Greenlights
Recently, you’ve probably seen the Greenlight A Vet commercial while you’re watching TV. With Veteran’s Day upon us, I want to share a little more information about Greenlight A Vet.
Because veteran’s are often camouflaged in their day to day life, the Greenlight A Vet campaign wants to show visible support to the brave men and women who serve our country. Changing one light to green will be a visible sign of support for our vets. Be sure to check out the Greenlight A Vet website.
Kait
Another Hero on DWTS
Another season of Dancing with the Stars has begun and another hero shows off his moves.
Alek Skarlatos, an Army National Guardsman who helped stop a gunman on a train headed to Paris, is one of the stars this season.
I love to see DWTS featuring some of America’s heroes!
Alek’s partner is Lindsay Arnold. Their first dance with a foxtrot. I have to say Alek has some moves! Here’s their first dance!
Hopefully, there will be many more dances where that came from! Make sure to vote!
Kait
Noah’s First Pitch
Army veteran, amputee, motivational speaker, model, and former Dancing with the Stars finalist, Noah Galloway, threw out the first pitch at the Yankees vs. Red Sox game a few days ago. Here’s a link to the clip of his pitch!
Kait
All About Noah
If you haven’t already seen it, here’s a link to the Men’s Health article when Noah Galloway was the Ultimate Men’s Health Guy Winner. There’s a great video along with the article. Make sure to check it out!
Noah Galloway is the Ultimate Men’s Health Guy
Noah chatted with Men’s Health weekly while he was on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Here’s his interview after being in the finale! Check it out!
Noah Galloway on How You Could Become the Next MH Ultimate Guy
Noah’s a great inspiration! We loved watching him every week on Dancing with the Stars! If you’re having Noah withdrawal, follow him on Facebook to see what he’s up to: Noah’s Facebook
Kait
Noah’s in the Finals!
ICYMI, Noah Galloway made it to the Dancing with the Stars Finals! It airs tonight and tomorrow. Noah is one of three competitors left dancing for the mirror ball trophy! Be sure to watch. It’s on tonight, Monday, May 18 on ABC at 8pm est, and it will continue tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 19 on ABC at 9pm est. Be sure to watch and vote!
Kait
Noah Made It to the Semifinals!
I don’t know if you all have been watching Dancing with the Stars, but if you haven’t you should check it out on Monday!
Army Veteran, Noah Galloway, has made it to the semifinals! How cool is that?! He’s done a great job so far. He is challenging the way we all view dance.
Here’s one of Noah’s most recent dances. He received a 10 for this dance!
You can find more on Youtube.
Kait
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Life has been crazy the last few weeks! Things are slowly calming down though. I can’t believe it’s May already and that means it is Military Appreciation Month! Make sure to show your appreciation to any of the military members in your life. They work hard and sacrifice so much. They deserve a little appreciation every now and then.
Today happens to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Along with our hard-working military members, we can’t forget their spouses. They endure a lot as well. Sometimes a little appreciation goes a long way.
So, I’d like to extend a warm THANK YOU today to all the military spouses! As a military spouse myself, I understand the pride, the love, the sacrifices, the hardships that a military spouse faces. It’s not easy feat, but it’s worth it for love. Thank you for all you do!
Kait
The Oscars
The Oscars are one of the biggest nights in Hollywood recognizing the talent you see on the screens and the talent behind the scenes. It’s always nice to see movies, documentaries, etc., relating to the US military nominated for an Oscar.
American Sniper, the film based n Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle, was nominated for Best Picture, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing (Adapted Screen Play), Film Editing, and Bradley Cooper was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Chris Kyle. American Sniper took home the Oscar for Sound Editing! I have yet to see American Sniper, although, it’s on my list. My husband is currently reading the book and we plan to see the movie when he’s finished.
Here’s the trailer for American Sniper:
Another military related piece was nominated as well. The documentary Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 was nominated for Documentary Short Subject and it won! Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 brings to light the trauma and hardships our veterans go through. I have not seen this one either, but it’s on my list as well.
Here’s the trailer for Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1:
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 is an HBO documentary. Check out the link for more info.
Here’s the link for more info on the movie American Sniper.
For more info on Chris Kyle and his book, American Sniper, check out this link.
Congratulations to all of the Oscar winners and nominees!
Kait
Noah Galloway on DWTS 20th Season!
Hey all!
I’m a big Dancing with the Stars fan. It’s such a fun show to watch. So, I was excited to see the big season 20 stars reveal this morning. It seems like a pretty diverse and interesting cast, as usual. There’s always a few celebrities you’re excited to see and a few you’ve never heard of, but end up becoming fans of anyway. BUT… I was THRILLED to see that Noah Galloway, athlete, personal trainer, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran will be part of Dancing with the Star’s 10th Anniversary season cast! He will be partnered with Sharna Burgess.
Some of you may recognize Noah as he graced the November 2014 cover of Men’s Health magazine. He was their Ultimate Guy. He was deployed on his second tour to Iraq in 2005 when he was injured by an IED. He is a double amputee – left arm and leg. He spent time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda as part of his recovery and rehabilitation. He is now a motivational speaker, and personal trainer. He has competed in Tough Mudders, Crossfit, and numerous other competitions. He takes no excuses! Check out Noah’s website!
I am very much looking forward to watching him dance this season on Dancing with the Stars! Be sure to tune in to see him in action! Season 20 begins Monday, March 16 at 8pm(est) on ABC.
Kait
Myths about PTSD
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding PTSD. Here’s an article that talks about 5 of the biggest PTSD misconceptions. Check it out. It’s great info.
CrossFit and PTSD
I’m sure you’ve heard of CrossFit by now. If you haven’t, it’s one of the latest workout crazes. Really, it’s more than just a workout, it’s a workout philosophy. It’s intense. It’s a competitive sport. It’s made up of all sorts of exercise elements, like weightlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics, high intensity interval training, and much more.
CrossFit is popular among servicemen and women. My husband loves it. Recently, he was surfing the web for some CrossFit stuff when he came across this video of a veteran with PTSD who says CrossFit saved his life. It’s a moving video and definitely worth the 20 minutes. Learn a little about CrossFit and PTSD. There’s always hope.
Kait
Dogs for Vets
Have you watched A&E‘s Dogs of War?
If you don’t know what it is, it’s about Paws and Stripes, a non-profit organization that helps provide vets suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with service dogs.
As a military spouse and a dog lover, this show hits home. Fortunately, my husband does not suffer from PTSD, however, we have both seen the effects of it and we both know how the unconditional love of a dog effects your life. It’s a very good show and worth the watch. Jim and Lindsey Stanek, the husband and wife co-founders of Paws and Stripes, work hard to match veterans with the right dog to help them get on the right path.
Dogs of War airs Sundays 11pm/10c on A&E. Check it out.
Kait
Pets for PTSD
Pets for Vets is another great organization that helps out veterans with PTSD. Here’s a moving video about a dog from Pets for Vets that rescued a Corpsman suffering from PTSD.
Dog are such special creatures. To learn more about Pets for Vets and how you can help click here.
Kait
Local Homecoming Surprise
Love watching those homecoming surprises where a service member surprises their loved ones? Well here’s a local one! Check it out!
Welcome home, soldier: Father surprises family in Bethlehem
Kait
Two Great Things on their Resume: Soldier and Olympian
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the Olympics. I love learning about the culture of different countries, the athletes, the competition, the sports, etc. I love it all and I’m sad I have to wait until 2016 for the Summer Olympics.
But here’s a great story that came out at the end of the Olympics. The US men’s bobsleigh team that won bronze is made up of civilians, an active duty soldier and an Iraq war veteran.
