I got an email from Holly Aho earlier today reminding me that Team Marine is in second place this year ... really people? Would you let Team Marine really come in second place with the Marine Corps birthday being just two days away?

That's just not how Team Marine rolls ...

Go over here, join the team of your choice (there is only one choice really ... *cough* Team Marine *cough*), and spread the word ... each penny counts toward taking out those Army punks

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It is finally here!

I've got a full house and a full weekend.

Report of what I can remember to come later ;-)

REPORT: 5/6 2:30p
This year's conference was unquestionably the bigger and better event that we had hoped it would be. It is a good trend to have in the conference business...

I was a lot more comfortable at this year's conference than last year's, so that made a huge difference in what I took away. Last year, I felt stupid for showing up and having to explain "no, I don't milblog..." to every person I had the courage to talk to (mostly because someone else introduced me to them). This year, I didn't feel so stupid explaining "no, I don't milblog ... I milblog when there are fundraisers or support orgs need to get the word out. I'm a supporter."

I met so many great people that have done so much to help the cause, the community, and the country that I really felt honored to be in their company. And the best part about going to these events is seeing that the milbloggers are doing this, not because they have to, but because they want to. For some, it is just fun or a personal outlet - but there is still a meaning and outcome so much greater than that for those affected ... something made all the more powerful by the fact that it isn't someone "just doing my job."

For the social aspect, it was a kickass weekend. I don't think I had more than 5hrs sleep during the weekend but who needs sleep when you're having a good time? And anytime I end up in bed at 4:30am with another woman, some serious fun was had (right AWTM?).

Overall, it was just great to see my friends again (especially the ones I didn't think were going to make it) and make some new connections I can look forward to seeing again next year.

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Remember when I asked for your help to bring Hook to Washington? Well you did a good job, but CJ and his cohorts were able to bring just a few more votes (so they took home the prize money - and sent it out to NC for some little ballerinas with daddies in Iraq). Now this lady is asking for your help to pay Hook's way to the Milblogging Conference.

Go HERE and heed her call for donations - however small they may be - so that we can be sure Hook gets the chance to touch the lives he is meant to touch. And remember, whatever money he doesn't use on his tickets and accommodations is going straight to Fischer House. Uncle Jimbo will have to find his bail money somewhere else this year ...

And if you for some reason don't know who Hook is and don't understand why he should be at the Milblogging Conference, go over and read a bit of what he's had to say. No conference would be complete without a few words from our wonderful Sgt. Hook.

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Grandpa,

This is the first Veterans Day in decades that you've had your lovely bride with you. We miss her everyday but it feels good to know that you're not alone anymore. I can't come visit you both today but I will be there soon.

I hope that you are watching down and know just how proud both our family and your Army family are of the service you two gave to our nation, all those years.

Thank you and thank your friends, thank all Vets today.

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For 231 years, America has depended on you to keep her safe. Today we are counting on your sacrifice and dedication to bring us through one of the scariest challenges I think we have ever faced. We don't say thank you or pick up the tab at the bar nearly enough for what we ask of you.

Today, I hope that everyone will go out and buy a Marine a beer to say thanks. Happy Birthday, Marines!

GO TEAM MARINE!

Today is your last day to bring these hotties into the lead (or at least keep em ahead of these Army guys issuing "challenges")

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It's an awful day in politics, but there is still hope of a good day for so many outside of politics. The final three days of the big team competition for Valour-IT are counting down and there is a lot of money left to be raised.

Each team is shooting to raise $45,000 and the title of winner.

Do what our community is meant to do and give these guys more of a helping hand (literally) than you ever dreamed possible. Help us raise $180,000 (a sum buying more than 225 additional laptops).

On a selfish note: bringing team Marine into the lead would certainly bring a little extra sunshine to my day ... if you need help picking a team

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Without those laptops from Project Valor-IT, there are men and women that can't readily answer the simple question, "Where you come from and where you wanna go this time?" that is being asked by a popular song these days.

Don't these folks deserve to be able to tell their story? To keep in touch with mom and dad far away? To Google whatever pops into their head just as much as you do?

You're damn straight they do.

Donate Here (On Behalf of Team MARINE, of course)

Or bid on signed copies Marines in the Garden of Eden or The Gulf War Chronicles by Richard S. Lowry - books that John at Op-For and CoInSide have put up to benefit Project Valor-IT without picking sides.

(Don't let the abject Zoomie generosity and dedication to the cause fool you ... Team Marine is the way to go when it comes to the service teams. We do more with less, 7 days a week.)

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It's that time of year again ...

The Annual Countdown to Veteran's Day, Project Valor-IT Fundraiser Weeks

Here's the way this works...
For the next two weeks (Oct 30 to Nov 10) teams representing each of the 4 military services will compete against each other in an attempt to raise the most money for Project Valor-IT - an organization that donates voice activated laptops to members of the military that have been wounded and are unable to use conventional computer equipment.

Bloggers from around the 'sphere are joining up with their favorite service team (Go Team MARINE!) and recruiting as many civilians as they can to join their side of the fight (Go Team MARINE!) to bring awareness to this great organization.

So pick your poison join team Marines and have at it. Post flyers (found here). Tell your neighbors. E-mail your address book with the Project Valor-IT website. Ask your boss to match your donation. Get creative with it.

Keeping these guys connected to the world is one of the greatest things we can do. So join a team (Go Team MARINE!) and in the words of Blackfive, "be part of something big."

The Fine Print Details:
All donations are tax-deductible and eligible for matching funds from participating companies. All of the fine print and such to assure people this is legit can be found right here

And for those that like writing checks, send them to the address below and make sure they know you want the money to go to Team MARINE!

Soldiers' Angels
1150 N Loop 1604 W, Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248

Team MARINE:

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If you didn't catch me the first time I pushed this, here's your chance. If you've already read my bit about this ... sucks for you today.

CJ is still raising money to send Girl Scout cookies overseas. His daughter wanted to sell 750 boxes this year and she's made it to 691. That's only 59 boxes away from an amazing feat! Only $295 to raise. For the blogosphere, that's nothing! We can achieve this last push in our sleep. So head on over to A Soldier's Perspective, click on the Girl Scouts to Cav Scouts button, and give a boost to a little girl's goals.

You only have until Saturday to get your order, your neighbor's order, your cousin's order ... somebody's order ... in by the deadline

Oh, the hot bods getting to eat the cookies will appreciate it too

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Milblogging needs your help this week.

Head over to the Radio Patriots for info on an e-bay auction to help raise money for SC Eagle and Ellicia (and their family). Bidding starts Thursday.

As some of you may have read at A Storm in Afghanistan (or one of many other places), Ellicia was recently diagnosed with some of the most awful cancer and is undergoing treatment (again). Updates to let everyone know how she is doing come from time to time, but they all need our support 24/7 ... whatever hopes, thoughts, and prayers we can give.

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There's still a little bit of time left to donate Girl Scout Cookies to the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. All you have to do is head over here and click the donation button on the right sidebar. Of course, CJ would probably appreciate you reading his update of their progress during the donation process (and it will inspire you to read about his daughter's goals and determination) but you don't have to.

I personally donated for a lot of reasons, but most of all, because I tend to buy the cookies out of guilt and then feel guilty for eating them - I have such little willpower when it comes to cookies. I can tell myself no to the cookies on the store shelves, but when I know what it felt like to be that little girl selling cookies and how disappointing a "no thanks" response felt ... I just have to buy a box. This way, I have satisfied the guilt I would have felt for saying no to a little girl but I won't cry when I try to squeeze my jeans on and know that the cookies are partly to blame.

Plus, those Marines are going to enjoy them waaaaay more than I do.

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UPDATE 2: Over 335 boxes of cookies donated!! We have until Saturday to get orders in and even businesses are donating now. Anyone feel like hitting up their own employer to donate? Go here if you still want to help.

more...

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Philip L. Parker

Philip L. Parker, 53, of Skillman, NJ, Senior Vice President of Aon Corporation, died Sept. 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center site. His office was on the 99th floor of the South Tower.

