Tuesday, November 10

It's About Time

Don't know if you caught all the wonderful prizes that our 2010 HH6 was awarded last night on Army Wife Talk Radio. What a boon-doggle! There are so many great military supporters out there. Here's the complete prize package and links, so you can check out all that our special Janet was awarded.

Family Manager University Scholarship
Army Wife Network t-shirt & prize package
USAA Diamond Merchandise valued at $500
AttaGirl Bracelet
thePatrioticWife Household 6 (HH 6) Sparkly Pin
3A Watch Group

The last listed, 3A Watch Group, has invited us to extend their appreciation for military spouses and families even further. Janet and each of our HH6 runners up, Sherri and Kelly, all received watch sets from their new line of U.S. Army Watches.

They've asked us to award some other Army couples from now through the end of 2009!

We are happy to oblige with our next contest, "It's About Time!"

This contest will be much simpler, but no less meaningful. We think "it's about time" some of you are recognized for the ways you give back to the military community everyday. Tell us about your experiences and exchange your ideas in our message boards topic: Volunteering! From FRG to USO - it wouldn't get done without volunteers.

Share tips, advice, & ideas. Each week our team will recognize someone who has shared a great tip, inspired us, or engaged others in a meaningful discussion on Volunteering. Winners will be announced in the message board and on Army Wife Talk Radio.

3A is excited about this new line of watches, which will be available nationwide November 20th. The watches are INSPIRED BY OUR BRAVEST AND GREATEST AT HOME AND ABROAD. We know that includes not just the soldiers, but their spouses as well.

Best of luck; we're looking forward to hearing about your volunteer efforts!
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Happy Birthday Sesame Street!!!

As some of you may already know, today Sesame Street is celebrating it's 40th birthday! Here at our house, we really love Sesame Street, particularly Elmo and Ernie! We are especially grateful for the work Sesame Street has put into creating the deployment video for military families. Any company or organization that helps make deployments easier on military families gets 2 HUGE thumbs up in our book!!!

Who is your favorite Sesame Street character? Do you remember watching the show when you were little? I love to watch Ernie sing his song about living on the moon with my Mommy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SESAME STREET!!! Here's to 40 more years of great shows and support for military families!
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Military Spouses Residency Relief Act awaits the President’s approval

Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.

The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.

Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.

Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman Carter with their request to petition. “It has been a grass roots effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned to get this passed, by telling their stories,” explains Poynter.

“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”
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Monday, November 9

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO ATTEND FORT LEWIS MEMORIAL SERVICE

TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, Vice President Biden will be in Fort Lewis, Washington.

At 1:00 PM PST, the Vice President will attend a memorial service at Fort Lewis for U.S. soldiers who were killed on October 27th in Afghanistan. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The Vice President will deliver remarks. The memorial service will take place at the North Fort Chapel.
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Army Wife Network Names Top Military Family Manager, Household 6


For Immediate Release
November 9, 2009

Lawton, OK — “America’s Family Manager” Kathy Peel and Army Wife Network (AWN) has selected a brand new Certified Family Manager Coach to-be, with a twist. The winner of Army Wife Network’s “2010 Household 6” scholarship contest, Janet McIntosh, will also serve as the online and on-air Coach to AWN, a community for Army wives, by Army wives. Janet is a 13 year military spouse and mother of two. She competed with scores of other military spouses for this honor. All contestants were worthy opponents with many years of service and commitment to their Military Wife Life.

“My goal as a spouse is to reach out to other spouses…. I want to be able to encourage those spouses and let them know that they always have someone they can turn to!” said Janet on her application. She will be introduced formally November 9th, 2009 on Army Wife Talk Radio. Her duties will include participation in Kathy Peel’s Family Manager Course and serving as top Household 6 to AWN for 2010.

Army wives are “Household 6s”, a military inspired term citing them as the one in charge of the Household. Upon Janet’s completion of Family Manager University (FMU) courses, Army wives will be mentored in the ways of time and scheduling, home and property, special events and other FMU Family Manager Departments. To reward Janet for her efforts and acceptance of 2010’s HH6 position, military friendly business like USAA, 3A Watch Group, AttaGirl and the Patriotic Wife bestowed on her special prizes and services.

“Janet has been selected to assist the network, but also to lead the way for other military spouses interested in an exciting home-based, portable business like coaching. We saw Family Manager Coaching as an extension of ‘duties already assigned’ to a typical military spouse. Through Kathy Peel’s program, spouses can be given the tools and become certified to assist others in running a ‘happy, organized,’ military family,” says Star Henderson co-founder of Army Wife Network.

