Talking Tuesday

Following our Rolling Thunder ride on Sunday afternoon, Hubster, Shay's Ma and I visited The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Wall has more than 58,000 names engraved on it! As Shay's Ma and I walked away, we wondered what sort of Memorial will there be for our Fallen Heroes of the Wars in Iraq/Afghanistan? How long will it be, before these men and women are recognized? Why did it take so long for there to be a World War II Memorial...and why is it taking so long for the 9/11 Memorial to be completed? ...and yet the design of The Wall was received and approved in March, 1982 and construction was complete in November, 1984. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) raised nearly $9,000,000 entirely through private contributions from corporations, foundations, unions, veterans and civic organizations and more than 275,000 individual Americans. No Federal funds were needed. Who will fund a Memorial for the casualties of the Wars in Iraq/Afghanistan? We have already lost 6,000 Americans lives. What about the design? In my mind, I see an image of a U.S. Flag with the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right. When the flag is facing to the observer’s right, and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. I'm not sure the exact term for this image of our Flag...so I'll call it the U.S. Flag of our Deployed. You still with me? OK...so we have Our Flag, perhaps engraved in a material which will last for thousands of years... or perhaps the image of the 'Deployed Flag' in in the bottom of a Reflection Pool of sorts. Oh my...how does one come up with an original idea for a Memorial? Perhaps it should represent the New Century with Laser Lights...then again technology could be dangerous...it changes all too rapidly. Most likely this is why we see so much of the timeless materials such as granite, water and fire. I have no idea.... what I do know, is we have over 6,000 American faces gone. These men and women deserve hallowed ground.
Your turn.......................

Vietnam Veterans + The Wall = Memorial Day

Yesterday, I had the huge honor of riding Rolling Thunder for the second year in a row, as a Blue Star VIP. Shay's Ma and I have decided this is our yearly tradition. There are so many photos to post and words to share... on a new day.

Today is about our Fallen. Today is all about paying tribute to the brave men and women who have served our Nation proudly, and who have paid the ultimate price. Today is about the families missing these warriors. Today is about Brotherhood in Arms... a Camaraderie most of us know nothing about.

I've been to The Wall countless times. It is truly walking on hallowed ground. The Wall is the one Memorial in DC, where there is silence. For me, there is a peaceful haunting as I look at the countless names. As I watch Vietnam Vets stand together reading the name of a buddy, or etching a name with a pencil... it's hard to choke back tears. Every name on The Wall has a face.

May Almighty God Bless those who have Fallen in War.
May Almighty God comfort their families and Fellow Soldiers.
May We Never Forget!

May 30, 2011 - Memorial Day

Taps


Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.

While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.

Memorial Day, Twenty-Eleven

Arlington
I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men,
for a job well done.

There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, 'We're proud of your son'.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, 'Son this is what it cost, to keep us free'.
Now here I am a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
And I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us.

We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we were the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust
Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington.

Songwriter Dave Turnbull wrote the song with Jeremy Spillman after meeting the father of U.S. Marine Cpl. Patrick Nixon, the first soldier from Tennessee killed during the war in Iraq. Please pause my Playlist on the right sidebar.

Deadly Day in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Nine NATO service members were killed Thursday in Afghanistan, including seven U.S. troops among eight who died when a powerful bomb exploded in a field where they were patrolling on foot, officials said.

Two Afghan policemen also died and two others were wounded in the explosion in the mountainous Shorabak district of Kandahar province, 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the Pakistan border, said Gen. Abdul Raziq, chief of the Afghan border police in the province.

"Two months ago, we cleared this area of terrorists, but still they are active there," Raziq said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

"A bomb was planted for them in a field," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press in a telephone call.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information, confirmed that seven American service members died in the bombing.

The international military coalition reported that one additional NATO service member was killed Thursday when a helicopter crashed in the east.

U.S. officials said seven American soldiers were killed in the bombing. NATO said an eighth soldier was also killed, but his nationality was not immediately released.

