Duty, Honor, Country, Valor, Sacrifice, and Heroism

Today and every day, I raise my American flag proudly and think about the sacrifices that our men and women have made and are still making in Iraq, Afghanistan and in places which we don't even think about to keep our great country free. We, as a free Nation, should be ever grateful for our veterans—those past and present. I am a proud American because it honors the brave men and women who have served our country and given so much. Their service is such a noble sacrifice that, in my opinion, demands our sincerest respect, thanks, and admiration.

My Trip to Japan

I love my job! For those of you that do not know where I work, I work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE) Learning Center (ULC) located in Huntsville, Alabama as an Instructional Systems Specialist. Our organization is responsible for developing and presenting Proponent-Sponsored Engineer Corps Training (PROSPECT) classes needed to accomplish the Corps' Vision. We are part of the USACE family that is currently commanded by Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp. USACE around the world has approximately 34,600 Civilian and 650 military members. We employ military and civilian engineers, scientists and other specialists that work as leaders in the engineering and environmental arena. We have a diverse workforce of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, natural resource managers and other professionals that meet the demands of changing times and requirements as a vital part of America's Army. We have offices around the globe to include places like Japan, Republic of Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Europe. The offices contribute significantly to the peace and security of the regions that they are located in though the execution of multi-billion dollar construction programs.

Less than two weeks ago, I was invited by the Japan Engineer District (JED) Commander, Colonel Truesdell to go TDY for 120 days. His district is located on Camp Zama, Japan where I will provide backfill support for deployed personnel supporting the rebuild efforts in Afghanistan. It is both an honor and a privilege for me to be able to help and provide this kind of assistance. Joining the JED is an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to support the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and their families living and working in Japan. What an incredible opportunity for me both professionally and personally!

Camp Zama (キャンプ座間) is a U.S. Army post located approximately 35 miles southwest of Tokyo. The JED has a skilled workforce consisting of over 315 personnel including Japanese and U.S. citizens working together with the government of Japan. They are one of the largest of the 45 districts in the Corps that provides quality, professional and comprehensive engineering, construction, and other value-added services in support of peacetime and contingency operations around the world.

So, as you can imagine I have been quite busy with lots of things in preparation of my 13-hour flight to Japan. I have had to get five shots (I still cannot raise my arms above my head), take three online training modules, fill out countless pieces of paperwork, create orders, find my passport, finalize funding, and send lots of email to make my departure date of 31 January 2011. I appreciate all the helpful folks along the way that have helped make this trip possible (USACE HQ, JED, SAW, ULC, HNC, and the support of my husband). With a 13-hour time difference, I am not sure what my personal connectivity will be like but I am looking forward to keeping all of you informed through this blog, Facebook, Twitter and on Skype.

Statistical and source information: http://www.usace.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx

Message to AED-North in Afghanistan

I love Facebook, but it has limitations sometimes when I want to post on a wall. Here is a message I sent to a friend that is working in AED-North:

Each one of your video stories provides a remarkable volume and moving testimonial from the viewpoint of the ordinary person as well as the soldier on the ground doing their part to restore Afghanistan to its former glory. It gives a unique glimpse and perspective of the daily issues and triumphs that you are seeing and working with on a daily basis. All together, these messages make for a powerful look at the positive impact that the Army Corps is making in Afghanistan. The videos show us that our first thoughts and actions should be devoted to the maintenance of the peaceful process of rebuilding this country and that we in time may be able to transmit it in all its integrity and glory back to the Afghanistan people. To be surrounded by hostile Taliban forces but undaunted in your mission, it is because of your grit and grace under the tremendous pressure that this is all possible. I do not doubt whether the coming day will dawn on the people to enjoy the blessings of the liberty that our country wishes for them. In time, I know that the Army Corps will be able to restore their waning confidence and give them reassurance that they can still possess a national government that will sustain itself for many years to come. I hope that the Army Corps is a symbol for the Afghanistan people to continue to fight to preserve their own country. You guys and gals are doing a great job. Hurry home safely. AED-North, you make me proud to be part of the Army Corps team.