Military spouses are invited to join Janet and get their own coaching certification started this month. Family Manager is offering a $200.00 “Recession Discount.” Follow Janet during her reign as 2010 Household 6 on Army Wife Network and monthly on her Army Wife Talk Radio “Household 6” segments. To listen to the live announcement and interview of Kathy Peel and Cari Pemberton, Director of Family Manager National Outreach, tune in November 9, 8-10pm, EST to www.BlogTalkRadio.com/AWTR.

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Kathy Peel is known as America’s Family Manager. She is founder and CEO of Family Manager Coaching, a company that trains women worldwide to build strong families and happy, organized homes. She has written 20 books, which have sold over 2 million copies. She writes a weekly Family Manager blog for AOL’s ParentDish and serves on Parenting magazine's Moms Squad Board of Experts. She is a popular conference speaker and media personality with repeat appearances on programs such as Oprah, Today, The Early Show, and CNN Headline News. Check out http://www.familymanager.com for helpful downloads, organizing tools and tips for being a great Family Manager.

Army Wife Network is the internet’s leading Web site for Army Wives, by Army Wives. We boast the only internet talk radio show designed specifically for military spouses – Army Wife Talk Radio – in its fifth year of broadcasting. To find out more about AWN’s history and interactive empowerment tools please visit our Web site at http://www.ArmyWifeNetwork.com. Crooks and Henderson, co-founders of Army Wife Network, have been featured in several media outlets such as CBS Evening News, FOX report with Sheppard Smith, Armed Forces Press, Military Spouse Magazine, American Legion Auxiliary, USAA Magazine, MOAA Magazine, Army Times, Stars & Stripes, and Guard Times.
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Veterans Parade


This is Artillery Amber again…..wow how this year is flying by…..it’s almost Veterans Day! If you are near Fort Riley……Manhattan has a wonderful Veteran’s Day parade which will be on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30AM…..if you are able I encourage you to go and support this wonderful event!


7:00 a.m.Biscuits & gravy breakfast at American Legion Post #17,
114 McCall RD,Manhattan, KS 66502.
9:30 a.m. Parade on Poyntz Ave.
11:00 a.m. Post Parade Ceremony at Manhattan City Auditorium / City Hall
6:00 pm Veterans Day Recognition Honors Banquet, American Legion Hall
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Friday, November 6

Just Wondering

I have watched with aching heart today what has been going on at Ft. Hood. I felt inspriation and pride as I heard General Casey talk about the resiliency of the Military Family, and the fact that the Army Family takes care of their own.

Then... the reporters get their turn. The first questions are things like "Are our troops stretched too thin?" "Are the stresses of deployment casuing these things?" I don't know about you, but I felt annoyed. No doubt that deployments are difficult, but no one points out that this creep who shot our warriors did not even experience a deployment! He was never put into the kinds of situations that many of our fighting men are.

It just feels like they want to blame someone...and it must be the fault of the military that this guy hates everyone. I am sure that we will never really understand the motive here, but it is NOT reflective of the men and women who serve this nation.

I just don't get it.
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Gates Orders Silence for Ft. Hood Victims 1:34PM CST

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has directed a moment of silence throughout the Defense Department today to honor the victims of yesterday’s attack at Fort Hood, Texas.

Twelve people were killed and 30 others were wounded when Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan allegedly opened fire in the post’s Soldier Family Readiness Center. One of the wounded victims died overnight, bringing the death toll to 13. Malik was wounded and is in custody, Army officials said.

The attack occurred at 1:34 p.m. CST yesterday, and Defense Department personnel around the world will pause and mark the moment of silence at that same time today, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. For example, those in the U.S. Eastern time zone will observe the moment of silence at 2:34 p.m. local time, while those on the West Coast will observe it at 11:34 a.m.

Gates is at the White House this morning discussing the situation at Fort Hood with President Barack Obama, Morrell said. Army Secretary John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. are at Fort Hood conferring with officials there.

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Operation Homefront Toy Shop-Register Today

Spouses of deployed servicemen have an opportunity to receive a little extra help for this Christmas season. If you have children between the ages of 1 and 10 and a spouse that is deployed click on the subject line and register today!

Thank you Operation Homefront!


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Thursday, November 5

horror at fort hood

well, a few minutes ago, i was busy making dinner when my husband called me to turn on the news. he is still at work and said he was hearing that there was a shooting at fort hood and wanted me to find out what i could as we still know many who are there. the only thing known about the gunman is his name, and his rank, what is not known is the why. even after we find out the why, i doubt it will make much sense to anyone. as spouses, when our husbands are home we trust (as we should) that he will return safe at the end of the day. how sad for the families involved. it's a sad, sad day for the army.
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