Silver Star Families of America is dedicated to supporting and assisting the wounded and their families of ALL branches of Service and ALL Wars. Their goal is to recognize the blood sacrifice of our wounded and injuries or illness that originated in a war zone, including, Purple Heart recipients, victims of friendly fire, those who suffer from PTSD, Agent Orange effects and Gulf War syndrome.syndrome.

SSFOA recently asked 5,000 cities and towns across the nation (100 per state) to sigh a proclamation to observe May 1, 2009 as Silver Star Banner Day, honoring wounded and ill service members from all wars. A Silver Star Families of America committee contacts city clerks and mayors to inform them of the event and to ask for their participation. When they agree, they receive a proclamation letter to sign. To date, nearly 60 cities in 18 states have signed on to observe Silver Star Banner Day in 2009 and thereafter.

If you want to ensure that your community has the opportunity to participate, please visit The Silver Star Families of America website.

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Military Entertaining
by HHC member Nicole
former airman and current Air Force wife

I remember being a young airman, away from my family for the first holiday. It was Thanksgiving. My First Sergeant invited a bunch of us “newbie’s” over for a large holiday dinner. His wife not only cooked an amazing meal, but she presented it beautifully and provided a comfortable and welcoming environment. As a military wife myself now, I know how important entertaining is in the military environment.

There are so many reasons to entertain; promotions, retirements, holidays, support groups, or just to be together as a military family. Entertaining can be a casual or extravagant. Whatever the reason, or to what extent, military entertaining requires some simple protocol to be followed.

Invitations: Mail or deliver all invitations. Include information such as if spouses/children are invited, bring a dish to pass, or BYOB. Tea parties not need an invitation, a simple phone call is appropriate.

Continue Reading >>>

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I don’t exactly have a green thumb. Really, it is not my fault. Over the past ten years our family has moved in and out of base housing, never giving me the opportunity to establish a garden. I always envied the beautiful flowers some people would plant, but I never desired to spend the money on gardening when I knew we would not stay long. Recently, I have learned of a creative way to use containers to create a cozy garden-like atmosphere that is easily transported.

Any type of container that will hold soil and can be drained well could serve as an eye-catching, decorative planter. Think of the endless possibilities: watering cans, wooden crates, hollow logs, metal coffee pots, flower baskets, picnic baskets, decorative wall baskets, bird cages, wishing wells, your husband’s old combat boots, American flag decorated popcorn tins, or even a water trough. There are no limitations!

Here is what you will need to start your own planter:

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Patriotic Centerpiece

This is probably the easiest centerpiece I’ve ever made. I purchased a set of 25 cotton mini-flags from the craft store for less than $10. I let my kids arrange them in a wicker basket and voila!

Materials:

Any vase or container (I used a basket)
Mini American Flags
Floral foam (optional)

Directions:

Arrange the mini American flags in the container, use more or less to your liking. Floral foam is optional but assists with precise placement of flags and can help to add depth and dimension to your centerpiece.

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The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) will hold its
2008 annual conference from July 23-25, 2008 at the Gaylord
Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

MCEC will host pre-conference workshops on July 22 and 23. The
workshops will include Transition Counselor Institute,
Special Education Leaders Institute, Supporting Children of
the National Guard and Reserve Institute and Supporting
Children Through Trauma and Loss. MCEC is a non-profit
organization designed to implement programs that provide for
the needs the military child.

For more information and to
register for the event, visit the Military Child Education
Coalition website.

Source: www.military.com

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Household Baggage Handlers by Marna A. Krajeski

An anthology of powerful stories written by military wives. It contains reflections by Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force wives, from WWII to the present.

In this deeply personal collection of stories, 48 wives share their total embarrassments, tragic experiences, and tender emotions as they tackle the daily dramas of military life. By turns touching and hilarious, Household Baggage Handlers opens the door on an often overlooked world, one requiring the independence and survival skills to:

• Move overseas while six months pregnant

• Manage labor, delivery, and a newborn … without a spouse

Continue Reading >>>

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Staff Sergeant Jeremy D. Vrooman of Sioux Falls, SD died on July 15th in Baghdad Iraq during his second tour of duty in Iraq. His father said he wanted to be in the Army ever since he was 14 or 15. “He loved his country and he wanted to serve his country.” Sergeant Vrooman saved the lives of two of his comrades during his last mission. He leaves behind his wife, Latrecia; 5-year-old son, Xavier; and 1-year-old daughter, Jade. He was 28 years old.

Please take a moment to send a message of love & support to Staff Sergeant Vrooman’s family.
Castle Ridge Mortuary

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• Create a financial budget to help you save.

• Do not use credit cards.

• Stop purchasing frivolous, impulse items.

• Don’t buy anything just because it is on sale.

• Occasionally buy generic or non-name brand merchandise.

• Don’t eat out as much as you’d like to.

• Do more activities at home. (you wont be out spending!)

• Invest the money you save so that it earns money too.

• Stay busy - you have less time to spend money.

• Stop smoking.

• Don’t try to compete with your friends and neighbors.

•  Shop for clothes at thrift shops (especially for kids).

•  Pay bills online. Its safe and I save $50 a year on stamps.

•  Learn to refinish furniture or decorate with paint

Continue Reading >>>

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Recent changes in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program allows more active-duty spouses to enroll in classes and offers new job fields for future career opportunities. The changes permit all military spouses, stationed at participating installations, regardless of rank,to apply and added four new job fields. The CAA provides job fields in the areas of human resources, business management,hospitality and tourism, homeland security, health care, education, financial services, information technology and skilled trades such as carpentry, plumbing and more.

For more information, visit this website.

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