tough for young men and women learning how to use prosthesis, getting skin grafts, having wounds washed out.
Donate if you can, please share the message with others. Â Get your friends to give what they can. Â Write about it on Facebook and twitter. Â Call in to a radio or TV show. Â Spread the word. Spread the love. Spread the hope.
Thank you.
Chuck Ziegenfuss
Carol from No Sheeples Here has a great post promoting Troopathon IV, a program where you can help our soldiers by sending them care packages to let them know you appreciate their sacrifice. Why don’t you head over to her place and read all about it. Then, get involved. We all know it’s the little things that matter.
On this Memorial Day, show some love by sending some personal comforts.
Woo Hoo! The holy grail has been found! Now where did I put it?
The Other McCain features the Robot today with the The Full Metal Jacket Reach-Around Award!
Welcome The Other McCain Readers!
Guess I should straighten things up around here. Just step right over those beer cans, I’ll get to those in a sec.
Thanks to you Stacy and Smitty or whoever it was I paid to rig the FMJRAA lottery. *nudge nudge*
—————————————-
Speaking of ToM losing their mind, Stacy McCain is unfortunately losing the services of an incredible mind, and all around nice guy for a while.
It may be fitting that Smitty makes his deployment announcement today, Veterans Day, as he prepares to ship off to warmer, sandier, more hostile places. He also takes the occasion to offer us some righteous motivation.
A small sample:
… Liberty ain’t cheap, and rejecting Progressivism may resemble pain for a while. That’s not pain. That’s Socialist weakness leaving the country, and don’t let these liars sell you otherwise. Stand and deliver, the way a Progressive cannot, for, at heart, modern Progressivism is a synonym for cowardice.
Hear! Hear!
In saying see-ya-later, he requests:
If I’ve done you any favors, I’d ask that you make this the single most linked post in this blog’s history.
I’m all over that.
Get back to the states as quick as you can, Smitty. Here’s praying for your safe return.
And Sir Smitty, a word of advice: If you see the Grail Shaped Beacon, follow it. Face the peril!
The USMC is 235 years old today.
As William Teach of Pirate’s Cove reminds us with some lovely pin-up action, today is a good day to donate to Project Valour-IT Marine Team.
Also, Cassy Fiano has an excellent article, and Villainous Company has a Project Valour-IT roundup.
Be sure to click the bulldog on the right and give what you can towards the wounded soldiers’ recovery efforts.
Semper Fi.

Longtime readers of this blog and Hot Air know the extraordinary story of Ilario Pantano’s heroism. He’s the Marine sniper-turned-Wall Street trader who rejoined the military after 9/11, faced the death penalty for killing two Iraqi insurgents in the heat of battle in a terrorist-infested town near Baghdad, fought fiercely and successfully to clear his name, wrote the book Warlord chronicling his experiences, and defended other defenders who volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way for their countrymen.
Pantano is continuing his journey of public service in the political square. He’s running against Democrat incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre in North Carolina’s 7th district. UNC Wilmington prof andTownhall columnist Mike Adams has a nice profile of Pantano here.
Pantano’s website is here: He’s on a mission to protect the homeland, preserve conservative values, and increase fiscal accountability. Please lend your support to a warrior who put his life on the line for America.
*Here’s Ilario Pantano’s donation page.
- The Other McCain
- Stop the ACLU
- Proof Positive
- just a conservative girl
- JBlog Central
- Maggie’s Notebook
- Polemicon
- The Conservative Lady
- Right Truth
- The Camp of The Saints
- AmericanNation
- GeeeeeZ!
- Randy’s Roundtable
- Left Coast Rebel
- Mind Numbed Robot
- Hack Wilson
- The War Planner
- Libertarian Advocate
- Lady Cincinnatus
- RightKlik
- Conscientiously Conservative
- Old Line Elephant
- Spartanburg Tea Party
- Anthropocon
- MerrieMarie
- Conservative Scalawag
- 20/10 Blog
- Fuzzy Logic
- Before it’s News
- Action for Liberty
- Adrienne’s Corner
- Reaganite Republican
- Lonely Conservative
- Michigan Blogger
- Nice Deb
- Pirate’s Cove
- That’s Right
- Potluck
- Rightosphere
- Caught Him With a Corndog
- The Resistance
- IOwntheWorld.com
- Gulag Blog
- MoreMonmouthMusings
- Right, Wing-Nut!
- World Daily News
- Lilac Sunday
- At The Point Of A Gun
- WyBlog
- Red Virginia Conservative Railroad
- Thirteen Stars
- America! Oh How We’ll Miss You!
- Salisbury News
- Liberty at Stake
- No Sheeples Here
- Wizbang
- Auldarrow’s Blog
- Letters from Glome
- Allied Liberty News
- Obi’s Sister
- Ruby Slippers
- EIB Enthusiasts
- Being an American Mom
- Conservative Hideout 2.0
- The Save Jersey Blog
- DaTechguy
- Practical State
- Si Vis Pacem
- Give Us Liberty
- Ramparts360
- Left Coast Resistance
- Woody’s Place
- Three Beers Later
- Minnesota Democrats Exposed
- CD5
- Obama Fail Blog
Carol has it at No Sheeples Here.
Livestreaming The Restoring Honor Rally
The streaming started at 10:00 e.s.t. and runs 3 hrs.
UPDATE: Carol’s got a few thoughts on the rally and a link to the replay.
From The Northern Echo UK:
On line fight for British ex para’s release escalates as he is sent back to Afghan prison cell after failed court hearing
THOUSANDS of members of an on line support group are intensifying their fight to have a Teesside serviceman released from an Afghan jail after he was refused his freedom by the Afghan authorities at a court hearing. Anthony Malone 37, an ex paratrooper from Billingham is being held in Pul-i-Charkhi prison in Afghanistan for allegedly owing thousands of dollars.
These barbarians want nothing more than ransom money. Let’s let this soldier and his family know that we are aware of and support Anthony Malone’s cause.
To his credit, Malone is steadily demanding that no money be paid for his release.
“Anthony is a man of principle and insists on his innocence. He wants to leave Pul-i-Charkhi as a freeman with his name cleared.â€
Sign the petition and join the Facebook page!
Our president may not be much in the way of treating our British allies with the dignity and respect they deserve, but we can at least show that the American people won’t abandon them.
A day to remember
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Master Sgt. Timothy Deramus clinches the U.S. flag during a Veterans Day ceremony at Camp Sather here Nov. 11. Sergeant Deramus is an information manager deployed from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the camp’s honor guard detail. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael O’Connor)
Image and description via http://www.af.mil/weekinphotos/041112-10.html
The flag is more than a symbol. It’s a piece of home and a reminder to the brave soldiers of what they fight for and should remind us all of those who defend us.