John + Gilda ************************************************************************** Two LIVE Events and Concert on Internet July 26 This message is for all Americans who can set aside politics and affirm their support for our troops, their families, the wounded and more! Please send this info to as many people as you can as quickly as possible! On July 26, 2008 we are teaming up with many organizations to produce two of the biggest LIVE Talk Show events of the year. 1. At 1:30-3:30pm EST we will broadcast LIVE on stardustradio.com from the Marine Parents United 2008 Conference in Chantilly, Virginia. Guests on this program are Allison Barber with America Supports You, Lee Greenwood Country and Western Singer, 9 Military Support Groups and more. For More information on this great event go to the talk show information page at: http://talkingwithheroes.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=731 To see the Marine Parents United News Release please go to: http://newsblaze.com/story/20080719120106nnnn.nb/topstory.html 2. The Second LIVE Talk Show Event takes place at a www.Thanksusa.org Concert to Benefit Military Families at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. This event is part of a fundraising drive to provide scholarships for military spouses and dependents. The second Talk Show is followed by a LIVE Concert webcast over the Internet by TV Worldwide on www.USVets.TV at 7:00pm EST from the beautiful Warner Theater. For more information on this talk show and LIVE Concert go to http://talkingwithheroes.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=931 To see our News Release on both of these LIVE Talk Show events go to http://newsblaze.com/story/20080720214806nnnn.nb/topstory.html For more info on these programs including when these interviews will air on our regular Sunday night programs go to www.talkingwithheroes.com and click on Talk Show Schedules. There will also be an announcement on the website when these interviews can be Watched on www.myfbn.com Please send this info out to as many people as you can plus everybody you know in the military especially those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and more and their families back home! Bob Calvert, Host www.talkingwithheroes.com Email: bobc9246@yahoo.com

Everyone Needs Mail from Home!
I add names as friends and family members of service men and women send them to me.
More of our Military is spread out over the globe now than at any time in recent memory. With peacekeeping in Bosnia, the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in addition to the bases globally that the Armed Forces are stationed with in "normal" times, that's thousands of Americans far from home.
Deployments have been extended, stop loss orders mean that they are going to be there for a time longer than originally thought. And while no one said the military life would be an easy one, it sure is good to know there are people back home who appreciate the job they are doing.
You Can Help
While many soldiers, maybe most, do not reply to us, some eventually do respond, and it is so exciting when we get a note, can you imagine how they must feel?   Keep sending little cards and letters of support!   Maybe include a photo, or funny current event story, whatever....! Write about just regular life back home here and what you might be up to. We are not really pen pals: we are just writing to send cheer. You only need to pay 39 cents postage.   (Remember to include a self-addressed return envelope for a reply -- it helps! no stamp needed for soldiers to reply.) Send a card with signatures of many co-workers, family members, neighbors, retirement club, ski club, scout group, whatever! You don't have to write a lot of words.
You could mention that they can send me an e-mail at MarineVet66To68@comcast.net    to submit their names or a fellow soldier's name and address to receive personal mail. Most have only rare opportunities to use a computer for email.
Here you will find the names of Soldiers who have told us they would like to receive mail.
If you don't get an answer or your letter comes back, please know that due to uncertain troop rotation they don't always know where they are going to be and the Military does NOT forward mail. Please be sure to let us know of any addresses that you get mail back from so that we can update the website.
For that reason it's best to make sure your Soldier knows you are sending a package before sending one. The rules regarding mailing packages to members of the Military are changing due to security concerns, so please, ask before sending anything.

NOTICE

I'm happy to say OMFH is going on its 4th year. I just wanted to personally thank the Sponsor's + Everyone who has taken the time to go out of their way for our Servicemen + Women.

                                                                                  God Bless'

                                                                                    John

How often do we consider the:

• nearly 1.38 million active-duty military personnel worldwide?

• estimated 234,000 deployed for GWOT (Global War on Terrorism)?

• more than 38,000 stationed in South Korea since 1950?

• Approximately 16,000 still based in and around Afghanistan?

• roughly 5,200 deployed in Kosovo and 3,100 in Bosnia?

• fact that Europe is still home to 111,000-plus?

• over 125,000 deployed in the Pacific theater?

Additionally, many expect the long-term post-war contingent in Iraq to number in excess of 20,000.

Our nation’s commitments are many and that load is shouldered by a proud and selfless few. We cannot repay their sacrifices or truly compensate them for their dedication. We can, however, honor them with a glimpse of life back home, with entertainment and with our mere presence, if only for a short while.

If you know of a service member who would like their name added to our list, please E-mail Me at: MarineVet66To68@comcast.net
Please make sure they would indeed like to have their name added before submitting it!

By the way, it is totally legal to post public information on the web. Names and PO addresses which people have requested posting with the purpose of receiving mail to break up the loneliness of being far from home and a familiar culture is not a misuse of anyone's time or money.

 NOTICE

If you click on a site + it doesn't load just cut + paste it in your web browser.

Many of the graphics + artwork on my site were sent to us by our viewers or the troops themselves. If any are copyrighted, please e-mail me and I will give it proper credit or will remove it. John aka MarineVet66To68@msn.com

"THANK A SOLDIER" VIDEO

A poem by a good friend of mine DI + a Proud Marine Mom

                                                              John

DEPLOYMENT
Mothers and Sons

You can rest assured that here at home
We'll batten the hatches, prepared for any storm.
We'll pray for your landing in the sands of hell
And that all remain safe until this horrible spell
Is broken for good; then we shall pray,
There are no more marines following into harm's way.

I'll watch over your wife and your unborn child
As you take those same steps I promise, I too, will go forth extra miles.
You won't need to worry about her nor her about you
Because the faith we all share will most assuredly get us all through.
It has twice before this so we're used to deployment,
We hate it, deplore it, dread it, not one second of enjoyment.

We know what is it, how frightening and how hard it can be,
How Faith in God and many Prayers somehow sets us all free.
I'll cry at the joy of sharing in the birth of your child;
And yet in sorrow and fear until you're homebound again, those last few miles.
Your wife will be glad when the baby she can hold
But she won't be at ease till you, she, and child together enfold.

I hope you can go with a clear set mind
Of doing the job it will take and then you will find,
A trip back home with all who left with you
Safe and sound, one and all, to a heroes welcome just due.
You will be meeting a new son or daughter
Someone special, who'll someday say, "Daddy, you're my Hero"

©Copyright June 6, 2006 by Diane M. Weller