Honor Them

Just as no one should be left behind, no one should ever be forgotten

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 18:12:00 +0000

I am posting this today with mixed emotions. Please know that while I still adhere to my stance on not discussing politics, I do feel that our government holds a huge responsibility in our country. We count on them and defer to them in times of crisis to make responsible, reasonable and well informed decisions. Being a paid public figure who sits in such positions is an awesome responsibility and certainly not one that I would want, so I certainly don't mean any disrespect with this post. I just feel that with their job there can not be any room for error. Just as our military is bound by a code of conduct much higher than any other organization in this country, shouldn't our government be held to the same standards? It is because of that immense weight we lie upon their shoulders that I'm torn between what I came across this morning.

On August 1st, 2013 U.S. Representative, Scott Rigell stood before the house and asked the speaker to bear with him for five minutes as he paid honor to the 32 American Heroes lost nearly two years earlier on August 6, 2011 during Extortion 17. Please know that the number 32 referenced above is not an error or typo on my part. That is the number he mentioned twice during his five minute speech. Then he listed the names of those American Heroes, going through the Navy, Army and Air Force personnel until all 30 names were read. Once again, when I wrote 30, that was not an error. If we are counting only American casualties, from Extortion 17 alone, the number would be 30, plus 1 military working dog named, Bart. To read the entire record for that day, please click HERE.

The faces of the 30 American heroes lost in Extortion 17 on August 6, 2011

Please know that I believe Mr. Rigell's intention to be pure of heart and obviously his assistant or whoever slipped him the little piece of paper gave him wrong information. However, I can't help but wonder how quickly someone in the military would be reprimanded (severely) if they made even the slightest error on a mission. Regardless, I will digress as I am neither judge, nor jury. My biggest bone of contention with this is that sadly we lose countless lives every week, month and year and these names do not get mentioned. They do not take five minutes out of their sessions to read their names. My question is why? Now, to the people who are saying to me right now, "but, it was the greatest loss of life for NSW (Naval Special Warfare) in a single day since Operation Red Wings in 2005" I completely agree with you and can't tell you how much my heart hurts for the families that lost loved ones that day.

Marine Sgt. Daniel J. Patron

However, how many know that on that same day, of the same year, we also lost a Marine? Marine Sgt. Daniel J. Patron was 26 years old and from Canton, OH. He died in Helmand Province, Afghanistan while attempting to disarm a roadside bomb. We've all heard the names of the 31 heroes (including Bart) that were killed during Extortion 17, but how many of you can honestly say they've heard of Marine Sgt. Patron? Did you know that he has a highway which has been dedicated to him? Did you also know that after serving two tours in Iraq in 2005 and 2009 that he voluntarily extended his service? When he was killed, he only had three months left on his tour. In November he would have been home. Home with his family.

Every day on Honor Them the names and faces of the our fallen heroes are shared with everyone who wishes to take a moment to say thank you for the tremendous sacrifice these heroes have made for our country and us. In light of Mr. Rigell's five minutes wishing to pay remembrance to those American heroes lost, I can't help but feel that an injustice has been done to the other families who also grieve on this day. So, please, if you would, join me in a moment of silence while I list the other names that were not mentioned and who lost their lives on August 6th during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Army Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga KIA 2003-08-06

Army Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert KIA 2003-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellermann KIA 2003-08-06

Army Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons KIA 2003-08-06

Marine Cpl. Roberto Abad KIA 2004-08-06

Army Spc. Joshua I. Bunch KIA 2004-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells KIA 2004-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Chase J. Comley KIA 2005-08-06

Army Sgt. Brahim J. Jeffcoat KIA 2005-08-06

Army Spc. Kurt E. Krout KIA 2005-08-06

Army Sgt. Carlton A. Clark KIA 2006-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Tracy L. Melvin KIA 2006-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale KIA 2006-08-06

Army Cpl. Jose Zamora KIA 2006-08-06

Army Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara KIA 2007-08-06

Army Sgt. Nicholas A. Gummersall KIA 2007-08-06

Army Cpl. Kareem R. Khan KIA 2007-08-06

Army Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger KIA 2007-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Thompson KIA 2007-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Cpl. Christian Guzman Rivera KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Cpl. Daniel L. Linnabary II KIA 2012-08-06

My final thought is more of a question for Mr. Rigell and every other politician who serves in such an important capacity for our country. I ask you to not forget the sacrifice paid by so many others. We have lost thousands upon thousands of heroes since the global war on terror began. Not just 30, or even 32. I ask you to please make note of every loss of life, not just the ones lost in certain tragedies. It should never be about the number of lives lost. The person who was lost should be what matters the most.

Since Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn has began (and at the time of this post), U.S. Central Command has confirmed 6,714 deaths as the result of these conflicts. They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, they were husbands and wives. And more importantly, they were heroes. They served our great nation valiantly, they put duty before self.

Quite simply, they gave their today, for our tomorrows.

Let us not forget any one of them.

With respect, and immense gratitude. I thank you for your time in reading this message.
~ Amanda HONOR THEM!

Has honor and integrity taken a back seat? You be the judge

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:56:00 +0000

When I started my mission to Honor Them over 2 years ago, it was a personal one. While I admittedly was still trying to find my niche in how to accomplish this, I knew one thing above all else, Honor would be the prime focus. While I may have begun on Twitter, I soon branched out into Facebook and began this blog. My mission may have begun as a personal one, but not too long after I had people joining me in my endeavors. After some time it didn’t just become important to me, but became a part of who I am. That is why not a day will go by that I will not Honor the sacrifice paid by so many. This brings me to the purpose of this post.

There are some who sadly have chosen to use the death of our heroes for their own ill gotten gains. It’s really become an epidemic in today’s society. As unbelievable as it may seem, there are those who are worse offenders than others. Please, before you read on, I ask you all to consider the fact that I don’t normally call out any company and/or organization. In fact, I’ve never done so. I stick to my mission and ensure the families of the fallen are taken into consideration in all my efforts. Respect for them and all that they've endured is very important to me. However, there is one company who as I understand it, hasn’t done this in the past and my fear is they are repeating the same patterns.

Below you will see some information along with screen shots (please forgive the haziness of the images as I blew them up for ease of reading), which points to a pattern of behavior. It, in my opinion, not only appears to be dis-honorable, but calls into question this company’s true intentions. I’ve chosen to post this on my blog because the owner of this company either ignores or deletes anyone’s comments (on Facebook) who attempt to make an inquiry into the questionable activity. Furthermore, this company usually blocks those inquiring immediately after. So, I ask you to look at the information I’ve provided and draw your own conclusion.

First, as a matter of background, I contacted the publicist for the family of fallen US Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael Murphy and this is what she had to say:

As Publicist for the Family of LT Michael Murphy I was approached by John Stiener, the owner of Infidel USA on July 23, 2011 proposing a Murph The Protector t-shirt with ALL proceeds benefitting Michael’s Foundation. By all accounts the shirt was a hit, but I would never know exactly because I was never given the sales figures as to what exactly was sold as promised. After endless emails, text messages and phone calls asking for his payment to the Foundation, of which there had been only a few, I threatened to sue Infidel USA. That is when John’s Mom called and intervened on his behalf. She felt that it was unfair that 100% of the proceeds go to that Foundation and that John should be entitled to some. I explained to her that the agreement had been otherwise and that the memorial tee was bringing him new business. I further explained that it was an agreement that he presented. Also, I reminded her that he was promoting the tee the whole time as benefiting Michael’s Foundation when in fact only a few payments had been made. A year and a half later NO accounting of sales had been made available to me and as it appears from this that John was using all the Murph The Protector profits to expand his company. This is by his own admission in communications with me. Regardless of John’s promises to the foundation, John’s mom made the following agreement with me. She asked that she be given one week and she would provide me with the amount of shirts sold and the rest of the money owed to the Foundation. In addition would I allow one last print run of the shirt before I terminated the agreement. I told her that I would not make a decision on the last print run until the monies were paid and the accounting of all sales was provided to me. Approximately one week later payment was made for what I was told was the sale figures of all the Murph t-shirts. However, I have no way of knowing this to be accurate or not as I was not provided with an accounting of the sales as promised. John and his Mom requested that they be allowed to go ahead with one final print run of the shirt and with that we would part ways. I agreed, with the understanding that the accounting of sales would be forthcoming. As I previously mentioned this still has not happened. John only paid the foundation for part of this final print run. I of course sent him countless emails and text messages as well as tried to call and collect the money, but to no avail. I was forced to reimburse Michael’s Foundation with my own money as I felt responsible for making such a poor business decision.