It was the deadliest day for coalition forces in Afghanistan since April 27, when a veteran Afghan military pilot opened fire at Kabul airport and killed eight U.S. troops and an American civilian contractor.

Thursday's blast was the worst single attack against NATO forces by one of the Taliban's crude, homemade bombs since October 2009. Seven soldiers from a unit based in Fort Lewis, Washington, died Oct. 27, 2009 when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Arghandab district, also in Kandahar province.

"It was a big, powerful blast," said Gen. Tefeer Khan Ghogyaria, who oversees Afghan border police in three provinces in the south. "A container of explosives was placed in the ground and it exploded when the NATO forces were passing. They were on a foot patrol."

Roadside bombs killed 268 American troops in Afghanistan last year, a 60 percent increase over the previous year, even as the Pentagon employed new measures to counter the Taliban's makeshift weapon of choice. Defense officials attributed the rise in casualties to the surge in U.S. forces in Afghanistan last year.

The number of U.S. troops wounded by what the military terms improvised explosive devices also soared, according to the most recent U.S. defense figures. There were 3,366 U.S. service members injured in IED blasts — up from the 1,211 hurt by the militants' crudely made bombs in 2009, the figures show.

Officials with the Pentagon's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, based outside Washington, has said that additional explosive sensors, bomb analysts and specially trained dogs have helped battle the roadside bombs.

Last year, the Pentagon provided $495 million to buy 34 tethered surveillance blimps that give troops a bird's eye view of certain areas and sent in more unmanned surveillance aircraft so route-clearance patrols would have the benefit of full-motion video. The Pentagon also delivered more than 5,000 hand-held bomb detectors, improved training and sent additional equipment to Afghanistan to counter the threat.

Southern and eastern Afghanistan are the most volatile areas in Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of U.S., NATO and Afghan forces have been working for months to rout the Taliban from their strongholds in the south. The Taliban have retaliated with targeted assassinations of Afghan officials and attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. Eastern Afghanistan, along the Pakistan border, also has been the scene of heavy violence.

On May 1, insurgents declared the start of a spring offensive against NATO and the Afghan government. NATO has been expecting the Taliban to stage a series of spectacular and complex attacks, and the group has already carried out a number of them recently.

The effectiveness of the Taliban's long-awaited spring campaign, code-named Badr after one of the Prophet Muhammad's decisive military victories, could affect the size of President Barack Obama's planned drawdown of U.S. troops in July. Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has said the size of the withdrawal will depend on conditions on the ground.

The alliance has committed itself to handing over control of security in the country to Afghans by 2014.

Thirty-eight international service members have been killed so far this month, including at least 13 Americans. So far this year, 189 coalition troops have died in Afghanistan.

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DEB RIECHMANN and MIRWAIS KHAN, Associated Press Deb Riechmann And Mirwais Khan, Associated Press – Thu May 26, 4:48 pm ET

Khan reported from Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Somebody's Son...

U.S. Marine Sgt. Lee Randles from Holland, Ohio springs down the track during the 2011 Warrior Games at the Garry Berry Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 17.
Photo by Aquita Brown

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Friday's Post is dedicated to the brave men and women who serve our Nation.
We must always remember each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine have a face, they have a family...they are somebody's son.

Man's Best Friend

It's been a long month!

Life in a Garden Center during the month of May...is just that. Your life is spent at the Garden Center. I'm truly blessed to have a job I enjoy so much...the long days, long weeks and long month are just an is. Today is Thursday and I am off work! I took the weekend off work to attend John and Di's wedding...although there was good times, we were busy all the time! Basically, the last time I had a day off was on May 5th...long time ago.

So...last night, Hubster and I decided to meet outside the Village... in a place where there are shopping centers and restaurants. While in Ohio, my phone advised me to update...which I did. As a result, the phone has been moving at a snail's pace. I just haven't had time or energy to drive to civilization to have it looked at. Last night, we went to the Verizon store and they made an attempt to get the phone working...to no avail. A new phone is on its way to me. (OK, Verizon...make the check payable to....)

