It’s been awhile since we’ve posted or have been able to do one of our weekly Military Child Salutes. There’s been a lot of changes going on around General Sarge Headquarters, all of them very exciting! I will talk more about these changes in future posts because this post is dedicated to this week’s Military Child Salute – a little girl named Maelin Parkison whose Navy Daddy is coming home very soon from a deployment to Afghanistan.

Look at that smile! Isn’t she a cutie?

Maelin was nominated for our Military Child Salute because “she misses and loves her Daddy very much” and we know she is beary excited that he is coming home so soon! Maelin is currently living in Michigan, but she will soon be moving back to Norfolk, VA, where her daddy is stationed, when he returns from deployment. 

We also found out that Maelin’s daddy is originally from Newark, NY – which is where my human-owners parents just moved from – and because of that we decided to send Maelin one of our Rochester Knighthawks autographed bears that they built and stuffed with love for us here at General Sarge HQ.

The Rochester Knighthawks posing with General Sarge and Giggles, one of the bears they built and donated to General Sarge HQ.

As you can see, Giggles is a Navy bear just like Maelin’s daddy is in the Navy and he was built by the players full of love and fun. With a name like Giggles, you know that you will be laughing all the time whenever he is around. 

Maelin, we are very proud of your strength and courage here at General Sarge Headquarters. Thank you for being a great military child and we know that you will continue to do great things as you grow up. We salute you!

Two Paws Up!

General Sarge

Our favorite day here at General Sarge HQ as we salute a special military child! Today we’re saluting a sister and brother who’s Daddy – SSGT Charette – is an active duty Marine currently deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit!

We received a very nice email from Cessy and Colin’s Mommy who nominated them for our salute. 

Military Child Salute – Cessy Charette

First we say hello to and salute Cessy! Her Mommy said she’s also known as “Princess, Barbie, Butterfly and Super Sweet Little Pumpkin!”

Isn’t she a cutie! It’s look Cessy is all ready for the cold weather too as she’s decked out in her mittens and wonderful little pink ear muffs! Cessy’s mother also told us she “loves riding her bike which is something she has learned since Daddy’s been gone, playing with baby’s and Barbies! She of course also loves hanging out with her big brother and talks about her Daddy everyday and can’t wait to see him!”

Military Child Salute – Colin Charette

Speaking of Cessy’s big brother – this is Colin Charette!

Colin’s Mommy writes; “This little dude is 4 years old and in preschool. SSGT Charette deployed about 7 months ago”. Colin’s Mommy also told us “Colin is a VERY energetic kid who loves Legos and superheroes. He also enjoys school and has tons of friends. Since his Daddy’s been gone Colin has learned to ride his bike with no training wheels and is super excited to show of his new ‘trick’ when his Daddy gets home!”

We are very proud of both Cessy and Colin and consider it an honor and privilege to salute them today!

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

It’s Monday and time for a Military Child of the Week Salute! The salute for today is really cool because little Antione wrote me a fabulous email! I love receiving email and reading the wonderful stories!

Today please say hello to Antione Smith Jr.! Isn’t he a cutie! Antione told me his daddy is a CTR Second Class with the US Navy and he’s currently deployed on the USS Bonhome Richard.

Antione also told me – “I am a happy 7 month old baby. I have to say I have the best mommy and dad in the world. I’ve only seen my daddy once my whole life a week after I was just born. He missed me coming into this world and much more as I’ve grown! My mommy shows me pictures of my daddy and I’ve seen him on the computer a couple times. My mommy is nominating me because she knows it’s hard for me too, not having my daddy at home. I know when I see him again it’ll take some getting used to and I may be shy. My mommy is proud of the sacrifices my daddy makes everyday and so am I. I know he misses us and wishes he could watch me grow up and it gets hard, but it’s worth it. Daddy’s worth it to us! Not many kids can say their daddy is a United States hero like me”.

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

We are starting another new week here at General Sarge HQ with a Military Child Salute! This week is a very special salute as we are privileged and honored to introduce you to Brianna and her sister, CPL Donika Burkett.

Military Child Salute – Brianna Burkett

Brianna’s mom writes – “Brianna is a Hero in her own way. She was born with a rare genetic disease called Canavan Leukodystrophy. Most children with this normally live between 3-10 years of age with some making it into their teens. Brianna was blessed to turn 18 this past September and is currently a senior in High School”.

