Now what? A picture of a Navy football player? What site was this again? But...if you look a little closer at #74's jersey, particularly his left shoulder...you'll notice that he's wearing, like all service academy football players, a patch, which the players wear to honor military units. Here's the patch close up: My son Ben graduated from the Naval Academy in May 2008. This photo is from his last regular season game in December 2007, at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore. During his USNA years...read more

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Taken more recently, somewhere "Over There." Not as many troopers, obviously, as the photo I posted several days ago. But the sentiment...and the dedication to duty, are the same. Here's to us and those like us...Godspeed to all those in harm's way and to those who "keep 'em flying." A salute to all Veterans on this special day!

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With the approach of the 91st anniversary of the Armistice ending the First World War, a date which has evolved into what we now mark as Veterans' Day, I thought I'd post an interesting photo that was recently sent to me. The noted American photographers Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas took a series of "living photographs" during the war which were used to help drum up support for the war effort. This particular shot was taken in the summer of 1918, at Camp Dodge, Iowa...read more

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We're almost two weeks into our Fall tour and the concerts have all been wonderful, with enthusiastic audiences at every stop. In addition to our evening shows our chamber groups have been hard at work performing in schools and colleges along the way. The Soldiers' Chorus recently did a recital at Flower Mound High School in the metro Dallas area, to an audience of about sixty young singers. Speaking of young singers, I had the good fortune to share a smile with a young person after one of our...read more

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Seventeen members of The Musical Ambassadors of the Army ran in the 25th annual Army Ten Miler in Washington, DC on October 4. It was a gorgeous Sunday morning as 30,000 runners from all over the world participated in what has come to be the world's second largest 10 mile race. Hooah! spirit was in abundance as Soldiers from units worldwide sent teams to compete in the official team events, and scores of more "informal" teams (like ours), from Army units far and wide, showed up to enjoy the...read more

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Many of you who read these posts serve, or have served, with Samoan Soldiers, whose families have been affected in many ways by the awful events of the last 24 hours. News accounts of the tsunami have found their way onto all of the major national and worldwide news outlets. I would also recommend http://www.samoanews.com, the local paper, which has pretty up to date info on water and electricity-related issues, and many updated photos. I won't bother with posting a photo as there...read more

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     We're finishing up a short tour through NJ, NY and PA. The audiences have been wonderful, as always. Tonight we performed at the Saratoga Perfoming Arts Center to a crowd of over three thousand, bundled up and somewhat chilly in the fall evening air of upstate New York, but warm and friendly in their response and reception. I'm always encouraged by the genuine love and support for America's Army that exists out in the Heartland. It's nice to get beyond the Beltway Moat to see the "real...read more

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I had the privilege of traveling to Georgia this past weekend to witness the final parachute jump and graduation ceremony of Class 40-09, Basic Airborne Course at Ft Benning. 442 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines received their jump wings at the end of a long day in which all of them made their final jumps at Fryar Drop Zone in front of bleachers full of families, friends and fellow Soldiers. Among the newest paratroopers was my son Michael. Mike is a junior at Towson University in...read more

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