Free Republic

FORT HUACHUCA — The red, white and blue American Airlines plane was about two hours from the East Coast. Flight 49, a Boeing 767, was heading from Paris to Dallas. But this day the aircraft would not make its final destination. Like many planes on Sept. 11, 2001, the flight was ordered to land — but not in the United States. Barbara Fast, then a brigadier general, was on the flight. She planned to make a connecting flight to Tucson and then drive to Fort Huachuca to attend a conference of senior Army intelligence officers. It turns out Fast, who...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2006 – Starbucks didn’t just wish then-Army Capt. Matt Parkinson well when he was activated to serve in Iraq as part of the Washington National Guard. Instead, the company went above and beyond what the federal law requires employers do for activated reserve-component personnel, Parkinson said. The company made up the difference between his civilian and military pay and maintained his benefits while he was activated, between November 2003 and February 2005. He said his supervisors and friends within the company offered him any support he needed, whether it was personal or job related. “It’s not just...

FONTANA, Calif., Sep. 5, 2006 -- For the sixth time since a California teenager began her quest two and a half years ago to collect and distribute a million thank you letters to U.S. servicemembers, the “A Million Thanks” organization set up its booth at a Nextel Cup NASCAR race. Rick Lalor, manager of motorsports and events for the Automobile Club, and Shauna Fleming, founder of A Million Thanks.org, stand by Mark Martin's No. 6 Nextel Cup car at California Speedway, Sept. 4. Fleming's A Million Thanks booth at the race collected hundreds of thank you letters for U.S. troops...

Where: Walk starts at City Building located at 400 S. State and will end at Liberty Park. When: September 11, 2006 - 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Please bring a donation that can be distributed to the children in Iraq and Afghanistan by the troops. A list of gift suggesions can be found below or at Operation GiveThere will be FREE music, entertainment, short program, speakers, and military support and show. The Department of Defense organized the first America Supports You FREEDOM WALK in 2005 as a tribute to the Pentagon victims and their families, Pentagon employees and volunteers...

WESTBROOK, Maine --More than a dozen labor unions are highlighting their support behind Gov. John Baldacci in his re-election campaign this Labor Day weekend.Baldacci, a Democrat, met with union paper mill workers outside of the Sappi Fine Paper mill in Westbrook yesterday afternoon.Among the unions registering their support for Baldacci were the Maine State AFL-CIO; Teamsters Local 340; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.Baldacci faces Republican Chandler Woodcock, Green Party candidate Pat LaMarche and independents Barbara Merrill and Phillip Morris NaPier in November's election. 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2006 – Target Corporation, a national retailer, has taken aim at a Washington area troops support group, providing it with a $20,000 donation, the founder and president of Our Military Kids said. “I actually approached Target to see if they, as a corporation, would be interested in providing us with any financial support for our program,” Linda Davidson said. “They … evaluated the program and came back to us and said they would be very interested in helping to support the fine-arts portion of our grant program.” Our Military Kids, Inc., works to ensure children of deployed...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2006 -- A U.S. railroad freight firm has earned the right to blow its locomotives’ whistles in celebration of Defense Department recognition for superb support of its employees in the National Guard and Reserve. BNSF Railway, with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of 15 U.S. businesses selected to receive the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for 2006. “BNSF is very pleased to have been nominated and selected to receive this award,” said Connie McLendon, BNSF’s military staffing manager. “This is an important distinction that very few companies receive, recognizing outstanding support for our...

After Action Report - Utah Freedom Rally While the lefties and the Mayor of SLC (Rocky Anderson) were busy undermining the war effort and providing comfort to the enemy, we had the opportunity to stand with heroes in support of our nation and our troops. Things kicked off with the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance and some country music in support of our troops sung by a local talent. We heard speeches from Legionnaires, soldiers, the Attorney General, CWO Paul Holton, as well as a female Iraqi Doctor CWO Holton met and has coordinated humanitarian efforts with. All noted...

Hello everyone !!! I hope everyone is enjoying the week. The month of September is going to be one busy month for us and I am going to need everyone's help. On Saturday September 9th we will be walking for our friend Mike Wasserman in Los Gatos we will be walking for him from 9am-1pm then after the walk we will be heading over to the Santa Clara County Republican Rally with WITH SPECIAL GUEST ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Governor of California. The event will be starting one pm and it will end around three. I will be sending you the location...

