Wreaths for Boscawen ~ 2023

Overview: Each year, the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire sponsors Wreaths for Boscawen. This event is intended to bring the community together to honor the veterans and family members interred at the NH State Veterans Cemetery and throughout the world. Wreaths are sourced locally and paid for through generous donations made by individuals and businesses throughout New Hampshire.

This event started in 2007 and was inspired by a Gold Star Family, whose own son is laid to rest in Arlington. Over the past several years, we have moved toward sourcing wreaths locally because as it supports NH jobs and economic growth. Starting in 2020, the Wreaths for Boscawen was moved to the first Saturday in December.

The day of the event. If you have not attended this event personally, we encourage you to do so! It is a beautiful, solemn, enjoyable day to honor our veterans and families. That said, we are always seeking ways to increase safety, efficiency and enjoyment.

Prior to the event, a small group of volunteers will place wreaths in box trucks. On day of the event, the box trucks with wreaths and bows will be strategically positioned throughout the cemetery. We will have a very brief opening ceremony at 10:15 AM at the Circle of Flags. Participants will then move to any box truck they wish and wait in line to receive wreaths to place on headstones. Wreaths will NOT be handed out until 10:30 AM. In addition, please remember during our Wreaths for Boscawen event to take time to read the names on the headstones to the left and right of where you place the wreath so that we remember ALL those who are interred here.

We will hand out a maximum of two (2) wreaths per person (including children). We want to make sure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to place a wreath. Even if you donate 10 wreaths (which we welcome), we will only hand out wreaths two at a time. After careful placement, you are welcome to return to the line to pick-up two more wreaths. Wreath donations are for the interred veterans and their families, they are not reservations to place a specific number of wreaths. In addition, we cannot guarantee that you can place a wreath on a specific headstone during the event. If you want to place a wreath on a specific headstone, we recommend doing so prior to December 2nd or by positioning a person at the headstone before 10:30 AM and having someone else in your group bring you a wreath.

This event is about our community coming together to honor ALL veterans and family members. By placing a wreath on any headstone, you are honoring your friends and loved ones interred at the NH State Veterans Cemetery or at any other location around the world – including those whose remains are lost, MIA, or otherwise scattered. The act itself is the tribute to your loved ones and all of our heroes.

Throughout the event, we will have music playing on the carillon system and refreshments (including warm drinks) available in the maintenance area. In addition, the Veterans Heritage Learning Center will be open for visitors to learn more about the service and sacrifice of our NH veterans.

Arrive a bit early to allow time to park. Dress warm. We look forward to seeing you on December 2nd at 10:15 AM for this awesome event.

Wreaths will be taken down on Saturday, January 6th at 10:30 AM. All are welcome to attend!

National POW/IA Recognition Day - September 17, 2021

On March 12, 1967, Air Force Capt. John Clark was piloting an RF-4C Phantom II on a tactical reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. To keep under the enemy’s radar and offer less acquisition time for anti-aircraft gun crews, he was flying at an extremely low altitude ― just 100 feet off the ground.

The RF-4C was an unarmed, supersonic jet aircraft that carried a variety of film-based cameras as well as infrared and radar sensors for the purpose of intelligence gathering. The tandem two-seat plane was manned by pilots whose motto was “Alone, Unarmed, and Unafraid.”

Although Clark and the other pilot in his plane viewed this particular mission as a low risk “milk run,” their circumstances changed quickly after their jet was hit by 37mm ground fire.

“We were flying at a speed of about 600 miles per hour when the plane pitched up and began tumbling,” Clark said. “We were heading for the side of a mountain and the aircraft was out of control. At that point, we were just along for the ride, so we had to eject.”

Clark was unable to reach the primary ejection handles located above his head because of the extreme G-forces created as the plane tumbled out of control. Instead he grabbed the backup ejection handle between his legs and pulled.

“There was no time to consider other important factors, such as the position of the canopy in relationship to the ground,” Clark said. “The plane was tumbling end over end and if we ejected while the canopy was facing down, we both would have been shot into the ground and killed instantly. However, we had to get out, so I pulled the handle, and well, nothing happened.”