You may ask why the above information is relevant. Well, I ask you to read on, as its relevance will soon become clear.

On February 7, 2013 Infidel USA came out with a new t-shirt. See the Facebook post introducing this shirt by clicking on this LINK (If for some reason that link becomes invalid because the post has been deleted. I will update this post with a screen shot of the link). The t-shirt depicted the name of US Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle who was recently killed. The company states in their post as well as on their website that 100% of the proceeds with benefit Craft International and FITCO Cares. On the surface this seems like a wonderful idea, and one that I normally would be backing 100%. However, because I am so adamantly against anyone (not including the families) profiting from someone else's death, I simply cannot stand behind an organization which has proven in the past to take money under the pretense of funds going to an organization and then not following through with that promise. Case in point, the below screen shots.

SCREEN SHOT A: In this screen shot, the publicist for the family of Lt. Michael Murphy clarifies any misleading comments made by Infidel USA by explaining that Infidel USA “did NOT give all the money to Michael’s Foundation as promised.” And further she asks a few questions, one of them being, will her comment remain. Please see the next screen shot.

SCREEN SHOT B: As you’ll see here, minutes later not only is her comment removed, but someone else asks if what she wrote is true. Please see the next screen shot.


SCREEN SHOT C: As you can see here, Infidel USA has responded with the comment “Of course not.” However, regardless of their prompt reply, you will see in SCREENSHOT D (below) that Infidel USA deleted the question, as well as their response. Also, it appears they deleted one which states they are working with FITCO and Craft International.


SCREEN SHOT D: Comments referencing any question of misuse of funds have been deleted. You can tell this by the new comments appearing below where other’s comments once were.

All of this may not seem like too much cause for concern in some of your opinions. However, I was sent the below screen shot (SCREEN SHOT E) which raises all sorts of red flags for me personally. As someone who supports our military and their families I make it a habit to only give to companies who are truly helping the families of our fallen heroes. Please note the placement of this comment. It was only on the page for a short time and promptly deleted once the publicist for the Murphy family left her comment. In this comment by Infidel USA they claim to have multiple veterans that work for their company. They also claim to have “athletes that worked with Chris in Ramadi.” At which point Infidel USA goes onto explain that those who worked with Chris came to them with the idea to do something.

SCREEN SHOT E

If what he states is true, then why delete it? Or, as a matter of interest, why delete so many other comments as well? If Infidel USA truly has veterans who worked along side Chris Kyle in Ramadi working for him who asked him to take on this project, then why remove it once question is raised? Further, why would Infidel USA block people who have only asked questions? After all, they are only questions. If in fact Infidel USA’s only motivation is to help the families of the fallen, why not simply address the issues and rebuild their company's reputation?

These are all things which trouble me and make me wonder where the funds for this shirt will really go. However, to be fair, I must state, I have not personally approached the company. I have chosen not to do so because of the numerous people that have approached them to only receive no response and then be blocked. I further would like to state that I am merely a concerned citizen and also 100% civilian. I do what I do because I choose to and while I normally would 'vet' a charity/organization before I decide to endorse them, sadly I don’t feel confident that any correspondence by me asking questions to Infidel USA would be met with anything other than ignoring and blocking me.

My only concern is that the family of Chris Kyle is taken care of and this isn't going to be a repeat of what transpired with the Murph t-shirt. Other than that, I have no skin in the game, so to speak. The main purpose of my post is to ask everyone to truly consider the organization they are giving their money to before they do so. Just because someone claims to be on the up and up, doesn’t always mean that they are. This could be said for countless companies or organizations.

Once again, and in closing, this blog post contains what I have witnessed and have been able to ascertain from the events unfolding on a public social networking site. My statements are my own and contain my opinion on a matter that is near and dear to my heart. I do not know without 100% certainty whether or not the allegations against Infidel USA are factual because as best I can tell they refuse to respond to them. Perhaps in the future they will work with the companies they state they support to ensure all funds go where they are promised. I also hope that Infidel USA will make good on their promises made to the Murphy Foundation. If they choose not to do either of these things, I am left with no other alternative but to question their motivations and intentions between making products of this nature and selling them under the guise of "giving back" to charities.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Freebies on Veterans Day

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Below is a listing of businesses who are offering freebies to Veterans and those who serve on Veterans Day. I'm sharing this information from a patriot who was very kind enough to pass it along. Thank you, David.

VETERANS DAY DISCOUNTS 2012
**FREE MEALS ON VETERANS DAY

OLIVE GARDEN
Veterans Eat Free. Olive Garden Restaurants offer a free meal (with proof of service) from a list of several entrees on a special menu. This special is scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2012. Additionally, some Olive Garden restaurants will also give out a $10 gift card to veterans for a future visit.

APPLEBEE’S
Military Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members will be able to eat FREE at any Applebee’s across the U.S. on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2012. There will be six entrées available from the menu. Guests will be asked to show one ore more of the following as proof of Service: a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, a U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person. For more information about Veterans Day at Applebee’s, visit the Applebee’s website http://www.applebees.com/vetDay/default.aspx

GOLDEN CORRAL
Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 12, 2012, from 4 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The FREE dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

CHILI’S
FREE meal, Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. Chili’s is offering all Military Veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available during business hours at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. All Desserts priced $5.oo for Veterans and active duty military. Simply show proof of military service. See flier for more information.

T.G.I. FRIDAYS
In recognition of Service, ALL Veterans and Active Duty personnel are invited to EAT FREE this Veterans Day, Monday, November 12, 2012. To get the free meal, service men and women will have to show proof of service. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, a U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person.
Valid only at: 3555 S. 2700 W., West Valley City.
130 W. 10600 S., Sandy.
4029 S. Riverdale Rd., Riverdale
**Don’t forget T.G.I. Friday’s offer a 10% Discount for all Service men and women with proof of service all day everyday.

HOOTERS
FREE Meal, Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. Hooter’s is serving up 10 free boneless wings to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Offer valid at participating Hooters, Dine-in only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE
FREE meal, Veterans Day, Monday, Nov 12, 2012. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information. Visit the web site for locations and participation. http://www.texasroadhouse.com/

SUBWAY
Free Six Inch Sub. Many Subway locations offer a free six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2010. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may only be available in select locations. Please contact your local Subway for more information regarding Veteran’s day specials.

KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUT
Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Veterans Day, Sunday November 11, 2012. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

DENNY'S RESTAURANT
All-you-can-eat Pancakes. Participating Denny’s restaurants will be offering an all-you-can-eat pancakes meal on Monday, Nov 12, 2012. Remember to call ahead and verify that your local Denny’s is participating.

**OTHER DISCOUNTS ON VETERANS DAY

SKYRIDGE INN Bed & Breakfast
Free night stay. The Sky Ridge Inn B&B in Torrey, Utah is offering a free night stay to a veteran and a single guest. This offer is limited by availability of rooms. Reserving ahead of time is recommended. For reservations call (435) 425-3222.

CABELA’S OUTDOOR STORE
Veteran's Day weekend, Cabela's outdoor store is offering their employee discount to all veterans, active duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel on Nov. 11 and 12. Dubbed a "Hometown Heroes" event, eligible shoppers will need to check in at a table at the store to receive a coupon for the discount. The discount varies from 5% to 50%, depending on item. Some items may be excluded.

