Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Spirit of America Founder Honored by the U.S. Marine Corps‏


Spirit of America's Founder and Chairman of the Board, Jim Hake, was honored by the U.S. Marine Corps on May 22nd at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC. The host for the evening was Lieutenant General Joseph F. Dunford, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations. General Dunford is also a long-time supporter and friend of Spirit of America.

Jim Hake met General Dunford in 2005 at Camp Pendleton, and the two discussed shipments of humanitarian aid to Iraq. A friendship was struck, and General Dunford has followed the growth and expansion of Spirit of America as it has funded over $13 million in projects over the past five years.

The Evening Parade has a long tradition and is held every Friday evening during the summer months at the oldest post of the Marine Corps, and home to the Marine Corps Commandant.

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Rolling Thunder Roars Through Nations' Capital

Pam Crane sat peacefully in a patch of freshly mowed grass along Highway 27 in the nation's capital, remembering her husband, his patriotism and his cause.

She overlooked a sea of motorcycles and bandana-wearing war veterans gathered today in the Pentagon's north parking lot for the 22nd Annual Rolling Thunder rally. Each and every one of them, she said, share her husband Warren's passion to never let the nation forget that some of their battle buddies and brothers in arms never came home.

"It was his passion," Crane said. "He was the most patriotic man I'd ever met."

Warren was one of the lucky ones to make it home after serving in Vietnam, but after years of struggling with post-traumatic stress, he took his own life on May 20, 2006. The next day his widow joined Rolling Thunder and has made the trip from Knoxville, Tenn., each year since for the Memorial Day weekend ride through the nation's capitol.

The event kicked off at noon today with riders filing out of the Pentagon parking lot in pairs in a parade that led them from the Lincoln Memorial, past the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall, to the U.S. Capitol building and back.

"It's such a wonderful, overwhelming experience to be here and to see the flags and patriotism and all these veterans together," Crane said. "We're doing everything we can to make sure the public doesn't forget our POWs and MIAs and certainly to take care of our veterans from all the different wars that are still here."

"It's such a moving event to see so many veterans gathered together, and everyone is here to honor our fallen comrades and soldiers serving now," added Army Sgt. 1st Class (ret.) Frank Lesnefsky, from Scranton, Penn., who's participating in his fifth Rolling Thunder rally.

Rolling Thunder, Inc., is a non-profit organization with more than 88 chapters in all 50 states, which work year round to ensure the nation never forgets that American prisoners of war and missing in action still remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. The organization raises funds to help veterans and serves as legislative advocates on veterans' issues. Members volunteer to visit local veterans hospitals and educate people about the POW/MIA issue.

Crane said Rolling Thunder's hard work over the years is evident, as they've impacted citizens from all across the country to join and take part in advocating their cause. Bikers, such as Danny Kang, from Richmond, Va., participated in Rolling Thunder for the past two years, but unlike many of the others, he's not a veteran and doesn't come from a military family, he said.

An American pilot in the Korean War saved his grandfather, Kang said. And if it weren't for servicemembers like that pilot, who risked his own life to protect Kang's grandfather and other South Korean nationals, the world might be a lesser place, he added.

"I'm here to pay my respect and show my appreciation for all those troops who never came back," Kang said. "It's hard to imagine that troops from past wars are still not accounted for."

Dale Recker, a Vietnam War veteran from Beaver Creek, Minn., participated in his sixth Rolling Thunder today, and said it's an event he looks forward to every year. He's a founding father of the Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 in South Dakota, he said.

Recker said he will be here in Washington for Rolling Thunder every year until he's physically unable. His cousin's name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans' War Memorial Wall, and Recker wants to ensure his cousin and others like him will always be remembered for their sacrifice.

"We don't want anyone to ever forget, and we don't want the servicemembers coming back today to be forgotten either," Recker said. "We want all our troops home, and we won't rest until every last POW and MIA is accounted for."

Photo: Bikers from all across the country pull into the Pentagon's north parking lot May 24, 2009, to participate in the 22nd Annual Rolling Thunder rally in Washington, D.C., to remind the nation that many American servicemembers who were prisoners of war or missing in action are still unaccounted for. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden

Article by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Oxendine: Memorial Day Message

As we pause today to honor our heroes, I was moved by the wisdom of President Reagan:
President Ronald Reagan remarks at the Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia - May 26, 1986:

"Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes
will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others,
a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children...It's a day
to be with the family and remember.

