In a time when Democrats in congress are demanding a date set for the withdrawal for troops form Iraq, presidential candidate John McCain continues to stand his ground. Firm in his decision, he states, “We will not allow the United States of America to lose this war.”

Democrats are focusing on passing legislation that would set a concrete date for the removal of troops of Iraq. John McCain vehemently disagrees with this move and believes that the removal of troops is more than losing the war; it would mean genocide. In fact, John McCain is so resolved in his position against withdrawing our troops that he has expressed that he will not support a withdrawal even if it means forfeiting his presidential campaign.

With the presidential campaign at the forefront of politics right now, it is interesting that he would take such a firm resolute stance regarding the war. With so many opposed to the war, it is interesting to see how this will affect his run. One thing is certain however; John McCain made some clearly defined statements regarding his position on the war and our troops and has made it visible to Americans where he stands.

It may be due to this Republican Senator’s background that he takes such a firm stance. Senator McCain is a military man, he know war, has been in war, and has survived war. Married, he is the father of seven children and was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He served in Vietnam and is a decorated Veteran, having received the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. He is also a former prisoner of war.

One of his sons is enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy and his son; James enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006. One thing is certain; he must believe in the war strongly enough to see his son enlist.

It would seem that his former experience with war and being a POW would greatly affect and shape his course of action regarding Iraq, and it has. He is solid when it comes to stating that we need to finish the course in Iraq, support our troops by not pulling them out early, and making sure that Al Qaeda does not gain the upper hand.

Now this post isn’t out to point to a presidential candidate one way or another, it is simply to bring to light the background behind Senator John McCain, and to take a look at why he is so resolute with his decision to keep our troops in Iraq and finish the course. What do you think? Do you think that as a former POW he should want a withdrawal and to end things as quickly and swiftly, saving others from the agony that he he experienced first hand? Or do you think that as a military professional America is safe trusting his judgment and following his recommendations? Do you think that his experience sheds light on his presidential candidacy?

What do you think?

Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been in the news lately for the poor conditions in which are soldiers have been enduring, while staying at their facility. However, on July 27, 2007, Walter Reed was in the news for other reasons. Fourteen soldiers received Purple Heart medals in a ceremony that included family, friends, servicemen and women, and Walter Reed medical staff. The audience totaled nearly 250 attendees.

The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who were wounded during times of war by enemy weapons; it is one of the most honored awards earned by any military personnel.

It was first awarded in 1932 and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (the official Purple Heart registry) is located in Newburgh, New York.

The fourteen soldiers were presented the medal on stage in front of the attendees. Army Brig. General Michael S. Tucker and Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey S. Hartless presented each soldier their medals.

Here is a list of the soldiers that received Purple Heart medals.

Staff Sgt. Scott Gentry who is 31 years old, was wounded when his vehicle was hit by an IED. He is from Spokane, Washington.

Sgt. Andre Marcus Knight is 29 years old. His platoon was struck by a 400-pound bomb, two of his platoon members died. He is from Petersburg, Virginia.

Sgt. Christopher Lynch is 21 years old. He was injured when a suicide bomber attacked his vehicle while he was on patrol in Iraq. He is from Whetland, California.

Sgt. Luis Martinez-Ramirez is 38 years old. An explosion wounded him while he was on patrol in Baghdad. He is from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.

Sgt. Luis Rivera-Valentin is 30 years old and was wounded when an explosion struck while he was on clearance patrol in Baghdad. He is from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.

Spc. Terence Cook, is age 21 years old and from Clarksville, Md. An explosive device hit his vehicle.

Spc. Justin S. Davis is 27 years old and from Baton Rouge, La. He was shot while on duty guarding a schoolhouse in Iraq.

Spc. Daniel Gomez is 27 years old and from Midway City, California. He was injured when hit by a sniper.

Spc. Amando Hamid is 20 years old and from New York, N.Y. He was wounded when a 350-pound bomb exploded.

Spc. Anthony Labelle is 22 years old and from Worchester, Mass. He was wounded by an IED blast while patrolling Tal Afar, Iraq.

Spc. Joshua K. Lutz is 24 years old and from Palm Harbor, Fla. He was wounded by an IED blast while patrolling Iraq.

Spc. Jason Pinney is 24 years old and from Decatur, Indiana. He was shot near Afghanistan.

Pfc. Ian J. Gillis is 20 years old and from Santa Rosa, Calif. An IED explosion wounded him while he was on his way to help his fellow soldiers.

Pfc. Ronnie Hodges is 23 years old and from Jacksonville, N.C. He was wounded by an IED blast.

With the memorial of 9/11 soon approaching, many are thinking of ways that they can do something special to honor our service men and women. Volunteering time, donating money to organizations, and getting involved in local community outreaches that show morale support for our troops are all ways that people get involved. Now you can also help our troops through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. Commonly known as the AAFES, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service offers a unique service entitled, “Gifts from the Homefront”. These are gift certificates that are distributed to military personnel. The gift certificates are used at AAFES food and retail stores, and may be used worldwide. This is an excellent way to send a gift to a serviceman or woman that is helpful as well as beneficial.

Another great benefit of giving the Gifts from the Homefront Certificates is the fact that if you don’t know whom to choose for a recipient, the organization will send your donation to a service man or woman for you. They are connected with Air Force members through the Air Force Aid Society, the American Red Cross, and the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Fisher House Foundation, INC., Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Homefront, Operation Interdependence, Soldier and Family Assistance Center, USA Cares, and the United Service Organization (USO). You can choose from any of these well-known and trusted organizations and place your donation through them.

A great idea is to have many people in your local community, businesses, government organizations get together and put your funds together to donate to the Gift Certificate program. It truly is one way in which you can rest assured that the recipients would benefit and derive great use from your contribution.

Another great aspect of Gifts from the Homefront is that they have great customer service representatives, and if you need to ask them a question regarding donating, you can call them at their (877) number. To gain a better understanding of how your donations and certificates are distributed, here is a break down according to all of the organizations that are involved.

The organizations that are responsible for distributing the certificates to military personnel include the American Red Cross and Operation Interdependence. If you donate to these organizations, you can rest assured the certificates will be distributed to soldiers that are deployed.

The following organizations distribute the certificates to help assist military members as well as their families: The Air Force Aid Society and Operation Homefront. The next organizations distribute gift certificates to soldiers and their families that are wounded and who are recovering in military facilities and VA hospitals. These organizations include: Fisher House, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, and Military Members Participating in USO Programs. Finally, if you would like to donate your certificates to be used specifically for food and groceries, you can donate through the DECA Gift of Groceries Program.

Knowing exactly where your donation is going can mean a great deal to certain people. When contributing through Gifts from the Homefront, you can rest assured that you know where your donation is headed.

As our troops continue to fight and defend our country, supporting them is a commitment that we must make. In fact, no matter what your personal beliefs may be regarding the nature of the war, or your political preferences, there is no excuse for not supporting our troops. Our troops are America’s sons and daughters and they are giving their very lives to secure our freedom. We owe it to help our soldiers in any way that we can.

Now, there is a wonderful organization that is making sure you can help show your support of our service men and women. Fisher House

Fisher House is a trademarked program. They provide a certain service that many military families are in desperate need of- housing for the family members of wounded veterans.

When a veteran becomes wounded or injured and needs to stay in a military hospital or VA center, they are often separated from their loved ones and their immediate families. There is no doubt that our veterans need extra assistance and that our VA hospitals have not been doing their best to meet our veterans needs in the best manner possible. Until these problems are rectified, it is imperative that organizations pick up the slack. Fisher House has done more than pick up the slack, they have gone far and beyond the call of duty.

Fisher House establishes “comfort homes” that are used to house family members of service men and women who are committed to staying in a military center or VA hospital due to illness or injury. Comfort Homes have been established and are set up at every major VA hospital and medical center. To date, more than 8,5000 families have utilized the services provided by Fisher House. The program began in 1990 and has helped countless veterans recover with the aid and assistance of their loved ones.

A family stays in a Comfort Home for a cost of less than $10.00 each day. There is also housing provided at no cost for certain rooms. In addition to the Comfort Homes, Fisher Houses also provides other programs to support and aid service men and women. With their Hero Miles program, Fisher House has helped provide more than 10,000 air tickets for service man and women and their families. It has been estimated that the retail value of these tickets is well over 12 million dollars.

