-
Universities that Support our Veterans
I read a recent article about two universities that ‘get it’. Rutgers University and the University of Arizona; The Lumina Foundation highlighted them in their recent magazine, you can read more here: Lumina Foundation Features Two Colleges for Their Work Serving Student Veterans; America Needs More Vets with Degrees to Meet Attainment Needs Just think, only three years ago Rutgers didn’t have any type of Veterans Program and now they are receiving national recognition. It goes to show you don’t have to jump through hoops to make it happen you just need to make a plan and stick to it! I love support like this for our Veterans and I certainly…
-
Dedicated Dads and Moms and the Month of the Military Child
April is Month of the Military Child and it is a very appropriate recognition: therefore, a big shout out and thank you to these patriots! They have certainly served our nation in their many sacrifices and the challenges they face as children of active duty, reserve and guard parents. So just before that month of recognition I thought maybe we should recognize another group of folks that are rarely mentioned in the media or at the Department of Defense. In fact, unless there is a tragedy it is a like a silent majority type of group. The parents of our soldiers, airmen, marines, coasties and sailors have raised children that…
-
A Split Second Decision – and a Medal of Honor! DoD Blogger Roundtable
Medal Of Honor Recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry and his wife Ashley“Rangers Lead the Way” We all make them – those decisions that are made in the blink of an eye. But some are more important than others, how about life changing ones? We take time to consider those? Right? Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry had a life changing decision and he only had the blink of an eye to make it in – the grenade was live, it was close and he and his fellow Rangers were going to die. His decision to pick up the Taliban’s grenade and throw it away from his team saved their lives and…
-
Staying Healthy: Time for Us
An intimate relationship is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But it also takes planning and work. We all need to make being together a priority. Otherwise, life takes over and the relationship with your spouse takes the back-burner. I ran across a blog-post this morning that I would highly recommend reading from Warren Baldwin, titled “Marriage: The Difficult Years“ While we often look at the similarities we share with the person we love, the differences cry out for recognition. Our bodies, communication, and emotional/mental processing are different. We both crave intimate connection with our spouses, but experience it differently; one uses communication to bond, the other to convey information; one looks for…
-
“Remember those who gave their lives there” Korengal Valley, Afghanistan – DoD Roundtable
I spoke to heroes during this Roundtable! They defended us in a remote valley in Afghanistan and in the mountains around it. They fought a battle there on October 25, 2007 that resulted in the death of friends, injuries, moments of fear and terror. The responses of one man to the combat situation he found himself in earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor! Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta is the first person to receive the MOH since the Vietnam War who could receive it in person from the President. There have been others who received our nation’s highest decoration in our wars since Vietnam but unfortunately they were posthumously presented…
-
Neighborhood Heroes Can Have Help – Stand Up For Heroes
The newsroom: we invite it into our homes each day and night, presumably to feel the pulse of the nation, catch a glimpse of the world and often taste a nugget of political sinew. But we stick with a particular channel because it sounds right, and looks good. ABC had the forum set with pizzazz in December 2005. Bob Woodruff stepped into America’s kitchens, bedrooms, libraries, living rooms, hotels and bars worldwide. The new co-anchor face on the evening news was our pulse point to calm and crisis in our world. Then things changed. And when change blasts in, emotions ignite. New acronyms became all too familiar: RPG, HEAT, IED…
-
They Are Making A Difference – DoD Roundtable
They Are Making A Difference -Period. Exclamation! Our service members and their NATO allies are making a difference in Afghanistan according to Maj Gen Stuart Beare of the Canadian Armed Forces. That is how he ended the Roundtable discussion with DoD Bloggers this morning! There is no confusion for those in country why they are there and what their mission is according to the general. General Beare is the Deputy Commander – Police, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A). I asked the general what was the biggest milestone that had been accomplished in the last couple of months. I was surprised by his quick response: A new Minister of the…
-
Thank You to Our Wonderful Veterans on Veteran’s Day
I wanted to say thank you on Veterans Day but I initially hesitated as a member of the group. Sometimes its hard to say thank you when it involves what some could see as self praise. But this group of patriotic Americans is so diverse I decided I needed to step up and say a loud and clear: Thank You for your sacrifices, your patriotism and your willingness to protect others! This group starts with the World War II veterans and continues to current service personnel engaged in a global war on terrorism. Among the WW II vets is my dad who will visit us this next week and stay…
-
Leadership–One Aspect that Helps Everyone
I have heard the best speakers on military leadership; read mandatory books and articles and attended schools just to learn how to be a good leader. I would like to provide a view of one aspect of leadership that occasionally needs emphasis! Mentorship is a critical part of leadership and insures our follow on leaders receive the information, job skills, hard knock lessons and knowledge they need to meet the needs of their future units, country and even their families. I have also witnessed great and not so great leaders at work. One characteristic of a great leader that I admire is the one that provides opportunities for those they…
-
Recognition
Recognition is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes from many, many hours of hard work. MilitaryAvenue.com was recently featured in a business newspaper, MiBiz. You can read the article here: http://www.mibiz.com/absolutenm/templates/template.asp?articleid=14111&zoneid=199. We work hard at MilitaryAvenue to provide for our military members & families as well as giving local businesses the opportunity to support their troops. This morning I smile a little brighter that we have been recognized, once again. It also reminds me to recognize others efforts; from the small things, like the neighbors taking my kids so that I can have a couple of hours of peace during my husband’s deployment; to the big things, like all…
