I was recently introduced to a song that is dedicated to those serving in the military and all of those who have served in the past. Kelly Zirbes is the author of the song and performs it with “Kelly’s Lot”, a band name that may be familiar to many blues fans. The song title “I’ll go” is probably self-explanatory to most military families. All proceeds from the purchase of this song are donated to various military charities. I encourage all military families to listen to the song at I’ll Go (A Soldiers Oath) – Kelly’s Lot – @ Cahuenga General Store – YouTube
Kelly shared her inspiration for this tune with me:
“I have experienced how people support veterans at a personal level and wrote “I’ll Go” in the perspective of a soldier. My uncle and his best friend lived with us before and after they went to Vietnam and that is where my compassion for our folks in the military began. The treatment they received before and after they fought that war was terrible and it’s a shame that some of our veterans never experienced appreciation from the civilian population. I know things have changed since Vietnam but the pain still remains and I can only hope that we do not cause more heartache for our soldiers before and after war. Through the years I have had many conversations with many men and women in the military and I knew those feelings should be expressed in a song.
Music is my platform so I wrote this song to get folks to appreciate the men and women in uniform to understand their sacrifice. To see them as themselves, fragile and human and ready to fight for their country. I feel blessed to have written this kind of song and will always stand by this message to thank our military for what they do.”
If you like the tune you can purchase it on iTunes. Aside from the awesome lyrics and performance by the entire band, there’s a nice blues guitar lick about half way through. As a fan of the blues, I am very happy to have discovered the group (in general), but their dedication of “I’ll go” to our military past and present makes them even more special. Although they donate all the proceeds from this song to military charities, with the small amount they earn each time it’s purchased it takes a while to accumulate a worthwhile contribution; those contributions could really benefit from a matching foundation if you know of one!!
If you want to know more about the band, please click on the tab above entitled “Kelly’s Lot”, or visit their website at www.kellyslot.com.
I ended up downloading nine of their songs from iTunes, but don’t take my word for it; here’s what a couple of critics have said:
Kelly’s Lot: “The Light” (2008) CD Review
This album from Kelly’s Lot features what is probably the coolest song the band ever wrote and recorded: “Redbone.” Kelly’s Lot is a Los Angeles rock band that features Kelly Zirbes on vocals. Kelly has one of those kick-ass female rock voices – the kind of voice that kisses your ears, then bites into them, tearing the flesh from your skull, devouring it, before kissing you once again, making it all okay. It’s a sort of controlled storm.
Kelly’s Lot: “Pastrami & Jam” (2009) CD Review
Kelly’s Lot’s 2009 release features several excellent cover songs, such as Bonnie Raitt’s ”Give It Up Or Let Me Go,” as well as original material. There are several cover songs on this album. Kelly interestingly chooses female vocalists to cover that she’s most likely been compared to at one time or another – Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin.
Okay, enough about how cool the band is…………go check them out for yourself!
With our recent “drawdown” and so many service members coming home in time for Christmas, let’s not lose sight of what they, and so many before them, as well as U.S. service members and their families all over world have sacrified. Let’s show them that we REALLY appreciate what they do to keep us safe and to protect our rights.
I’ll Go (A Soldiers Oath) – Kelly’s Lot – @ Cahuenga General Store – YouTube
mzSpouse
Great Opportunity For Teen Students of Military Families
From America’s Promise Alliance, the deadline for submitting applications is this Friday, December 16.
The America’s Promise Alliance Grad Nation campaign aims to end the high school dropout crisis by examining what factors cause a student to drop out and promoting the solutions that best address the problem. Military children are a fundamental part of this campaign: we know that they face unprecedented challenges that may impact school performance, but that they have a tremendous capacity for resilience and can teach us a great deal about overcoming adversity.
Do you know a military child in your community who is working hard to empower their peers to succeed in school? Or, do you know a young person that has struggled on the road to graduation and can speak his or her mind? These young people make excellent candidates for attending the Building a Grad Nation Summit in March 2012.
Because they feel that the attendance of young leaders is so important, the Alliance is covering the cost of travel, lodging, and meals for up to 50 great candidates, so they are able to have a once in a lifetime experience in the nation’s capital! Please feel free to forward this opportunity.
They want military children to have a direct and personal voice in the upcoming summit; it’s not enough for us to speak for them. This year, The Initiative for Military Families at America’s Promise Alliance is taking steps to ensure that young leaders, as an important stakeholder, play a major role in the Building a Grad Nation Summit. We invite military children to meet a wide array youth from across the country as well as civic and business leaders, elected officials, educators, faith leaders, parents, and volunteers, involved in rallying for awareness and change in education. The idea is that by including them in the Summit, they can take home new ideas, an emboldened passion for the Grad Nation campaign, and a network of allies to help them encourage more of their peers to graduate on time ready for college, work and life.
This is an Impact Network opportunity, which hopes to create an alliance of young leaders from across the nation, uniting and empowering youth to take action through and with the support of Alliance partners to address the challenges facing their communities. As an Impact Network opportunity America’s Promise Alliance wants to ensure that each young leader:
- Is between the age of 13-25
- Is available March 18-21, 2012
- Eager to learn more about initiatives to lower the national dropout rate
- Has a passion for helping create opportunities for his/her peers in the community
- Likes to speak his/her mind
The America’s Promise Alliance prepared two ways to recruit attendees. One is a short application that you can share with young people to complete. Another option is for you to nominate a youth that you feel would be a valuable addition to our spectrum of voices. Below are both of these forms:
Youth Application CLICK HERE
Nomination Form (for adults) CLICK HERE
MZspouse (I didn’t author this; I’m just sharing the information as passed along to me)
Preservation of Military Bearing…….and Common Courtesy
I typically try to use this blog to share valuable information to military families, and to stay clear of controversial subjects. However, I was witness to an incident last week that has prompted me to speak about a more touchy subject.
No one likes to be told how to raise their children, what is or isn’t acceptable behavior in public or to be criticized for the lifestyles they choose. However, whether we are civilians who learned “The Golden Rule” as kids, or service members who have a responsibility to maintain military bearing we know which behaviors are not acceptable in public.
Smoking, Excessive Drinking, Drugs, Swearing, Physical Abuse are common in the homes of some (not most!) military families even though by most people’s standards are not considered desirable environments for raising children; there’s little that can be done to protect the children. However, public places are far different; we not only have an obligation to treat others the way we would like to be treated (including our children!), but there are often consequences if we don’t. Occasionally we encounter individuals who think the rules of common courtesy apply to everyone but them.
Last week, while dining in a fast food chain on base (in Germany) I was witness to three of those individuals. In a group of three adults (one soldier in uniform, two women) and two toddlers. One of the children kept banging his chair on the floor and the father (the uniformed soldier) not only didn’t stop him, but actually mimicked him with his own chair when he could see it was annoying to all the other customers. When management asked them to stop, it only antagonized the father and the son into slamming their chairs harder and therefore louder! The two women appeared to find the display of defiance entertaining.
Many of us tried to finish our meal in spite of the disruption, but sitting nearby was a man dining with a companion, who turned around and politely asked if they could please control the noise. That polite request turned into a nightmare for everyone!
We were all in disbelief as we witnessed one of the women belligerently threaten to knock the man on his ass and started screaming at him to “not talk about my child”! When the man said he was not talking about their child and was just asking them to minimize the noise for the sake of all the customers, all three adults got up close and personal with the man and began yelling. Although no one in the restaurant heard the man say anything that could be construed as swearing, the most violent of the two women told him not to “f _ _ _ _ _ g” swear at her child. When everyone in the restaurant looked shocked, she replied “I can say whatever I want in front of him……….he’s MY child”.
Prior to her getting out of her chair the father (uniformed soldier) was still banging his own chair on the floor as though teaching the child how to do it. Now he stood up and joined the woman who was spewing obscenities and both made threats to the man. It was apparent everyone else in the restaurant was blown away by such rude behavior in a public place and after calling the MPs, two managers came out to try to usher the disruptive family out of the restaurant. On her way out, the wife yelled “You better hope we never run into you on the street when my husband is out of uniform”!
It was a bit surprising that the man who made the original request was being yelled at and even threatened, remained very calm and merely repeated his instructions to the uniformed soldier “Specialist, you need to stand down”. Those words also seemed to upset the woman who was making threats as she apparently interpreted that to mean he was “talking down to him”
The soldier got out his cell phone and said several times that he was going to call his First Sergeant, but by the time 5 cars of MPs arrived, he and his family had moved to the parking lot. I and all the other witnesses stayed in case the MPs needed statements from us, although the man who made the initial comment already had management’s support.
