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Soldier Salute: Saluting Men And Women In Uniform Sponsored By McRee Ford
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anthonyaguiree
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brittanyburnside
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oscarochoa
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T.%20Erasmo%20Valles%20-%201st%20Lt%2C%20United%20States%20Marine%20CorpOn%20March%2031%2C%202004%20Erasmo%26%238217%3Bs%20HUMVEE%20hit%20an%20anti-tank%20mine%20which%20caused%20him%20to%20obtain%20life%20threatening%20injuries%20and%20the%20loss%20of%20his%20left%20leg.%20After%2022%20years%2C%20he%26%238217%3Bs%20left%20the%20marine%20corp%20to%20start%20graduate%20school%20in%20the%20field%20of%20Justice%20Policy.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20BABA%20%26%238211%3B%20Operation%20Finally%20Home%29
David%20Worswick%20-%20SSgt%2C%20Marine%20Corps%20%28ret%29David%20was%20on%20a%20mission%20in%20Assadbad%2C%20Afghanistan%20to%20confront%20insurgents%20that%20have%20attacked%20his%20post.%20While%20in%20route%2C%20David%26%238217%3Bs%20convoy%20was%20ambushed%20and%20his%20vehicle%20was%20hit%20by%20a%20road%20side%20bomb.%20The%20impact%20left%20David%20seriously%20injured%20and%20he%20still%20managed%20to%20assist%20one%20of%20his%20fellow%20marines%20to%20stay%20alive%20during%20combat.%20David%20was%20medically%20retired%20with%20numerous%20spinal%20injuries%20and%20PTSD.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20BABA%20%26%238211%3B%20Operation%20Finally%20Home%29
Jorge%20DeLeon%20-%20Sergeant%2C%20United%20States%20ArmyJorge%20joined%20the%20Army%20in%202011%20after%20eight%20years%20on%20the%20police%20force%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.%20On%20his%204th%20deployment%20to%20Afghanistan%2C%20Jorge%20and%20his%20unit%20were%20on%20the%20way%20back%20to%20camp%2C%20their%20HUMVEE%20ran%20over%20an%20anti-tank%20mine.%20Having%20taken%20the%20full%20brunt%20of%20the%20mine%2C%20Jorge%20was%20the%20only%20one%20injured%20in%20the%20explosion.%20He%20lost%20his%20right%20leg%20immediately%20in%20the%20explosion%20and%20his%20left%20leg%20was%20severely%20injured.%20After%20his%20long%20recovery%2C%20he%20returned%20to%20law%20enforcement%20and%20worked%20for%20the%20Department%20Of%20Defense.%20Since%20his%20recovery%2C%20Jorge%20has%20raised%20awareness%20and%20inspired%20other%20wounded%20veterans%20to%20remain%20hopeful%2C%20even%20in%20times%20of%20extreme%20distress%20and%20isolation.%20Jorge%26%238217%3Bs%20story%20is%20one%20of%20perseverance%20that%20can%20be%20a%20model%20for%20those%20going%20through%20similar%20situations.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20BABA%20%26%238211%3B%20Operation%20Finally%20Home%29
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Lee%20Kendrick%20-%20Specialist%2C%20Army%20InfantryHe%20joined%20to%20be%20a%20part%20of%20a%20noble%20cause%20to%20protect%20his%20country%20and%20those%20he%20loved.%20He%20contracted%20a%20deadly%20parasite%20in%20his%20lungs%20and%20was%20life-flighted%20to%20Walter%20Reed%20Medical%20Center%20in%20April%20of%202010%20at%20the%20age%20of%2019.%20We%20almost%20lost%20him%2C%20but%20were%20fortunate%20that%20he%20survived.%20Now%20at%20the%20age%20of%20almost%2021%20he%20still%20believes%20what%20the%20Military%20stands%20for%20and%20we%20are%20all%20so%20proud%20of%20him.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Melissa%20Bennett%2C%20Mother%29%0A
