American Valor Salutes Our Military

Merry Christmas to Our Troops

We picked three videos for their outstanding military tributes to our troops on deployment.

This Christmas day we wish you the best of all worlds.  We hope for your safe and timely return home to your families.

Most of all we thank you for protecting us and all that our country stands for.  Without you and the sacrifices each and everyone of you makes on a daily basis, not only would we not be free,…we would not be here.

Thank you with all my heart and soul for everything you stand for.  We love you, respect you and thank you.

And lest anyone forgets…we need you!  Thank you and God bless!

American Valor Salutes Our Military

Merry Christmas to Our Troops

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you serving in the military now, or at any time in the past. Your sacrifices have made it possible for people like me to enjoy a long and prosperous life.

I served in the US Army from 1968 to 1977 during what was quietly referred to as the Second US Civil War.  Publicly, in the media, it was a war between the short-haired soldiers and the long-haired students, ‘Hippies".  Most, not all, of the young people organized in the protest groups were still in college and had never served their country.  Their college professors were teaching them to think for themselves and not swallow the drivel of the "Establishment".  They learned well.

They knew it was morally wrong to take a life and God knows the media splashed plenty ‘life-taking’ scenes across the magazines, and newspapers and televisions to cause the whole nation to cower in disgust. They were taught that American soldiers were messengers of death, instruments of war, mercenaries and worst of all…baby killers.  They never seemed to understand the connection between war and freedom.  The connection between military decisions and politics.  The connection between love of country and hatred of aggression.  The connection between love of freedom and hatred of oppression.  The connection between freedom and the price you must pay to maintain it.

Afghanistan.  Iraq. 9/11. Twin towers. Terrorism. Genocide. Dictatorship. Oppression.  Do you have a feel for any of it?

Laugh and ridicule the garbage man or the honey dipper for their smelly jobs but try to survive any length of time without them.

Presidential campaign 2008.  Do you remember any of the mudslinging that took place then.  Some was pretty nasty.  You may have even had a few words to spout yourself about people who didn’t agree with your viewpoint.  I know I sure did.  Do you know how many countries you could live in around the world where you would have been tortured and/or shot for those opinions. 
Where the opposition party would have been secretly eliminated, maybe while they slept?  The number is staggering.

The Eagle is stilly mourning the losses of 9/11.  But as ferocious and monumental as that attack was, it was a first for us.  The first time we were attacked at home.  People of other countries live with this on a recurring daily basis, and probably will until the end of time.

Do you remember the passage "…and there will be wars and rumors of wars…"

It is OK to hate death. It is OK to disagree with what is going on in Afghanistan and Irag. People want to show their ignorance and belittle what our troops are doing over their by tying it into the greed of the oil companies and big business.  For those of you who feel that way I feel sorry for you and your ill-informed ignorance.  If you don’t like what you see, then change it at the voting booth.  Don’t run your mouth blabbing obscenities and bull mush in front of a TV camera when some ratings seeking moron hold a microphone up to you and asks you "What do you think of the horrible atrocities in Iraq?"

Do you have any idea who really sees and hears that venom?  Our troops. If you are sitting in a bunker or a foxhole or behind an adobe wall with rounds flying over your head.  With mortars exploding all around you.  With your buddy lying beside you with part of his chest missing and gurgling as the blood works it’s way out of his throat and he stares into eternity. You are clasping your hand over your pocket where your small bible resides.  Where the picture of your loved ones is protected.  Where you are proud to be serving to protect and defend.  Then you hear a dispatch from some US politician seeking to gain popular votes by calling you a baby-killer.  Or you read the story of some young person screaming obscenities because "innocent" civilians were killed you a recent attack. 
Your life is on the line to protect these very people and they are trying to destroy you.  I’ll tell you how you feel.  Like crap. Disgusted. Wounded.  But most of all, betrayed and hurt, painfully and deeply.

People.  Wake up. Put down your Wii controllers for a moment.  Stop cursing because you were the last in a long line of shoppers to miss out on getting your own High Def 99" Liquid Plasma, flat screen TV with Blue Ray.  Wake up and smell the roses.

We have become fat and obnoxious.  We have become a lazy people.  Too lazy to see the truth.  Too self concentrated to see anything but "ME". and "NOW",

As the saying goes:

If you can read…thank a teacher.  If you can read in English…thank a soldier.

I can run and scream and cry and shout and curse and jump and complain and learn and disagree all because I am free.  I am free ONLY BECAUSE of the men and women serving so proudly and selflessly in the military.  The ones who put their lives on the line every moment of every day to pay for my freedom and your freedom and the freedom of our country.

