inspiring people to spread good karma around the world

For this week’s Military Monday I wanted to shine a light on the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), an organization that I learned of through one of my favorite bands, O.A.R. The guys from O.A.R. (Of A Revolution, for those not familiar), together with IAVA, launched a campaign to grow support of our troops and veterans, called Open Up Your Arms.

From the site: “After meeting our injured troops at Walter Reed and later in Iraq we felt a very personal connection to the plight of the physically and emotionally injured warrior. We believe it’s time we opened up our doors, minds, and hearts to the men and women who need our support.  “War Song” is a song written through and for the warrior,” said O.A.R. lead singer Marc Roberge.

I woke up this morning with an overwhelming need to hear this song.  I don’t know how or why, considering I had the Juicy Fruit jingle stuck in my head from watching the Family Guy “Something Something Something Darkside” DVD last night. Irrelevant, I know, but I had to throw it in there

The last time I saw O.A.R. was at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, NYC – it was a private show benefiting the chain’s Imagine There’s No Hunger campaign (supporting the WHY organization). I was impressed by how involved O.A.R. is in different causes, and that good will makes my affinity for the group that much stronger. They performed War Song during that show, and it resonated more with me than ever before.  Some moments I captured:

I am happy to support Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and figure you might appreciate knowing more about the good work they strive to accomplish.

“Today, veterans are facing new battles at home trying to navigate a complex VA health care system, access mental health care treatment for combat stress, or find a job to support their families in an uncertain economy. As Americans, we have an obligation to support these men and women and to ensure our nation’s newest generation of veterans receives access to top-notch health care, a chance to pursue a quality education on the new GI Bill, a fair chance at a good job.”

I recommend taking a few minutes to learn more about how you too can show your support for our troops and veterans, as well as remembering those we’ve lost.  You can also watch the video for O.A.R.’s War Song.  Thank you YOYO and Marilla, as always. Please remember those we’ve lost

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Last night I was so worn out.  Having slept pretty badly Sunday night, then braving the mall for some gifts for the mom and hunting through FOUR supermarkets to find buttermilk to make red velvet cupcakes for Christmas, the day handed my rear end to me.  So it’s no wonder I fell fast asleep forgetting completely to update with this week’s Military Monday.  So I thought to myself that I could just let it go since I already missed it.  But then it dawned on me that I’ve missed a couple of weeks, so I’m channeling an old cliche and saying: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

I recently clicked through to Blog 4 Mom because one of the PR/Social Media/Marketing pros I follow, Chris Brogan, tweeted his thoughts were with this woman and her family.  I remember at the time reading her tweets (which are now private) regarding her son.  Out of respect for her privacy, I won’t discuss the details I recall, but she did lose her child and I hope she knows my thoughts, too, are with her and her family.  I hope they find the peace and quiet they need to mourn their loss.

I bring this to light for my Military Monday post because while looking through her site, there was a posting that struck me and I wanted to share it in the context of the MM posts.

Operation Love Reunited is an organization that arranges free professional photography sessions to service members and their families to capture the moments surrounding deployment.  This group of photographers volunteer to shoot the pre-deployment, deployed, or their homecoming/reunion – at no charge to the family.  “Pre-Deployment & Deployment sessions help you say goodbye and cope with being away” while photographers shooting returning sessions “will want to accompany your family to the welcoming home of your spouse or loved one, and capture that first glimpse, that first embrace, and all the love that surrounds every person who walks off that plane, into their families arms.”

All you have to do is use the locator to find a photographer in your area, contact them and let them know you’d like to be photographed as part of the program.  The photographer should take it from there.  It’s a beautiful and touching service (look through some of the images if you need a good, cathartic cry) and if you’re a photographer with the means and the resources, an excellent way to show your gratitude for the real heroes of our country.

Thank you once again to YOYO for inspiring us to participate in Military Monday, and to Marilla for being on time with her posts, allowing me to find the names for the week.  After the jump is a long list, since I missed a couple of weeks.

Please click and take a moment to pay your respects to those brave souls we’ve lost

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Now that Thanksgiving over and done with, it’s officially the Christmas season.  It’s a time of year that if at no other time throughout the year, we pause to think of all our blessings.  We spend time with family and loved ones.  We give a little more, and think a little less of ourselves.

This Military Monday, maybe we can think about ways to give back to the brave souls of our military.  The American Red Cross has some wonderful ways to help our service members and their families.  You can put your contribution towards a number of different options, from phone cards for those deployed overseas to reach out to family ($20) to training classes for families to learn how to cope with the deployment of loved ones ($250 – which is actually just 1/4 of the total cost of said training).  Check it out.

It’s one of many options for showing support of those who support us, bravely and willingly.  Please take a moment to read through some of the service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, after the jump.  Thank you again to YOYO for encouraging us to participate in Military Monday, and to Marilla for the use of her list of names.

photo courtesy BL1961

Click for the wonderful men and women who we’ve lost

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