If you want to follow them on Facebook, here is their link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1520222831#!/AEDNorth

Memorial Day and Service

There are very few callings more fulfilling than a tour of duty or a career spent in military service. As we approach this Memorial Day weekend, let us honor the fallen by ensuring that our future is worth the sacrifice of their tomorrows. Behind every grave of a fallen soldier is a spouse without a loved one to whom they pledged their undying love, a child who will never again feel the warmth of their parent’s embrace, or a mother and father who have lost the son or daughter they once cradled lovingly in their arms. Such losses are unmatched but can be seen at any of a 100 national cemeteries across the United States where there are military graves.

At Arlington National Cemetery, our nation’s preeminent military cemetery, America’s most recent war dead (Iraq and Afghanistan veterans) are buried in Section 60, also know as the “saddest acre in America”. Arlington also contains the remains of more than 260,000 brave men and women who gave their lives for their country. Others that are laid to rest there also include Presidents and Supreme Court Justices, astronauts and significant historical figures, Medal of Honor recipients and Five Star Officers, along with more than 4,700 unidentified soldiers represented by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Several years back I visited Arlington. What I saw there left a profound sense of emptiness in my soul and has stayed with me and touched me in a way that I will never forget. The cemetery has a peacefulness about it, but as I stood there and viewed the rows and rows of white tombstones stretching towards the horizon, I realized the real cost of war, the real cost of freedom, and the real sacrifices our service men and women make for our country every day. I could not help but feel the loss and the sadness of those families as I stood in such a sacred place that epitomizes the honor of service of our military. Each tombstone gives voice to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to their country.

I don't know how you plan to spend Memorial Day, but I hope you will take a moment to remember those who have served, suffered, and given their lives in defense of our country.

Armed Forces Day Thoughts

Throughout our nation's history, many women and men of courage have willingly defended our nation's liberties at freedom's front in any land, sky, or ocean. Sixty years ago, President Harry S. Truman deemed that a day be set aside to honor this tradition by paying homage to those who have served this nation in uniform. Today is Armed Forces Day and all across the nation, thirteen stripes and fifty stars soar high in the sky at many of our homes because the flag represents our banner of freedom and it is our way to show respect to those who have served and continue to serve in the military.

Armed Forces Day was designated to celebrate all the services (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force) standing watch around the globe. It is because of the selfless service, perpetual vigilance, and constant readiness for action from our soldiers that this day inspires many Americans to pause and pay tribute to the men and women in uniform. Our military has played a major role in the development of our country and has brought peace to many other countries because of their unbending honor, their dedication to duty and their love of country.

This new century ahead holds new and great challenges for our county. The fight for freedom around the world is an ongoing battle. Yes, those missions include supporting the Iraqi and Afghanistan people and the Coalition Air Force Transition Team in their battle with insurgents, so that a free and stable government can take hold and survive. Remember, this fight is not just the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also a fight to save lives through our humanitarian relief operations, a fight to discourage and deter our adversaries, and it is a fight to provide for the strategic defense of our country now and in the future.

As we set aside this day, please show your support of our Armed Forces as they continue to carry out their assigned missions. This evening in particular, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the soldiers who have died serving their country honorably. Their bravery and sacrifice deserve our respect and gratitude. Let us also not forget the families of our service members either. They should also be recognized for their contributions, loving support, and sacrifices they endure that ensure that our service members are ready to answer when our Nation calls.

God Bless Our Troops

If you look at the military forces that we are fighting against, you begin to understand how dedicated and professional our own troops are. Our American forces do not hide in civilian clothes, wave white flags in order to get a little closer, and then commit deadly suicide bombings. Suicide bombing is not part of our military doctrine, nor will it ever be. The Taliban and the insurgents have shown that they do not respect human life. They torture and execute their own people, our fallen heroes, and random civilians. Our military provides food, water and protection for captured enemy combatants. Often, our military medical teams conduct battlefield operations to save the lives of our enemy and their people. While the enemy hides among their civilian population, thus putting their safety at risk, our soldiers are protecting their civilians, and providing medical services to them when they are caught in the middle of friendly fire. We know and understand that there is a profound difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. Iraq and Afghanistan civilians are forced to fight, we volunteer. Our volunteer troops go about their mission because they believe in the freedom and the values that our country stands for. Every day our troops are risking their lives in pursuit of freedom and a safer world for everyone.

