Staff reportPosted : Monday Dec 31, 2007 8:16:23 EST
Want to see if a friend or family member overseas had a chance to record a holiday greeting?
The video hellos are now available online, according to a recent press release from the Air Force.
Three teams from the Army and Air Force Hometown News Service each spent 40 days collecting greetings in Europe, Pacific and Southwest Asia theaters, the release said. Others were taped in Iraq, Afghanistan and remote locations such as Romania by military broadcasters.
More than 2,300 stations nationally run the greetings during commercial breaks throughout the holiday season, the release said.
That is a far cry from the first-year numbers, said Larry Gilliam, Hometown News deputy director. Gilliam was the broadcaster who set up the inaugural trip while out on a holiday news story assignment.
“Our first year we sent out about 300 greetings,” he said in the release. “This year we collected nearly 9,000. We get a lot of positive feedback from the stations. They always want more greetings,” he said.
Greetings can be viewed on the HometownLink Web page.
Source
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Turner Elementary in Pasadena Texas Collects for Holdiays for Heroes
Mrs. Mariam Weaver, Kindergarten Teacher with Turner Elementary in Pasadena Texas, organized collecting items for the Soldiers' Angels Holiday for Heroes Operation. With the support of the students, parents, faculty and staff of Turner Elementary, they were able to collect the following items.
1255 Pkgs. Hot Chocolate
345 Pkgs. Hot Apple Cider
250 Power Bars
296 Pairs of Tube Socks
$90 Int’l Phone Cards
2 – 75 Mins. Phone Cards
152 Christmas Cards made by Turner Students
Thanks to Mrs. Weaver and Turner Elementary School students, faculty and staff many of those serving our country had a little taste of home for the holidays.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Soldier dying of brain cancer promoted early
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Dec 21, 2007 10:17:48 EST
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Jared Brissette had earned a promotion to sergeant in the Army but wasn’t expected to live long enough for the ceremony. So the Army came to his parents’ home to promote the paratrooper in his bed.
Brissette is dying of brain cancer. Army commanders from Fort Bragg, N.C., visited Brissette on Thursday to promote him and present the new medals he earned this year.
Doctors say the 22-year-old likely has only days to live.
Brissette decided to enlist after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2005.
He married his high school sweetheart after returning home. He had been training for a deployment to Iraq when he was diagnosed with cancer in January.
Posted : Friday Dec 21, 2007 10:17:48 EST
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Jared Brissette had earned a promotion to sergeant in the Army but wasn’t expected to live long enough for the ceremony. So the Army came to his parents’ home to promote the paratrooper in his bed.
Brissette is dying of brain cancer. Army commanders from Fort Bragg, N.C., visited Brissette on Thursday to promote him and present the new medals he earned this year.
Doctors say the 22-year-old likely has only days to live.
Brissette decided to enlist after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2005.
He married his high school sweetheart after returning home. He had been training for a deployment to Iraq when he was diagnosed with cancer in January.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A Country Christmas
by Martha Neyman
This past Saturday evening, in Honey Grove, TX, we were witnesses to the caring of others.
Mark & Linda McDaniel wanted to do something for our troops. They contacted Martha Neyman, Soldiers' Angel, and suggested that a benefit show be held at The Grove Music Hall, Honey Grove. Mark and Linda own The Grove Music Hall, so no rent was to be charged and the entrance fee was a donation. A date was set and the planning process began. After several weeks of working on this project, Saturday night finally arrived.
Before the show started, we knew we had a successful evening as we had already received a $500 donation from one business and a $300 in-kind donation of food items from another business. As people came for the show, donations of $$$ and items were accepted.
One of the performers and her Mom had gone out in their town and placed collection boxes for the items listed on our forum. They also put a box at the store where cell phones are sold - that way people could donate their old phones - it worked, she brought 33 phones Saturday night, plus about 12 boxes of a variety of items.
One of the dance teams that performed, told Neyman that this was not going to be a one-time thing - the dance studio will be collecting for the soldiers from now on. What giving hearts.
Three schools had made Christmas cards for our soldiers - three boxes of Christmas cards have been mailed. It was a very humbling experience to sit and read what these young students had written to our soldiers.
This small community in Fannin County Texas really came together to show their support for our troops - we had no seats left - standing room only, a minister who gladly led the invocation asking God's protection of our troops, a Boy Scout troop who proudly posted the colors and about 17 different and talented performers. What an evening...
My thanks to Twyla & Reid Choate, Scharlyn & Eddie Berner, and Bill Neyman, all angels in my book, for being there and helping make this an evening to remember.
