Holidays Rough For Military Families

[Monkeyman]

This is the time of year for family reunions. But for many families with loved one in the military, a family member may be far away, gone forever, or irrevocably changed by year of war. For families without a soldier, this reality can be hard to imagine and too painful to face.

Today, more than 140,000 U.S troops are serving in Iraq (Soon to get Higher). The death count for U.S. soldiers in the current conflict is approaching 3,000 ( comparable to the number of lives lost on 9/11); and the seriously injured, anywhere from 22,000 to 46,000, among them an estimated 20 percent with brain or spinal cord injuries.

The numbers continue to rise. However, for any spouse or child who has lost a loved one, or is waiting for one to come home, or must live with one who has been physically or psychologically maimed, one is too many--- especially when there is only one parent.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/4410984.html

One by one, we can reach out to veterans and their families to show them our concern and appreciation. That says it for this vet. While I served in Vietnam my family suffered everyday with me gone. Then when I was wounded they suffered even more but at least I came home. Bush does not give a dam about how they suffer. You all know I want them home now. If you know a family who has lost or has a soldier wounded please reach out to them to see if you can help.

[nam78_two]

1. K&R.nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Oh I agree with you

spending my time alone in a navy base was hard

But for teh kids of neighboors it was even worst.

And yes bush does not care

[pwb]

3. more enemy attacks on holidays as well

that was my experience in nam. same same in vietraq.

[flyarm]

4. THANK YOU...YES WE MUST ALL REACH OUT TO THEM!! K&R!!

[Monkeyman]

5. On the Kos tonight they honor the fallen

By posting their names RIP Brothers and Sister we shall never forget you

Posting are for J Randy Barnes my Brother and Friend
Never leave a Veteran Behind Randy's words

[pwb]

7. every night on the news hour with Jim lehrer i read every name, look at every face

around 7:20 on PBS

[Monkeyman]

9. I work with the wounded

Some have no faces left. Some have no Arms left . Some have no minds left. But yet Bush can have a Christmas party . His lies have done so much damage it is unforgivable for me

[northofdenali]

6. An Alaskan has a hell of a Christmas coming up as well:

"Joann Panganiban didn't have plans for Christmas this year. With her husband deployed in Iraq, she was just going to stay home.

Now she doesn't have even a home. A fire started by a furnace Monday morning gutted it.

After firefighters extinguished the fire, Panganiban wandered in a daze through the dripping mess on East Second Avenue off Muldoon, carrying phone numbers for the Red Cross and her insurance company.

She said she had no idea what to do next, other than check into a hotel. The fire ruined her home and all her things."

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/8503593p-8396880c.html

I am glad that most of the communities here do quite a lot to support those who are home, as well as those who were deployed.

[me b zola]

8. k&r

[Canuckistanian]

10. How's your "Flat Daddy" helping you NOW?

BANGOR — Lt. Col. Randall Holbrook travels just about everywhere with his wife Mary and their two sons, Justin, 14, and Logan, 5.

He’s quietly in the background on family outings to the grocery store, to restaurants, camping, even on Mary’s most recent visit to her gynecologist.

Randall has little to say because he’s a ‘‘Flat Daddy,’’ a two-dimensional foam board likeness from the waist up of the Maine Army National Guard officer from Hermon who was sent to Afghanistan in January with the 240th Engineer Group of Augusta.

The Guard has provided more than 100 of the cutouts to families of deployed service members as a way to ease the pain of separation.
‘‘It’s comforting,’’ Mary Holbrook told the Bangor Daily News. ‘‘It did help me adjust a lot.’’

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/006922.html

What a sad substitute for reality...

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. K&R

[JNelson6563]

12. Support our military families!

We all know the government doesn't care one wit for these folks.

Julie

[bigtree]

13. nice appeal Monkeyman

right on