Veterans Blog

Celebrate Veterans Day November 11th: Helping the Military Community

Joe Dougherty — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:08:29 -0800

Did you know that presently there are over  1.4 million people serving on active duty in our United States Armed Forces, with another 1.4 million people assigned to the seven reserve components. The latest census information shows that there are more than 26 million veterans in the United States.

Almost all of these military members and veterans have family members, bringing the total military community to over 50 million individuals. The men and women who make up our military are the finest volunteers in the world, serving daily to support not only our nation, but other countries as well. In addition, their family members serve along with them.

There is a standard misconception that the U. S. Government is completely capable and willing to address the growing needs of our veterans and the military community. It is because of this misconception, that the ASMBA STAR Foundation was established to help meet the rapidly growing needs - financial, physical, emotional, and psychological - of our military members, veterans, and their families; and to provide support and assistance in all of those areas where their needs are not being met.

The needs of the military are great and growing daily. It is through the generosity of individuals like you who have served, or have family members and friends currently serving that we are able to achieve our goals and meet those needs head on. Your donation, no matter how small, can make a difference in the lives of our veterans, active duty service members, and their families.

Your generous contributions made to the ASMBA STAR Foundation will be properly vetted and distributed through organizations assisting veterans and the military community in the following four key giving areas:

· Support of wounded military members and disabled veterans.

· Provide educational assistance to military families through scholarships to military persons and their family members, including spouses and dependent children of deceased military members.

· Provide general assistance to veterans, military members, and their families so we may honor them and show our appreciation for their sacrifice to our nation.

· Provide military community development/services to those organizations that support the military community particularly through activities that provide for the social and recreational well-being of military members and their families.

If you’re a veteran, or have a family member or close friend who is a veteran and wish to give something back to those who continue to safeguard our freedoms please consider making a donation or legacy contribution now to the ASMBA STAR Foundation. Since we are a 501 (c) (3) your gift will be fully tax deductible and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you made a difference in the lives of veterans, their families, and other members of the military community.

What rings more true than Lee Greenwood’s tribute to veterans: 
 
And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, 
and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me 
and I'll proudly stand next to him to defend her still today, 
cuz there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God Bless the USA.
 
To all our soldiers past and present we can’t do enough…Thank You 
for Your Service!  
 
ASMBA STAR Foundation: 
“Serving a cause greater than ourselves”

Are you in “The 7%” Category?

Joe Dougherty — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:48:18 -0700

“The 7%” was written by Regina Brett, a 90 year old from Cleveland, Ohio. She writes: “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 41 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch!

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

13. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

14. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

15. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

16. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

17. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

18. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

19. Over prepare then go with the flow.

20. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

21. The most important sex organ is the brain.

22. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

23. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?"

24. Always choose life.

25. Forgive everyone everything.

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

29. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

30. Believe in miracles.

31. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

32. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

33. Your children get only one childhood.

34. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

35. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

36. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

37. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

38. The best is yet to come.

39. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

40. Yield.

41. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

She concludes with this challenge…It's estimated that 93% won't forward this to a friend, where as 7% will forward this with the title '7%'…Go for it!

Well let the truth be told…Regina is really only in her early 50s, and yes she is a columnist for the “Plain Dealer” in Cleveland, Ohio. I guess words of wisdom from a 90-year old have more of an impact. She recently updated her list to 50. Check it out at http://www.reginabrett.com/ and thanks Regina! …Good Stuff!