Archive for the ‘General Info’ Category

Why I’m Grateful for the Service of Military Troops

Monday, May 17th, 2010

It takes a special kind of person to serve in the Military. One who is strong, hardworking, daring, and aggressive.  But most of all, it takes a person who is completely selfless.  Our troops put their lives on the line each and every day so that we can live a life of comfort and freedom.  It’s hard to know what to say or how to thank someone who performs such a great service to you, your family, and your country.

We currently have troops fighting in the ‘Overseas Contingency Operation’ in Afghanistan and Iraq which is anything but a safe and pleasant mission.  If most of us were aware of the typical soldier’s living conditions, we’d shutter at the thought of having to go through that ourselves.  For example, soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the remote mountains of Afghanistan are surviving cold and miserable winter weather conditions.  With the extreme elevations in this country, these soldiers are supplied by airdrop and need to hand carry supplies to their camps from the drop zone.  Some of these troops are at such remote firebases that they are living in mud huts and often go several weeks without bathing.  They wear their socks until they must throw them away.  One reporter described the area as almost uninhabitable and said that this is an ‘in the trenches’ front line unit that is actively engaged in battle on our behalf in terrible conditions.  It is amazing to me that we have men and women who make these kinds of sacrifices and risk their lives every day for people they don’t even know and never complain about it.  What amazing people these soldiers are to go through all they do to protect the country they love.

I’d like to also thank the soldiers who are serving in places other than Iraq and Afghanistan.  They too put their lives on the line and go through less than ideal situations to help others.  One mission that I recently read about was soldiers who are fighting floods and drugs in central South America.  We have about 500 individuals there currently supporting the mission Joint Task Force-Bravo.  The task force conducts joint operations in the region, enhancing both security and the development of democracy.  On top of that, they also support humanitarian efforts in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility and participate in counter-narcotics operations there.  One example of this is in November 2008, flooding occurred in both Costa Rica and Panama.  Our soldiers were there to provide assistance to the victims of that natural disaster. They also provided airlift of 300,000 pounds of supplies in the affected region and helped rescue civilians stranded by floodwaters as well.  I feel so privileged to have these men and women provide such wonderful acts and be willing to leave the friends and family for a period of time to do so.

I will forever be grateful for our country’s military troops! We are so privileged to have these men and women give everything they have to the country we love. THANK YOU to each and every one of you! We owe our life, liberty, and freedom to you brave soldiers!

This post was written by Emily Green, VA Loan Processor at Flagship Financial Group.

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Favorite Military-Themed TV shows for Military Families

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Throughout the years televisions has been able to capture our favorite moments, make us laugh, and even teach us a thing or two. Military themed shows are no different. There have been sitcoms that make us laugh out loud about fanatical military generals who trick the “bad guys” and win their battles, to the drama of an army wife who goes through everything and more for their husband fighting in a war, to the legality of a lawyer demanding justice for a war crime. Whatever it is, here is a synopsis of some of the best shows that have captured the moment of a military service member.

           

 One of the most popular military themed televisions of all time would have to be M*A*S*H*. Inspired by a novel and the movie, this sitcom follows a team of doctors and its staff based at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea. It takes place during the Korean War and covered a three year span of the war’s conflict. The series started in 1972 and lasted for 11 seasons, with its finale being the most watched television episode in the U.S. Much of the show took its liberties, but many of the underlying storylines were true stories of real-life MASH surgeons.

           

Hogan’s Heroes was another military based sitcom, which was set in a fictional German prisoner of war camp during World War II. However, in this show, the prisoners of war used this camp as a base and ran their operations from it. Using this tactic they could work against the Nazis with all of the espionage they could gather and sabotage them. Colonel Hogan routinely ticked the camp commandant and manipulated him into actually helping out the POWs, therefore the humor in the program. The award winning show ran from 1965-1971.

      

McHale’s Navy ran aired from 1962 to 1966, in black and white. The location for this series was the Pacific theater of World War II and the crew of torpedo boat, PT-73. Originally a one hour drama called Seven against the Sea, Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale and his crew gained a series of their escapades. After the island they were stationed on, Taratupa, was heavily bombed by the Japanese, the base was destroyed. Only 18 men remained to take refuge on the island and go into hiding. They befriend the natives, and McHale must keep them under control. While still being watching and under attack, McHale faces these problems, among others.

           

JAG is a more recent drama, airing from 1995 to 2005. It is the only television show to be endorsed by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy. The U.S. Department of Defense actually thought the show to be a positive influence on the nation and gave producers access to military installations and equipment in order to film correctly. Many episodes feature scenes aboard real U.S. Navy ships. The show is a legal-action drama that depicts the real military life, along with the application of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and international law. It incorporates real military storylines, such as the events of September 11. 2001.

           

Army Wives is a very popular show that follows the lives of four army wives, their families, and their husband who is in the army. Based on the non-fiction book, Under the Sabers, the series shows the difficulties the people left behind go through when their husband is in the army. They face things such as deployments, adultery, rumors, a hostage situation, a pregnancy alone, a husband’s anger management issues developed in the war, and much more. Lifetime premiered the show in 2007, with the network’s largest premiere in 23 years. The fourth season has just been announced. 

This article was written by Eric Kandell, owner of LowVARates.com and proud supporter of ProtectOurTroops, which helps make home security a reality for as many military families as possible.

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Crime Rates in the United States Over the Past 5-10 Years

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Crime in the United States has fluctuated quite a bit throughout the years; the crime rate escalated throughout the 1980s, and reached its peak in 1993 and then began to decrease throughout the 1990s and 2000s.  In 1999, the United States had a crime index rate of 4,267 reported offenses per 100,000 population representing an 8 percent decrease since previous year.  In 2008, The United States violent and property crime rates were at the lowest levels recorded since1973.

There are many things that could have contributed to the falling crime rates, but it is impossible to know the exact cause. Some of the things that may have contributed are police strategies, current programs for offenders in prison and efforts to assist offenders when they are released, and incarceration for major crimes.

Recent statistics show that the crime rate could be starting to increase again.  The year 2005 was overall the safest year that the U.S. has had in the last thirty years. The recent overall decrease in crime has reflected all major types of crime, with both violent and property crimes decreasing, the U.S. has reached an all-time low.  The homicide rate alone has decreased over 42% since its last record high point in 1991 and was continually decreasing until the year 2005, where it has since remained level.

On the other hand, property and violent crimes overall have continued to decrease.  They are not decreasing as much as they were throughout the 1990s, but unlike homicide rates they are still declining.  Overall, the crime rate in the U.S. was the same in 2004 as it was in 1969, with the homicide rate being about the same as in 1966.  Violent crime overall, however, is still at about the same level as in 1974, even though it has greatly decreased since 1991.

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