Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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

The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.

To Our Soldiers

To Our Soldiers

Palisade mother welcomes son home from Iraq

"GRAND JUNCTION (KJCT)- A Palisade mother welcomed her son home from Iraq today after seven long months.
Twenty one-year-old Justin Aysse is a Field Lineman with the U.S. Marines.
He's from 29 Palms California... And his mom, Julie Dominguez, says it was the first time they've been separated for this long.
She says they communicated by e-mail, but sometimes she wouldn't hear from Justin for weeks.
Julie says not a day went by when she didn't cry... worrying about her son."

More....

Bush Salutes Mothers' Sacrifices in War on Terror

"American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, May 11, 2008 – President Bush praised America’s mothers, especially those who’ve lost sons or daughters during the war on terror and those who gave their lives in service to their country, during his weekly radio address yesterday. An excerpt from the president’s remarks follows:

“On this Mother’s Day weekend, we think of the many mothers who raised the brave men and women serving our country in uniform. And to those mothers, I offer the thanks of a grateful nation."

“Your sons and daughters are defending our freedom with dignity and honor, and America appreciates the sacrifices that your families make in the name of duty. “On this Mother’s Day weekend, we remember the mothers grieving a son or daughter lost in the service to their country, as well as the children who lost a mother in uniform. “We share their pride in these wonderful Americans who have given everything to protect our people from harm. Nothing we say can ever make up for their loss. “But, on this special day, we hold them in our hearts, and we lift them in our prayers. “I wish every mother listening this morning a blessed Mother’s Day, including my own. And I have a message for every son and daughter listening this morning: Remember to tell Mom the first thing tomorrow how much you love her.”

DefenseLink News Article: Bush Salutes Mothers' Sacrifices in War on Terror:

Chrysler Kicks Off Military Appreciation Month

"By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service DETROIT, May 5, 2008 – Patriotism was in full gear at the Chrysler headquarters today, as hundreds gathered inside the star-spangled atrium of the automaker’s main hub to honor America’s men and women in uniform.

On the tiered floors of the glass-enclosed plaza here, employees hung over railings to watch while their chief executive kicked off Military Appreciation Month by signing an agreement strengthening Chrysler’s ties to Reserve and National Guard troops, and recognizing past and present servicemembers on the automaker’s roster.

“I just want to thank all the men and women who give of themselves, who are apart from their families, who are enduring tremendous hardship to maintain the freedom the democracy on which this country was founded,” said Robert Nardelli, Chrysler’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are truly blessed.”

As an expression of Chrysler’s gratitude to servicemembers’ sacrifice, Nardelli today signed a 5-Star Military Support Agreement. The document promises Chrysler’s commitment to continue supporting employees who are called into active military service.

“A lot of times people ask, ‘Gee Bob, isn’t that an expense?’” Nardelli said of the pledge. “But I think it’s an investment. People say, ‘Well, isn’t this a burden?’ I say, ‘It’s a responsibility.’ "

In an event that included remarks from Defense Department and military
officials, local radio personality Paul W. Smith, the master of ceremonies,
listed the names of more than 40 Chrysler employees currently deployed to U.S.
operations abroad.
With each name Smith read, a camo-clad servicemember on
the second story of the circular plaza draped a flag with a blue star over the
railing. A tradition since World War I, the blue flag is a symbol displayed by
family members in remembrance of their loved ones serving in harm’s way. In a
somber postscript to the presentation, the family of Army Master Sgt. William
Balinski accepted a flag embroidered with a gold star.

DefenseLink News Article: America Supports You: Chrysler Kicks Off Military Appreciation Month:

Pray instead of Protest

Dear Editor,
A few weeks ago, several groups of people banded together to “protest” the death of 4,000 of our soldiers in the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. For several weeks beforehand they watched as the numbers crept up, looking for the death that would signal the symbolic turn to 4,000.
For their protest march, which actually comprised a number of different grievances all gathered for one rally and parade, they placed little crosses in the ground to symbolize each of those lost protecting our freedom.
We support their right to gather, their right to discuss and their right to disagree; after all, it is our sons and daughters who are fighting in every corner of the globe so that they can have that right. What we find unacceptable is the group’s hijacking of our children’s service and memories to promote their protest, a protest that most of us strongly disagree with. Do they have the permission from each of the families of the fallen to use their child’s name and memory? Do they really believe that those families and those sons and daughters want their sacrifices used for propaganda that cheapens what they have given?
No one grieves more than a mother for a child who has made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and no one has the right to cheapen or waste that sacrifice by using the deaths of our children for their propaganda. Our children are our blessings, our pride and our joy. We are the Blue Star Mothers, the proud mothers of children who have volunteered to serve our country. We have our shared memories of raising our children, we pray for them daily no matter where they are. We are the ones who wait for phone calls, letters and e-mails, and who rush to locations across the country to welcome them home, whether it is safely into our arms, for healing in a hospital or to lay them gently in the ground.
The men and women who serve are not a tool for protests. They are not a number to be discussed and argued over. They are serving a noble purpose. Those who say they support the troops but disagree with the war should change their tactics. Our children will come home when the job is done. Let’s support them to get the job done. Instead of rallies of protest, why not gather cards and letters of support, simple but necessary supplies that our troops need, food items, etc., and bring them to Blue Star Moms to send overseas. Instead of protesting on a corner, hold a car wash and use the money to purchase needed equipment in a rehab facility. Instead of signs of protest, fly signs reminding people of what you are grateful for that our country offers — that will stop traffic! Look for the similarities, not always the differences, that make us the United States of America.
Fly your flag, celebrate that all of us in America have the freedom to choose, and then, please pray for our children who have chosen to defend the freedom for all of us.

Grand Valley Blue Star Mothers, Colorado Chapter #4
Theresa Bloom,
Wendy Hoffman,
Ricki Gavell,
Karol Feltman,
Julie Dominguez,
Patricia Wheeler,
Anne Marie Boden,
Suzanne Daniels,
Sheila Decocq,
Robin Wade,
Juli Ingram,
Kathy Gosselin


Grand Junction Free Press - Letters to the Editor: "Pray instead of protest"

See also Mothers of Veterans take Exception with War protest

Local Soldier Returns Home After Serving During Surge

"Since January of 2007, Private First Class Dallas Hanson's world has revolved around Iraq. Now, after spending fifteen months in Baghdad, he finally gets to come home and see his family.
"He was just mom, I gotta get down there," said Wendy Hoffman, Hanson's mother. "He would say I gotta get in the army. I know this is what I want to be doing."
Hoffman says since her son was in kindergarten, all he wanted to do was join the U.S. military.
"It's been his whole life, his dream," said Hoffman.
And it's a dream he had to fight for. Hanson is an American-Canadian dual citizen. As such, it took three years before the U.S. Army would accept him. When they finally did, he says he couldn't have been any happier.
"I've gotta say it's been everything I expected," said Hanson.
Just months after enlisting, Hanson learned that his unit would be one of the first to go to Iraq as part of the troop surge ordered by President Bush. When he got there, he says it was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
"It's difficult," said Hanson. "It's completely different from anything you see around here."
It wasn't much easier on his family. In Baghdad, Hanson's time was spent working as a tower guard and patrolling the streets with Iraqi police.
"That sense of fear, the dread is there all the time," said Hoffman.
But a few weeks ago, Hoffman got the call that put her fears to rest. She found out her son was coming home.
"It was a real sense of relief and it's like okay, he's back," said Hoffman.
For Hanson, the big welcome home was just what he needed.
"Being back here with my family is just incredible," said Hanson.
Although he has to report back to his post in North Carolina early next week, Hanson says he's looking forward to a quiet weekend at home.
"I'm going to relax and enjoy Grand Junction," said Hanson."


Local Soldier Returns Home After Serving During Surge:

The Shower at Dallas!

Click HERE to view the shower they give the troops landing in Dallas Airport -- even when its raining!

Troop homecoming: A surge of emotions

They have been in the country since January 2007. Their return marks an end to the surge that has been credited with reducing violence in many parts of Iraq, especially around Sadr City.
Col. Stephen R. Lyons, the acting commander of the 82nd, told the paratroopers that what they did will some day appear in history books. The 2nd Brigade controlled several neighborhoods in the western part of the capital along the Tigris River.
The area includes parts of the city run by the Mahdi Army, the militia of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr that has been blamed for much of the Shiite-on-Sunni violence in Baghdad.
“You took the toughest section of Baghdad and turned it around,” Lyons said.

View video here

View Slideshow

Welcome Home Wuffy!

