Hello ISFAC members-
Remember to wish your fellow Air Force comrades, friends and family a Happy 62nd Birthday on September 18th. It is also national POW/MIA Recognition day on the 18th.
The September issue of the ND Guardian is available online: http://www.ndguard.com/uploads/resources/1119/september2009guardian.pdf
The video clip for the dedication of the ND Memorial to the Fallen in the GWOT is available: mms://video.ndhealth.gov/health/20090911Memorial.wmv
EVENTS:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 11th, 12, 13th. Annual North Dakota National Guard Retirees' Weekend, Camp Grafton, Devils Lake, ND. There's a full agenda planned. Visit with fellow retirees and view the improvements at Camp Grafton. Consider making this weekend a success by your presence and show your continued support of the NDNG.
Sunday, September 13, 2009- The North Dakota Air National Guard invites teenagers who are 16 or older to attend a free event hosted by the 219th Security Forces Squadron and the Air National Guard recruiters. Games, lunch and prizes will be part of the event from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Bismarck YMCA, 1608 N. Washington St. Please contact Senior Master Sgt. Sandi Renville with specific questions regarding this event at 701-451-2234.
Thursday, September 17, 2009- TBI Brainstorming Session- 1:30 p.m. - Rebecca Quinn, Dr. Alan Fehr will meet in Shelle Michaels' Office- UND campus at the Memorial Union room 316. If you would like to join this meeting, please contact (701) 777-6465.
September 17-19, 2009- PICK-Premarital Interpersonal Communication and Knowledge Event
Fargo, ND .The PICK program a.k.a How to Avoid Marring a Jerk utilizes the Relationship Attachment Model (RAM) and teaches a way to build healthy relationship that keeps the head and heart working together. PICK is designed for the single Soldier or Airman. SSgt Jessica Clark - jessica.b.clark@us.army.mil
Sept. 18 The Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center will conduct a recognition ceremony for prisoners of war and those missing in action at 10 a.m. Sept. 18 in the third-floor conference room at the hospital, 2101 Elm St. The event is being held in recognition of the National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day. Former POWs and families of those listed as MIA will be recognized. For more information, contact Peggy at (800) 410-9723, extension 9-3724.
Monday, September 21st. The 11th Annual Hooligan Memorial Golf Tournament, at the Hawley Golf Course. This event is open to all past and present members of the Air and Army Nat'l Guard, Reserves, VFW, American Legion, AMVETs, and their invited guests. Note the attachment, "2009 Golf Tournament". This announcement is also announced at www.happyhooligans.com.
Monday, September 21, 2009. Piper Welsh, Soldiers' Angels and Altru Hospital kick of the Patrick Welsh Memorial Seatbelt campaign. Mayor Brown and BG Al Palmer will receive the campaign materials during the GF City Hall meeting at 5:30 pm. Piper will be assisted in her presentation by her brothers Brandon and Sgt Brody Welsh (home from Afghanistan on R/R.)
Sunday, September 27, 2009- Gold Star Mother's Day. We have several Gold Star mom's in the state of ND- take time to reach out to those that you know. Shortly after World War I the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers that lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star. Gold Star Mothers are often politically and socially active. Today, membership in the Gold Star Mothers is open to any American woman who has lost a son or daughter in service to the United States. USC Title 36 Sec. 111 The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.
Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 1300- Company C 2/285 Aviation Sendoff- Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck
Wednesday, October 7th. The 2009, Annual NDANG Retirees' Breakfast. Another BIG event of the season! The breakfast will be at the 119th Wing dining facility. Doors open at 7:00 a.m., serving begins at 7:30 a.m. This event is sponsored by the 119th Chief's Council. This info is also announced at www.happyhooligans.com. Oh, please remind a fellow Hooligan of this event who may not have access to the internet or The Hooligram.
Thursday, 8 October, 10:00-3:00PM, ISFAC at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center.
Thursday, 8 October, AFTER ISFAC- TBI PSA campaign team meeting. Contact ShelleMichaels@msn.com if you would like to be a part of this state campaign.
Wednesday, October 14th. Semiannual WSO Reunion. Time has rapidly swept by since the April Reunion Here's the opportunity to attend 2009's second, semiannual WSO Reunion. Attendance has rapidly been increasing. It's at the Auger Inn, 7:00 p. m.
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009- Operation Honor - Fargo VA Welcome Home- Hjemkost Center, Moorhead- SSgt Jessica Clark - jessica.b.clark@us.army.mil
Saturday, October 17th. It's the bimonthly breakfast at the Holiday Inn/Club House Hotel in Detroit Lakes. The Detroit Lakes and surrounding area Hooligans invite you to drop in for an enjoyable social event and breakfast. Show time is 8:00 a.m.
