Did you know all of the extras in Transformers 2 were actual service men and women? Nancy Jay sits down with the cast to chat about working with the military and creating another movie blockbuster.
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In the spirit of being a part of the online military community, this blog will spread the word about other military family inspired programs and initiatives.
We are bombarded with star gossip and scandal…it has invaded our news channels and unfortunately, overshadows our the stories of our true heroes.
In March, Leah and I had the privilege of meeting the founder of GreatAmericans.com, Matt Daniels, at the Milbloggers Conference. This organization’s mission is to “tell the stories of the positive role models of our time.“
From the GreatAmericans.com site:
We live in an era when adults watch movies about comic book characters because we’ve convinced ourselves that there are no more real heroes. And many will point out that if we search for role models who are perfect people, we won’t find any living among us.
There are no perfect people. But there are many ordinary people in America doing extraordinary things for the sake of others and our country. Great Americans is a celebration of their lives, their service, their sacrifice, and their example to us all.
The vision of Great Americans as a movement is to celebrate those in every area of society whose lives offer a positive example to others. As the first step in the pursuit of this vision, GreatAmericans.com is focused on the men and women who serve our nation in uniform. GreatAmericans.com seeks to tell the stories of those who put their lives at risk to protect others both at home and abroad.
We encourage you to visit this site during the American holiday. We are surrounded by everyday heroes. Let’s salute them and give thanks.
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Nancy Jay sits down in our EXTV studio to interview the band, Rev Theory, about their latest CD, Light It Up.
“The back-story of a rock group isn’t what catches your attention or keeps you engaged. A million bands and a million tales – some make it, some don’t, most never get the chance – what matters is the music. What always matters is the music. The music and the ears upon which those tunes are falling, also known as the proud and loyal fan. Rev Theory is conscious of that reality because they are fans themselves. Recording and performing are scared trusts they collectively cherish. Light it Up passed through them from beyond the beyond.”
Find your nearest Reel Time Theater and check local movie/time listing!
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In the spirit of being a part of the online military community, this blog will spread the word about other military family inspired programs and initiatives.
Fresh Voices
In an all-volunteer force, it is vital the mind, body and soul of our service men, women and their families be sustained and nourished. Army Well-Being has released new blogs to stimulate conversation about how the Army, service members and their families work together to heighten the military quality of life.
We encourage our readers to check out the following Army Well-being blogs:
Fatherly Love
In honor of our military fathers and fathers of those in the military, we are highlighting the book, The Military Father by Armin Brott.
From author’s site, Mr. Dad:
“Fathers today play a greater role with their families and children than ever before. However, military dads and dads-to-be are often separated from their families for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, there are very few resources for military (and deployed civilian) fathers, who are looking for guidance on how to be in close touch with their families back home. THE MILITARY FATHER, written by the country’s leading authority on fatherhood, will fill that gap, providing deployed dads with everything they need to know to stay (or become) involved with and connected to their family regardless of the distance that separates them.”
Check out AAFES’ Facebook page…because Armin Brott will be visiting the Ft. Lewis PX for a book signing!
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If you haven’t seen the chatter, AAFES Week is going on now at the blog, AFBlues. According to the author, “This event was originally supposed to be a cooperative effort between AFBlues and AAFES, but unfortunately, even after brass at the highest levels had signed off on it, the lawyers got involved and pulled AAFES’s participation, leaving me to go it alone.“
It wasn’t all just talk, Leah Miller and I and the rest of our Communications team have been watching the corporate blogosphere evolve with various brands talking with real voices in conversations with their customers. We are excited to be able to take a more active role in the military community and hope we can contribute at least as much as we learn. We truly believe this will help us to become a better brand in servicing the “real” needs of the military community.
Unfortunately, the partnership with AFBlues did not occur. Please see my response on the AFBlues AAFES Week announcement post:
Lauren Vargas Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:55 pmDisclaimer: Community Relations Manager coordinating social media on behalf of AAFES (SaluteToYourService.com)
First, I apologize the original AAFES partnership never came to fruition. There were other things that prevented the partnership opportunity from happening, but that is water under the bridge. Hopefully, we can mend fences one day. Rest assured, AAFES is watching what is happening in this space and learning some valuable lessons.
