An Air Force Wife’s Thoughts on Memorial Day

This Memorial Day I couldn’t help but reflect on some of my new experiences of the past few months. I have attended my first few Fallen Hero homecomings since moving to Tampa last summer. Each time, the sidewalks on MacDill Air Force Base slowly fill. People mingle and talk and joke with one another. Some [...]

A Moment of Silence: Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day is a collective holiday in that all can join to commemorate the sacrifice and to honor U.S. Forces killed in action. And, it is also a day for personal reflection. The following video, produced four years ago, remains as powerful in 2011. Thank you to all who have served, to the families who [...]

Another Way to Thank Military Families on Memorial Day

You may not live near a National Cemetery or this Memorial Day you may have other ways to commemorate the men and women killed while serving in the U.S. Forces. But if not,  Military Families United has set up a web page where you can write a simple thank you note. It doesn’t need to be much. Watch this [...]

Memorial Day Ceremonies in Florida and VA Cemeteries

A previous Memorial Day at Vicksburg National Military Park. There’s no excuse for civilians not finding a ceremony Monday that honors military members killed in action. The Department of Veterans Affairs has compiled a list of VA National Cemeteries ceremonies. Most states have a VA National Cemetery, but not all. ST. PETERSBURG - The Bay Pines VA [...]

A Special Memorial Day for Special Operations Forces

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes – the recent success of U.S. Special Forces taking out Osama Bin Laden is rooted in the failed attempt to rescue the  American hostages in Iran. That 1980 mission also created awareness of the need for better coordination of joint military operations. In 1987, Congress created the U.S. [...]

MacDill Air Force Base Marks an Early Memorial Day

By Alex Cook Memorial Day isn’t until Monday, but members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines held a ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base Thursday honoring those who have died serving their country. The mood was somber as the military formation gathered under the American flag. A 21-gun salute pierced the [...]

Celebrating the Special Operations Command Memorial

I had the privilege to spend part of my day with Geoff Barker. He’s a 73-year-old retired military officer who served in special operations with both British and U.S. forces. Now, he spends his days caring for the memories of all special operation warriors. Barker was a co-founder and now serves as  president of the [...]

Free Museum Admissions this Summer for Blue Star Families

The G.Wiz Science Museum for kids and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota are among more than 1,000 museums nationwide offering free admission this summer to active duty military and their families.  This is the second year for the Blue Star Museum initiative which was conceived as a way to thank military families for their service. [...]

The VA Family Caregivers Program Now Taking Applications

Congress expected the Department of Veterans Affairs to have the Family Caregivers program up and running by the end of January. The VA just concluded its first week for open applications. More than 625 Veterans,  Service-members and their Family Caregivers have applied for new services under the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 2010, [...]

Blue Star Mothers’ White House Tour Fails Expectations

On Saturday, 50 mothers whose sons and daughters are active duty military were on an invited tour of the White House. The Blue Star Mothers came from around the country, some from as far away as California and Arizona, for what they thought was a special event. But, some left disappointed. The invitation on the [...]