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Adam%20Bozant%20-%20C5%2C%20US%20NAVYHe%20is%20a%20very%20proud%20sailor.%20Since%20he%20joined%20in%20September%20of%202006%20he%20has%20done%20all%20that%20has%20been%20required%20and%20then%20some.%20On%20his%20last%20deployment%20to%20Persian%20Gulf%20there%20was%20a%20problem%20with%20his%20sustem%20and%20the%20part%20was%20to%20be%20waiting%20in%20Bahrain%20needed%20to%20be%20fixed%20asap%20and%20while%20everyone%20else%20enjoyed%20a%20much%20deserved%20liberty%20he%20stayed%20on%20board%20his%20destroyer%20and%20found%20the%20problem%20fixed%20it%20and%20they%20where%20on%20schedule%20when%20it%20was%20time%20to%20leave.%20He%20is%20in%20fire%20control%20onboard%20the%20USS%20Benfold%20and%20our%20whole%20family%20is%20very%20proud%20of%20him.%20He%20was%20raised%20in%20Katy%2C%20Texas%2C%202003%20graduate%20of%20Katy%20High%20School.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Debbie%20Bozant%29
Joshua%20Hakemack%20-%20PFC%2C%20ArmyFrom%20Waller%20currently%20serving%20in%20Afghanistan..Picture%20taken%20on%20first%20day%20of%20R%26amp%3BR%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Erin%20Hakemack%29%0A
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Victoria%20Palin%20-%20PV2%20%28Private%29%2C%20U.S.ARMY%20%20By%20her%20junior%20year%20in%20high%20school%2C%20tori%20expressed%20her%20desire%20to%20serve%20her%20country.%20She%20immediately%20began%20researching%20her%20options%20with%20the%20different%20military%20services.%20In%20October%20of%202009%2C%20Tori%20committed%20to%20the%20U.S.%20ARMY%20through%20the%20Delayed%20Entry%20Program.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Mom%2C%20Dad%2C%20Jordan%2C%20Shawn%20and%20Josh%29
Tracy%20Dexter%20-%20Lieutenant%20Colonel%2C%201st%20Army%20Rank%20Still%20serving%20proudly%20after%2021%20years%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Melinda%20Dexter%29
Matthew%20Hubbard%20-%201st%20Lieutenant%20%3B%20Army%2C%2044th%20CBRN%20Company%2C%20Fort%20HoodNative%20Houstonian%3B%20Eagle%20Scout%3B%202005%20Graduate%20of%20Concordia%20Lutheran%20High%20School%20in%20Tomball%3B%202009%20graduate%20of%20Northeastern%20University%20in%20Boston%20%28with%20honors%29%3B%20Newlywed%20%28Sept%2018%29%3B%20Currently%20deployed%20with%20his%20unit%20in%20Kuwait.%20while%20his%20wife%20Rachel%20waits%20for%20him%20here%20in%20Houston%20%28she%20works%20at%20Stewart%20and%20Stevenson%29.%20Submitted%20by%3A%20Victoria%20Hubbard%20%28Matt%26%238217%3Bs%20Mom%29
Nick%20Burns%20-%20SPC%2C%20Army%20He%20is%20a%2012B%20Combat%20Engineer%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Nick%20Burns%29
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Stefan%20Eggermont%20-%20Corporal%2C%20Army%26%238220%3BThis%20is%20my%20husband%2C%20stefan%2C%20he%20is%20deployed%20in%20afghanistan%20right%20now%2C%20but%20I%20just%20wanted%20to%20say%20he%20is%20my%20hero%20and%20I%20love%20him%20and%20I%20am%20so%20proud%20of%20him%20and%20the%20things%20he%20has%20accomplished.%26%238221%3B%20%28Submitted%20by%20Alicia%20Eggermont%29
Blake%20Baskin%20-%20CPL%3B%20Army%26%238220%3BBlake%20quit%20school%20at%20age%2017%20asking%20to%20obtain%20his%20GED%20and%20join%20the%20army%20as%20his%20brother%20had%20a%20few%20months%20prior.%20Hesitation%20yet%20knew%20he%20would%20eventually%20I%20let%20him%20he%20KICKED%20BUTT%20on%20his%20GED%20then%20his%20Army%20test%20and%20did%20his%204%20yrs%20and%20reenlisted%20is%20presently%20in%20Kandahar%2C%20Afghanistan%20for%20the%20next%20year.%20Received%20Soldier%20of%20the%20month%20in%20his%20unit%20and%20movin%20up%20the%20chain%20FAST.%20CPL%20BASKIN%20your%20my%20hero%21%26%238221%3B%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Dawn%20Smith%20Zajicek%29
Brian%20Garland%20-%20Master%20Sergeant%3B%202D%20MLG%20FWD%2C%20HQSVC20%20years%20of%20dedication%20to%20the%20Corps%20and%20he%26%238217%3Bs%20still%20motivated%20to%20serve%21%20He%20is%20currently%20at%20Camp%20Leatherneck%20in%20Afghanistan%20and%20waiting%20to%20see%20his%20son%20who%20he%20hasn%26%238217%3Bt%20seen%20since%20he%20was%20two%20months%20old%20and%20he%20will%20be%209%20months%20in%20September%20what%20he%20returns.%20We%20love%20him%20and%20miss%20him%20very%20much%20and%20would%20thank%20all%20the%20service%20men%20and%20women%20overseas%20and%20pray%20for%20their%20safe%20return%21%20%28submitted%20by%3A%20His%20loving%20wife%20and%20Baby%20Nico%29%0A
Hayli%20Cingle%20-%20Specialist%3B%20ArmyHayli%20Jo%20Cingle%20is%20my%20awesome%2C%2022%20yr.%20old%20Daughter.%20She%20earned%20a%20Scholarship%20to%20University%20of%20Evansville%20College.%20She%20could%20have%20breezed%20right%20through%20with%20no%20worries.%20However%201%20week%20after%20entering%20college%2C%20she%20informed%20us%20that%20she%20had%20a%20calling%20to%20join%20our%20military%2C%20stemming%20from%20the%20events%20of%20Sept.%2011.%20She%20is%20a%204th%20year%20college%20Student%2C%20member%20of%202%20sororities%2C%20a%20Christian%2C%20and%20is%20Serving%20our%20Great%20Country.%20We%20are%20so%20very%20proud%20of%20this%20Soldier%2C%20Daughter%2C%20Student%2C%20Friend.%20We%20love%20you%20Hayli%20Jo%21%20%28submitted%20by%3A%20Traci%20Cingle%20in%20Henderson%2C%20KY%20%26%238211%3B%20she%20is%20listening%20to%20KILT%20via%20AOL%20radio%29
Blake%20Baskin%20-%20Army%3B%20CplCpl%20Baskin%20was%20born%20May%2012%2C%201989%20from%20that%20day%20forward%20he%20always%20worked%20hard%20to%20achieve%20what%20he%20was%20working%20towards.%20He%20crawled%20at%20a%20very%20early%20age%20walked%20at%20a%20even%20earlier%20age%20ran%20before%20I%20know%20what%20was%20happening%20and%20began%20school%20with%20the%20attitude%20one%20day%20he%20would%20be%20something%20amazing%20and%20do%20something%20special.%20He%20has%20always%20loved%20helping%20people.%20Once%20we%20were%20driving%20down%20a%20major%20road%20and%20there%20was%20a%20McDonalds%20and%20he%20asked%20if%20he%20could%20have%20two%20cheeseburgers.%20Even%20with%20us%20running%20late%20for%20our%20meeting%20I%20pulled%20into%20the%20drive-thru%20and%20got%20him%20his%20burgers.%20As%20we%20pulled%20out%20into%20the%20street%20we%20were%20caught%20by%20the%20red%20light%20I%20looked%20over%20before%20I%20knew%20it%20he%20had%20jumped%20out%20of%20the%20car%20and%20gave%20one%20of%20his%20cheese%20burgers%20to%20a%20homeless%20man%20standing%20in%20the%20median%20holding%20a%20sign%20asking%20for%20help%20he%20was%20a%20vet%20and%20injured%20unable%20to%20work.