Shake Hands with a Hero Today! #ShakeHandsWithAHero

6, May 2011 by · Leave a Comment

shake hands with a heroThank you to Procter & Gamble, Kroger and the USO for sponsoring this blog post and the Shake Hands With A Hero initiative. Please click here to learn more about this program. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I still remember the cold, rainy day in November of 2004, while I was 5 months pregnant with our first child. My heart bursting with pride as I watched him take his oath to join the Portland Air National Guard. .

“I, T. Kelley, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Oregon against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of Oregon and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.”

However, even with all the pride I felt that day, it really didn’t sink in as to what an amazing thing my husband was doing until several years later. The kids and I had taken him out to lunch one work day. My husband was sitting at the table in his uniform, I had gotten up to take one of the kids to the restroom and as we were coming back I watched as an older gentleman came up, shook my husbands hand and thanked him for his service. Through that meal we had 3 other people approach our table to thank my husband. The one that stands out the most is a woman who had 2 kids with her. After she thanked my husband her kids asked why she was thanking him. Her reply was simply, “Because he is a hero.”

In that moment my view of his service changed. It wasn’t about what was good for our family. His service was about what was good for our country.

That day led to some wonderful dialogue with our kids about what their daddy does and because of that they are now all too happy to tell you that their daddy is their hero because he is an Airman.

Have you shaken the hand of a hero?

Well, thanks to Kroger and P&G’s most recent campaign with the USO, they are now giving the opportunity for consumers to virtually “shake hands with a hero”. Visit www.honoringourheroes.com to shake a soldier’s hand. You can also post a message of gratitude or support. The first 50,000 people to visit will receive a coupon (loaded to their Kroger Plus Card) for $1 off P&G products.

So, please show your support. Your recognition not only means so much to the men and women in our armed forces, but it means a great deal to their families as well.

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Where do I fit?

23, July 2010 by · 15 Comments

There are times when I just don’t know where I belong when it comes to being a military wife.

Meaning, I AM a military wife. That much I do know. But really what does that mean?

If it means my husband is in the military than I guess that I fit that criteria.

If it means my husband uses alphabet soup on a daily basis and I understand most of it, then yep I fit that.

If it means my husband has an “E” grade, well then I fit that one too. But I can’t help feeling that that is where it ends.

My husband is an active duty Guardsman; an active duty Air National Guardsman to be exact. He’s been active duty for about 4 years now and before that he was a drill status guardsman. When he first signed up I was pregnant with our son. All was fine and dandy and then we found out that he needed to go to a tech school, he would be gone for 60+ days and he would have to leave exactly 1 month after our son was born. It was a very hard time for me, one that I think about now and still tear up over. But I survived, and I tried to keep my husband updated about our son as much as I possibly could. Whether it meant daily pictures or just an email describing 5 week olds first smile. I knew it was my job to make sure he knew he was on our minds every second of every day. I tried in earnest to keep my fears, sadness, and failures to myself.

And when our time apart was up, I was the first person in his arms when finally exited the gate area of the airport.

I feel extremely fortunate that that is the longest taste of deployment we have ever had to endure. Perhaps, that’s way I feel displaced amongst other military wives.

I read posts about 18 month deployments, cross country moves, and even going through childbirth alone. And I can’t relate to any of it.

Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that I wish I could relate to all of that, I’m just trying to find my place.

proud air force wifeMaybe, I’m just trying too hard. Maybe I need to just focus on the things that I can relate to when it comes to military wives. Maybe instead of focusing on what it means to be a military wife I need to focus on what MAKES a military wife.

If a military wife is a strong supporter of her husband, that’s me.

If a military wife defends her husband and his choice to be in the military at all costs, that’s me.

If a military wife stays strong when her husband is gone (even if for just 60 days), that’s me.

If a military wife is the first in her husbands arms at any accomplishment he procures, that’s me.

And above all, if a military wife can’t help but tell everyone what their husband does and how proud they are of him, than that’s me.

I guess we’re not that different after all.

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Mickey and the Military

10, November 2009 by · 3 Comments

I have to say that I just love companies that do good things for our men and women in the armed services. Of course I’m a bit biased since my hubby is in the Air National Guard, but that’s also why I am much more appreciative to those that are so supportive.

mickey_military_image

During our trip to WDW we’ll be taking advantage of the Disney’s Armed Forces Salute. My hubs will get a free 5-day park hopper ticket that includes admission into some of the water parks. In addition to that he can also purchase 5 more 5-day tickets for $99 each! There are some restrictions on these tickets, like the fact that they aren’t park hopper tickets, but we can add that feature on for an additional $25.

Unfortunately, Disney’s Armed Forces Salute ends on the 23rd of December. I have been searching all over the web and even asking Disney folks on Twitter if they will perhaps extend this, but currently it’s not sounding like they will.

You can still get discounted tickets though if you are a military family. Magic Your Way, Stars and Stripes tickets can be purchased at the Shades of Green Resort. All you need to do is present a valid Military ID when purchasing the tickets. There are several ticket options and you are not required to stay at a resort. Although, in my research I discovered that by staying at a WDW resort the tickets you purchase give you more park options than the ticket options you are given if you are staying off Disney property.

If you’re not familiar with Shades of Green, it is an Armed Forces Recreational Center. One of only 2 in the states! Now, if we were planning our vacation ourselves and not going while hubs was at a conference we would stay at Shades of Green. The rooms are much bigger than the average resort rooms. For instance at Coronado Springs the standard room sleeps a maximum of 4. At Shades of Green, (which has the same in room amenities,) the stand room sleeps 5, because in addition to 2 queen size beds there is also a single sleeper sofa bed!

DumboNot only that but Shades of Green offers some great seasonal packages. Their Winter Package (valid during a stay from Jan. 29th, 2010 to Feb. 28th, 2010. Price is based on 2 adults in a standard room,) includes accommodations for 2 to 8 nights, breakfast buffet each day, dinner buffet each day, and gratuity. The price starts out at $136 a night. Again, this price is based on 2 adults in a standard room. I don’t know what each additional person/child would cost.

All these things are great, but by far the greatest offer they have is their vacation discounts for servicemen and women who have served a minimum of 270 consecutive days in either OEF or OIF location. The service members and their dependent children will get 20% off their stay at Shades of Green for a 1 to 14 day vacation. On top of that they will also receive another 20% off all of the dining options at the resort (excludes Poolside Grille and Express Cafe.)

Mylanta!! There are so many great deals to be had if you are a military family. For Disney deals check out WDW Military Discounts page or Military.com, they both feature deals that you can use to make your Disney experience WONDERFUL!!

Next installment of the Mad Hatter Does Disney series: Leavin’ on a Jet Plane..with kids!

Photo by Joe Penniston

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