The Gratitude Campaign

Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how or it felt awkward?

Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a movement to get the word out.

Take just a moment to watch.... The Gratitude Campaign; ....and then forward it to your friends!

THEN START USING THE SIGN.

Go to: http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/

Shades of Green

Shades of Green® on WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort... is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located in Central Florida. The newly expanded Shades of Green is one of two AFRC's located in the continental U.S. The Shades of Green Resort is a true resort destination; offering the perfect mix of exceptional resort accommodations and friendly hospitality.

Shades of Green opened 1 February 1994 as the only AFRC in the continental U.S. The brainchild of forward thinking supporters of the Armed Forces, Shades of Green has blossomed into the finest R&R option for our servicemembers and their families serving this great nation. Visit the link to find out more about Shades of Green.

www.shadesofgreen.org

'Stepping Out' for our Military Families...

Thank you to the following companies for their generous corporate support:

Soldier Needs Prayers!!!

One of our soldiers is in the process of completing basic training in the army. During a field exercise yesterday, a stick of dynamite was thrown and missed him, by only 5 feet. He was blown in the air and landed 15 feet away. His right arm has major nerve damage and he can't move his fingers. They will either do surgery at Fort Polk if they can get the right doctor or medivac him to another city. Please pray for complete healing without infection or complications and that he will trust God through all this (he has his heart set on serving his country and this may change things a bit). Also pray that he can be a witness to the one who threw the dynamite and to those with whom he comes in contact.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

We want to share with you a couple of emails we have received from relatives/parents of soldiers we sent care packages/cards to. You made a difference in someone's life! Thank you for taking the time to serve others through Operation Soilder Support.

I got an email from my son in Germany. He got his packages on Friday August 1, was very surprised & enjoyed all the goodies. Told me to pass on a great big thank you, & God Bless all for the gift boxes, it made him feel real special. Hope to help do this again next time.....In His Love ...


Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Operation Soldier Support,

We recently received your shipment of care packages here in Iraq, and I just wanted to say a quick thank you! Your support of our Soldiers and mission are greatly appreciated.

I serve as the Battalion Chaplain for the 530th Military Police Battalion from right there in Omaha. I received your packages and have distributed them to our troops. It's always a joy to see their reactions when I come walking in with my hands full of boxes. It's like Christmas! They always enjoy a treat from home.

Please remember us in your prayers. We've recently passed our half-way point in the deployment, and so the days are getting tiring and long. We're also well into the Summer heat and after so long, it really begins to take its toll on us. We have been safe and sound thus far, and I would like to keep it that way, so keep the prayer coming!!

Thanks again, and God Bless.



"Just wanted to share this, and thank so many of you who have sent packages. It is so appreciated by we the parents, and especially those who recieve them---this is a very inspiring/powerful e-mail to see so many people caring so much!!!"


"I just wanted to let you know how your letter affected one soldier. He was telling us about his latest test (he didn't do so well) and said that shortly after he found out the results they were called out for formation. He was about in tears because he was so disappointed. It was mail call - and he got a letter from Operation Soldier Support. It was one of the cards everyone was signing and writing messages on. It had a bunch of messages of "I'm praying for you" "I'm thinking of you". He said it was just what he needed at that moment. God's timing is perfect!! Thank you for putting this all together so that we can bless our soldiers."

Yellow Ribbon Fund

The Yellow Ribbon Fund

The Yellow Ribbon Fund was created in early 2005 to assist our injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Their mission began when the father of an injured Marine introduced two of our volunteers to staff at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval and they told us what needs were not met by other donors.

In little over three years contributions made through the Yellow Ribbon Fund have provided the following for injured service members and their families: over 700 free rental cars spanning more than 35,000 days; over 9,000 free taxi rides; over 2,800 free hotel room nights; 38 families have used our five apartments for almost 3,000 nights; hundreds of free tickets to sporting games, concerts and plays, and hundreds of lunches, dinners, golf games, duck and goose hunts, fishing trips, and other activities.

Visit this site to see how you can make a difference in the life of an injured soldier!

http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/

Thank you...

We want to extend a huge thank you to each person who donated supplies for our recent Prayer, Praise & Packing party and to our Children's Ministry for creating heart warming, handmade cards! Fifty-five volunteers gathered in the Big Room & managed to assemble nearly 90 care packages in just over an hour! The Post Office picked up the packages the following morning & they are now on their way to our soldiers. Please continue to pray for the safety and spiritual & physical well being of all those who are defending our freedom!