I know that many veterans of Vietnam will gather today, some of them perhaps by
the wall. And they're still helping each other on. They were quite a group, the
boys of Vietnam -- boys who fought a terrible and vicious war without enough support
from home, boys who were dodging bullets while we debated the efficacy of the battle.

It was often our poor who fought in that war; it was the unpampered boys of the
working class who picked up the rifles and went on the march. They learned not to
rely on us; they learned to rely on each other. And they were special in another
way: They chose to be faithful. They chose to reject the fashionable skepticism
of their time. They chose to believe and answer the call of duty. They had the
wild, wild courage of youth. They seized certainty from the heart of an ambivalent
age; they stood for something.

And we owe them something, those boys. We owe them first a promise: That just as
they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, will we. And there are
other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs
constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze
and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world
and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying
strong.

That, of course, is the lesson of this century, a lesson learned in the Sudetenland,
in Poland, in Hungary, in Czechoslovakia, in Cambodia. If we really care about peace,
we must stay strong. If we really care about peace, we must, through our strength,
demonstrate our unwillingness to accept an ending of the peace. We must be strong
enough to create peace where it does not exist and strong enough to protect it where
it does. That's the lesson of this century and, I think, of this day. And that's
all I wanted to say. The rest of my contribution is to leave this great place to
its peace, a peace it has earned.

Thank all of you, and God bless you, and have a day full of memories."

Today more than ever, we must embrace our heroes from World War II, Korea, Vietnam,
the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Today we remember we owe these
heroes and their families everything. Georgia must never fail to honor and serve
her veterans. Ivy and I offer our prayers to those heroes who have served America
and Georgia.


John Oxendine
Governor 2010

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Governor Perdue Hosts Memorial Day Ceremony, Orders Flags to Half-Staff

Governor Sonny Perdue today hosted the annual State Memorial Day Ceremony to honor Georgia’s fallen service members and their families. The ceremony paid special tribute to ten Georgia service members killed since last year’s Memorial Day ceremony in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Joining the Governor at the ceremony were the families of Georgia’s fallen service members; General Charles C. Campbell, Commander, U.S. Army Command Fort McPherson; and Brigadier General Maria Britt, Georgia National Guard.

“These brave men and women who answer our nation’s call are heroes,” said Governor Perdue. “Words fail to comprehend a gratefulness that transcends expression.”

The Governor also issued an Executive Order lowering the flags on state buildings and ground to half staff from sunrise Saturday, May 23, to noon Monday, May 25. A copy of the Executive Order is included at the end of this release.

The Memorial Day Ceremony included music by the Ft. McPherson military band, a moment of silence after the reading of the names of the 10 service members, and a keynote address by General Campbell. The names read at the ceremony are included below.

Rank
Name
Theater
Date of Death
Home of Record

Master Sergeant
David N. Weaver
Afghanistan
18-May-08
Barnesville

Sergeant
Steve A. McCoy
TX (Iraq)
10-Jun-08
Moultrie

Corporal
Matthew B. Phillips
Afghanistan
13-Jul-08
Jasper

Corporal
Jonathan R. Ayers
Afghanistan
13-Jul-08
Snellville

Master Sergeant
Mitchell W. Young
Afghanistan
13-Jul-08
Jonesboro

Private First Class
Theron V. Hobbs
Iraq
6-Nov-08
Albany

First Lieutenant
William K. Jernigan
Iraq
24-Nov-08
Doraville

Private
Colman J. Meadows,III
Afghanistan
16-Dec-08
Senoia

Command Sergeant Major
Benjamin Moore, Jr.
Iraq
24-Apr-09
Waycross

Specialist
Ryan C. King
Afghanistan
1-May-09
Dallas

Flags on State Buildings and Grounds Ordered Lowered to Half Staff

Whereas: In the words of Thucydides, “The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage.” For over 230 years, this great country has depended on the courage of the men and women who unselfishly offered their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy each and everyday; and

Whereas: On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, we join together to pay tribute to the servicemen and women who honorably and bravely fought to protect our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and

Whereas: On this patriotic occasion, in addition to honoring the heroes of our country’s past, it is also necessary and fitting to pay special tribute to our fellow Georgian’s who courageously served and laid down their lives in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; and

Whereas: We are a nation of thankful citizens, forever indebted to our country’s military, and to each of those who have been called to wear the uniform of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard.

Now, therefore, in honor and as a mark of respect for the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby

Ordered: That during the weekend immediately preceding Memorial Day, (May 23 and 24) the flag of the United States and the flag of this state shall be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds.

