Troops @ MindSay

 Happy 4th everybody, and thanks to all the troops, past present and future, for keeping the Dream alive. Thank you!

 

Matt

 

Be Excellent

 

 

And Griffey hit #604 today too, what a great day!

American Forces Press Service

 

June 18, 2008 - A congressman from Arizona has recognized a group from his state for its continued dedication to supporting the troops. U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell honored Packages From Home on June 14 for its efforts and continued support for the nation's servicemembers and for their dedication in providing care packages to U.S. troops.

 

Packages From Home is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

 

Mitchell recognized Kathleen Lewis and Lisa Benson -- president and executive director, respectively, of Packages From Home -- in a Flag Day ceremony at the state capitol. The three participated in the unveiling of a poster-sized replica of the new Arizona state flag stamp.

 

Packages from Home has sent more than 140,000 packages to U.S. troops over the past four years. The group also has provided tons of equipment for the troops to use in rest centers in Iraq.

Ok so I will be the first to say that our government fucking sucks in so many ways and the "wars" that are going on right now are so stupid and the reasons we went in were all BS.. but for you on here that want to bitch about it all I ask PLEASE at the end of you rants be them fact or fiction just right something how you DO support you troops maybe not the cause but the troops them self, the guys with the American flag on there shoulders that DO feel as though they are doing good in these countries. You only really see what the media shows you which is not shit. They only show you the bad because THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT!! That is what you watch. You are not going to tune into a story about some soldier passing out supplies at a school or kicking a soccer ball around with a bunch of kids, or giving some family dog its shots so it will live longer and healthier for them. Those stories dont make it to you. You dont see the connections with the people that are made by us soldiers.

So I ask one last time. If you going to bitch about the money and government and war and deaths of soldiers that is ok because that is why I am a soldier.. but please.. make sure you add a little bit in there how you do support us and will back us.. other wise what did those guys die for?

~SPC Hayenga

By Samantha L. Quigley

American Forces Press Service

 

Jan. 10, 2008 - Growing up as part of a military family, country music star Aaron Tippin learned a crucial lesson early in life: Freedom isn't free. "That might be a corny old saying, but you know what?" he asked. "It is still true. Freedom is not free."

 

Tippin, who was in Washington for some publicity appearances, said his father, Willis, served in the military. The senior Tippin always was deeply patriotic, even after he left the service, his son added.

 

"That really bled into me," he said. "So I have a great appreciation for my freedom and have a deep understanding that (servicemembers) are the people that are directly responsible for it."

 

The musician has expressed that appreciation many times through his music. One of his first hit songs, the 1991 single "You've Got to Stand for Something," earned him a spot entertaining the troops with comedian Bob Hope in the Persian Gulf region.

 

Since then, Tippin has entertained the troops numerous times, including the past three Thanksgiving holidays. Each visit gives him new perspective and renews his admiration for those serving the United States, he said.

 

What strikes him most is the progress being made and the troops' role in that growth. One Iraqi boy in particular made it clear that U.S. troops are making a difference during Tippin's 2007 trip.

 

After suffering serious facial injuries in a roadside bombing, the boy had undergone many surgeries and was still in the hospital recovering. He caught Tippin's attention as the singer visited the hospital, which just two years before had been filled with wounded American troops.

 

Tippin autographed a picture for the boy while a translator explained who the singer was and what he was doing.

 

"He got up off his little mat and he came over to me and he took the picture," the singer said. "He looked up at me and then looked at it again, and he walked over and gave me a great big hug and a kiss.

 

"That floored me," Tippin added.

 

The child's simple act was powerful enough, but it was more than just simple human emotion to Tippin.

 

"What I realized (through) the touch of that child (is), our troops know how to be great soldiers, great Marines, great airmen, great sailors," he said. "They do battle the way it should be done, and that was just so inspiring.

 

"If that would have been our enemy (that found the boy), they'd have left that little kid to die right there in the street," Tippin added.

 

The Nashville-based musician doesn't have to be oceans from home to be "wowed" by the troops, though. He frequently plays for military audiences in the states as well.

 

He considers it his reward when, while meeting fans at the end of a show, a servicemember shows him a photo from an overseas performance. It never fails that the photo strikes a familiar chord.