When the MPs began their questioning, we discovered the target of their abuse was an NCO who was off duty and therefore out of uniform. I couldn’t help wondering how the father of the child could be so disrespectful to a complete stranger (on a military base) who could have been a high-ranking officer, but clearly he had no regard for that possibility while trying to incite an altercation for the sake of his ballistic wife!
The MPs asked if the NCO wanted to press formal or informal charges. Considering what they put him through I was surprised he opted for informal. He asked the MPs to include in their informal report to the soldier’s First Sergeant that its recommended both parents attend Anger Management and Parenting classes.
I was told afterwards that had the NCO pressed FORMAL charges the family would be leaving Germany immediately……that the Specialist could have been brought up on charges for disrespecting a senior ranking soldier as well as loss of military bearing; both of which are grounds for an Article 15. It’s probably fair to say the Specialist lucked out THIS TIME…………but what goes around usually does come around and I suspect this was not their first or last incident.
Ranks really should play no role in this exchange in a public place; some of the civilians dining there could have easily already served their 20 years in the military ~ could be retired officers, and others who never served at all should be as entitled to eat their lunch in peace as anyone else.
If I had not been so appalled by behavior that was happening right in front of my eyes, I might still only be discussing very safe topics here; but the issue of common courtesy and common decency is one that affects all of us.
The Specialist’s uniform reflects that he has never served in a combat so he (nor his wife) can blame their rage on PTSD. It’s a bit scary to think that with the reduction of forces, this couple could be unleashed on the general public where there are not 5 cars of MPs just a few minutes away.
Fortunately the reason we were all in disbelief is because this is not “the norm” and to all of you who are responsible for establishing the far more acceptable normal behavior in all circumstances, on or off base, in or out of uniform, military or civilians…………….I thank you, and your parents…………..and their parents, because sanity, courtesy, and respect for others typically has as much of a trickle-down effect as rage, insanity and disrespect.
MZspouse
Bring Me Home for Christmas!
In this article original published by the National Military Family Association (http://www.militaryfamily.org/) you will discover your chance to win great prizes by submitting your own military homecoming story! With so many service members returning in time for Christmas, there are likely to be some incredible stories to share…………..and to read.
New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr is a strong advocate for military families – her husband was an Air Force helicopter pilot, and her son is an Army surgeon. One of the things that makes Robyn’s books so popular is her accurate portrayal of men of honor, men like Jack Sheridan, who served in the Marines and now owns the community watering hole, Jack’s Bar in her Virgin River Series of books.
This holiday season in conjunction with her new book Bring Me Home for Christmas, Robyn will be giving back to military families through a contest launching on her new website www.HoldOutForAHero.com. Between November 1 – December 15, 2011 Robyn is asking families to submit their personal military homecoming stories. One family has the chance to win:
- A family vacation (up to 4 people) to anywhere within North America or the Caribbean courtesy of the Armed Forces Vacation Club
- $500 Gift card to Walmart to grant their Christmas wish list
- A family photo shoot
- A signed copy of Bring Me Home for Christmas
MZspouse
Holiday Traditions
Is there any time of year when TRADITIONS are more prevalent than during the Holidays? The National Military Family Association is interested in knowing about YOUR traditions.
Holiday Traditions
For military families constantly on the move, holiday traditions are a way to bring the comforts of home around the world with them. Maybe it’s watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, cheering on the big game, piling marshmallows on hot chocolate, decorating the house with lights, or setting a place at the holiday table for a deployed family member.
To begin the festivities this season, share your photo of one of your family’s holiday traditions. To make your spirits bright, we’ll pick one photo at random to win a $250 gift card!
And as you begin to think about the activities that make the holiday season special, why not make supporting military families a new holiday tradition? Your tax-deductible gift will help military families long after the holidays are over.
To add your photo to the Holiday Tradition slideshow and be eligible for the $250 gift card, here’s what you need to do:
Email your photo to traditions@militaryfamily.org. Give your photo a title in the subject line and be sure to include a description of 50 words or less in the body of the email and tell us what your special family tradition is.
Your photo will be added to the slideshow within 24 hours.
You don’t need to have a Flickr account to participate. But if you do have a Flickr account, you can join the “Holiday Traditions” group at Flickr.com/militaryfamilyorg. We hope you’ll enjoy participating in our holiday photo slideshow – and we appreciate it. Don’t forget to check back regularly for the latest photos.
Photo Guidelines
The Holiday Tradition slideshow is a way to have fun and possibly win a gift card! We encourage your participation and recommend that you follow these guidelines:
- Photos should be in JPEG format. (.jpg or .jpeg)
- Do not post any photos that are obscene, violent, or defamatory; the National Military Family Association reserves the right to reject any photos submitted to the campaign.
- By submitting your photo you acknowledge that your photo will be viewable to the public on National Military Family Association sites like Flickr, Facebook, or Twitter
MZspouse
Embracing AFN
When service members (and their families) arrive overseas one of the first things they notice is the difference in what they see on TV. No more commercials for retail chains, fast food, beverages or automobiles. No introductions of funky gadgets available only on “AsSeenOnTv.om”, no ads for dietary supplements or weight loss fads. In general, no commercials as we know them in the states.
So, what does AFN (the American Forces Network) show during station breaks? Well, most newcomers might say “Dumb low-budget or homemade commercials that we get tired of seeing”. However, we have learned that the longer you live overseas the more you appreciate AFN and what is shown in place of normal (stateside) commercials. While most service members think they already know everything they need to know about military life, AFN educates us about other aspects that go un-noticed in the states.
Through “those dumb commercials” we discover why our friends are proud of their home state, we stay informed about currency conversion rates and worldwide weather and we are introduced to the reasons why we might want to visit unique nearby locations. Although the majority of viewers might not need the services of Family Advocacy or Financial Planning, their commercials reminding us of those services might be just the” kick in the ass” your battle buddy or next door neighbor needs. The AFN commercials seen most frequently are probably those relating to suicide prevention; Based on the increasing rate of suicides in the military, I doubt they can be shown too often. Perhaps if those commercials were seen in the states, just a few more lives could be saved each year.
We are reminded that careers are in jeopardy as a result of drinking and driving, credit card abuse and fraud and that protective gear like seatbelts and helmets save lives…………which to most viewers are “no brainers“. However after being seen so often, that vision of the stupid un-helmeted melon or the words “Clueless” might be the trigger that helps just one person make a better decision. Although most don’t need to know that babies don’t come with warranties, some viewers on either side of sexual abuse might need to be reminded that it won’t be tolerated.
It’s probably safe to say that the majority of their commercials are designed to reach the smallest number of people – those who actually need to receive that message. However, much of what they share should be of value to all of us. Those messages include updates on our accomplishments in Iraq and Afghanistan, how we’re improving conditions in Africa, what’s going on at other installations overseas AND STATESIDE by all branches including National Guard and Coast Guard and educate us about war heroes and changes in commands – information that might improve the civilian perception of our military if shown in the states! I’m guessing most U.S. citizens would be pleasantly surprised to see ambassadors from other countries expressing their sincere gratitude to our armed services.
In addition to learning (through AFN TV) that some classic rockers, like Robert Plant, were influenced by the early trend setters whose music they heard coming through the airways from AFN Radio, we learn about the customs and culture of our host nation and neighboring countries and we see countless celebrities, athletes and dignitaries acknowledging the sacrifices and expressing their appreciation to the troops and their families.
AFN commercials extend way beyond coaxing us to stay physically and spiritually fit, and way beyond that young couple concerned that their unborn baby‘s antenna might not pick up all the channels just because the father’s uncle is not quite right! So other than the blatantly obvious low budgets allocated to the production of their ads, which of the above mentioned attributes offends you or wouldn’t be a good message to be shared in the states? While you might prefer to have retailers and food chains temp you with the stateside commercials, which of them conveys a more valuable message than MOST of those seen on AFN?
The bottom line is that in the three years we have been in Europe AFN has grown on us and now that we are planning our return to the states, I suspect we will miss it! I know I muted a lot more commercials in the states than we do in Europe! You will never appreciate AFN as much as at election time when you don’t have to watch a year’s worth of city, state and federal candidates making empty promises.
AFN – a benefit of overseas assignments that is often taken for granted.
MZspouse
