USA Patriotism!

Red, White and Pink-Slip Blues

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of the touching song, "Red, White and Pink-Slip Blues", wonderfully performed by Hank Williams Jr.

Happy Birthday, America

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Happy Birthday America ... and all born in July ... And may we all remember ... our nation's battle cry...

Chairman Evokes Lincoln in Independence Day Message

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

In his annual Independence Day message to members of the U.S. armed forces worldwide, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff evokes a speech Abraham Lincoln delivered in Chicago in 1858...

Wounded Warriors Return To Iraq

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Six wounded soldiers, all amputees, returned here last week hoping to close the door on the combat that changed them forever. The last time Sgt. Christopher A. Burrell was in Iraq, he was pulled from a burning vehicle...

Thunderbird Above Old Glory

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

A lone Thunderbird performs maneuvers to close the 2009 air show on Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Where’s Dad?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

May I see my father; he's in Ward 206D ... He came back from Korea one day in May ... With plans of marring his Sweetheart that same day...

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I sit here in my home office and wonder why our nation has changed so much since the days of World War Two...

World War II Vet Honored On Father's Day

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

It took the tenacity of a daughter, the insistence of a politician and the presence of 27th Special Operations Wing members here June 21 to properly recognize a World War II Soldier who sacrificed his leg in combat...

Sailor Huddles With Students

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Fire Controlmen 1st Class Wesley D. Pruitt, assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), huddles with Malaysian students while playing American football at Seberan Tayor Primary School during...

Where Have All the Flags Gone?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Where have all the flags gone ... That once flew proudly in my neighborhood ... Where are all the car flags ... Passing by, up and down my street...

Where Are The Soldiers

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Where are the soldiers who march in line ... Where are the soldiers every color and kind ... Where are the soldiers who made their moms cry...

USO Opens 'Oasis' in Basra Desert

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

The familiar refrain of “There’s nothing to do around here after work” will hopefully be a thing of the past here with the opening of a new center for rest and relaxation...

Taking Aviation Fire Team Test

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Grant, an aviation fire team member, completes his aviation fire team test onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf...

What is Defeat?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Through out the course of time ... We have celebrated our victories ... From Wars that we have won ... The echo's of machineguns...

President Rolls Up Sleeves to Support Military Kids

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Volunteers were already hard at work stuffing backpacks full of goodies for military kids today in Fort Lesley J. McNair’s gymnasium when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived to give them a hand...

Adm. Mike Mullen Speaks With Marine

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks with a U.S. Marine assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow...

Welcome Home

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

I came home from Vietnam ... I just finished doing my turn and my tour ... I served my country just like my Dad did before ... When I got off the plane there was not band or parade...

Gunnery Sergeant Shares Career Secrets

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason Eckman was promoted to gunnery sergeant on May 2, he became one of the few Marines to know the rare honor of being meritoriously promoted for combat service...

Sea of Soldiers Saluting

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A sea of U.S. Army soldiers salute during the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade uncasing ceremony held on Baumholder's Minick Field, Germany...

Our Country

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of the moving song, Our Country, that should always be identified with John Mellencamp's heartfelt performance.

The Blood On the Sand

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Thousands of young men, American’s true ... Were out to avenge the red, white and blue ... Some had been drafted and some volunteered...

Warriors in the Sand

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

From far away lands ... Do you know the price of Freedom? ... Once our brothers and sisters are buried in the ground...

Marine Sings His Patriotism

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Sitting in the desert, a thousand miles from home, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, thinks about his lifetime and all the songs he wrote...

Navy Seal Training

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A Navy SEAL participated in infiltration and exfiltration training during Northern Edge on Fort Wainwright, Alaska...

War Hero

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

What price has been paid ... For the Hero who came home so sad ... My Dad wore a shiny Silver Star ... He came home with chest full of medals...

Two Veterans Send Hundreds Of Packages To Troops

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Three hundred and fifty is a large number, and for retired Marine Don Downer, it's a large part of what he does every day. Downer, acting on a tip from retired Army staff sergeant and neighbor Edward Connor, has now mailed more than 350 care packages to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan....

Honoring Medal of Honor Recipient

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Sgt. Maj. Fenton Reese, Capt. Robert Germino, members of the 1st Marine Corps District Color Guard, stand along side Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and members of the Glen Cove council and community during a memorial wreath laying ceremony in honor of two-time Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Maj. Daniel "Dan" J. Daly, a native of Glen Cove, at his memorial

Vietnam Vet - Will Work for Food

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

He stands at the bottom ... Of a freeway exit ... Many cars just pass him by ... They don’t even notice...

Jack Lewis - 'One helluva guy'

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

There are few times in our lives that we meet someone who truly inspires us to be better. They’re the different ones. Men and women who live their lives on their own terms; brash and stubborn, but wise and interesting. On June 11, I walked through the house of such a man...

Flight to Nation’s Capital Honors World War II Veterans

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit group that transports World War II survivors and other veterans who may be terminally ill to the nation’s capital to visit and reflect at their memorials...

Paying Respects

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Holloman Air Force Base honor guard pay their respects to the caisson of Army Spec. Christopher M. Kurth as he is brought back June 11, 2009 for a burial in Alamogordo, N.M. The Soldier was killed in a grenade attack June 4, 2009 near Kirkuk, Iraq.

Two Jump Boots in the Grave

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Dear Lord I’m down to one last prayer ... With one jump boot in my grave ... Lord won’t you save my brother next to me...

Kadena Airmen Named Enlisted Aviator Of Year

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A staff sergeant assigned to the 390th Intelligence Squadron was named the Air Force's noncommissioned officer recipient of the 2008 Henry "Red" Erwin Enlisted Aviator of the Year June 12...

United We Serve

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

First Lady Michelle Obama promotes the White House's United We Serve volunteering initiative at the Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco, California with Maria Shriver, First Lady of California.

Fort Jackson Soldier Earns Silver Star

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Staff Sgt. Sean Samaroo, 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Afghanistan ... Samaroo received the award, the nation's third highest military decoration, for his part in the Battle of Wanat, which took place 2008 in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan. Samaroo is also a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient...

We’ll Defeat Terrorism As It Should Be Fought

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

America, the abundant, the place I was born ... I'll cherish till the day I die ... Where the bones of past heroes lie buried in the ground ... Who loved her the same as I...

Two Giant Twins!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

There were two sleeping Giants ... Standing tall in the sky ... Made of dark glass, concrete and steel ... The hands of New York City’s finest built them...

Army Song Writer Salutes Service's Birthday At Twilight Tattoo

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Harold W. Arberg, the man who wrote the lyrics to the Army song, attended a special Army birthday edition of the Twilight Tattoo Wednesday night before a capacity crowd of VIPs, World War II veterans and schools students from around the country...

Sailor Helps Orphan

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Sonar Technician 1st Class Russel Clink, assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, helps a child from the Shinko Gashi orphanage get a drink after a softball game during a community relations project sponsored by the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan 1st Class Mess.

David Hutchinson - Silver Star Recipient

Wed, 24 June 2009 00:00:00 CST

On June 6, 2009, the 65th anniversary of D-Day, SPC David Hutchinson became only the fifth Army Reserve Soldier to receive the Silver Star. While deployed in Afghanistan, he was instrumental in saving the lives of 16 fellow Soldiers ... Hutchinson was medically evacuated out of Afghanistan with a serious leg injury after being in theater only a week. His actions contributed to the safety of 16 soldiers and showed extraordinary courage, loyalty and selfless-service under fire beyond expectation.

Tommy’s Cross

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

I look to the sky ... As I noticed endless time ... I walked across the lawn ... Sometime near Dawn...

Five Brothers Make Navy Their Family Business

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

For five brothers from a small town in Kentucky, serving in the military is a family tradition...

Reconfiguring C-5 Galaxy

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Air Force Airmen and the aircrew of a C-5 Galaxy reconfigure the aircraft in preparation for a helicopter load on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, June 8, 2009. The airmen are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron...

The Walk

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

So many years have gone by ... The time has come to find my peace ... I make this pilgrimage to DC ... In search of some serenity...

F-16 Pilot Receives Kolligian Safety Award

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

One of the most coveted Air Force safety awards was presented by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to an Air National Guard pilot during a ceremony here June 16...

Marines Party Band

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Cpl. Jason Comfort, 20, blows away Cpl. Francis A. Fani, 21, during his trumpet solo during a party band performance at the Waterfront Village in Portland, Ore...

Welcome Home

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A touching video that nicely illustrates Brian Littrell's wonderful performance of the moving song, "Welcome Home", about a father thinking of his son, who is serving in harms way . . . and then welcoming him home.

The Sound of Reveille

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Today I awoke to a the sound ... Of a bugle playing Reveille ... Standing at attention ... As I watched my flag being raised...

Soldier Pushes Self, Inspires Others

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When the Army became her vehicle seven years ago, Sgt. Gabrielle M. Martinez got behind the wheel, fastened her seat belt and ignited the engine. Then she put her foot on the gas...

Soldiers Navigate Across Creek

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Army soldiers navigate across a creek during a dismounted patrol in the Nerkh Valley, Afghanistan...

The Music Box

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

They were married for only a short while ... One day he came home wearing a great big smile ... With a package under his arm ... Showing all of his boyish charm...

Texas Students Get Taste Of Air Force Science, Engineering

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Air Force Personnel Center officials here hope to whet the appetites of young science, math and engineering students, so they might later seek "blue chip" career paths, hopefully Air Force blue...

Adm. Mullen with Wounded Warriors

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to members of the Wounded Warrior Project at the annual convention of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in Orlando, Fla.

Daddy's Goodbye For Now

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Sgt. Eric Math of the 41st Engineer Company, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, holds his daughter, as his wife shares in the moment after the "Bulldawgs" deployment ceremony at Fort Riley's Custer Hill Parade Field.

Shadow

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Last night I dreamt I died ... In this forsaken place ... Lost between death and time ... I am the light that cast shadows...

President Acknowledges Military Fathers' Sacrifices, Contributions

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

President Barack Obama recognized in his Father's Day proclamation the sacrifices military fathers make every day, and hosted the Military Father of the Year June 19 at the White House for a town hall session on fatherhood...

Remembering Why We Serve

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, I met a young man who reinforced the reason why I serve. I was about to enter an elevator when he and his mother, an instructor at the academy, walked in...

Holding the Flag at Admiral's Funeral

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members from the Coast Guard Honor Guard hold the American Flag over the urn of Rear Adm. Bennett "Bud" Sparks (Oct. 1925-May 2009) during a memorial service June 13, 2009. Sparks served in the Coast Guard for 47 years before retiring in 1989.

'He Stepped Up To The Occasion, And Exhibited Some Incredible Bravery That Day'

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Staff Sgt. Philip Crosby was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device for heroic achievement and sustained meritorious service during combat operations at a ceremony, here...

The Letter

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The days is Vietnam are long and sad ... The jungle heat is pretty bad ... I am stuck in a foxhole all alone ... Waiting for the night to turn to day...

Navy Rifle Detail March

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members of a U.S. Navy rifle detail march to their designated spots for a burial-at-sea ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) underway in the Pacific Ocean...

The Darkness Is Here

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The coming of dims lights is so near ... Darkness is almost here ... There's nowhere to hide ... It's just a matter of time...

Captain Continues Career 20 Years After Retirement

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The average Army career, if a soldier chooses to make a life of the service, is a little more than 20 years. But for one jovial 62-year old Army captain, 20 years hardly seemed like enough...

Watery Obstacle for Basic Trainees

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A military training instructor watches as basic trainees pass over an algae-filled water obstacle on a cable and rope bridge, on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Brian Hawthorne - Bronze Star Recipient

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...While under attack by an armed enemy, “Doc Hawthorne” – as the unit came to call him -- remained poised and directed other soldiers to assist in the evacuation and treatment of five casualties, who included a civilian contractor and other soldiers... His Bronze Star Medal citation notes that “there is no doubt that his efforts and skill saved Sgt. Chandler’s life...

American Pride

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A touching video by a fellow patriot that was for a college class project . . . all about love and pride of the USA.

Thanksgiving

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Candied yams and pumpkin pie ... The time to gather family ... To gives thanks, is really why ... For, the bounty on our tables...

She Dances Alone In The Moonlight

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

He never got to come home ... With the rest of his friends ... He was just another forgotten ... Prisoner Of War...

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Raises More Than $300,000

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recently raised more than $300,000 at its 23rd Annual Washington Gala to benefit high school and college students from families of active-duty and former Marines...

Marines Help Building School

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Marines smooth out cement that will be the foundation for a school they are building for villagers in support of exercise Shared Accord, Wanrarou, Benin.

Only Numbers?

Tue. 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

ATwo hundred, twenty-eight years ... That, we have been going to war ... Eleven times we said, "For freedom!0... Was, what we were fighting for...

Second Chance

Tue. 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Looking down from the heavens stars ... looking through falling memories ... One by one, like tears they fall ... on the earth's dirt they lay...

Why I Do What I Do

Tue. 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When I entered the Air Force nearly 26 years ago, I needed a job and an education, and knew the Air Force could provide me those opportunities. I was going to do my four years and get out. ..

Soldier Fist Bumps Boy

Tue. 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Volpe gives an Iraqi boy a fist bump greeting during a foot patrol along a major highway in eastern Baghdad, Iraq. Volpe is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Military Police Platoon, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, which is serving as part of Multinational Division Baghdad.

Dear Sons and Daughters

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of Dan Althouse's moving performance of the hearfelt written song, "Dear Sons and Daughters", that thanks all who serve our country and the parents, families, and friends who support them.

Marine Love

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

I know that we are miles apart ... but you're always in my heart...

Who'da Thought It?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A man with one leg ... Another, crippled, bent ... Should remind us what it costs ... And just how much was "spent"...

Second and Inches

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

With my grandchild on my knee ... I began to tell him a story ... Of brave young hearts and silent glory ... I told him of my hitch overseas as a US Marine...

Stephen Colbert Films Show In Iraq

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Stephen Colbert came, saw and conquered Iraq, claiming victory on day three of his six-day adventure to the Middle East. Arriving in a C-17 from Kuwait, Colbert landed at the Baghdad International Airport June 5 and began preparing for his shows at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace, as part of his tour "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando...

Stephen Colbert Becomes More "Soldierly"

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Multi-National Force-Iraq Commander Gen. Ray Odierno helps Stephen Colbert become more "Soldierly" by shaving his trademark hair in Monday's episode of "The Colbert Report." Colbert filmed a week of episodes from Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, as part of a USO tour.

Flag Day -- "Old Glory"

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:00:00 CST

Patriotism, simply defined, is devotion to one's country. In some nations this devotion is expressed more passionately and openly than in others, but loyalty to one's homeland is a natural and common emotion. Such patriotic feeling often lies quietly within the breast of a population and may not have a highly visible expression until times of national tragedy or threat...

Flag Day -- What The Flag Means To Me

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:00:00 CST

I remember being a young boy in elementary school when every day would start out with the Pledge of Allegiance. I must have said it a million times, and I was always proud to live in a country that promised liberty and justice for all I was proud of my country and considered myself blessed to have been born in it...

Veterans All

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Well! We're in a different world ... Than, what, we ever knew ... It will never, be the same ... As it was, for me and you...

Screaming Eagles 101

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

There were over 1,000 Screaming Eagles ... That landed in the Middle East ... Ready, to show Saddam ... The United States Army...

Wounded Warriors Participate in Virginia's 'Ride 2 Recovery'

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Many cheering and excited Virginians lined the route of the “Ride 2 Recovery” Memorial Challenge bicycle ride, in which 35 wounded warriors took part last month ... Other notable supporters of this year’s Virginia Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge included Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, actor Gary Sinise and country music artist Lee Greenwood...

Rendering Respect To Fallen

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

HOUSTON, TX - Chief Petty Officer Jose Hermann from Coast Guard Air Station Houston renders respect as the body of Army Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel arrives at Ellington Field, June 11, 2009. Griemel, a La Porte native was killed in Afghanistan on June 3, 2009. Military and civilian personnel from Ellington Field, including those from Coast Guard Air Station Houston gave Griemel his final salute as the caravan left the gate of the base.

Transitions

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Since the year Seventeen eighty-nine ... When George Washington was sworn in ... There was the promise of America ... That was finally, about to begin...

Remember Us!

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

From the beaches of Normandy ... To the shores of Pearl Harbor ... The blood soaked hills of Korea ... And the hidden POW camps in Vietnam...

Servicemembers Join World War II Vets At National Mall

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Nearly 45 volunteers from the Fort Meade community gathered at the National Mall May 27 to help give 55 men and women who served during World War II a chance to see the memorial dedicated to their service...

Army Marks 234 Years of Service, Sacrifice

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Citing the organization’s long history of selfless service and sacrifice, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III helped to commemorate the Army’s 234th birthday today at a Pentagon ceremony...

Pilot House Watch

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Debra Snide stands watch in the pilot house of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the ship prepares to get underway from San Diego.

Gold Star Families

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

There's too many Gold Star Families ... Their numbers growing every day ... Too much to ask those loved ones ... Such a terrible price they pay...

Proud To Be American

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

We are proud to be Americans ... Beloz is our family name ... Our American pride is rooted deep within our veins...

Father of Seven Returns to Active Duty

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Army Spc. Jonathan Goodwin is a lot of different things: husband, father of seven children, jokester, and the kind of person who can light up a room with his sense of humor. But before he was any of these things, he became a soldier, signing up for his first enlistment in May 1992...

USAF Trainees Marching

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Air Force basic trainees, equipped with combat gear, march in two columns from a mock air base where they practiced a defensive scenario during basic military training on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Freedom Isn't Free

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

All down through the ages ... Since mortal time began ... Men have fought for freedom ... Fought wars, man to man...

Gold Star Mothers

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Started with a group of twenty-five ... In the year of twenty-eight ... By those who'd lost a Son or Daughter ... From the wartime's cruel fate...

Prisoners of Memories

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

We come from all walks of life ... Children of the USA ... We are Soldiers marching with great pride...

Air Force Week Salt Lake City A Success

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

From kids shrieking in delight at the amazing aerial maneuvers of the Thunderbirds to their parents singing along with various Air Force bands, one thing was obvious here last week: Air Force Week Salt Lake City was a success...

Barrack Buglers

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps perform during an evening parade at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, D.C.

John A. Marra - Bronze Star Recipient

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...Anytime a fellow soldier falls, it is a sad day. In this instance, Marra was able to take what the enemy meant for evil, and use it later to save lives. For his selfless acts, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor device.

Honor The Troops

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Moving video that is all about honoting the troops."

The Unknown

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Long are the days short are the nights ... Anxious are the soldiers; time is not on their side ... Today is the day they must say goodbye...

To Be An American

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

This little piece won't take long ... Because, it's simple as can be ... Life in these United States ... Is really great, but it's not free...

POW? No Not Me!

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

All along the watch towers ... VC carrying machineguns ... Beyond that barbwire ... Is the road to my lost Freedom...

Father, Son Serve Under Same Colors in Iraq

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When Cpl. Jared P. Lopez joined the Marine Corps in September 2006, he always knew there would be a possibility that he would deploy at the same time as his father, who has served in the Marine Corps for nearly 20 years. But he didn’t think they would end up on the same base in Iraq...

French Children Congratulate Soldier

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Local French children congratulate a U.S. Army soldier after he successfully jumped from a C-130 to re-enact the D-Day paratrooper jump 65 years ago over Saint Mere Eglise, France.

The Navy Man

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

My father was a Navy man ... He first went to Vietnam, to the Persian then the Sulu Sea ... My mother and I would watch the waves and wonder ... If the flotsam was a ship recast as driftwood...

There’s Terror in the Heartland

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

It's come to the heartland ... The terror and the dread ... In one explosive moment ... Our innocence has fled...

Portrait of A Soldier

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

If, I were an Artist ... I would paint you ... A Soldier’s Portrait ... But how do I paint my fear...

Portable USO Center Brings 'Piece of Home' to Soldiers

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Shank here gathered May 27 for the dedication of the first “USO in a Box”...

Paying Tribute to One Who Answered 'A Higher Calling'

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

It’s 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and we’re in the shade of an aircraft silhouette . . . The wind is sending a steady stream of sand and dust whipping across the flightline into the faces of airmen and soldiers alike . . . Yet, we stand at attention in two straight lines, beginning at the ramp of a C-130 Hercules. We’re waiting to render honors...

Sailor Helping Child

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Kline, assigned to Navy Operational Support Center Rochester, helps a child with homework at the Cameron Community Ministries after school program during Rochester Navy Week...

America First

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of Merle Haggard performing this thoughtful song,"America First" . . . reminding all about America comes first

Hallowed Be Thy Names

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

From Dulles Airport I grow impatient ... Not knowing my way around ... It has taken all day ... Leaning on my cane...

The Law’s the Law

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

We forgive too many crimes ... And we say that it's okay ... Go ahead and break the Law ... We don't mean them anyway...

One “Tuff” Marine

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

He sat all alone in his favorite chair sitting by the fireplace ... Waiting for the phone to ring any day ... Knowing the sound of the phone would send him far away...

Veterans Take Center Stage in D-Day Commemoration

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

For nearly a week Department of Defense civilians and servicemembers from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines have been deployed to the small French town of Sainte Mere Eglise and this memorial beside Omaha Beach supporting events in honor of the 65th anniversary of D-Day...

President Meets Airmen

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

President Barack Obama meets with Airmen June 5 during a stop Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The president was en route to nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, to visit wounded U.S. servicemembers being treated there.

President Barack Obama's Remarks at D-Day 65th Anniversary Ceremony

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...I'm not the first American President to come and mark this anniversary, and I likely will not be the last. This is an event that has long brought to this coast both heads of state and grateful citizens; veterans and their loved ones; the liberated and their liberators. It's been written about and spoken of and depicted in countless books and films and speeches. And long after our time on this Earth has passed, one word will still bring forth the pride and awe of men and women who will never meet the heroes who sit before us: D-Day...

The Longest Day

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

On those shores of Normandy ... Those sixty-five years ago ... There was an amphibious landing ... The largest, this World would know...

My Eyes Can No Longer See

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

My eyes no longer can see ... I have left my home state behind me ... Duty called and I accidentally opened the door ... After 911 my country asked me wear the uniform...

Paratrooper, Ex-Boxer, Earns Citizenship

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Irony, our English teachers told us, often is confused with odd coincidence. Just ask Army Pfc. Wenderson Jangada of the 82nd Airborne Division, who will tell you it is ironic that the benefits of enlisting in the U.S. Army can be more significant to immigrants than to citizens...

Honoring Fallen Comrades

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Col. Steven Kwast takes a moment to honor fallen members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team during a May 31 memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Lion, Afghanistan. More than 75 American servicemembers and Afghan leaders attended the ceremony to honor Lt. Col. Mark Stratton, Army Master Sgt. Blue Rowe, Senior Airman Ashton Goodman and Abdul Samad who were killled when their convoy vehicle was struck by a suicide car bomber May 26, 2009.

Normandy Walk on D-Day

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:50:00 CST

President Barack Obama (L-R), Britain's Prince Charles, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy arrive at the Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery to attend a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Four Years And A Week Or So

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A week and more of suffering ... From another Enemy ... After four years of Heartache ... In this Land Of The Free...

Mayday! Mayday!

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Mayday! Mayday! I’m hit! I am hit ... My F4 is coming down hard ... Sorry I got to eject ... Landing some where in Laos...

World War II Vets Visit Former Home

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A group of veterans, college students and faculty members were joined by members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing to honor the heroes of World War II, particularly those who participated in the allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day June 1 at Thorpe Abbots, England...

Values Bind Servicemembers Together Across Span Of Time

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

As I walked through the American cemetery at Omaha Beach here, I found it difficult to wrap my mind around a battle so large and so brutal. I imagine, as thousands of Soldiers poured onto these beaches 65 years ago, the magnitude of the conflict must have been overwhelming to them as well...

CNO Leads Battle of Midway Commemoration

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...Adm. Gary Roughead, CNO, said the Battle of Midway showed the world what an American Sailor could do and is the ultimate statement of the Navy's ethos and character. He said it was what Admiral Chester Nimitz called 'A glorious page in our history'...

Filthy Thirteen

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The "Filthy Thirteen," a painting by Joel Iskowitz, depicts soldiers preparing for their D-Day jump by assembling gear and applying war paint next to their C-47 aircraft.

Thomas Paine Recognized as a Great American Patriot

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

USA Patriotism! proudly recognizes Thomas Paine as a Great American Patriot for his significant contributiions to the development of our beloved country.

The Land of the Free

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

On Independence Day this year ... We'll wave our Flag, salute and cheer ... We'll thank all those who've gone before ... And those today, we send to War...

Looking Into Mirror

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Looking into mirror ... After so many years ... I asked myself ... What happen to me...

Senior Veterans Reflect on World War II Hero

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Glenn R. Sheridan sat quietly captivated as he and about 40 fellow World Ward II-era veterans listened to the words of the grandson of one of their generation’s most influential and legendary military figures...

Honoring Fallen Comrades in Afghanistan

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. servicemembers honor their fallen comrades during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Joint Operations Center Compound, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

The Good Ol' Days

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

They said, "It's alright to burn it" ... "You can throw it to the ground" ... "You can wear it on your back ... That symbol of the freedom bound...

Let’s Roll

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

There I was, death staring me in the face ... It wore the face of hate and Terrorists ... Right then and there I had to call my wife ... I had to let her know how much she meant to me...

Doctor Fills Prescription for Medicine, Music

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

It’s not hard to find a full-time soldier who goes right back to work doing something else after the uniform comes off. From entrepreneurial endeavors through self-owned businesses to hobbies-turned-careers, some soldiers moonlight in their passions no matter how involved their military careers might be...

Soldiers Navigate Obstacle Course

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Army Spc. Patrick Chittock, left, and Sgt. Salvador Gutierrez navigate through the obstacle course during the Pre-Ranger Course on Fort Irwin, Calif...

Brian Schlatter - Bronze Star Recipient

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

...Schlatter placed himself at great risk several times trying to render aid to wounded Iraqi soldiers. On no fewer than three occasions, he accompanied the Quick-Reaction Force that went to the aid of Iraqi soldiers in enemy contact. In recognition of his commitment and dedication, Schlatter received the first Purple Heart in the 80th Division since World War II and a Bronze Star.

Seven, Four, Seventy-Six

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

In the year of 1776 ... Dreams of Freedom were Declared ... New to the World, a way of Life ... No way, to be compared...

Legacy in the Sand

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The Son wants to follow in his Father's boot prints ... Where the father left behind his prints in the sand ... Across Americas seas a long time ago in Vietnam...

A Tribute To Senior Airman Ashton Goodman

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

On May 26, Senior Airman Ashton Goodman and Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, the commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, were killed near here from of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device...

Marines First Time Training In Bulgaria

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Sgt. Steven Ruddle, left, a native of Waynesboro, Tenn., and a squad leader with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, debriefs his squad after an assault through the urban patrolling training lane at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility aboard the Nova Selo Training Area in Sliven, Bulgaria...

If You're Reading This

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of Tim McGraw at the 2007 ACM show poignantly performing his wonderfully co-written song, "If You're Reading This", about a fallen hero.

Presidents Day

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Back in Seventeen ninety-six ... Is when this Holiday began ... For the birthday of ol’ George ... At least, that was the plan...

Lady, Can You Spare Some Change?

Tue, 02 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

He stands out in front of the liquor store ... Wearing an old Army jacket all torn and worn ... You can barely see the patch on his sleeve...

Marine Uses 'Real Warriors' to Help Others

Tue, 02 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Surrounded by family and friends, colleagues and fellow Airmen, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Airey was laid to rest here May 28...

Honoring Fallen in Manila

Tue, 02 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A joint honor guard brings a wreath forward for U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as he dedicates it to fallen American troops at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial during a brief visit to the cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

America

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Video of late country music legend Waylon Jennings' touching performance of the heartfelt song, America.

Lady Liberty - Still Young At Heart

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

You're a grand and stately "Lady" ... Your head held up so proud and high ... A book of our laws in one hand ... The other lighting freedoms' sky...

I’ve Been A Soldier Way Too Long

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

I've been a Soldier way too long ... My mind occupied with the War ... No time for distractions ... It just might cost me my life...

Marine Uses 'Real Warriors' to Help Others

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A Marine who returned home from his second deployment from Iraq knew that “something was definitely wrong” with him. “It really didn’t start setting in on me until I was back three or four months,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Josh Hopper, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 at Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station...

Former President G.H. Bush Visits Sailors

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Capt. Bob Roth, executive officer of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) speak with Sailors assigned to the "Red Rippers" of Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 11 aboard George H.W. Bush.

Our Constitution’s Birthday

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

In the year, Seventeen eighty-seven ... Those thirty-nine, changed our History ... They signed that piece of parchment ... Said, we were, the Land of the Free...

Is the War Really Over?

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Many years after the parade is long and gone ... Medals and Ribbons were pinned to their chests ... And all their friends' names have been craved on the Wall....

Chaplains Reinforce More Than Faith

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Reinforcements are something every unit loves to have -- more soldiers help to win the fight and save lives at the same time. The duty of being a soldier can be difficult at times, and no matter how many extra soldiers arrive to the battlefield, the burden sometimes just does not seem to lift...

Airman with Llight Signaling Gun

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Stephen Boniol demonstrates how to operate a control tower light signaling gun on an air base in Southwest Asia...

One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Seconds

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

One second for each victim ... On this anniversary ... But a lifetime of sorrow ... For surviving friends and family...

Invisible Soul

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

I saw him from the corner of my eye ... He looked all alone ... With no one to take his side ... He appeared to be lost somewhere in his mind...

America's First Combat Aviators Memorialized

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

In a lush and serene park on the outskirts of Paris, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander, Gen. Roger A. Brady joined several hundred American and French citizens beneath an ornately sculpted ceremonial arch to pay homage to aviators, known as the Lafayette Escadrille. The 68 volunteers flew in defense of French democracy against the central powers during World War I...

Soldiers Dismounting A CH-47 Chinook

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Army soldiers rehearse dismounting a CH-47 Chinook helicopter before a recent air assault operation on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

Two For One

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Just a piece of parchment paper ... With words formed by a quill ink pen ... That begin with, "We, the people"...

In the Park They Will Meet

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

In the park they will meet ... Peace of heart is what they seek ... From the memories that never leave ... Of Brothers laying in fields of dust & bones...

Soldier Earns Military Motherhood Award

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

When Army Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Dion logged on to her computer to nominate her own mother for Operation Homefront’s Military Motherhood Award, she found that her mother, Carol Dion, had nominated her first...

Old Glory Covers Deck of USS Intrepid

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members of the Fleet Week flag detail unfurl a U.S. flag aboard the USS Intrepid Sea during Fleet Week New York City. About 3,000 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are participating in the 22nd commemoration of the event, which gives area residents an opportunity to meet military members and see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services.

Marines Run Past NYSE

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

U.S. Marines run past the New York Stock Exchange as part of Fleet Week activities in New York. The Marines are assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - New York.

Coast Guard Silent Drill Team at Fleet Week

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team practice on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima in preparation for the Manhattan Sunset Parade Invitational event, May 24, 2009. The Drill Team preformed at many locations around New York Harbor during Fleet Week '09.

Pause A Moment

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Friends and family gather ... For Independence Day ... We'll celebrate our freedom ... And the American way...

In My Dreams

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

In my dreams I am a Soldier ... Fighting for what is right ... But in the darkness my shadow ... No longer knows who I am...

Texas Community Brings Troops, Civilians Together Through Fishing

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Because soldiers spend most of their time with other soldiers, their everyday lives seem completely normal to them. But every once in a while, they run into someone who tells them that what they do is extraordinary...

Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, and Mike Rhodes, acting director, Administration and Management, greet Retired U.S. Army Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, right, prior to the dedication of the Defense Humanitarian Relief Corridor in the Pentagon. During the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen earned the nickname the "Candy Bomber" for his habit of dropping candy-laden parachutes from his aircraft to Berlin children.

Sailor's First Kiss of Daughter

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Chris Yaras kisses his daughter for the first time during the return of the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) to Naval Submarine Base New London. The baby was born four weeks ago when the Los Angeles class submarine began its month-long surface transit from Bahrain.

John Detro - Bronze Star Recipient

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

...Enemy assault soon ensued and then-Cpt. John Detro, an Army Physician Assistant, went to work treating the wounded while constantly threatened by incoming rounds . . . Conducting a total of nine surgeries throughout the night, Detro and the medical team were able to save all of the seriously injured and the majority are still serving today. For his sound judgment and exceptional performance, Detro was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device and Purple Heart...

Keep 'em Safe

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

A heartfelt video of 12 year old Lexxi Saal's very touching performance of her wonderfully written song, Thank You . . . which pays tribute to the brave, honorable men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Time to Go

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

I could see the flash of cannon ... Over the ridge of the hill ... Could hear the shots over my head ... As I lay deathly still...

I Sit in His Favorite Chair

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

I sit in his favorite chair ... Looking out the window ... I feel the cold from the winter wind...

Airmen Honor Fallen Comrade In Arms

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Airmen here paid tribute to a fallen comrade on the two-year anniversary of the death of a fire team leader from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Det. 3, Police Transition Training Team here...

'Her War' Podcast Aims to Help Military Wives

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

...Seligman said she hopes her new weekly podcast, “Her War,” will help to provide a platform for military wives to openly discuss such anxieties and uncertainties about their husbands’ deployments. The podcast, she said, is dedicated to providing military wives with the tools and resources they need to better equip themselves to deal with separation issues...

Family Visiting Fallen Loved One

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Family members visit the gravesite of a loved one during Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Visting with Family of Fallen Ranger

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 CST

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Deborah visit with the family of U.S. Army Sgt. John Kyle Daggett while visiting Section 60 after Memorial Day commemorations at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., May 25, 2009. Daggett was an Army ranger killed after a rocket-propelled grenade attack on his vehicle in Sadr City, Iraq, May 1, 2008.