I would have loved to have been there but I feel honored that I had two Blue Star Mothers to stand in for me and give you a great big welcome home. We're all proud of you! And glad to have you home safely. God speed all the 82nd on their travels home. BTW -- hows the rabbit?

And a huge thank you to Barb and Patti.

82nd returns home from Baghdad 3/12/08

"FORT BRAGG (WTVD) -- About 350 members of the 82nd Airborne Division are returning home to their families. The members of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment have spent the past 15 months fighting in Baghdad.Families waited for their loved ones to return from combat at Fort Bragg Wednesday morning.
It was a proud moment for Staff Sergeant Kenneth Butler. He lost his arm fighting in Iraq.
He is a member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was at the homecoming to welcome his friends home.
"Ah, it's a great relief just knowing that they've come back safe and they're all home together again with their families where they belong," Butler said.
The homecomings are especially special to many of the families.
Sergeant Robert Burnett missed the birth of his child by one month. He said today was the first time he heard his daughter cry in person.
"[I] heard it on the phone but never in person," Burnett said. "It's wonderful. It's a good feeling."
PFC Linwood Battle's mother, Darlene Battle, said her son's deployment was hard for her.
"I'm glad he's home. I didn't cry when he left but I cried when he got back," she said. "So he's safe. I can breathe now."
Another couple of hundred solders are expected to turn to Fort Bragg Wednesday night. In all, about 2,000 members of the 82nd will be home before the end of the month.
(Copyright ©2008 WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) "


abc11.com: 82nd returns home from Baghdad 3/12/08:

Easter greetings to the Troops

Mesa Mall sponsored an event for the Blue Star Mothers at the mall this morning. It was the first day of the mall Easter Bunny photo promotion and as a special gift for military families we had an early bird event. With the help of Blue Star Mothers and the VA hospital we rounded up some of our local families for the event.

It started with a continental breakfast and then goodie bags were handed out. After an easter egg hunt, the Easter Bunny arrived and all the kids, big and little, lined up for photos. The mall provided each child with a free 5x7 photo and a disk with the photo on it so they could share the day with their loved one in the combat zone.

Now, in most cases this involved kids sending photos to their absent parent but, as one of the Blue Star Moms involved in the event, I'm doing it the other way around. Here you go kiddo! I did this for you!

valentines event

Grand Junction Free Press - Community News: "Wendy Hoffman, president of GV Blue Star Mothers, shows off the bag full of handmade Valentines. Hoffman has a son in the Army stationed in Baghdad, Pfc. Dallas Hanson.
Photo: Tracy Dvorak Free Press"

Hearts for the Troops

By Paul Shockley Grand Junction CO Colorado January 28, 2008 “I hope your Valentines is radical” read one card. Others, like the card crafted by 3-year-old Ximena Navarro, didn’t need any words. The girl went straight for stickers and liberally applied the hole puncher."

“Just a bunch a scribbling,” said mom, Patrisia Navarro of Fruita. “We have a friend in Iraq, so I told her to come make a card.” Most of Saturday’s card makers knew someone deployed. Within one hour after setting up shop Saturday at Mesa Mall, organizers with the Blue Star Mothers had about 50 handmade Valentine’s Day cards signed and ready to be mailed to U.S. troops abroad.

“If we can keep positive morale, there’s a better chance they come home safe,” said Wendy Hoffman, president of Grand Valley Blue Star Mothers. The local chapter of Blue Star Mothers was started last November — they meet [monthly] and are up to 14 members.

Over the weekend, they invited Mesa Mall shoppers to make Valentine’s Day cards or donate items for care packages to troops. Hoffman said they desperately need cash in order to mail the cards — hundreds are expected to be mailed, including cards crafted by youngsters at Lincoln Orchard Mesa, Dos Rios and Mesa View elementary schools.

Hoffman’s son, Army Pfc. Dallas Hanson, has been serving in Baghdad the past year. While Hanson’s received regular correspondence, Hoffman said others haven’t been as lucky. “He told me a friend of his stopped going to the mail room because his name never gets called,” Hoffman said.

While Hoffman’s Valentine card table saw an early rush, fewer and fewer Saturday shoppers stopped to work on a card. Three people walked past her tables and said they couldn’t take the time, which frustrated Hoffman. “It’s out of their consciousness,” she said. “But we have our freedom because of our troops.”

Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com.

Grand Junction Free Press - Community News:

Messages to the Troops

Messages to the Troops: "Valentines to the Troops
On January 26th and 27th Blue Star Mothers hosted a Valentine Factory at Mesa Mall.