Stop focusing on everyone’s differences. Get over it.  We are getting ready to enter a new time in our history in one of the most devastating financial times we have ever known.  And who did we, as an American public elect?  An American man!  Now he does just happen to be black, but he is an American.  He is not an African-American or a German-American or a Cuban-American. Praise be to God he is an American.  Maybe now we can put slavery and the civil war to rest.  I am sick and tired of all the Hispanic translation signs in the stores today.  Get over it.  You are in America.  Good grief people, I am part Cherokee,  where are my signs? Where are the signs for all the other foreign ingredients that contribute to our culture?  Get over it! 
We are not a "tossed salad", we are a "Melting Pot" of cultures.  Every culture of every person who comes to American adds to the richness of our heritage, it doesn’t give them the right to segregate it and hold it up and get special treatment.  And that is the glory of freedom.  I can call any left-winged liberal who wants to break America down into separate isolated segments a blooming idiot.  If you aren’t representing the people as a whole, get out of office.  You have no right to be in office and spearhead special interests.

OK folks.  Dad has had his say.  Keep checking back and you will see that I spout off every now and then.  But more important is the fact that I am free to do so. You don’t have to agree with me, nor I you.  You have the right to disagree with me, but you will never have the right to gag me.  That is the glory and the beauty of freedom.

Now put the self centeredness and the hatred and the politics and the hurt and the pain and the tears behind you.  Get down on bended knee and give thanks for our freedom and for the men and women who are willing to risk their lives for our freedom.  Let us remember those in the military and the separation they are enduing at this time of year.  Say a special prayer of thanks for them.  Take a moment out of your busy schedules and share some kindness with their families here at home.  Lend a helping hand.  Volunteer some time.  Share your gifts.  Share your love and gratitude.  Show your appreciation.

We are all Americans, through and through and proud of it!

Wow!  All I wanted to do was give a patriotic thank you to our troops away from home for the holidays!  I just wanted to pledge my eternal support and gratitude to them for their sacrifice.  If I have offended everyone in America, but gotten my message through, then it was all worth it.

Thank you!  Merry Christmas to all of you!  May God keep you and bless you abundantly in the year to come!

An American Soldier

I have seen so many different videos and poems and emails with small sections comparing our daily routine with that of our military men and women serving in harms way.  This video has brought them all together in a very nice way. 

All too often we take the smallest things for granted.  They are just too insignificant.  To the soldier, the small, insignificant things are the ones that if forgotten can cost you your life.

Amber, better known as "bubblegumlove054" has done a fantastic job of creating this video showing us just how much we take for granted. Please Support Our Troops!

"I am an American soldier.  I am at war with terrorism.  I shall stand my watch until the last terrorist has fallen.  I am a Christian and I DO believe in God.  God is with me always.  He died for me and I am here, prepared to do the same for you.  Never take this away from me.  It is my strength. It is my reason for being and wanting to see you again
someday. 

When you go to bed tonight, think of me, think of the President who did what he had to do, think of all our elected leaders who still try to do what they were elected to do, and ask God to lead us and guide us and be strong within us forever!" 

        …from Dad’s heart to you this Labor Day.

A Hero’s Welcome

Sharon Hyland Keyser quit her six-figure paid job and used her savings to found A HERO’S WELCOME to ensure our soldiers returning home are given the celebratory homecoming they have earned.

Sharon Hyland Keyser, Founder - A Hero’s Welcome

This weekend I contacted Scott Truitt, Founder of the Gratitude Campaign.  We explained to Scott our purpose here at American Valor and asked if we could include his Gratitude Campaign information on our site.  Scott said "Yes!…and thank you for your service."

The Gratitude Campaign: Just say THANK YOU

"For the past several years as I’ve been traveling around the country, I’ve been approaching Soldiers in airports and thanking them for serving for us. On several occasions I have noticed that it felt a little awkward for both of us. There are several reasons, some of which I am even just now learning as I produce this film and talk to more Service Men & Women and
Veterans. But they have always appreciated being thanked, and I have always felt better having expressed my gratitude.

I started to think that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign that they could use to say "thank you" quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found the sign that we are now using.

Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I’m sure that you’ll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say "thank you from the bottom of my heart."

-Scott Truitt, FOUNDER, The Gratitude Campaign

In September, 2007, Scott was interviewed by News Reporter Deborah Feldman with KING 5 News.  These are excerpts from that interview:

"What began as a simple idea to say thank you to soldiers he passed on the street, has blossomed into a full scale campaign for Seattlite Scott Truitt.

He says many Americans want to express their gratitude to members of our military, but most aren’t really sure how to proceed.

"I think there’s a lot of politics wrapped around the military and that can get confusing for a lot of people," he said.

Both Truitt’s father and father-in-law spent decades in the military, but even so, he realizes approaching strangers can be a little awkward at times.

"For several years I’ve been walking up and saying thank you to them when I’ve see them and sometimes its a really comfortable situation, and sometimes its not so comfortable," he said.

So he decided it would be nice to simply have a gesture to say thank you quickly and comfortably.

