Text a "thanks" to the troops

All you text loving cell phone users.. here's a chance to say thanks to the men and women that stand in harm's way.  And you should get a response back.. :)

 

Americans Can Text ‘Thanks’ to Troops
By Samantha L. Quigley / American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2007 - <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = CH />For those seeking a quick way to show appreciation to troops serving far from home this holiday season, look no further than “Giving Thanks,” a new initiative from the Defense Department’s America Supports You program. America Supports You connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. “This is a simple way to connect our citizens to our soldiers using modern technology,” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison. Between 6 a.m. Nov. 17 and midnight Nov. 22, people wishing to express gratitude to the troops for their service can text a brief one- or two-line message to 89279. Each text message sent will receive a response from an active-duty servicemember. “We know that thousands of families will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner and thinking about loved ones who are far away from home serving their country,” Barber said. “We are counting on other American families to take a moment during their holiday celebration to think of those families and their family members who are serving and say, ‘Thanks.’ “The reassurance that others are thinking about them will mean a lot to our troops,” Barber added. Those who send a message during the six days of the “Giving Thanks” program also will be directed to the America Supports You Web site. There they’ll find a sampling of messages from the public and a running tally of how many messages have been received. They’ll also be able to read messages from the troops. Some servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan already have sent messages thanking the public for the support. Angie, an airman serving in Iraq, wrote: “Your support means so much, especially during the holidays. God Bless.” Members of Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan also wrote to express their appreciation for the continued support they receive: “To all the great Americans who go out of their way to support all the Soldiers of the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan -- Thank You.” Barber is hoping troops around the globe will participate, as well. Troops serving anywhere in the world can e-mail a brief message to americasupportsyou@osd.mil to communicate their gratitude for support from back home. Responses must be received by Nov. 9. In an effort to reach the Hispanic community, which is represented in large numbers in the armed services, America Supports You is working with Interlex, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm with multicultural capabilities. “What we are doing is complementing the general market efforts to mobilize the Hispanic community to become involved in America Supports You,” said Rolando Rodriguez, Interlex’s managing director for public relations and community-based outreach. “Obviously that’s important because many Hispanics do consume different press than the general market would.” The firm’s goal is to inform the Hispanic communities that a number of Hispanic youth are serving in the military. “There (also) are a number of Hispanic families that (will be) impacted during the holidays because (the servicemembers) are not sitting at the table with them, so it’s important to show their appreciation,” Rodriguez said. He added that his team is working to get the message out to the Hispanic communities in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas through Spanish-language media outlets, as well as entertainment and sporting venues. These are the same types of venues that will carry information about the America Supports You “Giving Thanks” program to the general market.

Tags: Text the troops

America Supports You

A couple of notes from my last entry got me to thinking so I started checking out a few sites. Please understand.... everyone should do what feels right to them.  Most of my support goes to local programs and/or to units that are deployed with folks that I know ... this way I have a point of contact for sending items. But for those of you that don't have family or friends in the military, some of these other organizations may be the only way you can show support. 

 I did want to share a recent story that had help along the way BECAUSE of the "America Supports You" program.  I wish the final outcome for this family had been better, but at least they had (and continue to have) support when they needed it most.