Troops, families honored
from Amarillo.com
By Chris Ramirez
chris.ramirez@amarillo.com
James O'Brien was stumped when he got the letter.
It was from an Amarillo woman he'd never met, praising him for his service to his country.
On Monday, he got a chance to put a face to the name.
O'Brien was among those feted at the Ambassador Hotel at a holiday party by the nonprofit America Supports You-Texas. The event paid homage to active-duty military personnel from the Texas Panhandle.
"The reason we have freedom is because of the men and women who fight everyday for it," said event organizer Jack Barnes, a retired Navy chief petty officer. "We need to remind people of that."
Among those honored were personnel working in Amarillo's military processing center, military personnel working with Bell Helicopter and local reservists.
O'Brien, a native of Fritch, is an infantry soldier stationed in Ramahdi, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was allowed to return to Texas for Thanksgiving, but is set to go back to the war zone today.
Heather Blythe, a stay-at-home mother of three, has no ties to the military, but has written to troops through Soldiers' Angels. The national program links stateside families with soldiers fighting overseas, and involves letter-writing and sending cards and care packages.
O'Brien was one of Blythe's soldiers.
Blythe wrote him once in October, but got no answer. This week, she got a phone call from O'Brien saying he would be in Amarillo for the event.
"They (soldiers) have to know we support them," said Blythe, 32.
O'Brien brought his digital camera to the dinner. On it were pictures of him posing with his gun, members of his battalion and Iraqi villagers shepherding livestock across hilly terrain.
He said he was inspired to join the military after watching the terrorist attack unfold on Sept. 11, 2001.
"We're keep them (terrorists) off American soil," he said. "If any of them came to do harm to my family ... I'd want to do something ."
At least 3,886 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the war, including 358 from Texas, according to the Department of Defense. In the month of December, six U.S. soldiers have died.
By Chris Ramirez
chris.ramirez@amarillo.com
James O'Brien was stumped when he got the letter.
It was from an Amarillo woman he'd never met, praising him for his service to his country.
On Monday, he got a chance to put a face to the name.
O'Brien was among those feted at the Ambassador Hotel at a holiday party by the nonprofit America Supports You-Texas. The event paid homage to active-duty military personnel from the Texas Panhandle.
"The reason we have freedom is because of the men and women who fight everyday for it," said event organizer Jack Barnes, a retired Navy chief petty officer. "We need to remind people of that."
Among those honored were personnel working in Amarillo's military processing center, military personnel working with Bell Helicopter and local reservists.
O'Brien, a native of Fritch, is an infantry soldier stationed in Ramahdi, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was allowed to return to Texas for Thanksgiving, but is set to go back to the war zone today.
Heather Blythe, a stay-at-home mother of three, has no ties to the military, but has written to troops through Soldiers' Angels. The national program links stateside families with soldiers fighting overseas, and involves letter-writing and sending cards and care packages.
O'Brien was one of Blythe's soldiers.
Blythe wrote him once in October, but got no answer. This week, she got a phone call from O'Brien saying he would be in Amarillo for the event.
"They (soldiers) have to know we support them," said Blythe, 32.
O'Brien brought his digital camera to the dinner. On it were pictures of him posing with his gun, members of his battalion and Iraqi villagers shepherding livestock across hilly terrain.
He said he was inspired to join the military after watching the terrorist attack unfold on Sept. 11, 2001.
"We're keep them (terrorists) off American soil," he said. "If any of them came to do harm to my family ... I'd want to do something ."
At least 3,886 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the war, including 358 from Texas, according to the Department of Defense. In the month of December, six U.S. soldiers have died.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Dancing lieutenant comes in second
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 17, 2007 15:53:56 EST
First Lt. John Scheuren is not ashamed of his call sign, “Tiny Dancer.” After all, when you go from your first dance lesson to second-best in the world in 15 months, you command respect, even in rhinestones.
It started when some “Dancing with the Stars” pros put on a charity show near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where Scheuren works as a statistician for the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron. After the show, Scheuren got a flier for a free dance lesson at a nearby studio and took advantage of the opportunity.
Watch the video
Dancing lieutenant
He picked up moves quickly and about two months in, he said, his instructor recognized his talent.
“It’s kind of rare to have a 25-year-old guy student,” Scheuren said. “Usually people have been dancing for 10 years by [then].”
His instructor, Georgia Ambarian, would become his partner, and was already a world champion in the cabaret format, which involves lifts and throws. When the pair won a national competition in May, Ambarian told Scheuren he had a chance to take the world title, so she amped up his routine.
