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Calling all baseball fans, and especially Nationals fans!

The USO is giving away tickets to active duty servicemembers for this Saturday and Sunday’s Nats games! Think of it as a “Thank you!” for your service to your country in honor of the July 4th weekend.

MOAA is helping the USO distribute these tickets- so  if you’re in the area and are an active duty servicemember you should stop by and say hello. And pick up some tickets while you’re here! We have 20 for each day to give away!

Please send an email to brets@moaa.org to arrange a pick up day and time starting tomorrow, and let him know how many tickets you need!

WASHINGTON (AFRNS) — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced June 29 that the Department of Veterans Affairs is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased’s status as a veteran.

“For veterans not buried in a national or state veterans cemetery, or those without a government grave marker, VA is pleased to offer this option that highlights their service and sacrifices for our country,” said Secretary Shinseki.

The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Under federal law, eligible veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state veterans cemetery will receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery.

The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word “Veteran” at the top and the branch of service at the bottom.

Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.

More information about VA-furnished headstones, markers and medallions can be found at www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmtype.asp.

VA is currently developing an application form for ordering the medallion. Until it is available, applicants may use the form for ordering government headstones and markers, VA Form 40-1330. Instructions on how to apply for a medallion are found on the VA website at www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp.

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or grave marker.

The new medallions will be available only to veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.

VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico, and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict — from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA website on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. (Courtesy of VA News)

With Independence Day right around the corner, we thought this might be a welcome reprieve from the normal July 4th picnic music!

North Carolina native Jamie Tate originally wrote “I’ll Give My All” simply to show her support for our troops, but the song has since taken on a much bigger role. In fact, “I’ll Give My All” was chosen to become part of a national campaign to deliver one million free downloads of Jamie’s patriotic anthem to our troops stationed around the world. Every download will result in a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, the USO of North Carolina and the Military Family Lifestyle Charitable Foundation.

And, Jamie had some very special guests helping her record this special anthem – the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus. Once the world-renowned group from Fort Bragg heard her song, they offered to lend their services. The result is a stirring tribute to the sacrifice our men and women have made, and continue to make, every single day.

Check it out! And if you dig it, each purchase goes to a good cause!

Indianapolis, June 23, 2010 — The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will stop all current U.S. Savings Bond allotments processed for military personnel, military retirees and federal civilian employees effective July 31, 2010. This comes following the U.S. Treasury’s decision to convert to electronic transactions via TreasuryDirect.gov.

DFAS customers wishing to start or to continue purchasing bonds through payroll deduction will be required to establish an online account with TreasuryDirect. Once they have an account in TreasuryDirect, they can establish a new allotment using the TreasuryDirect account number through their normal pay system.

For individuals without computer access or who desire paper U.S. Savings Bonds, paper bonds will continue to be available and may be purchased at participating financial institutions. Check with your financial institution to see if they offer paper Savings Bonds.

According to a press release from the Treasury Department, the move to require electronic purchases of bonds is part of a larger initiative to increase customer service, security and reliability and, at the same time, reduce the costs associated with printing paper documents. The department estimates the overall push to electronic transactions will save approximately $400 million and 12 million pounds of paper in the first five years.

Information on purchasing Treasury securities is available at the DFAS website.

Be a part of the Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, September 13 – 15, 2010. The conference will once again be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, in National Harbor, just across the river from historic Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC.

AFA is bringing together Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia and current event specialists, from around the world to discuss the issues and challenges facing America and the aerospace community today.

Registration is now available online at www.afa.org.

Three days of addresses, forums and workshops on relevant topics:

• Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen
• Four Star Forum hosted by CSAF Gen Norton Schwartz
• Pulitzer-prize winning writer/commentator Charles Krauthammer
• See the full agenda online.

Meet best selling authors at one of our multiple book signings:

• Neil Sheehan
• Dale Brown
• Warren Kozak
• Richard Reeves
• See the full list of authors online.

Register online for the 2010 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition.

WASHINGTON, DC – Xenophon’s Jason Killian Meath won the 2010 Military Channel Award at the GI Film Festival for his 2009 feature documentary “The Surge: The Untold Story,” which tells the story of the military surge in Iraq in 2007 and 2008.

“I am grateful that ‘The Surge’ was recognized by the GI Film Festival,” said Meath, who directed and co-wrote the film. “This documentary moves beyond Washington politics to tell the ground truth of a failing mission transformed into one of the most successful military operations in a generation of war fighting.”

“The Surge: The Untold Story” is the only documentary of its kind that offers a historical account of U.S. military operations in Iraq during the troop surges in 2007 and 2008. It is told through the eyes of top U.S. military commanders and includes never-before-seen interviews with military leaders such as General David Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The GI Film Festival is the nation’s first film festival to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the American Armed Forces through film. Of the 175 films submitted for this year’s festival, Meath’s film was among 35 that were chosen for screening during the event. It was introduced by General Jack Keane (U.S. Army, Ret.) and followed by a question-and-answer session between Meath and the audience.

