Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Aspen man's vodka venture supports veterans


"ASPEN — If you’ve tried to buy vodka in the Roaring Fork Valley in the last month, you might have noticed a local newcomer on the top shelf, between the Gray Goose and the Ketel One.

The black-and-gray bottle of Jokä vodka comes looped with dog tags featuring the soldiers’ creed — and a label that touts it as the “Spirit of Aspen.”

“It’s selling,” said Roger Carlson, manager of the Grog Shop. He explained that Jokä is even more likely to sell when people realize the proceeds support veterans."



Though Nedlin has created his own 501(c)3 nonprofit, Charity Assistance
Advisors, he won’t be distributing the money himself. Instead, the money will be
distributed by the Grand Junction chapter of Blue Star Mothers, an organization
of women with children serving in the military.Chapter president Wendy Hoffman
affirmed the needs of veterans by noting that nationwide, one in three homeless
people are veterans. In Grand Junction, she said, that number is even
higher.


Aspen man's vodka venture supports veterans AspenTimes.com:



Monday, January 26, 2009

NJ bill creates license plate for parents of troops killed in the line of duty

"NJ bill creates license plate for parents of troops killed in the line of duty
by The Associated Press
Monday January 26, 2009, 11:34 AM
A bill creating specialized license plates for parents of troops killed in the line of duty advanced today in the New Jersey Legislature.
The bill was approved by the Assembly military affairs committee.
The design for the new plate includes a gold star and the words 'Gold Star Parent.'"

More... NJ bill creates license plate for parents of troops killed in the line of duty - Breaking News From New Jersey - NJ.com:

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Army mom searching for others like her


"FREMONT — Being an Army mom can be rough. But being an Army mom in Fremont can be rough and lonely, Julie Ramirez has found out.
When her eldest son, Victor, enlisted three years ago, she was distraught, and her friends couldn't relate.
'You honestly feel really alone because there's no one else who understands the nightmares you have,' Ramirez said.
Now Ramirez, a 49-year-old bookkeeper, is recruiting military moms in Fremont to help support each other. She is trying to start a Fremont chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America — a service organization for military moms. The group welcomes soldiers back from combat, attends memorials, sends care packages and cares for each other while their children are in harm's way."
If you go
WHAT: First meeting of the Fremont chapter of Blue Star Mothers of
America
WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Niles Veterans Hall, 37154 Second
St., Fremont
DETAILS: Call 510-938-5695 or visit www.myspace.com/fmtbsm

More... Army mom searching for others like her - Inside Bay Area: