Archive for February, 2009
Well the verdict is in ..
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Thanks for coming back to visit! If you would like to be a guest blogger at ArmyHousehold6.com - please let Tammy know!
The other day I wrote about Sec Gates reviewing the policy of the media ban at Dover AFB. When I got up early this morning, the first thing I see in the paper is that the policy is being changed. Ok I’m not happy about it and really wasn’t how I wanted to start my day.
Personally I think that the policy should have stayed the way it was. Like my grandfather used to say ” if it ain’t broke… don’t fix it ” There was no need to change it… it wasn’t violating anyone’s rights or hurting anyone. In fact it was protecting our military families.
I have mixed feelings about Sec. Gates decision on the media ban. On one side, I’m glad that the final decision is left up to us. On the other hand, if a family decides to allow the media, what will the media do with the pictures. WIll they use this opportunity to exploit our military families?
I think that the new decision will open up a can of worms for some families. What if the spouse doesn’t want it and the mother does? What about more than other coffin arrives? What happens if Family A wants the media there, and Family B doesn’t. Will the media respect that ?
Also I think that this is one more thing a spouse has to deal with during an already horrific time. This is one more question a service member and their spouse have to discuss during their “what if ” conversations.
My other question is what will the media do with these pictures? Will they be respectful of the military families once they are there? I would truly hate to see them doing what they normally do. We’ve all seen it .. they run over, stick a camera in your face and say something totally inappropriate like ” so how are you feeling right now ” or ” what are you going to do now” ,etc.
So what do you think?
I’m leaving on a jet plane…
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Yes I am! Tomorrow I am leaving to go to Los Angeles for a couple of days for the Baby Einstein Summit. It will be me and about 8 other mom-bloggers talking about Baby Einstein products, taking a tour ,etc. I’ll be taking lots of pictures and video so stay tuned. I’ll be twittering as much as I can (if you aren’t following me on Twitter.. my twitter name is @tammymunson )
I’ll also be adding them here when I get a chance. : )
I’m so excited about this trip. I have to thank Alli Worthington of Blissfully Domestic for the opportunity. I love being an editor over there for Military Bliss. They have awesome perks! Thanks Alli you so RAWK!
We had to do a bunch of juggling for child care and such! We finally got it all worked it and the girls are going to spend sometime with my friend (who doubles as my VA) Tricia. I’ll be taking the girls over there tonight and I’m so excited about it.
Of course, the big online expo that I put on for Business & Learning is right around the corner too. (great timing I know!) So I’ll be pretty busy for the next couple of weeks. If you’re not doing anything on March 10-12 .. make sure to stop by the expo and say hi!
Rep. Carter to Re-introduce Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
Posted by: | CommentsI got this from Congressman Carter’s office today… Come on my fellow Household6s, let get the support out for Rep. Carter’s Bill. It is times like this I wish I was still in DC! : )
(FORT HOOD, TEXAS) – Military spouses would be able to claim the same state residency as their service member husband or wife, under legislation scheduled to be re-introduced next week in Washington by U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX31).
Carter’s legislation passed the House during the last session of Congress but failed to become law before Congress adjourned in December. The bill allows a military spouse who moves out of a state with their service member under military orders to have the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, regardless of where they are stationed.
“We have long supported service member’s ability to continue voting and paying taxes in one state over the course of a military career as they are transferred around the world on orders,” says Carter, who represents Fort Hood, the U.S. Army’s largest base. “I feel it has been an egregious oversight spanning decades that we have not extended that stability to spouses as well, as they are impacted politically and economically just as much as the service member by these frequent and career-long moves.”
WHO: U.S. Rep. John Carter with supporting House and Senate members
WHAT: Military Spouses Residency Relief Act introduction to the 111th Congress
WHEN: 11:00AM Wednesday, February 25
WHERE: U.S. Capitol (Room TBD)
I’m headed back to Washington
Posted by: | CommentsYep that’s right! In April, I’m headed back to Washington DC. This time it is just for the weekend and to attend the 2009 MilBloggers Convention. I had to miss last year’s event in Vegas due to scheduling conflicts but I’m definitely going this year. I can’t wait because I’ve missed all my milblogging friends.
Not to mention, I’m super excited b/c I’ll be staying with one of my favorite milbloggers and ParentZone partner, LAW.
Here are some of the details from the conference website …
Going back to the successful model of 2007, all events will take place at The Westin Arlington Gateway on April 24-25. We’ve secured a block of rooms for attendees. You can reserve your room by clicking here. We know some of you like to combine your trip to the conference with a vacation, so you can reserve rooms under our block from April 22-29 (subject to availability).
The registration interface is currently being revamped and updated. Once the changes have been completed, I’ll post a link which will allow you to register for the conference. I doubt the link will be ready before February 1, so please sit tight while the changes are made.
The registration fee is $50 per person and includes dinner, breakfast and entry to the conference. Pretty good deal…
Are you going? Do you live near the DC area? If so, let’s meetup!
