Military Brats Registry Blog

The Price of Peace

2009-07-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

Deployment Ceremonies are never easy. Emotions can be overwhelming as families and friends gather together for their good-byes.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Gaddis and her sixteen-year-old sister Cassy, of Springfield, IL, know this firsthand. They've been to so many such events because their father, CW5 Jim Gaddis, is the command chief warrant officer of the Illinois Army National Guard. They've felt the power of families being torn apart.

These experience insipired Alyssa to write a song -- a song to lift the spirits of those enduring deployment, a song to inspire courage and hope. Alyssa titled her song "The Price of Peace."

Watch the video here. (tissues recommended)

New law makes changing schools easier for children of military parents

2009-05-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.

MONTGOMERY - Military brats understand the hassles associated with transferring to a new school especially in the middle of a school year.

A law signed today by Gov. Bob Riley is designed to ease the transition.

Alabama becomes the 19th state to join the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.

The legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden and Democratic Sen. Ted Little of Auburn would allow Alabama to work with other states to reconcile variations in graduation requirements and other school issues.

Air Force Lt. General Al Peck, commander of Air University, said the new law would assist school-age children transition into and out of Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base every year.

Death By Innocence

2009-04-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

New fiction novel by Military Brat author, Thomas Slagle

In 1969, at the height of the Viet Nam War, four American military and State Department brats spend their last year of high school on an American military base in Ankara, Turkey. Rampant drug use and innocent lapses of judgment combine to produce emotional scars that will last their lifetimes.

Available now in the Brat Store !

The Wanderer: Life as Military Child

2009-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Debra Lu Kaiser

I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. My father was an Army man of just a year at that time. The next few years of my life we lived in Prum, Germany. Then it was back to the U.S. My mother was pregnant with my brother at the time we flew back. It was illegal for a pregnant military wife to fly, so my brother flew home illegally before he was even born!

My father then enlisted in the Air Force when his Army duty ended. As we visited my grandmother in Nebraska, she was charmed with the way I said “Auf Wiedersehen.” That simple German word for goodbye defined much of my life from then on. We went to California to get settled, then to Wichita Falls, Texas for my dad’s training; then back to California for his assignment.

The very first clear memory I have is wandering lost among the Texas weeds that were taller than my three year old body. My next memory was getting lost trying to find my way home from school the first day of Kindergarten. Interestingly, these earliest memories formed a metaphor for my childhood.

The full story is available at Nancy Gonzalez's Blog

I'm a Military Brat

2009-03-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

For many years the "I am a Military Brat" poem has been floating around the internet with an "Anonymous" signature. The original was published in 1975 in a military magazine with the title "Brat is Beautiful." Obviously, someone wrote it!

After a recent newsletter, one member of the Military Brats Registry sent me an email and said "Hey, that's not anonymous! I have a framed version of the original article that was given to me in 1977." He gave me the name of the author and within an hour I had tracked her down and called her. She was amazed that the very first article she ever had published in 1975 had touched the lives of so many Military Brats.

We talked for about 30 minutes..it would have been much longer but she was on a deadline for her latest book! Soon we will do a podcast so she can tell her story of growing up military, and being a military wife. We have also created a beautiful 11x17 parchment (and a framed version) that is available in the Brat Store. For the first time in over 40 years, Debby will receive royalties for this inspiration to us all.

Here is a portion of the original...

I am a Military Brat

I am an Army Brat. My hometown is nowhere, my friends are everywhere, and if I haven't been someplace yesterday, I am sure to go there tomorrow. I grew up with bugle calls and artillery salutes and the knowledge that home is where the heart is and the family--with no dependence on the dwelling.

Mobility is my way of life. I have found security and happiness in motels and guest houses, in duplexes and apartments around the world. Some would wonder about my roots, yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak's. I sink them quickly, absorbing all an area offers and hopefully giving enrichment in return.

Like all Army dependents, I can say "Hello," "Good-bye," and count to 20 in five languages. I can tell of the shores of Maine, the marketplaces of Mexico, the Buddhas of Japan; and my knickknack shelves look like those of an import shop, for my memories span the globe.

The full copyrighted article continues exclusively by permission at http://www.MilitaryBrat.com/bratpoem.cfm

--
Marc Curtis
Military Brats Registry

The Brat Store

Remember...Every Brat Has a Story...what's yours?

