Message From the (USA) Troops

Click here to visit a website Dedicated to our deceased Heroes that have served in Iraq & Afghanistan

Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away

Inscribed on the western panel of the Tomb are the words:

HERE RESTS IN
HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN
SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD

The Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), headquartered at Fort Myer, Va.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument in Arlington National Cemetery, United States dedicated to the American servicemen who have died without their remains being identified. The 'Unknown Soldier' of World War I is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations' highest service awards. The U.S. Unknown Soldiers who were interred afterwards are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by the U.S. presidents who presided over their funerals.

Veterans Day is observed on November 11. The holiday was originally called Armistice Day, and it commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. Fighting stopped at 11 am, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans. Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar congressional action.

In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

(Historically, the first Veterans Day parade was held in 1953 in Emporia, Kansas.)

A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

The dictionary says:

-noun
1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.
2. a person who has served in a military force, esp. one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.
-adjective
3. (of soldiers) having had service or experience in warfare: veteran troops.
4. experienced through long service or practice; having served for a long period: a veteran member of Congress.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of veterans.

When I hear the word Veteran, I think of men and women who have served their country. And because of their service I am able to live the life I choose.

They risk their life for my freedom. Some lost their live for my Freedom. Thank You.

Whether or not I agree with any war past or present. I honor and respect our military personnel for all they do and risk.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States" Because of its nature, the medal is commonly awarded posthumously.

Metals in photo from left to right, the Army, Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force medals

Established by order of the President 02 JAN 1918, confirmed by Congress 09 JUL 1918. Awarded to members of the US Army serving after 06 APR 1917, who distinguish themselves by

"Extraordinary Heroism in Connection with Military Operations Against an
Opposing Armed Force."

Second and subsequent awards are denoted by bronze Oak Leaf Clusters;
a silver Oak Leaf Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze.

Designed by CPT Aymar Embury; Sculpted by CPL Gaetano Cecere

(Awarded to US Air Force personnel until 1960)

Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or to any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, since April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received from an opposing enemy force while in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism or being a Prisoner of War.

The "History" section of the November 2008 edition of National Geographic estimated the number of purple hearts given as below. Above the estimates, the text reads, "Any tally of Purple Hearts is an estimate. Awards are often given during conflict; records aren't always exact" (page 33).

World War II: 964,409
Korea: 136,936
Vietnam: 200,676
Persian Gulf: 590
Afghanistan: 2,743 (as of 8/21/2008)
Iraq: 33,923 (as of 8/21/2008)

The History of the Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is America's oldest military decoration. It was originally established on August 7, 1782 by General George Washington who designed the original award called the "Badge of Military Merit." The Badge of Military Merit was awarded for singularly meritorious action to a deserving hero of the Revolutionary War. There were only three recipients of the award, all of whom were noncommissioned officers of the Continental Army. The Badge of Military Merit was intended by Washington to be a permanent decoration but was never used again after the three initial presentations until it was reestablished as the Purple Heart Medal on February 22, 1932 (the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth) by the Army War Department. During the First World War, War Department General Order No.134 of October 12, 1917 authorized a red ribbon with a narrow white center stripe to be worn on the right breast for wounds received in action. However, the order was rescinded 32 days later and the ribbon never became a reality. Instead the Army authorized wound chevrons which were worn on the lower right sleeve of the tunic. On July 21, 1932, General Douglas MacArthur, who was a key figure in its revival, received the first Purple Heart after it was reestablished. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order on December 3, 1942 that expanded the award to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard as well. Although the Purple Heart was awarded for meritorious service between 1932 and 1943, the primary purpose of the award has always been to recognize those who received wounds while in the service of the United States military. Later Presidential Executive Orders extended eligibility for the Purple Heart to military and civilian personnel who received wounds from a terrorist attack or while performing peace keeping duties. Currently, it is awarded for wounds received while serving in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces after April 5, 1917; it may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel. The wounds may have been received while in combat against an enemy, while a member of a peacekeeping force, while a Prisoner of War, as a result of a terrorist attack, or as a result of a friendly fire incident in hostile territory. The 1996 Defense Authorization Act extended eligibility for the Purple Heart to prisoners of war before April 25, 1962; previous legislation had only authorized the medal to POWs after April 25, 1962. Wounds that qualify must have required treatment by a medical officer and must be a matter of official record. The Purple Heart was originally last in precedence of all other personal decorations but was elevated in 1985 by an act of Congress to a position just behind the Bronze Star. The medal is a heart-shaped, gold-rimmed medallion with a profile of George Washington on a purple enameled base. Above Washington's profile is the shield from his family's coat of arms. FOR MILITARY MERIT is inscribed on the reverse. The ribbon is a dark purple with narrow white edges. The original Badge of Military Merit was a satin purple heart edged in white. The format may have been used since the strongest wood available for gun carriages and weapons during the Revolution was called "Purpleheart", a very strong smooth grain wood from Latin America that was stronger than the famous English oak. Here was an American wood that was stronger, more resistant to rot and termites than any other known wood. Perhaps General Washington chose the American Purpleheart wood as a symbol of strength and resistance over the British hearts of English Oak ( a popular English military song of the time). Additional awards of the Purple Heart are denoted by bronze and silver oak leaf clusters or gold and silver stars, depending on the recipient's Service Branch.

The Veterans Honor Guard of Vancouver, WA serve families and communities as they lay to rest fellow service men and women.

The Color Guard marched by, holding their flags out as the breeze caused them wave softly at the clusters of people lining the street.

The place... somewhere in middle America, USA.

Even as a small child, I knew that we were to stand as the flag passed by, with hand on heart, watching silently, and teary-eyed. I had seen both parents do this countless times in my young life.

I had seen my father gulp down the lump in his throat as the flag neared, and then passed by. My mother touching my shoulder, lest I forget to pay tribute in the honorable way.

My dad was not able to join the military, for several reasons, and it never ceased to grieve him that he was unable to serve.

My brothers were all in the service. And, having a sincerely patriotic family surrounding me, when I was 16 or 17 I announced just as my brothers had, that I was going to "enlist". The roar of disapproval amazed me. My brothers assured me that it was no place for a girl.

I wanted to be an Air Force Nurse, AND a pilot. Brothers said an emphatic, "No!"

So, I did the next best thing... I just became a "regular" nurse. And I always found ways to serve and care for people. That is what counts too.

Wake Up Idaho Presents Pearl Harbor Remembered

2403 American servicemen and 68 civilians died that day with another 1178 wounded. Five battleships were sunk other were sinking, three destroyers were wrecked, a minelayer and target ship had capsized, two cruisers were badly damaged and many other ships needed repairs. 188 aircraft were destroyed. About half the lives lost were servicemen on the USS Arizona, it lost 1,177 of its crew. The Okalahoma lost 456 men. The hull of the Arizona became a memorial to those lost that day, most of whom remain within the ship.

Click here to listen to more about the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

By law, a star is added to the U.S.A. Flag on the Fourth of July following the admission of the state or states bringing about these changes. No star is identified with a specific State, and there is no law designating the permanent arrangement of the stars. No flag ever becomes obsolete, each is still a legal flag and is entitled to the same respect shown the current flag.Most people believe that the Betsy Ross was the first design, but the first documented U.S.A. flag was the staggered star pattern. This flag was first flown by Captain John Paul Jones on the USS Ranger in 1777

Click Here for more information and pics