Did You Know?

As a veteran, many of the skills you learned in the military can be especially helpful in running a business. The wide range of hard and soft skills you acquired through service can be transferred with great success to the private sector. Many veterans are doing just that.

Read this informative article on the Digital website >>>

Veterans are faced with many obstacles when transitioning out of the military and into civilian life. Unfortunately one of these obstacles could be mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, which can leave one to feel even more alone and helpless. About 30% of all mesothelioma victims are Veterans, usually being exposed aboard asbestos laden Navy ships. For more information on mesothelioma and veterans, please visit https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-and-veterans/.

We are a large organization and are very well in touch with supportive care units, surrounding hospitals, treatment centers, therapy centers, and so on. So our network is pretty widespread and advantageous. We are able to swiftly refer victims to treatment facilities. Not to mention we even give back to the cancer community by sponsoring the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Make a Wish Foundation, MD Anderson Hospital and more.
Mesothelioma.net has a plethora of free resources and information for those suffering from mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases. Some of the topics we cover are treatment options, financial assistance, and help for families of asbestos victims. I’d also like to note that our site is Health On the Net certified as a trustworthy source of medical information (see bottom right of our site for HONcode badge) and is periodically reviewed by medical professionals.

Learn how veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for financial help: https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-and-veterans/

State governors can call out these forces of citizen-soldiers to deal with emergencies, such as natural disasters and civil disturbances
Click here for more information

One More for Chesty – The America One More for Chesty
It wasn’t just his courage, or commitment, or memorable quotations. There was something else that rounded Chesty Puller out as a Marine’s Marine.
theamericanstorypodcast.org

History of the Hand Salute
Many military historians believe that the hand salute might have begun in Rome. Even in regular society, if a citizen wanted to meet with a senator or other public official, the citizen had to demonstrate he didn’t have a weapon, and would approach with his right hand visible or raised.
Another theory suggests the practice stems from knights in armor, who traditionally raised the visors on their helmets with their right hands. Whatever its origins, the salute eventually came to be seen as a sign of respect.
It’s interesting to note that the traditional right-handed salute looks a little different in the Navy. The palm is turned downward, the thinking goes, because sailors’ gloves and hands would be dirty from working on the deck of a ship, for instance. It was perceived as insulting to show a dirty palm to a superior officer.
Through the centuries, various types of salutes have been used to honor each other, a nation’s flag, and even national leaders. For instance, the United States once used the Bellamy Salute during the Pledge of Allegiance in schools of the late 1800’s. This was a highly used salute across the country by the younger generation of the time. However, this salute looked too similar to the Nazi salute that Adolf Hitler adopted in the early 1930’s. President Roosevelt and Congress changed the Pledge of Allegiance salute to be a hand over the heart during World War II as the Bellamy salute had largely been adopted by Fascists around the world.

Uniformed Military Personnel
U.S. military personnel in uniform are required to salute when they encounter someone entitled by grade or rank to a salute, such as a superior officer. There are some exceptions: When in a moving vehicle it may be impractical to salute. However, if a gate guard at a base entrance or check point sees a senior officer in a vehicle, the guard will salute as the car passes through the gate. And when in a combat situation, a salute is forbidden, since it could signal to a watching enemy who the officers are.
They are more likely to be considered valuable targets by the enemy.
The salute is considered a courteous exchange of greetings, with the junior military member always saluting first. When returning or rendering an individual salute, the head and eyes are turned toward the Colors or person saluted. When in ranks, the position of attention is maintained unless otherwise directed. All military personnel are required to salute the president, in his role as commander in chief. Also regardless of rank, any recipient of the Medal of Honor is granted a hand salute even from a more senior officer.

When Saluting Is Not Required
Salutes are not rendered indoors, except in cases of formal reporting. When in formation, members don’t return a salute unless commanded to do so. The usual procedure calls for the person in charge of the formation to salute on its behalf. Even if the formation is marching holding weapons, there is a hand salute used by the leader of the formation typically with a sword or hand for the group.
If a senior officer approaches, while military personnel are gathered in a group (but not in formation), whoever notices the officer first calls the group to attention. Then, all members salute the officer, and remain at attention until they’re given permission to stand at ease, or when the officer departs.

