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WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2007 – You’ve heard of catnip, right? Well, somebody must have sprinkled “moosenip” around the VIP quarters where Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his wife Lynne stayed at Alaska’s Elmendorf Air Force Base last week. Three full-grown, female moose spent several hours, morning and evening, right outside the quarters, nibbling at low-hanging branches and nestling in the snow catching some rays. The 800- to 900-pound, lanky-legged animals ignored the ever-present security specialists and the comings and goings of SUVs and military vans. As for the chairman and his wife,...

ELMENDORF AFB, Alaska, Feb. 24, 2007 – About 60 military spouses here had a chance yesterday to share some of their concerns with the military’s top ranking officer. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accompanied by his wife Lynne, thanked the spouses for their contribution to the nation’s defense. “Spouses and families serve this country as well as anybody that’s ever worn the uniform,” the chairman said. In some ways, he said, it’s harder for the folks back home than it is for the troops deployed in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. “When we...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2007 – Australia has earned the world’s respect for its firm stance in the war on terror, Vice President Richard B. Cheney said today in Sydney. Speaking at the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue conference, Cheney praised Prime Minister John Howard and reaffirmed the value of the U.S.-Australian alliance. The vice president recalled a speech Howard made in Washington on Sept. 10, 2001 -- the day before terrorists struck the United States -- in which the Australian leader noted the close working relationship between the two nations and their like-mindedness on the subject of freedom. “In the words...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2007 – Vice President Dick Cheney today thanked Japan for its support of the United States and praised U.S. troops serving in the Asia-Pacific region during a visit to a naval base shared by U.S. and Japanese forces. Vice President Dick Cheney speaks to a group of nearly 4,000 Japan-based military personnel, family members and Department of Defense civilian employees during a visit to USS Kitty Hawk. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Todd P. Cichonowicz, USN  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Cheney stressed the importance of continued good relations between the two nations during a...

US Vice-President Dick Cheney will travel to Australia next month to thank the nation and Australian troops for their efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A statement issued by the White House said Mr Cheney would travel to Australia and Japan during the week starting February 19. "He will meet with [Japanese] Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and [Australian] Prime Minister John Howard to discuss issues of mutual interest including Asian security and the global war on terror," it said. US President George Bush had asked his Vice-President to visit the two allied nations to thank them for their efforts in Iraq...

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 20, 2006) – Miss USA Chelsea Cooley soared through the sky at an altitude of 13,000 feet during a tandem skydive with the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, March 14. The tandem jump was coordinated in conjunction with her USO visit to Fort Bragg, N.C. Millions of people in more than 90 countries watched as Cooley was crowned Miss USA April 11, 2005. A native of Charlotte, N.C., Cooley has spent the past year as Miss USA, championing the causes of breast and ovarian cancer education and research. Cooley has also become a...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2006 -- The situation in Iraq would be much worse “if not for the American heroes that are out on the street every day in Baghdad and across (Iraq),” the commander of combat troops in Iraq said today. “In the debate over the events happening in Iraq, I think that some people have lost sight of the daily acts of heroism that our servicemembers perform here in the name of service to our nation and to freedom,” said Army Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq. Chiarelli, who gives up command Dec. 14,...

11/23/2006 - ELY, United Kingdom (AFPN) -- Chaplains from Royal Air Force Mildenhall set up a night of giving thanks at the historical Cathedral of Ely, which was built in 673 A.D. Although Thanksgiving wasn't celebrated until almost 950 years after the cathedral was built, the end of World War II gave the allies common ground to be thankful. "United States Army Air Force flyers often used Ely Cathedral as a landmark when they were returning from missions." said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Moore from RAF Mildenhall. He said this made the cathedral a logical location for the celebration to...

I would like to take this time to thank all of you for praying for, not only me, but my friends and family. 2006 has proved to be quite the challenge for us. On Thanksgiving morning, my wife an I have always called in our son, James (now 14 to our room), before we get out of bed we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. (We all to often pray for help, but not for thanks.) This is one day that we make sure to give thanks for all the Lord has done for us. This year,...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2006 -- Afghanistan’s defense minister thanked the United States today for its steadfast support for his country, specifically recognizing the U.S. troops who have served and sacrificed there and outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak told Pentagon reporters Afghanistan is indebted to the United States for the progress it’s made during the past five years. “These achievements would not have been possible without the advice, guidance and generous support we have received from the United States,” he said. Wardak gave special thanks to Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command...

I just got this in an email and had gotten the same thing about a week or two ago, and I went to the website and picked out and sent a card. They have a selection of about 10? cards and a variety of messages you can pick to put into the card..AND, if memory serves - I think you can type your own message instead of using the prepared ones. It'd be nice for all of us to do this and swamp the GI's and the server with cards. God knows, they need the support! MESSAGE: Just Say Thanks!...

You guys must be exhausted, since I saw posts from you all day and even into the early morning. You guys were awesome yesterday. You kept us thinking positive, kept the threads clean, and maintained your sense of humor throughout. You rock. Judging by the number of "views" on a lot of the threads, you kept thousands of people from shooting their televisions. I know that FR has become the primary source of news for me in the last several months, and last night I never even turned on the TV. From a reformed die-hard liberal who just voted for...

This is for real. If you go to this website, www.letssaythanks.com, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldnt it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 29, 2006 -- Wrapping up a trip here that also included stops in Alaska and Reno, Nev., Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld met today with volunteers from “Operation Give,” a nonprofit organization that supports children in war-torn and natural-disaster-affected areas of the world. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, center, meets with Operation Give volunteers and thanks them for their contributions during a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, Aug. 29, 2006. Photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, USAF  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “Those of you who volunteer your time are appreciated,” Rumsfeld told...

An Iraqi police officer fixes his equipment after trying on their new bullet-proof vest for the first time. Department of Defense photo by Army Sgt. Kevin McSwain. BAQUBAH -- Iraqi Police now have more protection thanks to the recent donation of 2,000 protective vests by a U.S. nonprofit.The vests, presented during an Aug. 15 ceremony in Baqubah, were shipped overseas free of charge and delivered by the U.S. Army to the Iraqi National Police.  One e-mail between an Army officer deployed in Iraq and the nonprofit group Brotherhood of the Badge paved the way for the donation. “When I received...

SACRAMENTO Despite a midsummer heat wave that has pushed energy use to an all-time high this week, experts say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger probably does not have to fear the blackouts that ended former Gov. Gray Davis' political career. And he has Davis to thank for that. The long-term contracts Davis signed, at great political cost, guarantee plentiful energy for the next few years at what now look like good rates. "In an interesting twist of fate, he's benefiting from the decisions that his predecessor suffered for," said Frank Wolak, a Stanford economist who specializes in energy. "The terrible contracts" Davis...

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2006 – Vice President Richard B. Cheney thanked sailors and Marines during a July 7 rally aboard the USS Wasp for serving in uniform during a period of national challenge, military transformation and unprecedented threats. Vice President Dick Cheney waves to sailors and Marines during a rally aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., July 7. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Davis J. Anderson, USN    (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "We have asked a great deal of you. You've answered the call with tremendous reliability and skill,"...

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. (Laughter.) It's a pleasure to be back here at Fort Bragg -- "Home of our Airborne and Special Forces." (Applause.) I flew down on Air Force One, and our pilot, Colonel Tillman, he said, "I can open the hatch and drop you out by parachute." (Laughter.) I said he had the wrong President Bush. (Laughter.) Old '41, I call him -- happens to be my dad -- has jumped five times with the Golden Knights of Fort Bragg. (Applause.) Mother appreciates you helping him down safely. (Laughter.) He's the only...

WASHINGTON, July 4, 2006 – As the nation observes its 230th birthday, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took to the airwaves today to thank the men and women of the armed forces and their families for their service. Marine Gen. Peter Pace noted on NBC's "Today" program that Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of Multinational Force Iraq, had observed the holiday by presideing at a citizenship ceremony for 110 U.S. servicemembers. "You know, we've got almost 200,000 folks in the Gulf right now making it possible for us to celebrate today, and it's proper for...