Project Valour-IT: We need your help; A birthday present for the Marines; Happy Veterans’ Day
Update 11/11 9:00pm Eastern. The Project Valour-IT fundraiser has been extended for one more day. Please help.
Update 11/11 825pm Eastern. Milblogger Jonn L. has video of the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington.
Update 11/11. Happy Veterans Day to all who have served our great nation.
Learn about the heroism of First Lt. Walter B. Jackson, the seventh Soldier since the Vietnam War ended in 1975 to receive the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action
Remembrance at Mudville Gazette.
Update 11/10: Today is the Marines birthday–a great day to contribute to Project Valour-IT on behalf of the Marines team. Donate here.
Here’s General Lejeune’s message to the Marines:
On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date, many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the Birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.
The record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world’s history. During 90 of the 146 years of it’s existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the nations foes. From the battle of Trenton to the Argonne. Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home. Generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as “Soldiers of the Sea” since the founding of the Corps.
Herschel Smith at Captain’s Journal pays tribute.
And a tribute video on YouTube:
The commandant’s message:
SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION, OUR LIBERTY HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY VALIANT MEN AND WOMEN OF DEEP CONVICTION, GREAT COURAGE, AND BOLD ACTION; THE COST HAS OFTEN BEEN IN BLOOD AND TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE. AS AMERICAS SENTINELS OF FREEDOM, UNITED STATES MARINES ARE COUNTED AMONG THE FINEST LEGIONS IN THE CHRONICLES OF WAR. SINCE 1775, MARINES HAVE MARCHED BOLDLY TO THE SOUNDS OF THE GUNS AND HAVE FOUGHT FIERCELY AND HONORABLY TO DEFEAT THE SCOURGE OF TYRANNY AND TERROR. WE ARE MARINES – THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
2. IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY: “IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THE WORLD, ONLY A FEW GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE ROLE OF DEFENDING FREEDOM IN ITS HOUR OF MAXIMUM DANGER.” MAGNIFICENT HEROES FOUGHT IN THE WHEAT FIELDS OF BELLEAU WOOD, IN THE SNOWS OF THE CHOSIN, AND ON THE STREETS OF HUE CITY. YOUR GENERATION BEARS THIS OBLIGATION NOW, AND IT IS BORNE ON MIGHTY AND CAPABLE SHOULDERS. JUST LIKE THE MARINES AT BELLEAU WOOD – WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ENGAGED IN SUSTAINED OPERATIONS ASHORE. JUST LIKE AT BELLEAU WOOD – THE MARINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TOUGHEST SECTOR AND HAVE PREVAILED OVER A RESILIENT AND DETERMINED ENEMY – WHO HAS MADE US PAY FOR OUR GAINS. ONCE AGAIN, AS IN ANY STRUGGLE, THE ROAD AHEAD IS FAR FROM CERTAIN, BUT AS MARINES, WE ARE NOT DISSUADED BY THE CHALLENGES OF WAR OR THE TOUGH CONDITIONS OF A WARRIOR’S LIFE. INDEED, WE DON’T JUST ACCEPT OUR DESTINY – WE SHAPE IT.
3. ON OUR 232ND BIRTHDAY, TO EVERY MARINE – THOSE STILL IN UNIFORM AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE PAST – BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO. KNOW THAT YOUR CITIZENSHIP DUES HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL; YOU ARE PART OF THIS NATION’S ELITE WARRIOR CLASS. CHERISH OUR FAMILIES WHO OFFER MARVELOUS SUPPORT, ABIDING RESOLVE, AND STEADFAST PATIENCE. REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN – THEIR NAMES ARE CHISELED ON THE ROLL CALL OF AMERICA’S HEROES. THOSE WHO HAVE CARRIED THE BATTLE COLORS OF OUR CORPS HAVE FORGED OUR HERITAGE, AND TODAY’S GENERATION OF LEATHERNECKS CHART OUR FUTURE. CARRY THE COLORS WITH PRIDE; CARRY THEM WITH HONOR.
4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES! SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
***
On Oct. 29, Oct. 30, and Nov. 3, I asked for your help with Project Valour-IT, the annual fund-raiser to provide voice-activated laptops to disabled troops. The organizers at Soldiers’ Angels tell me that six liberal blogs have risen to the challenge and joined the effort and/or chipped in. As promised, I’ll chip in $50 to match each of those blogs in addition to my regular donation.
The good news is that our Marine team is in second place, having raised more than $14,500 so far. But each of the individual team goals is $60,000. We still have a lot of work to do.
I don’t ask a lot of readers. But please dig deep as we head into Veterans Day weekend. Do your part. Put your money where your mouths and hearts are. The fund-raiser ends Sunday.
Donate here.
***
Related: A message from the NRSC to veterans…
***
Congrats to Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader, great-niece of General George Patton, who just won a Microsoft Above and Beyond Effort Award for her nonprofit work for the troops:
When Patti’s son Brandon was deployed to Iraq, she began sending daily care packages to him.
Soon she was recruiting friends and family to send packages to the troops, which eventually led to her start a nonprofit, “Soldier Angels,” (www.soldiersangels.org) in 2003. Since then, the group’s 100,000 members have sent tens of thousands of care packages and hundreds of thousands of letters to make sure no soldier is forgotten while serving.
The great-niece of General George Patton, Patti’s commitment to supporting the troops runs deep. Volunteers who adopt a soldier through her program must commit to sending one card or letter each week and at least one or two care packages a month. Soldiers Angels not only helps the deployed, but also assists their families, veteran’s hospitals and nursing homes. The web site enables “Angels” to post and respond to specific requests (i.e., a service member needs help covering funeral expenses for her father, or help with medical bills). The group has spun off a number of programs. Among them is Operation Outreach, which provides moral and material support for military families, including providing gifts for birthdays and the holidays, support for wives expecting babies, and connecting local military families for peer support groups or as “e-pals.”
Another group, the Sewing Team, sews “Blankets of Hope,” scarves, mittens and booties for wounded soldiers. And Project Valour-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded troops recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at military hospitals. Patti’s leadership makes this all possible. She not only oversees this sprawling operation, she drives it forward with her passion, her gratitude and encouragement.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
December 25, 2011 03:26 AM by Michelle Malkin
75 Comments
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Devastation in Joplin
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Categories: Worthy Causes
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As the wife of a Navy Lt., preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, I appreciate everything you do to help support the military, Michelle. Thanks for giving us another worthy charity to donate to.
Michelle, can we get a propper listing of Lefty blogs that have signed up, and at least several hours before the end of donations?
I wanna make sure I get the names right when I donate.
I have various family members and friends who have served in the past. Just this past summer a cousin of mine was accepted to West Point. He is the son of two parents who serve in the Air Force. The military has been apart of my life from as far back as I can remember. I have nothing but respect and admiration for those who serve past, present and future. May God Bless them all!
I have gladly given to each branch, will do so again today.
Thank you. If every registered commenter would do the same, we can play a big role in reaching our goal.
Where is everybody?
Giving my money to the Army. We’ve gone over this.
Though this is why I decided on my “5 per branch per blog” pledge, instead of 20 per pledge. I wanted to spead my “challenge love” around.
In an effort to help spread the word. I sent an email with the link to Project Valour IT to my colleagues. I work for a pretty big company. So, hopefully there will be a significant boost. Praying and hoping…
Michelle:
I don’t think I entered your blog’s name when I donated this past weekend.
So, I donated again today, in order to specify the blog.
My donating is the most minimal of minimal, when compared to what the troops are doing for us.
However, hopefully even the least of something is more than nothing.
God bless them all.
Keep urging the bloggers on, Michelle.
P.S. Ahh…”Preview” is again “Previewing.”
I’ve bought a few items and also bought a ‘buy it now’ item from the auction.
…for those who need something tangible, try the auctions or the store.
.
Go Air Force ( its a Colorado thing)
.