Communities Embrace Texas Family After Tragedy
By Toni Maltagliati / American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2007 - <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = CH />Troops in Iraq know too well how quickly life can take a wrong turn. An outpouring of goodwill and support from the public is helping one wounded soldier and his wife cope with a tragic loss. For Army Spc. John A. Johnson, the fifth improvised-explosive-device blast he experienced in Iraq, in August, was the one that caused traumatic brain injury that landed him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for treatment. Two months later, when he was being discharged, his wife and three children left El Paso and headed east to meet him. Then fate took a deadly turn. Driving in the Dallas area Oct. 13, the Johnson family vehicle crashed and rolled. Two-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Ashley perished in the wreck. Tyler, age 9, was critically injured with brain injuries that left him comatose at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where he later died. Johnson’s wife, Monalisa, was in the intensive-care unit of an adjacent facility, Parkland Hospital, with back injuries. With electric speed, the military and civilian communities pulled together to carry the soldier and his family through their losses. The Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, part of the military’s wounded warrior transition network, worked to get Johnson to his family in Dallas quickly. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion was doing all it could to help Johnson. Calls were made to community groups, including groups that support the Defense Department’s America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. The Fisher House Foundation’s Hero Miles program, an ASY supporter, provided an airline ticket for Johnson to fly to Dallas within hours of the accident. Army Staff Sgt. Eugene Schmidt, a platoon sergeant with Company C of the Warrior Transition Battalion, accompanied the Army cavalry scout. The two men stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, near the two hospitals. “His wife was in the hospital for two days,” Schmidt said. “So we went back and forth between the two hospitals.” The Army sent Wounded Transition Battalion Chaplain (Capt.) Bryan VanPelt to join the family. Operation Homefront has chapters in many states and is a supporter of America Supports You. “The case manager at the hospital (in Dallas) contacted our Arkansas chapter,” said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront Texas interim chief executive, and executive vice president of operations and development, referring to Operation Homefront Arkansas. The Johnson family is from Benton, Ark. “First we set up a fund for the family and put a notice on the Texas chapter Web site,” Palmer said. “We’re one of the charities of the PGA Tour. They got the information and distributed it through their contacts. Within 24 hours they had raised $45,000.” Soldiers’ Angels, also an ASY supporter, provided hotel stays as needed for the Johnson family, including the soldier’s mother and grandmother, in Dallas, according to a Brooke Army Medical Center official. Soldiers’ Angels officials went to the hotel to give the family funding for food and other necessities. Another group, Operation Comfort, paid for gas the family needed for a rental car. The Dallas Veteran Service Organization and the Veterans of Foreign Wars prepared meals for the family. Monalisa Johnson recovered and was discharged. The Johnsons buried their two youngest children in Benton, Ark., Oct. 23, then returned to their son, Tyler’s, bedside. As doctors reduced the boy’s circulation to prevent brain swelling, his limbs were cut off from oxygen and it looked like he would require several amputations. Johnson was able to spend time with Tyler as he lay in the hospital bed. “He was at the hospital with him, talking to him,” Schmidt said. “Every day the doctors said, ‘He won’t make it through the night; he has only a 2 percent chance of making it.’ After a while they accepted it.” On Nov. 3, three weeks after the crash, Tyler died. The cavalry scout and his wife are determined to prevail over this tragedy, Operation Homefront’s Palmer said. “They’re amazing,” she said. “To see them holding hands and comforting each other is amazing. I’m really impressed.” The outpouring of support has been extremely helpful, Schmidt said. Nobody takes care of wounded American soldiers better than Fort Sam Houston, he said, adding that corporations and the troop-support organizations have spared no expense to ease the Johnsons’ burden. “PGA Tour has raised $95,000,” Schmidt said. Some of the money raised was donated to Operation Homefront Texas, which in turn bought the Johnsons a car. Another car company donated a second vehicle, Schmidt said. American Airlines gave them tickets; Hertz and National provided rental cars, Schmidt said. Another nonprofit group, Hope for the Warriors, paid for the hotel room in Dallas, he said. Many in the extended military family are reaching out to the Johnsons, he said. “The first lady called, then the vice president’s office,” Schmidt said. “They have been checking on them. People at the Pentagon are checking on them.” Though Johnson has been discharged from Brooke Army Medical Center, it’s not clear if he will rejoin his unit, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “He’ll be re-evaluated,” Schmidt said, “because of everything that’s happened.” America Supports You was launched three years ago this month with a handful of home front groups and corporations willing to reach out to the extended military family. "If this tragedy had happened before we had the America Supports You program in place, we wouldn't have been able to energize the community to provide the support required," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison. Barber is also the architect of America Supports You. "Now, even though we can't make everything right for the family, at least we can help connect them to as much assistance as humanly possible." A permanent memorial is planned at the school where the Johnson children were students, at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Palmer, of Operation Homefront Texas, said. Biography: Allison Barber

Tags: America supports You

Finding new ways to show support of our men and women in uniform

I have received a couple of e-mail forwards now that make the suggestion to add "any recovering soldier" to your christmas card list to show support. I hate to be the wet blanket on this grand idea, but cards and packages sent to nonspecific personel will not be delivered.  Here is the notice that is posted at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center website:

Support A Recovering American Soldier

Page Content

Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to 'Any Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' that Walter Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. Instead of sending an “Any Wounded Soldier” letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil Other organizations that offer means of showing your support for our troops or assist wounded servicemembers and their families include: http://www.usocares.org/ http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/ http://www.redcross.org For individuals without computer access, your local military installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in your area may offer the best alternative to show your support to our returning troops and their families.  Walter Reed Army Medical Center will continue to receive process and deliver all mail that is addressed to a specific individual. As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care and processes for our returning service members, it must also must keep our patients and staff members safe while following Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of encouragement from the general public, corporate America and civic groups throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive from their countrymen.

 

Should you receive a similar e-mail, please help spread the word that cards and packages cannot be delivered to "any soldier".  Then please direct people to organizations that support our military members.  Thanks!

Tags: any soldier, Walter Reed

Mate meme

Picked up this meme over at Dana's spot: Mate Meme . Considering Paul's recent departure and the "drama" that occurred... this might not be the best time for me to complete this.. but I like to think I'm fair-minded... let's see how it goes.