It is further

Ordered: That on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2009, in conjunction with the Proclamation of the President of the United States of America, the flag of the United States and the flag of this state shall be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds until noon.

This 21st day of May, 2009.
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Memorial Day Ceremony Honors Gwinnett's Military Heroes

The public is invited to Gwinnett County’s Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville. This event is held each year to honor the county’s past and present military heroes and public service personnel.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister, District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter and County Administrator Jock Connell will lead this year’s ceremony. Honor guard units from the Gwinnett County Corrections, Fire and Emergency Services, Police and Sheriff’s Departments and the Lawrenceville Police Department will also take part in the event. Guest speaker Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Kaufman will give this year’s keynote address. No new names will be added to the memorial this year.

The ceremony will be televised on May 25 at 7:30 p.m. on TVgwinnett. Gwinnett cable customers can access TVgwinnett on cable channel 23 or 25, depending on the cable provider. TVgwinnett programming is also available streaming and on demand at www.tvgwinnett.com, where viewers will also find a program guide.

The Fallen Heroes Memorial, located on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, honors all Gwinnett residents who died in the line of duty in military or public service. The memorial opened in 2003 and was built with funds from private donations and Gwinnett County government. For additional information about the Fallen Heroes Memorial, visit www.gwinnettfallenheroes.com.
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Atlanta Braves pay tribute to members of the United States Military and Armed Forces Veterans on Military Appreciation Night Saturday, May 23

This Memorial Day Weekend, the Atlanta Braves will honor the United States Military and pay tribute to those have served our country on Military Appreciation Night, Saturday, May 23rd. The Atlanta Braves invited fans to join the team in sending our nation's heroes to Turner Field for Military Appreciation Night, and thanks to a generous response, nearly 1000 members of the military will attend the game free of charge. Atlanta Braves Brian McCann, Mike Gonzalez, Kenshin Kawakami, and Rafael Soriano, and the Atlanta Braves Foundation are also among those providing tickets to recognize the service and sacrifices made by members of our nation's Armed Forces. Tributes planned for Military Appreciation Night include:

• Volunteers from Operation HomeFront, an organization that supports families of those fighting overseas, will present a giant American flag from Fort McPherson during special pre-game ceremonies.

• A pre-game tribute will honor local Purple Heart recipients, including veterans from World War II, Vietnam, the Korean Conflict, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• The 3rd Infantry Division Band from Fort Stewart, Georgia, will perform the National Anthem. The Fort Stewart Band will also entertain fans before the game from 5:30-6:30 in Fan Plaza.

• The Air Force Reserve Command's 94th Airlift Wing from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, will perform a flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

• Nine members of the U.S. Military will "take the field" with the Atlanta Braves starting lineup to begin the game.

• An in-game ceremony will honor a local "Hometown Hero." Every game at Turner Field, the Braves "Hometown Heroes" program salutes one active military individual who has recently returned from the Middle East and has gone above and beyond in the call of duty.

• Recording artists Jessa and Alicia will lead the crowd in God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

Every game at Turner Field, members of the military can receive a 2-for-1 ticket offer on Upper Box seats by showing their military ID at the Turner Field ticket windows.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Officials Dedicate Humanitarian Relief Corridor in Pentagon

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates helped to dedicate a Pentagon corridor here yesterday that recognizes the efforts of America's men and women in uniform to bring hope to people in need of help around the world.

The "Humanitarian Relief Efforts at Home and Abroad" corridor has exhibits highlighting 27 major events, from the late 1940s to the present day, in which Defense Department personnel brought aid and comfort to those in need.

"The U.S. military is the greatest fighting force in the world – but there is another side to what they do," Gates said. "That side is represented in this exhibit. The suffering caused by war and natural disaster prompts a compassionate nation to respond."

The exhibit's displays include photographs from the operations, written words explaining what happened, and three-dimensional objects such as simulated mud, snow, debris, trees and containers with food and supplies.

"These vivid displays take us around the world, and back in time, to understand more about the relief operations of our military," Gates said. "Some of these missions of mercy have been carried out on foreign soil, others here in the United States. Some are legendary; many more deserve to be."

Gates mentioned the 462-day Berlin Airlift in 1948-49, in which U.S. and allied forces dropped food and supplies to a city blockaded by the Soviet Union. Many Berliners' lives may have been saved by the U.S. forces' actions, and 31 American servicemen gave their lives in the process.

Gates also spoke about the help U.S. forces provided Hungarians fleeing Soviet forces in 1956. He noted that the military has been increasingly involved in different types of humanitarian operations and has become more active in delivering humanitarian aid during disasters around the world.