After a little research, he came up with a new idea.

"The gesture starts with your hand on your heart as if you’re about to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And then you just bring the hand down and out in front of you. It actually means thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Truitt hopes his Gratitude Campaign will spread across the country, and says even if soldiers don’t know exactly what the gesture means, they’ll realize if it originates on the heart, its got to be good. "

By DEBORAH FELDMAN / KING 5 News

Click on the Screen above to watch the Movie

Our heartfelt thanks to Scott Truitt and all the volunteers at http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/

If you have any trouble viewing the movie above, you may download it from the Gratitude site at:  http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

Thank you Scott Truitt for all the love and effort you have put into this campaign.  It is truly an honor to know you!

This movie clip is so appropriate as we approach the 4th of July Holiday. As you watch this movie remember all the brave young men and women who have gone before us protecting our freedom.

After watching the movie, drop down on your knees and give thanks to a glorious God for blessing us with so many millions and millions of young men and women throughout history and today who so freely give their all to protect us and to insure the liberty of our future!

Click on the Screen above to Watch the Movie

Thanks to John C. and Dave who forwarded this from one of their old classmates:

Gentlemen,

I am an Australian and my son is an Australian - as far as we are concerned there is no place on God’s earth better than Australia , and there are no people better than Australians. That was until the past week or so.

My son is in the Australian Army and he is currently on deployment in Iraq. I can not go into his duties in great depth, but shall we say that he and his fellow army buddies are on a glorified guard duty looking after the Australian Embassy. They don’t go out looking for "action", though it is a different story in Afghanistan, there the Aussie troops chase the baddies over the hills and into
the valleys.

My son and I just ended a long ‘phone conversation and here are some of his comments, believe me this is what he said. We have all seen the bs emails written by some clown in his lounge room pretending to be at the coal face, but this is what was said:

"Before I came over here I thought we (the Australian Army) were pretty shit hot. Was I ever wrong!. The Yanks (I hope you don’t mind me using that word) are so professional from the top to the bottom that it is almost embarrassing to be in their company, and to call yourself a soldier. Don’t get me wrong, we are good at what we do but the Yanks are so much better. They are complete at what they
do, how they do it and their attitude is awesome. They don’t complain they just get on with the job and they do it right.

I carry a Minimi (SAW) so I am not real worried about a confrontation but I tell you I feel safer just knowing that the US Army is close by.

If we got into trouble I know that our boys would come running and we could deal with it but they would probably be passed by a load of Hummers. No questions asked, no glory sought, the Americans would just fight with us and for us because that is their nature, to protect
those in need of protection.

We use the American Mess so you could say that we are fed by the Americans. They have every right to be pissed at that but they don’t bitch about that they just make us feel as welcome as possible. What gets to me is that the Yanks don’t walk around with a "we are better than you attitude" and they could because they are, they treat us as equals and as brothers in arms. If nothing else, coming here has taught me that the Americans are a truly great Nation and a truly great bunch of people.

Let’s face it they don’t HAVE to be here, they could stay in America and beat the shit out of anyone who threatened them, BUT THEY ARE HERE because they believe they should be here, and the Iraqis would be screwed if they weren’t here. 
When I come home, you and I we are going to the US, we will buy some bikes and we are going riding…"

The reason why I am sharing this with you is because I realize that you (as a nation) must get pretty pissed with all the criticism you receive by the so-called "know it alls" who are sitting at home - safe. The reality is that they are safe, just as I am, because of America. If the world went arse up tomorrow there is f**k all we ( Australia ) could do about it, but I know that the Americans would be there putting themselves on the line for others. That to me is the sign of greatness.

The most precious thing in my life is my son, I look at him and I thank God that I am fortunate enough to be able to spend time in his company. We laugh, we discuss, we argue, we dummy spit, we have the same blood. I am not happy that he is where he is but that is his duty. He joined the Army to protect and to defend, not to play games. I mightn’t like it but I accept it. My
reasons for not liking it are selfish and self centered.

I felt assured that he would be safe because he is in a well trained army with an excellent record, BUT NOW, I feel a whole lot better knowing that he is with your sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

Whilst he was growing up. I was always there to look after him, I would not let harm befall him and I would always put myself before him to protect him. I can’t do that now. When it comes to looking after him now he and his mates will do the job, but also THANK GOD FOR AMERICA.

Gentlemen, I have rambled on for too long. but as I finish I say to you, as a foreigner and outsider, a nation is only a collection of its people and its attitude is the attitude of its people, collectively and as individuals. I am really glad you are here on this Earth and I respect you as a nation and as people.

Stand up and feel proud because you deserve it, there is no one else who will do what America does without question.. The next time someone howls you down, take some comfort in the fact that America is defending their right to act like an idiot.

Finally, thank you for looking after my son,

Peter T.