Friday, October 23rd. Here we go, it's the Auger Inn's Pork-Alo Feed. Prizes galore, a good-sized delegation of retirees. Join the fun. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
October 23-25, 2009—NDNG Volunteer Academy Minot Grand International Inn The Volunteer Academy's are trainings offered four times a year to individuals who are interested in becoming members of a Family Readiness Group (FRG). Military personnel are also encouraged to attend to better understand the processes and workings of an FRG. This weekend event is packed full of invaluable trainings, speakers and information to help better prepare you and your family for military life and deployments. SSgt Jessica Clark - jessica.b.clark@us.army.mil
October 26, 2009 - Day of the Deployed, more details coming soon. ShelleMichaels@SoldiersAngels.org
IN THE NEWS:
N.D. Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism Dedicated on Sept.11
BISMARCK, N.D. - About 600 people gathered here today for the dedication of the "North Dakota Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism." The ceremony began at 9:37 a.m., to coincide with the time that an American Airlines Boeing 757 struck the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The North Dakota Patriot Guard kicked off the ceremony with a "ride-in" with about 100 motorcycles.
The memorial is located outside the main gate of the North Dakota National Guard headquarters at Fraine Barracks, which is near the west entrance of the Liberty Memorial Bridge. The bridge also honors veterans, recognizing all branches of the military and those who serve our country. Both the newly dedicated memorial and the bridge stand as daily reminders of the sacrifices
American men and women in uniform have made for our state and country. The memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day.
Gov. John Hoeven, Bismarck Mayor John Warford, Maj.Gen, Dave Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, and Bismarck City Commissioner Steve Schwab spoke during the dedication. Dina Ferderer, of New Salem, N.D., the mother of Spc. Dennis 'D.J.' Ferderer, Jr., whose name is included on the memorial, spoke on behalf of the Families of the fallen. Bismarck City Commissioner Connie Sprynczynatyk served as emcee for the ceremony.
"The memorial stands as a measure of our gratitude and support for the brave Soldiers and their Families who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism," Hoeven said. "These Soldiers saw it as their duty to defend their country and the thousands of innocent victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Now, it is our duty to forever honor their service and to remember their
lives."
This memorial honors the 21 North Dakotans who were killed in the Global War on Terrorism.
One by one, representatives of the family of the fallen placed a set of I.D. tags for each of the fallen service members on the memorial's centerpiece which preceded the 21-gun salute. This centerpiece is designed in the traditional memorial arrangement of a helmet mounted on an inverted M-4 rifle along with a pair of boots. More than 80 Family members of the fallen
attended the ceremony.
A joint venture between the City of Bismarck and the North Dakota National Guard, the memorial was made possible by the kindness and generosity of individuals and businesses throughout North Dakota and across United States.
"As a result, we now have a cherished memorial where all can reflect and remember the ultimate gift of freedom given through their love and service," Warford said.
The Bismarck community expressed a desire to recognize those who gave their lives during the War on Terrorism. Consequently, city and National Guard officials worked jointly to consider various concepts, the final of which was designed by Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson of Bismarck and constructed by various donors and volunteers. The charter was to develop an enduring memorial that would serve as a place of peace and solitude for Families and friends of the fallen, and a place of dignity for community members to reflect on the lives and sacrifice of our fallen heroes.
Color guards, assembled behind the memorial during the ceremony, were provided by the United States Army Reserve, AMVETS Community Honor Guard, AMVETS Auxiliary Color Guard Post 9, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts 707, 1326, and 9061; American Legion Post 40, and the Civil Air Patrol's Bismarck Composite Squadron. Missy Mosbrucker, of Mandan, N.D., sang the national anthem, the North Dakota Army National Guard Honor Platoon fired a 21-gun
salute and Century High School band members Pvt. Matthew Gerenz, who joined the North Dakota Army National Guard last September, and Dillon Parker were dressed in patriot uniforms to play Taps in Echo as the final salute of the program.
In addition to the motorcycles that began the ceremony here in Bismarck, dozens of North Dakota Patriot Guard members simultaneously took to the streets with their motorcycles in other cities in North Dakota at exactly 9:37 a.m. to help honor and commemorate the dedication of this memorial. The dedication ceremony was broadcasted live via webcam.
"This Memorial is a perpetual reminder of the fallen - true patriots in every way. We will never forget their service to this country, and we will never forget the sacrifices they and their families have made," Sprynczynatyk said during the ceremony. "I thank everyone who helped make this memorial a reality. I especially thank the City of Bismarck for partnering with our National Guard to develop a beautiful and peaceful monument to our fallen heroes."