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

Psalm 33:12

Join us this Thursday, July 24th, 2008 - 6:30 p.m. in the BIG Room

The Packing Party is fast approaching! There's still time for you to get involved. Donations are still being accepted. Look for the marked bins at the main and east entrances of Westside Church this Sunday, July 20th. If Sunday doesn't work for you, feel free to drop off donations this week or bring your items to the Packing Party on Thursday night!

Suggested Food Items:
Beef Jerky, Beef Snacks, Chicken and Tuna in pouches, Cereal Bars, Granola Bars, High Protein Bars, Cheese Spread, Chips in containers (no bags please) Condiments: sugar, salt, pepper, spices, Cookies, Crackers, Crystal Light, Gatorade powder mix, Dried Fruit, Instant Coffee, Instant Oatmeal, Instant Soups, Peanut Butter, Microwavable Popcorn & Brownie mixes, Nuts, Salad Dressing, Summer Sausage.

Suggested Toiletries:
Advil, Tylenol, Cold Medicine, Antacids, Antibiotic Cream, Baby Oil, Baby Powder, Baby Wipes, Chapstick, Contact Lens Cleaner, Dental floss, toothbrushes and paste, Face Soap, Foot Powder, Lotion (no pump tops please), Body Wash, Bars of Soap, Cotton Balls, Q-Tips, Deodorant, Eye Drops, Insect Repellent Wipes, Air Freshener, Pepto-Bismol, Shampoo, Conditioner, Sunscreen, Dark Colored Towels, Feminine Hygiene Products, Razors, Shaving Cream.

Suggested Fun Time Items:
New Bandannas, New T-Shirts, New Hats, New Socks (white & black), Board Games (small sized), Playing cards, Disposable cameras, Hand Held Electronic Games, Stationary, Greeting Cards, Envelopes (No Stamps), Music CD's, Batteries, Frisbees, Nerf Balls, Yo-Yo's, New Magazines, New Books (with appropriate subject matter), Crossword Puzzles, Movies on DVD (Rated G, PG, or PG-13), Phone Cards, Husker Items, small toys (for soldiers to give to local children).

All items must be pre-packaged and unopened. Please no aerosol items, no glass, no pumps.

Join us as we Bless Deployed Members of the Military

You're Invited to a Packing Party!

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

6:30-9:00p.m.

In the Big Room

Westside Church

Prayer, Praise & Packages

Everyone is invited to join us for an evening of prayer, praise & packaging of boxes filled with items that will bless those that are serving our country. Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 24th, 2008, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Big Room at Westside Church. Do you enjoy praise music? Come help us assemble care packages while we listen to members of Westside's Choir, One Voice, sing. We need your helping hands. All ages are welcome.

Invite a friend and join us.

We hope to see you there!

YOU can get involved by donating supplies and donating time to assemble packages at the Packing Party! Stop by the Information Table in the Main Foyer of Westside Church on Sunday to pick up a suggested shopping list.

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and Whereas in the intervening years, the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; and

Whereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351) , that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; and

Whereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America , do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 , as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose.

Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of October in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Everyday is Veteran's Day

Posted with permission from Andrea Brett (Click for larger image)

This is an awesome poem was written as a tribute to all who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. The writer, Andrea Brett, performs with her family in Branson, Missouri. Visit them at http://www.brettfamily.com/.

Pray, Pray, Pray!

Just start praying! Let the Holy Spirit fill your heart. When you pray for our troops, don’t be surprised at what the Holy Spirit leads you to say. You never know where He’ll take your intercessions. Prayer will always be the most powerful tool we have.


-Pray for our country and leaders.
-Pray for those in military service.
-Pray for the family members of those who are serving.
-Pray for accuracy in the media coverage of world events.
-Pray that God will touch the hearts of those who hate and lead them to the source of all love, Jesus Christ.

Daddy's Home!

September 11, 2001

Step Out

We had an awesome day focused on blessing military families with a carnival as our part in "Step Out". A big THANK YOU to all who were involved in helping make this mission a success!!!

A picture is worth a thousand words. So, here are a few:







To see additional photos from the carnival, please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/westsidestepout/MilitaryAppreciationCarnival

Step Out and Serve

ARE YOU READY?