I asked that my purchase amounts go to MM’s Army efforts tho.
lmao Shooter…
She’s on Team Marine… lol
I couldn’t donate much, Michelle. But I gave $5 for now.
thank you.
May God Bless you Michelle and all those who contribute to this most worthy cause.
#’s 10, 11, & 12:
Agreed.
Thank you.
Sorry Michelle my contribution went to team Air Force. You have to dance who with who brought you to the dance and after 31 years working for them my money tends to go back to Air Force charities.
In for $50. Semper Fi!
Since my work computer doesn’t like Flash in any form, what are the current totals?
Army: $19096
Navy: $10117.34
Air Force: $12393
Marines: $15367
Just donated. This is really neat. Thanks for posting Michelle.
I didn’t donate through Michelle’s team…huh. was I suppose to?
Bummer. Well, I am pretty sure it will all get to the same place.
Here’s an idea…
Forget Hollywood and stop paying for their so called entertainment bologna (I have done this for a long time now), and calculate what you would normally have spent on the movies, etc. — and send it to Project Valour-IT.
This will be easy for those supporting the military, considering all of the anti-war tripe coming from HW these days. Just a thought.
Yeah, I’m gonna need that list of Lefy blogs posted up some time tomorrow afternoon, if that would be ok…
Dunno about anybody else, but I’m enjoying a milblogging panel at BlogWorld, which means my final match donation won’t happen until Sunday.
Steveegg, go shake hands with TD from Acute Politics. Tell him Angry White Guy sends his hello’s and heartfelt thank-yous…
If I can find him (the schedule has real names except for Uncle Jimbo), I will.
His first name is Gordon, that much I know from his blog, and I believe he is a Specialist (that might help if they list ranks).
Just look for the young-ish guy with all the chicks. Bound to be him.
Sorry Michelle, Army’s pulling away. I’ve made my contribution and my wife and I adopted a young Marine in Iraq. W will be supplying him with care packages and weekly letters, even a few surprises in store.
Everyone should think about adopting a soldier through Soldier’s Angels. More than 90% of the funds raised goes to the troops. Only 9% is used for fundraising and administrative costs.
All my donations are made in honor of the Big Red One and the 58000 names on our wall. God bless America.
Also – each donor that gives more than $25 (to any team) will receive a Soldiers Angels gold coin as a gift. You can see it here:
http://sablogs.com/index.php?title=gold_soldiers_angels_coin_for_fundraiser
Average of 90% to-use rate? That ain’t too shabby…
Badger6 has a neat offer for those who donate as well.
The 90% rate is excellent. Well done Soldiers Angels.
And for those who missed the news, Patti Patton-Bader was a recipient of a Microsoft Above and Beyond Award
Thanks for supporting the troops, MM and bloggers. We’re doing our part in Operation Toasty Toes (knit/crochet thick warm slippers, etc)that go to Afghanistan and Iraq where we have a loved one. Happy birthday, Marines – more brownies on the way!
Gramma, if you go to friends link below, I’ll post the “world famous homemade aj killer brownie recipe” it’s a crowd pleaser!
friends
Michelle, I’ve joined the others who’ve done their part. Sorry, not your Marines–my loyalties for this are split between the Army and the Navy.
I’m an Army vet, so I had to go with my comrades. Thanks to all of you!
Semper Fi to my marine brothers on their 232nd birthday. I was honored to attend their celebration today as they have a battalion on my base here.
Just checked my Combined Federal Campaign brochure to see if Soldiers Angels is listed for donations that way, but they are not. Any vets, or currently serving, you know the deal… Michelle, you might want to pass them the word to extend their visibility in that manner.
aj – Not sure Dan wants me messing up his favorite, but am curious as to your secret ingedient; however, am suffering brain-strain and don’t know what to do next as this is the only site I comment in.
I want to personally thank all who have supported all the Armed Services during these past volative years. In particular, as a combat veteran of Vietnam, may I wish all my fellow Marines a very Happy Birthday. I know that there are those who see us as arrogant and egotistical people who wear our Marine Corps experience on our sleeves. Well, I’m sorry you don’t understand, but it is what we are, were and what we always be…. Marines.