Soldiers past, present strike bronze at Sochi Games
Here’s another article covering the same topic:
Iraq veteran Chris Fogt gets first Olympic medal of U.S. bobsled career
Way to go, Team USA!
Kait
Wreaths for Veterans
Christmas is upon us.Â
The Red Cross’s Holiday Mail for Heroes deadline has passed. Toys for Tots deadline has as well. Wreaths Across America is still displaying wreaths on graves of our fallen heroes all across the country. Even though there was a snow storm this weekend, a few Wreaths Across America events happened in the Lehigh Valley. My In-Laws participated in one and my parents participated in another.Â
The local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America participated in a Wreaths Across America event in Allentown yesterday at Cedar Hill Memorial Park to lay wreaths on graves and also to present Gold Star Mothers (Mothers who have children who lost their lives while serving our country) with wreaths. It’s a very nice cause. My Mother-in Law is a Blue Star mom and a member of the local chapter.Â
Another Wreaths Across America event happened at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown. This one was organized by Air Products.Â
It’s awesome to see these events happening locally. What a nice tribute to those who served our country.
Here are a few articles about yesterday’s Wreath Across America events:
Wreaths Across America ceremony in Allentown honors veterans
Fallen veterans to be remembered at Wreaths Across America ceremony in Lehigh County
Veterans’ sacrifices remembered with wreaths on graves
A Wounded Warrior on a Cross Country Bike Ride
With Veteran’s Day right around the corner, here’s a cool story about a wounded warrior who is doing a cross country bicycle ride to support wounded veterans! This is just one of those stories that shows you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Click to read more about his journey and to learn how you can support him and his cause: Marine Corps double-amputee passes through Warren, Hunterdon counties on cross-country bicycle ride
You can also learn more about this wounded warrior and his 5,400 mile bicycle adventure on his website: Rob Jones’ Journey
I love seeing stories like this! They are so inspiring!
Kait
A Serious Discussion on a Serious Topic
So, I’m bumming around tonight, just chilling after a day of running errands. I turned on the MTV movie awards just in time to see Best Male Performance. Bradley Cooper won for his role in The Silver Lining’s Playbook. I hear it’s a great movie. I haven’t seen it yet. I haven’t read the book either, but it’s next in line for me to read on my eReader. Anyway, even though I haven’t seen it, nor have I read it, I’ve heard what it’s about and I understand quite a bit of the story line has to do with mental health. In Bradley Cooper’s acceptance speech, he mentioned mental health and more specifically, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). One thing that caught my attention (and this wasn’t the first time I heard it) was that more service members have died because of suicide than in combat this past year. To me, that’s absolutely insane and unfathomable. But, according to many articles such as this conversation from PBS “More U.S. Troops Died by Suicide Than in Afghanistan Combat in 2012” and NBC News’ “The enemy within: Soldier suicides outpaced combat deaths in 2012,” it’s true. I think mental health is an issue that needs to be on the discussion table.
This has been something I’ve been thinking about for several months. From my own experiences and conversations with friends and family, I feel that mental health issues have a stigma. I feel that it’s often times frowned. I think people also feel that they will be judged or seen as weak if they admit to having a mental health problem.
We need to put mental health on the table. It needs to be discussed openly and without judgement. We need to be accepting and help others. We need to be aware. We need to bring the suicide rate down. Our troops deserve our support whether they are currently serving or retired. We need to develop programs, make sure there is funding for current programs, lend a helping hand. We cannot allow the number of troop suicides to continue to rise. We cannot allow the number of suicides in general to rise.
It’s time to speak up. It’s time to reach out. It’s time to listen. It’s time to love.
Educate yourself. Learn the signs. Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.
If you are in need of help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Â Don’t wait.
Kait
Sweet Success… Again!
The delivery went well!
Here are a few pictures from the journey!