%20He%20was%20only%207%20at%20the%20time.%20Tears%20filled%20my%20eyes%20with%20such%20PRIDE%20that%20my%20son%20was%20so%20loving%20and%20caring%20for%20the%20unfortunate.%20Jumping%20ahead%20to%20High%20School%20he%20hated%20it%2C%20was%20always%20a%20struggle%20to%20get%20him%20up%20out%20of%20bed%20and%20to%20school%20%26%238211%3B%20a%20fight%20every%20day%20until%20he%20turned%2017.%20His%20brother%20had%20just%20graduated%20from%20High%20School%20and%20joined%20the%20United%20States%20Army%20as%20he%20was%20the%20Grandson%20of%20a%20Retired%20Lieutenant%20Commander%20who%20served%2025%20yrs%20and%20traveled%20many%20places%20so%20the%20military%20was%20in%20his%20blood.%20On%20or%20around%20his%2017th%20birthday%20he%20came%20to%20me%20and%20in%20such%20an%20adult%20voice%20asked%20Mama%20I%20really%20would%20like%20to%20quit%20school%20obtain%20my%20GED%20and%20join%20the%20United%20States%20Army.%20Knowing%20how%20much%20I%20too%20hated%20school%20yet%20fought%20my%20way%20through%20to%20the%20end%20know%20it%20was%20not%20something%20that%20Cpl%20Baskin%20was%20going%20to%20do%20therefore%20I%20hesitantly%20agreed%20and%20signed%20away.%20One%20important%20part%20of%20this%20story%20is%20that%20Cpl%20Baskin%20grew%20up%20fast%20due%20to%20the%20many%20abusive%20relationships%20his%20mother%20had%20endured%20over%20the%20years%20and%20knew%20how%20NOT%20to%20treat%20the%20ones%20that%20you%20love.%20So%20with%20tears%20flowing%20down%20my%20face%20and%20a%20tight%20grip%20around%20his%20neck%20I%20gave%20him%20one%20last%20baby%20hug%20he%20was%20going%20to%20be%20coming%20home%20a%20MAN%20not%20just%20a%20MAN%20but%20a%20Soldier%20that%20wants%20to%20put%20his%20life%20on%20the%20line%20for%20his%20country%20and%20what%20he%20believes%20in.%20He%20helps%20his%20mother%20out%20every%20month%20and%20worries%20about%20her%20as%20much%20as%20he%20does%20keeping%20himself%20safe%20at%20war.%20You%20see%2C%20Cpl%20Baskins%20mother%20suffers%20from%20Severe%20Bipolar%2C%20Anorexia%2C%20Bulemia%2C%20PTSD%20from%20years%20and%20years%20of%20abuse%20mental%20physical%20and%20emotional.%20He%20has%20won%20a%20few%20awards%20and%20is%20currently%20deployed%20in%20Afghanistan%20on%20his%20second%20tour.%20He%20is%20planning%20a%20trip%20to%20Miami%20Florida%20during%20his%20tour%20break%20in%20August%20and%20is%20in%20fact%20paying%20the%20way%20for%20several%20of%20his%20fellow%20soldiers%20aka%20friends%20allowing%20them%20to%20be%20able%20to%20join%20in%20as%20they%20to%20have%20become%20a%20part%20of%20his%20family%20and%20Cpl%20Baskin%20will%20tell%20you%20FAMILY%20COMES%20BEFORE%20ANYTHING.%20So%20Cpl%20Baskin%2C%20Blake%20Andrew%20I%20want%20to%20say%20thank%20you%20for%20being%20the%20person%20you%20have%20become%20the%20MAN%20you%20are%20growing%20to%20be%20and%20the%20dedication%20to%20all%20you%20care%20about%20most%20importantly%20your%20family%20and%20close%20friends.%20So%20I%20Dawn%20Kimberly%20Smith%20Zajicek%20am%20PROUD%20to%20say%20I%20am%20the%20Mother%20of%20not%20one%20but%20two%20heros%20that%20served%20and%20still%20serving%20for%20our%20great%20country%20and%20what%20we%20believe%20in.%20Hooah.%20%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Dawn%20K%20Zajicek%29%0A
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Erik%20Moore%20-%20Army%3B%20Staff%20SeargentErik%20is%20a%202000%20graduate%20of%20Cy-Fair%20High%20School%20he%20joined%20the%20Army%20directly%20after%20high%20school.%20He%20is%20currently%20on%20his%203rd%20tour%20in%20Iraq.%20He%20has%203%20beautiful%20daughters%2C%20with%20one%20just%20being%206%20weeks%20old.%20He%20just%20left%20for%20his%203rd%20tour.%20His%20dad%20and%20I%20are%20so%20proud%20of%20him.%20God%20Bless%20America%20and%20all%20the%20men%20and%20women%20of%20the%20military%21%20%28submitted%20by%3A%20Tamara%20Moore%20%26%238211%3B%20Proud%20Army%20Mom%29%0A
Kristie%20Spielhagen%20-%20Army%3B%202nd%20LT.She%20is%20my%20daughter%2C%20and%20one%20i%20am%20so%20very%20proud%20of%20%28submitted%20by%3A%20Mom%29
Samuel%20Broughton%20-%20Army%3B%20SPCEnlisted%20in%20%26%238217%3B07.%20DId%20one%20tour%20in%20Iraq.%20On%20the%20way%20to%20Korea%2C%20now.%20Samuel%26%238217%3Bs%20MOS%20is%20a%2013%20mike.%20MLRS%20operator.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Sandra%20Broughton%20-Proud%20army%20mom%29
Shellbie%20Cody%20-%20Marines%3B%20PFCShe%20is%20an%20extraordinary%20girl%20who%20loves%20what%20she%26%238217%3Bs%20doing%20even%20though%20she%26%238217%3Bs%20just%20begun.%20She%20has%20a%20hard%20time%20being%20away%20from%20home%20but%20I%20think%20she%26%238217%3Bs%20doing%20okay.%20She%26%238217%3Bs%20my%20best%20friend%20and%20I%20miss%20her%20but%20im%20so%20proud%20of%20her%20for%20what%20she%26%238217%3Bs%20doing%20and%20i%20hope%20she%20keeps%20on%20keeping%20on%20%3A%29%20%28submitted%20by%3A%20KaSahra%20Hester%29
James%20%26amp%3B%20Tracy%20Tipton%20-%20Navy%20%26amp%3B%20Navy%20Veteran%3B%20E-5%20%26amp%3B%20E-4James%20is%20an%20AO2%20and%20has%20worked%20with%20many%20people.%20He%20builds%20bombs%20and%20loads%20them%20on%20air%20crafts.%20He%20was%20stationed%20in%20CA%20and%20is%20now%20in%20Tx%20as%20a%20recruiter.%20He%20is%20getting%20re-stationed%20to%20Virginia%20in%20dec%20with%20his%20wife%20%28Navy%20Veteran%29%20and%20three%20kids.%20Tracy%20Tipton%20is%20Prior%20Navy%20and%20was%20a%20BM3%20which%20made%20sure%20the%20ship%20was%20ready%20to%20go%20underway.%20She%20was%20stationed%20in%20Virginia%20and%20got%20out%20to%20take%20care%20of%20there%20kids.%20She%20is%20now%20a%20navy%20veteran%20and%20proud%20support%20of%20her%20husband%20AO2%20Tipton.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Judy%20Henderson%20Proud%20mother%20and%20mother%20in%20law%20of%20Tracy%20and%20James%20Tipton%29%0A
SFC%20Terry%20Rancher%20and%20SPC%20Shelby%20Rancher%3B%20ArmyI%20salute%20both%20my%20soldiers.%20My%20husband%2C%20SFC%20Terry%20Rancher%2C%20is%20currently%20preparing%20for%20retirement%20after%2020%20yrs%20active%20duty.%20My%20daughter%2C%20SPC%20Shelby%20Rancher%2C%20who%20is%20currently%20stationed%20at%20Ft%20Lewis%20Washington%20working%20as%20a%20Radiology%20Tech.%20As%20one%20is%20ending%20their%20career%20as%20an%20active%20duty%20soldier%20the%20other%20one%20is%20just%20beginning.%20I%20hope%20the%20Army%20brings%20my%20daughter%2C%20SPC%20Shelby%20Rancher%2C%20as%20much%20joy%20and%20adventure%20as%20it%20has%20brought%20her%20father%20and%20I.%20A%20Salute%20to%20them%20both%20from%20a%20proud%20Army%20Wife%20and%20a%20proud%20Army%20Mom.%20%28Submitted%20by%3A%20Vicki%20Rancher%29