1. Who is your mate?

Paul

2. How long have you been together?

Dec. 31 will be 30 years.  Married for 25 years

3. How long dated?

Two years . Engaged for 2. 5 years. 

4. How old is your mate?

46 

5. Who eats more?

Whoever's had the most stress that day. Typically, though.. his portions tend to be bigger than mine.

6. Who said "I love you" first?

After this long, I can't remember....The important thing is that we've never stopped saying it.

7. Who is taller?

Paul is.  He's 6'2" and I'm 5'2".  (in my defense, when we started dating he was only 6 ft tall)

8. Who sings better?

He thinks that I sing better. When we first got married, I used to sing him to sleep every night. Since he's still with me, I guess it wasn't too bad, huh?

But I love his voice too. When the kids were babies, he'd sing to them and it was heaven to hear.

9. Who is smarter?

Depends on the topic. We'd make a kick-ass team on Jeopardy.

10. Whose temper is worse?

His temper is just as bad as mine, but I have a much shorter fuse.

11. Who does the laundry?

LMAO... after Tuesday, you can rest assured he isn't doing it anymore.  

12. Who does the dishes?

This is why we had children.  The kids take turns. Once they move out, my money is on Paul doing the dishes
 
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?

He sleeps to my right.
14. Who pays the bills?

He pays the long term bills, and I pay the household bills.   

15. Who has bigger feet?

Comparatively speaking, I think that I do... I wear a size 9... he wears a size 10 (which is kind of small for his height).

16. Who has longer hair?

Hands down, I do.. even at it's shortest, my hair is still longer.

17. Who is better with the computer?

Paul.. he amazes me with what he can get our computers to do. 

18. Who mows the lawn?

here's the funny thing.. I actually LIKE mowing the lawn, but Paul does it whenever he's home (although he hates it) because he thinks it's "his job".

19. Who cooks dinner?

I am head chef, he's my "go for" chef... when he's not available, Kimberly fills his role.

20. Who drives when you are together?

Depends on where we are going and to whom arriving on time is more important.  Otherwise he drives... I think it's a control thing.

21. Who pays when you go out?

50/50 split... sometimes he does, sometimes I do

22. Who is most stubborn?

he is... I will often give in to him just to end the damn fight.

23. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?

I am seldom wrong, but I am the first one to apologize for an argument.

24. Whose parents do you see the most?

We come from the same home town. We usually stay at my Mom's place because there is more room, but I think we do a good job of sharing the time equally.

25. Who kissed who first?

He kissed me... that is what completely won me over. Never before and never since have I ever been so impressively kissed.

26. Who asked who out?

I asked Paul out first. I had been invited to a New Year's Eve party (77/78). The idiot I was dating at the time decided to pout that night and wouldn't go. So... as a last resort I called my good old buddy, Paul, hoping that he didn't already have plans. He didn't.  :)

27. Who proposed?

I honestly don't know... we dated for so long...I think there just came a point when it was "a done deal".  But I got the official engagement ring on Christmas of 1979

28. Who is more sensitive?

I cry more.. so I guess that means I am

29. Who has more friends?

 I do.  Paul is the consummate introvert.

30. Who has more siblings?

We both have two siblings. He has two older brothers and I have an older brother and younger sister.

31. Who wears the pants in the family?

As my children love to say "Daddy wears the pants in the family, but Mommy makes the rules."  LOL  

Who needs divorce when you have military separations?

Paul headed out yesterday for his 10 day whirlwind flight exercise in France. 

Before he left, he managed to shrink everybody's red clothing. Perfect timing on his leaving if you ask me.

By the time he gets back, I will no longer be steaming about this. I will also have instituted a "don't let Dad do the laundry" policy in our house.

And do you know.... he actually tried to spin that situation so it was somehow my fault?  LMAO.

I reminded him as he was leaving that gifts from Europe are always welcome.  Think the hint was strong enough? Guess we'll see how strong his survival instincts are. <evil laughter>

I should be sleeping but... Survey Time

Found this at Joann's Another Survey , who found it at  Survey says........................

 

1.Do you wear a name tag at work?

Nope, at "work" everyone knows my name <wink>

2. What kind of car do you drive?
Pontiac Montana... I think

3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell?