Second, thank you for supporting AAFES and humanizing the company not just this week, but in the past. We are learning from you and your readers through comments, but please do not let that be the only place for feedback. It is essential for these issues to be heard and worked out. So, if you or your readers have any additional comments or questions about the strips or any other topic, do not hesitate to pass along the information to me, Lauren Vargas at VargasL@aafes.com, SaluteToYourService.com blog, @AAFES_STYS Twitter handle, or through official comment channels on AAFES.com or your Exchange.
Third, despite the negative feedback, the AAFES priority and mission is to provide a higher quality of life to service men and women and their families. We have rocky times, just like any other corporation, but in the end, it is you, the military community, for whom we strive to make a difference no matter the location. After all, what other retailers do you see in the desert?
In the words of Darkjester, “…sometimes parody and satire is the best way to get necessary points across.“
Rest assured we are reading your posts and comments not just on AFBlues, but throughout social media. Not to check up on our associates or customers, but so we can do a reality check of our products and services. We have to do a better job of communicating what we are doing with your feedback, because we are using your comments as catalysts for changing processes and perspectives. Thank you.
We know the conversations are happening outside of the formal channels and we respect that and encourage the discussions..we will try to keep up! We also want you to know the formal comment system is and will always be another outlet. Do not wait from someone to post an “AAFES Week” to tell us about your shopping experience.
There are several ways you can let us know an issue, positive and negative.
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by: Leah Miller
Nancy Jay gives us a sneak peak of the screening at Kirtland AFB, which is also where the movie was filmed.
Check out these Celebrity Spotlight cast interviews: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and The Hangover.
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by: Leah Miller
In the spirit of being a part of the online military community, this blog will spread the word about other military family inspired programs and initiatives.
In honor of Father’s day this Sunday, I’d like to highlight one airman’s story. Capt. Chris Moore learned that his son was diagnosed with Leukemia not long after being deployed. He was able to follow his son’s battle with the disease and stay in touch with his family through his personal blog while away at war. “It’s critical for my sanity; to be able to do my mission over there I have to be able to know what’s going on. I have to see those photos and those videos for my own morale and to keep me going,” says Chris.
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As a child, I looked forward to PCS (Permanent Change of Station) time. My younger sister dreaded this time. For me, the move was an adventure! New friends, new culture, new school supplies…blank slate. My mom would give my sister and I our own adventure bags filled with books, games and travel size toys. I remember driving through Belgium on our way to England wearing a pair of oversized, crazy sunglasses.
Despite the fun times, I remember the stress my parents displayed. A move is never easy, but most families do not face the challenges of relocation as much as the families of the military, our mobile workforce. So how do you make your move smoother and ease those PCS headaches?
To further assist in planning, check-out the AAFES Smooth Move PCS Headquarters:
Additional resources to save time, money and sanity include a visit to MilitaryAvenue.com, supporting relation, travel, and lifestyle needs to the American Military Family. Traveling with kids? No problem! Make this a memorable adventure with TakingTheKids.com! (I’d advise taking some crazy glasses on your next PCS…see the world from a different lens.)
(Image courtesy heathre.)
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by: Leah Miller
“This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us — speaks to us of the past, or the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it.” -President Woodrow Wilson
Although the American flag’s physical appearance evolved over almost 200 years, the one thing that remained the same was its symbolism. The American Flag represents many things; the ones that come to mind first are bravery, freedom, unity, and respect. Also history: It has been to war, seen the battle fields, and heard the cries of the American soldiers in the combat zone.
The colors of the flag are also symbolic: red for Hardiness and Valor, white symbolizes Purity and Innocence and blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
June 14 was designated as Flag Day to celebrate the adoption of the first American flag on this day back in 1777. To commemorate the President issues an annual proclamation calling for a national observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The week during which June 14 falls is “National Flag Week” and all citizens of the United States are called upon to display the flag during that week.
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