"The scale and scope of these missions has widened over the decades," Gates said. "Our servicemen and women have responded to natural disasters on our own shores, from forest fires and blizzards to Hurricane Katrina, and have gone to every corner of the globe in the wake of tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides and floods."

The secretary pointed out that military humanitarian operations are part of a broader effort that requires cooperation with other branches of government.

"In all of these missions, the military plays an important role – not necessarily in the lead, but in support of and partnership with the civilian agencies of our government," Gates said. "Today's broad range of activities requires close cooperation between civil and military institutions, whether we are talking about a hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, which has provided health care to thousands of people in Latin America and the Caribbean, or civil affairs teams in eastern Africa."

While the military's "fancy technology and lift capability" help to make humanitarian operations possible, Gates credited the men and women in uniform and "their desire to make something good and decent happen, even amid situations of chaos and destruction" for also helping to accomplish the missions.

As an example of this desire to help people, Gates pointed to Air Force Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, who earned worldwide acclaim as the "Candy Bomber" during the Berlin Airlift. While flying missions during the airlift, Halvorsen began dropping chocolate bars with tiny parachutes to Berlin's children. His actions earned him the love and gratitude of Berliners and the acclaim of people in the United States and throughout the free world.

Halvorsen was on hand to help to dedicate the corridor, and he also spoke during the ceremony. He reminisced about his experiences and how he was inspired by some German children he met at the Berlin fence in 1948 who told him, "Someday, we'll have enough to eat. But if we lose our freedom, we'll never have it back."

Feeling the need to do something extra to help Berlin's children, Halvorsen began dropping candy to them, and his deeds earned him his Candy Bomber nickname, along with others such as "Chocolate Pilot" and "Uncle Wiggly Wings."

Halvorsen spoke of a visit back to Europe in 1998, when he was approached by a man who remembered being a boy in Berlin and having one of the chocolates drop out of the clouds on a parachute. "It wasn't the chocolate that was important," the man told Halvorsen. "What was important was that someone in America knew that I was in trouble. Somebody cared. ... I can live on thin rations, but not without hope. Without hope, the soul dies."

Halvorsen said the efforts of those who took part in the Berlin airlift not only resulted in gaining the gratitude of the German people, but also helped to fulfill the U.S. forces who had an opportunity to be of service to others and put service before themselves.

"That's what this wall is; that's what this exhibit is," Halvorsen said. "It's service before self, and we see that today in our men and women serving right now."

In addition to Gates and Halvorsen, Michael L. Rhodes, acting director of administration and management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, spoke during the ceremony.

"This is truly a special day," he said. "It's a day when we pay tribute to the men and women who have carried out the mission of the department during times of need. These men and women have displayed good will assisting civilians not only in our great nation but around the world."

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also attended the ceremony. Rumsfeld had the initial idea for the corridor in November 2005.

By John Valceanu
American Forces Press Service

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American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Reaches 90% of Fundraising Goal

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. has secured 90 percent of funding needed to break ground on the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial (AVDLM) in Washington DC, announced the Foundation's Co-founder and Chairperson Lois Pope. With the final phase of the fundraising campaign now kicking into gear, Pope added that $5.9 million must still be raised through corporate and individual donations before the Memorial can become a reality.

Unlike other war and veteran memorials, the AVDLM will be dedicated to both living and deceased disabled veterans, including army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard. The focal point of the Memorial design will be a star-shaped reflecting pool, its surface broken by a single eternal flame. A grove of trees will stand sentry beside the pool, symbolizing the persistence of hope. Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd., of Alexandria, Virginia, designed the Memorial following a national invitational design competition.

“When Congress approved the Memorial for Washington DC and President Clinton signed it into law, one of the stipulations was that 100 percent of the money needed to design, build and maintain the Memorial had to come from private donations,” said Pope. “And the Foundation, which was created to raise these funds, must have all the funds in place before construction can begin. We're almost there.”

The Memorial will command an impressive two-acre site between Washington Avenue SW, C Street SW and Second Street SW, in Washington DC. It will be within full view of the United States Capitol, adjacent to the National Mall, and across from Independence Avenue and the United States Botanic Garden.

“It is important to remember that of the 26 million American veterans living across the world today, three million are permanently disabled from injuries suffered in our nation's defense,” said actor, director and musician Gary Sinise, the Memorial's national spokesperson. ”It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to recognize the sacrifices that our country's disabled veterans have made on behalf of us all.”

