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The Joy of Giving: Memorial Day Parade
This weekend I heard TAPS. It had been a few months since I last heard it and I had no idea the emotion would flow. (TAPS: Wordless-Wednesday) But Memorial Day is a day to celebrate the memory of our war veterans and that we did! Getting ready to march in our Community Parade The joy of givingOur decorated ‘Float’ for the parade Two of my boys and their own hero, their dad The Kocsis-crew marched (or strolled) in a parade, showed the boys the joy of giving over receiving (you can’t catch candy in a parade if you are the one throwing it), talked about what Memorial Day is really about with the kids, had…
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Memorial Day
See photo credit MilitaryAvenue PinterestThis Memorial Day is going to be different for us. We have many family members who have served and some who are currently serving. From World War II to present day Afghanistan with stops in Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We even have a grandson currently in basic training at Ft Leonard Wood who will do his service time as well. Praying that he will never see combat! But this Memorial Day there is a big hole in my heart where two WW II veteran brothers used to hang out and remind us of the many sacrifices they shared. These two men passed away…
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Let’s Have some Summer Time Fun! Blue Star Museums and So Much More! DoD Blogger Roundtable
Military family on a nature trail“I feel like I ran through this blog with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old playing baseball or soccer this summer!” What is active living for the military family? It certainly must include activities across the reach of age, interest and new found geographic areas to explore after a PCS. Parenting can be a challenge before, during and after a PCS due to all the stressors impacting the whole family. But a fitness routine can help the whole family work through some of the stress involved in every day military life. A new trail, an old trail; a new workout routine, an old workout…
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A Chaplain’s Walk through Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) – DoD Blogger Roundtable
Summer is here! Our Nation somberly celebrated Memorial Day with parades, cemetery services, speeches about sacrifice and news articles and opinion pieces about service. We also had picnics, barbecues, time off from work and family gatherings. During one of our family times the topic of discussion centered around Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and how it was treated from WWI and WWII through Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and now Afghanistan. With a number of veterans in the family ranging in age from WWII, Korea and Vietnam, plus the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; it was a lively discussion. I was reminded of Colonel Chris Robinson of the Deputy Director for Psychological…
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Have you Heard about Blue Star Museums?
Blue Star Museums Kicks Off on Memorial Day! What does that mean to you, a member of the military community? If you are an active duty, National Guard or Reserve member or family member, you have access to more than 1,600 museums this summer for free! Right, we agree, what a great program. This is the third year for this program and it started with 900 museums and is growing each year as the Arts open their doors wide open to the military community. FREE entertainment for your family on a crazy summer schedule! Maybe you just PCS’d into a new area and need something for the family to do. …
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Speaking to the Civilian Community about our Airmen plus…
As a prelude to Memorial Day the local Rotary Club invited a representative from each service to speak at their weekly meetings through the end of the month. The Air Force led off yesterday and I did point out that we are generally the first in during wartime as well. That created some very friendly service rivalry comments and laughs but it was a great opportunity to talk to the civilian community about the men and women serving our country. We discussed the Air Force Heroes recently awarded Air Force Crosses, Military Spouse Appreciation Day (this Friday), the Budget Control Act (most had never heard of it but when I…
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Military Appreciation Month Giveaway
In honor of Military Appreciation Month we have 5 Gift Cards to WalMart to give to Military-Families from SitterCity.com! Tell us how you are part of the military family Are you a ‘brat’, wife, husband, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Coastie, Airman, grandparent, veteran, mom, dad, or more then one! We want YOU to know that WE Appreciate you!Military Appreciation Month, as designated by Congress, provides a period encompassing both the history and recognition of our armed services with an in-depth look at the diversity of its individuals and achievements. It allows Americans to educate each generation on the historical impact of our military through the participation of the community with those who serve…
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Week in Review: May 29 – June 4, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of May 29th – June 4th on MilitaryAvenue.comArmed with a Battle Saint™: A military Mom, Cynthia LeMay, has launched a project to support the troops. She has a number of loved ones serving in the military, including a son with the 101st Airborne who is currently serving in northern Afghanistan. Many of her family members are in harms way and not a moment goes by when she doesn’t worry and wonder if she could do more to help. At a recent family reunion, she sat around a big bonfire listening to the stories of war told by family members’ home on leave. Some…
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Memorial Day Weekend Revisited: A Story in Pictures
Wow! What a fantastic weekend. We had dinner with neighbors, a barbecue with friends, went to another party with more neighbors and then Memorial Day we marched in a parade, visited a few cemeteries and then had lunch at the VFW. No, the garden didn’t get ’tilled as planned after the major thunderstorm on Saturday night; yes, the air-condition did get turned on Monday night after reaching 90 degrees that day; and yes, the Kocsis Crew needs to officially restock the band-aid box after my 6 year old fell multiple times on his knees. But all in all it was a weekend to be remembered. Neighbors! We are so blessed…
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Sermon Notes: The Soldier’s Psalm
Psalm 91 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at…