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Supporting Our Veterans, Active Military and Families who Sacrifice so that We May Be FREE!

Celebrating FREEDOM DAY USA!!!! On September 12, 2013 businesses across America will join together to provide a National THANK YOU to our Military! For those individuals who have bravely sacrificed for our Freedoms - businesses will be providing FREE services, goods, gifts, discounts and more.

It is our way of showing a massive sign of appreciation to those who gave so that we may enjoy being Free. The offers are not limited to members (past or present) of our Military, but also include the immediate family members. We recognize that these individuals also sacrifice so that their loved ones may protect our Country.

We salute these brave men and women and are looking forward to giving them a day of FREE! To locate participating businesses and view offers in each state, please visit our official website: www.freedomdayusa.org

Freedom Day USA
Stonewood, WV

My Father

I know this site is American, but I believe that we should support all soldiers that fight for our freedom everyday.

My Father served as part of ship's company in the Royal Navy (British) onboard HMS ARK ROYAL during the Gulf Wars. One time, RPG fire came close to where he was stationed, and I would say he was very lucky as the ship has literally pitched and rolled at just the right time so that the RPG head skimmed past one of the windows near the bridge. The Terrorist was very quickly dispatched of and the whole ships company put at ease with a stirring speech from the captain.
If it was not for the pitch and roll of the ocean at that precise second, my father would probably not be here today and he would have been killed stood looking at radars on the bridge.

Like I said, I know this is an American site, but I still believe that all servicemen and women, no matter where they are from, should be rewarded for their efforts for equality and freedom.

Harry Jon Sowerby
Portsmouth, United Kingdom

The best birthday gift ever!

My husband is currently posted to the USS George Washington, which is homeported in Japan. For a number of reasons, it wasn't practical for us to join him in Japan, so he's doing the geo-bachelor thing while we stay in the states.

He'd been gone almost exactly a year, and had saved up enough leave to make it worth coming home (2 weeks), but had to time his leave to end on April 1st. Our daughter's birthday is in early March, so while she was excited he was coming home, she was also pretty bummed that he would miss her birthday (she was turning 8).

Unbeknownst to her, he got approval to go negative on leave by one week so that he could be home for her birthday party (though not her actual birthday). To make it work, I did have to make up a reason to have her party on Sunday rather than Saturday (her actual birthday was on Friday) because that was the earliest we could get him home, and find another way for HER to get to the party while I went to the airport to get him.

Also, he had grown a mustache while in Japan, and she'd never seen him with facial hair of any kind. So when we walked into the party, she didn't even recognize him until he walked up to her and spoke. Then she recognized his voice. The look on her face was priceless.

Lisa Foister
Surry, VA

Bub comes home

I once took my daughter to the Joplin greyhound station at 0430. Told her my cousin was coming from out of town. Actually we were picking up her brother who.was coming home for a week from Ft. Campbell. When he stood up on that bus the look on her face was priceless!! I cried and my 13 year old daughter almost mowed down a full grown soldier! I would do it again!!

Anonymous
Pittsburg, KS

120 to -20 (degrees) in 3 days.

The day I returned home from Vietnam. Minnesota; the first of February (1971) and signs were placed about a mile away and then a big banner across the garage. The party was inside waiting for me. I was VERY surprised. Much better than the reception that I received at the Oakland Army base where I was discharged.

Anonymous
Oskaloosa, IA

Our troops changed my life!

I just want to thank ALL the men and women who served and continue to serve our country. I was in school to be a nurse but after reading an article about all the troops who will come home and have some form of PTSD I decided to change my major. I want to give back to our heroes so I decided to go to school for psychology and specialize in PTSD. Money or no money I would never turn a Vet, an active member of the military or law enforcement personnel away. I want to save their lives they way they fight to save ours. Thank you for all you have done for the country and for me!! Prayers and hearts with all of you always!

Sincerely,
Nichola

Nichola Lydon
Newton, NJ

The Day My Daddy Came Home!

My Daddy left for service on 4/4/44. I was 5 years old going to Kindergarten at Bloomsburg State Teachers College. My sister Donna was 2-1/2 and my Mother was expecting my oldest brother, Chic, who was born on 7/2/1944. I remember my Daddy coming down the stairs and kissing us all goodbye. He left that morning to serve his country in the U.S. Army. He went to Ft. McClellan AL for basic training and then shipped out from Ft. Mead, MD in August of 1944. Christmas 1944 was a very, very lonely time for all of us. My grandparents came which helped a lot. Sometime in early Spring 1945 Mother received word that my Daddy had been hospitalized and would be coming to the states and discharged. I remember a warm summer day in June 1945, sitting on our big front porch. A shiny black car pulled up in front of our home. It was Joe Ent who lived over town. His passenger was my Daddy! He got out and ran to the porch to give us all many hugs and kisses. My family was one lucky family! God certainly had His hand in all of this because we later learned my Dad was in the thick of things in France and lived to tell about it. Not much, just snippets. My Daddy was home and we had him until he passed away on January 30, 1990. Dad, we love you and miss you. You truly blessed the lives of your children and family.

LuAnn Dent Everitt
Lightstreet, PA

Project: USO For USO Warrior & Family Care

Saturday, June 1, 2013, Starting at 11:30 a.m. Project: USO at Oak Knoll Senior Living, 1007 Buschmann Rd, Paradise, CA **All Ages Event ** BBQ Lunch ** Entertainment by ?4&Y ** Carnival Games **Souvenir Stand ** Old-fashioned USO Show with Comedian Tony Castle in the lobby at 2:30 **ALL money raised goes to USO Warrior & Family Care for helping wounded military men & women and helps support their families during recovery **For more information, call Shell at 530-872-3344!

Shell Morley
Paradise, CA

22 yrs. in the service versus 13 months in Iraq

For 21 yrs of my 22 in the army it was always practice practice practice,,,for the 13 months I spent in Iraq it all came together like a fitted glove. I've had numerous MOS's throughout my career to include 11B and 92Y,,,while in Iraq i found out that my knowledge of 11B and 92Y were my best assets to go with to survive the ordeal I was in. I was there from Sept. 2004-Oct. 2005. While the 21 yrs. were "boring" and repititious,,the 13 months were well worth it,,I helped so many coalition troops because of my knowledge,,,If they needed something like ammo,,rations,,,fuel,,,all they had to do was ask and it suddenly "appeared" when everyone else thought we had none. My 2 biggest assets over there were my .50 cal experience which i used on convoys and my knowledge of being able to "acquire" things that we needed WITHOUT going through all the red tape that is usually required to do things. This is just 1 story of many that I could tell but this 1 to me is the best one.

roger labrie
manchester, NH

Jack the wanderdog paying tribute to our troops and canines

Every year Jack the wanderdog and I take our ride to pay tribute to the vets,he salutes,prays,stands guard over the vets. He brings a flag with him as we ride our 4 wheeler over as he wears his flag on his back. He salutes the canine unit and all vets. As we pray together we always pay tribute to the unknow soilder. We leave a flag and hope that all people remember the families of the vets as well. Jack the wanderdog likes to visit the disabled vets as well. We travel through the woods on the trails for Jack knows its time to guard and bring prayer to the unknow soilder. As we cry and place our flag. Jack always looks back as he does not want to leave them behind. I let him know its okay Jack we will come again every year,we will suppot our troops,we will visit the diable but he always looks back. After prayer we sit in silence to hear the whispers of the wind. I tell jack all the canines who serve and the vets hear us. He howls alitttle and then we return into the woods knowing we will always come back.

kris luckey
crystal falls, MI