JOIN US AS WE...

STEP OUT AND SERVE

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

A SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS

Heartland Festival Military Appreciation Luncheon

When:

Wednesday, July 11 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where:

Bellevue Christian Center, 1400 Harvell Drive, Bellevue

This event will honor the men and women who are currently serving the United States of America, as well as those who have previously served in the U.S. military. The theme is “You Served Us; Now Let Us Serve You.” Our special guest will be the Honorable John H. Dalton, former Secretary of the Navy (July 22, 1993 – November 16, 1998). Free seating is open to active duty, guard/reserve, military contractors, veterans and retired military or individuals representing deceased military members.

Visit http://heartlandfestival.com/events/military_luncheon/ for more details and registration.

Opportunity to SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Adopt Our Troops is part of the Presidential Prayer Team. It is an online site which will send you an eNewsletter twice monthly with new troops to pray for and inspirational stories about the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces. You can also place your military member (spouse, father or mother, son or daughter, or friend) up for adoption in prayer on this site. Post updates and prayer requests at anytime on their behalf. This is another powerful way you can be involved in the support of the men and women in our military.

Flag Day - June 14th

Flag Day is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation.....one nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag has a proud and glorious history. It was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. As Americans, we have every right to be proud of our culture, our nation, and our flag. So raise the flag today and every day with pride!

Another Opportunity to Bless our Troops...Arbonne!

We are excited to inform you of another opportunity to bless members of the military and their wives!

ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL

Gift Baskets for Troops!

The consultants of Arbonne International have come together to create gift baskets for our Nations troops in Iraq. Arbonne is offering these select products at discounted prices up to 50% off, and is paying for shipping cost of all select baskets. Arbonne products are top quality, hypo-allergenic, all natural products that have amazing results. On behalf of our faithful men and women who serve, we want to give our best.

Therefore, each basket will include products such as:

Damage control SPF 30 Sunscreen (contains antioxidants)

Intelligence hand cream (great for dry cracked hands)

Intelligence foot cream (great for healing)

Diaper rash cream (quick healing for heat rash and chafing)

Other products we have considered are Protein shakes, and Energy chews (similar to salt water taffy).

If you would like to be a part of this opportunity, please contact Rebecca Crockett at

(402) 917-5259 or email her at rcrockett9@cox.net

Thank you for being a part and allowing us to support our troops in this way! You are valued and make a difference in the lives of others. To find out more about Arbonne itself and the products, you can access the web-site at your convenience at TiffanyRay@myarbonne.com

Prayer, Praise & Packages

We had a wonderful turnout as we prayed, praised and filled care packages. Nearly 60 adults and children enlisted in this operation. Almost 140 boxes were packed to be sent to over 30 military members in addition to the men and women in the Nebraska National Guard. We have already received letters thanking each and every one of you involved. These letters will soon be on the "Letters from Military Members" page. It was an awesome night spent glorifying God and blessing our troops. Thank you again to all who helped in any capacity to support our troops!!! To see more photos from this evening, click the photo above.

All gave some and some gave all

Fathers, Sons and Brothers

'60 Minutes' show on 133rd to air Sunday

WATERLOO -- CBS News' "60 Minutes" program will devote its entire hour Sunday to a report on the Waterloo-headquartered Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry. The report, called "Fathers, Sons and Brothers," will focus on the soldiers in the unit and their families throughout the course of their deployment to Iraq. Crews for the program followed soldiers and their families in Iraq and in Iowa.

It is rare for "60 Minutes" to devote its entire hour to one subject. The last time was when former President Bill Clinton released his autobiography, "My Life," in 2004, a spokesperson for the program said. Typically, the program airs three separate stories within the hour broadcast. The report is airing the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and begins at 6 p.m. Iowa time.

Some 600 soldiers of the 1/133rd were called to active duty in the fall of 2005 and have spent more than a year in Iraq, performing convoy security. They were due to return home in April, but their deployment was extended to August as a result of President Bush's troop-surge initiantve announced in January. Two soliders in the unit were killed in combat Sept. 30. Several others have been wounded by improvised explosive devices.