The Fisher House Foundation also works with the Scholarships for Military Children Program. This program is funded by donations provided by the suppliers of products sold to commissaries. When military families shop on commissaries, some of their proceeds are donated to support the Scholarships for Military Children. Therefore, when families are staying in Fisher Houses, they are encouraged to shop at commissaries to help support the Scholarship program. To date, Scholarships for Military Children has awarded more than four million dollars to recipients.

If you have been looking for a non-profit organization to contribute to, you may want to consider donating to the Fisher House foundation. They do rely on public support for the funds needed to build their homes and you can give online. For further information regarding their services, or to learn how you can contribute, contact them today.

Freedom Walk began in 2005, when the employees of the Pentagon gathered together to honor the memory of those who perished on September 11th. This year will mark the third annual America Supports You Freedom Walk, and from September 8-11th Freedom Walks will take place throughout America. In fact, there were over 135 Freedom Walks that occurred in America in 2006. This year the National America Supports You Freedom Walk will take place in Washington, D.C. on September 9, 2007. The event begins at 9:00 A.M.

The Freedom walk is a way that all Americans can show their support for this nation as well as honor our troops who are defending our county with their lives. One of the wonderful aspects of the Freedom Walk is that anyone can organize or host a Freedom Walk in their own community.

If you see that there isn’t a walk scheduled for your area, you can organize your own walk. The official America Supports You Freedom Walk is located here: Freedomwalk. All of the resources that you need to form your own walk are located on the site. Materials that will help you include a planning guide, an advertising flyer, press advisory, Freedom Walk box log that is used for tee shirts, and a Freedom walk horizontal log. There is also an email address where you can contact for more detail.

The principle of the Freedom Walk is to support our country and honor the values of our nation. It is also to honor our veterans, both those who led the way for our freedom in the past, as well as those who are fighting for our freedom today. The Freedom Walk is not about any organizations, political views, ethnic groups, or fundraising events. It is simply an avenue for all in the public to show their faithful loyalty and support to our troops and honor the memory of those whose lives were sacrificed in the name of freedom.

The official website recommends that if you are going to organize a Freedom Walk, to contact your local government officials and begin there. This will ensure that the proper contacts have been made, and that the walk will be organized in the best manner.

Local community organizations as well as businesses will be very helpful and supportive in establishing the walk. It is also recommended that the entire walk is less than two miles long. This will ensure that everyone may participate without succumbing to exhaustion or physical impairments. You will also be required to obtain certain permits, and by involving your local government officials from the beginning, you can ensure that all necessary requirements are met.

If you are interested in participating in the official Freedom Walk that is hosted in Washington D.C. you will need to register in advance. Registration is free and all registrations must be submitted by September 7, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

Though the dates and times may vary throughout the nation, the walk will be held on September 9, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. in Washington. The walk will begin by the Lincoln Monument and will conclude at the Pentagon.

For those who wish to support the United States Marines and their families, Operation Stocking Stuffer offers civilians a chance to give aid to Marines, their wives, and their families.

Operation Stocking Stuffer is a nonprofit organization that sends care packages to United States Marines. They also offer support to Marine wives through various support groups, and have helped Marine families with financial support.

Operation Stocking Stuffer began when a woman, Julie Ann Ivanov’s, eldest son had announced that he wouldn’t make it home from his duty in the Marines for Christmas. Stationed in Iraq, Julie Ann decided that she would send his Christmas care package to him. Then she decided that not only would she send a Christmas stocking to her son, Chris, but also one for each member in his unit- not a small feat since there were fifty members in his unit. By the month of November, word had spread about Julie Ann’s stocking plan, and not only did she have fifty stockings for all of Kris’ unit, but there were an additional 700 stockings all ready for shipment; Operation Stocking Stuffer was born.

Today, Operation Stocking Stuffer has successfully sent Christmas packages in 2004 and 2005. They finished their Easter 2006 care packages, and are currently working on their next project. They have a list of requested items for donation, but if you would like to help, you may find it best to contact Julie Ann or the other Operation Stocking Stuffer team members. They also have a support group for wives of Marines, and you will need to contact them for further information regarding their support group or how you can contribute you can visit their site here: operationstockingstuffer.org

Some of the most requested items needed include: food and snacks, clothing, beverages, toiletry, recreational, communication, personal supplies, foot care, personal care, and holiday items.

