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The Gold Star Family & Our American Flag
This past weekend was out of this world. Boating, Bike Riding, Ga-Ga Ball, Campfire & S’mores, and much more, all wrapped in time spent as a family. A huge thank you to Ohio’s Operation Military Kids and the USO for supporting programs like Military Family Camp. This was top-notch support! I desperately want to share more about the weekend but need to take the time to share this solemn moment and give it its due “time in the spotlight”. In our group of about 50 there were three Gold-star families, enjoying the weekend just like the rest of us. On Sunday morning a Gold-Star Dad and his three grandsons, one being a Gold-Star…
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Requesting an Honor Guard for a Veteran’s Funeral Service
A final saluteThis past weekend was a tough one for our family as we honored our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend during a memorial service. James M. Kissinger was a World War 2 veteran who served honorably with the 685th Engineer Base Equipment Company in the European Theater of Operations as his discharge papers comment. We wanted his Army service, which he was so proud of to be recognized during the time of the memorial service. As a fellow veteran and his eldest son it fell to me to follow up on the family’s request and desire to make this happen. I found out that it was not…
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Change of Command: Celebrate Parade Rest
Although geese fly in formation, they did not waddle on the parade field at Scott AFB. No goose steps. The left feet hit the turf on the beat of the bass drum. Flights, squadrons, groups and wings presented polished top notched personnel, as always, ready to shine and report to General Welsh, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Our military has a time honored tradition to uphold precision and honor in a way that showcases the challenge of working together. The step by step, in step march of men and women blends the missions the training and the esprit de corps of individual squadrons, groups and wings: they…
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How the U.S. is Helping Others! Pacific Partnership, DoD Blogger Roundtable
USNS Mercy off Indonesian Coast – Photo Credit BelowIt was a visual I clearly saw as Captain James Morgan reminded us of the 2004 massive earthquake and tsunami and the tragic events and impact on the Indian Ocean countries (has it really been almost eight years?). The destruction and human misery was beyond our understanding. The plight of the survivors with no water, no food, raw sewage everywhere, clothes sometimes stripped off them and trying to find family members who had been separated was just heart rendering. The fantastic international response also reminded me of the Haitian earthquake and how the US military supported the effort to save lives and…
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What is Veterans Day?
Welcome in autumn. Our country steps up to elections. Our view of the land flashes from green to fading oranges and yellows. Where parks and buildings raise flag poles we see our nations pride: the American flag flies! It is more colorful; hangs more prominent; and displays strength on Veterans Day. Each November 11 America looks to the past, the present and is thankful for the future with eyes on our servicemen and women. This year 11/11/11 illustrates squadrons standing next to each other… the date is like a parade marching across a page; a phalanx of individual ‘ones’ standing side by side and displaying numerical meaning to the date.November…
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Caring For Families is an Air Force Way of Life
Military life has a heart, a voice, and brains galore! Family presence, once a background nuance has been raised to the top level of prominence. Communication is the lifeline in this forceful body: in shape, in motion and in communion with all levels, ranks and backgrounds. Every branch of service has it’s unique concept for hosting this life line: the Navy has the Ombudsmen and the Army has the FRSA. The Air Force has their own new program: Key Spouses.Programs come together, and on paper are workable. Then… when real people enter and dedication, love of country, zeal for esprit de corps, Key Spouses zoom… Off the Key Spouses go…
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Helping a Veteran!
The Big Dead Tree … respecting the flag they fought under… The weather is getting a bit cooler, the days shorter, school has started and Fall is upon us! Veteran’s Day is fast approaching … The MilitaryAvenue team is busy preparing for Veteran’s Day with helpful articles, blogs, another Giveaway opportunity, recognizing veteran support organizations and much more during the almost two months preceding November 11th. Then I thought about how I had so much to be thankful for as a veteran. A loving wife (who moved 18 times and will celebrate a 40th anniversary in the spring) and family, a great support team of family/friends, veteran benefits, a church…
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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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That Still Small Voice
This morning got off to a late start. Hubs and I began to awaken at about 8:45am with Baby Boy nestled comfortably between us. (The Rubber Band Effect) We needed to be out the door for church at 9:00am. Didn’t look like that would happen. So we decided we would hit the 11:15am church service, instead of arriving frantically late at the 9:30am service. Since 11:15 isn’t our usual church service we decided to let the kids sit with us, instead of going to Sunday School with a different group of kids than usual. They enjoyed the sounds of the band, but five-year old *C* was fidgeting from the get-go.…
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Flag Day Gardens on Wordless Wednesday
byColonel KonWednesday, June 16, 2010Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Col K,Flag,Garden,military family
