Hero Stories for April 2006

Greg Gilkey was kind enough to write us about his stepson, SGT James Daniel Faulkner. SGT Faulkner was killed in action in Iraq on September 8, 2004. Sgt. James Daniel Faulkner was born on April 28, 1981 in Clarksville Indiana to James and Pamela Faulkner. Daniel, as he came to be called, was the fourth of six children and the first of three sons. He was a rather shy and quiet child who was most often content to watch television, read comic books and otherwise find ways to entertain and amuse...

We're very happy to post this ongoing series from Melody Pigg about her experience of being a Marine Mom and watching her son, Marshall, in his deployment in Iraq. I heard from Marshall a little over a week ago. For security reasons, he's really not able to talk about what they're doing in the sandbox. He sounds very good and still positive about his decision to become a Marine. At least we're not hearing him questioning, "What have I done?" Here I am complaining because of the nightmares and...

We are proud to be able to publish this piece sent to us by Linda Freedman. She has been involved in a great program called AdoptaPlatoon.org and has written about her experiences. What she and the other volunteers have done has touched a lot of lives. We urge you to get involved. The weekday morning began like so many others. Finishing my coffee while getting ready to go to work, I was only half listening to a morning news show on television. I thought I heard a woman say, "adopt a soldier"...

As hard as it may be to believe, there is a "church" in Topeka, Kansas that has been loudly protesting at military funerals. The Westboro Baptist Church has been staging noisy protests at family funerals for those lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, jeering the attendees and carrying "God Hates Fags" signs. They are mocking those who would protect their right to protest. Our hearts go out to those families that have been harassed by these protesters. There is relief though. This was sent to us by D...