“It’s absolutely brutal,” Scheuren said. “It’s two hours of pain. She makes me lift her over my head for two hours straight.”
In addition to his Air Force fitness routine, Scheuren puts in one to two hours a day in the dance studio, and four hours a day leading up to competitions.
At the world championships in Ohio in November, Scheuren placed second overall in cabaret, missing first by two marks.
Source
Posted : Monday Dec 17, 2007 15:53:56 EST
First Lt. John Scheuren is not ashamed of his call sign, “Tiny Dancer.” After all, when you go from your first dance lesson to second-best in the world in 15 months, you command respect, even in rhinestones.
It started when some “Dancing with the Stars” pros put on a charity show near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where Scheuren works as a statistician for the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron. After the show, Scheuren got a flier for a free dance lesson at a nearby studio and took advantage of the opportunity.
Watch the video
Dancing lieutenant
He picked up moves quickly and about two months in, he said, his instructor recognized his talent.
“It’s kind of rare to have a 25-year-old guy student,” Scheuren said. “Usually people have been dancing for 10 years by [then].”
His instructor, Georgia Ambarian, would become his partner, and was already a world champion in the cabaret format, which involves lifts and throws. When the pair won a national competition in May, Ambarian told Scheuren he had a chance to take the world title, so she amped up his routine.
“It’s absolutely brutal,” Scheuren said. “It’s two hours of pain. She makes me lift her over my head for two hours straight.”
In addition to his Air Force fitness routine, Scheuren puts in one to two hours a day in the dance studio, and four hours a day leading up to competitions.
At the world championships in Ohio in November, Scheuren placed second overall in cabaret, missing first by two marks.
Source
Friday, December 14, 2007
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Tomorrow Angels across the United States will be a part of the Wreaths Across America, wreath laying at National Cemeteries. This is a wonderful way to pay tribute to our Heroes who have given their all for this great country.
Take time to watch the following video and to remember those who gave their all!
Take time to watch the following video and to remember those who gave their all!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Voices From America
Major recording artists are joining forces to support our U.S Troops this holiday season.
Mozes, a mobile marketing company, is joining forces with major recording artists to support the U.S. troops this holiday season. On Monday the company will announce that it will be connecting bands with fans via voice messaging and a tangential program called 'Voices from America' that allows bands and fans to show their support for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone can call the "Voices from America" number (1-888-312-2612) to hear artists' messages and leave a holiday message of their own. All messages will be displayed on the "Voices from America" widget and troops serving overseas will have access to all messages through the support of Armed Forces Entertainment. You may see and hear the voicemails being left for the troops here.
Mozes, a mobile marketing company, is joining forces with major recording artists to support the U.S. troops this holiday season. On Monday the company will announce that it will be connecting bands with fans via voice messaging and a tangential program called 'Voices from America' that allows bands and fans to show their support for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone can call the "Voices from America" number (1-888-312-2612) to hear artists' messages and leave a holiday message of their own. All messages will be displayed on the "Voices from America" widget and troops serving overseas will have access to all messages through the support of Armed Forces Entertainment. You may see and hear the voicemails being left for the troops here.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Operation DVD Bible
Click here for more informationSee And Hear God’s Word With The Bible Study Tool That Is Used By Millions
Our Servicemen and Women Will Receive One Free Bible On DVD
For Every Copy Purchased before December 31, 2007.
Fairfield, NJ – BiblesOnDVD, a division of The DVD Acquisition And Development Group, Inc has announced a new initiative to send free copies of its best-selling BiblesOnDVD to members of the U.S. armed services in cooperation with the nonprofit group Soldiers’ Angels.
The new initiative, called “Operation DVD Bible” will donate one copy of the DVD Bible to US servicemen and women for every copy purchased before the end of the year.
When you give a Bible on DVD as gift to a loved one, you will also be giving an appreciated gift to a member of our armed services.
David Goodman, president of The DVD Acquisition and Development Group, Inc., said, “DVDs are among the most requested items by our troops, and we are grateful to our publishing and retail partners for helping to make this innovative program possible. We receive many requests and orders from members of the military, and now our publishers, retailers and consumers will be joining forces to send our DVD Bibles to those who want them.”
“We are very excited about ‘Operation DVD Bible,’” said Lisa Nyberg, CFO of Soldier’s Angels. “We have the ability to package and ship the donated DVDs and we have points of contact at military installations all over the world.”
The Bible on DVD features the entire Old and New Testament with on-screen scripture synchronized with the audio narration, as well as a Holy Land Tour photo presentation.
