Knee Deep in the Hooah!

For Friday, please take a look at the MOPH organization and all of their wonderful programs. Also, if you would like to donate to their organization please visit their donation page:

Purposes The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Inc., without stock and not for profit, was Incorporated in the State of Wisconsin in 1957. It qualified with the Internal Revenue Service as an organization exempt from income tax under I.R.C. Section 501 (c)(4) on February 26, 1959.

STATED PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

To raise funds for service, welfare, and rehabilitation work in connection with the members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. (a congressionally chartered veterans organization), those who are eligible for membership therein, or any wounded, disabled and/or handicapped veteran, his widow, orphan or survivors, For the support and maintenance of liaison services in any or all offices of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, soldier’s homes or other administration of veteran’s affairs wherever and whenever deemed necessary.

For the support and maintenance of legislative service to advise and confer with the executive offices or bureaus and departments of the United States Government and Congressional committees or their members on any matters of interest and importance to disabled ex servicemen and women and particularly such matters as may properly be the subject of legislation.

To contribute such funds to the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. or to independently assist in providing such services as outlined above.

Please visit them today and take a look around their site. You do not have to be a member to contribute to their work.

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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Well, so far I have kept up with the 90 Ways challenge. Let’s see if I can keep it up! If anything it has challenged me to get back to my blog and write a little. So, today I want to tell you about an organization that is new to me, but one that I instantly knew I wanted to highlight! Please visit their site and help out if you can! If you know a soldier who will benefit from this program, then please refer them!

So, with no further ado, here is Books for Soldiers.

About Books for Soldiers (taken from their website):

During the first Gulf War, several of my friends from school were in the reserves and were activated to fight the Iraqis. CNN reported that once the soldiers were deployed, they were faced with massive downtime and were restricted to their base due to the travel limitations set by the Saudi government.

I am a voracious reader and at the beginning of the Gulf War, I had a closet full of paperback books. Books that were not being used. So instead of selling them at the used book store, I packed them up in small care packages and sent them out to all the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen I had addresses for.

Within a few weeks, I ran out of books before I ran out of addresses. Friends and family members began donating their paperback books and in the end, over 1000 books were sent to the Gulf.

After the war, we received many thank-you notes from soldiers who got one of our books. Unless it was time for them to fly back home, mail-call days were one of the most anticipated events of deployment. Regardless of why the military is deployed, the men and women of our armed services are there for us. They deserve our support and if we can make their deployment easier, then all the better.

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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Happy Flag Day! We celebrate today the symbol of our freedom and liberty; freedom and liberty that we know can not be granted without the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform! Below is some history on Flag Day, the American’s Creed, and then one of my all time favorite videos featuring Rick Monday foiling a would be flag burner at Dodger’s Stadium on April 25th, 1976!

A little on the history of Flag Day. The following excerpt was found at “The Website Dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America.”

The History Of Flag Day
(excerpt)

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day. READ MORE

Also, on the same site please read the history of the American’s Creed:

The American’s Creed

“I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principls of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

Every Time I see this I want to stand up and cheer! It is timeless!

And, last but not least… Happy Birthday Army! Today the Army Celebrates its 232nd Birthday! Hooah!

Army Celebrates 232nd Birthday

Army News Service | By Tony O’Bryant | June 14, 2007

WASHINGTON - Installations and commands all over the world will celebrate the Army’s 232nd birthday, today, June 14.

With the theme “Call to Duty - Boots on the Ground - Army Strong,” the celebration honors Soldiers answering the call to duty during one of the most dangerous periods in history.

“Today’s Soldiers symbolize the nobility of selfless service,” said Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, reflecting the Army’s heritage. “Today’s Soldiers are motivated by an unwavering belief that they will be victorious on the field of battle, because we have fought this way since 1775 and always will.”

Tags: American Flag, Army, family life, holidays, military by Claire
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I want to highlight an organization that a fellow Army Wife has brought to my attention through her blog entries about supporting wounded soldiers by sending cards to them. The organization is Soldiers Angels and Butterfly Wife is helping out with Soldier’s Angels Germany specifically.

Please check out both Soldier’s Angels, and Soldier’s Angels Germany to see how you can support their mission!

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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That statement doesn’t ring true for Mothers because God already issues you one before the Army gets to have you! However, the wife part is different, and is a much more on hands and active role in the military than being a military parent.

Of course if the Army had indeed issued me to Mr. Hooah! I am sure that I would have come pre-programed to understand all of the inter-complexities of Army life and dealing with deployment — not to mention that I would have come equipped with the latest Army language software so that I wouldn’t need to constantly look up acronyms.