Once again, I want to express my appreciation to our dedicated and professional troops that serve our country with integrity and honor. They have held strong to the founding principles of our nation; pursuing liberty, justice, and freedom without regard for their own personal cost. Our troops are the greatest generation who continue to serve as inspiration for us all.

God Bless America

Have you recently thought about the thousands of soldiers serving overseas right now? So many families have sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, mothers, or fathers that have volunteered to serve not once, not twice, not three times, but even four different deployments. These service men and women have served tours of duty in some combination in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in various other locations throughout the world. They are serving years away from their families, friends and loved ones. Just this week, in the aftermath of the quake that devastated Haiti, America once again rose to the task of being the leader of the free world in contributing humanitarian aid and also by sending American troops. Yes, our soldiers are not just at war, they also serve selflessly aiding many other counties helping them preserve their way of life too.

On the calendar, there are a couple of days where we have the opportunity to remember and pay tribute to the men and women throughout history who have served our great nation. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, we pause to honor those who gave their lives to defend our freedom. The freedoms and liberties we cherish on these days was paid for with the blood and sacrifice of countless Americans who answered their nation’s call to serve. Do we really need a day on the calendar to realize that we need to think about and thank our veterans for their service—past and present--every day?

I want take this time to express my appreciation to those who continue to serve our country with integrity and honor. You have held strong to the founding principles of our nation – pursuing liberty, justice, and freedom without regard for the cost to your personal lives. You are the greatest generation who continue to voluntarily serve as inspiration for us all. You understand the difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. Today, as our service men and women answer the call to defend our nation and provide freedom and stability to many ailing and troubled regions around the world, we find ourselves with a new generation of American heroes. These young men and women join their predecessors who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of freedom and a safer free world. Please join me in celebrating our heroes today and every day. God bless them and America!

Patriotism and Love of Country

As a child, I lived on a military post and every morning at 0700 hours we were awakened to the sound of reveille. At 1700 hours every day, a canon fired signaling the end of the work day. At 2300 hours every evening, we were serenaded by Taps. On post, every house flew an American flag every day. Patriotism and love of country wasn't something we celebrated only on the Fourth of July or on Veteran’s Day. Flying the American flag was and still is a way of life for me and countless others connected to the armed forces.

Inside every house on every post lives the spouse and family members of a soldier. Quite often those soldiers aren't home because they are far away defending our freedom. They are in Bosnia, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan or any one of a hundred other countries throughout the world where they might be needed, while the military family is left to "hold down the fort".

My mother displays a plaque in her home which says, "Navy wife - toughest job in the Navy." This is an accurate description of all military family members of all branches. I am not just speculating on this, I speak from experience. I am a "military brat" whose father often said, "It is much easier being a soldier than it is being the family member of a soldier."

My heart and my prayers go out to all the people in America and especially to those families that have a soldier who serves in the military. Tell your loved ones that you love and appreciate them every day.

America - One Family

The fight for freedom in this country has been long, painful and ongoing. As we approach Veterans Day, it is time for all Americans to come together as a single voice in support of our military service men and women along with their family members. As a child of a veteran of the U.S. Navy who fought in the Vietnam conflict, it has always been disheartening for me that the public seldom gives much thought to those who serve to defend our freedom we so take for granted in this country. When American soldiers were brutally killed at the Beirut embassy, their lifeless bodies dragged through the streets of Somalia, and when our men and women were killed in the embassy bombings in Africa, the American people let out a collective gasp at the horror but almost immediately went on living their normal lives as if all was forgotten. Soon, all was forgotten and Americans went on living their normal lives while only immediate military family members, friends of the soldiers and the military community continued to grieve.

The purpose of this letter is to remind all Americans we are all one "family" including our soldiers. In addition to being soldiers, these men and women are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers as well. On September 11, 2001, when foreign terrorists impacted many civilian lives, the American people along with the rest of the world were outraged. I cannot help but wonder why the loss of civilian lives created so much more of an outrage than the loss of the lives of our soldiers who continue to serve and protect this country on a daily basis.