Navy and Marine Corps Medal

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the second and third highest non-combatant medal for bravery against an unarmed enemy awarded by the United States Department of the Navy to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The decoration was established by an act of Congress on August 7, 1942.
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Typically, it is awarded for actions involving the risk of one's own life.

Airman's Medal

The Airman’s Medal is a military decoration of the United States Air Force and is awarded to those service members or those of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force, distinguish themselves by heroic actions, usually at the voluntary risk of life, but not involving actual combat. The saving of a life or the success of the voluntary heroic act is not essential

Soldier's Medal

The Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926. The criteria for the medal are: "The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy."

On this memorial day, Thanks to all who have served. And god bless everyone who is still there and those who are still suffering after being there. My brother's god son, Kody, is in Af. right now. We need him back in one piece.

Peace out.

TL

On this Memorial Day, I ask God to bless all of the people, and their families who have died defending our country in the past, and are still fighting for it now.

~Thank you for your sacrifices, fighting, so that I can remain free~

To all those who have ever served!!

Thank you!!!

saw this on another thread and i thought it would fit here nicely


The History Of Flag Day

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day', and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.

Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Color guard

In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard (where the word color is referring to the national flag) carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard). In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in the center of the color guard, there are two or more individuals who carry rifles and or sabres.
Since early history, flags and banners have been used by many armies in battle. They served several purposes: to identify units, for signaling and to be a common point of reference for the movements of the soldiers in the unit, enabling them to keep formation. The flag was also a symbol of the unit. The loss of a unit's flag was not only shameful, but losing this central point of reference could make the unit break up. To protect the flag, a detachment of soldiers was assigned to guard it.
In the U.S., traditionally, the unit's sergeant major is responsible for the safeguarding, care, and display of the organizational colors. The sergeant major is also responsible for the selection, training, and performance of the members. The color guard consists of enlisted members and is commanded by the senior (color) Sergeant, who carries the National Color and gives the necessary commands for movements and rendering honors during drill exercises or parade ceremonies.
Being assigned to the color guard is considered an honor due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms. It is mandatory for all members of the color guard to wear headgear, for example, a garrison cap, beret, or service cap. On occasion, certain color guards can be horse-mounted.

Bulldog Thanks for keeping the thread going with such interesting posts.

Fourth of July is coming up and hope all who appreciate the wonderful jobs our military and their supporting families do remember to include them.

Summer can be a really lonely time for waiting families who don't have their spouses/ parents near to enjoy the delights of the season and Holiday. If you can pass on Frequent Flyer miles or just in some small way make it so these families get some extra "respect" to make it through it will be greatly appreciated.

I am so proud of my brother's god son, Kody. He is over in Af. working the store. I forget what it's called. Where the guys buy all their stuff. It's not a glamor job but I am very proud of him because it's necessary.

He got married recently. We are very excited about that.

God bless everyone who has served and is serving and who plans to serve.

Bring the pledge back to schools!

Proud to help out, it's definitely a brotherhood with all of us together and all the different branches making things happen. Too many have died and not enough support anymore. Thank you all for the good thoughts memories and those who died for us. I will continue the trend and be apart of something greater than myself

Let Freedom Ring Happy 4th everyone

Wonderful 4th Carol.

I'm very proud of my oldest son. Attached are pics of his dress medals (shinier and dressier than the originals the Army has given him allthough they hold a greater value to him). He will proudly wear some of them on his uniform when he gets married in Sept. I know the ribbons show where he's been and some other things, and he can look and explain each one. But it's too much color and pattern for me to remember them. But an Army person would know a little more about my son just by the ribbons :-) I am so glad that this year is one of the few that he is actually home and can enjoy with family and friends