Know that we honor everyone’s service in what ever branch they served. A special grateful salute to the families and friends of Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice , past, present and future . I consider it an honor to have served my country and it’s people. Semper Fidelis!
Hooah!
oops, forgot to click on blog name, but did donate to Michelle’s team.
Thanks for doing this Michelle.
Happy birthday, Marines. Party-hearty tonight. Know your nation honors and respects you.
Sign me: A proud father of a US Marine.
Thank you all for your service, and for your financial support of Valour-IT. Your gifts will have a profound effect on the lives of the laptop recipients. One recipient has gone so far as to call them lifesaving.
Bake em for the Troops.
But dont blame me if they want to move in when they return home.
AJ’S KILLER BROWNIES!!!!!
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 ¼ cup cake flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces unsweetened choc. Hershey’s morsels, half a bag…save other half
12 tablespoons butter
2 ¼ cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
Middle oven 325 degrees
Whisk to combine flour, salt, and baking powder in bowl set aside
Melt 6 oz. of chocolate and butter slowly 15 sec. intervals in micro……
When melted and smooth slowly whisk in sugar
Add eggs one at a time!
Whisk in vanilla
Add flour mixture in 3 additions until batter is smooth
…..add remaining hersheys morsels and add nuts!!!!
Grease bottom only of a 13 x 9” pan
Add mixture and bake 30 to 35 minutes….but check depending on ur oven…
Viola! Ajs world famous brownies
Here is a list I came up with so far.
Team Army
Balloon Juice
Insanity
OneUtah
Team Air Force
Greg from the Left
Lawyers, Guns and Money
Team Navy/USCG
The Online Lunchpail
Springbored’s Springboard
That may not be 100% accurate, however that is what I was able to find looking through the list of blogs.
Oh and BTW the money does go to the same place, the teams were created for a little inter service rivalry (at least that was how it was last year.)
F15mech
Sorry to respond to my own quote…
Searching the blogs I linked above, I could find posts about Valour-IT on all of them except oneutah.org.
Valour-IT was in the comments (as was the Army widget).
That being said they did sign up and comments were made, in the comments one of the Mods (I think) stated that they made a $250 dollar donation to Valour-IT so in my mind it counts, even though the blog itself never made a direct post about Valour-IT.
I would have liked to see a direct post. Absent of a direct post…
1. They did sign up.
2. Money was given to Valour-IT (according to the comments) so I will donate $50 in One Utah’s name.
I am not sure if not making a post violates the rules, however since this blog generated at least one donation it counts in my book.
I’d noted that Utah didn’t have a prominate display…
But they donated, and signed up, so I suppose in my eyes that counts.
So that’s 7 blogs… I was really hoping to see ten.
If someone connected to this fundraiser (FbL for example) can give a hard tally (including OneUtah) tonight before midnight, I’ll put in my money.
I am Italian, living in Italy…
but I donated, too, because I do think it is a worthy cause.
Moreover, I believe that the US military is fighting a war on behalf of all the West.
Godspeed,
men and women of the USMC!
Paolo
Happy Birthday and Semper Fi to all my fellow Marines …
Rather then accepting an official tally from someone like FbL.
How about we first accept an unofficial tally from a liberal blog (such as Springbored’s Springboard) first?
That way we can hopefully avoid the unpleasantness of putting Valour-IT/FbL in the middle of liberals and conservatives once again.
I believe Springbored has posting rights on this site (as of last weeks open registration) if not he can post it on his blog and I will re-post his tally here.
After reading his site, I will trust his judgment in whatever total he comes up with.
I think I found one more in the trackbacks.
Social liberal/fiscal conservative is still more liberal then myself.
Information Dissemination (Team Navy/USCG)
Happy birthday to my Marine brothers and sisters…or maybe that should be cousins, since I was Army.
I just came across an awesome video; I suspect it’s been around a while, but it’s appropriate, tomorrow being Veterans Day. It’s called “If I Die Before You Wake”.
http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm
Proudgulfwarvet..