“While I’m incredibly proud of ‘The Surge’ and the accolades it has received, the most important thing to remember about this movie is that it honors those in the American Armed Forces who serve and risk their lives for our country,” Meath said.

The documentary was produced by the Institute for the Study of War and funded by former Ambassador Marilyn Ware. It also won the Special Jury Award at the 2010 Worldfest – Houston International Film Festival.

Meath is an experienced advertising and political consultant with nearly two decades of senior level advertising and advocacy work. He recently joined Xenophon Strategies as the president of its new Advertising & Advocacy Practice, which will provide clients with strategic messaging and creative services for online, television, print, and radio advertising campaigns.

We received this video via @VetsPrevail on Twitter. They are a group dedicated to reducing the effects of TBI and PTSD, and cutting down on the number of veterans who commit suicide.

A very worthy cause, to be sure. But in case you weren’t aware of the desperate need for organizations like theirs, watch the video. The numbers are truly heartbreaking.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) announced that, for the third year in a row, it will reward Discover cardmembers with Double Cashback Bonus® or Double Miles when they make purchases at U.S. military bases from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Double rewards will be given automatically on up to $1,000 in Discover® card purchases at bases worldwide.

The program will include military installations in the United States and overseas, and includes purchases made at commissaries, exchanges, shopettes/convenience stores, exchange catalogs, exchange online stores and exchange gas/service stations on-base.  Cardmembers can learn more at Discover.com/military.

Cardmembers also have the ongoing option to donate their Cashback Bonus to Operation Homefront, which is a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, their families and to wounded warriors when they return home. The organization leads more than 4,000 volunteers in 30 chapters serving 37 states nationwide.

Discover card’s consumer credit cards are founded on a commitment to helping cardmembers earn more meaningful rewards while giving them more choices and allowing them to spend smarter.

If you are a military nurse, The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, wants to know how you would complete this sentence:

“You’ll know you’re a military nurse when…”

STTI will publish a book filled with responses from nurses in all branches of the military service this fall. Simply visit www.militarynursebook.org and submit an answer in 500 words or less.

Terry, a nurse in Iraq, started her answer this way: “…when you show up for work one night at the collection of tents that make up the hospital, and the notion of nurse-to-patient ratios in the ICU seems like a vague memory.”

Joseph, also in Iraq, knew when he realized military nurses give wounded service members “the best care possible … not just because they are most deserving by fighting for their country, but also because they are absolutely the best patients to have: extremely grateful, respectful, and genuinely concerned about their buddies’ welfare and getting back to them.”

Share your story at www.militarynursebook.org, and share the link with other military nurses you know.

Like many of us, Dave Haglund knows a thing or two about having loved ones overseas serving our country. The Kitchen Tune-Up founder and president has four older brothers who served in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. One of his brothers, Lyle, made a career out of the military, serving for 21 years until he retired. Now, at the age of 80, he resides in a nursing home. “I have great respect for the men and women who serve our country,” explained Haglund. “I understand what it is like to have a loved one gone, fighting for our freedom. I wanted to honor them, and especially honor Lyle, who served three tours overseas himself.”

To thank veterans for all of their sacrifices they and their families have made, Haglund and Kitchen Tune-Up are offering 10 free franchises to honorably discharged veterans. This includes the franchise fee, exclusive territory, training and the start-up package. This program starts now and will run until all 10 franchises are awarded.

The Kitchen Tune-Up franchise has had a lot of success with working with Veterans in the past. Over 22 veterans currently work throughout the many Kitchen Tune-Up franchise locations and at the Home Office. “As a business owner and associate, I feel we need to do our part in showing appreciation,” said Haglund. “We have had many military veterans involved in our franchises that have been successful. Their service background has given them the leadership skills, work ethic, and dedication to teamwork that is necessary in running a successful Kitchen Tune-Up business.”

The military community has already showered the Kitchen Tune-Up office with e-mails and calls to thank us for our initiative. “We feel grateful that our company’s success has allowed to us to offer this program,” said Haglund.

Kitchen Tune-Up’s Veterans Program is offering one free franchise in the following territories: Savannah, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Tallahassee, Florida; Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and San Antonio, TX.

If interested, applicants should contact Craig Green by phone at 800.333.6385 or email at craig@kitchentuneup.com

About Kitchen Tune-Up– Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. They offer wood reconditioning “Tune-Ups”, cabinet refacing and redooring, closet organization, custom cabinetry and acrylic bathtub liners. Kitchen Tune-Up has been ranked Entrepreneur Magazine’s #1 home remodeling franchise for 20 years and has more than 200 franchises in the United States and Canada. Learn more about other franchise territories that are available nationwide and in Canada at kitchentuneup.com or ktufranchise.com