On my journey through figuring all of this stuff out I often research and read on family dynamics and military life. I know this is partially due to my back ground and chosen profession, but it is also a huge personal interest of mine right now. I feel that being proactive and educated about the stressors associated with deployments and time away from one another will help me keep myself and the children healthy and well adjusted. So far I think we are on track, and the preemptive strike by going to the YMCA everyday, and finding healthy ways to keep ourselves busy during Bryan’s absence was a definite plus for our family. Every family is different, but I have certainly learned that preparing for the changes is a very wise and prudent thing to do… never assume that life will just be the same minus one person. That is an oversimplification to say the least. That “other person” is a dynamic part of the family and when he is gone it is more than just an empty chair at dinner that you face and have to deal with. There is a little emptiness in many areas of life when your husband is gone.

While doing some more reading and learning I came across the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center. They offer some pretty wonderful resources online for maintaining a healthy marriage. Below is a handout on military service and marriage. I thought I would share their findings here. I am going to have to go back and really check their site out. I don’t know anything about them outside of this presentation, but so far I like what I see:

Tags: deployment, family life, military by Claire
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It would seem unimaginable that the family of a fallen soldier could be subject to forceful and hurtful protesters on what will be the most painful and difficult day of their lives; the day they bury their beloved soldier, but unfortunately it does happen. Today I want to tell you all about a special group of people who work diligently to shield military families during their time of pain and sorrow, and by doing this they pay their respect to our fallen heroes.

Today I feel privileged to tell you all about the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). The PGR are dedicated to showing their respect to our fallen heroes by helping to shield mourning families from protesters during funerals. PGR also offers a “Fallen Warrior Scholarship” for US military family members of our fallen heroes.

So, how can you help and get involved in this great organization? There are many ways!

First, read the PGR Mission Statement:

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

Check out their history!

Then, take a peek at the various events and programs that are going on. The PGR does many different things, and you will undoubtedly find something that you can help with!

Finally, if you are looking for a warm, inviting and very patriotic online community in which to visit (even if you don’t own a motorcycle!) please take a minute, sign up for a free account, and join in the discussions on their forums.

As the mother of an WOT Veteran I have to say that knowing that the PGR is there to protect our extended military family brings a lot of comfort to me. Thank you PGR! Speaking of mothers of vets, we also have a fellow milblogging mom who is a PGR! Thank you Stacy!

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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I finally heard from Bryan, and I talked with Mike not once, not twice, but about 5 times this weekend! Well, we didn’t actually get to finish any of our conversations yesterday. Our phone calls kept getting dropped. So, even though we had 5 different phone calls they all seemed to serve as a lesson in frustration. This morning he called back and the lines were clear and they held through the duration of the call! Yeah!

So, my first update on Bryan: How does a man who is inching toward 41 do in BCT? So far he is holding his own and doing quite well! They are now out of “total control” and he is starting to get an hour of free time in the evenings. He said that he does have a nickname, only it is not the nickname that everyone told him he would be given.

The recruiters and all of our military family and friends told him that he would be called “Pops.” He is actually being called “Father Time!” He thinks it an absolute riot! He said it also kills some of the younger guys because the one guy in their platoon who is older than dirt can do more push-ups faster than they can! It was wonderful hearing from him.

It is hard those first few weeks because it feels as if they have fallen off he face of the earth. Contact is so limited and you have no idea what is going on. When Mike was in BCT he was in Charlie Rock Company. The Company Sgt. did a wonderful job and put up a website where he published pictures each week of the training. It really helped to see pictures of Mike and what he was up to. It really alleviates some of the anxiety and the longing to see the person in BCT.

As for Mike… he is doing well too. He told me this morning when we actually got to hold a conversation that he has no real concept of time. The missions they run are at weird hours, and go on for days. When he is out working he really misses the day changes because they are so focused on what they are doing. He said he can’t believe that even with the surge and the extension that he only has one year left — implying that time is actually going by fast for him. I am glad that it is becoming a blur for him. He sounded really upbeat this morning. He has 3 days off in a row (his Company’s 2 days off and his Platoon’s 1 day off worked out to happen consecutively). His spirits sound high, his outlook positive and he was having a really good day. That, in turn, makes my morning feel all the better.

Until Mike and Bryan are home I can’t help but jump with excitement when the phone rings (sometimes a jump of anxiety when there is a lot going on in Baghdad), and look forward to seeing their handwriting on envelopes in the mail. I can’t wait to see them both again!

