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WASHINGTON, June 22, 2007 – In celebration of Independence Day, “America’s Legendary Music Hall” will offer a patriotic salute to servicemembers and their families. On July 3, nearly 500 servicemembers and their families will fill the Birchmere Music Hall here for an appreciation dinner and an “America Supports You” concert featuring Jenny Boyle, according to a Birchmere news release. America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. “The Birchmere and Jenny Boyle are stalwart supporters of the troops, and as a way of saying thanks,...

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2007 – While the country is getting ready to celebrate its 231st birthday with fireworks, picnics and other summer activities, Arizonans Mike and Malinda Brown already are planning for Christmas. On July 7, the Browns will host their annual “Christmas in July” party to benefit Packages from Home and its efforts to send care packages to deployed servicemembers. “It’s one of the only things that we feel that we can do, and it’s something that’s important to us, because we are wanting them to know that they’re not forgotten,” Malinda Brown said. “These are simple things...

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 – One lucky patriot serving overseas will find another type of patriot awaiting his or her return home, thanks to an America Supports You organization and a Jeep dealers association. Operation Gratitude packed its 250,000th care package the morning of June 16. The contents included the normal food, comfort and entertainment items, as well as a homemade quilt donated by school children. But the package won’t be shipped until one more special gift is added to it next month. The treasure at the bottom of the box will be symbolic keys to a Jeep Patriot...

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he is going to stay focused on his job of providing the best military advice to the president, vice president, defense secretary and rest of the National Security Council until his term expires at the end of September. Marine Gen. Peter Pace spoke along with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates at a Pentagon news conference. Reporters asked Pace about the fact that Gates did not nominate him for a second two-year term as chairman. Gates, saying he wanted to spare the military a divisive confirmation...

Milblogger project: Send an e-mail of support By Michelle Malkin  •  June 20, 2007 09:35 PM Grim at Blackfive interviewed Col. Simcock of Regimental Combat Team 6. The colonel asked Americans to send letters of support to RCT-6: GRIM: Is there anything that you and your Marines need that we could send you?COL. SIMCOCK: (Chuckles.) I’ll tell you what, the one thing that all Marines want to know about — and that includes me and everyone within Regimental Combat Team 6 — we want to know that the American public are behind us. We believe that the actions that we’re taking...

In May 2005, Marines stationed in Anbar province began a hunt to root out insurgents and foreign fighters in the volatile areas near the Syrian border. One day after the operation began, then-Lance Cpl. Mark A. Camp and his company were sent to New Ubaydi on a house-clearing mission. The ensuing events are awesome. Mark’s heroism earned him a Silver Star. For full article see: http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/global.php?id=1079667

BANGOR — Five hundred thirty-one soldiers stopped for a layover Tuesday afternoon at Bangor International Airport, but not one of them ate a piece of Debbie Bickford’s decadent peanut butter fudge — nor did any indulge in a homemade chocolate brownie or a Maine-famous whoopie pie. Homemade treats long provided by the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters disappeared at the airport about a month ago after BIA began enforcing a ban on such giveaways. "I think I speak for most everybody when I say I think it’s very sad we cannot do it," greeter Gary Mock of Hampden said Tuesday....

News Release Canadian Citizens Raise $1 Million in Support of Our Troops NR 07-014 CFPSA/ASPFC - June 18, 2007 OTTAWA – During the past year, Canadian citizens, through buying the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency’s (CFPSA) official “Support Our Troops” (SOT) t-shirts, caps, car magnets and other merchandise, have raised $1 million in support of the Canadian military community. These profits will be distributed in their entirety to Bases, Wings, and Units across Canada and will be used for morale and welfare programs for Canadian Forces (CF) members and their families. This could include, for example, family events, site-specific funding...

Iraq veteran Peter Reid has gotten a boost from LeAnn Rimes. A 2004 mortar attack in Iraq's Anbar province left Reid, a Navy Seabee, partially paralyzed, blind in one eye and dependent on a motorized wheelchair. He also suffered a brain injury, and bits of shrapnel remain in his head and body. Reid hadn't left his Palm Bay house for months because it took two people to lift him into and out of his van. Now he's looking forward to shopping trips with his wife, Michele, because of a gift from Rimes. Last week in Nashville, Tenn., the 24-year-old country...