HOME DEPOT and LOWES MILITARY DISCOUNT
The 10% military discount is available to: Active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and immediate family members of all those groups are eligible. Customers requesting a discount must be able to show a valid military ID card or other proof of military service (a DD Form 214 or VFW membership may qualify).

SPORTSCLIPS
FREE haircut to active-duty military & veterans. Offer only available at select locations on Veterans Day, Monday, November 12, 2012. Additionally, offers 20% discount on all services and products to Military and Veterans everyday. Sports Clips is currently participating in the Help-A-Hero program which provides free call time to deployed or hospitalized military personnel. Please call to verify local participation.

SLEEP NUMBER STORES
This year Sleep number is offering a couple of discounts. Among these are $600.00 off on all I8 or M7 beds, 30% off all bedding items, and 0% interest on 24 months financing. This is only available to military and veterans. This special is going on now through Nov. 18. Contact your local store for more details.

SONIC CAR WASH
FREE car wash to Veterans on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2012.

VETERANS DAY DISCOUNTS

**The following companies offer discounts, but you may find that NOT all locations participate:
Restaurants Arby's A&W Burger King Carl's Jr. Chevy's Fresh Mex Chick-Fil-A Chipotle Denny's Dunkin' Donuts IHOP KFC Long John Silver's McDonald's Panda Express Pizza Hut Quizno's Red Robin Sonic Taco Bell Wendy's Travel AmTrak Best Western Choice Hotels Continental Airlines Cruise lines (most) Hyatt Hotels Marriott HotelsWyndham Hotels and Resorts Car Care AutoZone Checker Auto Parts General Motors Jiffy Lube Kragen Auto Parts Meineke NAPA Auto Parts Super Sonic Car Wash Cell Phone Service Discounts Alltel Cingular Sprint/NexTel T-Mobile Verizon Clothing and Shoes Aeropostale The Children's Place Dress Barn Fanzz (10%) The Finish Line Foot Action (15%) Foot Locker (20%) Hot Topic Jos. A. Bank Jockey Kohl's Lerner New York & Company Pac Sun Reebok Timberland Outlets (active duty only) Wilson's Leather

Has Hollywood lost focus?

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 20:34:00 +0000

There was a time not so long ago, less than a century in fact, when Hollywood and all of the talent that arose from it knew the importance of supporting our troops. People like Bob Hope and Marilyn Monroe who were in high demand still made sure to take the time out of their busy schedules and entertain the troops. The USO was founded in 1941 as a way to provide morale to service members through entertainment. At the time and throughout the following years there were dozens upon dozens of entertainers who followed suit. If you research some old interviews with those entertainers you will hear one common thought amongst them all. They all truly believed in the importance of supporting our troops. They all truly understood the sacrifices being made by those serving. Well, it would seem times sure have changed.

Now, before I go on I think it's only fair to state that there are many performers who are still actively involved in the USO and all it stands for. To those, I offer my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for their selfless and generous offering of both time and compassion. However, Hollywood has taken a different turn in the past couple of decades. Some of that talent that receives millions of our dollars each year are instead using their spotlight for politics. For those of you who have been watching "Honor Them" for a while, you know I make it a habit to never discuss politics. My political beliefs are kept silent because (in my opinion) honoring "them" has nothing to do with politics. It comes from your heart. It is a sense of patriotism that runs deep and is fueled by the pride of being a part of one of the greatest nations in the world.

One of the most amazing and wonderful things about our country is our freedom of speech, our freedom to think our own way and form our own opinions. We are not under a ruthless dictator that some of the other countries we assist have suffered through. With that being said though, I can't help but wonder why politics have taken such a nasty turn. I know what you're all thinking, that there has been mudslinging and dirty play in politics for decades if not longer. I don't disagree with that, but when did Hollywood become the voice for politicians and their agendas? More so, when did those stars who received millions upon millions every year decide that they were the know all-end all to tell us and our military what is right and what is wrong?

Let's face it, the last several years have been quite tumultuous for our country. The political arena has changed greatly and with it more and more of our nation's "talent" have decided to use their spotlight to further political agenda while either bad mouthing our armed forces or completely ignoring them all together. It seems that every time I turn around I'm hearing about one of them disparaging our troops or veterans and I can't help but wonder why? Sure I understand that being an American means that they have the freedom to do and say as they please. What if we (as a country) allow that to go too far though? We will always (I pray) have our freedoms to do and say what we choose, but the second we start forgetting who is defending those rights we are losing sight of the bigger picture.

Our country was founded on some very strong beliefs. Beliefs that ran deeper than just the paper the words were penned to. One of the most integral parts of our freedoms is having a strong force to defend us. On September 11, 2001 we found out just how easily our country can be blindsided. Not everyone loves our country, we have enemies, enemies who wish to do us harm, enemies who take so many – too many – of our brave troops away. At the end of the day all of the money, material objects and luxuries will mean nothing if our country is left helpless. Our Armed Forces guard us every second of every day. Not a moment passes where they do not have our backs. They are on guard, always watching, always protecting, always defending. Without them, where would we truly be? I challenge those big Hollywood hitters who haven't stood behind our troops recently to make a few changes in their life and remember just who is guarding their 6.

With all that being said, I would like to share with you a story of someone who gave so much of herself and received little in return.

Some who knew her say that Martha Raye endured less comfort and more danger than any other Vietnam entertainer. The most unforgivable oversight of all was that none of her shows were taped. I was unaware of her credentials until someone sent me a very touching email. If you search more information on Martha, you will find many memoirs that tell of her selfless acts on behalf of our brave troops. In fact President Lyndon Johnson awarded her a green beret and the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Special Forces as a thank you for her extraordinary efforts. Martha was also a nurse and used the skills she had to tend to wounded during the Vietnam War. It is said that several times at the Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would cover a surgical shift, giving a nurse a well-deserved break.

Of note, Martha Ray is the only woman buried in the Special Forces cemetery at Ft. Bragg. Martha died on October 19, 1994, but as a civilian, as an American and as a woman I offer her my utmost gratitude and respect for all that she did for those in harm’s way.

Operation Honor Them

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:30:00 +0000

On June 30, 2010 I began my mission to Honor Them. When I reached my first anniversary (Please see that blog post from June 2011 HERE) in Honoring Them I felt like I had accomplished a great deal and was proud to be in the company of so many fine patriots. Little did I know that last year was merely a drop in the bucket for all I'd accomplish in the following year. Over the course of the past twelve months both my facebook and twitter pages as well as my mission has grown by leaps and bounds. As I write this, I am just below 25,000 Likes on facebook, and quickly approaching 7,000 followers on twitter. On a daily basis I receive countless messages and emails from military families, service members and veterans who support my cause and are glad to take part. This makes me very proud and honored to be a part of a community that holds such immense patriotism and love for those who give so much of themselves on our behalf.

This year in celebration of my 2 year anniversary I wanted to hold a month long event to reach out to my fellow patriots. There are many ways that one can Honor Them, but all too often we get caught up in the daily distractions of life. With little financial obligation or time spent we can all do our part. Even the smallest gestures can have a lasting impact and show our troops and veterans just how much they mean to us.

Below is a calendar of this month's planned events. Please feel free to share it and it's information with many. While I'm offering up these ideas, these are things we can do year round. Whether you pick one, two, a dozen or all of them, even participating is a step in the right direction. Also, during this month I will be making posts relating specific topics all day on each separate day of the week. Look for the schedule below the calendar.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Military Families	Navy	Air Force	Coast Guard	Marine Corps	Army	Wounded

Please join me for the entire month of June to take part in Operation Honor Them. If you're on twitter look for #OpHonorThem and #OperationHonorThem. And join me on facebook too!


Thank you to: Forged Clothing, Soldiers Angels, DS&S Tactical, Boot Campaign, That Others May Live Foundation, Kill Cliff, Lt. Michael Murphy Scholarship Foundation, Navy SEAL Academy

Salutes to Forged Clothing

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:26:00 +0000

In 2007 two former United States Navy SEALs founded ForgedClothing. Their company founded and fueled by the values of Brotherhood, Respect and Freedom as well as their belief in making products in the USA. Since Forged’s inception, they have operated with the utmost professionalism and integrity. They take great pride in being involved with their customers and giving them a top of the line product which has meaning behind it. While that in itself is unique to a company in this day and age, there is another reason behind my post.

