Military Family & Friends
 

Ok, Here's a start on all things military for all of us whom have military family members, military friends or those of us whom just want to post anything in honor or support or our military men and women, past and present. Please keep it positive and supportive. The last thing anyone needs whom is connected to anyone whom serves is negativity. Please respect their feelings, it is a very emotional and sensitive topic for all concerned. Post photos, tributes, stories, and helpful links or voice your concerns.

Honor them by remembering.

i have a friend who was in iraq hes home now then going back to germany i might be able to post a pic of him in his dress uniform but ill have to blur out his face he would kill me if he knew his face was on the internet lol

Here's a nice site for people to create a tribute page for their family members whom are serving. Let me know if you create a page for your loved one so I can post a supportive message to them.
http://www.projo.com/extra/terror/tribute/

Do you know the story or the Blue Star Banner? I have one hanging proudly from my window along with an American Flag. I also wear a Blue Star Pin. It's not just for mothers but for anyone whom has an imediate family member whom serves during war. http://www.bluestarmothers.org/flags.php

The following text is from the Blue Star Mothers website. They have a printable version if your intrested.

"Service Star Flags

Display of the Service Star Banner first came about during World War I. During WWI and WWII most flags were hand made by mothers across the nation. One of the most famous flags was that of the five Sullivan brothers who all perished on the U.S.S. Juneau.

Each blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty. A gold star is displayed if a service member is killed in action or dies in service. If several stars are displayed in one family the gold star takes the honor of being placed at the top.

Display of a Service Star Banner is done during times of war. Once again families are displaying banners at home. Banners may be purchased through the internet, at stores, or made by hand. Listed to the right are some links that have a detailed history of the flag."

A great military forum
 

Here's a wonderful community for Military moms, dads, spouses, friends, aunts, uncles, etc. Very nice forum for people whom need the support of others while our loved ones serve. It's not just for moms of military children, all are welcomed.
http://www.militarymoms.net/

My pics!!!!
 

I FINALLY figured out how to downsize my pictures, so I could show you guys. So I attached a picture of my hubby in his cammies, and I attached a picture of me and my kitty Sam. It's not the best pic of me, but oh well!!

I am just happy I know how to do it now!! So now, when I finally get my yorkie, I'll know how to post pics of her!!

:)

Melanie

Great pictures! Glad you figured out how to downsize them. Your hubby looks good in his DBU's.

Soldier's Angels
 

Here's a site for anyone whom might be intrested in becoming a Soldier's Angel.
Many people have asked me if there was something they could do to help make a soldiers deployment a little easier. I found out about this from my son. He kept talking about his Angel in his emails to me and his wife and I kept wondering what on earth he was talking about. This wonderful lady adopted him along with several other soldiers, they send encouraging emails, letters, small care packages and just try to uplift them as much as possible. While my son had support from home it did make him feel better knowing that a total stranger cared about him as well. Just be aware that should you adopt a soldier they may ar may not be able to respond often to your emails, letters and such. They are working long hours, some have little access to computers and they are trying to stay safe. So please don't take it personal. My son loved his and kept in touch with her as much as he did with us. I have been fortunate enough to have corresponded with her as well. It gave me much comfort in knowing she truly cared about his safety and supported him.
http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php

I have a double blue star banner hanging in my front door. Both my son and son-in-law are Marines.

My son-in-law was in Iraq for the official start and end of the war and his current unit is currently deployed to Iraq. He is awaiting back surgery in early May - so if he recovers fast enough, he'll join them for his 2nd tour.

My son has been stationed in Okinawa for 2 years. He has only been home once during that time. This week my son flew to Camp LeJeune, NC to train for a month before reporting to Iraq for a year. They will be the first group of Marines on a yearlong deployment. He was hand picked to go on this mission and accepted the assignment. His mission is the 2nd highest priority in the entire Marine Corp right now.

We were supposed to go to NC to see him next weekend but he won't have any time off from training until May 20th. We rebooked our plane tickets for then.

I fully support my son and other military families for the sacrifices they are making to keep us safe. This support extends to the wives/husbands, children, parents, girlfriends/boyfriends of those who take on all the traditional responsibilities while their loved ones are gone for so long.

Semper Fi!
Proud Marine Mom of Cpl B Johnson
Proud Marine Mother-in-law of Cpl J Fabre

i love my soldier :luvu: i am very proud of all our soldiers and i pray for evryones safe return.

My sister 's husband is in the Navy. He just got back from Italy i think. They will be moving to Japan next year. My Uncle is on the reserve now, but he was on active duty years ago.
I also have all our soldiers in my prayers.

Yeah, that is a great idea! There are also a lot of websites out there, where you can find address's of soldiers in Iraq that don't get letters from ANYONE. They make lists of all of them, that way you can write to a soldier that doesn't get anything letters...packages...etc. It's very sad to know that there are so many soldiers over there that aren't recieving anything from anyone, I guess just cause some of them don't have any family, or are single... or something such as that. But I am sure if you just sent a letter to one of them or a small care package it would make their day! My husbands father and my husbands uncle are in Iraq right now. They are in the Army, but my husbands father is a former US Marine. They will be over there for 2 years. We email them everyday, and we are currently putting together a care package for them. I LOVE sending care packages. I sent them to my brother all the time when he was deployed. It's a lot of fun putting them together. But if you research it online, you can find lists with soldiers address's and also you can find a lot of cute ideas for things to send to them.
Just a thought!