 

"It's me and them on the battlefield," Tippin said. "That's a cool moment because ... I've been waiting for the chance to see them here in our country and go, 'Thanks, Man. Glad to see you're home. Glad to see you're safe. Thanks so much; (we) appreciate what you do for us.'"

 

Tippin's overseas appearances are organized through Stars for Stripes, a nonprofit entertainment organization, and a supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.

 

The DoD program connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Got this in an email:

Anti-Military Lawyer Damages Marine's Car on Eve of Deployment
Posted By Blackfive
This ought to make your blood boil. And this Marine should receive a commendation for not kicking the living crap out of the guy...seriously.

Marine Sgt Mike McNulty is on activation orders to Iraq (second tour). On December 1st, 2007, Mike went to visit a friend in Chicago before deploying to say goodbye. In order to get to his friend's residence, and keep in mind that Chicago is a myriad of diagonal and one-way streets, the front entrance (right way) to the one-way street was blocked. Mike, being a Marine, overcame and adapted by driving around the block to the other end of the street and backing up all the way to his friend's place.

While saying goodbye, at about 11am, he noticed a man leaning up against his car. Mike left his friend's apartment and caught the man keying his car on multiple sides.


After caught in the process, the man told Mike, "you think you can do whatever you want with Department of Defense license plates and tags". (In Illinois you can purchase veteran, Marine, or medal plates. Mike has Illinois Marine Corps license plates.) During the exchange, he made additional anti-military comments.

Mike called the Chicago police and had the man arrested. A citation against the man was issued for misdemeanor criminal damage to private property.

The police report (and I have copies if needed) states:

Victim related to P/O that as he walked back to his vehicle, he observed the offender leaning up against his vehicle and rubbed/dragged his left arm and hand across the passenger side. As offender walked away from victim's vehicle, victim observed a scratch along the rear trunk and passenger's door area where offender dragged his arm and hand over. Victim and witness stopped offender and confronted him. Victim has military plates and decals on his vehicle and offender made anti war and military comments to victim. Upon P/O's arrival to scene, offender denied scratch victim's vehicle, but did admit to rubbing past it. Victim at this time did not sign complaint, because he is leaving tour for military duty. Offender said they accused him of scratching the car because he is Jewish. Offender's statements/responses to P/O's questions unreasonable.

As it turns out, the man is Chicago lawyer Jay R. Grodner, who owns a law firm in the city and has offices in the suburbs.

After sending the car to the body shop, it was determined there is $2400 in damage, making this a felony. Mike went to court Friday morning to collect the damages against Mr. Grodner and file felony charges. Though the damages are over $300 (the amount which determines felony or misdemeanor) Grodner offered Mike to pay his deductible, $100, and have Mike's insurance pay for it.

The Illinois States Attorneys tried to coerce Mike into accepting the offer. Appalled, Mike said he wanted this to be a felony. The state told Mike that it was not worth pursuing felony damage against Grodner because they don't have the time. In addition, the state prosecutors told him that he would never it 'would be difficult to recover the damages' from Grodner because he is a lawyer.

Instead, the State asked Mike if he would accept probation for Grodner. Mike accepted, probation was offered to Grodner, and Grodner declined the offer, saying within ear shot of Mike, "I'm not going to make it easy on this kid". Mike's next court date is tomorrow, Monday, December 31st, to pursue misdemeanor charges against Grodner.

Mike's leave is over on January 2nd when he reports to Camp Pendleton before heading to Iraq.

Jay Grodner knows this and is going to file for a continuance until Mike is gone and cannot appear in court.

By account of the Illinois State's Attorneys, Grodner is likely to get away with defacing Mike's car with no penalty because, 1) Mike is about to deploy to Iraq and will not be available to appear in court, and 2) Grodner is a lawyer and can get out of this very easily.

So, does anyone have any ideas about how to proceed? All peaceful and rational ideas are welcomed. We are contacting the media about this, too.

Please pass this story on to anyone you know that might be able to help. Contact me if you have any information or ideas.

Thanks!

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/12/anti-military-l.html

Ya know, seriously. I understand being against the war and all, but what does keying a Marine's car and causing $2400 worth of damage to it prove? What kind of big anti-war statement is that? A lot of people don't like lawyers, either. How many of those people have keyed his car?