Instant Friends

It would have been wiser for me to title this post, "Friday Night, Part II"...but this will simply have to do!

To recap yesterday's post; on Friday night I had the honor of welcoming our troops home at BWI. As I have stated many times, attending an Operation Welcome Home event is always no less than amazing! To be in the presence of our heroes and shake their hands is an honor. They truly deserve so much more than the welcoming we offer...however, I feel blessed to be able to do this much for them!

Allow me to briefly describe an event: We meet in the International Terminal, approximately half an hour before the plane is scheduled to touch the ground.
With lots of enthusiasm; a human conveyor belt line forms, and we fill goodie bags with items such as granola bars & packaged snacks, bottles of water, and handmade 'Welcome Home" cards which are made by children from various schools and Churches. The hosts of the function then make a few announcements; introducing new volunteers and special guests. We then say the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then in proper military tradition...we wait. Once the call comes in that the plane has touched the ground we form a welcoming line, directing our soldiers out of the International Terminal. The clapping, hollering and cowbells make quite a ruckus when the first of our soldiers come through the doors. This celebration continues until the final soldier has come through our welcoming line.


Friday night, while waiting for the plane to touch down; I wandered over to a group of ladies who were wearing Blue Star tee shirts. Oh my goodness, this is my Maryland Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America! I recently transferred to this chapter, after the folding of the virtual chapter. This was so cool! Six brand new Instant Friends! By the end of the OWH event, we had shared laughs, tears and hugs. We are proud Blue Star Mothers, there to support each other.

Each and every one of these moms, understand me and I understand them. We have a child (or children) in the military. Our children who not so long ago were in our arms, are now holding an M-16. Our children not so long ago, walked into their first day of school; they now have been through Basic and Tech Schools. Our children who not so long ago were ours to hold tightly during a thunder storm or bad dream, are now protecting our nation. Our children who at any moment we would lay our life down for, will now place themselves in harm's way for our country.

We are still their moms.

We will always love them so.

Sandstorm Season

It's Sandstorm Season in Iraq!

Pray for our soldiers as they endure these storms!

Although everyone of us find it a challenge during this economic crisis, it is so very important to continue to send packages to our soldiers. They need, no I take that back....they DESERVE our support! Take a few moments and visit SoldiersAngels. Please make the commitment to one soldier; write a letter and send along some of the items we easily remove from a linen closet or medicine cabinet. I have addresses for MudPuppy and Zachary, two heroes I have featured on my blog numerous times. If you need ideas of what to send, please e-mail me!

Last night, I attended an Operation Welcome event. My friend KD and her sister joined me, for they heard of a soldier who was returning home. This Airman is the friend of a friend, so all we had was a name to look for! We found him! We hugged him, it was a surprise to him that we would be there to greet him! Last night over 800 heroes returned home! It never ceases to amaze me, how these men and women thank us! They thank us! It just blows me away. Shaking their hands, is by far the greatest honor of my life. I could not imagine being in the presence of anyone else in this world, and feel more privileged. From the moment we see the first soldier walk through the doors, to the final soldier walking through our welcome line...my eyes remain filled with tears.

May Almighty God bless each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine!

BIG NEWS!

This beautiful family of four, will become a family of five in September!

Congratulations, J & K!

I can't wait to meet my 4th grandbaby!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him
~1 Samuel 1:27

Wednesday Hero 03/04/2009

Sgt. Stephen Howell


Sgt. Stephen Howell, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band percussionist, races a student at Palisades Elementary School in Pearl City, Hawaii during an 11-event circuit course Feb. 20. More than 20 Marines assisted local park volunteers with manning the different events.

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

Most of us know that "The Star Spangled Banner" is our national anthem. We've learned that Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814, and these lyrics were later set to the tune of an British drinking song. In 1931, President Hoover signed a Congressional Resolution designating it as our National Anthem.

But....did you know that United States Code, 36 U.S.C. § 301, states that during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (United States National Anthem) when the flag is displayed, everyone except those in uniform should stand at attention while facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in attendance who are not in uniform should remove any headwear with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder, with their right hand held over their heart. Individuals in uniform should show the military salute during the first note of the anthem and stay in this position until the last note. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. If the flag is not displayed, people in attendance should face the music and respond as if the flag were present. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention.

So here is our Talking Tuesday topic. Tell me if you place your hand over your heart every time our anthem is played? Gentlemen, do you remove your caps? Why or why not?

His Star Has Turned From Blue to Gold

WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2009) -- Capt. Brian M. Bunting of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was "something special," his friends and family say.

The captain, a 1998 graduate of Bullis High School in Potomac, excelled academically and athletically in football, lacrosse and wrestling. He was a 2002 West Point graduate in civil engineering.

"Just sitting here thinking about how you measure the true value of a man or a woman -- with Brian you didn't measure it with money or things -- you measured it with heart," said his father, Robert Bunting. "He was something special."

Capt. Bunting, 29, of Potomac died Tuesday, Feb. 24, with three other soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when an explosive device detonated near their vehicle, the Defense Department said Thursday.

The officer was part of the Individual Ready Reserve. In May of 2007 he retired from active duty service, then welcomed the birth of his son in July.

"He loved his wife dearly and his son, Connor, meant everything to him," said his father.

In March 2008, Capt. Bunting received mobilization orders and moved back to Maryland so his wife and son would be close to family during his deployment.

"He was proud to have the job that he did. He always went into it with no reservations," said his older sister, Stephanie Graver.

The captain had been serving in Afghanistan since June, the commander of a 15-man team responsible for mentoring the Afghan National Police. He had just returned to the field, after two weeks of "R and R" with his family in Potomac.

Survivors include his wife, Nicki, and his son, as well as his father, two grandparents and five siblings.

"Family was the most important part of Bubba's life. He had an extremely tight-knit family whose love for one another was truly an inspiration," said his sister-in-law Sue Bunting.

He was popular among both staff and students at Bullis High School.

"Bubba was a true icon in our little Bullis community and grew up to be an All-American hero," said past schoolmate Katie Sugar Scheiner, posting her sentiments on a legacy.com Web page set up in-memorium.

Graver described him as a man of enormous potential, and cited his graduation from West Point in 2002.

"I feel his graduation was one of my parents' proudest moments," she said.

Bunting received three Army Achievement medals, an Army commendation Medal and six additional service medals. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal posthumously.

Richard Varney, a past teacher, adviser and friend during his years at Bullis, posted his thoughts on this loss, hearing echoes of a West Point farewell speech in the struggle.

"It is not possible to rationalize Brian's death and the depth of our sorrow," Varney said. "The words of General McArthur seem most fitting. 'In his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that mortality can give.'"




Capital News Service contributed to this report.
By: MAREN WRIGHT

Air Drops

Container bundles parachute to the ground to an undisclosed location in Afghanistan after being dropped by a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, Feb. 26, 2009.
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.