Some may not know this, but Forged Clothing donates a percentage of every sale to several military affiliated non-profit organizations to help wounded veterans and their families. They also have created some specific tribute shirts to honor their fallen brothers, and 100% of the profits from those shirts are donated to the Navy Special Warfare Foundation. This is all in addition to being involved with fundraisers for the families of friends who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

While these reasons alone would be enough for Honor Them to stand behind a company such as Forged, there are so many more. Besides their efforts to give back on various levels, they also have supported my message and mission with Honor Them since the beginning. In doing so, Honor Them and Forged will be partnering up on a special project which also gives back while allowing you to show your patriotism and support of our troops and veterans.

Also, be on the lookout for some exciting changes. In the next month Forged Clothing will be launching their new website which will include new tribute shirts and new merchandise which will benefit the customer as well as various charities.

On behalf on everyone who join me in Honoring Them, I say Bravo Zulu to Forged Clothing for never forgetting that All Gave Some, Some Gave All.

Powerful Peace -

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:34:00 +0000

A Navy SEAL’s Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime at War

I first came across J. Robert DuBois by way of twitter in the early months of 2011. Being a huge supporter of our military both past and present I was drawn to not just his service, but rather his words. Rob's thoughts and opinions on topics ranging from war to politics have many times left me feeling a sense of empowerment. One might ask why I would choose such a word, but the phrase 'Knowledge is Power' is lost on way too many. Being a former Navy SEAL is far from his only credit. Rob has a way of explaining things which gives others a different perspective, showing people the proverbial flip side of the coin. When I was given the honor of reading an advanced copy of Powerful Peace - A Navy SEAL’s Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime at War I couldn't wait to get started on it. If I was asked a year ago if I thought the book was a good premise I would have said that I was sure the book would be great. So, needless to say when I began reading Powerful Peace I didn't expect to be surprised by it's content.

Click HERE to purchase from Amazon

Rob wastes no time as the book begins and he takes us right to that horrific day, ten years ago on September 11, 2001. One of the first things that reached out from the pages and grabbed my heart in both sadness and pain was that this was not just a book written by an warrior, someone who spent years defending our nation and it's people by serving on one of the most elite special forces units around today, but rather it was written by a man. A man who has a family and sees the world the way it is, not through rose colored glasses. He sees its beauty and its flaws.

Throughout the book Rob takes us on a journey of the years following the September 11th attacks. His ability to provide us with insight from the perspectives of a Navy SEAL, a husband, a father and even those who are considered our enemies is something that left me with moments of pause and self reflection.

My notes on this book are lengthy and somewhat personal so I decided to try and keep my review of it brief. I would be genuinely surprised if there was a person out there who could say after reading this book, that they were not affected on a deep and personal level by it's content. Powerful Peace for me is no longer a coin phrase thought up by a former U.S. Navy SEAL. Nor is it merely the title of a book. It is something much more influential than that. A form of diplomacy, which when practiced could possibly shape the future of our nation and world so it sees less war, less death and more PEACE. It is, what I hope will some day be, a way of life.

I hope that everyone reading this takes the time to explore all that Powerful Peace could come to mean for them, their family and our future. Applied "smart power" is a game changer for the future of humanity.

Here's what other people had to say about Powerful Peace:

"If we do not teach our children the principals of peace

someone will teach them the fundamentals of hate"

Kimberly Wolfert, Demand Mgmt. & Sales Planning at Chiquita Brands Intl.

Mr. DuBois presents a compelling case, based on experiences he vividly shares with the reader, for a new type of Applied Smart Power. He takes you through the hearts, homes, and minds of allies - across the geopolitical and physical battlefield - and convinces you to join him in striving for his new doctrine of balanced peacemaking.

Ali-Reza Anghaie

It's been one year ~

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:21:00 +0000

One year ago today a man who brought pain to not just our nation, but the world as a whole left this earth. On a personal level I am a supporter of peace over violence and war on any day. It's an idea talked about greatly in Powerful Peace. However, Usama Bin Laden was someone who quite frankly just couldn't be reasoned with by any civilized means. He was a terrorist in every sense of the word. A diabolical entity who used his religion as a shield for his actions. All the while getting others to do his evil bidding. Today, I ask you all to not just be thankful that having him gone removes at least some of our worry in the global war on terror. I also ask you to say thank you to our United States Navy SEALs and ALL of our Armed Forces who helped rid the world of at least one of our threats. The removal of Bin Laden from this earth was a joint effort which stretched far between all branches of our military, as well as the invaluable assistance of our allies. Most importantly though, I ask you all to please take a moment to keep those who were affected by Bin Laden's reign of terror in your thoughts. Those who were lost and those who were left behind should never be forgotten.

God Bless those who have been touched by the unspeakable tragedies of the global war on terror. May our future hold only peace, compassion and a greater sense of humanity.

Personal Plea – Heartbreaking Consequences

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Below is a message which I’ve steadfastly spread and adhered to for nearly 2 years since I began to Honor Them. Please read it in its entirety and the heartbreaking story which follows it.

The United States of America holds one of the most powerful military forces in the world. It is because of this that so many countries turn to us in their time of need. Sadly whether at war or in peace time, we do lose many brave sons and daughters who serve our great country. In a time of war, as we are now, those numbers increase. This is an inevitable yet heartbreaking part of war. When this happens, as a country we grieve. However, while we may be saddened by the loss of yet another one of our courageous men and women, that can’t possibly compare to the grief felt by their friends and family of the fallen. It is important that we put the feelings of their loved ones first, above all else.

The amount of posts on both Facebook and Twitter which pay tribute to our fallen heroes has been growing. In these posts many times the fallen hero’s name is given and sometimes even include their unit and branch as well. Normally I would say this is a wonderful thing, as part of my mission to Honor Them is to make sure that we all Honor Those Fallen so they are Never Forgotten for the tremendous sacrifice they’ve made on our behalf.

With that being said, an recurring problem for quite some time has been posts which are releasing sensitive information prior to the Department of Defense making an official release. It is important to know that the DOD releases this information only after the family has been notified. Losing a loved one is hard enough on these family members. The least we can all do is offer them the courtesy of making sure they receive notice in the most respectful and dignified manner possible.

Please remember and respect OPSEC (Operations Security) and the extremely sensitive nature of the information you have at your fingertips before you post anything, or relay information of any kind in any way, shape or form. Prematurely posting details regarding a casualty that a family member might see prior to being notified by the proper authorities is nothing I wish on any of the families of our fallen heroes.

Our brave and selfless troops fight to protect our freedoms and liberties. Let’s all work together to protect their families from any further hurt.

For the most part I think a majority of people understand the importance of the above message. However, I still find quite a few people who wish to debate the issue with me. Their reasons vary from “our local news reported it” or “my family readiness group posted it” or “I know someone in the unit and everyone is talking about it” or the one that makes me cringe the most “I saw it on Facebook and/or Twitter”.

Here is my problem with the above excuses – quite honestly that’s what they are is excuses, because they are not justifiable reasons to share sensitive information – the sources these people are obtaining this highly sensitive information from are not the Department of Defense. The DOD is the only entity which is permitted to put out a first notice/release of the death of one of our brave fallen heroes. No one else has that right, nor should they assume that they do.

This brings me to the reason for this blog entry. On April 3, 2012 we lost Fort Carson soldier, Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown due to wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. This in itself is tragic enough, however tragedy struck a second time for the family of Staff Sgt. Brown. Before I explain what happened, I’d like to give a little of background as to why I find the soon to be mentioned incident even more troubling and completely avoidable.

On April 4^thI received a public request on Twitter asking me to honor and pay remembrance to Staff Sgt. Brown. My first reaction was to check the DOD site to see if I had perhaps missed a release. I was of course concerned when I saw that an official release had not yet been made regarding Staff Sgt. Brown. I sent this person (an Army wife) a private message requesting that she please delete her tweet with the soldiers name and explained my reasons why. I was surprised when I was met with some resistance on the subject. The reasons she gave me was that Staff Sgt. Brown was in her husband’s unit, their family readiness group had posted it and the family had been notified. I still chose to not publicly tweet the information and explained to her that in my way of Honoring Them, I will not post information on a death until I am 100% positive – meaning the DOD has made official release – that the family has been notified.

The debate ensued and I was surprised to received messages from other ‘wives of soldiers in the unit’ who requested that I pay public tribute to Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown. I have and will continue to Honor all of those brave we lose, however I will never do it until the DOD has made a release. It is because of this that I had to respectfully decline yet again and also explain my reasons why. I did find it odd that I received so many requests in such a short period of time (mere hours) for this one soldier and even went back through my messages this morning to make sure my memory wasn’t failing me before I wrote this post. My memory did not fail and I had more than one wife of a soldier requesting I publicly post this brave hero’s death information before the proper authorities had made such a release. An important side note to this is that the official release of Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown’s death was made by the DOD on April 5^th.The day after these requests took place.

This morning I was saw the unfortunate result of what can happen when sensitive information gets into the wrong hands and causes tragic results. Please click on this link: Wife of Fort Carson Soldier Learns of His Death on Facebook and read how crucial it is that everyone understand and respect OPSEC, and the information that somehow may have fallen into their hands. A similar incident happened in February when the wife of a fallen soldier received a phone call from her friend after reading about the death of the woman’s husband on Facebook.

Folks, my simple message to you is this: OPSEC exists for a reason. Our military forces have grown, thrived and remained strong on the principles of protecting Operations Security. We cannot hinder those who protect and defend us. It is our duty as Americans to use good sensibility with information. There should never be a rush to be the first to post sensitive information. I personally would rather be the last to post information regarding a death and know that the family was taken care of. Whether you serve, know someone who does, are in a military family or just read something on a social networking site, you still don’t have the authority to share the information publicly. No one does. Not until that fateful knock at the door happens, the family of our fallen have been taken care of and The Department of Defense has made an official release. The internet is a powerful tool, it has and can be used as a weapon, please use its strength wisely.

Very respectfully

~ Amanda

War Affects Many

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:54:00 +0000

Good afternoon folks, In light of the recent news that a US Soldier has killed over a dozen Afghan civilians I would like to share my personal thoughts on this subject.

First and foremost, I would like to emphasize that ALL life is precious. With Please that being said, I do not condone or make excuses for anyone taking the lives of innocent civilians, regardless of their nationality. Be that as it may, I am not in a position to make judgment calls on this particular incident. In fact, none of us are. I ask everyone to please let the appropriate authorities investigate this incident and let them decide the course of action and/or punishment. We were not there and do not have the capability to look into all that took place.

Sadly, there have been many innocents lost in the global war in terror. I emphasize again, that ALL life is a precious commodity and one that should be cherished, not used as a pawn in war. Unfortunately, this does happen. War is an ugly beast which can change an ordinary man and make him see and feel things that we couldn't begin to possibly understand. Instead of passing judgment on any person, instead I ask that you all join me in saying a prayer and having a moment of silence for all those innocent lives that were taken. We may not be able to turn back the hands of time and change what happened, but hopefully we can learn from this tragedy and it will never happen again.

With respect for all those affected by war,

Amanda

Never Forget Tangi River Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Today marks the 6 month anniversary of the worst loss of life for Special Operation Forces. On August 6, 2011 our nation was rocked by tragedy when a CH-47 Chinook carrying 38 Warriors was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade in the Wardack Province of Afghanistan killing all 38 people on board. Of those who died, 17 were U.S. Navy SEALs, 5 were U.S. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command Support personnel, 5 were crew members from the U.S. Army's 7th Battallion, 158th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Batallion, 135th Aviation Regiment, 2 were special operations U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (PJ's) and 1 Combat Controller from the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC); also on board was a highly trained U.S. military dog.

Sadly, the event was reminiscent of a blow we felt a little over six years ago on June 28, 2005, when we lost 11 U.S. Navy SEALs and 8 of our U.S. Army's Night Stalkers in Operation Red Wings. Until August 6th that had been the single worst loss of life in the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. The similarities and immense number of casualties served as a chilling reminder of the grief felt six years ago.

Those killed were not just warriors. They were sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and friends to so many.

Please take a moment to Honor Them and their sacrifice.

May they Never be Forgotten.

(please click on the individual links)

Army Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett 24, of Tacoma, Wash.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson 28, of Angwin, Calif.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill 31, of Stamford, Conn.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown 33, of Tallahassee, Fla.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter 47, of Centennial, Colo.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

Navy Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day 28, of Taylorsville, Utah; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team

Navy Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara 26, of South Sioux City, Neb.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Army Spc. Spencer C. Duncan 21, of Olathe, Kan.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas 31, of Minneapolis; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Army Staff Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger 30, of Lincoln, Neb.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell 26, of Long Beach, Calif.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall 32, of Shreveport, La.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis Langlais 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason 37, of Kansas City, Mo.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills 35, of Fort Worth, Texas; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols 31, of Hays, Kan.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null 30, of Washington, W.Va.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman 27, of Willits, Calif.; assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff 34, of Green Forest, Ark.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves 32, of Shreveport, La.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson 34, of Detroit; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar 24, of St. Paul, Minn.; assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

Navy Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange 25, of Philadelphia; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson 35, of Rockford, Iowa; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn 30, of Stuart, Fla.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman 32, of Blanding, Utah; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe 28, of York, Pa.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

"Bart"

PTSD ~ Where there is HOPE, There is HELP

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:07:00 +0000

PTSD... Four little letters which can dramatically change a person’s life. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Its definition tells us it is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

While much of that definition seems true to what those who suffer through PTSD endure, the word disorder doesn’t quite seem to be appropriate. A disorder is defined as an irregularity, while a wound is defined as an injury. United States Army General, Peter Chiarelli recently said in an interview that he would like to see it changed from PTSD to PTSI, Post Traumatic Stress Injury.

Some may ask and even argue, why does it matter what it’s called? The answer is simple. It helps remove a stigma that sadly many associate with PTSD. We have some of the bravest people in the world volunteering so much of themselves and answering the call to duty. Even the most courageous of warriors are still human though. They can hurt and feel pain just like you and I do.

“Few sights are quite as heartbreaking as an ordinarily powerful man, broken, devastated, and reduced to wordless grief.” - Retired U.S. Navy SEAL, J. Robert DuBois - from the forthcoming book, Powerful Peace.

One of the hardest decisions someone suffering through PTSD can make is to take that first step and ask for help. Many may feel they can handle it on their own, or simply believe it will just go away in time. This is not the case. Just as one cannot perform surgery on oneself and take the place of a medical professional to cure all that ails them, the same holds true for PTSD. Even the strongest, bravest, selfless and most valiant warriors need help.

That need for help is where we all come in. There are numbers that they can call if they are in crisis or just need someone to talk with, but it is up to every one of us to make sure that all of our men and women who suffer know what their options are. Data released last year tells us that a staggering 18 veterans commit suicide every day and that over 950 suicide attempts are made every month. The information obtained also revealed that they were able to rescue approximately 7,000 veterans from the act of suicide after they called the Veterans Crisis line at (800) 273-8255 (TALK), Option 1.

The most important thing to remember is that all those who suffer must know that we are here for them. We do not judge, we do not question, we do not ever falter in our dedication to help them cope with all they’re suffering through. If that means they need us to sit and hold their hand, then we sit and hold their hand. If it means they need us to listen to them, then we will listen to them. If that means they need us to hold them tight while they cry, then we hold them so very tight so they know that we won’t let go. We must be there for them. There is simply no excuse not to be. We must be there to help them find their way back.

Do not let their grip loosen, place your hands over theirs and give them the strength to hold on.

We know you will make it through! We owe so much to you!

This post was a collaboration between the Honor Them

and SEAL of Honor pages.

Please share and spread this blog in hopes that our veterans and active duty

know that as long as we are here, there is hope and there is help.

U.S. Army memorial knife for Wardak, Afghanistan, Extortion 17

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:57:00 +0000

In honor of the 5 crewmen lost from the 158th Aviation Regiment and the 135th Aviation Regiment, U.S. Army National Guard aboard Extortion 17, Wardak, Afghanistan, 8/6/11, DS&S Tactical is offering for auction a very special knife.... This CQBT-B Advanced Combat Knife - a M390 Super Steel blade has now been coated with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) - the toughest, most advanced coating available for knife blades. The knife is being auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

DIRECT LINK TO THE AUCTION:
CLICK HERE

The production of this blade was made possible by Donny Bassett and the Society for the Preservation of Military History as well as the work of Re-New Sharpening and the assistance of Waterjet Cutting Inc. of Albuquerque. The next-generation coating was applied by Ion Bond and the engraving was done by KaMo Engravers of Albuquerque. The concept for this blade came from a discussion with Ssgt Manny Alvarez, U.S. Army.

Navy SEAL Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Part of my mission to Honor Them is to not only support our troops and veterans, but we must also look to the future soldiers who will be defending our freedoms and liberties in the years to come. It is because of this that I asked the gentlemen of Navy SEAL Academy to tell us a little bit about what they do. Here's what they had to say:

A Day in the Life Of a Navy SEAL

Navy SEAL Academy is a military adventure company dedicated to provide its clients the most authentic “day in the life” of a Navy SEAL. We currently have operations in California, Washington DC, North Carolina and Hawaii.

From a few hours at the beach performing exercises mimicking the notorious BUD/s training made famous on the Discovery Channel’s BUD/S Class 234, to spending 4 days rappelling down structures, breaching doors, learning tactical marksmanship, to even fast-roping out of a helicopter, the Navy SEAL Academy has pulled out all of the stops and can give its client full access to an authentic Navy SEAL experience.

Our SEAL instructors bring a wealth of experience to our course. We currently have an Active Duty BUD/s Instructor on staff, as well as an Active Duty Sniper Instructor. We also have a Former SEAL Officer who runs our operations with his SEAL Cadre in Hawaii. All of our SEAL cadre’s military qualifications are many
and diverse. They are all currently working on obtaining all civilian and law enforcement licenses, and qualifications. We have a Quality Management program in place and will be soon certified ISO 9001-2008 to ensure the safety and management of our courses. We are fortunate to have a highly motivated and educated group of Frogmen!

Our courses are extremely diverse, as we cater to many groups. Our clients range from 17 year old students who aspire to become Special Operation Forces candidates, to YPO Executives who run and operate multimillion-dollar companies. We have taught CEO’s, MMA legends, Professional Athletes, Moms, Dads, Grand dads, teens, and more.

We have most recently started a Scholarship Program in California and Hawaii to provide Free Training to any student who holds a contract to any Special Forces Program. We look forward to giving back and helping our new generation of warriors attain their full potential. Hooyah!!!!

For more info please go to:

navysealacademy.com

Other places you can find Navy SEAL Academy:

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

USTREAM

Veterans Day

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:46:00 +0000

History tells us tales of brave warriors and fierce soldiers who will fight to defend our freedoms and liberties without hesitance. As children, we sat in classrooms and read text books with images depicting battle scenes of men with weapons drawn. Do those books do justice to all our brave and selfless military has done for us, though?

It takes a certain kind of man or woman to be willing to risk everything that they have for a cause which is bigger than they are. In fact that type of person is so rare that our current United States Armed Forces only accounts for 1% of our population. That number is staggering low and should be an awakening to all of us that there are not many who are willing to stand up and protect all that we hold dear.

Throughout the years our troops have fought in many wars. During that time we have lost a great deal of our sons and daughters. While we will forever honor the men and women who have fallen, we must also remember to pay our respects and gratitude to those who are still with us.

Those who have served are instilled with a duty to protect and serve our country and it's people. It's more than an idea. It's a way of life for them. Their duty to serve is ingrained somewhere deep within them, never leaving, always prevalent, always true. Our veterans are part of a unique group of individuals who hold steadfast to a form of honor that goes deeper than the written word.

I call on every American nationwide to find a way to honor our Veterans on this day. As the day passes and Saturday comes, honor them again. Then on Sunday, honor them again. As you begin a new your new work week and Monday comes, honor them again. Do you sense the pattern? HONOR THEM forever and always.

THANK YOU, VETERANS!

Veterans Day 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:59:00 +0000

At what cost?

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:50:00 +0000

It seems in the news we're always hearing about military cuts. Whether they're taking it from our defense budget, pensions or health care benefits the one common denominator in the trend is that we're cutting from the very force which protects us. Most recently, the Army has announced it's cutting 50,000 soldiers. This doesn't take into account the recent cuts which have affected all aspects of the various branches.

On November 1, 2011 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert warned while testifying on Capitol Hill that the cuts reaching nearly $1 trillion over the next decade will “cause irreversible harm” to the Navy. He stated further that “It will hollow the military, and we will be out of balance in manpower, both military and civilian, procurement and modernization.” His statements of warning were similar to those of Adm. Mark Ferguson, vice CNO, who made similar claims to a House subcommittee last week. Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army chief of staff added to this by stating that a pullback in U.S. defense spending could cause potential enemies to question the the power of U.S. military power. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, further stated that budget cuts beyond the $450 to $465 billion already in the works would cause severe, long-term damage to his service and in turn affect the Air Force's ability to prepare for future crises and wars. It came as no surprise when Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps concurred with them by adding that steeper defense cuts would undermine the military's ability to maintain a large presence in key parts of the world. So here we have the leaders of our military forces, the ones whom we turn to when we need swift and immediate action against the war on terror telling us that these cuts are not good for the longevity and/or safety of our country. I find it troubling that we are even entertaining such cuts when Washington has been given valid and concrete reasons as to why they should not happen.

Now, I know to the average Joe these cuts may not seem like that big of a deal. As a matter of fact I feel that sadly most Americans have become desensitized to the constant news regarding military budgetary topics and for the most part tune it out. And therein lies part of our problem. These cuts are getting out of control and we're headed on a path that could be damaging to the United States as well as potentially irreversible. I'm sure the first argument by many will be that spending by the Military is out of control as they provide a laundry list of the cost of planes and weapons. I would remind those individuals though, that we didn't become a super power by buying second rate defense weaponry. We spare no expense because nothing is as important to our Armed Forces as protecting this country and it's people. I'm sure many will further argue that we're using these weapons on foreign lands and fighting other people's wars, but are we really? There is a reason it's referred to as the 'global' war on terror and shouldn't we be grateful that the war is not being fought on our land? Our US Armed Forces serve as a global force to all enemies of the world showing them that terrorisst will not win, that as long as the United States of America is there, no human should have to suffer at the hand of terrorists.

However, I must digress as there is another factor in this that I haven't touched on, the care of our men and women who serve. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is at an all time high in our current military as well as veterans. More and more of our troops are coming home with symptoms of this invisible but very real wound. There are also those warriors who come home wounded and whose needs exceed standard medical care. Some need prosthetics and therapy which can range anywhere from weeks to months. We are also seeing a rise in the number of troops who return from combat with Traumatic Brain Injury. We should never forget that these men and women were injured while serving their country. A country they fought valiantly for. Our VA Hospitals have a hard time meeting the health care needs of the troops and veterans we have on the home front now, this doesn't include the tens of thousand who will be returning.

With the Army's recent cuts of 50,000 soldiers and the Air Force's announcement to cut 9,000 civilian jobs we will be sending nearly 60,000 people into an already failing economy with a job market that isn't fit for some of the most qualified applicants. This will leave a majority of our troops out of work, assuming some of them are lucky enough to find employment, in a country where unemployment is already out of control. They can file for unemployment benefits, however we are already paying out so much money on a weekly basis for that it makes you wonder, where would this extra money be coming from? Aren't the military cuts in question supposed to help our drained economy? Taking millions from one calling it a budget cut and in turn paying out millions of unemployment dollars doesn't seem like a well thought out strategy to me. The one place I never seem to see budgetary cuts lies within the very people that are deciding these cuts. I won't get into a political party debate, but I will state that I feel that many in Washington have been irresponsible with both their salaries (including increases) as well as their budgets. Taking vacations, expensive dinners and countless other extravagances do not seem to be relevant to national security. Truthfully, I don't believe one of them would ever stand up and fight the way our men and women of the armed forces have. I don't intend to appear unsympathetic to the task at hand when it comes to finding places to cut millions of dollars in a faltering budget. Cutting from defense just does not seem to be a realistic or feasible option. It certainly isn't one that makes sense to me. Cutting millions from the entities that protect us at the potential risk of weakening our armed forces and subjecting our homeland to terrorist attacks doesn't seem like the end would justify the means. I'm afraid to think what being out of work may do to the mental health of some of our troops returning home who may be suffering from wounds already. There must be a reason health care providers have said for as long as I recall that a positive attitude is good for your health.

Think of all they've seen. Try to imagine if you can the horrors that they've been exposed to in war. The sad realization of it is, that you can't. Unless you've been there and experienced all they have you can only empathize but never truly understand. Our troops are not under draft. They fight so that their homeland is safe and free from harm. Their duty to serve is ingrained somewhere deep within them, putting others before themselves. Isn't it our job to take care of the very people who have fought to protect us? I tell everyone that they should Honor Them for their service, sacrifice and all they do. Is putting them out of work after all they've done for us honoring them? Ask yourself if you could look one of our brave and selfless troops in the eye and say, I know you've fought for me and protected me, but we have no job for you and we don't have the resources available to care for your needs. Sadly, that's what I feel Washington D.C. is saying to our brave men and women of our US Armed Forces.

DS&S Tactical's Charity Knife Auction in honor of those fallen on 8-6-11

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:35:00 +0000

On August 6, 2011 our nation was rocked by tragedy when a CH-47 Chinook carrying 38 Warriors was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade in the Wardack Province of Afghanistan killing all 38 people on board. Of those who died, 17 were U.S. Navy SEALs, 5 were U.S. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command Support personnel, 5 were crew members from the U.S. Army's 7th Battallion, 158th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Batallion, 135th Aviation Regiment, 2 were special operations U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (PJ's) and 1 Combat Controller from the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC); also on board was a highly trained U.S. military dog.

DS&S Tactical, a company founded by a Veteran of Somalia, is making a total of four custom knives to honor our fallen Warriors. These knives will be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder with 100% of the proceeds made going to charities which will help military families. The first knife in the series, and the one you see below will benefit The Navy SEAL Foundation in honor of the fallen heroes of 8/6/11 Tangi River Valley "Extortion 17".

For those of you who have watched me on my mission to Honor Them in the past year you know that any organization willing to give back to military or veterans and their families is always going to have my full and unyielding support. So I ask you to please share this very worthy cause with as many people as you can so that we can help DS&S Tactical raise as much money as possible to give back to those who have given so much. As always, I thank you for your support and all you do to Honor Them.

"All gave some ~ Some gave all"

LINK TO AUCTION

From the DS&S Tactical website:

Because we can:

DS&S will offer a separate knife for charity auction, in remembrance of each of the military services represented in the lives lost at the Tangi River Valley. Below, is the knife marking the lives and accomplishments of the Navy SEALs who died that day. In the coming weeks, we will produce three other blades: One for the Army, one for the Air Force - and we will also produce one to benefit Military Working Dogs. All four knives will be produced by us and 100-percent of the proceeds will go to charity to benefit military families...

The Tangi River Bullshark - now ready for handle and sheath construction - and the special nano-infusion process, which will make the steel as much as 100 times stronger than it is now.

This is a close-up pic of the raw engraved blade which will be infused with single-walled carbon nano tubes - truly super steel .... and one of a kind.

A special thank you to DS&S Tactical for allowing me to post this information from their site.

A few other pictures of the Tangi River Bullshark

Nano Tubes are applied.
They begin to fill in the cut channels and link together

The blade once it's coated

The blade once it's cured

Milestones

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 05:51:00 +0000

On this day, Friday, September 2, 2011 Honor Them reached some milestones that make me very proud. Not just of the work I’ve put into honoring our troops and veterans, but of all of the amazing patriots who have helped me to spread my message. On my twitter account today I surpassed 3 thousand followers. On my Facebook page I surpassed 5 thousand ‘Likes’ and now I’ve reached my 20,000^th tweet.

On June 30, 2010 I began my quest and mission to support our troops and veterans with hopes that I would get some people to listen and perhaps share my devotion to our United States Military. I’ve been overwhelmed with the number of people who have not only assisted me, but with how many amazing patriots out there share my commitment to making sure out troops and veterans are given the respect and gratitude they’ve earned and DESERVE.

It’s been just over 14 months since I began and some days were easier than others but at the end of every night I knew just how important it was and it is for that reason that I continue on. We’ve been at war for close to 10 years now and in that time we’ve lost thousands of courageous, brave and valiant troops in the Global War on Terror. While the loss of life during the war on terror has been tremendous and our focus has been there, we should not disregard the countless other lives lost. Our country has been at a state of war since its inception with countless lives lost in her defense.

Our military has changed in many ways throughout the years as new generations of men and women volunteer their time and so much of themselves to defend our country and its people, but one thing has remained constant. That is their unwavering loyalty to their duty to protect us all from harm, sheltering the American people and in many cases the world from harm. Duty does not fade in the eyes of our troops. It is ingrained within, a steadfast and unyielding way of life which continues on even after they’ve moved on to civilian life.

We should never forget that we haven’t been under draft for decades. The troops serving our country so selflessly are doing so because they’ve chosen to do so. There is not endless wealth at their fingertips. They are not living in luxury due to their chosen profession. Instead, they are eating MRE’s and dealing with unbearable temperature changes while lugging around anywhere from 60 to 150 lbs of equipment on their body. Our military only accounts for 1% of our population. That is a very small number and proves just how special a breed of person it takes to be willing to risk everything for others.

I dedicate the milestones I reached today to our United States Military of past, present and future. Nothing I do would be possible without the sacrifices made by all of you. To our POW/MIA troops, you are Not Forgotten and you NEVER will be. Always you will be remembered for the price you’ve paid in protection of all of us. And to those heroes who have fallen, I take a knee and bow my head in anguish over the price you’ve paid. There are no words which can properly convey the debt which we owe you. I vow to do my part to make sure your families and brothers/sisters of arms will be taken care of.

With respect, gratitude and unrelenting support ~ Amanda

Rules of Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 05:54:00 +0000

Guest blog post by:
Brian "Rudee" Schad - Former US Navy SEAL

Some how, some way, the war in Afghanistan has transformed to a UN agenda police action. Don't believe it?? Then how in the world does "rules of engagement" protect our nation's troops in a battle zone...especially when the USA was attached by "them"? This is asinine! What this clearly means is: American military members can only engage in combat when fired upon - to "defend" themselves. This gives the enemy comfort knowing there will be no element of surprised against them. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!

A post dated August, 24, 2011 - Andrew G. Bostom posts on the votes for and against Rules of Engagement That Protect Our Troops in The American Thinker:

Blog: 77% of Democrats (and Ron Paul) Voted Against Rules Of Engagement That Protect Our Troops

www.americanthinker.com

The way this is worded is very crafty. American soldiers are being asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back...by a congress that is NOT part of the chain-of-command! Maybe Rep. Ron Paul clearly understands this and the establishment politicians do not. I would vote AGAINST it too!

✩¨•✩Happy July 4th ✩¨•✩

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:16:00 +0000

On July 4, 1776 a group of amazing men got together and forged, not just a document and not just a country, but a way of life. Patriotism was born and along with that the greatest nation known to mankind. Sure I say that with a biased amount of pride, but I also believe it to be fact. While the committe to write the Declaration of Independence included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson, it was Jefferson who drafted it.

It truly amazes me at how brilliant Mr. Jefferson was with the words he chose, the things he had enough forethought to include. So many rights, freedoms and liberties were given to us in that document. Such an amazing gift was bestowed upon us. We the people were blessed to have founding fathers who held such courage. Our independence from Britain was not an easy journey. It took bravery and courage. We owe so much to those men who fought so hard and who refused to give up the fight.

That warrior spirit has been passed on through the generations and grown stronger over the years in our armed forces. Some of our allied countries might boast to you that they are the greatest, that their country has the most dedicated patriots. No country has struggled, fought and overcome like ours has though. We have seen many obstacles and united we were able to overcome, perservering and becoming stronger and more dominant with each test given to us.

While other countries may boast of their patriotism and their countries beauty I will not argue with them, but instead say with great pride, I am a citizen of the United States of America and no words can express how grateful I am for that incredible blessing.

So, to my fellow Americans I wish you all a Happy 4th of July. It is a joyous day and one meant for not just celebration, but for reflection. Remember all we have to be thankful for, remember those brave men and women who have sacrificed so much so we could bask in the glory of what it means to live in the greatest nation in the world. Honor them, never forget the price that has been paid by so many. The lives lost should never be in vain. The wounds suffered should never be forgotten.

Happy Birthday, America

God Bless you and your patriots

Forever loyal,

Amanda

☆ Honor Them's 1st Birthday ☆

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:29:00 +0000

I started my mission, quest or duty to Honor Them on twitter on June 30, 2010. Now, admittedly it took me awhile to find my voice. I followed maybe 100 - 200 people when I first began. I would get online and tweet a quote or a piece of news in hopes that someone out there saw it and felt as strongly about it as I did. Truthfully though, I wasn't really sure what I was doing. I knew that I wanted to Honor Them but i just didn't have all of my proverbial ducks in a row on how to go about doing it.

Months went by and I just didn't feel like I was accomplishing anything. Finally 2011 hit and I guess you could say something hit me. I'll be honest and tell you that I'm not sure why I hadn't though of it before. It seemed so clear to me when I finally had thought of it. With the casualty numbers rising in the middle east I decided that someone needed to remember the ones who have given their life for a war that had gone on for nearly 10 years. With every announcement of a new troop being taken from us I felt as though the faces, names and memories of those fallen were becoming a distant memory. And while the war in itself is horrible, I felt that was an even greater tragedy.

I don't remember what day I started tweeting the names of the fallen, but I do remember that I told myself on that day I would never miss a day of honoring them and their sacrifice. Sadly, I will admit there have been 2 days with circumstances beyond my control that I was unable to do so. It was with great regret that I wasn't able to fulfill my promise to both those troops and myself. I was sure to include those that were missed on the following day, but I feel strongly that each one of our selfless heroes that pays such a high price deserves that one day of remembrance for them and their fellow brothers and sisters.

Since I started honoring our fallen on a daily basis it woke me up I guess you could say. In some ways you might even say it inspired me. When I post those names everyday, I'm seeing their faces, their ages, where they're from, etc. Each one of them has their own story. These weren't just faces on a television screen that you happened to glance at while flipping channels. These were people. These were men and women who went to fight a war in a strange land. We live in The United States of America. That in itself is a huge blessing, but they left all that behind and sacrificed so much of themselves in the process. Now I've heard people say things like, "Well they joined" or "They knew what they were signing up for" and similar comments to that effect. And I say to those people, yes, they did! They did join! We are not under a draft. They joined proudly to defend this great nation. Yet our Military accounts for only 1% of our population. Only 1% of Americans have stepped up to defend their country. That is a very telling statistic. Now of course we have veterans who have served and ones that who would like to serve but maybe cannot due to a medical disability or perhaps another situation that may disqualify them, however that wouldn't make that percentage jump that much.

I talk about this all the time, but we are so very fortunate to live in this amazing country. Our forefathers had inventive and courageous ideas about what they wanted not just for themselves but for their children, their grandchildren, and for the rest of this country. They were some very brave and smart men. They took those beliefs and dreams and forged the most important document that any American will ever know.

There is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful for being fortunate and blessed enough to be born in such an amazing place. And I'm sure most of America would agree with me on that. What I fear the most though, is that we're forgetting the very people who defend this nation which we all hold so dear. I've said it before in my posts and I'll say it again. This country would be nothing without our military. Our politicians and government are not protecting our liberties and freedoms, our troops are! I will be the first to admit I do not have what it takes to fight a war, but I have the heart of a lion and I will fight on the homefront. I will fight for our troops and veterans. I will support them and stand by them and give them reassurance, making sure they know just how much their sacrifice means.

I have heard many ask me why I do what I do. "Why dedicate your time, Amanda?" "What was the catalyst to make you so driven to support our troops and veterans?" Honestly, I could give you all a million different answers, but its hard to put into words what you feel so deep inside your soul. Some people are born warriors, some aren't, but I guess I was born to be a tenacious fire under everyone's behind in hopes that everyone starts to Honor Them and their sacrifice. One person can show their support, shake a hand or smile and say thank you, but it takes an entire nation to show our military that we mean it.

So, with all that being said I am asking for a birthday present from each of you. And since it's my 1st birthday, which is a special one, I ask you all to please participate. Now, before you all rush out to the nearest store to buy me a gift maybe you should hear what I'm asking for. I'm kind of picky. :)

Starting today, 6/21/2011 and for the next 10 days I would like you all to find your own way to Honor Them and leave me a comment here on the blog (If you wish the comment may be left anonymous, all I ask is for participation) telling me what you did. Thats all. I don't want anything for myself. I just want our troops and veterans to know how much we love them and how much we all are so thankful for their service and sacrifice. Now, I may have joked about being picky, but really I'm not. There is no minimum requirement, no maximum limits. Here are just a few things you can do to say thank you:

You can say thank you by shaking a hand.
Take a box of donuts to your local VFW.
Take a $5 or $10 gift card to your local recruiters office.
Call your local VA Hospital. They are always in need of donations (items you may have in your home but no longer need) and/or volunteers.
Adopt a troop. There are countless organizations to do that, including Homefront Hugs.
Make a donation to organizations which help the families of the fallen. That Others May Live is one that is always in need of help. (no amount is too small)
Make a donation to Wounded Warrior Project. These troops come home facing new obstacles. (no amount is too small)
Make a donation to programs assisting troops and veterans with PTSD and TBI. Operation PTSD is one of many organizations which could use your support (no amount is too small)
If you're at the diner and see a veteran or troop, buy their meal.

The list of how many ways you can thank our troops and veterans could go on and on, because truthfully there are just so many ways you can say thank you and Honor Them for their service to our country and to us. Some of these things will cost you nothing, some may cost you a few dollars, the important thing is finding something that you can do. Find something that is within your ability. This birthday wish of mine is not about breaking your bank account or causing you stress, its about giving back to an amazing organization, our U.S. Armed Forces so that they know despite everything they've been through they have a whole country of a different kind of warrior standing behind them.

Thank you all. God bless you. God bless America. And God bless our United States Armed Forces! ~ Amanda :)

☆ Happy Father's Day ☆

noreply@blogger.com (Honor Them) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:41:00 +0000

There's nothing quite like the love of a father. They will guide you, teach you and protect you at all costs. When our father's are military men, they hold a whole different level of weight on their shoulders. While fighting they are protecting not just their children, but their country and the world from the war on terror. They miss out on so much of their children's lives while doing so. These men put so many others before themselves and ask for nothing in return.

Thank you to all the Father's of the world. You are loved more than you could ever know.

And to my Dad, I love you. You served in United States Navy with pride and you taught me alot along the way. I was never an easy daughter to raise but we always had a friendship that surpassed all the hardships.

☆ Happy Father's Day ☆

I SALUTE YOU ALL