To so many, this is all they will ever know about Philip L. Parker. It is my job today - not just as a blogger but as a fellow American - to keep that from being commonplace and to honor him and his family with a fitting tribute.

Philip L. Parker emigrated to the United States from Canada in the early 1950s and became a naturalized U.S. citizen while still in high school. He is survived by considerable family both in the United States and Canada.

I never met him, personally, but I did meet him through the wonderful words that his friends, colleagues, former co-workers, and family have said about him since his tragic death. He was clearly a kind-hearted, loving, family man with a temendously generous spirit. He was a vastly passionate man with a love for his family, his green MG convertible, and music.

Portions of the posts on Legacy.com bring home just how lucky the world was to have Philip L. Parker for the time that we did:

"I worked with Phil for 2 years. Within minutes of meeting him, I knew he was a special man. Kindness, compasion and warmth were only a few of his qualities." -- Christina McCoy (Mt. Laurel, NJ )

"He had a wonderful sense of humor, a quick wit and he always made time to say hello and catch up." -- Patricia Barraza (New York, NY )

"He had a charming wit that he easily put to paper and pen. He made coming to work a joy. Heaven has an angel." -- Randi Seeley (Brooklyn, NY )

" Phil was always a joy to work with and compete against; a true gentleman and friend." -- William Hopkins (Annandale, NJ )

"It was a joy and a privilege to know Phil ... I am sure I am not alone in having had encouragement and support from Phil..." -- Fred Shearer (London, England)

"I had the pleasure of working with Phil as his Admin Assistant for six years. Phil was one of the most intelligent, articulate, honorable and generous men I have ever known. He was deeply committed to his family, friends and his work. He revered "quality" and strove to achieve it in all he did." -- Laura Petticrew (Philadelphia, PA )

Donations may be made in honor of Philip L. Parker to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Philip Parker Fund, 1515 Broadway NY 10010. The purpose of the foundation is to re-establish music programs in schools that lost funding to do so.

To Joan, his wife, and Stephanie, his daughter:
Thank you so much for sharing with the world a person whom you could have kept to yourself but that created so much joy for others. Thank you for letting us see your love for him and your personal loss so deeply. Please accept my deepest condolences.

We as a society are truly at a loss for having lost such a great man that day. Yet, our society will be forever indebted to him for having left behind such a tremendous legacy and having brought to so many people his gift of love and laughter.

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Sunday, September 10

Join the D.C. Freedom Walk to remember 9/11

Click Here to Register

Thousands of people will walk from the Washington Monument to the Pentagon crash site in order to honor the victims, the families, and the heros of 9/11.

By participating in a Freedom Walk you will be part of a new national tradition to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country, and honor our veterans, past and present.

Opportunities to show your support in D.C. through volunteering can be found by clicking here

More details about the D.C. Walk can be found at America Supports You

Locate a Freedom Walk in your community using the ASY Map here

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The man who captured fantastic iconic patriotism, determination, and pride that will live on for ages is gone.

Joe Rosenthal, the photographer who shot the Iwo Jima Flag-raising, dies at 94.

The Iwo Jima statue in Arlington, Virginia has always been one of my favorite. It has touched and inspired me in ways not much else ever could.

No matter how many times I visit the statue or look at a picture taken from Mr. Rosenthal's photo, in my mind's eye, that chance photograph represents everything America stands for. My heart feels the struggle, the teamwork, the survival, the courage, and the duty that those men, symbols for many more, carried with them. And I am proud.

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Need I say more?
Thank you John Mayer.

I wish I'd had his CD back during my conversation with the lady falling from paradise ... it might have been effective ...

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I couldn't tell you what made me pick up the phone today - as opposed to tomorrow, yesterday, or last week - but I finally did.

I called my local USO.

The director is on vacation so I'll have to wait a bit before getting my feet wet as a volunteer, but it is about time I spent my days doing something more useful.

And last week, I got someone who thought he didn't belong to join the local VFW post and see that he could be part of something that helps so many.

There are so many things I could have done or ways I could have helped in the past, but dwelling on them won't help me or anyone else. Instead, I will build a future I want to be a part of starting from each day I am given.

