h!!!Bentfeather!!! #100!!!
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SQUAD TACTICS— U.S. soldiers from the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, run through the squad tactics course at Kursah Range, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall
Air Force Lt. Stephen Braddy, with his son Timothy, receives a one-flipper salute from Shamu the killer whale for being the 100,000th military guest at SeaWorld Orlando through Operation Salute, Sept. 5. The program provides free park admission to military members and their families. Photo by Chris Gotshall, courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando
'Operation Salute' Offers Free Park Admissions
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2003 - Service members and their families have until Nov. 11 to take advantage of a highly popular program that offers free admission to Anheuser- Busch theme parks.
Thousands of service members and their families have already taken advantage of "Operation Salute," which offers free tickets to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., and Williamsburg, Va.; SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., San Antonio and San Diego; and Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., according to Anheuser-Busch officials.
On Sept. 5, Air Force Lt. Stephen Braddy became the 100,000th military guest to visit SeaWorld Orlando through the program. And although unable to give updated numbers about just how many additional service members have visited the parks, an Anheuser-Busch official said it has been "a lot."
Anheuser-Busch launched Operation Salute in May to honor military members for their role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It is our privilege to offer our parks to the men and women of our armed forces and their families," said Patrick Stokes, president and chief executive officer of Anheuser- Busch. "It is a small gesture of thanks for the hardships endured every day by our soldiers and those closest to them," he added.
"The men and women in our armed forces have made tremendous sacrifices, risking their lives and being separated from their families during the war," agreed August A. Busch III, chairman of Anheuser-Busch. "We wanted to express our deep gratitude for their service, and this gives those who serve and their families some needed relaxation and enjoyment."
The free admission is offered to all active duty military, ready and standby reservists, U.S. Coast Guardsmen, National Guardsmen, coalition forces serving with U.S. troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom and foreign military personnel servicing with U.S. units.
REVIWING THE MISSION — U.S. soldiers from the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, review their mission after running through the squad tactics course at Kursah Range, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Tommie Tracey (left) and Maj. (Dr.) Gene Delaune stroll the streets of French Village, Iraq, with local children. They participated in the 447th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron's reopening of a medical clinic Oct. 18 to replace the one looted earlier this year. Tracey is deployed with the Indiana Air National Guard's 122nd Fighter Wing. Delaune is an individual mobilization augmentee deployed from the 89th Medical Group at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed
A soldier leaps into the Freedom Rest pool during grand opening celebrations Oct. 19. The R&R site allows solders to take an in-country break from their day-to-day duties. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis
'Freedom Rest' R&R Site Opens for Business
By U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Stanis / 1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 19, 2003 — The ribbon was cut for the grand opening of Task Force 1st Armored Division’s Freedom Rest recreational center during a ceremony Oct. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Thousands of soldiers have spent the last six months or more in Iraq and many have at least as long to go.
Many are at the point of receiving two weeks of leave to go home, stateside or Germany. Others are getting the opportunity to go for a week of rest and relaxation in Qatar.
While there are options for R&R, not every soldier in Task Force 1st Armored Division will have an opportunity to take advantage of these options.
That was the motive behind Freedom Rest, a project passed down to the division from Coalition Joint Task Force-7.
“It’s our commanding general’s desire that everybody have the opportunity to do something,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Slagter, 1st Armored Division personnel officer. “And we know that we can’t get all of our soldiers on R&R leave, or all of our soldiers to Qatar, so this recreation center bridges that gap.”
The former Republican Guard Officers’ Club offers soldiers three days and two nights to get away from the action with facilities that include a fitness center, swimming pool, game room; Internet café, TV and movie room, indoor and outdoor movie theaters, outdoor basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts and a flag football and soccer field.
Additionally, Slagter said commercial-grade linens and wall lockers were purchased to give soldiers as close to a real hotel experience as possible in the bunk bedded six-to-eight-person rooms.
“I think it’s a great place,” said Pfc. Lydia Flores, a supply specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment. “It’s a lot nicer than we expected it to be.”
Six-year-old Lizzie Drash, middle, and her 4-year-old twin sisters, Vicky and Allie, wait at Camp Upshur for their 'Uncle Stu:' Lance Cpl. Stuart Drash. Photo by: Sgt. Jason Anderson
Marines return to loved ones after seven-month deployment
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification Number: 20031017162556
Story by Sgt. Jason Anderson
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(Oct. 16, 2003) -- More than 300 family members and friends gathered at Camp Upshur here Oct. 4 to greet the 123 Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Marines who returned from their deployment in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Loved ones spent hours anticipating the return of the five buses that held the Marines they had not seen in almost seven months.
"We've been excited all day and for several days before today," said Layne Drash, who waited excitedly for the return of his son. "It has been a long wait."
After the buses pulled up, the Marines piled out to greet their families, some of them immediately started running as their families called out to them.
"It feels great to be home," said Lance Cpl. Stuart Drash, who has been deployed for the last seven months. "It has been a long time and, I am just so happy."
"I am a former Marine, myself, and I came back from Vietnam in 1965," said Layne Drash. "I can sort of identify what he is going through."
"It's a thrill to have a son that served as he did," he added.
"This is wonderful," said Rosina Burke, mother of Lance Cpl. Ryan Burke who returned with 4th LAR Bn. "We are very proud of him and we have been through a lot."