Veterans and Saluting Out of Uniform
A provision of the 2009 Defense Authorization Act changed federal law to allow U.S. veterans and military personnel not in uniform to render the military hand-salute when the national anthem is played.
This change adds to a provision which was passed in the 2008 Defense Bill, which authorized veterans and military personnel in civilian clothes to render the military salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag.
Traditionally, veterans’ service organizations rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization’s headgear, although this wasn’t actually spelled out in federal law.

As Adopted by the National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C., June 14-15, 1923, and Revised and Endorsed by the Second National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C., May 15, 1924. Revised and adopted at P.L. 623, 77th Congress, Second Session, June 22, 1942; as Amended by P.L. 829, 77th Congress, Second Session, December 22, 1942; P.L. 107 83rd Congress, 1st Session, July 9, 1953; P.L. 396, 83rd Congress, Second Session, June 14, 1954; P.L. 363, 90th Congress, Second Session, June 28, 1968; P.L. 344, 94th Congress, Second Session, July 7, 1976; P.L. 322, 103rd Congress, Second Session, September 13, 1994; P.L. 225, 105th Congress, Second Session, August 12, 1998; P.L. 80, 106th Congress, First Session, October 25, 1999; P.L. 110-41, 110th Congress, First Session, June 29, 2007; P.L. 110-181, 110th Congress, Second Session, January 28, 2008; P.L. 110-239, 110th Congress, Second Session, June 3, 2008, P.L. 110-417, 110th Congress, Second Session, October 14, 2008; P.L. 111-41, 111th Congress, First Session, July 27, 2009; P.L. 113-66 113th Congress, First Session, December 26, 2013; and P.L 115-305 115th Congress, Second Session, March 28, 2017.

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD
The military guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is changed in an elaborate ceremony which happens every hour on the hour from October 1 through March 31, and every half hour from April 1 through September 30.
Twenty-four hours a day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” stand watch over the Tomb. The Tomb Guards, also called Sentinels, are chosen for this prestigious and highly selective post only after rigorous training and a demanding series of examinations (see below). The Old Guard has held this distinguished duty since 1948.

An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the changing of the guard. Soon, the new Sentinel leaves the Tomb Guard quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle, signaling to the relief commander to begin the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and remain silent during the ceremony.

The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving Sentinel meet the retiring Sentinel at the center of the black mat in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknown Soldiers who have symbolically been given the Medal of Honor. The relief commander orders the relieved Sentinel, “Pass on your orders.” The current Sentinel commands, “Post and orders, remain as directed.” The newly posted Sentinel replies, “Orders acknowledged,” and steps into position on the mat. When the relief commander passes, the new Sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.

The Tomb Guard marches exactly 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. (The number 21 symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed, the 21-gun salute.) Next, the Sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

When not “walking,” the Tomb Guards spend their duty time in quarters below the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater, where they study cemetery history, clean their weapons and help the rest of their relief prepare for the changing of the guard. This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.

Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stand watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any weather. Sentinels, who volunteer for this post, are considered the elite of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), headquartered at nearby Fort Myer, Virginia.

After members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment become ceremonially qualified, they are eligible to volunteer for duty as Sentinels at the Tomb. If accepted, they are assigned to Company E of The Old Guard. Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall for men or 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall for women, with a proportionate weight and build.

Would-be Tomb Guards must first undergo an interview and a two-week trial. During the trial phase, they memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history. This information must be recited verbatim in order to earn a “walk.”

If a soldier passes the first training phase, “new soldier” training begins. New Sentinels learn the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans.They learn the guard-change ceremony, the manual of arms, and methods for keeping their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition.