NOTES:
1) Grand Forks Veterans Administration Community Based Outpatient Clinic -. 32nd Ave. S. in Grand Forks. Clinic hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone number is - 701-335-4380. Veterans who are not enrolled for VA health care benefits should contact the Fargo VA Medical Center at (701) 239-3700, ext. 9-3428 or 9-3427 with questions.
2) The Silver Star Families of America Join Forces With
Military Connection.com to Name Top Doctors
The Silver Star Families of America (SSFOA) and Military Connection.com have joined forces to find the best Veterans Affairs and the best Military Primary Care Doctors in the country. These two groups will be asking Veterans, active military and family members to nominate primary care physicians who they believe provide the highest level of care to their patients.
"Those doctors who deliver that respect and care through their extraordinary concern, dedication and professionalism need to be recognized." explained Steve Newton, co-founder of SSFOA. "The best measure of how well a job a doctor is doing is through the patient's feedback. The nomination and selection process for this program will totally be based on what those patients say. We encourage you to nominate deserving physicians"
One of MilitaryConnection.com's major areas of focus is healthcare and healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses and allied health. "Military Medicine including the VA and military hospitals use leading edge technology is world class" said Debbie Gregory, CEO of MilitaryConnection.com. "Those who serve and their families deserve the very best. It is our pleasure to work with an extraordinary organization such as Silver Star Families of America to recognize those physicians who go above and beyond for their patients".
Silver Star Families of America and MilitaryConnection.com will be accepting nominations online from members of the military, veterans and their family members beginning the 15th of August for a 90 day period. One VA Primary Care doctor and one Military Primary Care doctor will be selected.
To nominate your Primary Care doctor go to: www.silverstarfamilies.org or http://www.militaryconnection.com. The deadline for nominations is November 15th. The"Above & Beyond" Physician Awards will be announced on December 1st. Additionally, many deserving physicians will be profiled and recognized on both SSFOA and MilitaryConnection.com websites.
About Silver Star Families of America:
Silver Star Families of America is dedicated to supporting and assisting our wounded/ill troops, veterans and their families in any way possible. Part of their mission is to ensure that they receive the respect and care that they deserve. SSFOA is a 501 c 3 tax-exempt non profit all volunteer organization. They have no paid employees and their Board of Directors are not compensated in any manner. All of their programs are offered free-of-charge.
About MilitaryConnection.com:
Military Connection.com is of the most comprehensive directories of veteran and military resources and information on the Internet. There are thousands of pages with something for everyone. Everything is provided free to users. MilitaryConnection.com was recently named a "Top 100 Employment Website" by WEDDLES . We became a proud corporate member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program in 2008. MilitaryConnection.com has the honor of working with the finest non-profits serving the military and veteran communities and is often referred to as 'The Go To Site'.
3) Key Quality of Life Issues
Supporting Service Members and Families
1. Increase Key Benefits that Support Guard and Reserve Members and their Families: The high deployment levels of the Guard and Reserve necessitates a reciprocal level of support for the needs of our service members and their families. The desired outcome is that states provide 'best practices' support in six areas: support of state employees; educational benefits; tax & financial benefits; family support programs; licensing & registration benefits; and protections, recognition & employment support.
4) 2. Facilitate Assistance to Severely Wounded, Ill or Injured Service Members and their Families: Service members who are severely disabled as a result of wounds, illness or injury, and their families, should receive uninterrupted care – from battlefield to communities – through programs like 'Heroes to Hometowns,' which builds the bridges they need to start new and productive lives.
5) 3. Increase Access to Quality, Affordable Childcare for Military Families: The desired outcome is that states will establish or improve Quality Rating Standards (QRS) for childcare programs compatible with DoD effectiveness standards. Through statewide QRSs, DoD can identify providers eligible for 'preferred' status (subsidized care) and partner with other providers to help them reach preferred status.
6) 4. Minimize School Disruption for Military Children during Transition and Deployment: The mobile military lifestyle creates challenges for children who attend ~8 schools in 12 years plus endure the anxiety of parental separation during deployments. The desired outcome is that states participate in an interstate compact which provides a vehicle for establishing common guidelines for handling issues (class placement, records transfer, immunization requirements, course placement, graduation requirements, and extra curricular opportunities) that impact military children as they transition between schools.
7) 5. Enhance Opportunities for Portable Careers for Military Spouses: Frequent moves, and cumbersome licensing and certification requirements limit career options for military spouses. The desired outcome is that states include military spouses in education & training opportunities, provide alternative certifications, and expedite licensing procedures to support portable careers.
8) 6. Expand Unemployment Compensation for Trailing Military Spouses: The desired outcome is that states recognize that, unlike the private sector, a move mandated by military orders is not 'voluntary' and therefore, the trailing spouse should qualify for unemployment compensation.
