By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 19, 2007 - The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard each honored one of their own at a Pentagon ceremony today with an award named for actor-comedian Bob Hope. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. hosted the Spirit of Hope Awards ceremony.
The award honors Hope's values of duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication, said Michael Kagin, the award's originator. It recognizes individuals or organizations who have "selflessly contributed an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to significantly enhance the quality of life of servicemembers around the world," he said.
Bob Hope traveled the world under the United Service Organizations banner to entertain American servicemembers wherever they were stationed. His first USO show was at March Field, Calif., in 1941, and his last USO tour entertained forces in the Persian Gulf War in 1990. The U.S. Congress recognized Hope at an honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces. He died in 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.
The Army recognized retired Chaplain (Col.) Lyle Metzler for his lifelong contributions. Metzler served two tours in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. He retired from the military and became a chaplain, where he became dedicated to working with soldiers and their families. In 2005, he volunteered to serve as chaplain for the 145th Medical Battalion and its five associated units as it deployed to Afghanistan. He served as a personal mentor and counselor to several soldiers and their families.
The Navy honored James W. Carrier for his efforts to improve the lives of veterans and for aid to wounded warriors. Carrier helped to raise $40 million for the Center for the Intrepid wounded warrior rehabilitation facility at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and for the Fisher House Foundation, which builds housing so the relatives of wounded servicemembers can visit them as they recover. He also raised money for the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund.
Air Force Master Sgt. Louis D. Pell received the award for a lifetime of outreach to airmen and veterans. Assigned to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Pell coordinated and participated in many volunteer efforts, including blood drives, muscular dystrophy fundraising and reading to elementary school students.
The Marine Corps recognized the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund for its efforts to provide financial assistance to Marines injured in combat or training. With the generosity and support of the American people, the group – founded by Marine spouses around a kitchen table in 2004 – has provided more than $9.4 million in assistance to more than 1,700 servicemembers. One of the group's co-founders – Wendy Lethin – received the award on behalf of the fund.
Coast Guardsman Marvin J. Perrett received his award posthumously. He piloted a Higgins boat in the invasions of Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa during World War II. After the war, he returned to his native New Orleans and became a leader in establishing the National World War II Museum there. Perrett traveled the country telling a new generation the Coast Guard's story.
Casey recalled that Bob Hope received the Sylvanus Thayer Award in 1968 at West Point. In his speech, the comedian said that "living in America is a great privilege. The only thing greater is that wonderful feeling in your heart when you know that you deserve that privilege, that you have paid for your little slice of freedom."
Casey said that much has changed since 1968, when the West Point class was ready to deploy to Vietnam. "We're fighting a different war, we're fighting a different enemy, but what America stands for – life liberty and the pursuit of happiness – has remained constant," Casey said. "And our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families are bearing a heavy burden now after six years of war. (The honorees') efforts are especially worthy of note and recognition. They epitomize the values of Bob Hope."
Monday, November 19, 2007
America Supports You: Americans Send Troops Thanks by the Thousands
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 19, 2007 - Since 6 a.m. Nov. 17, thousands of Americans across the country paused to text a message of gratitude to the nation's servicemembers for their sacrifices through the "Giving Thanks" text messaging program. "It already feels like a terrific, successful campaign, because from the thousands and thousands of messages that have come in already, we're seeing that the American people really just want a chance to say 'Thanks,'" said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, of the America Supports You initiative.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The "Giving Thanks" text messaging initiative, which officially began at 6 a.m. Nov. 17, and ends at midnight PST, Nov. 22, already has received more than 40,000 messages of thanks, according to the tally board on the America Supports You Web site.
"I think we got off to a great start," Barber said, adding that she thinks the desire to thank the troops will spread throughout the public in the coming days. "What you'll see over the next several days is that more and more people will be looking at how to let Americans know how to text message and thank our troops."
That phenomenon began over the weekend with talk of the "Giving Thanks" program at sporting events, on nationwide radio programs and even a Sunday news show. Tim Russert, host of "Meet the Press" encouraged his viewers to text their support to the troops during yesterday's program.
"During this week of Thanksgiving, let our troops know we're thinking about them through the Pentagon's America Supports You program," Russert said. "You can send your message of thanks by texting to 89279."
All of the messages received express the sender's gratitude for the military and the sacrifices the servicemembers are making. Some messages are longer, others are much shorter but just as powerful, like the one from a supporter in Pennsylvania who wrote, "You are heroes of the heart."
Each message like the one from Pennsylvania will receive a response thanking the sender for thinking of the troops this holiday season.
In response to the public outpouring of support, servicemembers have sent in statements of gratitude as well. Most, like the one from Rick, a Marine master sergeant stationed in Iraq, carry the same sentiment; the troops are glad to know they still have support back home.
Rick wrote, "I'd like to thank everyone back home for their continued show of support for those of us deployed around the world. It means a lot knowing that we're not alone over here in Iraq."
Barber said her goal is to give everyone in the country who has the ability to send text messages the opportunity to send in a message like the supporter from Pennsylvania.
"That's a pretty big goal," she said. "If we can find and maximize every opportunity to invite people to text our troops, and to have them invite their friends (to do the same), that'll be success for us."
Major mobile wireless providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, will provide access to the Giving Thanks program.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 19, 2007 - Since 6 a.m. Nov. 17, thousands of Americans across the country paused to text a message of gratitude to the nation's servicemembers for their sacrifices through the "Giving Thanks" text messaging program. "It already feels like a terrific, successful campaign, because from the thousands and thousands of messages that have come in already, we're seeing that the American people really just want a chance to say 'Thanks,'" said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, of the America Supports You initiative.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The "Giving Thanks" text messaging initiative, which officially began at 6 a.m. Nov. 17, and ends at midnight PST, Nov. 22, already has received more than 40,000 messages of thanks, according to the tally board on the America Supports You Web site.
