ServiceFlags.com Seeks National Unity of Residential Military Flag Flying

"CARSON CITY, Nev., June 18 -- ServiceFlags.com announced today its support of a measure introduced in Congress that would allow service flags to be flown by home owners without restriction. To get the word out and to encourage support, ServiceFlags.com has launched a Web site: ServiceFlagPetition.com that explains how people may write to their representatives to support this new bill."
U.S. Representative, John Boccieri, recently introduced this bill that would ban neighborhood or homeowners' associations from restricting the flying of service flags.The proposed bill, H.R. 2546, was the result of one of Boccieri's constituents who was asked by her condominium association to remove her service flag which she was displaying in honor of her son who was killed; the association indicated that it was a breach of contract. Service flags are official Defense Department banners for families who have family members serving in the military during periods of hostility. The blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty and signifies hope and pride. A gold star represents a service member killed in action, or who died in service, and stands for sacrifice for the cause of liberty. This bill is similar to the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 which prohibits a condominium or homeowners' association from preventing residents from displaying the American flag on or around their homes. It extends these same privileges to the service flag.ServiceFlags.com is urging people to contact their representatives in the bill's support; they have already sent more than 30,000 e-mails to their current customers."Since we began making the service flag in 2001, I have heard from many families around the country about problems they've had with their homeowners' association rules," David M. Smith, president of ServiceFlags.com says. "So, the incident that prompted the bill is not an isolated one."
ServiceFlags.com Seeks National Unity of Residential Military Flag Flying - Opinion and Commentary News from Send2Press Newswire Jun 18, 2009:

The Way We Get By

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Reservists help get wheelchairs to needy Iraqi children

Members of the 185th Air Mobility Wing begin loading four crates of children's wheelchairs onto a C-130 Hercules June 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. A C-130 aircrew from Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., transported the wheelchairs to Andrews AFB, Md., where a larger cargo plane transported the wheelchairs to Baghdad, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Brian McReynolds)

"by Senior Airman Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

6/18/2009 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- After a brief stop in America's Heartland, an Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircrew from here took another step in a long journey for a special load of cargo headed for Iraq.

On June 11, reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing flew to Sioux City, Iowa, where they received four pallets of children's wheelchairs. The 115 wheelchairs, donated by Hope Haven International Ministries of Rock Valley, Iowa, will be handed out to children in the Baghdad area by Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C."

Reservists help get wheelchairs to needy Iraqi children:

LOYALTY 2.0

"JSS LOYALTY, Iraq - Joint Security Station Loyalty, formerly known as Forward Operating Base Loyalty, has undergone some restructuring recently.

To make room for the Iraqi National Police, many of the support facilities had to be relocated. During this time of transition, finance Soldiers have been participating in R&R Leave. This has certainly put some strain on the operation. However, Loyalty Finance was still able to achieve record numbers despite being understaffed.

The post-exchange has occupied what used to be the old theater. This theater was hit by a mortar attack in early 2008. The move into the remodeled building took only two weeks. With the help of Soldiers and civilians, the transition was quite smooth. The Chaplain's office and the chapel have followed the PX to the old theater. The Loyalty Finance Office has also joined forces with the Postal Office and now occupies what used to be the postal supply room. The new office is more spacious than the old one and easier to clean. Thanks to the new office being either an old bathroom or a kitchen, no one is certain which, the floors and walls are all tile, and very easy to wipe down. A credit to the finance Soldiers is that the entire office was broken down, moved, and reassembled in one day. Business was closed during the move."

LOYALTY 2.0:

Combining Training, Increasing Muscle Memory

Combining Training, Increasing Muscle Memory: "FORT HOOD, Texas - Deploying Colorado Guardsmen continued building upon their foundation of Close Quarter Combat training at Fort Hood, Texas, May 21, 2009.

The Soldiers, who are assigned to 1st Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, Colorado Army National Guard, 115th Fires Brigade, incorporated their medic platoon in the training to help simulate how to treat a casualty while also trying to clear a room or a house.

Using a basic floor plan outlined on the ground, known as a "glass house," the Soldiers, in small teams, practiced clearing rooms and hallways. At the discretion of the 1st platoon sergeant and the medic platoon sergeant, they would call out to the team a scenario such as, "Third man was hit. Lower leg injury."With that, the Soldiers determined a security plan and performed buddy aid."

Artillery, 115th Fires Brigade moves quickly into the "glass house" to
clear a room during Close Quarter Combat training May 21 at Fort Hood, Texas.
The "glass house" is a floor plan outlined on the ground where Soldiers practice
clearing rooms and hallways. The training provided here by the 120th Infantry
Brigade ensures the115th Fires Brigade redeploys safely after their year-long
deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Liesl Marelli)
(Released)

Soldiers leave Iraqi cities for sweltering tents

"CAMP CARVER, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. military is expanding some rural bases and building others to house thousands of troops displaced by a June deadline to withdraw from Iraq's major cities.
With continual power outages pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees, that can't come soon enough for some soldiers living in sweltering tents at Camp Carver in the small town of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of the capital.
'Can't wait,' said Spc. Oscar Garza, 20, of Port Lavaca, Texas, as he carted his bed frame to newly constructed plywood houses with air conditioners elsewhere on the U.S. base.

Kyser said his unit has moved several times, including most recently from
Baghdad to Madain, since the soldiers deployed with the 82nd Airborne from Fort
Bragg, N.C."

The Associated Press: Soldiers leave Iraqi cities for sweltering tents: