If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!  This is a great site.  Please send a card.   It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?   Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them…

Joanne Chavonne saw pregnant women everywhere in town, shopping at Target for diapers or dining at a Mexican restaurant.

Then she heard that so many families were calling the medical clinic at nearby Fort Bragg for the results of pregnancy tests that the U.S. Army had to install an extra telephone line.

And finally, over the summer, an administrator told her that the hospital on base was overrun with women in labor and was delivering nearly 300 babies a month. “I was shocked,” said Chavonne, whose husband, Anthony, is the local mayor. “That’s 10 a day.”

The entire 82nd Airborne division was deployed in Iraq during the surge in 2007. Nearly 22,000 Soldiers joyously reunited with their families when they began returning last October. The base is also host to 29,000 Soldiers from other units, which all contributed to what by August was an estimated 50 percent surge in births at Womack Army Medical Center, the base hospital, compared with the previous year.

The community is turning this into a celebration. On Saturday, about 1,000 recent mothers or mothers-to-be gathered as guests of honor at Boots & Booties, billed as the largest military shower ever. Under billboards with fuchsia butterflies at the Crown Exposition Center, pregnant women in stretchy pants and flip-flops drank red punch and helped themselves to deviled eggs and cupcakes. Sarah Deady arrived at the extravaganza right from her recovery bed – she had had a Caesarian section on Thursday and walked gingerly.

Catherine Robinson, 35 and pregnant with her third child, was experiencing contractions. “I have long labors,” she said, explaining why she decided to come anyway.

The impact of the baby surge is being felt all across Fayetteville, a city of 210,000, from the registries at Fleishman’s Tiny Town to the civilian hospital, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where the overflow of military patients sometimes has to labor in the waiting room until beds become available. Dr. David Schutzer, who runs the Highland Ob-Gyn Clinic in town, said that his practice delivered 50 percent more babies than usual last month, most of them military.

It is impossible to walk through the produce sections of the commissaries on base without seeing bellies or newborns in car seats. “Overseas, our Soldiers concentrate on their mission,” said Tom McCollum, the public affairs officer for Fort Bragg, which occupies the north and west sides of Fayetteville. “But they can’t wait to get back home.”

At Dads 101, a class for new and soon-to-be fathers that helps ease the transition from Soldier to caretaker, attendance has doubled.

Maternity-size army combat uniforms in the digitized, sand- patterned camouflage used in Iraq and Afghanistan are on back order at the base clothing store. And in anticipation of growing demand for home visits and other family services, the base’s New Parents Support Program has increased its staff to 19 from 5.

Baby furniture is selling so quickly at a Target store near the base, that pregnant women are despairing when they cannot find matching cribs, dressers and changing tables. “They’ll be, like, ‘I just called and y’all said you had it,’” said Tyneisha McRae, a clerk working the night shift, when the infant department gets restocked.

Lisa Olivares, a manager at CCE Headgear Plus, a kiosk at the mall that offers custom embroidery, has been inundated with requests to stitch unit crests and nicknames onto baby onesies, polka-dot bonnets and camouflage diaper bags. “It’s all I do,” she said.

Soldiers have noticed the boom among their ranks. “Four females in my unit have had babies,” said Staff Sergeant Bill McSwain, as he held his own new daughter, Gabrielle, in his lap.

Doctors, nurses and midwives at the clinic were among the first to feel the impact of the surge, as demand for prenatal appointments began to overwhelm the staff members at the beginning of the summer. As women poured into the facility, which now has pastel streamers with hearts dangling from its windows, the medicine cabinets began running low on progesterone, used to treat early labor. The doctors wanted to know why the nurses were using so much progesterone, said Belenda Douglas, the head nurse. “We were like, ‘O.K., but there’s a baby boom.’”

With only 11 beds, Womack’s labor and delivery unit quickly filled up, and the patient load was capped at 260 deliveries a month – but soon exceeded that number. Nearly 300 babies were born in August, and 261 in September.

Colonel Flavia Diaz-Hays, chief of maternal child health services at Womack, estimates that one-fifth of expectant mothers are active-duty Soldiers who get nondeployment status for the birth of their child. On Aug. 1, in response to requests from mothers and military health care providers, the Army extended nondeployment status for mothers from three to six months.

Fathers can still be deployed at any time, and the impact of a missing parent is felt by the entire family.

Sue O’Brien, who coordinates the New Parents Support Program at Fort Bragg, helps new mothers and their toddlers struggling to make sense of a parent’s absence by giving out a book called “Over There,” which matches pictures of a child’s activities at home – sleeping or brushing his teeth – next to pictures of a Soldier parent doing the same activity.

Katheryn Smith, who is due with her fourth child on Dec. 10, said that after her 2-year-old daughter was born, her husband, home from Iraq after three tours, was reluctant to leave. “He didn’t really want to leave her,” Smith said. “He never likes being away from family.”

Reflecting on that time, First Sergeant Stephen Smith, of the 82nd Airborne, said: “You miss their first words, their first steps, and the bonding that you’re supposed to have.” He added, “That’s the hardest part, to get to know them all over again. In some cases, they don’t even remember you when you come home.”

No one from the 82nd has been redeployed yet, but that will change in the next few months, when one of the brigades is scheduled to go overseas to Iraq or Afghanistan, McCollum said.

Until then, families and the Fayetteville community are focusing on the excitement of its budding population. On Saturday, 125 tables at the shower were decorated with pale yellow, lavender, green and polka-dot tablecloths, and a pallet-load of goodie bags containing donated diapers, wipes and baby clothes were waiting to be distributed.

Rachel Hall, 26, who gave birth to her fifth baby, a daughter, Makenna, on Sept. 2, was excited about the shower. “I never got to have a shower with my family for any of my other kids,” she said, with her own parents too far away, in New York, and her husband being deployed four times in the last six years.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Whitecar, chief of obstetrics at Womack, said that during the surge of births, which he expects to continue for a few months, until the next round of deployments, he and his staff have no choice but to continue cutting back on lunch breaks.

But Wanda McCants, a nurse on the labor and delivery unit, said she did not mind the extra work, especially considering the high rates of injured veterans that she sees around the hospital. “I think it’s the nature of war to come back and to want to create something,” she said. Seeing all the new life after so much tragedy, she added, “is uplifting for me, too.”

Flat Stan was busy socializing at the US Embassy in Baghdad this week…

He attended his final Baghdad Cigar Aficionado Club meeting in November.

Here are a few shots of Flat Stanley and me, enjoying the simple
pleasures that come from smoking a fine cigar with great friends, and enjoying some Iraqi SNAPPLE Iced Tea.. 

Enjoy!  16 more days until Flat Stanley and I leave IRAQ!!!

Jon Burrow, LTJG, LDO, USN
Force Protection Officer

i am 100% disabled and have raised my only child, spc adam gregory by
myself. His grandfather, my dad, served 31 years in the us army and served
in the Korean war and twice went to vietnam. He retired in 1976, but would
go back tomorrow if they would let him. He has been the father figure for my
son for many years and my son decided to join the texas national guard after
high school to see if he had what it took. While in basic training on sept
11, 2001 it changed his life and he knew that he wanted to be active duty.
Upon completion of basic training and AIT he returned home and tried
everything he could to go active duty but met barriers every where he went.
In Aug of 2004 his national guard unit–the T Patchers were activated. My
son was told he would not go to Iraq because of my disability. He wrote a
letter and stated that he was not going to stay home while his friends and
battle buddies went to war. I supported him 100% and was able to find help
while he was gone. After many attempts he was finally told he had to under
go some counselling and if he still felt so strong about going he would be
able to go. On Aug 28, 2004 he went to Ft. Hood, Texas to train for fighting
in a war for his country. On January 1, 2005 there was a ceremony at baylor
stadium for the 3000+ troops going to Iraq. I said goodbye to him on January
2, 2005 after dropping him off at ft. hood. I only knew he would leave
within the next six days.  The next phone call i received from him on
January 5 was from ramstein air force base. He was on his way to Iraq and
you would have thought he was going to Hawaii on vacation. A few days later
he called to they me he was in Kuwait and was scared to death, but he said
he knew he was coming home and i told him i knew it too and that it was ok
to be scared. Everyone of the 36th Infantry that went together were sent to
Tellih (sp) air force base, except a few that were sent to do other jobs. My
son’s mos was truck driver so he went to Scania and did convoy security for
Harributon. I had no idea how dangerous the job was until he returned home.
I ordered a hero bracelet for myself went i first heard about them. it was
fall of 2005 i believe and i still wear it almost every day. My son is my
hero. He returned home just prior to christmas in 2005 and i have never be
so happy in life as i was to see his smiling face and he was just as happy.
In fact he hugged me so hard he cracked 3 ribs. I am very tiny 5’6″ and 90
pounds so that probably wasn’t difficult for him to do. lol
Now my son is at fort benning, finally regular army. He went to infantry
school and is now ready to start his airborne training. He will be stationed
at the 82nd infantry at ft.bragg went he completes his training before the
end of the year. He knows he will be deployed to afganastan probably in
March of 2009 and has no regrets. I have never seen him so happy- maybe a
little homesick at times-but glad he has come this far and hopes to someday
be a first sergeant and call his troops to formation. That is his dream.
I just wanted to send this to you because i am so proud of my son. I have
many medical problems and for the last 2 months have been unable to do much.
Last saturday i was able to get up and get around a little and have been
feeling good the last few days so i am taking this time to type this and
send my son’s hero story to you.  Thank you for taking the time to read it
and i hope you will include him in your hero’s.
sincerely,
victoria snow gregory

This morning I went into your web site and placed the orders for the five local American Hero’s that gave their lives so that others may live in peace.  We are a group of small towns in rural Pennsylvania that have lost 5 good men since this war against terrorism began.  I know that these Gold Star Families will cherish these bracelets.  I would like to thank Mr Skahan and Mr. Dixon for their donations for these memorial bracelets.

As I explained in my earlier e-mail I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), I participated in 2LT Girdano’s funeral, the other 4 soldiers was KIA before the PGR was formed in 2005.  However, they are not forgotten in any way, shape or form.

To learn a little bit on the PGR go to:  www.PatriotGuard.org

Ralph A. DeLorme
PA PGR Ride Captain Region 10
PGR Western PA Veterans Liaison

An Index of US Military Support Web Sites

MarineParents.com
- We stand by our Marines and their families. If you are a family member, please let us know how we can help you. This web site offers a vast amount of information and support to help with deployment. God Bless and Semper Fi.

OperationCareAndComfort.org
- Operation: Care and Comfort, our all volunteer program, exists to provide support and comfort to “adopted” units of deployed U.S. military service members, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and conflict regions. Working within our community and through donations received from all over our country, we assemble and ship care packages to our adopted units every month until they return home. Our unique program allows caring Americans to donate their time, talent, and treasure to honor those serving our country during these difficult times.
TroopsNeedYou.com
- Continue the uniquely American wartime tradition of mobilizing citizens in direct support of troops in combat. This is our history, from merchants supplying General Washington’s army during the Revolutionary War to the war bond drives of World War II. Now, it is our time to mobilize and help our troops succeed.
Win-The-War.com
- We call for victory in Iraq, regardless of who controls the White House and Congress, because it will make America more secure. We support those who are determined to succeed and oppose those who are not, no matter what their persuasion.
SoldierSoaps.com
- Soap bars decorated with uplifting messages (designs stay on with use) that can also be personalized. They can then be sent to our troops via care package org’s, or by individuals.
TheThankYouFoundation.org
- The Thank You Foundation is a non-partisan organization. We understand that not every citizen supports the actions that our armed services are ordered to take. We respect the individual rights, beliefs and opinions of every individual. The Thank You Foundation believes that we can collectively honor the individuals who choose to serve our nation despite the hardships that they may endure.
ThankYourSoldiers.com
- New site in support of the troops, and features a Thank You Card that can be signed and/or passed on. Goal is 1,000,000 signatures by Memorial Day 2008.
WarriorWeekend.com
- Warrior Weekend provides weekends of rest and relaxation for soldiers and marines who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and are undergoing recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The missions are funded by both individuals and organizations and are no cost to the soldiers and marines who participate.
HireAHero.com
- Hire a Hero is a national not for profit program It is our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of those who have served our country by helping them network and find great jobs with military friendly employers.
LaptopsForTheWounded.com
- We are a non-profit organization with a goal to provide laptop computers WITH WEBCAMS for the wounded military personnel in hospitals, so they can have access to family and friends when they cannot be there with them. Unlike the other organizations that do similar work, our laptops will stay at the participating hospitals so they can continue to be used by the next wounded soldiers in those hospitals.
Give2thetroops.org
- Since December 2002, we’ve supported HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of deployed U.S. troops with loving care packages and letters from all over the nation. This was made possible only with the help of tens of thousands of generous and patriotic friends in the U.S. and abroad. This is the least we can do to show our troops how much we care about them. Our troops need to know that we support and appreciate the sacrifices they make for us, our families, and our future. This is about giving back to those who give all

WithLoveFromHome.org
- Our main goal is to reach those serving over seas that are in need of some support. It is important that they know they are cared about & appreciated for putting their lives on the line for us and the freedom we have in America. We are collecting items for care packages and also letters of support & encouragement to send over seas to our hero’s that are defending our country.
SOSFamilyGateway.com
- I am just a troop supporting my brothers & sisters in uniform and thier families where I can. Take a minuet and read the guest book, the folks who use the site will tell you themselves what they think.
TrailToRecovery.org
- Wounded veterans of the War on Terror must struggle every day to overcome life-changing sacrifices such as the loss of a limb, significant burns, and the reality of being in a wheelchair. The Trail to Recovery is a hike in honor of these individuals. Our goal, with the help of The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, is to help the people who have given so much on our behalf overcome these obstacles and resume a productive and fulfilling life.
SoldierAssist.com
- This is why we decided to create “Operation Soldier Assist”. Our goals are as follows: Create public awareness of the needs of these young men and women, and to encourage public participation in the Adopt-A-Soldier program to help our deployed personnel; Operation Soldier Assist to purchase and ship items needed by our troops; Expand Soldier Assist’s mission into helping severely injured soldiers and their families.

KidsThankAVet.com
- The primary purpose of this web site is to thank our American Veterans who have served in the United States Military. You will also find buttons giving you information on many other topics which are related to our American service personal, patriotic crafts, our flag, Veterans holidays, American wars and conflicts, memorials, teacher activities, etc., as well as other websites which will give you additional information on a variety of related topics.
National Remember Our Troops Campaign

- NROTC takes great pride in providing FREE Blue Star Service Banners as a symbol of support for our military men and women. As also, we recognize the sacrifices of their loved ones. It is only by the gracious donations of foundations, ordinary citizens and the business community, that we are able to do this. A “Blue Star Service Award” certificate is included with every Blue Star Service Banner.
OperationCompletion.org
- Operation Completion is a series of pro-military rallies being held across the United States beginning in late May and ending in early August. Our mission is to provide constructive support for our troops and reinforce the mentality that we need to defend America and to support the War on Terror to Victory.
SaluteTheTroops.org
- Salute The Troops is available to schools and businesses in the community, offering ideas and planning projects designed to implement good character and honor our men and women in uniform.
Eleven Marines Run Marathons
- Eleven Marines will be running marathons to help raise money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. This fund helps wounded Marines, sailors, and other military members serving with Marine units, during the very difficult rehabilitation process. They have already assisted more than 1,400 wounded men and women, but it is certain that there will be more who will need help. GOAL=$30,000 See donors -
YellowRibbonSG.org
- Our mission is to support the men and women of the United States active military forces deployed to foreign shores through prayers, letters, and “wish list” packages on behalf of all Americans. Encourage their continued dedication to the protection of the United States and the endorsement of peace on earth around the world.
InjuredMarinesFund.org
- Our mission is to raise funds for Injured Marines and their families. Our severely wounded Marines continue to fight battles here at home with their struggle to adjust to their injuries. Our mission is to provide financial support to injured Marines while they continue their long road to recovery and to continue to support the “Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund”
SupportAmericasArmedForces.com
- Support America’s Armed Forces’ mission is to help improve the morale, and welfare of members of the armed forces of the United States of America wherever they may be and in whatever way possible, so that they can focus on the mission at hand and return safely to loved ones when their job is done.
OurMilitaryKids.org
- Our Military Kids, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, dedicated to funding essential extracurricular activities for school-aged children of deployed and severely injured Reserve and National Guard military personnel.
FamiliesUnitedMission.com
- Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission is a not-for-profit 501(c)(4) organization. We are a grassroots coalition of Gold Star families, veterans, families with loved ones in harm’s way, and Americans who share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform and support them in their efforts to make America safer by winning the War On Terror.

http://HomesForOurTroops.org

- Homes for Our Troops is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. We assist injured service men and women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility.

http://MilitaryFamiliesVoiceOfVictory.com

- Military Families Voice of Victory was concieved by a family with three sons actively serving in the Marines and U.S. Army. We are still a very small group but hope to grow. It has become painfully obvious that only a small portion of the Military Community is currently heard by the Main Stream Media. It has also become painfully obvious that if we do not organize to speak out we will not be heard.

http://MoveAmericaForward.org

- Move America Forward will be conducting the “You Don’t Speak for Me, Cindy” caravan beginning next week. It will feature military family members who have loved ones serving in the war against terrorism in Iraq or Afghanistan. The delegation will be led by Deborah Johns of Marine Moms. (Her son has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom).

http://saluteheroes.org

- The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes is a non-partisan 501(c) (3) organization, created to provide an easy and meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Donations are tax-deductible.
TreatTheTroops.org
- Jeanette Cram loves to bake cookies for the military men and women serving our country. She and her mixer are tireless. And it’s contagious. Her friends, often referred to as “Crumbs,” help the Cookie Lady make the batter, pack the cookies, prepare the shipping and customs labels, and clean up her kitchen. She bakes chocolate chip cookies (replacing the chocolate chips with M&Ms in the summertime) and oatmeal raisin cookies, and fills in the packages with candies, toiletries and note cards. Treat The Troops is not a business, but is a volunteer effort to support our soldiers. Her reward is not only the good feeling she has inside her, but also the hundreds of thank-you letters that fill her five scrapbooks . Requests from soldiers receive highest priority.
PatrioticPillowProject.com
- War has left many of our service Men & Women wounded! We collectively around this great Nation would like to let them know how much we appreciate their sacrifices. We will stitch our prayers & care into each pillow that will be created for each special honorable recipient. A Thank you note will be included so each brave, wounded G.I. will know how very much we care about each & everyone of them. These Pillows are compact but powerful.
Hugs4SmilesUSA.org
- When you volunteer, Hugs4SmilesUSA assigns you a deployed hero’s family and/or the hero. You then send the hero two care packages, Packaged Hugs, each month. If the soldier’s family has also been adopted, they receive one package each month.
ChildrenOfBaghdad.com
- CHILDRENOFBAGHDAD.COM is an operation created by Task Force Thunder (1/141st FA BN, 256 BCT, Louisiana Army National Guard) while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. We are asking for help in donating items to the Iraqi children in hopes of bettering their lives, and in turn the future of their country. Please help fight terrorism by donating to a child today! Site includes contact information and photographs.
Operation Support Our Troops Ilinois
- Illinois Branch of the national Organization – Operation Support Our Troops (OSOT). OSOT is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting our troops serving in harms’ way.
Operation-Support-Our-Troops.org
- This website is about our troops, for our troops! We are so indebted to the men and women serving in our Armed Forces for our safety and freedom that we dedicate this website to them! Thank you Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen!!
AmericasHeroes.us
- America’s Heroes of Freedom is a Not-for-profit (501c3) Organization that honors, heals and educates those who acted heroically, patriotically, and unselfishly such as our armed forces, civil servants, EMS (Emergency Medical Services, e.g. Fire, Police, Rescue), physicians, nurses, and all volunteers who serve daily in the protection of our freedom.

AmericanHeroesProgram.com
- Our soldiers risk their lives every day to keep us safe and free. The American Heroes Program(tm) provides a convenient, inexpensive way to say thank you. Please take a minute to see how easy it is to send meaningful expressions of your gratitude to troops overseas, and to wounded soldiers under medical care here in the States.
ProudPatriots.com
- Proud Patriots is a group of private Americans who are working to ensure that our brave military heroes receive the support we believe they deserve. OPERATION VALENTINE coming soon.
TreatsForTroops.com
- Our Mission is simple. Treats for Troops provides a safe, easy way to support American soldiers all over the world, every day of the year.
OperationIraqiChildren.org
- Operation Iraqi Children is a grassroots program that aims to provide concerned Americans with the means to reach out to the Iraqi people and help support our soldiers’ attempts to assist them.
CellphonesForSoldiers.com
- Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started by thirteen year old Brittany Bergquist and her twelve year old brother Robbie of Norwell MA. Jim Kelly, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of the Buffalo Bills is a proud sponsor of Cell Phones for Soldiers.
usa-enduring-freedom.com
- To provide a strong, supportive environment in which the central focus is our pride in America’s Uniformed Services Personnel Past, Present, and Future.
KilledInActionFund.org
- In the pursuit of liberating these victims of oppression in Afghanistan and Iraq, the ultimate sacrifice is being made by hundreds of America’s finest young military personnel. Many leave behind a spouse and small children. Unable to afford the life insurance that was offered to them, they must now survive on the insufficient standard military death benefit of $12,000. It is the goal of the Enduring Freedom KIA Fund to give financial aid to those needy and deserving families.
AmericanSupport.org
- Having lived through the Sixties and the Vietnam War I realized being silent was an excuse for fear. Fear that I was only one voice in a majority of protesters and would never be heard or could make a difference.
LeavingTheMilitary.blogspot.com
- This publications stands to provide veterans, and those soon-to-be veterans, with a wealth of information gathered from personal and professional experiences and valuable research. I can help you with anything from your career to using your VA home loan, and everything in between.
SupportForOurSoldiers.org
- Welcome to “A Soldiers’ Wish List”! We are a non-profit organization aiding the American troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Kosovo by fulfilling their wishes.
SpecialOps.org
- The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) began in 1980 as the Col. Arthur D. “Bull” Simons Scholarship Fund. The Bull Simons Fund was created after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt to provide college educations for then 17 children surviving the nine men killed or incapacitated at Desert One. It was named in honor of the legendary Army Green Beret, Bull Simons, who repeatedly risked his life on rescue missions.
KeystoneSoldiers.com
- Message board for public messages of support. Also event calendar, picture gallery, polls, penpal information, contributed articles, stories, and quotes, and links.
KeystoneMarines.com
KeystoneSailors.com
KeystoneAirForce.com
- We are a 100% volunteer non profit organization. Through our site you can show your support by adopting a Marine/Soldier/Sailor/Airman (or platoon) or becoming a penpal. You may also make a donation to help with postage or you can sponsor a care package to one of our troops for just $25.00.
AdoptAPlatoon.org
- The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort founded in 1998 is a nonprofit 501C-3 organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers to ensure that deployed United States Service members in all branches of the military are not forgotten…
Military Exchange Prepaid Calling Cards
- Anyone can buy prepaid calling cards though the PX/BX and they get mailed directly to soldiers.
SoldierMemorialFund.org
- Everyone who watches Fox News knows Gen. Vallely – this fund was set up for his son Scott who was killed in Basic Airbourne Course training on April 20,2004 – They are sending Christmas gifts to our soldiers overseas and need donations asap.