Featuring award-winning narrators, such as Stephen Johnston, Max McLean, and Alexander Scourby whose inspired readings make the scripture come alive, The Bible On DVD is a wonderful way to read and share the Bible while also thanking those who serve our country.
Each two-DVD set features:
• Audio Narration of The complete New and Old Testament Text
• Over 70 Hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio on two DVDs
• Synchronized Graphics & Text showing every verse
• Accompanying inspirational music to enhance the religious ambience
• Widescreen (16:9) and Full Frame (4:3) Display
• Interactive Menus that allow direct access to any book or chapter
• Optional Playback modes including:
- Play a single Chapter
- Play a single Book
- Continuous Play of the Entire New and Old Testament
• No Region Coding
• NTSC TV Format
The Bible On DVD is available at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon and Christian bookstores everywhere and is sold at a suggested retail price of $29.95.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Pearl Harbor recalled, 66 years later
By Audrey McAvoy - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Dec 7, 2007 21:42:12 EST
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — A few dozen graying and wrinkled Pearl Harbor survivors observed a moment of silence on Friday in honor of their comrades who perished in the Japanese bombing of Oahu 66 years ago.
Wearing aloha shirts and orchid flower lei, the veterans stood on a pier overlooking the sunken hull of the Arizona and saluted the flag as a sailor sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
“We’re honoring the people who were killed. We’re not here for ourselves, we’re here for them,” said George A. Smith, 83, who was on board the Oklahoma the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
Overall, 2,388 Americans died in the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks, including some 900 still entombed in the sunken Arizona.
Hawaii Air National Guard helicopters flew over the harbor in “missing man” formation in honor of those lost. B-2 stealth bombers currently deployed to Guam from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri performed an additional flyby.
Survivors of each of the nine battleships bombed in the attack took turns setting wreaths before life preservers bearing the names of their ship.
The crowd of some 2,000 family members, friends, officials and the public honored then survivors with standing ovation and several minutes of loud applause.
Smith, of Olympia, Wash., was standing watch on the Oklahoma when he saw planes darting through the sky over the harbor.
“One plane came in, circled, came right down to us. The guy opened the hatch to his plane and dropped his torpedo, waved at me and took off,” Smith said. “The next thing I knew there was a big explosion.”
Smith was able to jump overboard, just avoiding being squashed by the capsizing battleship, and then swam ashore.
Smith was among 18 survivors of the Oklahoma who came to Hawaii to help dedicate a new memorial to the vessel after the main ceremony.
The Oklahoma lost 429 sailors and Marines — the second greatest loss of life among any of the battleships in Pearl Harbor.
The $1.2 million monument includes 429 white marble standards, each with the name of a fallen sailor or Marine, surrounded by black granite panels etched with a silhouette of the battleship and quotes from World War II-era figures that were selected by some of the survivors.
The Oklahoma was hit with the first torpedo of the morning assault. It capsized after being struck by eight more, trapping 400 men in its overturned hull. About 30 of the trapped men were later rescued by Pearl Harbor Navy Yard workers who hammered their way through the ship’s metal.
Retired Navy Cmdr. Tucker McHugh, who co-chaired the USS Oklahoma Memorial Committee, said he thinks the memorial will bring some sense of closure to those who survived and even to those who perished.
“I think there’s been a void in the minds and hearts of these shipmates that their shipmates were never honored with a lasting memorial,” McHugh said. “Total closure might come when the last survivor passes away and they’re all reunited together.
“Even though 429 soldiers and Marines died, I believe they’re still with us. I think they’re looking down and saying, ‘Thank you.’ ”
Retired Navy Adm. Tom Fargo, vice-chair of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund, an organization set up to raise money for a new Arizona memorial visitor’s center, said it was vital to remember the events of 66 years ago.
“We have a solemn obligation to protect and preserve for history the sacrifices and lessons of Pearl Harbor and the war in the Pacific for generations to come,” Fargo said.
The visitor’s center, across the harbor from the Arizona memorial itself, houses a museum and theaters where the public can learn about the attack. Visitors must stop at the center to board ferries to the memorial.
But the land underneath is sinking, creating the need for a new facility on more stable ground. The center has also run out of space because the large number of visitors — estimated at some 1.5 million annually — far exceeds what memorial operators expected when the current building opened in 1980.
Fundraisers have collected $32 million of the $50 million needed for the new center. The park service hopes to break ground next summer and complete construction about two years later.
Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
SOURCE
Posted : Friday Dec 7, 2007 21:42:12 EST
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — A few dozen graying and wrinkled Pearl Harbor survivors observed a moment of silence on Friday in honor of their comrades who perished in the Japanese bombing of Oahu 66 years ago.
Wearing aloha shirts and orchid flower lei, the veterans stood on a pier overlooking the sunken hull of the Arizona and saluted the flag as a sailor sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
“We’re honoring the people who were killed. We’re not here for ourselves, we’re here for them,” said George A. Smith, 83, who was on board the Oklahoma the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
Overall, 2,388 Americans died in the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks, including some 900 still entombed in the sunken Arizona.
Hawaii Air National Guard helicopters flew over the harbor in “missing man” formation in honor of those lost. B-2 stealth bombers currently deployed to Guam from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri performed an additional flyby.
Survivors of each of the nine battleships bombed in the attack took turns setting wreaths before life preservers bearing the names of their ship.
The crowd of some 2,000 family members, friends, officials and the public honored then survivors with standing ovation and several minutes of loud applause.
Smith, of Olympia, Wash., was standing watch on the Oklahoma when he saw planes darting through the sky over the harbor.
“One plane came in, circled, came right down to us. The guy opened the hatch to his plane and dropped his torpedo, waved at me and took off,” Smith said. “The next thing I knew there was a big explosion.”
Smith was able to jump overboard, just avoiding being squashed by the capsizing battleship, and then swam ashore.
Smith was among 18 survivors of the Oklahoma who came to Hawaii to help dedicate a new memorial to the vessel after the main ceremony.
The Oklahoma lost 429 sailors and Marines — the second greatest loss of life among any of the battleships in Pearl Harbor.
The $1.2 million monument includes 429 white marble standards, each with the name of a fallen sailor or Marine, surrounded by black granite panels etched with a silhouette of the battleship and quotes from World War II-era figures that were selected by some of the survivors.
The Oklahoma was hit with the first torpedo of the morning assault. It capsized after being struck by eight more, trapping 400 men in its overturned hull. About 30 of the trapped men were later rescued by Pearl Harbor Navy Yard workers who hammered their way through the ship’s metal.
Retired Navy Cmdr. Tucker McHugh, who co-chaired the USS Oklahoma Memorial Committee, said he thinks the memorial will bring some sense of closure to those who survived and even to those who perished.
“I think there’s been a void in the minds and hearts of these shipmates that their shipmates were never honored with a lasting memorial,” McHugh said. “Total closure might come when the last survivor passes away and they’re all reunited together.
“Even though 429 soldiers and Marines died, I believe they’re still with us. I think they’re looking down and saying, ‘Thank you.’ ”
Retired Navy Adm. Tom Fargo, vice-chair of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund, an organization set up to raise money for a new Arizona memorial visitor’s center, said it was vital to remember the events of 66 years ago.
“We have a solemn obligation to protect and preserve for history the sacrifices and lessons of Pearl Harbor and the war in the Pacific for generations to come,” Fargo said.
The visitor’s center, across the harbor from the Arizona memorial itself, houses a museum and theaters where the public can learn about the attack. Visitors must stop at the center to board ferries to the memorial.
But the land underneath is sinking, creating the need for a new facility on more stable ground. The center has also run out of space because the large number of visitors — estimated at some 1.5 million annually — far exceeds what memorial operators expected when the current building opened in 1980.
Fundraisers have collected $32 million of the $50 million needed for the new center. The park service hopes to break ground next summer and complete construction about two years later.
Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
SOURCE
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
“A Country Christmas”
Cheerful Giver
A Benefit for
The United States Armed Forces
Serving in Foreign Lands
Date: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Time: 6:30 p.m. doors open
Starts: 7:00 p.m.
Admission is donations only.
Dancers from local dance studios and area performers will provide the entertainment.
Donations of cash will be used for postage and international phone cards. For information or directions, call:
903-378-2880 or 903-893-5246
www.soldiersangels.org
Monday, December 3, 2007
American Airlines DFW Donates to Texas VA Hospitals
Employees of American Airlines in Dallas, Texas gathered donations for the VA Hospitals in Texas. They collected 27 boxes of sweat suits, blankets, socks, t-shirts, tweezers, nail clippers and other toiletries. This is the second drive that American Airlines has done to benefit Soldiers’ Angels and the Texas VA Hospitals. Thanks to American Airlines Southern Reservation Office, Headquarters and Flight Academy, Christian Employee Resource Groups; the Hispanic/Latino and Employees with DisAbilities Resource Groups, and all employees who work at American Airlines Headquarters Campus.
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