I have that video and song on my MySpace page. It’s a great song and well worth the time to watch it.
Michelle, I’m already in for more than $150 in the Army camp but if you’ll post the liberal blogs who contributed, I’ll be good for my $25 match per blog by tomorrow
I know it doesn’t help the Marine total but this old Army vet will be taking care of my adopted Marine in Iraq for the reaminder of his tour.
God bless all of our military.
So that’s 8 total…
Since I dunno if this will be running come tomorrow, I’ll go do my donations now.
According to Michelle (see her post) only 6 liberal blogs accepted…
I personally accepted oneutah (even though they never really blogged about Project Valour).
I also accepted Information Dissemination since he is/was a social liberal at some point.
I come up with 8 in my personal book (however I want to be clear THAT I DO NOT speak for Michelle or Project-Valour-IT), some of my matching donations policy may bend Michelle’s “challenge” a bit, (I am much more liberal in my interpretation of what counts).
I say 8 Michelle/Officials may choose to qualify/disqualify oneutah and also Info Dissemination based on their posts (or lack of).
At this point only 2 more liberal blogs need to say is that they are a liberal blog and that they support Valour-IT and the 10 blog challenge will be met IMO.
I will make my donations to Team Air Force tomorrow (plus additional donations I agreed to make on other sites in support of the squids etc).
Here is an updated list of liberal blogs in my opinion…
Team Army
Balloon Juice
Insanity
OneUtah
Team Air Force
Greg from the Left
Lawyers, Guns and Money
Team Navy/USCG
The Online Lunchpail
Springbored’s Springboard
Information Dissemination
Keeping my private donations private…
I publicly agreed to give $500 ($50 per the first 10 liberal bloggers).
Even if 2 to 4 more liberal blogs do not sign up (enter my fuzzy logic) it would stand to reason that I am lucky enough to have an extra 100 to 200 dollars sitting in my bank account, that I can afford to donate.
That said I will call on all “Malkin matchers” (Michelle included) to donate the max that they publicly pledged regardless of how many private donations they may have made.
SEMPER FI, Do or die, I live for the Marine Corps. HooRah !
Happy birthday USMC
This is the official not politically correct beverage of the United States Marine Corps supposedly served to potential Marine Corps recruits at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, during the American Revolution.
I’m sure there is a lot of rum and cake being consumed tonight on every Marine base states side.
SEMPER FI
*
One part dark Jamaican Rum
*
Four parts lime juice
*
Maple sugar and grenadine to taste
*
Pour over cracked ice in a glass punch bowl
My $160 has been sent, $40 per team.
Will add y thanks and salute to all our veterans.
Can go here to my blog to catch several stories. One is about the DoD’s “Heroes of the WOT” website.
Another is about the New Army action figure based on a hero of the Iraqi war.
Can catch them
Here
Koko:
Please do not use boldface type for your entire comment.
Use it only for individual words or short phrases.
I was Army (Airborne), but I still have a lot of respect for our jarheads (one of my brothers was one). So, Semper Fi! and happy birthday. Also have another brother in the Army and one who was in the Air Force. Today would have been his birthday. Miss you, Patrick!
darn Marines, getting this extended so they win…
Come on people give some to the Navy their little slice of the pie is to small….thanks.
I am not particular to any of them I love them all I just hate to see one so far behind the other’s.
Looks like the Marines planned this sneak attack.
I’m a 1st Infantry Division veteran so I have committed my donations to Team Army. I’ll keep my Army link up on my website until this is over.
Looks like the Marines planned this sneak attack.
*teehee* It’s actually a wonderful story. I’ll be telling more after the competition, but late this afternoon a former Marine officer asked the Marine Team leader what it would take for the Marines to win the competition. She told him $5,000 would make them competitive. Let’s just say he went a little overboard…
Or like a typical Marine he took quick and decisive action to assure victory.
Rule #37: There is no “overkill”. There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload.”
Next year the USAF Team needs to stop thinking about “surgical strikes” and think more like a Marine when it comes to fund raising