Brianna’s mom further wrote – “When Donika was in Marine bootcamp two years ago she sent a letter saying; ‘When things get tough, she thinks of her sister and her willpower to fight this disease. That would give Donika the willpower to stay strong and see it through bootcamp”.

Currently Deployed

CPL Donika Burkett is currently deployed as an Aviation Operation Specialist with the Marines. She was initially assigned to the USS Green-Bay but recently transferred to the Peleliu. When Donika is home Brianna always “lights up” when her sister plays the flute, piccolo or even an Indian flute. She loves to listen to her sister play and is looking forward to the day her sister comes home and can once again enjoy the beautiful sounds her sister can make.

Donika and Brianna’s mom finished her letter to us saying “Both of my daughters are my Hero’s and make this mama very proud.”

Indeed! You have much to be proud of and we are proud to salute them both here at General Sarge HQ!

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

It’s time for another Military Child of the Week Salute! This is one of my favorite days of the week and today it’s a two-fold salute as we not only salute a wonderful military child but also her Daddy who is a “Wounded Hero”!

Military Child Salute – Fitzgerald Family

Please say hello to Brooklynn and the rest of her family – CPL Griffin Fitzgerald and her Mommy Tracy. Brooklynn is just a little over a year old and her Grandmother nominated her for our weekly salute. This is a picture of when Brooklynn was just born.

Isn’t she a cutie!

Brooklynn’s Daddy – CPL Fitzgerald – was injured while serving with the 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Division when he was injured while in Afghanistan after stepping on and detonating an IED. He was initially airlifted to a military hospital in Afghanistan and then flown to an Intensive Care Unit in Germany.

A Beary Special Furry Friend For Brooklynn

Knighthawks Sarge

Brooklynn’s Grandmother also told us she and her family recently moved to the Rochester, New York area from the Washington-Maryland area for treatment and rehab.

With that in mind we are deploying a beary special bear to Brooklynn and her family signed by the Rochester Knighthawks lacrosse team. She’s a cute little kitty-cat that players of the Knighthawks signed for us just before the start of their Championship season earlier this year!

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

The 2/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team 2-1 Infantry Tribute Bear Fundraiser is now underway!

Click here for complete eBay listing of NASCAR Autographed Teddy Bears Up For Auction Now!

My human-owner SPC Benjamin Jeffrey is currently deployed to Afghanistan and we are now raising money to deploy a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear to every child and family member of our “Fallen Heroes” from SPC Jeffrey’s Fort Lewis Army Infantry Brigade serving in Afghanistan during this deployment.

These Army outfitted teddy bears were signed by NASCAR drivers at the 2012 Finger Lakes 355 race at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY. Two of the bears were signed by Lyn St. James and Molly Saleen.

Click the links below and place your bid on eBay on the bears now up for auction!

1. Carl Edwards – Signed the teddy bear on Saturday, August 11, the same day he won the Nationwide race!
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Matt Kenseth
6. Ryan Newman
7. Motor Racing Network Announcers
8. NASCAR Drivers in the Finger Lakes 355 Race – This bear is signed by almost all the drivers who competed in the race! Marcos Ambrose autograph – the winner of the Finger Lakes 355 – is very prominent on the General Sarge t-shirt the bear is wearing!
9. Lyn St. James – Won the Indy 500 Rookie Award the first time she raced in the Indy 500.
10. Molly Saleen – Daughter of race car driver and designer of the Mustang Saleen!

Spread the word, tell your friends and support a great cause as we raise money to deploy teddy bears to the families of Fallen Heroes.

Thanks for your support and two paws up!
General Sarge

It’s a Monday morning and as many track Hurricane Sandy today, we of course are ready to salute another great military child.

Our salute this morning is for another little girl we met this past Christmas while visiting San Diego, CA for the Celebrate The Military Child Holiday Bonanza! We had a great time and met so many wonderful people from every branch of the military at the main Armory in San Diego.

We met both Riley and her big brother Sergio and had a nice little chat with them both! Their Daddy is SPC Andres Guzman who’s currently serving with the Army National Guard as an Automated Logistic Specialist. That means he’s the guy who makes sure our soldiers receive the right supplies at the right time to make sure they’re all safe and have what they need.

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

Welcome to Monday and welcome to another great day for a military salute. Today the salute is slightly different. Instead of saluting a military child we are saluting a young woman who was nominated by her mother as she recently reported for duty with the U.S. Navy!