Open Letter To Our Veterans

Since we became an independent country many years have come and gone, however, there is one constant that remains from the 1700’s through today. Our country has had many brave men and women volunteer to defend our country.

There was a movie produced about World War II, whose name I cannot recall, but at the end there is a line which rings true (even though the words are not an exact quote), “Where do we get these brave men and women to always step forward when the need arises?” These men and women come from all over our country and too many times are taken for granted. Men and women, who during times of war and peace, are on-call 24 hours a day 7 days a week and spend countless holidays, birthdays and special events away from their family and friends.

The pay is not great, but they continue to volunteer and many make it a career. They are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. We may not always agree in the wars and battles that we fight, but this should not deter us from the support we give to these men and women in uniform. It is through the sacrifice that they and the numerous individuals before them have made, which provides us with the freedoms we have to disagree and speak our objections.

While words cannot pay what we owe you and your families, we ‘thank you’ for your sacrifice. To the families who have lost loved ones, we offer our most heartfelt condolences. Many of us have never endured the pain you must feel, but our hearts hurt for your loss and wish we could help ease your pain. Let us never forget the people who did not make it home.

Remember those still serving in our prayers and never take for granted the sacrifices they make. In closing, one more time I would like to say…… THANK YOU!!!

Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire

Tuesday Tucks Me In.....

Sharing this from a friend. Thank you Katie!

Tomorrow is Veterans Day.... if you can read this children’s book please do! It’s about Luis Montalvan and his service dog Tuesday. I read it to my classes in honor of Veterans Day and teaching them about nonfiction. I then looked it up because I wanted to see if he wrote anything else. What I found broke my heart....Luis was an army captain who served 2 tours in Iraq (2 bronze stars,purple heart,medal of valor&combat action badge) and was an advocate for service dogs. He suffered from chronic pain and PTSD. In 2016 he took his life. Suicide among veterans is high and I pray that they find the help and peace they deserve. Love our Veterans and take care of them..... what they have sacrificed for us is immeasurable

Gold Star Families Remembrance Week

The Senate has approved a resolution designating Sept. 20-26, 2020, as “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week” to honor the families of fallen service members.

Gold Star Families Remembrance Week precedes Gold Star Mother’s Day, which is observed on the last Sunday of September.

NH Gold Star Family Memorial at the NH Veterans Cemetery

POW/MIA Recognition Day

You Are Not Forgotten – that's the central phrase behind the POW/MIA remembrance movement which honors America's prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families.

Many of our service members suffered as prisoners of war during several decades of varying conflicts. While some of them made it home, tens of thousands more never did.

POW/MIA Recognition Day

POW/MIA Recognition Day is commemorated on the third Friday of every September, a date that's not associated with any particular war. In 1979, Congress and the president passed resolutions making it official after the families of the more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs pushed for full accountability.

During the first POW/MIA Recognition Day commemoration, a ceremony was held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., while the 1st Tactical Squadron from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia flew the missing man formation. Most ceremonies since then have been held at the Pentagon, and many smaller observances have cropped up across the nation and around the world on military installations.

The point of POW/MIA Recognition Day is to ensure that American remembers to stand behind those who serve and to make sure we do everything we can to account for those who have never returned.

POW/MIA Numbers

In order to comprehend the importance of this movement, all you need to do is look at the sheer number of Americans who have been listed as POW/MIAs.

According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs:

• 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died

• 7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died

• 725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died

• 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf wars; none are still in captivity

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including:

• 73,515 from World War II (an approximate number due to limited or conflicting data)

• 7,841 from the Korean War

• 1,626 from Vietnam

• 126 from the Cold War

• 6 from conflicts since 1991

The DPAA said about 75 percent of those missing Americans are somewhere in the Asia-Pacific. More than 41,000 have been presumed lost at sea.

Efforts to find those men, identify them and bring them home are constant. For example, the DPAA said that in the past year it has accounted for 41 men missing during the Korean War: 10 had been previously buried as unknowns, 26 were from remains turned over by North Korea in the 1990s, one was from a recovery operation, and four were combinations of remains and recovery operations.

The POW/MIA Flag

The traditional POW/MIA flag that's well-known across America was actually created many years before the remembrance day became official.