Bean burrito and an apple empanada

 4. Have you ever had a garage sale?
yes, it's a great way to get rid of stuff

5. What color is your iPod?  I don't have one
6. What kind of dog do you have?
For a few more months, we don't own one.
7. What's for dinner tonight?  Chicken Cordon Bleu, mashed taters, green beans
8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had? Miller Lite

9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?

gave the number to friends. (I consider my cell phone as MY way to stay connected to the kids and Paul... I do not like having the "what areyou doing, I don't know what are you doing?" type of conversations on it. )

10. Last time you were sick?
Earlier this year, but can't remember the details now.

11. How long is your hair?  to my bra strap

12. Are you happy right now?  It's 3:35 in the morning.... Happy doesn't begin to cover it.

13. What did you say last?  "Goodnight cutie patootie" to my daughter Kim
14. Who came over last?  UPS guy, he was delivering my Christmas cards
15. Do you drink beer? Not as often as I should

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?  Not that I can remember, but chances are good we told my baby sister she was. :)

17. What's your favorite key chain?

Picture key chain of the kids and me during a visit to Sea World

18. What did you get for graduation?
I can't remember.... I already had a car...

19. What is in your pockets?
No pockets at the moment. Most timesit's wads of tissue

20. Who introduced you to Dane Cook?  A Movie?

21.  What's your favorite pasta topping??  Red Spaghetti Sauce
22. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear?

No, but Kim has sculpted me angels out of sculpty clay before. ;)

23. What DVD is in your DVD player?  Season 1 of Enterprise

24. What's something fun you did today? Played catch out in the park with Kim and Mac
25. Who was the principal of your high school?  I think his first name was John...

26. Has your house ever been TP'd??  It was a rite of passage with the ROTC group that I "ran with"

27. Why do questions always turn up missing?  People are not adept at cutting and pasting.... at least that's my theory!
28. What are you listening to right now? miscellaneous house noise

 29. Drinking? Nothing, my hope is to go back to bed and stay asleep ;)
30. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?  I don't know if it's a favorite, but I always go check out the new DVD titles
31. When is your mom's birthday?  January 2
32. When is your birthday? June 13

33. What's the area code for your cell phone?  301
34. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now?
Lane Bryant's

35. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?

Normally there isn't, but right now I have a MacIntosh Apple air freshener (long past it's prime) hanging.

36. How many states in the US have you been to? 25, I only included the ones that I spent at least 48 hours in...and I underlined the ones that I ever actually lived in, just for fun. Which ones? California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington State, Washington,DC, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada

37. What kind of milk do you drink? skim milk.

38. What are you going to do after this? go back to bed

39. Who was the last person you went shopping with?  Son Mac.. he's grown over 2 inches since Labor Day and everything was too short on him!
40. What is your favorite fruit?
watermelon

41. What about your favorite dessert? homemade chocolate chip cookies
42. What is something you need to go shopping for?  hair dye
43. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives? Yes, but not on purpose, and mine is spelled differently

44. What kind of car do your siblings drive?  my brother has some kind of mid-size car, and my sister has a buick

45. Do you like pickles? I can eat pickles, but I don't seek them out.
46. How about olives?  I can eat green olives, but don't care so much for the black ones except on pizza.
47. What is your favorite kind of gum?  Spearmint Dentyne

48. What is your favorite kind of juice?  I'm not a big juice fan, I'd rather eat the fruit.... but if I drink a juice, it's usually orange

49. Do you have any tan lines? I think I'm still sporting a "farmer's tan"
50. What hospital were you born in? Good Samaritan Hospital

51.  What are you going to be for Halloween? Halloween passed, I did not dress up this year.

52. Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher?  In Arizona in the 60's, kindergarten was not a requirement to go to first grade.  so I didn't attend kindergarten.  My first grade teacher was Mrs. Rue

OK, YOUR turn.... leave me a link so I can go read yours!!

Researching Cancer & How much to share

My dear friend Lisa is dealing with her sister's recent diagnosis of cancer.

Her sister has been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer.  When Lisa needs to discuss and debate what the doctor has said, she calls me and we talk while I research stuff on the Internet.  Some of what she has told me is confusing to me.

Her sister has a 8 cm. tumor, which the doctor feels is too large to remove yet. He wants her to go through radiation first to shrink the tumor before removing everything.  But then this week she found out that the PET scan showed the possibility of cancer in her lymph nodes in her groin and in her underarm areas. The doctor wants to do more biopsies to confirm this.

He's told her that the ones in her underarm are less concerning because cervical cancer does not metastasize.

Well.. while talking to Lisa this afternoon, I looked up PET scans and we understand better why biopsies are needed to confirm. False positives are very possible with PET scans.

This evening however, I was doing further research into cervical cancer. If I am understanding what I am reading... it can in fact metastasize to the lungs and chest cavity.  I'm also reading that if it's in the lymph nodes, her sister's five year survival rate is right around 5 %. The doctor has told her sister that she has a 20% 5 year survival rate if its in the nodes.

I have decided to NOT share this information with Lisa.  I think that the doctor seems to be working quickly to take care of things for her sister. He seems to have things under control. I may be reading old stuff here.... or he may be aware of new information that I don't have access to from the Internet.

Biopsy is scheduled for later this week. I am hoping that we have a case of false positive.