Blake Baskin - Army; Cpl
Cpl Baskin was born May 12, 1989 from that day forward he always worked hard to achieve what he was working towards. He crawled at a very early age walked at a even earlier age ran before I know what was happening and began school with the attitude one day he would be something amazing and do something special. He has always loved helping people. Once we were driving down a major road and there was a McDonalds and he asked if he could have two cheeseburgers. Even with us running late for our meeting I pulled into the drive-thru and got him his burgers. As we pulled out into the street we were caught by the red light I looked over before I knew it he had jumped out of the car and gave one of his cheese burgers to a homeless man standing in the median holding a sign asking for help he was a vet and injured unable to work. He was only 7 at the time. Tears filled my eyes with such PRIDE that my son was so loving and caring for the unfortunate. Jumping ahead to High School he hated it, was always a struggle to get him up out of bed and to school – a fight every day until he turned 17. His brother had just graduated from High School and joined the United States Army as he was the Grandson of a Retired Lieutenant Commander who served 25 yrs and traveled many places so the military was in his blood. On or around his 17th birthday he came to me and in such an adult voice asked Mama I really would like to quit school obtain my GED and join the United States Army. Knowing how much I too hated school yet fought my way through to the end know it was not something that Cpl Baskin was going to do therefore I hesitantly agreed and signed away. One important part of this story is that Cpl Baskin grew up fast due to the many abusive relationships his mother had endured over the years and knew how NOT to treat the ones that you love. So with tears flowing down my face and a tight grip around his neck I gave him one last baby hug he was going to be coming home a MAN not just a MAN but a Soldier that wants to put his life on the line for his country and what he believes in. He helps his mother out every month and worries about her as much as he does keeping himself safe at war. You see, Cpl Baskins mother suffers from Severe Bipolar, Anorexia, Bulemia, PTSD from years and years of abuse mental physical and emotional. He has won a few awards and is currently deployed in Afghanistan on his second tour. He is planning a trip to Miami Florida during his tour break in August and is in fact paying the way for several of his fellow soldiers aka friends allowing them to be able to join in as they to have become a part of his family and Cpl Baskin will tell you FAMILY COMES BEFORE ANYTHING. So Cpl Baskin, Blake Andrew I want to say thank you for being the person you have become the MAN you are growing to be and the dedication to all you care about most importantly your family and close friends. So I Dawn Kimberly Smith Zajicek am PROUD to say I am the Mother of not one but two heros that served and still serving for our great country and what we believe in. Hooah. (Submitted by: Dawn K Zajicek)
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