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thedrifter
06-26-08, 07:59 AM
June 26, 2008
Our Troops Deserve All We Have to Give
By Kyle-Anne Shiver

Especially since 9/11, our own generation's Day of Infamy, our American troops have given us all they have to give. They've gone wherever we've sent them and done with honor all that we've asked of them. They've put their lives and limbs on the line every day for our Constitutional liberties and way of life.

Like many in America today, no one in my family is currently in the armed forces. My father was a Marine, but never saw combat. My brother enlisted in the army during the Vietnam era, but was sent to Germany instead of to war. My husband was on college deferment during the Vietnam War, and by the time he graduated, the war was scaling down and his high lottery number took him to the end of conscription without his ever being called to duty. Our one son is profoundly deaf and ineligible for military service.

So the only contact I have with military men and women is stateside and cursory. Perhaps this is one reason why I so highly esteem every Soldier, Marine, Aailor and member of the Air Force, as well as every single member of their families. I am daily reminded that without their willingness to serve with self-sacrificial love, I would not continue to enjoy the liberties for which they are willing to give all.

This would be true even in peacetime, but it is all the more so in wartime. We owe every freedom we enjoy, yesterday, today and tomorrow, to the brave men and women, who freely abandon the comforts of home to serve wherever the fight beckons.

That is why I will not permit the words, "war weary," to enter my spoiled, pampered, home-front vocabulary. I refuse to give in to the naysayers who dominate our mainstream press.

I refuse to join in with those who whine in the age-old coward's laments: "Give appeasement a chance!" "We're tired of the fight!" "It's an unwinnable war!" "Liberty is too expensive!"

What a heap of yellow-bellied poppycock!

Somehow it never seems to dawn upon the loony leftists that when evil threatens to have its sway, those who do nothing to stop it are every bit as guilty as the perpetrators. I thank God every day on my knees for those who refuse to give up, stalwartly fight the temptation to go home and cower in their warm, snugly beds -- our fighting forces. They are the Americans most worthy of the name, and it is to them and their families that we owe all that we have to give - and then some.

I thank God, too, that there are so many civilians this Country over who share my spirit of gratitude. The efforts to aid our troops with moral support from home and with various, small material comforts are as myriad as American ingenuity.

A great many, though, are fiddling and nay saying while America is at war for our very survival with IslamoFascist barbarians who intend to end life as we know it. If we aren't vigilant and determined, it will be the naysayers who have the last word.

That's why whenever an opportunity arises to support our troops -- the Americans doing the actual fighting on behalf of the rest of us -- then I take it. And I'm urging every patriotic American to support one such valiant effort by Move America Forward and conservative voices all over the Land.

From the Front Lines will be an all day webathon event, co-sponsored by Move America Forward's Melanie Morgan and Blogger extraordinaire, Michelle Malkin. Joining them will be a host of conservative talk radio giants, even the great el Rushbo himself. The date is today, June 26.

Of course, the end result will be sending our troops in harm's way the biggest shipment of morale-building goodies packages to date. But the extra reward is to each citizen who takes part, in knowing his efforts are part and parcel of winning this war.

As one of my new heroes, Lt. Col. (ret) Steve Russell says, "We cannot afford to allow our home front to become our exposed flank in the War on Terror." Every time we take part in an effort to support our troops, we take up arms on the home front flank and help defeat our enemies wherever they try to stand against us.

Americans are not wimps and sissies. Let's make sure we prove it by supporting our troops and Move America Forward in this brave new effort on the home front.

June 26! I'll be there! Will you?

Kyle-Anne Shiver will appear on the webathon at 9:15 AM EDT. She is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. She welcomes your comments at http://www.kyleanneshiver.com/

Connecting LIVE Audio and Video through SKYPE

The best way to connect to the "From the Frontlines" web-a-thon is to download and install a program called SKYPE to your computer, and set up an account.

With this program you can add "From the Front Lines" to your SKYPE CONTACTS list right now and communicate with FTFL staffers long before June 26th.

SKYPE can work with your webcam so that on the night of the FTFL Web-A-Thon, you can connect to FTFL and our staff will broadcast your SKYPE cast through USTREAM and out to the viewing audience who will be tuning in to FTFL!

Go to http://www.skype.com/ and click "Download Now" on the main page or the downloads section.

http://www.moveamericaforward.org/index.php/MAF/FullNewsItem/news_tease_history_making_push_for_us_troops/

Ellie

thedrifter
06-26-08, 09:59 AM
Move America Forward Telethon Today
by Catherine Moy (more by this author)
Posted 06/26/2008 ET


Jeff Via Sr. served his country during the Vietnam War, the conflict that spurred rancorous protesters who jeered troops when they came home to America. He wants to make sure his son, who fights for America in Afghanistan, never faces the same hate.