Military Monday Salute - Navy SA Salter

Please say hello to SA Jessica Salter. Jessica is currently a Seaman Apprentice – that’s what the SA stands for – serving with the Navy in San Diego.

We met Jessica’s Mom at a recent event we did with the local American Red Cross Chapter. It was a great gathering of military families with all kinds of military family support organizations in attendance too.

Jessica’s Mom was quite interested in the fact that my human-owner is currently deployed to Afghanistan and that not only was I his first teddy bear, but that he also has a teddy bear with him in Afghanistan keeping him company too! She quickly nominated her daughter for our salute! On the nomination form Jessica’s Mom wrote; “Jessica has a twin sister named Julie. She’s 19 years old and attended Lyons High School in Lyons, New York. Jessica was also a cheerleader and has a great personality”. Jessica’s sister said she’s very proud of her twin-sister too.

Nominate A Military Child For Our Salute

Every Monday we love saluting a military child – whether it’s a child of a military family or in the case for today a daughter or son of a proud parent – and we are always looking for nominations. It’s easy to nominate a military child for our weekly salute too…

Nominate A Military Child for our Weekly Salute – Click Here For Details

Remember to spread the word and tell your friends! Every child we salute receives a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

I was so excited yesterday it was all I could do to keep from bursting my seams and having some of my stuffing come out! If that happened I would have then made an emergency visit to my favorite Build-A-Bear Workshop store at Eastview Mall in Rochester, NY for a Bear Surgeon to fix me up. But – while I was excited – I did manage to contain my excitement enough so I did not pop any seams. It’s a good thing I work out as part of my daily Physical Training! After all, being a General in the Army it is important that I stay in shape.

Skype With Ben

So, why was I so excited? My human-owner called on Skype yesterday and I got to see him and chat with him some too!

As you can see by the time stamp on the top of the picture it was during the noon hour yesterday when I chatted with my human-owner. He said he was pretty tired as they are really busy in Afghanistan. The time change is very complicated too and I don’t have fingers on my paws so I had to ask for help to figure out what time it was there.

There’s an eight and a half hour time difference!

Time Difference And Modern Technology

So lets see – with an eight and a half hour time difference and just about 1pm my time when I was chatting with SPC Ben, that means it was almost 9:30pm Afghanistan time! Wow! That means when I was talking with my human-owner “yesterday”, it was almost his “tomorrow”.

We talked about a lot of things. What he’s doing, how he’s doing and since it was after 9pm for him, I asked him what he had for dinner. Silly boy told me he had a bowl of cereal for dinner! He said he wasn’t really hungry and that was all he felt like having. SPC Ben was getting ready to head to bed soon too because he had to be up really, really early in the morning. He told me he was probably going to have some homemade chocolate chip cookies he received in a package we sent him a couple weeks ago. It takes a long time for mail to get to him too. We sent the package with the cookies in it about 10 to 14 days ago. They arrived safely though and he said only a couple of the cookies broke. He’s really enjoying them.

All in all it was a great day yesterday! I know my human-owners Dad loves it when he finds pictures of him on Facebook. Of course it makes for an even better day when we can chat with him in real time on Skype. Modern technology is amazing!

Two paws up!
General Sarge

Today is a very special Military Child of the Week Salute as we give a “Two paws up” to a little Baby John who’s still really, really young.

Please say hello to Baby John who’s Daddy is in the U.S. Army Reserves. When Baby John’s Mommy was 34 weeks pregnant, his Daddy Sean was in Afghanistan and his Mommy – Heather – was rushed to the hospital with back pain and a headache. After she arrived at the hospital, Heather started having seizures caused by massive bleeding on the brain and she then slipped into a coma.

Little John Michael Thomas Brown was delivered by an emergency C-section.

Bringing Home The Browns

It took 72 hours for John’s Daddy, Sean, to get home from Afghanistan. When he arrived in Texas he received a police escort to the hospital where his tiny newborn son was. After seeing his son, Sean then went to Heather’s side. Heather is still in a coma and Baby John is getting stronger every day but the whole family still has a long journey ahead of them.

Follow the journey of the Browns on Facebook – Click Here!

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Browns and we have picked out a very beary special Teddy Bear for Baby John which we will deploy to him this week.

Two paws up!
General Sarge