KEITH ELLISON TO SPEAK AT (UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR) CAIR BANQUET TONIGHT AMERICANS AGAINST HATE CALLS ON ELLISON TO RESIGN (Coral Springs, FL) Tonight, June 16, 2007, Congressman Keith Ellison will be a featured speaker at the First Annual Banquet of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Minnesota). This, after CAIR had just been named an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a Hamas financing case put forward by the United States government. Ellison, less than three weeks ago, was the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Convention of the Minnesota chapter of the Muslim American Society (MAS-Minnesota). While he spoke, MAS-Minnesota...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, June 15, 2007 – A large line could be seen extending from the chow hall here as the aroma of steak floated across the base June 13. Soldiers are treated to food from Outback Steakhouse on June 13 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Clifton, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Soldiers here were treated to a little taste of home when “Feeding Freedom 5” brought the “Down Under” taste of Outback Steakhouse to the base dining facility. “Feeding Freedom” is the program that brings food from Outback Steakhouse...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD — The war on terror has come to this Caribbean island nation, irritating many residents, worrying others and picking at the scars of old social feuds. U.S. charges that Trinidadian and Guyanese Muslims hatched a terrorist plot targeting New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and sought funding from a militant Islamic group here, have resurrected concerns of Islamic militancy on the island. Some officials and terrorism analysts have pointed to the alleged plot as evidence that Islamic extremist organizations have planted roots in Latin America. They see it as the soft underbelly of the United States, owing...

A nine-pronged fork at the end of a 30-foot (10 metre) metal arm, a remote-guided weapons system "100 times better" than a gunner, and a bulldozer named "Natasha" are among the best weapons US soldiers in Iraq have in their war against roadside bombs. The hunt for improvised explosive devices (IEDS) is one of the most important missions at this sprawling base, which sits about seven miles (11 kilometers) from executed dictator Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Reporters visiting Camp Speicher with Vice President Dick Cheney this week got a demonstration from soldiers eager to give journalists a small taste...

I posted this thread yesterday as well. This is a summary of what was posted yesterday (my apologies for not indicating who posted it, too much work!). If I may be so bold, pick something you are not doing and do it . . . and if you have additional ideas or contact numbers or more specific numbers, sites, actions then let us know. Here's what I got from yesterdays postings: Press Congress and the Senate to fully fund the fence. Press the administration to focus on deporting illegal alien criminals with existing agents. Press the States to sue the...

Where: Corner of Shaw and Blackstone When: Tonight! Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Bring your signs, flags and banners. Come and show your support for our troops and Commander-in-Chief! Hope to see everyone tonight!

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq -- Combat Outpost Rawah and the Marines who call it home, recently received a permanent post-exchange here. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,136745,00.html Marine Corps News | May 23, 2007 The COP, which is 150 miles northwest of Baghdad and 50 miles east of the Syrian border, has recently undergone numerous changes to improve safety, hygiene, and quality of life. Prior to the permanent exchange, the outpost would get a visit from a mobile exchange about twice each month. “We are here to provide the Marines, soldiers and sailors with the basic necessities, as well as a few niceties, of home,”...

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE ON YOUTUBE (you may enjoy the pictures) MIDI - IMPOSSIBLE DREAM They died as America’s born Spilled blood as they stormed foreign shores They fought in a frigid Korea These men who've been lost in our wars They drowned in a far away sea And baked on a hot desert sand They fought in some forsaken jungles They marched through a hell called Bataan On this…Memorial Day… take time to be grateful…it’s time that we say It’s proper and right that we honor them all They had selflessly given their lives and had answered the call...

As we pause to remember our fallen heroes from days past, I am hoping that we can also come together this weekend and pause from our differences of opinion. This is a weekend to remember and pay honor and respect to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in our behalf. All the wars...all the men and women who have served their country and us so proudly. We owe it to them. Rarely do I watch any TV, but tonight I watched. I have been trying to keep busy and keep my mind focused on positives. It has been a...

Saturday, May 19 is Armed Forces Day "America Supports You" Armed Forces Day: Saturday, May 19, 2007 http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/ President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.

Where: Corner of Shaw and Blackstone When: Tonight! Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Bring your signs, flags and banners. Come and show your support for our troops and Commander-in-Chief! Hope to see everyone tonight!