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Interview with Michael Ritter

2009-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

Michael Ritter chronicles his life as a military brat in his new book, The Brat Chronicles. Ritter shares his inspiration for the book as well as advice, and his favorite novels, with Book Addict contributor Krysten Lindsay Hager.

Tell us about your new book, The Brat Chronicles.

The title refers to my growing up as a military brat, and it’s a coming of age story that takes place from the mid-1950’s through 1974. It’s not unlike many stories from that era – a time of change that had long-term effects on our nation, and me personally. It’s a funny book – not a “tell-all-poor-pitiful-me” saga. It has an episodic format with each chapter being a story unto itself, so it’s an easy read. In a nutshell, it’s the story about people who spent their childhoods in a world that stopped promptly at 5:00 to pay homage to the flag; where everything was painted in shades of green, and hometowns were places that only existed on television. It mirrors the experiences of thousands of Americans who fought the good fight – not on the field of battle – but in living rooms of military housing around the world. Anyone who experienced that life has stories to tell … The Brat Chronicles reflect some of mine.

More...

TCK Research Study

2009-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

I am conducting my thesis work in Psychology. This is the second part of a two phase study that I welcome you to take part in. You do not have to complete the first part to participate.

http://silicon.network.ncf.edu/ingmar.gorman/tck_test/

A research team from the New College of Florida is looking to examine the effects of a multicultural environment on human psychology. We are particularly interested in individuals who have experienced high mobility, although this is not a requirement for participation. We hope this research will further the understanding of human development and support positive outcomes of a multicultural upbringing.

After completion of the survey you will be given instructions on how to receive the results of the study once it is finished. This study is anonymous and has been approved by an Institutional Review Board. If you have any questions about this research study, please contact Ingmar Gorman at ingmar.gorman (at) ncf.edu

Your participation will be most appreciated!"
Thank you! Ingmar Gorman

Entertainers join Elmo to help military families find 'new normal'

2009-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

by Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

1/30/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special Apr. 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

Actor/singer Queen Latifah and singer John Mayer will join Elmo to present, "Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change." The special carries a message for children whose parents suffered a physical or psychological wound in combat.

"Rosita's father is in a wheelchair and (she) talks to Elmo about her feelings," Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, said. "Elmo very graciously says, 'You need to talk to your dad about that.'"

Rosita does talk with her dad and learns that even though they can't do all the things they used to, they can do other things.

"It gives this sense of relief that I can talk about the change. That my dad is still my dad (and) my parent is still my parent," Ms. Thompson said. "It's very powerful for ... parents to see ... what it's like from a child's perspective, what they're feeling and experiencing."

Having celebrities participate also adds value, beyond the "cool" factor, Ms. Thompson said.

"I think it ... draws a larger (portion) of the population to the issues that military families (face)," she said. "It shows, I think, people's interest."

The half-hour special, which will air at the beginning of the "Month of the Military Child," is a part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, which began two years ago.

The first phase of the TLC program addressed the issues of multiple deployments and their impact on young children. It included the half-hour TV special, "When Parents Are Deployed," hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr.

The second phase, which includes the upcoming TV special, addresses the issues of changes, both physical and psychological, and the impact those changes can have on a family. It does this, in part, by telling the stories of servicemembers with challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder, and the struggles these families face in finding the "new normal," Ms. Thompson said.

To help parents communicate better with their children on these topics, the Sesame Workshop has created an informative kit in both English and Spanish. Defense Department employees served as subject matter experts for the Sesame Workshop kit, which contains two DVDs and printed materials.

"Of course (the Sesame Workshop is) the creative force behind it," Ms. Thompson said. "They know how to craft those messages so that children really benefit from the comfort of the Sesame characters."

More than 1.3 million kits are being distributed through Military OneSource, an online resource available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The materials also are available through various military organizations. The Sesame Workshop Web site also offers a variety of resources, including printed material, and videos and music to help military families communicate about issues affecting them.

"The range of media tools available through 'Talk, Listen, Connect' truly provides fundamental ways for each family member to support each other through all stages," Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop, said. "The deep impact of this project continues to inspire us, which is why we are excited to create (this) new special that will further champion the needs of the military community and will help these families ... find ways to be there for each other."

Sesame Workshop produced the special in association with Lookalike Productions and David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

"The men and women of our military have made indescribable sacrifices," Mr. Letterman said. "The very least we can do is tell their stories, and to honor the bravery and strength of both the soldiers and their families."

