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Talking Turkey (leftovers) Tasty Tuesday
A crowd fills the house at Thanksgiving each year. Chairs are mixed and matched to heights of a child’s lap. Tables are added domino style… fitting this end, turning a corner with several tablecloths draped over them. My table is a center point of the Thanksgiving action for me. For me. Now, for more than half of us it is the Macy’s Day parade which spills into football. Hors d’oeuvres fill the gap from the yeasty breakfast rolls or bowls holding fruited steamy oatmeal to dinner. A steady aroma of turkey feeds an appetite that nothing else can satisfy. Our menu has turkey highlighting the table at 2 P.M. and…
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Heroes at Home – Helping Veterans One at a Time
It was an easy conversation, two veterans talking about what they both enjoy doing – helping other veterans, particularly those in need. None to be left behind… Tom AielloTom Aiello and I had met in New York during another great veteran event last year but now we were talking about the Sears Heroes at Home program. Heroes at Home had just finished the rebuild of their 1,000th veteran home in conjunction with Rebuilding Together. I could hear the pride in Tom’s voice as we talked about the program that has given back so much to veterans. Sgt Johnny Agbi was an Army medic, disabled, in a wheel chair, living alone…
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Leif Landed First Day
I love today. The calendar has it marked as Columbus Day. Oh the memories of childhood elementary school drawings and the smell of crayons are still carried in my mind. There were the stories and songs of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria sailing the ocean. Somehow these brave crews found the West Indies and are credited for laying claim on the Western Hemisphere. I always pictured a career group of sailors from Genoa working together, sharing food and chores: organized and cordial. And then I had humor thrown into the vision. In my Dad’s hometown in upstate New York live a cluster of Norwegian octogenarians. They love…
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A Moment Out of the Norm Cooking with GrandBrat
Her name is *E*. She has eyes that shine, a mind that zooms, a sea of energy and a steel trap memory. She is my grandbrat: child of my Brat. Military kids pass on the zest of life and love of challenges.*E* loves action and is at home in the kitchen.After a trip to the farmer’s vegetable stand it was time to put up some tomatoes. Every tomato was washed… 67 tomatoes… 78 gazillion gallons of water.Step one: clean the sink. Scoured and ready to go without a trace of anything left in the drain… good job. Oh how affirmation is uplifting! *E* tenderly sponged all tomatoes. I stood next…
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Marines Arrived! Our Family Is Thrilled
Leanne told us years ago that she met a Marine.We are USAF folk you know.A Reserve Marine. Dedicated to tasks that were in his path Paul was certain then and now that Leanne was to be his life’s partner. Not quite that simple but a good way to state where they are today. That’s the gist of it. Paul is a highlight in our lives. He ‘moved on’ to be an Ohio Army National Guard JAG. The best they ever had undoubtedly; father of boys and like his Marine heritage, on task at bringing this family to strength, faith and love of life. Forty some years earlier Dale’s cousin met…
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Week in Review: June 12 – 18, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of June 12 – 18 on MilitaryAvenue.comHow Did I Miss this Great Information Resource?: The USAA Educational Foundation: What do you know about the USAA Educational Foundation? I have been a USAA member for over 40 years and have to admit that I knew little about this non profit resource provider! They are totally separate from USAA since USAA donated a one time gift to establish the foundation and have completely separate missions, leadership and absolutely no ties for products or services, etc. With an opportunity to talk to Barbara Gentry, the President and Steve Finley, the Director of the USAA Educational Foundation,…
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The Heritage and History of Normandy in the Minds of Our Youth
My dad and father in law are both World War II veterans and are in their late 80s as are most veterans of that war. We share with them and have known their stories but what of those who were killed during the war? Their heritage was left on the beaches of Normandy, at Bastogne, Iowa Jima, over Ploesti, at Midway and other famous WW II battles sites. How do we keep their stories alive? Our children, grandchildren have interacted with those who lived and returned to become our leaders, teachers, steel workers, miners, industry giants and even movie actors. But what of those who died defending our freedoms? I…
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Share a Legacy this Military Appreciation Month
May is Military Appreciation Month. Where lies your military-heritage? Is it your spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a cousin, an aunt or uncle, a child? Have you told them how much you appreciate them? How you appreciate their service? What they have done to recognize their valor, their pride, their honor? I come from a long line of military service. My grandfathers, my dad, my husband. My pride runs deep. How about you? Head over to USAA’s “Share a Legacy” and create a badge on their Wall of Honor. Take a couple of minutes (at the most) to put into words who you are proud of! Let’s make this Military Appreciation…
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Norwegian Waffles for Syttende Mai
It is almost time to say “Hurra for syttende mai”! I can hear the old ladies in my childhood church chatting and clacking… most of them had dentures that didn’t fit quite so well. They had stamina, girth and a love for breads. Yes, these were Norwegian women. They were a tad formal, my Grandma referred to her best friends as Mrs. Otto Andersen, Mrs. Moy, or Mrs. H. C. Andersen. This made me smile, as I can picture these women in sensible shoes, baggy hose, blue suits of every shade, clutch purses and a handkerchief in hand. Each had an open house policy… come on over and have a…
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Volunteer Appreciation Week – DoD Roundtable
The American spirit! We see it all around us! Did you know this week was Volunteer Appreciation Week? Who do you think are America’s best volunteers? I give a vote for our all volunteer armed forces involved in three wars that began 10 years ago and yet we still have a force that makes its recruitment and re-enlistment goals each year! How about the American military family? They sacrifice so much and work so hard to take care of themselves and still find time to volunteer and support their communities! During my times as a military leader and even now I realize that many of the on the installation organizations…