In 1971, a woman named Mary Hoff contacted a flag company near her home to see if a flag reminding people of POWs and the missing could be made. She was one of the many waiting to see if her husband, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Hoff, would ever return home after his plane had been shot down over Laos.

World War II pilot Newt Heisley designed the now-famous flag, which was made in black and white to represent the sorrow, anxiety and hope symbolized by the image of the gaunt man featured on it.

For every POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982, the flag has flown just below the stars and stripes at the White House – the only other flag to ever do so. In 1998, Congress ordered it to also be displayed on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

Updates for the NH State Veterans Cemetery:

Veterans Day - due to continuing concerns with COVID-19, we will NOT hold a ceremony for the public at the NHSVC. We are planning a ceremony that will be live-streamed on the internet (likely from a different location due to wifi access and other concerns). Information will be forthcoming. The event is sponsored by the DAV of NH.

Wreaths for Boscawen - we do plan to place wreaths on headstones on Saturday, December 5th. Planning to ensure a safe, socially-distanced event is ongoing. The NHSVC is no longer associated with the organization "Wreaths Across America." Our event is sponsored by the Blue Star Mothers of NH where 100% of your donation goes to purchasing wreaths and bows. Our wreaths are sourced locally--supporting NH jobs and the NH economy. The cost of our wreaths is nearly half of what WAA charged. Please consider donating to Wreaths for Boscawen at: https://www.bluestarmothersofnh.org/wreaths-for-boscawen

More details will follow in the coming weeks.

The NHSVC remains open from dawn until dusk, 7 days a week.

Happy Mothers Day!

This Sunday, moms across the country will be treated to breakfast in bed, homemade cards, bouquets of flowers and fancy dinners in restaurants. But for military mothers who are serving and those mothers who have sons and daughters fighting wars overseas, Mother’s Day won’t be all roses.

The term "Military Mothers" describes two distinct groups of women. On the one hand, it describes mothers whose sons and daughters are members of the military. On the other, it describes mothers who are themselves members of the military.

Though many military mothers have grown used to their children’s absences on Mother’s Day and other special occasions, it doesn’t make those times any easier especially for moms whose sons and daughters are in the line of fire in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mothers whose children are in the military and deployed to military bases around the world or serving in a war zone far from home, live with daily fear and worry for the lives of those to whom they gave birth, and nurtured into the fine young men and women they are. They worry that those children may return home with missing limbs or with PTSD, and may not be the same person who deployed, or that they may return in a flag-draped casket.

And mothers, who must leave their children behind to go to a war zone far from home, live with daily fear for their own lives because they worry about the possibility that their children may have to grow up without a mother. And they worry about the impact their absence will have on little psyches, and whether that impact will be lasting.

And to the mothers who still wait for news that their POW/MIA is coming home, we bow our heads..

We assure you, all groups are heroes.

And we'd like to wish them, and all the other mothers out there, a Happy Mother's Day!

NH State Veterans Cemetery Update:

The Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled for May 30th is canceled. In addition, the public event to place flags on the headstones is also canceled. Cemetery staff WILL place flags at all headstones prior to Memorial Day weekend and start removing flags after May 25th.

The cemetery remains open 7 days a week during daylight hours. Staff will be on site Memorial day weekend (May 23-25) between 9am and 3pm.

Potted plants are allowed on graves between May 20th and May 31st. Please note: after May 25th, we will begin removing potted plants and re-planting them in gardens around the cemetery. Pots should be no more than 10 inches in diameter and must be made of non-breakable material. Large or breakable pots may be removed immediately and the plants re-planted in the cemetery.

We thank everyone for their continued support of our cemetery, our veterans, and our community.

NH Gold Star Mothers Day

New Hampshire Gold Star Mother’s Day

New Hampshire has a dedicated Gold Star Mothers Day ~the first Sunday after Easter ~ NH RSA 4:13-h Gold Star Mother's Day

Read more about the New Hampshire Gold Star Mothers

Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed on the last Sunday in September. Gold Star Mother’s Day is intended to recognize and honor those mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each year there are events and meetings to publicly express love, sorrow and reverence toward Gold Star Mothers and their families. Flags are also mandated to be displayed on government buildings on this day.  Army.mil says Gold Star Mother’s Day is intended “to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces”.

Why The Gold Star?

The Gold Star is a symbol of a loved one lost in combat.

According to an L.A. Times article, “During World War I, a practice developed across the country: Families displayed flags featuring a blue star, a sign that a family member was fighting in the war. Some flags would display more than one star.”

The exact origins of this tradition are not fully known, but at some point, gold star flags would go up to signify the family member had died on duty. The term “Gold Star Family” went into the national vocabulary thanks to the sacrifices of men and women serving in uniform.

The holiday is celebrated by American Gold Star Mothers, a Veterans service organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.

15+ OPSEC Rules for Military Families and Friends

In the military, OPSEC stands for Operational Security. There are rules and guidelines for OPSEC that pertain to services members and their families and friends. In this day and age with social media, there are a lot of bad guys out there looking for information to deter the safety and missions of our nation’s military.

WHAT IS OPSEC?OPSEC protects US operations – planned, in progress, and those completed. OPSEC is keeping potential adversaries from discovering critical information about the Department of Defense. The military needs to accomplish the mission quickly and successfully. Success relies on secrecy, surprise, and private information. Enemies want this critical information, and they are not just after the military member to get it. They also look to military families and friends.Unfortunately, OPSEC can’t be summed up in a brief list of rules and regulations and be expected to cover every possible situation. There are some general rules and guidelines to follow for military family members and friends.

RULES OF OPSEC

1. Do not post detailed information about the mission of assigned units.

2. Do not post details on locations and times of unit deployments.

3. Do not list your service member's specific job on social media.

4. Do not post where your service member is stationed/ported.

5. Do not post about personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).

6. Do not post details on locations and times of unit trainings.

7. Do not post unit/service member itineraries

8. Do not post references to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.

9. Do not post details concerning security procedures, response time, tactics.

10. Do not post details Personal Identifying Information (PII)

11. Do not post exact redeployment dates

12. Do not reveal camp locations, including nearby cities. After the deployment is officially announced by Military officials, you may discuss locations that have been released, normally on the Country level.

13. Do not discuss convoy routes (“we travelled through ‘such-and-such’ on our way to X”)

14. Do not discuss equipment or lack thereof, to include training equipment

15. Avoid the use of count-up or count-down tickers for the same reason as rule #1, if you do decide to use one, make sure only YOU and those you trust are able to see it.Be very careful if posting pictures of your loved one. Avoid images that show significant landmarks near their base of operations, and black out last names and unit affiliations.

16. Do not, EVER, post information about casualties (coalition or enemy) before the official release of the information.

17. Do not pass on rumors (“I heard they’re coming home early”, etc)

SOCIAL MEDIA

You may want to limit your posts to friends-only. Defaults can change on Facebook with no real notice, and suddenly you’re posting to the Public. If your FRG has a facebook group, ask the leader if it’s secret, closed, or public. What you post to a group may appear on other people’s timelines as well.

Photos
If you must post photos, consider cropping or blurring some details on pictures.

Geotagging
Make sure your location services setting is turned off, if you don’t want your or your spouse to be reporting where their location is.

Social media is not going away any time soon. More and more issues arise with social media and consequences hit much harder and much faster (with consequently less time to “undo” a mistake).

These OPSEC rules aren’t meant to limit your free speech or restrict your liberties- that’s exactly what our men and women in uniform fight to protect. They are put into place to help ensure the safety and security of our nation’s military.

If you have any questions, contact your (or your sponsor’s) unit OPSEC manager.

Thank you  jd [@] semidelicatebalance [.] com

Red Cross Emergency Communications

War and disaster can tear families apart when they need each other the most. The American Red Cross can help your family members reconnect, whether the separation was caused by a recent emergency here at home, war or natural disaster overseas, or events as far back as the Holocaust.

The American Red Cross Hero Care Center is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with two options for requesting assistance: online and by phone.

Click here to learn more.

*NOTE: The American Red Cross does not authorize emergency leave for members of the United States military. The Red Cross role is to independently verify the emergency, enabling the service member’s commander to make an educated decision regarding emergency leave and then to provide transportation assistance and/or financial assistance if needed.