The special is scheduled to air Apr.1 at 8 p.m. EST.

StartupNation Honors Nation’s Top Home-Based businesses

2008-11-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

Military Brats Registry Wins Top Honors in Business Competition under “Boomers Back in Business” category

Redlands, CA – November 22, 2008– Military Brats Registry has been recognized by StartupNation (http://www.startupnation.com) as one of the top businesses in its annual Home Based 100 competition under the category of “Boomers Back in Business”.
Many of the StartupNation Home-Based 100 submissions revealed that business owners are bucking the current economic downturn and finding business success in these tight times. Historically some of today’s most well known businesses started in a downturn, including Microsoft and General Electric.

“The 2008 ranking shows that the home-based business is more relevant than ever. The current recession has spurred a new wave of home based businesses as a response to loss of jobs, the need for supplemental income and the sheer passion for blazing your own trail and running your own show,” said Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation.com, one of the leading small business networking and advice websites. “Home based businesses are the biggest block of all businesses in existence and we expect numbers to grow ever greater as extra bedrooms, kitchen tables, basements and garages become host to the innovative thinking and pursuit of success by millions of Americans.”

“We are excited to be recognized by StartupNation.com in the top 10 home-based businesses of 2008. Since 1997 The Military Brats Registry has been helping people who grew up in the military find their long lost friends. Over 85,000 have joined our site which began from my own desire to find my lost friends from Fort Bliss Texas in 1960-61.”

The StartupNation Home-Based 100 highlights 10 top-ten lists making it not just your ordinary business ranking. From the wackiest, to the most innovative, to the best financial performers – this unique and diverse list highlights the home-based businesses that usually go unrecognized, but still play a vital role in the economy today. The ten categories for 2008 include:
• Best Financial Performers
• Most Innovative
• Boomers Back in Business
• Greenest
• Yummiest
• Wackiest
• Grungiest
• Recession Busters
• Most Slacker-Friendly
• Most Glamorous

In addition to StartupNation staff, judges for this year’s Home Based 100 ranking included Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method Products, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks North America, John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing, Mel Robbins, host of Make It Happen radio show.
The full results of the Home-Based 100 ranking are available on StartupNation’s website at http://www.startupnation.com/hb100.

###

About StartupNation
StartupNation (www.startupnation.com) provides over 175,000 pages of business advice and networking for entrepreneurs and serves millions of entrepreneurs annually.. . StartupNation is a free service founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs with the intention of providing a one-stop shop for entrepreneurial success, including blogs from a host of experts, podcasts, webcasts, eBooks, award-winning step-by-step advice, and more. .

About the Startupnation’s Founders – The Sloan Brothers
StartupNation co-founders and “chief startupologists,” Rich and Jeff Sloan, are two of the country’s leading small business experts and ran their business from home for eight years. The Sloan brothers speak frequently at entrepreneurial forums and act as sources for top media venues nationwide. They are authors of StartupNation: Open for Business, published by Doubleday, and provide their insight online at www.startupnation.com. The Sloan brothers are regularly quoted and featured in media such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, FOX News and many others.

Armed Services YMCA

2008-11-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

To deliver a bit of joy to our military families, the Armed Services YMCA is currently selling Christmas ornaments for $10.00 each.

To proudly show your support, printed on these white ornaments with an American flag is:

"God Bless America and Our Military Families."

Made from unbreakable acrylic, each ornament is packaged in a lovely box, making this a perfect stocking stuffer or gift for the office holiday exchange.

Please call (910) 436-0500 if you are in the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville area or mail $10 plus $3 S&H to:
Armed Services YMCA
208 Thorncliff Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28303

Proceeds from this sale provide support for military service members and their families experiencing hardship during the holidays.

Research Study for Military Brats

2008-11-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

You are being invited to participate in a research study for adults who grew up in the U.S. Military (i.e., military "brats"). This survey will investigate childhood experiences, adulthood relationships, and cultural identity amongst adult military brats.

You are eligible to participate if you 18 years or older and grew up as a dependent in the U.S. military. The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes. Your participation is greatly appreciated, and it will contribute to our understanding of growing up in the military.

Interested individuals should click the following link to be taken to the anonymous and confidential survey webpage:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gKUyYXpREKnyHSvQt1zyPA_3d_3d

This survey is a dissertation study by Codi Schale, M.A. from the UMKC Department of Counseling Psychology and is not affiliated with Military Brats Registry. For more information, please contact Codi by email: clwmq7@umkc.edu.

Please feel free to forward this survey to anyone you feel may be interested. Permission is granted to post this message on listservs, webpages, emails, or announcements, and such advertisement is encouraged.

Vote for the Military Brats Registry!

2008-09-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

StartupNation is holding a contest for best startup businesses. Please vote for the Military Brats Registry by clicking this link:

Vote now!

And, you can vote once every day!! I don't really care if we don't win, but the exposure we will get is worthwhile and will bring in more of our friends!

Thanks for your support :)

Marc Curtis
webmaster
Military Brats Registry

Educational Research Study

2008-07-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

This summer I am conducting a survey researching third culture kids (TCKs) . Your participation and input as a military brat is needed! As a thank you, three Amazon gift cards will be given away in a drawing: two for the amount of $100 and one for $50.

Below is the survey link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=So_2f_2bbgA4ywiHkFA7bcFicw_3d_3d

The purpose of the survey is to collect information on the TCK experience regarding identity and belonging to produce a comprehensive, sociological study on the identity formation of TCKs.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (the principal investigator) at Joy.Souligny@pepperdine.edu.

Thank you for your participation and helping out a fellow TCK! Feel free to pass on the link to other TCKs!

Joy Souligny

(approved by the Military Brats Registry)

A couple of Lifetimes ago

2008-07-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Another song about growing up military!

"Just thought I would share a song I wrote about my experience as a military brat while living in Japan in the early to mid sixties. It's called "A couple of Lifetimes ago" If you have time you can take a listen to it on my soundclick page. By the way the picture on the page is of me and a friend circa 1964 at Grant Heights Military Housing"
Rob Young

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6496530

The Women of Camp Sobingo

2008-06-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Seattle, WA, May 9, 2008—Vanilla Heart Publishing is pleased to announce the
Public Release of Marilyn Celeste Morris’ The Women of Camp Sobingo in honor of military wives and mothers around the world, from far-flung outposts to big city complexes filled with children and military families on the move.

The Women of Camp Sobingo shares the story of four women; friends who share the life of army wives in a strange land, with husbands who serve. Raising children, making do, enduring hardships, these women survive - all but one...

There really was a Camp Sobingo, located outside the capitol city of Seoul, South Korea at the end of WWII. This military compound’s cookie-cutter “quarters” was home to the women and children who joined their Army officer husbands during the US Occupation.

The camp had a school, a post exchange, a dispensary, a commissary, and even a movie theatre (think “MASH”). Ever-present, however, was the military presence, both Korean and our own US forces and the tyranny of the Russians located across the 38th parallel, who merely annoyed the dependents with their random denial of electricity to the American contingent.

Most of the Americans had deployed to other assignments before June 25, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. Those remaining escaped safely, but “The Land of the Morning Calm” would never be the same.

Vanilla Heart Publishing, of Seattle, Washington, will be hosting the online book release launch party for author Marilyn Celeste Morris and her novel, The Women of Camp Sobingo, on Flag Day, June 14th, 2008 from 5 pm (Central time) until 9 pm. That’s four great hours and four great drawings, plus giveaways, coupons and free shipping for autographed copies of The Women of Camp Sobingo. with a double discount in the bookstore during the launch party. The Online Book Release Launch Party is open to the public.

Vanilla Heart Publishing is donating $1 per copy sold between Mother’s Day, 2008 and Flag Day Launch Party to the Overseas Schools Historical Society, www.AOSHS.com to further their efforts in the preservation of this important part of our history.
A professionally produced book trailer for The Women of Camp Sobingo is available on Vanilla Heart Publishing's website. Visit the secure shopping bookstore at http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com.

Cross-cultural Childhood Study

2008-05-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Have you lived part of your childhood or adolescence in a foreign country?

If you have lived over 2 years before the age of 18 in a country outside the culture of your parents, we invite you to participate in our study about the consequences of living a cross-cultural childhood. You will have the opportunity to enter a one of eight $50 dollar gift certificate raffles from Amazon.com.

Visit:

https://web2survey.unt.edu/users/rch0067/ACCE/

User name: user1
Password: user1

Please feel free to forward this post on to others who have the cross-cultural experience mentioned above and may be interested in participating.

You may also email on write either one of us to obtain a copy of the results of the study.

Thank you,

Jennifer Wilson, M.S.
Researcher
jlw0042@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

Raquel C. Hoersting
Researcher
rch0067@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

Sharon Rae Jenkins, Ph.D.
Faculty Advisor
University of North Texas Psychology Department
jenkinss@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

This research project has been reviewed and approved by the UNT Institutional Review Board (940) 565-3940. Contact the UNT IRB with any questions regarding your rights as a research subject.

Kilroy Was Here

2008-05-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

During WWII, it is believed that James Kilroy - a shipyard inspector in Quincy Massachusetts - began scrawling this phrase on ships to prove that he had been there and inspected the rivets. The ships were being built so fast that there was no time to paint them which would have covered the markings.

The phrase "Kilroy Was Here" soon traveled the globe, becoming a rallying cry and morale booster around the world. So popular did "Kilroy Was Here" became that it has been reported that the phrase and accompanying cartoon have been found on the Great Wall of China, on the Arc De Triomphe, and even scrawled in the dust on the moon!

Now, as America marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII, would be an appropriate time for the U.S. Postal Service to recognize the tremendous contribution the phrase "Kilroy Was Here" made to the Allied war effort.

Visit Kilroy Was Here for more information.

Missing WWII Airmen are Identified

2008-04-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Capt. Robert L. Coleman, of Wilmington, Del.; 1st Lt. George E. Wallinder, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. Cassidy, of Worcester, Mass.; 2nd Lt. Irving Schechner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Ronald F. Ward, of Cambridge, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. William L. Fraser, of Maplewood, Mo.; Tech. Sgt. Paul Miecias, of Piscataway, N.J.; Tech. Sgt. Robert C. Morgan, of Flint, Mich.; Staff Sgt. Albert J. Caruso, of Kearny, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Robert E. Frank, of Plainfield, N.J.; and Pvt. Joseph Thompson, of Compton, Calif; all U.S. Army Air Forces. The dates and locations of the funerals are being set by their families.

Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

On Dec. 3, 1943, these men crewed a B-24D Liberator that departed Dobodura, New Guinea, on an armed-reconnaissance mission over New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Sea. The crew reported dropping their bombs on target, but in spite of several radio contacts with their base, they never returned to Dobodura. Subsequent searches failed to locate the aircraft.

In 2000, three Papua New Guineans were hunting in the forest when they came across aircraft wreckage near Iwaia village. The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified and began planning an investigation. In 2002, a JPAC team traveled to Deboin Village to interview two individuals who said they knew where the crash site was. However, the witnesses could not relocate the site.

In 2004, the site was found about four miles from Iwaia village in Papua New Guinea where a JPAC team found an aircraft data plate that correlated to the 1943 crash.

Between 2004 and 2007, JPAC teams conducted two excavations of the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material including some crew-related artifacts such as identification tags.

Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

Vietnam era Vets honored as Grand Marshals

2008-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

4th Annual Iredell County Independence
Celebration Parade

WANT TO BE AN ENTRY IN THE PARADE? LOOKING FOR YOUTH GROUPS, CHURCHES, SCHOOL BANDS, SCOUTS, and CIVIC GROUPS ETC!
CALL
704 528 7600
Date: June 28th, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM
Where: Troutman, NC

Enjoy a quaint, old fashioned, small town parade and get your free American flag! Help celebrate our independence with over 150 units in the parade including floats, marching units, church groups, civic organizations, scout troops, Rolling Thunder, military units, reenactment groups, and many more surprises. We are proud this year to honor Viet Nam era Veterans as our Grand Marshals. As the evening ends witness a breathtaking spectacular fireworks display!

For more information call Town of Troutman at 704-528-7600.
Sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment #1097
Hosted by the Town of Troutman

New Song Each Week

2008-02-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

A few years ago the Military Brats Registry began featuring the Military Brat Coin and the Military Wives’ Crest among products for sale in our on-line store. They have become popular favorites. Well, one of the daughters of the creator of those products, an Army Brat, has begun making a little noise of her own. The following is a recent press release describing what she is up to. We at the Military Brats Registry encourage you to visit her website and enjoy her wonderful music. Let her know that we Brats support what she is doing!

PRESS RELEASE:

Singer/Songwriter Heather Renee, posts a NEW song every week for 1 year!!!

As an independent musician based out of Washington, DC; Heather Renee believes in giving back to her fans. When she released her first CD entitled “Pretty Prison” last year, she personally mailed hundreds of free copies to all who requested one. This year she wanted to do something even bigger. She will be posting her music, free of charge, for fans to download from her website at:

http://www.heather-renee.com

She anticipates releasing over 50 original songs by the end of 2008 for listeners around the world to enjoy and collect at no cost.

Already in her 8th week, fans can now download the latest track entitled “PRESSURE.”

Heather Renee encourages her fans to share their personal experiences and voice their opinions about her lyrics in a weekly blog that she posts to accompany every song.

Love is her message and she uses her music to spread it to the world. It is no wonder that hundreds of fans have begun checking in every Monday to hear her latest tracks and share the love.

One fan commented:

“Mondays are my new Fridays thanks to Heather Renee. I look forward to hearing her new music as much as I do the weekend.”
Visit her site today to hear her new song!!!

Golden Corral® Military Appreciation Essay Contest

2007-11-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Persons 13 years of age and older, who have served or whose parents have served in the US Armed Forces, are invited to submit an essay conveying the pride they have in their parent's or their own Military service as well as share their educational aspirations.

Six winners will be awarded cash prizes to further their education. There are two age brackets: 1) ages 13-17 and 2) ages 18 and older. The two Grand Prize winners (one in each bracket) will receive $5,000 cash, first place winners (one in each bracket) will receive a $2,500 cash prize, and the third place winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000. Cash prizes will be awarded after January 31, 2008.

http://www.goldencorral.com/military/essay.asp

Operaton Kid Comfort Update

2007-10-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Fabled Fibers: Art Quilt Enchantments, the Quiltart.com challenge exhibit that illustrates fifty favorite children's stories, is now viewing online at www.fabledfibers.com. Visit our exhibit schedule regularly to learn of new venues in your area.

Fabled Fibers products directly benefit Operation Kid Comfort, the Armed Services YMCA program that provides photo-transfer comfort quilts and pillows to America's littlest heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women.

www.operationkidcomfort.blogspot.com
Armed Services YMCA
208 Thorncliff Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone: (910) 436-0500
Fax: (910) 436-0018

The Marines Have Landed!

2007-10-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

...or actually, evacuated. Last night my son came home along with 3 of his Marine buddies. They had to leave Camp Pendleton because of the fires, after moving all the vehicles out of harms way.

It was funny yesterday to hear some callers on talk shows ask "Where is the National Guard? Where are the Marines?" My guests chuckled and said, "It's kind of hard to fight a wall of fire with an M-16."

It's strange that some people don't understand that the firefighters are trained to fight fires...while the miitary is trained to keep us safe from our enemies. Everyone has their role!

Soldier in Iraq asks for support

2007-09-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

To whom this may concern,

This is SGT Nightingale, a member of 3rd Infantry Division 1st Brigade that is currently deployed in Iraq. I'm writing you to ask for assistance in trying to find organizations that will be kind enough to donate movies, games, play station 3, Xbox 360, sporting equipment for a gym, and bath and body products for 35 females in our company. I'm trying to build a movie gallery in the Soldiers MWR area for their morale and I cant do it alone. I'm sure that there are plenty of organizations and personnel that would love to donate to the soldiers. I'm just asking for some assistance if you can really help out. Please remember we are on a 15-month tour and we have completed 8 months, so we only have 7 more months to go.

SGT Nightingale. Mychosia
FOXTROT WARRIORS
F Co HQ PLT 2-7 Infantry BN
Camp Korean Village
Unit # 73431
APO AE 09371

Every Brat Has a Story

2007-08-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Over the last 3 years since I began focusing the theme of the Military Brats Registry newsletter on "Every Brat Has a Story" I've received too many great stories and no room to print them. So, I'm currently adding an RSS feed for all of them. It will take some time to get them all online, but I'm working on it as fast as time allows.

You can subscribe (for free) by going to http://www.militarybrat.com/ebhas-feed.xml. Most up-to-date web browsers such as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, and Safari will show the feeds right in the browser. Microsoft Outlook will even download each story right to your mailbox.

So keep those stories coming in! Remember...every brat has a story...what's yours?

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