The Foundation anticipates breaking ground on the Memorial in 2010. The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and donations are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. To make a donation, or for more information, visit www.avdlm.org.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

NCO shares his love of the Army with school children

As a group of students from Blackmon Road Middle School mingle around him, Staff Sgt. Terry Jones, a platoon sergeant in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, holds the group’s guidon at Essenbager Field, on Kelley Hill at Fort Benning, Ga., May 12. The seventh graders spent the day with Soldiers of the 3rd BSTB, learning about what life as a Soldier is about.

As seventh graders from Blackmon Road Middle School filed off their school buses and made their way down to Essenbager Field, Staff Sgt. Terry Jones, a platoon sergeant in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stood perfectly still. The red guidon in his right hand was held firmly and he stared stoically forward as the children in his platoon flowed around him. Many made jokes and giggled at his military bearing, not knowing what to make of it.

“I wanted to show the pride I held for the organization,” he said. “For that day, red platoon was my organization. It was their organization. They needed to see that as long as that guidon was standing tall, they would be to.”

For many of those students, their field trip to Kelley Hill, May 12, was a day away from school. For Jones, it was a chance to represent the organization he has made his life.

“The news shows positive images of what we do,” he said. “These kids see us serving our country, saving lives and fighting for freedom on the news. I just wanted to maintain that and give them a live example of that.”

For one day, Jones was allowed to let the students into his world. It was an opportunity, he enjoyed.

“I know there were a lot of future Soldiers in that group,” he said. “The Army has taken me all over the world, taken care of my family and helped give my life discipline. I just hope the example I set that day helped give one of those children the same opportunity I was given.”

Jones was given the opportunity to give his platoon a mock physical training session, show them the equipment he and his fellow Soldiers use to accomplish their missions and let the students try on his gear.

“We take that stuff for granted and don’t realize how special it is,” he said. “As Soldiers we can get side-tracked by taskings and extra-duties. It can be frustrating. Days like that allow us to get back to having the same pride we had when we first joined.”

Jones believes that being around civilians can help Soldiers rediscover why they became Soldiers.

“I saw some of my lesser motivated Soldiers take pride in what they do during that event,” he said. “Everyone was very professional and took pride in what they did. We don’t see how important what we do is, sometimes. Events like that remind us.”

Jones is quick to point out that in five years, many of those students will be making the decision to join the Army.

“It’s not a long time,” he said. “You just hope you made the right impression and helped bring a quality person to the organization.”

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Armed Forces Day Presidential Proclamation

On Armed Forces Day, 1961, President Kennedy connected civic engagement and our Nation's security. He stated, "the strength of our armed forces rests not alone upon their active and reserve members, our industrial productivity, and our human resources, but also upon the understanding and support of an informed American people." Based on this perspective, I call upon all Americans to learn more about, and express gratitude for, the heroic efforts of our men and women in uniform.

Today, the United States military serves across the world to keep us safe. They are working here at home to protect America from threats foreign and domestic; they are risking their lives in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan; and they are also serving bravely in many other parts of the world to ensure our security and provide humanitarian assistance. Members of the Armed Forces are forging a better future for our Nation and the world.

As they carry out their missions, military families endure the sacrifice of their absence. Worrying about their safety, moving to new duty stations, and managing a home without a loved one, these families shoulder great burdens as they help sustain our men and women in uniform. I thank military families for their vital contributions.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coastguardsmen who have answered the call to service deserve recognition and gratitude. They have endured the most difficult of conditions to protect America and her highest ideals. Today, I ask all Americans to know their sacrifice and join me in humble thanks.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.

I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their jurisdiction each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States.

I also invite national and local veterans, civic and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces Day and urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to volunteer at organizations that provide support to our troops.

Proclamation 7562 of May 16, 2002, is hereby superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibit on May 22-June 30

The Savannah District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coastal Georgia Center present Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibit on May 22-June 30, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center. The exhibit is dedicated to U.S. servicemen and women who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and to those who continue to serve. Admission to the event is free.

Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibit, a Merilee Bowers Installation, represents a collective, collaborative artistic response to loss that honors fallen servicemen and women, as well as those who continue to serve. Initially conceived as a “living” exhibit, the memorial gives students and family members an arena in which they can create, in unity, a meaningful, collaborative work of art. It engages the viewers to bring awareness to those who have sacrificed their lives in the war.