The Sentinels must pass multiple tests to earn the privilege of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge. First, they are tested on their manual of arms knowledge, uniform preparation and walks. Then, they take the badge test, consisting of 100 randomly selected questions from the 300 items memorized during training. The would-be badge holder must get more than 95 percent correct.

The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is a temporary award until the badge-holding Sentinel has honorably served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for nine months. At that time, the award can become a permanent badge, which may be worn for the rest of a military career. The silver badge is an upside-down, laurel-leaf wreath surrounding a depiction of the Tomb’s front face, the words “Honor Guard,” and figures representing Peace, Victory and Valor. Over 600 Tomb Guards have earned the badge since the late 1950s.

The Tomb Guards work on a three-relief rotation; each relief has one commander and about six Sentinels. The three reliefs are organized by height, so that those in each guard change ceremony look similar in appearance. The Sentinels wear the Army dress blue uniform, reminiscent of the color and style worn by soldiers during the late 1800s.

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving the United States since 1784. The Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, it also provides security for Washington, D.C. in times of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847, following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. The black-and-tan “buff strap” worn on the left shoulder replicates the knapsack strap used by the unit’s 19th-century predecessors to distinguish its members from other Army units.

The Old Guard annually participates in more than 6,000 ceremonies, an average of 16 per day. Despite this arduous schedule, The Old Guard also continuously prepares for its security and infantry missions by conducting year-round training. All soldiers are as familiar with traditional infantry or military-police duties as they are with ceremonial duties.

The 24-note melancholy bugle call known as “taps” is thought to be a revision of a French bugle signal, called “tattoo,” that notified soldiers to cease an evening’s drinking and return to their garrisons. It was sounded an hour before the final bugle call to end the day by extinguishing fires and lights. The last five measures of the tattoo resemble taps. The word “taps” is an alteration of the obsolete word “taptoo,” derived from the Dutch “taptoe.” Taptoe was the command — “Tap toe!” — to shut (“toe to”) the “tap” of a keg. The revision that gave us present-day taps was made during America’s Civil War by Union Gen. Daniel Adams Butterfield, heading a brigade camped at Harrison Landing, Va., near Richmond. Up to that time, the U.S. Army’s infantry call to end the day was the French final call, “L’Extinction des feux.” Gen. Butterfield decided the “lights out” music was too formal to signal the day’s end. One day in July 1862 he recalled the tattoo music and hummed a version of it to an aide, who wrote it down in music. Butterfield then asked the brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, to play the notes and, after listening, lengthened and shortened them while keeping his original melody. He ordered Norton to play this new call at the end of each day thereafter, instead of the regulation call. The music was heard and appreciated by other brigades, who asked for copies and adopted this bugle call. It was even adopted by Confederate buglers. This music was made the official Army bugle call after the war, but not given the name “taps” until 1874. The first time taps was played at a military funeral may also have been in Virginia soon after Butterfield composed it. Union Capt. John Tidball, head of an artillery battery, ordered it played for the burial of a cannoneer killed in action. Not wanting to reveal the battery’s position in the woods to the enemy nearby, Tidball substituted taps for the traditional three rifle volleys fired over the grave. Taps was played at the funeral of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson 10 months after it was composed. Army infantry regulations by 1891 required taps to be played at military funeral ceremonies. Taps now is played by the military at burial and memorial services, to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the “lights out” command at day’s end.

America, my native land,
My home by natural birth
Is, of all the countries of the world,
The grandest one on earth.
Not many people in the world
Are fortunate like me,
To live ‘midst so much bounty
And partake of liberty.
In spite of many weaknesses,
And problems that she shares,
Though I should look throughout
The world no other land compares.
Lord, let me never be ashamed
To stand up in a crowd,
And say, “I’m an American,
And for this fact, I’m proud!”
May all our people ever seek
To join and not to sever,
Holding high our Nation’s flag
With stars and stripes forever.
And for the ones in office may I,
To thy Word, pay heed;
And meet responsibility
To pray for those who lead.
May they, in turn, seek guidance
Whether home or while abroad,
And may they seek the old paths
Which our founding Father’s trod

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the national personification of the United States federal government. For its comic book adaptation, see Uncle Sam (comics). For other uses, see Uncle Sam (disambiguation).