9) 7. Promote Enforcement of the Predatory Lending Regulation: Some lending practices create a cycle of debt for unsuspecting service members and their families, thus impacting quality of life and military preparedness. The desired outcome is that states sign an MOU with DoD, monitor compliance, enforce the regulation, and obtain authority, where needed, to fully enforce it.
10) 8. Improve Absentee Voting for Military Members and their Families: Citizens need assurance that their vote can be successfully cast and counted while stationed or deployed overseas. The desired outcome is that states authorize flexible processes for absentee voters in the nine areas recommended by the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Office.
11) 9. Satisfy Foreign Language Requirements: Foreign language proficiency is critical to the United States' ability to meet its security and economic objectives. The desired outcome is for states to work with their business and education sectors to develop foreign language roadmaps which meet their requirements as well as assist with meeting strategic national security and economic objectives.
12) 10. Increase Coordination of Local Support Services for Military Families: Since military families and support agencies do not always connect, the desired outcome is that states mobilize military and civilian resources through an integrated team led by the executive branch, such as an Inter-Service Family Assistance Committee, to coordinate services and facilitate easy access to information, services and support for military families.
13) DSLO point of contact: Ed Kringer, Director, 703-602-4949x114, Fax: 703-602-4972, ed.kringer@osd.mil
14) State Liaison [CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY] Jackie Harriman, 719-651-9266, Fax 719-260-6524 jackieharriman@aol.com www.USA4MilitaryFamilies.org
4) Please send your events, announcements, activities, press releases, media, etc by Thursday 1700 to: (shellemichaels@msn.com or shellemichaels@soldiersangels.org) and I will compile the information and have out to the list on Friday. Look into your events a month out to allow those across the state the opportunity to plan for possible attendance and support of your organization, allowing more outreach to all. If you would list your events in the format below, DATE FIRST then event- it would be greatly appreciated.
5) The next meeting of the ISFAC is scheduled for Thursday, 8 October, 10:00-3:00PM, at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center. You will receive additional information regarding the meeting and an agenda as the date approaches. Are you attending the ISFAC meeting on October 8th, 2009 in Fargo? Please let CW4 Theresia Hersch - theresia.hersch@us.army.mil know if you will be in attendance.
6) Soldiers' Angels and Bake Me A Wish! Operation Birthday Cake
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too…by Shelle Michaels
When Operation Enduring Freedom started in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, soldiers would often go without celebrating their birthday or other special occasions with a cake. Birthdays in America are celebrated with candles, balloons, presents, punch, ice cream and cake, so it was often a letdown for our troops to celebrate a birthday in country with Dolly Madison Zingers® or Hostess Cakes and a bottle of hot water.Enter into the picture—BakeMeAWish! a company that specializes in gourmet birthday cakes that are prepared in an award-winning New York City bakery. BakeMeAWish! teamed up with Soldiers' Angels in the spring of 2008, to develop a win-win partnership for the deployed heroes in the campaign called "Operation Birthday Cake."
"Operation Birthday Cake" is a handmade gourmet cake, made to order, and topped with the finest imported Belgian chocolate plaque, inscribed with the personalized message of "Happy Birthday." Each cake is delivered in an elegant gold gift box, and specially boxed in refrigerated packaging to ensure freshness.
"Cakes have the power to turn the simplest gathering into a celebration and evoke/create strong memories," said Josh Kaye, CEO of BakeMeAWish. "Everybody knows somebody who has been away from home on their birthday," Kaye continued. "BakeMeAWish.com is proud to work with Soldiers' Angels. Together, we continue to do so much to keep the morale high among the troops by delivering gourmet cakes to loved ones celebrating a birthday away from home." Kaye inherited a recipe from his Nana called the Soldier's Cake. She developed it during World War II when cake tins were made available in which to bake, pack, and send fruit cakes to soldiers.
THE SOLDIER'S CAKE
Ingredients - 6oz butter; 6oz sugar; 3 eggs; 8oz sultanas; 8oz raisins; 2oz mixed peel; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoons mixed spice; 1/2 tablespoon golden syrup; 3oz self-raising flour; 6oz plain flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in1 tablespoon water; brandy. Method - Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Beat in golden syrup. Add sultanas, raisins, and mixed peel. Fold in flour to which has been added cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, and salt. Lastly add brandy and baking powder mixed in a tablespoon of water. Bake in a very moderate oven for two hours.
While this is not the recipe for Operation Birthday Cake, it goes to show you that baking cakes for soldiers has been handed down through the generations. So what are you waiting for? It is time for your hero to have his/her cake and eat it too! If your soldier's birthday is approaching and you would like Soldiers' Angels and BakeMeAWish! to honor the special day, please send your service members' birthday, a message and APO address to: ShelleMichaels@SoldiersAngels.org
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