Here is Linda’s account of the delivery:
Our sincere thanks to everyone who donated and/or supported our 2012 Marshall Plan – another successful year! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Sgt. Zachary Johnson and Corpsman Christopher Johnson, our liasons with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, were very helpful to us in getting set up to distribute our donations on Monday, October 15. Corpsman Chris Johnson also told us some of his fascinating and hair-raising experiences as a medic in Iraq and Afghanistan and gave us insights on some of the items that deployed military members enjoy receiving in care packages – especially snack foods, protein-rich foods, energy drinks, and baby wipes. Nine-year-old Gannon, who was part of our team this year, really enjoyed hearing why tough men and women in uniform wanted baby wipes, and Corpsman Johnson enthusiastically explained this. He also taught us how to chill a can of soda or energy drink by placing it in a wet sock and hanging it where it can catch a breeze. This cools a drink down to about 70 degrees, which tastes like it’s straight from the fridge when the outside temperature is 120!
On a more serious note, being able to personally distribute some of our Tastykake and gift card donations this year was such an incredible privilege. Funny how something as simple as a box of Tastykakes could bring smiles to so many faces. Some had never had them, some had gotten them in care packages while deployed, and some related being from Philadelphia or surrounding area hometowns and having grown up with them. They were very happy with the variety we had to offer and the opportunity to try new flavors!
We were able to speak with (and shake hands with) so many wounded warriors – male and female – and with their parents and spouses as well. We heard stories that inspired and humbled us, and many that gave us chills and brought tears to our eyes. One mother told us of her daughter who’d been shot five times. Another mom’s son had stepped on an IED that was intentionally detonated when someone saw him approach it. Both moms were told their children would probably not make it – yet over a year later, they are with us and doing fairly well. A mom and dad accepted some Tastykakes for their son who was in surgery as we spoke. Other parents told us of being at Walter Reed to celebrate their son’s 25th birthday – something they didn’t think he would see when he came to the Medical Center earlier this year. One warrior with a prosthetic leg told us of the sled hockey team he’d just joined. So many – too many – were multiple amputees, some ambulating on prosthetics or with crutches, others still in wheelchairs. We saw many scars and bandages, an abundance of artificial limbs, many orthopedic devices, and a variety of mobility aids. Yet the wounded warriors we saw and spoke with always had a smile and conveyed a sense of pride and honor in being able to serve. They thanked us sincerely for the cupcakes and gift cards that seemed so insignificant compared to what we gratefully thanked them for – their service and sacrifices for our country.
– Linda Reinbold
Looks like they had a great time! Wish I could’ve been there. Thank you so much for all your support and donations! We really appreciate it! We look forward to doing this again next year! I hope you enjoy Linda’s account of the delivery and the pictures courtesy of Kari and Linda.
Kait
It’s Delivery Day!
It’s Delivery Day!!
Bob and Dad arrived in Bethesda yesterday afternoon after their 3 day 200 mile bike ride!
Tom, Kari, and Gannon Mesko picked Mom up yesterday afternoon to drive down to Bethesda with the Tastykakes.
They were scheduled to drop off the Tastykakes around 10am this morning at a loading dock at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and now they are set up and passing out the boxes of Tastykakes to wounded warriors! So cool! What an awesome experience that must be! Wish I could be there with them! They just met a couple whose son was recently injured similar to Marshall’s injury.
We collected roughly the same amount of Tastykakes as last year (1600) and we exceed our monetary donations from last year! We raised $10k! Woo hoo! We bought about $8k worth of gift cards to hand out to wounded warriors as well and the rest of the monetary donations will be donated to an organization that helps out wounded warriors.
I wish I could’ve been there today to be a part of this awesome moving experience!
Here are some pictures I want to share with you!
Donated Tastykakes!
More donated Tastykakes!
The Tastykakes delivered to Walter Reed!
Getting ready to pass out Tastykakes!
Thank you all for your support! We really appreciate it! Thanks for helping us support and thank our wounded warriors!
