Stand Down feeds and clothes homeless veterans

"GRAND JUNCTION (KJCT)- 30% of the homeless in the Grand Valley are military veterans. Once a year the Homeless Veterans Stand-Down brings together homeless veterans on the Western Slope... providing them with food, and clothes. But most importantly, these veterans are thanked for serving our country."

The Grand Junction V.A. Hospital, Catholic Outreach and Blue Star Mothers
were just some of the groups that come together to promote awareness of
homelessness in our community.

KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports Stand Down feeds and clothes homeless veterans:

An Internet Lifeline for Troops in Iraq and Loved Ones at Home

"With mortar shells exploding near him sometimes twice a day in Ramadi, Iraq, Sgt. Mark Grelak found a way to shut out the heat, the noise, and all the demands of his job — sweeping the local highway for bombs left by insurgents. In a tiny space in his barracks, he would flip open his laptop, adjust his Web camera and watch his daughter Katie take her first halting steps."

Specialist Kevin Groll, of the Michigan National Guard, took a virtual seat
at the Thanksgiving Day children's table last year, a Groll family tradition.
The family Web camera was positioned right next to the children's table. "Boy,
you did it again," Specialist Groll joked with his mother, Vicki Groll. "I'm not
even near the kiddies, and I still had to sit at the table. The kids just loved
it."

An Internet Lifeline for Troops in Iraq and Loved Ones at Home - New York Times:

McNerney plans veterans assistance workshop Saturday

Pleasanton Weekly : McNerney plans veterans assistance workshop Saturday: "Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) will hold a Veterans Assistance Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Pleasanton.
The workshop, to be held in collaboration with Pleasanton's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6298, will feature service providers who can aid local veterans in filing Veterans Administration claims and obtaining or replacing service medals. Information regarding employment and educational opportunities will also be available
Service providers scheduled to be at the meeting will represent the VA's Oakland Regional Office, Alameda and Contra Costa County Veteran Services Offices , Las Positas College Veterans Program, Cal State East Bay Veterans Assistance Program, Palo Alto Health Care System, Blue Star Moms, East Bay Chapter No. 10, Alameda County Workforce Investment Board and the Swords to Ploughshares organization."

Danville Weekly Online Calendar - Listings

"Blue Star Moms California
Blue Star Moms is a support group for families of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It meets at 7 p.m., the second Wednesday of the month, at the Danville Veterans Hall, 400 Hartz Ave. Call Peggy at 866-7035 or Patty at 838-9096 or visit www.bluestarmoms.org."
Danville Weekly Online Calendar - Listings:

War On Terror News: Blue Star Riders

"The Blue Star Riders (BSR) have members in California and Utah. Moms and Dads who have chosen to band together in support of our wounded servicemembers. These same parents have one other thing in common; they have a deployed son overseas, or one who has recently returned home.
The purpose of this group is to offer support by physically going to VA hospitals and visiting the wounded and to also bring them donated items for their use. These visits mainly occur on weekends, but that is not to say they won’t spend time during the week to stop by for a visit."

War On Terror News: Blue Star Riders:

Charity golf tournament to benefit soldiers

"Oklahoma Chapter 3 of the Blue Star Mothers will be hosting a charity golf tournament Sept. 8 at the Muskogee Country Club.

They are currently looking for corporate sponsors for teams and T-box advertisements. Corporations may sponsor a team of four players for $400, a T-Box ad for $150 or they may choose to sponsor only one person for $100."

MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK - <font color=green>AM UPDATE</font>: Charity golf tournament to benefit soldiers:

Blue Star Dads get in the act aiding troops

"ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - If there are Blue Star Mothers working to support their children in military service, there must be Blue Star Dads around as well.
The moms have gotten most of the attention packing and sending care packages and post cards to troops fighting in the war. Today it was the dads in an Arby's parking lot in northeast Albuquerque washing cars and raising money for projects supporting the troops overseas.
This is the first time the local Blue Star Dads gathered for a fund raiser.
The dads stood washed cars for about 6 hours today and had already made $300 by the time a KRQE News 13 crew arrived."