Thank you!!! ;)

Marine's mom
 

My son in law is a marine & currently stationed in Iraq. My daughter was married last March then moved to N.C. He left for Iraq in February of this year. She moved back to Oregon while he is gone. She is due to have a baby in early October. She's an extremely stong young woman. 18 years old, married, pregnant & seperated from her husband. She seems to be handling things. Hope you are doing good.

Proud of all our soilders
 

my father and family have served in the military for many years. My dad retired at over 20 years in the Army. He is a very proud Army man and would go back in ..in a heartbeat if he could.

My husband is serving in the Navy and is apart of the fight for freedom overseas and I'm so proud of him too.

I live in a very large Military area and I along with many other military families cry and support each other when we watch our loved ones go to do what is their call to do, but it never gets any easier.
I just want to commend EVERYONE who is apart of the military..THE SOILDERS and the family and freinds and ofcourse the spouses & children who stand beside them and pray for there return.

GOD BLESS :)

MamaLuvsFrankie:

When my son-in-law left for Iraq, we moved my daughter and granddaughter back home because we didn't know how long the war would last. My sil wanted my daughter to be pregnant before he left but she refused until he would return.

Your daughter has my prayers and thoughts with her. How long is your son-in-law's deployment supposed to last?

Lisa

Carter's Mom, we did the very same thing. My son found out he was being sent to Germany and the Army told him he would only be there a few weeks before being deployed. So we moved my D-I-L and 3 grandkids (Ages 6, 5, 3) back home. He was in Iraq for 13 months. He is trying to get his orders changed so he can get his wife and kids over there in Germany with him. I feel badly for the kids, they really miss him.

Pictures from Iraq
 

Here's a few pics from Iraq. All were tken in the Sunni Triangle. First pic is of my son at the palace in Tikrit, camel pics, action picture and then a beautiful sunset.

Luvmypuster,
Thank you for sharing the pics. This pics made this awful war more real. I will have your soldier in my prayers for his safe return.

Those are awsome pictures! Very nice....

I attached a couple of pictures my brother (active Navy) had sent us while he was deployed.... These pictures were taken in Jebel Ali. He got to see so many neat places while he was deployed. He recently re-enlisted for another 6 years... He loves what he does... I don't know how he does it. My husband in enlisted for 5 years, and we have 3 years left, and we are both really excited for him to be out of the Marines... Even though I am VERY proud of him, and I am happy he is serving our country, the military lifestyle is very hard.... and that's why I ask my brother all the time "Why did you re-enlist for 6 more years?!?" and he just tells me he loves what he does, and he loves protecting this country! I am so very proud of him and my husband... and everyone else that serves for this country! They are very brave for doing this, and they ALL hold a special place in my heart! :usaheart:

PS- My brother is the one in the white shirt, on the camel!

:usastar: Melanie :usastar:

Thank you Marie, My soldier is out of Iraq for now and is in Germany. We hope he doesn't have to go back but I'm sure it he will. Please keep all deployed soldiers & their families in your thoughts and prayers

Melanie, I think it's a calling for some. My son is on his 3rd enlistment. First time was for 2 years , then he re-upped for 4 and then for 6 years. My son came home on leave back in March and he was home maybe a week from Iraq when he told me he now understands why people volunteer to go back as soon as they come home. It is a hard life for family members. The constant stress and worries make it very difficult. I feel sorry for my dear D-I-L. She's an Army Brat herself but it doesn't make it any easier for her.

Brenda...and other Marine moms and Wives - This is a crosspost but beautiful....

Here is a great photo of an Air Force training squadron flying in a never-done-before "USA" formation over the control tower "Taj Mahal" (HQ building) of Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Pray for all our young men and women serving our country and going into danger that we might preserve our Freedom. And pray for wisdom for our leaders.

Lovemypupster:

Those are gorgeous photographs. My sil came home with multiple CDs with images from different people that were in his unit. There are hundreds and hundreds of them.

I cannot imagine what your dil and grandbabies are going through with the separation from your son. It is extremely difficult for those soldiers/marines that have family.

Villette -- that is an awesome image you posted this morning!!

Lisa

Hi everyone - I am absolutely enjoying this thread!

Just to introduce myself (if ANYONE doesn't know!) we are an Air Force family stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which is on the Central Coast in California. Recently, my husband got orders to Turkey where he will be for 15 months beginning in July. We (my two children, Sandy, Tia, and I) have opted NOT to go with him as it is a hazardous duty zone and we would have to spend all of our time on base. If a serious medical condition arose, we would have to be flown into Germany for hospitalization as the threat level at Turkish hospitals is too high. After his 15 months are finished, we will be moving to Hickam, Hawaii!

I'm so, so happy that we have discovered SO many military affiliated people on this forum! I feel like I have a small "Yorkie Support" system in place for when my husband leaves.

Thank you to everyone who helps to make our country great - including all you Moms, Aunts, Sisters, Children, Wives and everyone else. Our military members could not do what they do without you (us!)

Thats a great pic Villette. Thanks for sharing it with us. Aimee, I'm a little amazed at how many people on this forum are some how connected to one of our military members. It's kind of nice knowing there are others around.

just wanted to add this :D

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/wa...smiley-089.gif