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MSG Sgt. Donald Fowler, left, and Cpl. Andres Ramirez Garcia posing with their Meet the Parents certificate awards. Credit: Patriana Zancani, USO Rome
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Roughly two years ago, USO Europe Regional Vice President Walter Murren challenged the USO Rome staff to look for ways to increase its interaction with the 10 Marines assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy in Rome and their families.
Despite limited field budgets, Murren
pushed the goal
further, asking USO Rome to devise new programs to
further bind the
USO and Marines with the Roman community.
USO
Rome answered
the call with the "Meet the Parents" program. Now in its
second
year, USO Rome awards two trip packages annually to two Marines
through generous in-kind donations from local businesses.
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All Justin Widhalm ever wanted to do was to represent his country.
In 2005, a catastrophic injury cut his first opportunity short. While serving as an Army sniper in Iraq, he was exposed to traumatic brain injury in 14 separate explosions.
He was finally evacuated after a sudden gust of wind knocked him out of a Blackhawk helicopter. He fell more than 25 feet and landed in a concrete irrigation canal, severely injuring his feet, knees and back.
The recovery was long and painful.
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Photo caption: Kari Burgess Brown gets the honor of cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of USO Fort Campbell last November
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By Christian Pelusi
It was a simple decision for Kari Burgess Brown. About a year and a half ago, her brother-in-law Kevin was preparing for his fourth deployment and her sister Melissa was in her third trimester with their second child. Knowing that her sister could use a few more in-house hands, Kari and her husband James decided to move from Baltimore to Fort Campbell, Ky.
Kari would begin studying for her MBA in the evenings at Lipscomb University, giving her time to dedicate to the family while her husband James would work as a registered nurse at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.
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Photo caption, top left: Sara Lottie, left, and Christine Gunderson accompany troops on a C-130 for the Secret Santa FOB Hop. (Photo: USO)
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"As a USO employee over here, knowing you make a difference in the lives of the soldiers you serve is why we make the sacrifices we do to live here." -- Sara Lottie, Duty Manager, Pat Tillman Memorial USO, Bagram, Afghanistan
Sometimes it's for a respite before or after a flight into or out of country. Sometimes it's to enjoy the comforts of a living room in a home away from home. Whatever the reason, Sara Lottie and Christine Gunderson bring a bit of warmth to Bagram and beyond.
Watch video below:
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Santa Claus steps off an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in Ouzinkie Dec. 6, 2011 to deliver gifts. (All photos by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen)
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KODIAK, AK — This is the 35th year for members of the U.S. Coast Guard Spouses Association of Kodiak to join forces with Santa Claus in the “Santa to the Villages” program to give gifts to children in the remote villages of Ouzinkie and Danger Bay on Kodiak Island.
On December 6th Santa arrived, not by reindeer drawn sleigh, but by a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to bring Christmas cheer to boys and girls living in the remote villages of Kodiak Island.
AUSTIN — Texas veterans and those who support them are invited to a Pearl Harbor Day dedication of the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. The dedication will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the 54-acre site, located at 9974 Interstate 37 Access Road, Corpus Christi.
Retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Cisneros, a South Texas native son, will be the keynote speaker.
“I want to invite everyone to come and help us dedicate these hallowed grounds,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. “Dedicating this place of honor on the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor will serve as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve and a reminder why we honor them every day.”
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With USO Wishbook, people are able to choose gifts for any occasion – not just the holidays – while also providing support for our nation’s servicemen and women.
USO Wishbook is an alternative giving catalog that allows customers to tailor their contributions by interest or by recipient or by price. By interest, the selections include deployed troops, military families and wounded warriors. By recipient, the choices are male, female, children and colleagues. By price, the amounts range from $25 and under to $500 and over.
HOUSTON, TX - During the week leading up to Veterans Day, the University of Houston will host a series of events focused on issues facing those who served our country.
“Veterans Awareness Week” will feature free panel discussions, semninars and tributes to former members of the armed forces. Presented by the UH Veterans Services in conjunction with the Veterans Collegiate Society, events run Nov. 7 – 10 at the University Center (UC) and Cemo Hall.
“We’re pleased to deliver dialogue that centers on the experiences of our veteran community,” said Allen Grundy, Veterans Services director. “It will be an insightful week of events that will spotlight the men and women who proudly served their nation.”
A schedule of events is as follows:
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By Christian Pelusi
Navy EOD1 and 2011 USO Sailor of the Year Chad R. Regelin of Anderson, Calif., was killed in action by a roadside bomb on Monday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
His older brother Justin told the Redding Record-Searchlight that Petty Officer Regelin was killed just an hour after speaking with his family over the phone.
"He called us while he was on watch," Justin said. "He was really upbeat because he had just gotten his orders to come back stateside on Feb. 15. He told us that he had about a week to go (in Kandahar) before they could helicopter in the replacement team."
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There is a young American soldier in the heart of Afghanistan who will be spending his first Christmas away from home this year.
His closest family has become the 20 guys he has lived with at a remote combat outpost on the side of a mountain and the only thing guaranteed for Christmas this year is the over-salted ham slice in his Meal Ready to Eat.
He likely feels isolated, perhaps even a bit war weary as his unit is probably still taking casualties. Odds are he hasn’t seen running water or a telephone in months and as news reaches him of the official end of the war in Iraq, he remains vigilant, braving the frigid Afghan winter and the threat of imminent ambush in the name of freedom.
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By Joseph Andrew Lee
There are no neighborhoods of twinkling red and green lights, no fragrant pine wreaths or sparkling metallic tinsel strung along the roads of Afghanistan to remind our troops of the holidays.
Just dust.
“My guys out here sometimes feel like they are forgotten,” said Army SFC Thomas Murphy, assigned to a remote platoon outpost deep within Kandahar Province. “They go on eight-,10-hour patrols everyday and never get days off. We see the same group of locals every day. The recent improvements, [hot water, gravel to subdue the dust and a modified outdoor sanitation system] while well-received, are unfortunately a far cry from what our soldiers know as the comforts of home.”
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For the past 18 years, Maine’s Worcester Wreath Company, in coordination with the National Cemetery Administration, has made and decorated wreaths to adorn the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. Spurred by the tremendous outpouring of letters and interest, an effort is being made to expand the reaches of the Arlington Wreath Project with a special campaign called, “Wreaths Across America.” This effort aspires to place memorial wreaths at each of the approximately 230 state and national cemeteries, and Veterans’ monuments across the country.
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"Some of America’s bravest - soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians and marines - will be spending Christmas far from their families so we can spend ours safely at home," said Point of Grace’s Denise Jones. "We're partnering with American Bible Society to bring hope and encouragement to America's military."
As part of Point of Grace's Home for the Holidays Christmas tour, Texans are invited to help equip military chaplains with the Bibles they need through American Bible Society's A Soldier's Hope.
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USO Houston Volunteers serve up dinner and dessert for guests at the Debakey VAMC Fisher House. (Courtesy: USO Houston)
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By Joseph Andrew Lee
The old adage goes: "Home is where the heart is."
And one of the most difficult aspects of serving in the military is dealing with the time spent away from home, family and loved ones.
For troops deploying or transitioning, the USO is their home away from home. Caring volunteers bring a warm presence and create a home-like environment. For families displaced in the support of wounded or ill veterans, that same love and warmth can be found at the Fisher House -- a transitional home for families and caretakers of hospitalized veterans.
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Runners for TEAM USO join for a group photo on Nov. 6, 2010. The night before they ran the 2010 ING New York City Marathon. (Credit: Joseph Andrew Lee / USO)
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By Joseph Andrew Lee
Because of its worldwide popularity, getting guaranteed entry into the ING New York City Marathon isn’t easy. Only a small percentage of the approximately 40,000 runners who gain entry are guaranteed a spot. To qualify for a guaranteed spot, runners need to have run 15 or more New York City Marathons or be a member of New York Road Runners who have completed nine qualifying races as well as volunteered for one event anddonated $1,000 to the NYRR. The rest of the field is chosen largely by lottery.
But there is another way.