Batteries are always in need as well as additional flashlights. Many Marines also require items such as sunscreen and sunblock. Aloe Vera is also a great addition to care packages due to the fact that it not only helps heal sunburn but is soothing to skin irritations as well. Many Marines use baby wipes to stay clean while on the field, so these are always in high demand. It is also best to purchase items in travel size rather than full size, since Marines need to pack these items into their backpacks and take them on the road.

In addition to travel size items, zip lock baggies are also always needed, as they are used to store the items when sending the care packages. You may be surprised to realize how the Marines covet food and snack items. Travel size packages are best and some of the most popular and frequently requested items include Doritos and other brand chips, nuts, granola bars, beef jerky, and lunch kits. There are also many new beverage items that are made for people on the go. These work by adding the contents of the container to water, and are great for use by Marines. For more information, or to learn the best way to help Operation Stocking Stuffer, be sure to contact them.

When a mother sent her son a care package of cookies, she received a bit more than the usually response of, “Thanks for the cookies, Mom.” In fact, she was surprised to learn that her son had shared his cookies with his fellow soldiers in the Army, and later relayed the request to his mother, asking her to bake more cookies to share with the guys.

Many of the men and women serving were saddened at the thought that they never received care packages, and were very touched by receiving the cookies. As any mother would do, she answered the call by gathering her fellow church members together and shared the request. The result was the creation of Operation Mom’s Cookies.

Today, countless women across the nation gather together items to donate as well as bake cookies for our service men and women overseas. They are always in need of financial donations, and you can make a contribution at their website that is located here: MomsCookies

Donations in the amount of $10.00 have the status of Smile Box Contributor, a $15.00 donation is a Phone Home Contributor, a $25.00 donation is a Unit Booster Box Contributor, a $50.00 donation is a Command Booster Box Contributor, and a $100.00 donation is a Helping Hand Contributor. Of course, other donations are always accepted as well. In addition, they also are in need of corporate sponsors, and encourage those who are interested in donating on this level to contact them for further information.

Operation Moms Cookies function according to a shipping schedule. Therefore they have different collections that are received by a specific date, and then they pack the boxes and ship. After the packages have been shipped, you can visit the site to see the status of the last project and the dates regarding the next one. They have packages planned ahead that line up with all of the major holidays.

It’s also a good to check with the site and see what types of items are on their donation item wish list. This is a list of both food and non-food related items that are in the greatest need by our troops. Also, they are continually in need of zip lock or plastic baggies on a recurring basis as these are used for stocking the care packages. They also have one specific item that they are requesting for each month. This is known as the “item of the month” and the request changes, so be sure to check back with the website for any updates.

Operation Moms Cookies is a non-profit organization. That means that all of your contributions are tax deductible. They have also been awarded recognition by the U.S. Government’s organization, “America Supports You”.

These moms have shown that everyone can work together to help support our troops. You are never too young or too old to make a difference in the lives of our service men and women who are sacrificing so much to ensure that we remain free in our country.

When Patti Patton-Bade’s son returned from his duty in Iraq, he told his mother about the many men and women who were serving in our armed forces that never received any letters, care packages, or forms of support. With her heart burdened for those who were serving, she decided to take a positive course of action and help change the lives of our forgotten soldiers.

Today, Soldiers’ Angels is a non-profit organization that extends its membership to all fifty states and also, Puerto Rico. The organization has sent over ten thousand care packages and over one hundred thousand letter to our troops who are deployed and serving in the midst of war. They also provide First Response Packs that are distributed immediately to wounded soldiers. They have assisted military family members who are in need of assistance, as well as helped provide financial aid for those who need transportation. Since Soldier’s Angels began in 2003, they have added a support forum, where soldiers and civilians can connect to help meet the needs of our nation’s heroes.

Soldier’s Angels is divided into several various teams and programs. These programs each meet the needs of our soldiers and you may choose to support the program that best fits your charitable giving. The programs are: Blankets of Hope, Cards Plus Team, Chaplain Support Team, First Response Backpacks, Gasp, Hero Packs, Living Legends, Operation Outreach, Operation Phone Home, Operation Top Knot, SOS: Kids, Valour-IT, Wounded TLC. To find out more about Soldier’s Angels and to see a complete background of each team and program, you can visit them here: http://www.soldiersangels.com

They have so many different programs that everyone can find a way to help our soldiers. The sewing teams are comprised of people who choose to use their sewing abilities to help support our troops. The three programs include Blankets of Hope, Sand Scarves and Cooling Scarves, and the now completed: Mittens and Booties. Sand scarves are used to help our soldiers brave the elements of the desert sand winds. If you are a seamstress and have been considering sewing for our troops, or would like your church or sewing group to contribute, then please contact Soldier’s Angels today.

In addition to the numerous programs and teams, you can also adopt a soldier. Remember, Soldier’s Angels began due to the fact that the soldiers were not receiving any cards or letters of encouragement or support. With the Adopt a Soldier program, you must commit to sending at least one or two care packages, each month, and you must commit to sending either a card or letter weekly. When it is time for Mail Call, no United States soldier should be faced with the reality that they have received no mail, letters of encouragement, or care packages. Additionally, care packages do not have to be extravagant or costly. For those who wish to sponsor a soldier, but feel hesitant in regards to the cost of creating and shipping a care package. Soldier’s Angels will send care packages for you, at cost. You can choose from their official store to select the care package that you would like to send.

Finally, Soldier’s Angels offers so many ways for citizens to show their support to our troops, please visit their site and get involved today.

One of the more contentious battles over the Iraq war this year. When Webb put his hand on Graham’s shoulder and said, “Excuse me friend,” it was all Graham could do to keep from duking it out. Not a good idea for Graham.

From: rtelson (YouTube)

You’re never too young to help our soldiers, and a little girl named Bailey Reese is pure proof! At the age of seven, Bailey’s home was caught in the midst of a hurricane. When she and her mother went to receive ice and water from a military checkpoint, Bailey observed people complaining and not treating the soldiers with respect. Bothered by this behavior, Bailey asked her mother why they were treating the soldiers in this manner.

Bailey’s mother tried her best to explain that the people were under stress and weren’t behaving in their best manner. Bailey wouldn’t accept that excuse. She firmly announced that the soldiers had left their families and homes to help those who were suffering and they should receive thanks, not complaints.

Taking action (as most seven year olds do), Bailey promptly rallied together the children in her neighborhood to create Thank You notes for the soldiers. Bailey’s mother, Diana Reese, brought the letters to the troops, and the rest is history.

Now, four years later, Bailey’s organization, Hero Hugs (http://www.herohugs.org) has sent more than 21,000 care packages to soldiers. It has been estimated that the retail value of those packages is approximately $175,000.

As Bailey’s organization began to grow, she decided that she needed a mascot. The mascot is a bear created by Build a Bear that wears a military suit, and is named Hero. In 2004, Bailey sent Hero the Bear to the Balad Air Base, and Hero’s tales have been vast. The soldiers have adopted Hero, and post pictures of Hero serving with the soldiers. This has proved to be an excellent way for children to understand and relate to the role of service men and women are providing in the war.

One of the most amazing qualities regarding Bailey Reese is that she was just a child with a strong passion for the disrespect of our soldiers that she witnessed. At such a young and tender age, she was able to turn that passionate outcry into a postive action. She continues to devote much of her time to her organization and has helped numerous soldiers. She takes it upon herself to stand in front of stores every weekend, discussing her organization with passers by, in attempts to raise funds. To date, Hero Hugs sends between five hundred to over twelve hundred appreciation packages to our troops.

Hero Hugs, like any other well-run organization, consists of a board. Another amazing aspect of Hero Hugs is that the entire board of directors is comprised of children, with the oldest members being fifteen years old.

Hero Hugs shows that you are never too old, or too young, to help our soldiers. Bailey Reese’s story is truly inspiring and though she has won many awards and received national recognition for her efforts, it is a good lesson for all to learn from her example.

Everyone can do something to help our troops. Whether it is simply donating your money to an organization or purchasing items for a care package, or just writing a letter to a soldier who may be lonely, every little bit that you do helps, and will let our soldiers know that they are not forgotten, but are honored and respected.

There is a little girl who is absolutely amazing. Her name is Jenessa Alexis, and she has done so much in her short life to help support the troops than many people have who are three times her age. When you first visit her site Harms Way 4 Kids you’ll notice her wonderful poem that she wrote for her uncle and aunt who were serving in the military. Her uncle was deployed to Iraq, but is home now and retired from the military. However, her poem expresses her amazing sentiment and is a child’s plea, asking people to stop protesting the war, but to show their support instead.

The name of the website, Harms Way 4 Kids was selected because it shows that the troops are in “Harms Way”. It is for kids, because she decided to create a website that would offer support to the children of parents that are deployed. What makes Jenessa Alexis unique is that she decided to create bracelets for the children of soldiers, and the troops themselves, to wear that signify their support. She has been making the bracelets since March 22, 2003 and sends them freely to those who request them. To date, she has mailed over a quarter of a million bracelets worldwide.

The bracelets are constructed using various beads. Yellow beads are to show that our troops are in harms way, and red, white, and blue beads are used to signify the strength of our nation. The bracelets are made from hemp. There are a number of different companies that have stepped up to the plate and contributed items, such as beads, to help with the bracelets. She will send a bracelet to anyone who requests one, for free. Yet, it should be mentioned that the cost of the hemp is not donated and must be purchased. Therefore, it is suggested that you offer a donation; to help offset the cost of shipping and the cost of the hemp. You can make donations on her website.

She offers the bracelets to soldiers and asks that if they are allowed to wear them, to do so. Different units have different uniform codes. However, she suggests that if they are not allowed to wear them, to simply keep them in their pocket so that they know they are being remembered and prayed for.

There is a section of the website where there is a slideshow, depicting children whose parents have been deployed. It is a very powerful sight, to see such a young girl making such a courageous and bold stand to support our troops. Surely, many children and adults as well have found comfort by visiting her site and reading the words of this very special young lady.

Jenessa Alexis has been interviewed by Jay Leno and displayed her bracelets on the show. She has gained recognition worldwide and continues to create these wonderful bracelets as a way of showing honor and support for our troops. Many schools, children, and groups have risen to the challenge and have helped her create these bracelets to send.

If you’ve ever wanted to send something to our troops, but wanted to make sure that you could choose the recipient and send exactly what he or she needed, then you will want to visit the organization: Any Soldier. Any Soldier is a database that puts our troops names in a database. You will be able to select the soldier’s name and view their information. Some of the soldiers have photos but all of the links will bring you to their information, recent messages that they have posted, and a list of the items that they are requesting.

Any Soldier received so many visitors when it began, that they have grown tremendously. When you first visit Any Soldier, you will notice that each branch of the military is designated by a colored letter in front of the names: a green A for Army, a red M for Marines, and a blue A for Air Force. However, with the growth, they have created Any Marine Any Sailor Any Airman. Once you visit the page, you simply click on the top link that says, “Where to Send” and you will pull up the list of the soldier’s names.

Another great feature of Any Soldier, is that when you click on the soldier’s name, you will be able to see how many times that soldier’s address has been requested. This is a great way to ensure that you pick a soldier who may not have received any packages or mail. You’ll also find that the soldier represents other soldiers as well. It is quite simple, once you view the site and read through the details.

There are also terms of services that must be agreed to before you can receive access to the mailing addresses of the soldiers. So be sure to read the fine print before requesting the soldier’s address. This is a great way to ensure that the items you send to troops reach them. You’ll also notice that the troops put down a list of requested items. Once you find the soldier and the items you would like to send, you’ll find that there is a list of companies on the site that are working with Any Soldier and will provide a discount on those items.

What may be the most amazing thing of all is the most requested item asked by the troops is to receive letters of encouragement. They don’t give out email addresses, but the soldiers desperately want to receive postal letters.

This is a great project that teachers can do with their students as well as church leaders with their groups. Troops love to receive letters of encouragement and by choosing a solider to write to, you can help encourage and support them in their greatest time of need.

Any Soldier and the other organizations allow citizens to support the troops in tangible way. This is a way to show your support in a way that reaches past yellow ribbons, magnets, and bumper stickers. Though those are all great ways of showing support, through Any Soldier you can reach out and touch a soldier through your donations.