Public or Private: Just say no Secretary Gates
Posted by: | CommentsMy friend LAW talked about this over at Parents Zone
As you may have read, the Secretary of Defense is reviewing the policy of taking photographs of coffins of the recently fallen soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan arriving at Dover AFB. This is one of those subjects that makes those of us who have family members serving – think, twitch and wonder what would we do.
As you know my husband will be deploying soon so of course something happening to him weighs heavily on my mind. We have talked extensively about if something were to happen… what he would want, what I would do, who to call,etc.
When I saw this post, I thought what??? How could Secretary Gates even consider this as an option. As a social media consultant, I understand the need to be authentic and transparent.It helps to answer the questions of the purposes behind the actions and the statements being said. I know that new media and social media is quickly becoming the trend for communicating.
This is one of those situations where I don’t think we need to be transparent. If a service member dies, that is a private moment between that service member who already give the ultimate sacrifice and their family, loved ones,etc. Should they have to sacrifice their final goodbyes too?
I think that President Obama and Secretary Gates should ask US the military families… the ones it will effect of what we want to do. Let us decide if we want the media present to take pictures, video ,etc. First Lady Michelle Obama has said she wants to do more for military families… is this it? I certainly hope not.
I know for a fact that if my husband, SGT Daddy, has to make the ultimate sacrifice, I will not want to share my last moments with my husband and my children’s father with a bunch of journalists, photographers, etc.
I ultimately will share my husband’s story with the rest of the world. All I ask ….. Secretary Gates, let that be on MY terms, not yours or the Obama Administration.
Let’s make sure that Secretary Gates hear our voice … share this story, post on your blog, post on your social media profiles,etc. Make sure to use the hashtag #notomedia so we can track things. More to come on this I promise!!
Feel free to comment here as well …
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Just wanted to wish all of you a very Happy Valentine’s Day as you celebrate with your loved ones! Remember, if you’re not “romantically involved” you can always show your love for your family members, your freinds, your clients, even your blog readers!
Update on CPL Kevin Preach
Posted by: | CommentsSadly, I learned that Kevin Preach passed away last week. Please keep Kevin’s family as well all of our troops and their families in your prayers.
I’m working on getting some contact information for Kevin’s mom for those that want to send her a card. Once I get it, I’ll be posting that info over at Operation HASMO
Mardi Gras on the brain..
Posted by: | CommentsI was reading all the updates on Facebook from my friends back home and they were all talking about Mardi Gras and the parades. I really wish we were able to go back home for Mardi Gras this year. ( I will definitely be there next year) I was starting to get all sad and homesick until I read this , so I thought I’d share it all with you. LOL If you’re not from New Orleans (or Nawlins) and need an explanation or two, let me know! : ) ——–
YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM LOUISIANA WHEN…
- In your car, you use the heater in the morning and the AC in the afternoon.
- You greet people with “Howzyamomma’an’emdoin?”
- You don’t learn until high school that Mardi Gras is not a national holiday.
- You believe that purple, green and gold look good together.
- Your last name isn’t pronounced the way it’s spelled. (my maiden name is Maltese ’nuff said )
- You know what a nutria rat is but you still pick it to represent your baseball team.
- You can pronounce words like Ouachita, Natchitoches, Avoyelles, and Tchoupitoulas and you make fun of people from other states who say them wrong.
- You pronounce the largest city in the state as “Nawlins.”
- You know those big roaches can fly, but you’re able to sleep at night anyway.
- You assume everyone has mosquito swarms in their backyard.
- You realize the rainforest is less humid than Louisiana.
- You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.
- When out of town, you stop and ask someone where there is a drive-through Daiquiri place, and they look at you like you have three heads.
- You have flood insurance.
- Your sunglasses fog up when you step outside.
- No matter where else you go in the world, you are always disappointed in the food.( heck yeah!)
- Your house payment is less than your air conditioning bill.
- Your grandparents are called “Maw Maw” and “Paw Paw.” (thats a big Yeppers here too)
- You judge a po-boy by the number of napkins used.
- You actually know what a po-boy is.
- You don’t think it’s odd to see live crickets or firearms being sold at a gas station.
Call to Action: Marine Lance CPL Preach
Posted by: | CommentsI received this story from Jessica in San Antonio, TX. Let’s show Kevin how much his country honors his service and sacrifice.
Ten days ago, on Jan. 24, the Humvee in which Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Preach (age 21) was a gunner was hit by an improvised explosive device and he was badly injured. He was transported to a medical site in Germany for surgery. He was stabilized and transferred to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he remains in a medically induced coma. “He is very seriously injured,” his mother said from the Texas medical complex. “He’s lost his legs. He’s lost a hand. He’s seriously burned. He’s very burned. It’s not even day-to-day, it’s really hour-to-hour.”
Kevin cannot receive anything inside his sterile room, but his mom will read him cards and letters that are mailed to him. Cards and letters can be sent to: Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Preach, 3857 Roger Brook Drive, Room 4 South, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
If you would like to help Kevin in other ways, let me know or go sign up to be a team member at Help A ServiceMember Out.org
