We're so honored to have worked with the thousands of National Guardmembers who have sacrificed so much for their country.  Thank you for your service, National Guard!

Here's a sample of the article:

From New York to California, Puerto Rico to Maine, Oregon to Missouri, National Guard Commands across the country participated in a comprehensive effort to collect photos, video interviews, newsletters, and more to fully document their significant transition from a strategic reserve force to a fully operational force in the last 10 years.

After more than a year of collection, organization, production, and publication, more than 130,000 Guardmembers were each presented with an interactive DVD-ROM within a 6 x 8 hardbound book to recognize their volunteer service to the country. 

Read more:

http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/05/07/remember-my-service-rms-productions-completes-largest-national-guard-historical-effort-da

New camo uniforms

The new camo uniforms are awesome -- they make the soldiers blend right into the boulders!  Here's the Brigade Tactical Assault Command with the 1/25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan:

Rangers Compete in Bataan Memorial Death March

On March 25, six Rangers from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment competed in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, New Mexico.  The Bataan Memorial Death March is a grueling 26.2 mile race through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, conducted in honor of the service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II.  

The story of Bataan reflects one of the worst defeats in American military history: a four-month fight for the tiny peninsula of Bataan in the Philippine Islands; the first major land battle for America in World War II. On April 9, 1942, the American forces surrendered to their Japanese captors, who set them (including almost 12,000 American Soldiers) walking 66 miles to prison camp, a notorious walk that came to be known as "The Bataan Death March."  Over the years, this race has become quite a tribute to the survivors of Bataan and is popular among military units.  The Rangers competed in the Military “Heavy” category, requiring them to race in the desert with 35-pound packs over mountainous terrain.  

In true Ranger fashion, the team finished in 2^nd place, with a total time of 5 hours and 49 minutes!  If you’ve ever run a marathon (without a pack through the sand), you would appreciate how fast this is.  For more about the race, go to www.bataanmarch.com.

Above are pre- and post-race photos, courtesy of LTC Dave Hodne, commander of the 2nd Battalion.  From right to left in the Pre-Race photo are:

SPC Fernando Hernandez (C Co)

SPC Jacob Dahl (B Co)

CPT Ryan Tackett (HHC)

SFC Shaun Curry (HHC)

CPT Jacob Phillips (HHC)

SGT Charles Martinez (A Co) 

The Rangers accomplished this incredible result in the high desert after training in the “ideal” March conditions in the Pacific Northwest (sleet and rain), and while wrapping up a recent training exercise the Friday prior to the event.  These Rangers can accomplish anything! We are so proud of you!

Gold Star Miss Americas

I am chagrined to say that I didn’t think Hollywood cared at all about our troops and their families. I know -- it’s a stereotypical judgment.  I thought these big-time producers and stars, for the most part, were largely disconnected and often critical of anyone associated with our nation’s defense.  Well…I am incredibly encouraged by what I saw in Las Vegas last weekend.

Take a look at this photo:

This little girl’s daddy, Staff Sgt. Daniel Wagoner, was KIA on September 14, 2007, in Iraq when the little girl, Diana, was just 3 years old. Her mother left the scene soon after, leaving Diana in the care of her grandma, Daniel’s mom, Diane (far right in the picture). Well, Diana and Diane were two of the Gold Star Miss Americas in attendance at last week’s television broadcast. One of the judges, Mike Fleiss, producer of the hugely popular “The Bachelor” series (the guy in the photo), heard about this VIP group and immediately contacted us in December to make a generous donation for any of these families needing a better Christmas. It caught them by total surprise, and you can see how Diana felt when she got to meet Mike. 

The host of “The Bachelor,” Chris Harrison, was the MC for the Miss America broadcast, and he too went all out to welcome our VIPs to Miss America during rehearsals. This heartfelt support was evidenced throughout the week, and the most common sentiment I heard—from stars, contestants, producers, executives—was how humbled they felt to be around our Gold Star Miss Americas. That’s exactly right.


It's a tremendous and humbling honor to spend time with our Gold Star families.  I simply don't feel worthy.  For some, it had been a year since they received the tragic news, and others, more like four or five years.  This is an exclusive "club" that no one wants to join, and I felt intrusive as they started comparing notes on their visits to Arlington, and what their children leave at their Daddy's gravesite.  Their homes are truly "the home of the brave."  A great big salute to our Gold Star Miss Americas 2012!


If you would like to nominate moms, wives, or daughters for next year, please email me directly at shawkes@remembermyservice.com.  Thank you!