Many thanks to Mesa Mall management and staff for their help and support, for providing us with the tables and also for supplies and materials for the valentines.

Almost 200 valentines were created for our troops overseas and we also collected some items for the care packages, blankets for Balad and about $200 towards postage.

Most of the valentines had messages of thank you and support but because there are so many wonderful sentiments and we have to divide them up to send them I would like to post a sample of the sentiments here so they can be enjoyed by many. Some are quite unique, all are as they appear on the cards.

read the Grand Valley Greetings"

Hearts off to Our Troops

"Support Our Troops: By sending them Valentines"

by Tom Coomes tcoomes@kjct8.com

This February 14th many of us will receive cards, letters and gifts from our sweethearts and loved ones are things we often take for granted.

For our troops over seas its the small things like valentines that make the difference. Blue star mothers of america is hosting hearts off to our troops at the mesa mall this weekend. This saturday and sunday at claire's court in the mall from noon until 4:00 pm .They will be holding a drive for valentines day greeting cards to send off to the troops and collecting supplies for care packages to be sent over seas."

KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports Support Our Troops: By sending them Valentines:

Larger Flat Rate Boxes

"New Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box
The current flat-rate box, which gives customers a single, predetermined rate regardless of the weight or delivery zone, was introduced in November 2004. The new, larger box extends the agency’s successful flat-rate offerings, providing more choices for small businesses and consumers.New Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box
The current flat-rate box, which gives customers a single, predetermined rate regardless of the weight or delivery zone, was introduced in November 2004. The new, larger box extends the agency’s successful flat-rate offerings, providing more choices for small businesses and consumers."

“We listened to our customers, and we’re giving them a new box that lets them ship larger items while still enjoying the benefits of a flat rate,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “Flat-rate boxes are very popular and the new, larger version provides even more value.”
The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box (12" x 12" x 5½") can be used for both domestic and international shipments. This extends the flat-rate price and ease-of-use benefits to international shippers. There is also a 5 percent online discount.
There will be a special version of the box for the military, with a $2 discount, if shipped to an Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) address.
All Postal Service Priority and Express Mail packages and envelopes are environmentally friendly, exceeding the highest standards for recyclability.


Domestic Shipping
$12.95
Military Shipping
• APO/FPO Addresses
$10.95
International Shipping
• Canada and Mexico
$29.95
• Other Countries
$49.95

The Postal Service will continue to offer its original Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes, which currently retail domestically for $8.95.

USPS News Release: Postal Service Announces Two New Shipping Initiatives:

Valentine factory for troops at Mesa mall in Grand Junction

FREE PRESS STAFF REPORT
January 15, 2008

Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will know they’re loved this Valentine’s Day, thanks to Mesa Mall and the Blue Star Moms in Grand Junction.

The mall and moms will make Valentine’s Day cards for troops at a “valentine factory” during the afternoons of Jan. 26-27 at the mall.

“The mall is totally supporting us,” said Wendy Hoffman, organizer with the Blue Star Moms. “They’re going to supply the paper and glue so people can make valentines.”People who may not want to make a card can sign one to show their support to troops serving overseas.

Blue Star Moms, a support group of parents and family members of soldiers serving, will also collect items to send to the troops.

What soldiers have been asking for indicates it’s cooled down in Baghdad, Hoffman said. Plus, much has been made about the snow that fell in the Iraqi capitol city.

Hoffman’s son, Pfc. Dallas Hanson, is serving in Baghdad in the Army with the 82nd Airborne. Monday morning, Hanson “was complaining about the 10 degrees Celsius,” Hoffman said laughing. “I said that’s not bad. That’s 50 degrees ... I can only hope.”

Still, though, “they’re dressed exactly the same way they were dressed when it was 110 above,” she said.

Soldiers have asked for socks, one-size-fits-all knit gloves, fleece blankets and the standard items like shampoo, toothpaste and soap.

The Blue Star Moms will also collect money to help pay postage to send boxes overseas. Over Christmas, the organization sent 64 boxes. For $25, a person or business can sponsor shipping a box to the troops.

The moms haven’t limited themselves in the number of cards they’ll send. “In a lot of these boxes, we will have more than one card. As many as we come up with, we’ll make sure the troops get them,” Hoffman said."

Grand Junction Free Press - Community News: