There are many ways to thank those who make personal sacrifices and put their lives on the line so the rest of us can enjoy liberty and freedom. For the deployed soldier who must endure difficult living conditions, long periods away from home, and threats from hostile enemies, even a small thing like a letter or package from someone who expresses appreciation for what they are doing can mean a great deal. That’s what makes Operation Gratitude so important for the morale of American service men…
Like so many of us, Carolyn Blashek was deeply moved by the tragedy of September 11thand was determined to do something. What makes Carolyn so special is that she actually tried to enlist in the military, an act considered quite brave on its own merits but even greater in Carolyn’s case since it meant leaving behind a son and daughter not even in high school. Although at 46 she was above the age limit set for active duty, Carolyn was not deterred, and instead volunteered at the Los Angeles airport…
Artful Vision thanks everyone who entered the “Thanks Mom” tribute contest. There were four winners – the grand prize goes to Debra Cox; the three honorable mentions go to Juliana Palmcook, Evelyn Markasky, and Linda Landowski. Their entries are listed below. Grand Prize Winner Debra Cox I found out just how special my mother was early on in my life. She had five children in the 1950’s when times were tough. My dad held a job in the steel mill and my mom worked full time in the grocery…
Ask a writer what it takes to be successful and you’ll probably get as many different answers as the number of people you ask. Most will probably tell you that perseverance, believing in yourself, being true to the written word, and writing about what inspires you are four fundamental traits a person must possess in order to become an accomplished writer. For author Pamela Bauer Mueller, all these were certainly true. Pamela’s writing career began when she wrote a trilogy of stories centered…
Everyone has been feeling the pinch in this difficult economy, including the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center, a 100-acre sanctuary located along the north Branch of the Rouge River in Troy, Michigan. When budget cuts forced the City of Troy Michigan to cut funding for maintenance of the trails and main building in May 2011, one of the local citizens decided that this nature preserve was too important to lose, and so John Ragan turned what should have been a quiet retirement into a quest to raise money…