I will make a difference, one day at a time, one encounter at a time.
I will be the change I hope to see in the world.
I am a volunteer.

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I've spent some time lately explaining to a newcomer in this realm the hows and whys of my thought processes and actions. It got me to thinking about my time in New York and how much my mom just didn't understand about me.

It was Fleet Week. What girl doesn't love fleet week? Men in uniform ... YUM!

In our planning, the Fleet Week events and visiting ships kept getting pushed out farther and farther. I kept emphasizing to my mom that attending events and/or visiting the ships was something I really wanted to do. She did the "ok ok, we'll get to it" that we've all heard before.

Finally she got so frustrated by my daily insistance that she burst out with, "you lived in San Diego for six years, haven't you seen enough? Is there something you need to see that you don't already know about?"

And there was her mistake ... She only heard the what and she didn't understand the why.

I stopped her on the corner and had her look across the street. I said, "Do you see those two people right there? They are the reason I want to go to Fleet Week. They are the reason I need to go to Fleet Week. And they are the reason I think we should go to Fleet Week."

Those two people were anti-war protestors passing out stickers and shouting to people about their negative messages as they passed by.

But she still didn't get it ... so I continued ...

"Mom, the people getting off the ships are going to see these people and who knows how many more people like them. Some of them are probably being 'welcomed' home by these messages ... by messages that are as least supportive as they could possibly be ... toward people who get shot at, blown up, and witness death as a job.

When they get home and its just them and their thoughts, is that what you want them to think about? That the only people who took the time to recognize them and their efforts were the people against them? Because I promise you, there aren't nearly as many people openly saying 'thank you' or 'job well done' or even 'glad to have you home' as there are these disgraceful ones.

The people getting off these ships aren't going to see that tattered flag you have tied to your second car's antenna or that magnet you keep intending to buy but just haven't gotten around to yet. But what they will see is you clapping your hands at one of their concerts or shows, or touring one of their ships, or learning about their equipment. They will see you taking an interest when you show up to Fleet Week. They will see that there are still Americans that believe in their purpose and their mission. They will see that the pride they have in themselves is also found in the people they represent ... because you took the time to show up.

They might not say anything about it to anyone else, but how do you feel when you put together an event and no one shows up?"

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Seems that I'm pretty late to the party on this one but I'll write about it anyway ...

I love to walk through the wine section of my local store, sometimes because I feel the need for a bottle or two and sometimes because I just love to laugh at the crazy labels people are putting on things these days.

Tonight, this one caught my eye:

From their bottle (and site Jarheadred.com):

Jarhead Red is a wine made by Marines, for Marines, at Firestone Vineyard on CaliforniaÂ’s Central Coast. Net proceeds from the sale of this wine benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides educational assistance to children of U.S. Marines, with special attention given to children of fallen Marines. (www.Marine-Scholars.org)
Adam Firestone – CAPT USMC 1984-91 (Winegrower)
Ruben Dominguez - SGT USMC 1979–84 (Vineyard Foreman)

Besides, everyone needs to have a little table wine laying around. And getting your buzz on while doing your part to help out the Marines just makes it that much more rewarding.

Jarhead Red is available for sale online to: CA, CO, ID, IL, IA, MN, MO, NV, NM, ND, NY, OH, OR, TX, WA, WV, WI & WY (states not listed may have local retailers instead)

I'll let you know how I like it once I pop the cork later this week ...

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My thoughts on this movie can be summed up in one word - Perfect.

It fulfilled its intended purpose with authenticity and a sense of genuine reality; it revealed the experience, ordeal, excitement, and doubt of war through the eyes of the warfighter. Not just through the eyes of the warfighter but through the personal thoughts and existence of these warfighters. These men shared themselves with the audience in ways most friends and neighbors never would.

The film didn't take a political stance on the war. It served as the vehicle for these personal truths to be shared with those of us that will never honestly know or understand what war is really like. We, as viewers, should feel honored and privileged to be given such insight.

I think that this movie should be seen by everyone who has an opinion on the war in Iraq or our troops that are serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'll say again - this film is simply perfect and a treasured diary.

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