J. M. Flagg‘s 1917 poster was based on the original British Lord Kitchener poster of three years earlier. It was used to recruit soldiers for both World War I and World War II. Flagg used a modified version of his own face for Uncle Sam,[1] and veteran Walter Botts provided the pose.[2]

Uncle Sam (initials U.S.) is a common national personification of the U.S. federal government or the country in general that, according to legend, came into use during the War of 1812 and was supposedly named for Samuel Wilson. The actual origin is by a legend.[3] Since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of the US government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic emotion.[4] While the figure of Uncle Sam represents specifically the government, Columbia represents the United States as a nation.

The first reference to Uncle Sam in formal literature (as distinct from newspapers) was in the 1816 allegorical book The Adventures of Uncle Sam, in Search After His Lost Honor by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq.[5] Other possible references date to the American Revolutionary War: an Uncle Sam is mentioned as early as 1775, in the original lyrics of “Yankee Doodle“,[6] though it is not clear whether this reference is to Uncle Sam as a metaphor for the United States, or to an actual person named Sam. The lyrics as a whole celebrate the military efforts of the young nation in besieging the British at Boston. The 13th stanza is:

Old Uncle Sam come there to change
Some pancakes and some onions,
For ‘lasses cakes, to carry home
To give his wife and young ones.

The practice became especially popular in the United States during the Vietnam War because of the political climate throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Friends of those who died in combat left coins to let family members know that someone had visited the gravesite. Leaving a coin on the headstone was more practical than contacting the family and risk becoming involved in a discussion about the war.
Generally speaking, a visitor who did not know the deceased well enough to be considered a friend might leave a penny. Someone who went through boot camp or a training class with the deceased might leave a nickel. A friend who served in another platoon within the same company might leave a dime. A buddy who served in the same outfit, or was with the deceased when he died, might leave a quarter.
Some Vietnam Veterans left coins as a “down-payment” to purchase a beer or play a hand of poker when he was eventually re-united with his deceased buddy.
Today, the denomination of the coin left on the headstone has become less significant because so few people carry coins other than quarters.
The coins left on headstones within National Cemeteries and State Veterans Cemeteries are collected by cemetery staff from time to time and are used to maintain the grounds. Some cemeteries use the coins to help pay for the burial costs of indigent Veterans

by Charles M. Province, U.S. Army • November 1, 2004

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

© 1970 2010
Charles M. Province, U.S. Army

ALL TRUE AMERICANS PAY ATTENTION TO HIS WORDS

His portrait is on the $2.00 Dollar Bill.

This is amazing. There are two parts to this.

Be sure to read the 2nd part (below the dotted line).

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin’s tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.
Also could write in Greek with one hand, while writing the same in Latin with the other.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated “Summary View of the Rights of British America,” and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia’s legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia, succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected President of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of the Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the nation’s size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello.

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly, created the University of Virginia and served as its’ first
president.

At 83, died on the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied, the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, His laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today.

Jefferson really knew his stuff…

A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:

“This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House, with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

__________________________________________________________________

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.” — Thomas Jefferson

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take   away from those   who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” — Thomas Jefferson

“It is incumbent on every generation   to pay its’   own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world.” — Thomas Jefferson

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the   labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them.” — Thomas Jefferson

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government  results from too much government.”  — Thomas Jefferson

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” — Thomas Jefferson

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms   is,   as a last resort, to protect themselves   against tyranny in government.”  — Thomas Jefferson

“The tree of liberty must   be refreshed from time to time     with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”  — Thomas Jefferson

“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes, the propagation of ideas which he   disbelieves   and abhors, is   sinful and   tyrannical.”  — Thomas Jefferson

I wish we could get this out to every American!

I’m doing my part.

So Please do yours.