There are two events held in conjunction with Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibit. On Tuesday, May 19, Figure Creature Workshops will be held at the Fort Stewart Youth Center at 4-5:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m., and on Tuesday, June 30, Executive Director Merilee Bowers presents “Engage Your Community Through Art” at Fort Stewart’s Club Stewart at 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.

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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Atlanta: Veterans Remembrance Day Honors Service Men and Women

Veterans Share Personal Wartime Experiences with Atlanta History Center Visitors on May 24, 2009

Join the Atlanta History Center to celebrate Veterans Remembrance Day on Sunday, May 24, 2008 from 12:00 to 5:00 pm.

This special program, funded by the Fulton County Arts Council, provides a unique opportunity for History Center guests of all ages to meet and honor the contributions of veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and today's conflicts as they share memorabilia and personal stories of triumphs and tragedies.

Throughout the day, visitors interact with both veterans and living history interpreters who represent the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. Both share stories about battles and military strategies of the various wars through displays of authentic dress, equipment, and vehicles.

Additional offerings include special presentations of The Americans on D-Day, which makes extensive use of smart graphics and veteran’s recollections; and Papa Said, ‘We Should Never Forget’ the true story of World War II’s unlikeliest heroes, including one young girl who, with her family and fellow villagers, put their lives on the line to assist the Allied soldiers in the fight for freedom. For more information on this program, please call 404.814.4000 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/VRD.

This program is free with the price of general Atlanta History Center admission. Visitors with military ID are admitted free.

Special thanks to the Atlanta World War II Roundtable for their support.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER:
Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center is an all-inclusive thirty-three acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum, one of the Southeast’s largest history museums; two historic houses, the 1928 Swan House and the Tullie Smith Farm; the Centennial Olympic Games Museum; the Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook event space; Chick-Fil-A at the Coca-Cola CafĂ©, a museum shop, and acres of historic gardens and trails. In addition, the History Center operates the Margaret Mitchell House. Located in Midtown Atlanta, the two-acre campus features tours of the house and apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gone With the Wind, an exhibit highlighting the life and times of Margaret Mitchell, a Gone with the Wind movie exhibit, and a museum shop. For more information on Atlanta History Center offerings, hours of operation, and admission, please call 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Join Atlanta Braves Players and the Atlanta Braves Foundation in Providing Tickets for Members of the Armed Forces on Military Appreciation Night

Join Atlanta Braves Players and the Atlanta Braves Foundation in Providing Tickets for Members of the Armed Forces on Military Appreciation Night, Saturday, May 23rd


The Atlanta Braves are inviting fans to join the team in sending our nation's heroes to a game at Turner Field free of charge. Local businesses and individuals can provide members of the military with free entry on Military Appreciation Night, Saturday, May 23rd, by making a donation of tickets to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

Donors of 25 tickets or more will receive four tickets to attend the game, along with recognition for their donation on the Golden Moon Casino Level LED boards.

Atlanta Braves Brian McCann, Mike Gonzalez, Kenshin Kawakami, and Rafael Soriano, and the Atlanta Braves Foundation will be among those providing tickets to recognize the service and sacrifices made by members of our nation's Armed Forces. Businesses or individuals who would like to take part in Military Appreciation Night by making ticket donations can go to www.braves.com/military or call 404-614-1444.

Special pre-game ceremonies on Military Appreciation Night will include a tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country, a performance by the Fort Stewart Army Band and a military fly over at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

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Celebrate the U.S. Army Birthday, Tell Your Army Story

(BUSINESS WIRE)--This June, Soldiers, Veterans, families, and supporters will celebrate the U.S. Army turning 234 years strong. In keeping with the tradition of celebration, the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute, the Army’s official “Thank You” commendation program, is welcoming submissions of stories including accomplishments, memorable moments, and lessons learned, by those in the Army family.

The U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Web site, www.freedomteamsalute.com, will feature a selection of compelling submissions, which will also be included in the special e-salute U.S. Army Birthday edition.

“The Army has a long and proud history, one that is celebrated by installations and commands all over the world,” explained Colonel David Griffith, Director, U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute. “We are asking for story submissions so that we can capture the accomplishments and defining moments of our Soldiers, Veterans, families, and supporters.”

Submissions should be 500 words or less and submitted by Friday, June 5.

Topics can be (but are not limited to):

* A defining moment in your Army life
* A lesson learned from the Army
* How the Army changed your life
* The reason you decided to join the Army
* Your most memorable Noncommissioned Officer

To submit a story, please go to:

https://www.freedomteamsalute.com/people/armystory.aspx.

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