PROJECT VALENTINE!

<>Valentine’s Day is an occasion on which we recognize the people we appreciate and love, so this year Jones Soda has partnered with Operation AC. Jones Soda has donated 10,000 valentine packs to Operation AC for delivery to our troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Each limited edition pack contains two bottles of Love Potion #6, a specially designed flavor that captures the taste of love. Also included is a Love Potion #6 Lip Balm to soften the lips, a CD sampler of songs by Sony BMG recording artists, and a Jones Love Coupon Book, which includes a coupon for two free bottles of personalized soda from myJones (www.myjones.com). This unique pack will be sold at retailers nationally and online at www.jonessoda.com.

“When you think of Valentine’s, you think of cards and chocolate, but you don’t always think of our service men and women half way around the world missing their loved ones. It is an honor to partner with Operation AC to give something special to our troops this Valentine’s Day,” says Peter van Stolk, President and CEO. “We would like to thank all our retail and distributor partners for making this donation happen.” Frankie Mayo of Operation AC said, “What more fun could we have than sending these Valentine Packs to our troops in the Middle East? Making [the troops’] day is what we do at Operation AC.”

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Jones Soda Co., sells its Jones Soda products through its distribution network in select markets across North America. A leader in the premium soda category, Jones is known for its innovative labeling technique that incorporates always-changing photos sent in from its consumers. Jones Soda is sold through traditional beverage retailers and everywhere you’d never expect to find a soda.

Operation AC needs your help to deliver these wonderful Valentine's Packs to our troops! Please show your love for our troops by donating for shipping costs! ALL DONATIONS will go to shipment for Project Valentine - we need to raise a lot of money for shipping! Come on America, show your LOVE! Sign up to Adopt a Soldier HELP US SEND OUR TROOPS A VALENTINE JONES!

Jarhead Red

Firestone Wines

JARHEAD RED California Red Table Wine $12.99 Jarhead Red is made by Marines, for Marines. The net proceeds from the sale of this wine benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation who provide educational assistance to the children of fallen Marines.

Actor Sinise Discusses Support for Troops

American Forces Press Service | By Steven Donald Smith | January 16, 2006

WASHINGTON – Gary Sinise, star of the hit television show "CSI: NY," appeared on the Fox News Channel program Hannity and Colmes yesterday to discuss his continued support for American troops and his charity Operation Iraqi Children.

Co-host Sean Hannity asked Sinise about his experience visiting wounded servicemembers recovering in the hospital.

"I'm not a guy who has an easy time in hospitals, so I was a little fearful of what I would see there," Sinise said. "When you do go you completely forget about your own self, because that's not why you go. You're there for them."

The actor portrayed Lt. Dan, a Vietnam War amputee in the movie "Forrest Gump."

Sinise said he first met wounded troops more than two years ago at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and has since visited Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here four times.

"I just talk to them about what happened to them and wish them well and let them know that we're grateful and we care about them, and that we're not going to forget about them," he said. "It means a lot."
Read more.

Recycle For America

Did you know that ...

Less than 5% of empty, reusable, ink jet cartridges are being collected in the United States presently and millions are landfilled needlessly each year Recycle for America provides you with all materials, displays, postage paid, bags and boxes, AT NO COST TO YOU, and pays you for most Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, Cannon and Dell once used empties. (not recycled) Through our nationwide collection program, Recycle for America of Endicott, New York, WILL PAY YOU UP TO $2.00 each for most, Hewlett-Packard or Lexmark ink jet cartridges with NO EXPENSE TO YOU? (no Epson please, yet) Recycle for America will provide custom collection boxes with preprinted return address label (your school, business, institution, charity etc.) and return postage paid label attached for collection of your empty cartridges. Click here to view collection options and supplies. Click here to view acceptable cartridges.

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<>We are proud to extend our program to benefit the
men and women serving to defend our freedom!

Treats For Troops

Our Mission is simple
Treats for Troops provides a safe, easy way to support American soldiers all over the world, every day of the year.

Want to support our troops?
Our unique Foster-A-Soldier™ Program makes it possible for every American to put a smile on the face of someone serving our country. The Foster-A-Soldier Program automatically matches you with a registered soldier by branch of service, home state, gender, or birthday – or you can choose to sponsor a group of soldiers. Then all you have to do is go shopping in the Treats for Troops Gift Shops, and your care package will be on its way.

Know someone in the service?
The Treats for Troops Gift Shops offer everything from freshly baked cookies to hand and face wipes and phone cards, all carefully packed and safely shipped according to military and postal regulations. TFT is the easy, secure way to send care packages to soldiers.

Send a package. Make a soldier smile.
If you’ve ever said, “I wish there was something I could do to support our troops,” now you’re just a click away from putting a smile on a soldier’s face. If you’ve ever tried to send a package to a soldier, Treats for Troops makes it a whole lot easier to stay in touch.

Thanks For Caring
On behalf of the men and women in America’s armed forces, the staff of Treats for Troops would like to thank you for your thoughts, your prayers and your support.

Mom Buys Body Armor for Son

United Press International | January 09, 2006

NEW YORK - A New York City mother says she spent about $3,000 for body armor -- a Christmas gift for her son in the U.S. Marines who is deployed to Iraq.

Elaine Brower said her son, James Brower, gave her a list of items Marine buddies gave him, to buy body armor online.

James Brower had been deployed to Afghanistan, but when he returned he became a New York City police officer. Now, he has been redeployed as a reserve to Iraq and when his mom asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he said "body armor."

Elaine Brower made the purchases online for $2,200. Then she spent $800 for armor for her son's legs, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

James Brower had assisted Marines and Soldiers who had lost limbs in Iraq at the New York City Marathon and they suggested leg armor -- especially to protect the femoral artery.

The son says everything fits and is comfortable and mom is set to make an Internal Revenue Service claim of up to $1,100 -- thanks to a recently enacted: "Claim for Reimbursement and Payment Voucher for Privately Purchased Protective, Safety or Health Equipment Used in Combat."

Copyright 2005 United Press International. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

America Supports You: VFW, Wal-Mart Team Up on 'Message Books'

By Donna Miles: American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2006 – Following an initiative that delivered almost 1,000 binders full of encouraging notes to deployed troops overseas for the holidays, the director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation is declaring the fourth season in a VFW/Wal-Mart partnership a major success.

VFW Foundation staff members pose with books of encouragement prepared for shipment to deployed troops through the Message Books for Troops program, a joint VFW-Wal-Mart Foundation project. Shown, from left, are Nancy Gordon, Michelle McCarthy and Sandy Brook. Photo courtesy of the VFW Foundation

The "Message Books for Troops" effort teamed the two organizations to help lift the spirits of servicemembers away from home during the holidays through notes of thanks and encouragement, Mike Gormalley told the American Forces Press Service.

The effort began in mid-October, when the Wal-Mart Foundation asked its Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Neighborhood Market stores throughout the United States to create the message books.

Families, friends, community members and veterans were invited to sign the books and write encouraging messages to the troops. Customers of all ages signed the books, some expressing their sentiments in crayons, Gormalley said. Each binder held "a couple of hundred messages," he said.

VFW Foundation shipped the books to units overseas, with most of them going to Iraq and Afghanistan.
...

"The basic premise is to show troops our messages of support from throughout the United States, to let them know that we care about them and are not going to forget about them," Gormalley said.

Wal-Mart is building on this effort through Operation Dear Abby, establishing gift registry kiosks in its superstores so visitors can send messages of support to troops, Kathy Cox, community program development manager for the Wal-Mart Foundation, told the American Forces Press Service.

READ MORE.

[CARRIE COMMENT: I encourage you to read more on this article and the ways that Wal-Mart and the VFW are supporting our troops.]

Military Spouse Magazine

Purpose
To provide a magazine publication in print format that is by, for, and about U.S. military spouses, regardless of rank or service affiliation.

Mission
Anchor Media’s objective is to have a copy of Military Spouse on the coffee table of every U.S. military family’s home and in the reception rooms of every military service facility throughout the world.

Vision
To create a magazine that is both entertaining and insightful while addressing the interests and current events that are relevant to a military spouse’s daily life.