Forrest Leamon Memorial Fund

From one of my friends:

"Jess, I know one of the DEA agents that passed away Oct 26th in Afghanistan. A Forrest Leamon Memorial Fund was set up for his unborn child and wife. This man, Forrest Leamon was a very decent, compassionate, selfless individual. It is very heartbreaking that he has died. Forrest was a newlywed of about a year and his wife was four months pregnant. The service for Forrest was beautiful and dignified. The US Attorney General Eric Holder attended as well as the acting DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/14/AR2009111402548.html?hpid=sec-metro

Many of you have expressed interest in providing some support for Ana and the baby. We have set-up a fund to help manage this for Ana.Contributions Can Be Sent To:

Forrest Leamon Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 710952
Oak Hill, VA 20171

*Please Make Checks Payable to:
Ana Laura Lopez Valdenea
Contributions are not tax deductible

Brianne Beaty and the Sweethearts for Soldiers

Singer/Songwriter Brianne Beaty is in town with the Sweethearts for Soldiers this week.

Wednesday they will be appearing at Operation Rising Star, dubbed the "American Idol for the Army." The performance is at Ft Belvoir, and tickets are still available!

Prior to the show, the Sweethearts will be interviewed and then performing live at 9:45 a.m. the Fox affiliate for D.C., (view it on http://www.myfoxdc.com/) and then visiting wounded service members at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

To hear Bri's music, go www.briannebeaty.com and to download her latest songs, go to itunes and search Brianne Beaty.

Her patriotic song "Parades" is my favorite. Parades is a song that she was inspired to write after visiting the troops in Iraq. "I think when they come home, often times they're forgotten about. Sometimes they are lucky enough to get a parade, or a warm welcome. But the love and the outreach of support sometimes doesn't last long," said Bri.

Brianne comes from a long line of military in her family. Every man in her family has served in a different branch. She feels passionately about supporting the troops, and I love that she is able to do this with her music as well.

Be sure to stop by Operation Rising Star on Wednesday to meet Bri and the rest of the girls!

Congressional reception honoring today's heroes

A congressional reception honoring heroes of today, 10 decorated veterans and active duty personnel who have served with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. This reception also celebrates the introduction of a congressional resolution honoring all those American forces who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

November 17, 2009
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Rayburn House Office Building Foyer

(in this photo: Staff Sergeant Marco Martinez)

USO-Metro Celebrates its 10th Anniversary at BWI Airport

The USO on Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport on Monday, November 16, 2009. USO-Metro will commemorate this anniversary while hosting, in partnership with BWI Airport, the 6th annual Salute to Veterans and Families.

Since the USO lounge at BWI Airport opened in 1999, over 600,000 service members and their families have walked through the doors. Every month, through the support of more than 200 dedicated volunteers, this “home away from home” welcomes an estimated 10,000 military personnel and family members who are traveling through BWI.

As part of the celebration, Miss America 2009 Katie Stam will perform the National Anthem and Lieutenant General Carroll Pollett, Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, will serve as the keynote speaker. Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger will also participate in the ceremony. In addition, USO-Metro and BWI Airport will welcome senior military leadership, military families, local veterans’ organizations, corporate community partners and dedicated USO volunteers.

A reception in the USO lounge will follow the ceremony.

Monday, November 16, 2009
10:00 a.m. Ceremony
11:00 a.m. Reception

Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport
Ceremony: Upper Level of International Pier
Reception: USO Lounge at BWI on the Lower Level of International Pier

MEDIA RSVP: Please RSVP to Crystal Benton, USO-Metro Communications Manager at
703-696-4839/703-864-6429 or crystal@usometro.org

Luke's Wings: A Toast to Our Veterans

From my friends at Luke's Wings:

EMERGENCY FUNDRAISER FOR FORT HOOD VICTIMS

Dear Friends, in addition to hosting our annual Veteran's Day party at Rhino Bar, we are also using this time to raise money for airplane tickets for the families and friends of those wounded in last Thursday's shooting. We have close to 30 wounded warriors and we want to help them all.

We're going to have an amazing party.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9:00pm
Rhino Bar
3295 M St NW
Washington, DC

Free Admission with Military ID or uniform;

50/50 raffle

Veteran Owned Business

$3 Miller Light Bottles

$5 Vodka Redbulls

$15 entry at the door or simply donate $10 at www.lukeswings.org to be auto-added to the VIP list

Free Luke's Wings t-shirts with donation of $20 or more

Special Appearance by the U.S.A. Cheerleaders.

