Service Members Honored at The Players Championship

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Sunday Williams, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Southeast

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. (NNS) -- Service members and their families from military installations throughout the Florida and Georgia area were honored during Military Appreciation Day May 11 at The Players Championship 2011 in Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead was the guest speaker at the event.

Roughead thanked all who attended for their support of service members.

"They do it because of you," said Roughead. "They serve because of you. The words of encouragement, the acts of appreciation that you perform to express that appreciation are not lost on those who serve and that is what allows them to get up every day, to go into harm's way."

The ceremony was held on Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass' clubhouse lawn and included a pageantry of military personnel. More than 1,000 people attended the ceremony that featured numerous events designed to honor and show appreciation to all active duty, retired and Reserve military members and their dependents.

The ceremony included "The National Anthem," performed by the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus from Fort Bragg, N.C.; a flyover; and remarks from Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, Jim Furyk, a PGA Tour player, and representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project and the Military Warrior Support Foundation.

"This is a fantastic event," said Wilma Hernandez, a resident of Ponte Vedra. "I live here and come every year to this event to honor our military, and it is so great to see so many people come out to support them because they deserve to know how grateful we are for their service and sacrifice."

Roughead went on to say it is not just thanks due to those who serve, but thanks also to those that allow service members to serve.

"Behind each and every one of them is a family, someone that allows them to put this uniform on every day, to go off and do something that they love to do, something that they know is important and something that they know is making a difference in this world," said Roughead. "So for that encouragement, for that support, I thank you."

Kara Lyle, a wife of a Army Soldier, said she was honored to attend in support of her husband Army Staff Sgt. Jared Lyle, who is currently serving in Afghanistan.

"I go to every function I can to show support for our troops because it is important," said Lyle. "It was so great to hear the CNO speak and to thank military member's families as well, but what really warmed my heart is that he truly is proud of all of these men and women and honored to serve with them."

Darius Rucker, a country music artist, closed the program with a special performance dedicated to the military and their families.

"What a great day," said Michael Redando, who served 10 years in the Marine Corps. "I think this is such a great way to make service members and their families feel the love of America. There is no other country that appreciates their military the way we do and to have people like Darius Rucker and the PGA take the time to show that speaks volumes about the heart of the people in our country."

May - A Month of Appreciation and Remembrance

By Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

 America's support means so much to our military. In fact, as I travel the world to visit our men and women in uniform, what they want to know most is, "Are the American people still with us?"

I tell them that you are.

May is set aside as Military Appreciation Month to offer each of us the opportunity to recognize, honor, and show support for all who wear and have worn the uniform, along with the incredible families who serve alongside them.

Throughout the month, communities across the country will host events and activities at baseball games, auto races, concerts, parades and more to celebrate our troops and their families.

We will specifically recognize the extraordinary contributions and dedication of military wives and husbands on Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 6, followed by Armed Forces Day on the 21st and culminating with Memorial Day weekend at the end of the month and the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. on the 30th.

Each of these days has a distinct and well-deserved focus. But they all share in common real human stories of sacrifice and service. Through these personal stories, we can hear the testimonies of those -- present and past -- who have given so much of themselves, including those who have given all.

We must never forget these men and women nor their families -- particularly our wounded warriors and the families of the fallen, whose lives and dreams have been forever changed by the sacrifice of their loved one.

As we enjoy everything that May has to offer and march towards the joys of summer, we can each reach out to show support in various ways, to listen to their special stories and to offer a simple "thanks for your service."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff and I salute our military and their families this month and every month, and just as importantly, we thank each of you for taking the time to show your support and care for those who do so much to take care of us.

Pentagon Kicks Off Appreciation Month with Concert

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – There aren't enough "thank yous" in the world to express the gratitude felt for the members of the armed forces, said up-and-coming vocalist Jenny Boyle, the entertainer for the Pentagon's kick off to Military Appreciation Month today. During the third annual America Supports You Military Appreciation Concert, Boyle entertained the audience with her rock and country stylings of crowd favorites, as the Pentagon Channel broadcast the hour-long concert live to 350 military installations worldwide.

America Supports You is a Defense Department program designed to connect grassroots support groups and corporate partners with the men and women of the U.S. armed forces and their families.

"(Jenny) is a real hero in my mind because she has gone everywhere we have people in uniform around the world, whether she had to wear a flak vest or not, to provide a taste of home to those folks that are away from their families and friends fighting for our freedom and our way of life," Navy Vice Admiral Nancy Brown, Joint Staff director of command, control, communications and computer systems, said during her opening remarks. "She has sacrificed on her own to do that."

Boyle has entertained troops at U.S. military installations during five tours with Armed Forces Entertainment and the United Service Organizations. She has performed in locations such as Germany, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Djibouti and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to name a few.

"(The men and women of the armed forces) have done so much for our country and they sacrifice so much on a daily basis," Boyle said. "It's the least that we can do to go overseas to entertain and support them. It's an honor."

For soldiers like Army Maj. Chew Leung, who works in the Army's personnel office, the concert briefly enjoyed during his lunch break had special meaning.

"I grew up during a time when the military was mostly disregarded," he said, referring to Vietnam-era days. "It's nice to have a performer come out and express her support for what we are doing. I really appreciate this."

Boyle said troops who are far away from friends and families especially appreciate her performances. "(Bringing) just a little bit of home to them means so much," she told American Forces Press Service. "And to be a part of that and being a part of America Supports You is such an honor."

"Have a great Military Appreciation Month," she said at the close of the concert. "You deserve every second of it!"

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.