Recently, I overheard an IT professional complaining about her users. Veronica's company has 300 employees, many of whom would have been called "paper pushers" in an earlier era. Some of those employees download software and install it on their computers, and it often causes havoc for the support staff. Veronica's specific rant was about screensavers (some of which carry a payload of spyware, making it a security issue as well as a support problem), but it could have been any sort of application. Veronica had looked at a $10,000 hardware solution, but even that required 10 hours a week for...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Aug. 28, 2006 -- As members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit here make last-minute preparations for their upcoming deployment, Staff Sgt. Danny Sava and his family are getting their own affairs in order so they’re ready for another long separation. Marine Staff Sgt. Danny Sava, his wife, Julia, son, Anthony, and daughter, Alyssa, stroll past a sign at the top of a stairwell in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command headquarters that marks the days until Sava’s upcoming deployment. “E-22” marks “Embarkation minus 22,” or 22 days until Sava and 2,300 fellow...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2006 – The Defense Commissary Agency is partnering with a national anti-substance-abuse organization to promote the concept of families dining together as a means of establishing healthy lifestyles for young people, a DeCA spokesperson said today. “Since we’re the food leader for the military, anything that has to do with family quality and family lifestyles and focuses on eating is a good thing for us to be involved in,” said Bonnie Powell during a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service from her organization’s headquarters at Fort Lee, Va. DeCA will support and celebrate “Family Day...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2006 – San Diego will honor its military heritage with a Freedom Walk planned to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. “The walk begins and ends at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center,” said Beth Steinke, president of Operation Homefront-San Diego, the nonprofit group organizing the walk. “It’s a leisurely two-mile stroll through the park.” The walk, presented by DefenseWeb, a software company, will begin with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. in Balboa Park, she said. A color guard and a chaplain are scheduled to participate in the opening ceremonies. “We’re hoping...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2006 – A Fargo, N.D., business that provides loans to farmers and ranchers has received Defense Department recognition for its support of employees in the National Guard and reserve. AgCountry Farm Credit Service is one of 15 U.S. businesses chosen to receive the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for outstanding support of employees in the Guard or reserve. Employees who are members of the Guard or reserve nominate employers for the award. “It’s quite an honor and a privilege to receive such a distinguished award. We were absolutely thrilled when we got the news,”...

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is asking the Senate Judiciary Committee to fully review the case of two Border Patrol agents facing 20 years in prison for violating a drug smuggler's civil rights. Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., went even further, sending a letter to President Bush asking him to personally review the case. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos broke his 18-month silence on his altercation with the drug smuggler, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Bulletin. His co-worker, Jose Alonso Compean, has been asked by his attorney to not speak to the media while his sentencing hearing...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2006 -- America’s 9/11 Foundation is getting ready to hit the road again with its annual America’s 9/11 Ride in support of the nation’s first responders, the foundation’s promotions manager and media contact said. “This is the fifth anniversary of the (Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks), but it is actually our 6th ride,” Roger Flick said of the two-day event that begins tomorrow. “The first (ride) left eight weeks after the attacks from in front of the White House, and we left on Veterans Day.” The motorcycle rides started because America’s 9/11 Foundation, Inc. founders, Ted...

CAMP LIBERTY — Troops serving at this large logistics base near Baghdad International Airport were provided a rare opportunity Saturday to meet and talk with Gen. Peter Pace, the sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pace answered questions from Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division. “We came a long way to do one very special thing, and that is to say thank you to you for what you are doing over here. We are so proud of what you do,” said Pace to the room of about 50 service members. “Sometimes, when you...

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/13/2006 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Security forces protect Air Force people and resources worldwide, even when those resources are on the move at more than 300 mph. The C-130 Hercules cargo plane is the primary means of moving supplies and troops around Afghanistan. Aircrews frequently land at remote, dirt landing strips to support U.S. and Coalition forces. Often, these out-of-the-way airfields have little or no security. The 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron has a solution to this security dilemma in the form of the Fly-Away Security Team, or FAST. "Our job is to protect the aircraft and its crew...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2006 -- A trio of organizations with a long history of military support recognized 12 volunteer groups today for their programs that contribute to servicemembers’ quality of life. Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Lynne, congratulate Clare Lanigan, 15, Kids Serve Too youth co-chair, for winning a $7,500 grant during the 2006 Newman's Own Award ceremony at the Pentagon Aug. 11. Kids Serve Too, in partnership with Warner Brothers, spearheaded "A Thousand Thanks to Military Children," sending letters of thanks signed by a wide range of children's...