A Veteran's Day Letter to my Heroes...

I sit in the comfort of my home, watching the leaves fall outside with the rain. I am plotting my next batch of homemade bread and crockpot chili. I get caught up in the noise of the game on the tv. I watch my candles flicker and throw off comforting lights and scents. I am yet surrounded by boxes and an oven that still holds my quesadilla hostage, but I am safe and warm. I am at peace for a moment in the chaos that has been my life the last six weeks.

In this moment, as many others throughout my days and weeks, you are in my thoughts and prayers. The comforts of MRE's; the safety of makeshift housing, the scent of close quarters with many others fill my thoughts. I can only imagine from the stories passed on to me. The long flights in moving home; the chats with co-workers getting ready for deployment to relieve those who have stood fast for a year or more. To those stateside who are standing fast; for those who are home; for those who are still overseas; for those who are transitioning, I send my heartfelt thanks for your services. Words cannot convey my true appreciation for all of you and all you do. Be safe; be well. You are loved.

*hugs*
miss b

Here's one for the fellas

and the women who love them *wink*

Support our wounded vets... get your pin-up girls Calendar for 2008... buy one for the heroes overseas, your garage, your dorm.

Do it. Now.

That's an order!

The Angels are Crying...

It's lightly raining, overcast, and just a sad day. I'm on my way to work, listening to a debate on the radio over the happenings of 9/11, and conspiracy theories and disputing opposing positions.

I'm melancholy.

For today, put the madness aside.

Never forget the lost.

Remember those who are still here to protect.

Hug your kids, your parents, your best friend.

Peace for a moment.

*hugs*
Miss B

You are a True American if...

It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You still say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays or 'Winter Festival.

You bow your head when someone prays.

You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You've never burned an American flag.

You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God Bless the US of A.
Amen.
And please do not forget to sing the national anthem in English.

How many words is this picture worth?

This amazing picture has drawn a lot of comments from readers of the Nashville paper, The Tennessean.

Dear Tennessean:

The Tennessean's April 5 photograph of young Christian Golczynski accepting the American flag from Marine Lt. Col. Ric Thompson is one of the most moving and emotion provoking images I have ever seen.

My wife and I attended funeral services for Christian's father, Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, on April 4, along with our six year-old son, dozens of Marines, and several hundred others who came to pay tribute to this fallen hero.

As one would expect, many of your readers were touched by this incredible
picture. Staff Sergeant Golczynski had previously served one full tour in Iraq.
Shortly before his death on March 27 he wrote to his family that he had
volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we
started. In his letter he said, "We fight and sometimes die so that our families don't have to." Tragically, Staff Sergeant Golczynski had only two weeks remaining on his second tour. We look at the photograph of Christian every day. It is displayed prominently in our home. Our hearts ache for Christian and for all those who have lost loved ones in this controversial conflict.

When looking at the face of Christian Golczynski I am reminded that doing
what is right is not always easy and doing what is easy is not always right.
Christian's dad knew that too.

James Drescher Franklin, TN

"Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less!"

~General Robert E. Lee

Book Series from Soldiers' Angels

"May No Soldier Go Unloved" is Book number one in a Series that chronicles the History of Soldiers Angels

$20 Pre-sale available now-

Written by the Founder's (Patti Patton Bader) Husband, Jeff Bader,

Book One Centers Around How Soldiers Angels Started and the Mission it set forth.

The Books Will revolve around Soldiers Angels Motto
May No Soldier Go Unloved
May No Soldier Walk Alone
May No Soldier Be ForGotten
Till they All Come Home.

The First 1000 Books will be signed by the Author and his Wife Patti, Founder of Soldiers' Angels
A portion of these proceeds will go to Welcome Packs for our deployed heroes!

~*~Book One Centers Around How Soldiers Angels Started and the Mission it set forth.

May No Soldier Go Unloved


~*~Book Two Centers Around the Angels and Soldiers' 2003-2006.

May No Soldier Walk Alone


~*~Book Three Centers Around the wounded service members and the work surounding the wounded.

May No Soldier Be ForGotten


~*~Book Four Centers Around the homecomings

'Til they All Come Home.


For details and ordering go:

Fisher House and Best Buy Connecting America's Heroes and their Families

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22 - "Connectivity," helping wounded or injured service members stay connected with their families while hospital patients, is the theme of Best Buy's Memorial Day through Fourth of July campaign to support the nonprofit Fisher House Foundation.

Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is partnering with the 38 Fisher Houses - large multi-family comfort homes on the grounds of 18 major military medical centers and nine VA medical centers - to donate lap top computers and other support to make it easier for service men and women at these medical centers stay in touch with their friends and families. The Campaign also gives Best Buy customers an easy way to support Fisher House, the troops and their families through in-store and online donations.

Beginning on Memorial Day Weekend and continuing through the week of July 4th, Best Buy customers can donate to Fisher House at any Best Buy register during check-out, or any time from the Best Buy website, www.bestbuy.com. Best Buy vendor partners, including Nintendo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba are donating lap top computers, flat screen televisions, Wii gaming systems and other technology to the Campaign. Best Buy employees will volunteer at Fisher Houses and help install and service the new systems. All is part of an effort by Best Buy to provide the Fisher Houses with the most modern technology so the families can remain connected to their loved ones.

The Fisher House program began in 1990 when philanthropists and patriots Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher offered to build and donate to the government comfort homes on the grounds of military medical centers to permit service members to be close to their families during a hospitalization. The program at VA medical centers began later in 1994. Today, there is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center, and more are planned. Since September 11, 2001, Fisher House Foundation has made support to service men and women hospitalized as a result of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan, and their families, its highest priority. The six Fisher Houses that will start construction in 2007 are being built at locations where the combat casualties will receive long term rehabilitation. The equipment and services being donated by Best Buy will improve the quality of life for these service members and their families, and enable to them to stay connected with their families and friends.


About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of 38 comfort homes on the grounds of military and VA major medical centers. The houses are 5,000 to 16,000 square foot homes, with up to 21 suites, donated to the military and VA by the Fisher House Foundation. The program provides support to families of patients receiving care at the nearby medical center and has ensured that families of service men and women wounded or injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom do not pay for their stay at a Fisher House or other base facility if they are on a wait list. For more information on the work of Fisher House Foundation, go to www.fisherhouse.org or call toll-free (888) 294-8560.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Best Buy's employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. The company sells consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through more than 1,150 retail stores across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com) and Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn). Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.