Kait
Here We Go…!
Lots going on lately!
I unfortunately will not be able to attend the delivery this year partly because I am so far away in NC now and because of work. However, I’ve been able to help out from afar, which has been great.
Luckily, I was able to get home to PA over Columbus Day weekend, so I had some time to catch up and see what all was going on with the Marshall Plan. We had a few days where we had close to 20 envelopes in the PO Box, which was awesome! We’ve had a handful of monetary donations come in via PayPal as well. Lots of Tastykakes too! It was nice to actually be there for a few days to see what’s happening!
We have roughly the same amount of Tastykakes as last year! Yay! And I believe we will exceed the amount of monetary donations we received last year as well! Awesome!
Mom will be purchasing all the gift cards soon.
While the Tastykake drive has ended, you can still donate money by sending a check or cash to: The Marshall Plan, PO Box 285, Bethlehem, PA 18016. Or.. you can donate via Paypal – check out our donate page on how to do that.
The bike ride from Bethlehem to Bethesda started this morning. Dad and Bob hit the road! They’ll arrive in Bethesda on Sunday!
I’m pumped! What another great year of the Marshall Plan, but you can still help out to make it even better!!
Kait
Another Article!
A local Lehigh Valley newspaper, The Morning Call, published an article about the Marshall Plan in their Tuesday, October 2, newspaper! They also posted the article online on Thursday. Here’s the article: Help sweeten the days of wounded soldiers with Tastykake donations.
Lots of donations have been pouring in over the last few days! It’s great! Very excited! Hoping this year is just as successful, if not more than last year!
Thanks for your support! We look forward to being able to brighten the days of just a handful of our countries many wounded warriors!
Kait
Donations, The Express-Times, and a Love Story…
Great news! We have some donations coming in and our Tastykake drive starts on Monday, Oct. 1! Please donate!
Yesterday, I spoke with 2 local newspapers: The Express-Times and The Morning Call. The Express-Times published an article about us on their website this morning! Here’s the link: Tastykake drive for troops kicks off Monday. The Morning Call will be publishing an article about us on their website shortly and will publish it in their newspaper on Tuesday!
I’m sure many of you have seen this true American love story gone viral. I’ve seen it all over the internet lately and I love it. Â Here are the 22 pictures that share Taylor Morris and Danielle Kelly’s truly inspiring love story. This is what true love is. Â A Love Story in 22 Pictures.
It’s true what they say, a picture really does speak 1000 words.
To add to the 22 pictures of that wonderful story, here’s an article from The Huffington Post about Taylor and Danielle, AND a video of them dancing together. It’s too  great to not share.  Taylor Morris, Quadruple Amputee, Dances with Girlfriend Danielle Kelly (VIDEO)
9/11, Suicide Prevention Month
Hey all!
All our donation info is up! You can send checks to: The Marshall Plan, PO Box 285, Bethlehem, PA 18016. You can donate via PayPal (see button below), or you can drop off boxes of Tastykakes from October 1, 2012 to October 10, 2012 at any of these Team Capital Bank locations:
1901 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18104
2151 Emrick Boulevard
Bethlehem, PA 18020
4285 West Tilghman Street
Allentown, PA 18104
It’s crazy to think that it’s been over 11 years since 9/11/01. I remember it just like yesterday, as I’m sure most people do who were old enough to understand something major and awful was going on when it happened. I hope to someday get a chance to visit the Freedom Tower and the memorial in NYC. My mom, Linda, and my sister, Meg, were just there recently. Here’s a picture from their visit:
We will never forget. Our thoughts and prayers are and will always be with those affected by the events of that day.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a serious issue. It shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please,seek help. Here are some ways from the Wounded Warrior Project to help yourself or a loved one: September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Here’s a story of how true love always survives: Marine Couple Overcomes Combat Wounds
Don’t forget to donate!
Kait
Sweet Thanks for Troops: The Marshall Plan 