SongFest for Vets

10/03/2024

A day at the beach.

07/25/2024

Congratulations to The 22 Project for recently receiving their Veteran Safe Place (VSP) Certificate of Qualification, presented by The Fire Watch's own Henry Angulo (Regional Programs Director SEFL)!

Learn how organizations can join our mission of supporting in crisis and ending Veteran su***de in : https://www.thefirewatch.org/veteran-safe-places

06/20/2024

These guys have been at every.single.songfest! They Rock! Get 'em!!

06/04/2024

05/28/2024

This Memorial Day I remember Brien Rullman's fathers Vietnam veterans ceremony at Arlington Cemetary in Washington DC. I lined up the shot, then i thought what if i flipped it over to PANO? wowza Arlington Cemetary is quite the site just as is. When you think of all the military people in there, I'm sure some got screwed over but nobody ever said war was fair, when you joined you took the chance, you joined the club, you deserve attention you deserve the recognition. Heres the photo-

05/28/2024

SongFest For Vets shout out to all our veterans this Memorial Day 2024.

Welcome to SongFest For Vets Armed Forces Day Weekend. Saturday May 21, 2022 is at the Boca Raton Florida Mizner Park Amphitheater. Sunday May 22, 2022 is at...

05/12/2024

Do Marine Corps drill instructors act like the character in Full Metal Jacket?

Yes. That was not a character. R. Lee Ermey (1944–2018, RIP), was in the Marines from 1961 to 1972 and was a real drill instructor from 1965 to 1967 at the MCRD, San Diego, CA and his portrayal, most of which was improvised and spontaneous, was very accurate. He was originally hired as a military consultant for the movie “Full Metal Jacket”, but so impressed the movie’s director that he was given the part of the senior Drill Instructor represented by the black leather belt he wears in the movie. The few inaccurate things about the movie were that, as the drill instructor, he was a Gunnery Sgt., E-7. This was very unusual and mostly unheard of for a GySgt. to be a drill instructor. Also, we should have seen his two assistant drill instructors at certain points during the training, as they would have been much more involved. Lastly, I never, ever saw any of my drill instructors in their skivvies like when the SDI confronted Pyle in the head (bathroom). They always appeared immaculate and fully dressed when in the presence of their platoon. The only time I ever saw a Gunnery Sgt., E-7 wearing a campaign cover was as a Series Gunnery Sgt. over a Series of four platoons. In my 1028 Series, the Chief Drill Instructor was a Master Sgt. over 4 platoons (1028, 1029, 1030, 1031), but neither took any part in the everyday, hands-on training of the platoons under their command. During Vietnam, the most common ranks for drill instructors were Corporal, E-4, Sgt., E-5 & Staff Sgt., E-6. The second photo is of a young Corporal, E-4

Ermey when he was a drill instructor at MCRD San Diego, circa 1965. While in the Marines, he was sent to Vietnam in 1968 where he served for 14 months. He was medically retired in 1972 due to several injuries he received while in the Marines. In the photo of the medals on his dress blues, I do not see a Purple Heart, so I must assume his injuries were not received in battle. In the below photo of Ermey in his dress blues, the rank on his left shoulder is Gunnery Sgt., E-7. There are 2 hash marks on his left forearm. Each one represents 4 years. If he had made it to 12 years, he would have been authorized to wear three hash marks.

Marine drill instructors only have 12 weeks to mold a sloppy, immature, undisciplined civilian into a disciplined, squared away Marine and in most cases, has to undo 20 years of spoiled, entitled behaviors instilled by the parents that have kept him in perpetual boyhood. This cannot be accomplished with the same coddling treatment that the parents used in raising their son from a little boy to a big boy. The Marine’s first order of the day is to quickly destroy the boy in order to build the man. Everyday of training is important and there is not a moment to lose. A strong impression must be made by the drill instructors and shock and awe is the best way to leave a lasting impression. Fear of being yelled at, insulted or being punished is a very good incentive to learn, learn quick, retain what they learn and do well so as not to suffer the wrath of the drill instructor which has become the center of his world and the authority figure he most wants to please. I can tell you that it works. Semper Fi.

05/10/2024

Thank a deserving spouse today!!

To all the military spouses out there: you are appreciated, you are valued, and you are loved. Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

05/09/2024

Kristofferson, under pressure from his family, joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, attaining the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also completed Ranger School. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band. In 1965, after his tour in Germany ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point. Instead, he decided to leave the Army and pursue songwriting. His family disowned him because of his career decision; sources are unclear on whether they reconciled. They saw it as a rejection of everything they stood for, although Kristofferson says he is proud of his time in the military and received the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony.
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️🎵 Enjoy the music ! https://old-music.com/kris-kristofferson-come-sundown/

05/09/2024

Good actor. Great program.

04/30/2024

04/29/2024

The foundation welcomed retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class John Kremer and his family to their new home in Lebanon.

04/24/2024

What was the rank of Mel Gibson in the movie We Were Soldiers? Why did they want him to leave during fighting for a briefing? Was this movie accurate about the war?
In We Were Soldiers (2002) , Mel Gibson, playing the role of the real-life Harold G. (‘Hal’) Moore, is wearing the silver oak-leaf of a Lieutenant Colonel, which, I understand, was the actual rank of Moore in the true events of 1965 depicted in the film.

Moore eventually retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General. Per Wikipedia, he died in 2017. I understand the Army’s Fort Benning, which was referenced in the film, is to be renamed in his memory and that of his wife, who was active in working with the Army widows created during that action in 1965 (and re-created in the film).

Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, U.S. Army (Retired) in 2010 (Wikipedia)

I’m not as sure about the Army’s order—evidently ignored without further consequence as he was subsequently decorated and promoted—to pull him out of the fighting during the battle. As a Lt.Col. he would have been one of the Army’s highest ranking officers to come directly under fire for a sustained period in Vietnam and I could imagine the Army did NOT want him as a casualty.
Read more>>> https://tinyurl.com/4r57push

04/24/2024

Honor to the fallen. We shall NOT forget your sacrifice...
https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/local/st-lucie-county/2024/04/23/iraq-and-afghanistan-war-memorial-monument-dedication-ceremony-in-psl/73410337007/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1ogzJtD2cN4_WeYnt1pQunAOZOFN5yX5e2YM8M4OH52pKF__r0LzO-I2I_aem_AWpKZ8vgpstqLfU-D0xo8Xe2DjdSxQQvm3Xth2D1UkfkDqJuiYGAVvMgMBkw6RYQAKLKlH7qkP9fbG9_TxJEkZV2

The Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Monument Dedication Ceremony was held at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Port St. Lucie.

04/23/2024

04/22/2024

I wore the Dirty Dorito and the Broken TV. Which one(s) did you wear?

-Yoda

04/19/2024

https://youtube.com/shorts/znNlb26tQrI?si=f7MKc4Lc44nTKg8U

07/09/2023

The Brookdale Northwest Hills community recently hosted a festive Birthday Happy Hour in honor of the remarkable 102nd birthday of their esteemed resident, Harr

07/05/2023

Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, 4th of July celebration 2023, performing for our troops! Thank you for having us! 🇺🇸

Photo by Teddy Allison Photography LLC

06/27/2023

Please come out and hear this awesome band . All proceeds go to find housing for homeless Veteran support.

06/27/2023

A local World War II veteran has accomplished a lot in his life and Wednesday he marked another major milestone.

06/21/2023

See this year's lineup

06/16/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=698759108926466&id=100063771499343&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

Post-9/11 Veterans: You may now be eligible for expanded VA health care benefits because of the new PACT Act. If you served in a theater of combat operations...