KRQE - Albuquerque, New Mexico - News, Video, Weather Forecast, Sports, Community, Health, Homes KBIM - KREZ Blue Star Dads get in the act aiding troops:

Troops still need help from home

MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK - Troops still need help from home: "Carolyn Swenson’s son returned from Iraq several months ago, but that hasn’t lessened her passion for volunteering with the Blue Star Mothers.

Swenson is one of about 20 women in Green Country Chapter 12 of Blue Star Mothers. They meet every Saturday at a former convenience store to pack boxes to ship to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The group is raising money and accepting other donations for their project at Arrowhead Mall through today."

Army reservists return home from Iraq duty -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY

Army reservists return home from Iraq duty -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY: "Two Army reservists were among 400 members of the 479th Engineer Battalion who recently returned home after performing dangerous but lifesaving missions for the past year in Iraq."

Blue Star Mothers meet
The Capital Region No. 2 Chapter of Blue Star Mothers will meet at 2 p.m. on July 20 at the Zaloga American Legion Post 1520 at 4 Everett Road Ext. in Colonie. For information, call Kay Moody of Glenmont, chapter president, 439-5784 or capitalregion2bsm@gmail.com or check http://www.capitalregion 2bsm.org.
News of your soldiers and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or by e-mail at brownt@timesunion.com

Blaine’s Blazin’ 4th celebrates nation’s heroes

"The sun bowed into the western horizon as Blue Star mothers and Gold Star families carried the flag on to centerfield at Blaine’s National Sports Center. (Photo by Sue Austreng)"

Local patriots spontaneously raised their voices in the night sky as fireworks exploded in sparkling color during Blaine’s Blazin’ 4th fireworks spectacular at the National Sports Center on Independence Day. “O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain ...“For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! “America! America! God shed his grace on thee ... “And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.”The pyrotechnic salute ignited a patriotic flame in the hearts of revelers Friday evening and provided a climactic finish to Blaine’s 4th of July celebration.“The spirit of patriotism should resound in all our hearts. Let’s hear it for America,” said Blaine’s Blazin’ 4th Committee Chairman Barry Wills.The assembled crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Wills urged them to “always remember our courageous and heroic sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Wish them all Godspeed and a safe return home.”As the setting sun bowed down in the western horizon, Wills called for a moment of silence “as we remember our fallen heroes who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.”The families of Lance Corp. Scott Modeen, Private 1st Class Nick Partot and Sgt. B.J. Beardsley were recognized and thanked for their greatest sacrifice: the lives of their sons killed in action during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.VFW State Commander Stan Kowalski, a resident of Blaine and the last World War II-generation VFW state commander in the United States, next took the stage.“Without the American soldier there never would have been a United States of America,” Kowalski said, wearing his fatigues and addressing fellow patriots.


ABC Newspapers - Blaine’s Blazin’ 4th celebrates nation’s heroes:

Memorial Day Revisited, a Fitting Return

Memorial Day Revisited, a Fitting Return by Mary K. Morgan Java Journal Online: "No soldier who sacrificed his life for his country should be forgotten, nor should relics of that service be abandoned by those he served. That’s just why the public was so outraged last year when the news broke that members of the Rollo-Calcaterra American Legion Post, Number 15 discovered a displaced set of WW I bronze memorial discs that that had been relegated to a forgotten storage space in the Soldier’s Memorial building. Originally, the cast bronze tributes to St. Louis soldiers who had lost their lives in WW I proudly lined the median of Kingshighway between Penrose Place and what was then named Easton Avenue. When the street was reconfigured in the 1980s, the monuments were never replaced.