Driving home, we turned on to the road which leads to the Village. It's a two lane country road, lots of turns and trees. We came upon stopped cars and there we saw a pup laying in the middle of the road... it had just been hit by a car. A woman approached to injured pup, it tried desperately to move away...sadly, his hind legs did not move...I'm certain his back was broken. In a flash, the owner appeared and swooped the poor thing out of the road and took him towards the house. So terribly sad.

Needless to say, when I got home...I was so happy to see my little mutt. He greeted me in his "oh my goodness, I haven't seen you in five years" manner. Truly, if you are a dog lover, you know they are Man's Best Friend...loyal and compassionate.

All this, prompted today's post. Thinking of Military Dogs and the amazing work they do. I know my little mutt wants nothing more than to please me...and this is true for all the working dogs who want to please their masters.



Dogs have been fighting alongside U.S. soldiers for more than 100 years, seeing combat in the Civil War and World War I. But their service was informal; only in 1942 were canines officially inducted into the U.S. Army. Today, they're a central part of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- as of early 2010 the U.S. Army had 2,800 active-duty dogs deployed (the largest canine contingent in the world). And these numbers will continue to grow as these dogs become an ever-more-vital military asset.

So it should come as no surprise that among the 79 commandos involved in Operation Neptune Spear that resulted in Osama bin Laden's killing, there was one dog -- the elite of the four-legged variety. And though the dog in question remains an enigma -- another mysterious detail of the still-unfolding narrative of that historic mission -- there should be little reason to speculate about why there was a dog involved: Man's best friend is a pretty fearsome warrior.

Above, a U.S. soldier with the 10th Special Forces Group and his dog leap off the ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during water training over the Gulf of Mexico as part of exercise Emerald Warrior on March 1.

Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, U.S. Air Force/ DoD

Wednesday Hero 05/25/2011

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

First Lieutenant Audie Murphy
3rd Platoon, Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
June 20, 1924 – May 28, 1971


Most people know Audie Murphy as a popular actor, but before that he was a highly distinguished Soldier in WWII. First Lieutenant Murphy was, in fact, the most decorated American Soldier in the war earning a total of 39 medals from the U.S., France and Belgium. He was awarded every medal the U.S. had at the time including 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Hearts, 3 Purple Hearts and the Medal Of Honor.

You can read more about First Lieutenant Murphy here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Talking Tuesday

Diplomacy...

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the word, Diplomacy
1: the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations
2: skill in handling affairs without arousing hostility : tact


Is there really such a thing as Diplomacy?
How can it be achieved in our world today?

Your turn.............................

His Star Has Turned From Blue to Gold

A 101st Airborne Division Soldier died while conducting a dismounted patrol Wednesday in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Corporal Brandon M. Kirton, 25, of Centennial, Colo., was an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the military in January 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in July 2008.

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (pending); Purple Heart Medal (pending); Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (pending) and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Kirton is survived by his daughter, Heaven Kirton of Centennial, Colo. He is also survived by his parents Robert and Kathleen, of Parker, Colo.

A memorial service will be held for Kirton in Afghanistan. Fort Campbell holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony to honor fallen Screaming Eagles. The next ceremony will be held June 8 at 4 p.m.

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May Almighty God Bless this brave Soldier who payed the ultimate price.
May Almighty God comfort his parents, his daughter and all who love him so.
May Almighty God protect each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine.

Armed Forces Day, Twenty-Eleven

A Call to Prayer for Our Armed Forces
We, your fellow Americans, resolve and commit to pray for you, our uniformed Patriots standing in harm's way around the world in defense of our liberty, every day. We further resolve and commit to pray for your families awaiting your safe return. We thank God for you, your courage, tenacity and vigilance.

The words of George Washington's First Inaugural Address are fitting: "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." We, the American people, then turn that trust to God, who in His sovereign wisdom gave us the freedom we enjoy.

You Patriots -- American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen -- have plowed the ground for liberty. We remain the proud and the free because you have stood bravely in harm's way, and remain on post today. For this, we, the American People, offer our heartfelt thanks. We commit to continually pray for you and your families.

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I happened upon this prayer on The Patriot Post site. The words are a perfect blend, to express what is on my heart. Please join me today and give thanks for all who serve our Nation.

Somebody's Son...

ANNAPOLIS, MD - A member of the United States Naval Academy freshman class wears body armor, helmet and carries a rifle through a mud-filled ditch as part of the 'Wet and Sandy' challenge during the rigorous Sea Trials May 17, 2011 in Annapolis, MD. Under strict safety supervision, about 900 freshmen, or 'Plebes,' faced 14 hours of 32 rigorous physical and mental challenges during the trials, a daylong, action-oriented event modeled after the Marine Corps 54-hour Crucible and the Navy's Battle Stations.

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Friday Posts are dedicated to random photos of those brave men and women who serve our Nation... we must remember they are Somebody's Son.

Thursday Thoughts...

Our Troops often hear the words, "Thanks for your sacrifice".

The men and women who serve our Nation, certainly do sacrifice many of the everyday events we enjoy and quite often take for granted. Even the most mundane of chores here at home, can become major inconveniences when deployed to Afghanistan. Think about it.. if you don't care to dust your living room, imagine living in a dust bowl in a tent in the Middle East. Think about going to the fridge and pouring a glass milk...it's a little thing for us...but for most Soldiers it is the number one thing they look forward to, when they return home.

So where is AirmanMom going with this post? At John and Di's wedding, I met the most adorable couple. Sylvia is 8 months pregnant with their first child. She departed from the USAF on Monday morning. Tuesday morning, she and Matt were leaving for Florida. You see...Matt is deploying for 6-9 months to Afghanistan. His daughter will be born two weeks after he deploys. Sylvia will stay with her family, so she will have help with the baby.

No doubt there are countless stories like this one, among military families. This young Airman will sacrifice being there for the birth of his first child. This young mom will face being a new parent, without the man she loves (trust me, they are an ultra-cute couple). Her family will take in this young family, offering support and love.

Please keep each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine in your constant prayers. Let's not forget their sacrifices...

I Do...

John and Di are married!

It was a weekend filled with happy memories! Such a true gift...to have all my children together! Pure awesomeness! God is Good! I am one blessed Momma!!!

While in Ohio, John and Di learned they are expecting a son! Yes, my first grandboy will be born in October! My daughter Marie, will learn on Friday if she is carrying a boy or girl. Healthy is our prayer for both of these sweet babes.

Allow me to say, I have always been super nervous to become the mom-in-law to a new daughter...but Di makes it easy. I love her, I love the way she loves my son and I know in my heart she will be a good mom to my grandboy. Please join me in prayer for this young family, may they know God's richest blessings.

I've posted photos of the wedding and to all those moms out there looking for the perfect song to dance with your son when he marries... an acoustic version of Simple Man by Lynard Skynard is THE perfect choice!

Enjoy the photos......


Awesome Guitar Player




Hubster escorting AirmanMom down the aisle




John waiting for his Bride




Bride escorted down the aisle by MSgt. Tom




First Dance




My girls... I love them so!




B and his girlfreind, V. Love my oldest son so very much. Love his girlfriend! K, Marie, B and V took an eight-hour road trip to the wedding. Keep in mind, this is the first time we had met B's girlfriend! I kept receiving text messages from Marie, "Love her, Momma! Having a blast!" Happiness is what I want for my children, and to see how happy V makes B...makes this one happy Momma!




My heart is overflowing with love and pride...I am so honored to call these four amazing people...my children. I love them so very much.




Group photo of some of my favorite people in the whole world! Best Man and his girlfriend are in this photo...I failed to mention the amazing toast by the Best Man!

Wednesday Hero 05/18/2011

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

SSgt. Jason Rogers
28 years old from Brandon Mississippi
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
April 7, 2011


"The loss of Jason Rogers is going to make this world an emptier and lonelier and colder place," said childhood friend Brandon Winfield. "I could write a War and Peace-sized story of the kind of person he was. Some people have it — the room just seemed to be dizzier and brighter with him in it."

SSgt. Rogers was KIA on April 7 by an IED while on patrol with his unit in the Helmond Province of Afghanistan.

"He was doing something voluntarily that he loved to do, and he felt like he was making a difference and doing something that made other people proud," said friend Derrick Brownlee.

You can read more about SSgt. Rogers here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Going To The Chapel and We're Gonna Get Married...

Well....there won't be a Chapel, there will be a Campground with a Pavilion and it appears there will be lots of rain (so 'they' say). This will most definitely be the most unique wedding I have attended! The best part of all...it is so John and Di! I'm proud of them for remaining true to themselves. May they continue to know this strength as a couple! Love them so!

Can you believe the time is here already for John and Di to marry? Time has flown by at lightning speed! But, it's all good! Hubster and I will make the eight hour drive tonight after work, and be ready to do all we can to make this the wedding of their dreams! I am so happy for them! Warm Congrats to Di...she has been promoted to Senior Airman! So proud of her!

This blog will be on hiatus until I return. No worries, there will be lots of photos posted when I return!

The song I chose for the Groom-Mom dance...was decided to keep tradition with the weddings of my two daughters. Please keep in mind...AirmanMom is a child of the 70's...therefore my children were listening to Rolling Stones, Zeppelin and Moody Blues while growing up. My oldest daughter and her husband danced to Led Zeppelin's song "Thank You", my baby girl and her husband danced to Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" and the parents danced to Chicago's "Color My World". So...I had to think of a song to dance with my son... chose a little tune by Lynard Skynard!



(Please pause my playlist on right sidebar)


Simple Man by Lynard Skynard

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you some sunny day

Oh, take your time don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
Go find a woman you'll find love
And don't forget son there is someone up above

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can? Oh yes, I will

Boy, don't you worry you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Baby be a simple, be a simple man
Be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
© DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION; LONGITUDE MUSIC CO.;

Wednesday Hero 05/11/2011

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

SSgt. James I. Spurrier, Jr. (Left)
61 years old from Tennessee
134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division
December 14, 1922 - February 25, 1984


SSgt. James I. Spurrier, Jr., aka Junior J. Spurrier, distinguished himself multiple times during WWII. One of which, almost single handedly capturing the village of Achain, France, won him the Medal Of Honor. But after the war, SSg. Spurrier had a tough time. Trouble with alcohol and run ins with the law. All due to PTSD.

You can read more about SSg. Spurrier here and here. And if you, or someone you know, is suffering with PTSD there is help.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.


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Many thanks to Christopher Lee for his dedication to our Troops...past and present!

Mother's Day Twenty-Eleven

Well...this is more of a reflection post.

Mother's Day is a wacky time of year, for those of us in the Garden Center world.
We. Are. Busy.
It's fun chaos. Working outdoors and having all your senses tickled...hardly call it working at times. Well, I take that back. I'm exhausted. It's good-old fashioned labor, which requires a good night sleep as the only means to recover. Truth is, to be surrounded by God's finest gifts...a blue sky, lots of vibrant flowers and the scent of lilac bushes...life is good.

After a busy day of work, the family met at my daughter, K's for dinner. Spending a few hours with my daughters and their daughters, is time I cherish. My daughters have grown into amazing, strong women who adore their families. I am so deeply proud of both my girls. And yes....Marie is expecting #2 in October!!!! I will be a Nana to six precious babies by the end of Twenty-Eleven. God is good!



I received roses from both my sons and phone calls! It is always so good to hear their voices! I do miss them. So here is a question for you... John and Diann are getting married next weekend (I know, can you believe it is here already?) Can you help with suggestions for the Mom/Son dance????

In closing, I wish all my readers a Happy Mother's Day.
To my WingSisters and all Blue Star Moms... thank you for being supportive and loving of our Service Members.
To all Gold Star Moms... words are unable to express my heartfelt thanks for the ultimate sacrifice your child made for the United States.

Just WOW!

I caught this on the news this morning...

It is the world's only all-amputee softball team. All players served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and many are from the Washington region. They say the week Osama bin Laden was killed is a great one to showcase their accomplishments while they’re working to recover from their injuries.

Their playing style is unique. Eleven players lost their legs below the knee. “We have three guys who lost their leg above the knee,” said David Van Sleet, the team’s founder. “We have a young man who has lost both his legs on our team.”

Please read the entire article and watch the video here. I've also attached a link to Wounded Warrior Project, I encourage you to take a few moments to visit this site!

May Almighty God bless our Wounded Warriors and their families.

Somebody's Son...

A U.S. Army soldier From the 2/327th No Slack Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, relieved after a fire fight with the Taliban opens his mouth up towards the sky to taste the snow as it falls in the valley of Barawala Kalet, Kunar province, Afghanistan March 29, 2011.
Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan Photo by Pfc. Cameron Boyd


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AirmanMom will post a photo of a Soldier every Friday. It's so important for us to remember every single Member of the United States Military has a face. These brave men and women have families who love them and miss them terribly. If there is a face, you would like me to post...please pass along an e-mail. Please feel free to post a 'Somebody's Son' on your blog...and make sure to link AirmanMom! Imagine how many faces we can share on a single Friday!

National Day of Prayer

According to the National Day of Prayer’s website, the event is held the first Thursday in May, and is open to people of all faiths to pray for the United States. The day was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and President Harry Truman signed it into law. Read more here.


Dear God, Help me to pray first when troubles come my way & save me from doubt through Your mercy & grace. Amen

Wednesday Hero 05/04/2011

Sgt. Jorge A. Diaz


Sgt. Jorge A. Diaz, a squad leader with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, receives a Bronze Star Medal with Combat V from Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck, Jr., commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, during Glueck's visit to Marine Corps Base Hawaii with Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Fierle, III MEF sergeant major, April 28, 2011. Diaz received the award for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2010.

Photo Courtesy Of Marines.mil

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.


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Our Nation is so fortunate to know so many brave warriors. Thanks to Christopher Lee for sharing these Heroes every week!

Talking Tuesday

Bin Laden is dead.

Now what?

Where do we go from here?

Will those who 'followed' Bin Laden remain steadfast in their 'mission' or will they fold knowing there is no longer the risk of losing their own lives by the hands of Bin Laden? Could it be that America is seen as a 'force to be reckoned with' once again? Will this help to bring our Troops home or has this death escalated our Terror risk? Will America know retaliation by some crazed fanatic?

Your turn............................

MILBloggies Winners Announced!

The 2011 MilBlog Conference is over and the Best Military Blogs have been announced:

Best U.S. Army Blog – Chief Wiggles
Best U.S. Military Spouse Blog – Ben and Katie
Best U.S. Military Parent Blog – My Yellow Ribbon
Best U.S. Military Supporter Blog – From Cow Pastures To Kosovo
Best U.S. Marine Corps Blog – One Marine’s View
Best U.S. Navy Blog – USNI Blog
Best U.S. Coast Guard Blog – Coast Guard Compass
Best U.S. Air Force Blog – I’m big in Japan
Best U.S. Military Veteran Blog – Neptunus Lex
Best U.S. Reporter Blog – The Unknown Soldiers

Congratulations to the winners!
A warm thank you to those who voted for Airman Mom. Truly, it was an honor to be recognized. I was shocked when I learned my blog was nominated. As those of you who have followed me for a long time know... Airman Mom is a place to respect and show thanks to all who serve our Nation... past, present and future. Yes, it began as an electronic journal about my sons... but the simple truth is that all brave men and women who choose to serve, are our Country Sons. All I want to do is help to make certain, we never lose sight of what our Military means to the United States. Our Military is made up of individuals...all of whom have a face. Airman Mom will continue to make certain these faces are seen, respected and lifted in prayer.