By DINESH RAMDE | Associated Press Writer
6:37 PM CDT, September 28, 2008
MILWAUKEE – After Tracy Jopek gave Sen. Barack Obama a bracelet in honor of her son who was killed in Iraq, she asked Obama not to mention the bracelet on the campaign trail.

But Jopek told The Associated Press on Sunday that she’s satisfied with how Obama discussed it during last week’s presidential debate.

Jopek gave Obama the bracelet at a Green Bay rally in February. It has the name of her son, Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, and the date the 20-year-old was killed by a roadside bomb, Aug. 2, 2006. “All gave some — He gave all,” it says.

A few days after offering it to the Illinois Democrat, Jopek, of Merrill in north-central Wisconsin, had a change of heart. She realized it could be interpreted as a protest against the war, a statement that made her uncomfortable because other military families who suffered losses still supported the conflict.

“I am a mother, a mother who lost her son. It’s hard to know what’s right, what’s wrong about this war. Very hard,” she said. “And I know there are a lot of families who lost loved ones.”

So she e-mailed the Obama campaign through its Web site asking that he not mention it during debates or speeches.

She never got a reply but said she didn’t hear of him mentioning it after that — until Friday, when Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain appeared in their first debate. In response to a question about Iraq, McCain said a New Hampshire woman asked him to wear a bracelet honoring her fallen son, and asked him to make sure the Iraq mission succeeded so his death would not be in vain.

Obama responded that he too wears a bracelet, one for Sgt. Jopek, but for a different reason — to make sure all American wars are fought for good reason.

“No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they’re carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they’ve provided. Our troops have performed brilliantly,” Obama said. “The question for the next president is, are we making good judgments about how to keep America safe, precisely because sending our military into battle is such an enormous step.”

It was an answer that Tracy Jopek said made her proud.

“His response in the debate was exactly that, a response, after John McCain put it out there first,” she said. “I think it was an appropriate response — he was just saying there’s another side to the story, there’s two different viewpoints.”

Obama’s comment sparked a number of angry comments from bloggers who suggested Obama was exploiting her son’s death to score political points. Jopek said those bloggers might have heard comments that her son’s father made on Wisconsin Public Radio on March 20.

In an interview with Glen Moberg, National Guard Staff Sgt. Brian Jopek said his ex-wife asked Obama not to wear the bracelet at any further public appearances. But Obama was still apparently wearing it, he said.

“So, that’s his own choice. I mean that’s something Barack Obama, that’s a choice that he continues to wear it despite Tracy asking him not to,” he told Moberg.

Tracy Jopek said she didn’t hear the interview but that her ex-husband, who is currently stationed in Cuba, mischaracterized her viewpoint. An e-mail message sent to Brian Jopek through his daughter on Sunday was not immediately returned.

“I think he knew my intention, he understands it was a gesture between me and Sen. Obama,” she said. “It was just little piece of peace for us. I don’t understand how people can take that and turn it into some garbage on the Internet.”

She wouldn’t directly say whether she wanted Obama to refrain from mentioning the bracelet again, but she hopes the whole issue will just go away.

“I think these bracelets should be looked upon as an honor that both candidates wear them to respect the troops,” she said. “My request to both of them is that they honor the troops by lifting the conversation to the issues, and that they continue to live up to the standards our military deserves.”

Hey all. This is me in a village called Little Abu Sayda.  Pretty torn up by AQI (Al Qaeda), the kids are great, they don’t have much and appreciate what we bring.  Working to restore some services and economy in the area.  Two of
our troops covering us while we talk with the local officials.

Mike  Stewart