A Holiday Prayer for Military Families

Remember those at home while their loved ones are deployed during this holiday season.

by Edie Melson

Sometimes it’s easier to think of the military troops who are deployed during the holiday season but not their families. Today, let’s remember those families and lift them up in prayer to the One who can provide the comfort they need:

Dear Lord,

I’m praying for all those who have a loved one on deployment around the globe. I know this time of year can be a challenge, even if the deployment isn’t necessarily in a war zone. Being separated from those we care about is always hard.

I’m asking that you give these families a special peace this holiday season. Give them lots of opportunities to spend time in communication with their loved ones—through whatever means available. Thank you for all the different ways we have now to communicate around the world. Make sure packages and letter arrive in a timely fashion. Keep the digital and telephone lines clear and free from static.

Fill the days with activities to take their minds from the emptiness they feel. Surround them with friends and family who understand their struggles and can support them in ways that provide just what they need. Put people in their lives to be Your hands and feet during this stressful holiday season.

Remind them of the blessings that still surround them. Don’t let them withdraw. Instead help them to take part in the joy of this season.

Most of all, give them tangible proof that You are there with them and with their loved one. Remind them of Your great love and all the ways You watch over the entire family, those at home and deployed.

Amen.

He heals the brokenhearted and bins up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3, NASB)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Today we bow our heads to give thanks

Thanks to our Creator whose wisdom and strength is infinite.

Thanks to the winds, for cleansing tired and weary souls,

Thanks to the waters for life sustaining.

Thanks to the Mother Earth as we lay her weary head to rest for

another season.

Thanks to the Father Sun for warming our souls on the long cold days.

Thanks to the fires that life is reborn anew.

Yes Creator today we give thanks for all of your little miracles

we take so much for granted each day.

I thank you Creator for my warrior son,

Whose proud stance and carriage has

Carried him through many dark days,

And even darker nights.

He knows the Warriors Creed and

Knows the life he lives was chosen

Long ago for him.

I thank you Creator for the many hands

Each one holding a star blue or gold, to be enfolded

In this blanket not yet made

Each star is a prayer yet unanswered

They that share the knitting of a new blanket

In life they are the ones keeping the home fires lit

They are -

The mothers who stand beside, their child

Who are so far away, but so very near

The wives who stand beside their husbands

Who are so far away but so very near

The daughters who stand beside their

Mothers and grandmothers waiting for mommy or daddy to come home.

The husbands and fathers who stand waiting for their loved one

To come home.

Creator this day we give thanks

For prayers not yet answered.

Keep all of our family near and far strong –

know in our weakest moments

we are the strongest, know in the darkest moments

we are the light to guide them home.

Yes Creator this is a day of thanks

For all that has come before

And all that will come after.

Each little moment we give thanks To you.

Keep our warriors strong,

Keep our warriors safe

Until all our hands and voices

Once again join together

Singing praise of Thanksgiving

Lynn VanCoonis 2007

Proud NH Blue Star Mother

The Heroes Christmas Tree

The Blue Star Mothers of NH are once again hosting Heroes Christmas Trees around the state. What started as one tree here in Laconia in 2006 has grown to trees all over the state.

 Stars of gold, black, and blue adorn the trees bearing the names of United States service members past and present.  Blank stars are available for those who would like to add the name of someone currently serving or a past veteran to the tree.

 Blue Star Mothers sponsor local trees and decorate them for display in local business, Town Halls and schools. Recently, the Hero Tree has been found in faraway places such as Afghanistan and South Korea.  Our troops have expressed their appreciation for the honor of being remembered in this way during the holiday season. For more information where Heroes Christmas Trees are being hosted, check our website: www.bluestarmothersofnh.org.

May God bless our sons and daughters this holiday season, those who are now serving and our veterans, our Blue Stars; they stand for hope and pride.

May God bless those we will hold forever in our hearts, our Gold Stars, for their sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom.

May God bless those for whom we are still waiting for their return, our Black Stars; they represent our POW/MIA’s. (6 Vietnam POW’s).