Tags: Shack Pack news, family life, getting old, military by Claire
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Today I want to highlight Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. This ministry, run by Franklin Graham (son of famed Billy Graham), has done some incredible work both here at home and abroad. Below I will list the many projects they are undertaking. The church in which I am a member, participates in Operation Christmas Child each year.

The following is taken from their Homepage:

HOPE FOR A HURTING WORLD
Read the May newsletter from Franklin Graham about the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech and our work in Sudan.

IN THE WAKE OF DISASTER
Read an update from Franklin Graham about our ministry to hurting people in the U.S., Bolivia, and Mozambique.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
The Power of a Simple Gift at Christmas
Just getting started and want to pack a gift-filled shoe box or do you want to get more involved and volunteer to help? Learn more by clicking here.

WORLD MEDICAL MISSION

Family Learns Lessons While Serving Together
A general surgeon from Lafayette, Indiana, served at Kapsowar Hospital in Kenya with his wife, and their children. Read the latest ON CALL.

Serving Overseas
Since our founding in 1978, World Medical Mission has been placing Christian physicians, dentists and allied health professionals in short-term service at mission hospitals and clinics.

CHILDREN’S HEART PROJECT
Transformed by the Great Physician
Children’s Heart Project continues to witness miracles as God transforms hearts and souls for His glory.

HIV/AIDS PRESCRIPTION FOR HOPE
The Love That Conquers Death
A Cambodian pastor brings the message of eternal hope to a dying man, his family, and his village.

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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Well, so far I haven’t missed a day! I wonder how I will be doing on day 87?! I hope to get back into my own writing soon. It has been a very busy week here at the Hooah House!

Anyway, for today I wanted to let people know about a wonderful and pretty incredible organization that is a true grassroots effort! Here is an excerpt from their website:

Modest Needs

Founded in 2002, Modest Needs is an award-winning charity that works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses like those we’ve all encountered before: the unexpected auto repair, the unanticipated trip to the doctor, the unusually large winter heating bill.

At Modest Needs, we believe that EVERY person has the power to make a difference. So, by choice, the work we do at Modest Needs is funded exclusively by the ’small change’ donations of people just like you.

The average gift of these extraordinary people? Between $5 and $100 at a time.

Since 2002, our donors’ ’small change’ has stopped the cycle of poverty for 3419 individuals and families who stood to lose everything over a short-term financial emergency. But with your support, we could reach even more of the hard-working people who need our help the most.

Discover your power to change a life. Please join your friends and neighbors in supporting Modest Needs.

Because Modest Needs has earned the highest possible charity rating from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, you can give with confidence, knowing that we won’t abuse your kindness.

But more importantly, simply by working together in this very modest way, we can make sure that no hard-working person is ever forced to choose between taking a child to the doctor and putting food on the table.

Here’s a link to get you started as a micro-philanthropist! You don’t have to give millions to make a difference!

And, here’s an organization you have heard about, but you may be unaware of all of the wonderful work that they do:

Lions Club
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.

Known for working to end preventable blindness, Lions participate in a vast variety of projects important to their communities. These projects range from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters.

Beginning in 1917, the association of Lions clubs has provided millions of people with the opportunity to give something back to their communities. View LQ (Lions Quarterly Video Magazine) on the Lions News Network to see how Lions continue to make a difference everyday and everywhere.

Tags: Junk Drawer by Claire
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Today is Princess Hooah’s! third birthday. When she woke up this morning I asked her “How old are you today?” to which she replied “I am fweee!” She is currently celebrating the day by playing with a “happy birthday” balloon! Later we will have supper, ice cream cake, and gifts. One of her gifts is a “dreams come true.” That is Princess language for a Princess dress. My rough and tumble little tot really fell in love with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. She associated the phrase “dreams come true” with the dresses she saw each of the Disney Princess’ wearing. So, she has longed for one of her own. She will get it in a bag to her from her papa. She is too young to understand that he is deeply grieved that he can not be here with her today. She is too young to know that this is one of the sacrifices we give as a military family, and it is a way of life.

One day she will be old enough to understand, and I hope she always knows that her papa felt the need to serve for many reason… one being that he desires for her world to be stable and safe so she can be a wife and mother one day. He won’t admit the latter, because he is quite convinced that there will never be a man good enough for her. That’s OK. It will take a pretty brave guy to ask for her hand one day!

Tags: Shack Pack news, family life by Claire
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