Update

If you missed this program, click the following link to view:

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/71/fathers_sons_and_brothers

Armed Forces Day - Saturday, May 19th

CELEBRATE ARMED FORCES DAY MAY 19

The Strategic Air & Space Museum honors members of America's Armed Forcesand their families on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19, 2007. The Museum is waiving admission fees not only for military families and reservists, but also for the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 19.

Several aircraft will be open from 10am -2pm for guests to Crawl-Thru or to look inside their cockpit. The aircrafts that are open will include the HU-16 "Albatross," B-57 "Intruder," C-47 "Skytrain," T-29 "Flying Classroom" and the C-119 "Flying Boxcar." Those who make a minimum donation of $5 to the Restoration & Preservation Fund can participate in the Crawl-Thru. Gifts will be used to help pay for the expense associated with the ongoing efforts to return the Museum's collection of historic aircraft to its original glory. Museum members may participate in the Crawl-Thru for no charge as a benefit of being a Museum member! Additional activities are scheduled for Armed Forces Day including displays and demonstrations from three groups of military re-enactors and a presentation by the Nebraska Air National Guard Phantom Inc. about the Museum's newly acquired RF-4C aircraft.

THE USO: HOPE FOR AMERICA EXHIBIT OPENS- MAY 26

The Museum welcomes the new exhibit, The USO: Hope for America, Saturday, May 26. The exhibit follows the history of the USO organization from its conception in 1941 when clubs provided lively places to dance and meet people, see movies, find religious counsel, or just a quiet place to talk and write letters- to the work they still do today providing overseas celebrity entertainment tours, centers equipped with e-mail and internet service and military family support programs.

View the history of the USO through photos, letters and videos that display the efforts of the USO and celebrate its long history of bringing the troops a "home away from home." The exhibit runs through August 26, 2007.

MEMBER'S ONLY PREVIEW OF THE USO: HOPE FOR AMERICA- MAY 26 at 8 a.m.

Members of the Strategic Air & Space Museum are invited to the special morning preview of the Museum's new exhibit, The USO: Hope For America, before it is open to the public at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May26. Breakfast will be provided.

Remember, the Strategic Air & Space Museum is open Memorial Day weekend!

Between visits to the Strategic Air & Space Museum, visit the Museum's
store online for unique gifts, for the whole family at
www.strategicairandspace.com.

Follow reports from Iraq written by Omaha meteoroligist Chuck McWilliams.

Ministering to Military Members in May

Boxed Blessings

Join the Boxed Blessings Team to benefit our uniformed service members. YOU can get involved by donating supplies, writing cards of encouragement & thanks and /or donating time to assemble packages or all three! You can pick up a shopping list from the Information Table in the Main Foyer of Westside Church on Sunday, May 6th and/or Sunday, May 13th.

Click here to view a detailed shopping list.

Adopt a Service Member

Adopt a Uniformed Service Member! Hang an information card on your fridge or in a visible place & commit to pray for them for the remainder of the year.

Prayer, Praise & Packages

Everyone is invited to join us for an evening of prayer, praise & packaging of the Boxed Blessings on Thursday, May 17th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Big Room at Westside Church. Do you enjoy praise music? Come help us assemble care packages while we listen to members of Westside's Choir, One Voice, sing. Invite a friend and join us!

We hope to see you at the

Packing Party!

Thursday, May 17th

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

In the Big Room

Baghdad Prayer Patrol

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Prayer is a very powerful way that we can all support our military men and women. Visit this site with ideas for your daily prayer. (http://www.prayercentral.net/baghdad/)

Happy New Year!

As we move into 2007, please remember to continue to pray for members of the military and their families. The second Thursday of the month is only a week away...we hope you will join us from 7:00 - 8:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, January 11th for a time of prayer, fellowship, and information on upcoming OSS ministry opportunities. If you have a specific prayer request and you won't be able to join us, send us an email.

SEND US YOUR PICTURES
OSS would like to honor you and your soldier(s) by placing your photographs on this site. Email up to three photographs and any information you would like included. Don't hesitate to send photos of yourself...we believe family members are home front heroes!
Check out the Honored Heroes page.

We're looking forward to seeing you Thursday.

This, my friends, is what we need to remember!

Banners honor fallen Nebraskans

Banners honoring Nebraskans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan hang on light poles in Heartland of America Park in Omaha through November 22.

Read full story here: http://the-commissary.blogspot.com/2006/11/banners-salute-fallen-nebraskans.html