Blue Star Mothers of NH
bluestarmothersofnh@yahoo.com

Wreaths for Boscawen ~ Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 10:30 AM

Overview:  Each year, the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire sponsors Wreaths for Boscawen.  This event is intended to bring the community together to honor the veterans and family members interred at the NH State Veterans Cemetery and throughout the world.  Wreaths are sourced locally and paid for through generous donations made by individuals and businesses throughout New Hampshire. Please go to www.bluestarmothersofnh.org/wreaths-for-boscawen to donate/sponsor a wreath.

This event started in 2007 and was inspired by Wreaths Across America, which is a national program where wreaths are sourced through a company in Maine.  Over the past several years, we have moved toward sourcing wreaths locally because it is cheaper ($8 locally verses $15 through WAA) and it supports NH jobs and economic growth.  Starting in 2020, Wreaths for Boscawen will always occur on the first Saturday in December and all wreaths will be sourced locally. 

Why we do not do every headstone.  We are often asked about placing wreaths on every headstone.  While we appreciate this sentiment, we also balance that goal against the approximate $45,000 cost (which will continually increase) of putting wreaths on each headstone.  The Blue Star Mothers and cemetery leadership made a decision to limit the number of wreaths purchased and placed through this program to between 33% and 50% of all headstones in the cemetery.  We made this decision to limit our fundraising in the hopes that our generous donors would also consider contributing to other worthy causes throughout the state (veteran homelessness, mental health awareness and treatment, hunger, Veteran Service Organizations, etc.).  Any extra funds from the current year will rollover to start the fundraising for following year’s wreaths.  We LOVE our wreaths, but we also recognize that they will be collected and disposed of in January.   Importantly, we always welcome families and friends to purchase a wreath locally and place it on their loved one’s headstone separate from the Wreaths for Boscawen event.  

The day of the event.  If you have not attended this event personally, we encourage you to do so!  It is a beautiful, solemn, enjoyable day to honor our veterans and families.  That said, we are always seeking ways to increase safety, efficiency and enjoyment.  This year we are going to do things a bit differently.  Prior to the event, a small group of volunteers will attach bows and place wreaths in box trucks. On day of the event, the box trucks with wreaths will be strategically positioned throughout the cemetery.  We will have a very brief opening ceremony at 10:30 AM at the Circle of Flags.  Participants will then move to any box truck they wish and wait in line to receive wreaths to place on headstones.  Wreaths will NOT be handed out until 10:30 AM.  In addition, please remember during our Wreaths for Boscawen event to take time to read the names on the headstones to the left and right of where you place the wreath so that we remember ALL those who are interred here.

We will hand out a maximum of two (2) wreaths per person (including children).  We want to make sure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to place a wreath.  Even if you donate 10 wreaths (which we welcome), we will only hand out wreaths two at a time. After careful placement, you are welcome to return to the line to pick-up two more wreaths.  Wreath donations are for the interred veterans and their families, they are not reservations to place a specific number of wreaths.  In addition, we cannot guarantee that you can place a wreath on a specific headstone during the event.  If you want to place a wreath on a specific headstone, we recommend doing so prior to December 14th or by positioning a person at the headstone before 10:30 AM and having someone else in your group bring you a wreath. 

This event is about our community coming together to honor ALL veterans and family members.  By placing a wreath on any headstone, you are honoring your friends and loved ones interred at the NH State Veterans Cemetery or at any other location around the world – including those whose remains are lost, MIA, or otherwise scattered.  The act itself is the tribute to your loved ones and all of our heroes.

Throughout the event, we will have music playing on the carillon system and refreshments (including warm drinks) available in the maintenance area.  In addition, the CSM Stanley and Renate Arnold Veterans Heritage Learning Center will be open for visitors to learn more about the service and sacrifice of our NH veterans.  At 12:00 PM at the Circle of Flags, the Civil Air Patrol will conduct a ceremony to honor all branches of service.  All are highly encouraged to attend. 

Arrive a bit early to allow time to park.  Dress warm.  We look forward to seeing you on December 14th at 10:30 AM for this awesome event.     

Wreaths will be taken down on Saturday, January 11th at 10:30 AM.  All are welcome to attend!

Happy Birthday Marines

The official birthday of the United States Marine Corps is on 10 November 1775. That was the day when the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Marines.

Cheers to 244 years! Happy Birthday!