Via Sr. joined the efforts of Move America Forward, the nation’s largest nonprofit, grassroots protroops organization, which aims to send the largest shipment of care packages ever to American troops overseas. The effort will culminate in a historic “new media” production to raise support for the shipment.

Today the California-based group is hosting “From the Front Lines,” an eight-hour Internet telethon fashioned after Jerry Lewis’s famous telethons, but with a high-tech twist. The June 26 event (which runs from 1:00pm – 9:00pm) will feature U.S. troops on the front lines, families of those who gave their lives in the War on Terror, top radio talkers, high-ranking military officials, celebrities, journalists and musical talent.

The event will air on the Web through the cutting-edge technology donated and operated by UStream.tv and will be co-hosted by MAF Chairman Melanie Morgan and renowned blogger Michelle Malkin.

“I have been in war zones. I have spoken with our troops. And I know that this overwhelming show of support and love from Americans means the world to them as they fight for our country’s security and freedom,” Morgan said.

Via Sr. joined thousands of people who have already sent addresses and sponsored care packages for American troops. Folks have already sponsored more than $225,000 in care packages and sent names and addresses for the troops who’ll receive them.

“Thanks so much for the support,” Via Sr. wrote in a note to MAF. “(My son) graduated from college and decided that the military was what he wanted to do. He didn’t even go in to be an officer. He decided instead to be enlisted first so that, if and when he decides to go be an officer, he will know what it was like to be enlisted.”

“Once again, thanks for the support,” he added. “I know from experience how much it means to the troops.”

HUMAN EVENTS is sponsoring an hour of the telethon, and editor Jed Babbin will be on the phones with Morgan & Co.

The sometimes-competitive world of talk radio will become a unified front, as the kings and queens of talk radio unite for this effort. The roster of radio hosts signed up for shifts on the telethon include Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Mike Gallagher, Monica Crowley, Melanie Morgan, Roger Hedgecock, Michael Graham, Mark Williams, Brian Sussman, Martha Zoller, and Andrea Shea-King. They’ll be joined by NBC’s designated “America’s Favorite Mom” Patti Patton-Bader (mother of two sons in the military including one stationed in Iraq right now).

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has endorsed the effort and will participate. Lt. Col. Oliver North, comedian Jackie Mason, Human Events Editor Jed Babbin, Miss Florida 2007 and Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik are among the many other stars, dignitaries and heroes joining the historic push.

Also participating will be an array of military bloggers and a special report from the office of Gen. David Petraeus, the architect of “the surge” which has helped stabilize Iraq. Marcus Luttrell, a Navy SEAL who survived a mission in Afghanistan that led to the largest loss of life in SEAL history, will appear on the webcast. Luttrell wrote about the mission in the national bestseller “Lone Survivor.”

“We are deeply honored that so many busy people are donating their time and efforts to send packages to our troops,” Morgan said. Thousands of Americans have already sponsored packages through MAF’s website and a giant database of names and addresses of U.S. troops in Iraq & Afghanistan is being built -- so that the packages can reach our military men and women in time for the 4th of July holiday.”

MAF would like all families with loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan to send addresses and names to ensure all troops benefit from the overwhelming support of a grateful nation, Morgan said.

The Fairfield, Calif.-based Jelly Belly Co., which makes the gourmet Jelly Belly beans made famous by President Ronald Reagan, has donated 100,000 bags of their gourmet jelly beans that will be included in the care packages to assist in the effort.

“This effort has struck a nerve with people from across the nation and here in Sacramento,” Morgan said. “I am personally ecstatic about the love the American people have for our troops.” Families of troops have already sent thankful notes to MAF, explaining how the men and women on the frontlines of the war against radical Islam appreciate every note, every package from home.

Roger Quarton is a minister whose son is fighting for the United States.

“My son is serving with the Marines in Iraq, and I’d like to pass along his address to you, so he might be able to receive a package,” Quarton wrote.” “I know it would be a huge “pick-me-up’ for him and his buddies! Thanks for your help and encouragement to him, and myself!”

Morgan said she is humbled by the simple messages from families who give so much when their loved ones are serving in the military.

“We love all of them and we want them to know that the American people are behind them all the way,” Morgan said. For more information on the telethon, or to sponsor care packages for our troops go to www.MoveAmericaForward.org.

Ellie