PHOTO: Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez joined the Army as a way to get out of his hometown and fight the possibility of becoming a “statistic.” U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Nagle JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.– Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs sergeant major, is one of the more than 158,000 Hispanic Americans serving in the military today. Reflecting on National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15, he recalled what joining the Army meant to him and how it changed his life.- Details
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PHOTO: Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez joined the Army as a way to get out of his hometown and fight the possibility of becoming a “statistic.” U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Nagle JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.– Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs sergeant major, is one of the more than 158,000 Hispanic Americans serving in the military today. Reflecting on National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15, he recalled what joining the Army meant to him and how it changed his life.Velazquez said he grew up in the lawless Essex Street Projects of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with his mother, who had moved from Puerto Rico to the United States. “My mother worked in factories to help provide and raise me,” he said. “Her hopes for me were to not become another statistic of the city, with working in a factory or ending up dead on a street corner.” After graduating from high school, Velazquez said, he tried his hand at community college, but fell short. “At the time, I was [still] struggling to not be a statistic, but in many ways I already was,” he explained. “By 1990, I had already failed out of college and had been hired by a clothing factory, working in what was known as the ‘sweat shop.’” Velazquez said he knew this was not the life he wanted to live, but was not sure about how to survive otherwise. ‘I knew I couldn’t stay there’ “I still remember like it was yesterday,” he said. “What I remember the most is the blank stares of the good, decent men and women who worked there. It felt like their hopes and dreams had died amongst those mill walls. I knew I couldn’t stay there. I knew I had to find a way out.”
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July 24, 2014: Awesome job Scouts! Good job Americans! We just shipped eight pallets of chocolate coated pre-popped popcorn to the Warrior Transition Units located in Texas!
I can't tell you how excited we are! As soon as I know when it will be here I'm planning a movie night for all the Soldiers, Staff and their Families! ~~ Shelly ----, WTU coordinator
WTUs are located at major military treatment facilities and provide support to wounded, ill and injured soldiers who require at least six months of rehabilitative care and complex medical management.
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July 3, 2014 - Freedom is a fleeting and fragile way of life. It has rarely existed. It can be taken from without. It can be lost from within. The military protects against the former. The people protect against the latter. On the Fourth of July I think of those pivotal decisions made by our great military leaders and servicemembers. Where would we be today had George Washington not determined to cross the Potomac? What if the garrison had elected not to stand out the British bombardment at Fort McHenry? Where might we be had Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe not simply replied "nuts!"My uncle is buried in Luxembourg from that battle. My young cousin served in Afghanistan. My relatives have been in the Marines, the Air Force and the Army. And friends are at the tip of the spear in Afghanistan. Of late I ponder to what extent we are worthy or their sacrifice. Teachers, lawyers, reporters, and politicians help administer and organize our freedom. But only after it has been gained and protected for us by our soldiers. Without them most all else would be moot. Another different system would overtake and hand us its rules to obey. And I suspect they would not be as personally enjoyable and healthful as those we write for ourselves. The world is full of bullies, desirous of structuring other peoples' lives, and removing thinkers and writers who oppose them. That is not the American way. We are the chief agents of freedom in the world. Absent the counterweight of America's force, the weight of the dark forces would gradually push outward to more of the planet, diminishing our safety.
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Support Our Troops® just recently delivered twenty pallets for flavored pre-popped popcorn to Alabama's military community. All donated by individual Americans.
A tasty thank-you and showing of goodwill from Americans to their military servicemembers.
Each case is labeled with a thank-you sticker to make sure the troops know how grateful we all are to them. What a fun way to show them how much we think of them! What a tremendous gesture of good will.
This donation came through SOT's Operation Popcorn® by Ramsey Popcorn which operates the annual Campmasters Gourmet Popcorn sale for the Boy Scouts of America.
Good job all! Good job Scouts!
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June 23, 2014: The military community asked and you provided! Thanks to you Support Our Troops.Org has provided a new $2,600 HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M750dn duplexing bond high volume color printer to the Camp Blanding Family Center!
Can printers really be exciting?  This one can!
It's the smallest things that make the biggest difference! Of the eight Family Centers across the state of Florida the Camp Blanding Family Center has the highest amount of walk-in traffic. Civilians can't use government printers for personal use and government centralized printing doesn't allow for ease of color printing for resource information. Imagine how many families will benefit from this little gesture you made possible! Now simple tasks such as creating brochures, flyers, printing billing statements, and resource documents are no longer a challenge.
When you think of donating, don't hesitate. Every dollar makes a difference and enables SOT provide the items most requested by our military population. The donation of this printer through SOT is made possible from many donations put together for one greater purpose.
On behalf of the troops and their families, thank you for making this possible!
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May 22, 1014 - NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and SOT's Martin Boire teamed up at Danica's house the morning of May 22, 2014 for a two hour satellite media tour launching the 2014 Goodyear Gives-Back Campaign to raise money for Support Our Troops.
They did Q&As with many TV and radio stations about the campaign which helps everyone give back to those who give so much for all of us.
From now until July 31st, you can join forces with Goodyear and give back to Support Our Troops®.
Over the past four years with your help, the Goodyear Gives Back program has contributed over $800,000 in cash and product to help the U.S. military and their families through Support Our Troops®. This year Goodyear continues to add to that total. They are matching up to $50,000 of the funds raised from their charity auction, and they're making it easy for you to donate and say thank you to America's troops as well.
See how you can help by exploring the options at Goodyear Gives Back.
Good job Goodyear! Thank you Danica Patrick!