"I think we got off to a great start," Barber said, adding that she thinks the desire to thank the troops will spread throughout the public in the coming days. "What you'll see over the next several days is that more and more people will be looking at how to let Americans know how to text message and thank our troops."
That phenomenon began over the weekend with talk of the "Giving Thanks" program at sporting events, on nationwide radio programs and even a Sunday news show. Tim Russert, host of "Meet the Press" encouraged his viewers to text their support to the troops during yesterday's program.
"During this week of Thanksgiving, let our troops know we're thinking about them through the Pentagon's America Supports You program," Russert said. "You can send your message of thanks by texting to 89279."
All of the messages received express the sender's gratitude for the military and the sacrifices the servicemembers are making. Some messages are longer, others are much shorter but just as powerful, like the one from a supporter in Pennsylvania who wrote, "You are heroes of the heart."
Each message like the one from Pennsylvania will receive a response thanking the sender for thinking of the troops this holiday season.
In response to the public outpouring of support, servicemembers have sent in statements of gratitude as well. Most, like the one from Rick, a Marine master sergeant stationed in Iraq, carry the same sentiment; the troops are glad to know they still have support back home.
Rick wrote, "I'd like to thank everyone back home for their continued show of support for those of us deployed around the world. It means a lot knowing that we're not alone over here in Iraq."
Barber said her goal is to give everyone in the country who has the ability to send text messages the opportunity to send in a message like the supporter from Pennsylvania.
"That's a pretty big goal," she said. "If we can find and maximize every opportunity to invite people to text our troops, and to have them invite their friends (to do the same), that'll be success for us."
Major mobile wireless providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, will provide access to the Giving Thanks program.
Bush Counts Troops Among America's Blessings This Thanksgiving
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 19, 2007 - President Bush issued his Thanksgiving greeting today, counting members of the U.S. military among the many blessings Americans have to be thankful for. "Today, the men and women of the United States armed forces are taking risks for our freedom," the president said at historic Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Va. "They're fighting on the front lines of the war on terror, the war against extremists and radicals who would do us more harm."
Bush noted that many U.S. troops will spend Thanksgiving far away from the comforts of home and expressed thanks for their service and sacrifice, as well as that of their families. "We keep their families and loved ones in our prayers," he said. "We pray for the families who lost a loved one in this fight against the extremists and radicals, and we vow that their sacrifice will not be in vain."
Americans are grateful to live in a time when freedom is taking hold in places where liberty was once considered unimaginable, the president said. He noted that the number of democracies in the world has more than doubled since the early 1980s.
"From our own history, we know these young democracies will face challenges and setbacks in the journey ahead," he said. "Yet as they travel the road to freedom, they must know that they will have a constant and reliable friend in the United States of America."
Bush expressed gratitude for U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and all other Americans "who serve a cause larger than themselves," from police officers to firefighters to religious leaders to ordinary citizens who become good Samaritans in times of distress.
The president noted America's long tradition of giving thanks during Thanksgiving celebrations. He recalled the first Thanksgiving celebration in the New World, at Berkley in 1619, and the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving after their first harvest in New England.
He also noted times in the nation's history when fighting forces have paused to reflect on all they have to be grateful for. "We remember that George Washington led his men in thanksgiving during the American Revolution," he said. "And we remember that Abraham Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a bloody civil war."
The sound of a bugle call first adopted by Union forces at Berkeley during the Civil War serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedoms Americans enjoy today, Bush said. "The bugle call has become known as 'Taps.' And when we hear it play, we remember that the freedoms we enjoyed have come at a heavy price."
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 19, 2007 - President Bush issued his Thanksgiving greeting today, counting members of the U.S. military among the many blessings Americans have to be thankful for. "Today, the men and women of the United States armed forces are taking risks for our freedom," the president said at historic Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Va. "They're fighting on the front lines of the war on terror, the war against extremists and radicals who would do us more harm."
Bush noted that many U.S. troops will spend Thanksgiving far away from the comforts of home and expressed thanks for their service and sacrifice, as well as that of their families. "We keep their families and loved ones in our prayers," he said. "We pray for the families who lost a loved one in this fight against the extremists and radicals, and we vow that their sacrifice will not be in vain."
Americans are grateful to live in a time when freedom is taking hold in places where liberty was once considered unimaginable, the president said. He noted that the number of democracies in the world has more than doubled since the early 1980s.
"From our own history, we know these young democracies will face challenges and setbacks in the journey ahead," he said. "Yet as they travel the road to freedom, they must know that they will have a constant and reliable friend in the United States of America."
Bush expressed gratitude for U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and all other Americans "who serve a cause larger than themselves," from police officers to firefighters to religious leaders to ordinary citizens who become good Samaritans in times of distress.
The president noted America's long tradition of giving thanks during Thanksgiving celebrations. He recalled the first Thanksgiving celebration in the New World, at Berkley in 1619, and the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving after their first harvest in New England.
He also noted times in the nation's history when fighting forces have paused to reflect on all they have to be grateful for. "We remember that George Washington led his men in thanksgiving during the American Revolution," he said. "And we remember that Abraham Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a bloody civil war."
The sound of a bugle call first adopted by Union forces at Berkeley during the Civil War serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedoms Americans enjoy today, Bush said. "The bugle call has become known as 'Taps.' And when we hear it play, we remember that the freedoms we enjoyed have come at a heavy price."
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