What does it mean to be a military parent?

It means we sat with the recruiter listening to every word uttered to our child. With a catch in our heart, we either signed papers to allow our 17-year-old child to enlist or watched as our new young adult signed on the dotted line, over and over, the paperwork never seeming to end. Some of us may have had tears in our eyes, others may have smiled from ear to ear. Each of us knows that the life of our son or daughter would forever be altered.

We express our pride and gratitude for having a child in this tumulus world willing to do what only 1% of the entire U.S. population will ever do, put on the uniform of the United States military to uphold all we hold dear.

We watch with a catch in our throat and an ache in our heart as the recruiter drives away with our beloved child, or we sit at MEPS with pride swelling in our breast as they raise their right hand and utter the oath “I “state your name”, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

We put them on buses and planes and send them off to mysterious lands in Great Lakes, IL; Parris Island or San Diego, CA; Fort Benning, GA, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, or Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Cape May, N.J. or maybe Lackland AFB, TX.

We’ll look for groups of people who understand what it’s like to send your child off to the military, join facebook pages for support, peruse the official military pages for a glimpse of our child. We’ll wait for that phone call home, depending on branch and base, but they are pretty standard, “I’ve arrived safely, please do not send food or bulky items, I will contact you in 7-10 days via a letter with my new mailing address, thank you for your support, Goodbye for now.” Next, comes the “letter” the very first one – it’s scripted with barely any information but it’s precious to us. Then we receive the dreaded BOX that thing that contains everything civilian our child had with them on arrival and we wait.

We wait, we worry, their time can range from 7-12 weeks depending on the branch. They may or may not call, they’ll likely write. They may be sad, they may cry, and our hearts will break. Then comes that magic moment when they make it through the crucible, the reaper; battle stations; or victory forge. This call tells us that you’ve now become A Marine, A Sailor, A Soldier, a Coast Guardsman, or an Airman.

After the long weeks, we watch with pride as you march across the parade deck with others who’ve achieved the same goal and the first hug is nearly like a rebirth. Then we send you off to your MOS, A School, or AFSC school where you’ll learn your trade. Another graduation and you join the fleet. You may be stateside or overseas but you’ve now become a new person.

Even those of us that served are still mystified by being a military parent. We attempt to learn all we can, we become motto and wear everything that signifies our service members branch of service, with pride.

There’s a strange new thing called the “green dot” that becomes a mainstay for parents whose military member is serving overseas. We wait for phone calls or letters, we worry, but we also feel a unique pride in knowing that our child is the best of the best. He or she is a member of the United States Military, the most amazing military in the world.

Smart enemies fear us, dumb enemies try us, we hear the news, we know what ISIS, the Taliban, and that little turd in North Korea are up to and we worry – but we also remind ourselves and others that our child is the crème d’ la crème. Our child is a Marine, a Sailor, a Soldier, a Coast Guardsman, or an Airman. We know our child is trained and ready for whatever comes at him or her.

We rest well at night knowing that should the enemy force our hand our government will release the “Teufel Hunde – Devil Dogs” the Marines a name given by the Germans – “The Bloody Bucket – US Army” – “The Blue or Grey Ghost – U.S. Navy” – each of these nicknames reminds us of the fury of the American military member when protecting all the homeland holds dear.

We are proud of our kids, we know they worked hard to earn the title they bear. We know that while we worry they stand ever ready, ever watchful. We know that the branches tease each other about who’s the best, but we also know that when the crap hits the fan there is no other force in the world that compares to the United States Military Forces.

Every night we say a prayer for our service member and every single military member out there, regardless of branch, regardless of job specialty, regardless of rank. We all weep together when a son or daughter is lost, when another mother, father, wife, husband, child, or family earns the classification “Gold Star.” We sleep well at night knowing that our sons and daughters are ever ready to defend the homeland. We know the terms Oohrah, Hooyah, hooah, and realize they are terms of motivation.

Sleep well America – and know that your United States Military has your back. Know that the military parents support their sons and daughters who’ve written the "check payable to the United States of America for the cost of up to and including my life." These are kids, every single one of them, who’ve volunteered to serve during a time of war.

**Dawn Schwarz-Gay

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