...The Gold Star Mothers originally commissioned the casting of the markers and had them placed in the Kingshighway median as a memorial to their fallen sons. During WW I, all mothers of soldiers displayed “Service” flags with blue stars in the windows of their homes, one for each son in service to his country. Many wore enameled blue star lapel pins. And when one of the mothers lost a son in the war, the blue star was replaced with a gold star, as a symbol of their loss. "

Articles | Park Rapids Enterprise | Park Rapids, Minnesota

Articles Park Rapids Enterprise Park Rapids, Minnesota: "Unhappy knitters Small town newspapers - you gotta love ‘em. They try so hard to be fair, but sometimes others are if not hurt, discomforted, because of their attempts. A recent article brings this point to bear. In the Saturday, June 21, 2008 newspaper an article concerning Leonard LaBonte learning to knit so he could create slippers for his fellow veterans made front page.Unhappy knitters Small town newspapers - you gotta love ‘em. They try so hard to be fair, but sometimes others are if not hurt, discomforted, because of their attempts. A recent article brings this point to bear. In the Saturday, June 21, 2008 newspaper an article concerning Leonard LaBonte learning to knit so he could create slippers for his fellow veterans made front page.

This same group has contributed helmet liners to the Blue Star mothers, mittens and hats to local school children, and has been party to several other ..."

Blue Star Hoosier Mothers to recognize heroes

Blue Star Hoosier Mothers to recognize heroes: "The Blue Star Hoosier Mothers wants to know who is your American hero.

At the group's Freedom Festival slated for September, military personnel, police, firefighters and EMTs will be honored in a heroes display. Montgomery County residents are asked to send in pictures of those who should be recognized.

Blue Star Hoosier Mother Shannon Dulin, who is leading the Freedom Festival planning, said the purpose of the display is 'to show our heroes that we appreciate everything they do and plus to remember what happened on Sept. 11.'"

West Pasco happenings

West Pasco happenings - St. Petersburg Times: "Blue Star Mothers: A local chapter of Blue Star Mothers is organizing in the Tampa Bay area. The nonprofit group consists of mothers who have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military. For information call Lauren Frazier at (727) 849-2732 after 6 p.m."

Military Family Day in Grand Junction

"GRAND JUNCTION (KJCT)- For men and women with loved ones in the military, friends with similar experiences help keep them strong.
That's what Military Family Day is all about-- bringing this extended military family together for a good time.
The Colorado National Guard Family Program held an event Sunday with other military groups to thank service members and their families for their sacrifices.
The Grand Valley Blue Star Mothers were decked out in red, white and blue-- with pictures of their military children close by.
"A lot of it is, especially with the deployed families, that they have their loved ones gone and their left out of a lot of things that happen because they're not a complete family unit now while they're home," said Wendy Hoffman of Blue Star Mothers.
"They understand me. I walk in the room, they know exactly what I'm going through. They don't have to ask me how you doing, how does it feel, how's it going with the boys, how is school," said Suzanne Bronson, a wife of a deployed soldier.
Families enjoyed food, games, live music and fun giveaways. But the big hit with most kids was getting a chance to sit in the front seat of a military hummer. "


KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports Military Family Day in Grand Junction:

Military Family Day / 11 News, Grand Junction's News Leader, Eleven Minutes of Non-Stop News, No-Wait Weather, Montrose News

"Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine and Air Force service men and woman celebrated Joint Military Family Day at Canyon View Park.
The families gathered Sunday for face painting, a picnic, music, clowns, and giveaway’s from noon to four. Some that attended the picnic say that the military can be just one big family"

The Colorado National Guard Family Program, the Grand Valley Blue Star Mothers,
Joint Family Support Assistance Program, and Military One Source helped put the
event on.

Video... Military Family Day / 11 News, Grand Junction's News Leader, Eleven Minutes of Non-Stop News, No-Wait Weather, Montrose News:

Coffee in Denver

Palin 'not worried' about latest polls - First Read - msnbc.com: "Palin met with Blue Star Moms, a group of women whose sons and daughters are in military service. Palin had previously met with a similar group in Pennsylvania.

The vice presidential candidate will travel Saturday to California for several fundraisers, and hold a rally at the Home Depot Center in Carson. It is a surprising destination for Palin; while the state has 55 electoral votes, it is a traditional Democratic stronghold and there is no expectation that McCain could win there."