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS EMERGENCY, WE ARE ASKING ALL SUPPORTERS WHO CAN'T ATTEND THE EVENT TO PLEASE DONATE $10 IMMEDIATELY AT WWW.LUKESWINGS.ORG

Go Navy Beat Army!!

Whichever team you support - If you can't be in Philly this is the place to be! The Navy Memorial has graciously opened its entire museum for the day. We will have pregame festivities and broadcast the game in the HD theater, see CBS College Sports original programing, and a host of guest speakers. Come out and see how you can get involved with several military charities in the area.

Saturday, December 12, 2009
2:30pm - 7:00pm
United States Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC

Special thanks for Formula Sports & Entertainment Group for arranging this viewing party!

American Veterans Center 12th Annual Conference

The American Veterans Center invites you to join us for the nation's premier Veterans Day event with a long weekend of amazing activities and special guests!

General Davis Patreaus, Bob Dole, Buzz Aldrin, Marcus Luttrell, Band of Brothers, Enola Gay, Black Hawk Down, Battle of Iwo Jima, and Tuskegee Airmen and many others.

Thursday Nov 12th: Cocktail Reception at the Navy Memorial with a special screening of WWII in HD.

Friday Nov 13th: Conference of Speakers/Topics at Navy Memorial include The Seabees, Gen Petraeus, WWII Heroes of the Air, Battle of Iwo Jima, Black Hawk Down, Contribution of Women in the Military, Wreath Laying Ceremony, and an Evening Reception at the Army Navy Club

Nov 14th Saturday: Conference of Speakers/Topics at the Navy Memorial include:The Band of Brothers, The Tuskegee Airmen, WWII the Pacific, Col Buzz Aldrin, Medal of Honor, Purple Heart and Today's Heroes followed by the 12th Annual Awards Banquet at the Renaissance Hotel

Full Conference rate is $305 or $265 for Veterans and $175 for Active Duty or studentsTo register please call (703) 302-1012 ext 227 space is limited!

National Guard and Reserve members and families encouraged to nominate supportive employers

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced the opening of the nomination season for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have provided exceptional support of military employees above the federal law requirements. Nominations will be accepted at www.FreedomAward.mil from November 2, 2009 to January 18, 2010. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 23, 2010. Recipients of the 2009 Freedom Award met privately with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Dr. Jill Biden, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress and senior government and military officials.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. 2009 honorees ranged from AeroDyn Wind Tunnel, LLC, a small automotive racing wind tunnel testing company in North Carolina to large businesses including Microsoft and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals to Santa Ana, California Police Department, a public sector employer. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have provided significant support including full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and family assistance to employees fulfilling their military obligation.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. “There is much excitement surrounding the 15th anniversary of the Freedom Award,” noted acting ESGR Executive Director Ms. Polli Brunelli, “and we’re enthusiastic to begin selection of the 2010 recipients from amongst all of the heartfelt nominations that will be submitted by thousands of proud Citizen Warriors.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflicts through mediation.

For questions regarding the Freedom Award nomination process, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil or contact Maj. Melissa Phillips, ESGR Public Affairs, at 703-380-9262.

Support military families in need this Thanksgiving

The USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) is experiencing an unprecedented number of requests for Thanksgiving food baskets from military families in need. USO-Metro has already received 300 requests for Thanksgiving baskets. Through a generous contribution from Rolling Thunder, USO-Metro is currently able to provide 150 baskets and is now calling on the community for help in the form of grocery store gift cards to meet the need.

Using donated grocery store gift cards, USO-Metro will provide active duty military families in need with holiday baskets that include: turkey, milk, assorted vegetables, turkey pan, butter, stuffing, potatoes and yams, gravy, pie. The suggested donation to help a family of six have a holiday meal is $50.00.

“Holidays are especially important for military families who often experience extended separations,” said Elaine Rogers, president USO-Metro. “It is critical that we meet this need, and we’re calling on the generous community for support.”

Mail grocery store gift cards to:
Holiday Food Baskets
P.O. Box 1710
Fort Myer, VA 22211

*To make a cash donation to support this program, please visit www.usometro.org/donate and click on holiday programs.

All cards must be received by November 14, 2009

For more info contact Lauren Ross, program specialist, at 703-805-4277 or via e-mail, Lauren@USOmetro.org