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Because who doesn’t love pictures of patriotic pets?! Look at that hamster, or gerbil, or whatever it is!

It may be a dog eat dog world, but the latest Exchange contest is focusing on the cuddlier side of these furry, feathered and sometimes finicky companions. With the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s Patriot Family “Just Say Treat” contest, a pet picture and 50 words could be worth $300.

The Patriot Pet “Just Say Treat” photo/pet contest will launch May 1 online at www.shopmyexchange.com and the Exchange Facebook page. Shoppers need only to submit a photo of their pet (or pets) along with a 50-word or less description for a shot at a $300 Exchange gift card.

“Pets are a very important part of our lives,” said the Exchange’s Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “They provide many of us with companionship and friendship, so it’s only fair we take this opportunity to crow and bark about our pets.”

For more information and links to enter the Patriot Pet “Just Say Treat” contest, go to shopmyexchange.com/patriotfamily or visit the Exchange Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aafes.bx.px.

Gannett Government Media Corporation, through its military news publications — Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times – is proud to announce the 13th annual Military Times “Service Members of the Year” Award. Each publication will honor the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman who best embodies the finest qualities of the men and women serving in today’s U.S. military.

The award acknowledges exceptional service members who have demonstrated unusual or heretofore unrecognized honor, valor and dedication to fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and the community in 2012. Military Times will honor these “everyday heroes” of the U.S. military for their unselfish efforts, consistently going above and beyond the call of duty to lend a hand or inspiring and motivating others.

The Overall Winner of each branch receives the following:

• A week’s trip to Washington, DC for activities and a formal awards ceremony.
• All-expenses paid attendance for 2 (transportation to/from Washington, D.C.; lodging and meals; local transportation).
• Formal awards reception prior to the ceremony, and a sponsored after-party on Capitol Hill.
• Luncheon with Military Times editors and staff reporters.
• Tour of the publishing company and newspaper printing plant.
• Professional photographs and video of the awards ceremony.
• A feature in the Military Times newspapers and on the Military Times Service Members of the Year Web site.

Nominations are now open at www.militarytimes.com/smoy. The deadline for nominations is extended to May 12, 2013.

Nominations must include:

• Nominator’s name, address, commercial phone number & e-mail address.
• Nominee’s name, address, commercial phone number & e-mail address.
• Nominee’s current unit commander’s name, email address & commercial phone number.
• In 300 words or so, please describe why nominee deserves this award for their actions in 2012. Nothing fancy. Just make it legible.
• Names and contact information of 3 people who can verify the nominee’s achievements.
• Nominees must be Active Duty, Guard or Reserve through August 31, 2013.

Nominations may be submitted:

Online: www.militarytimes.com/smoy

By Mail to: Military Times “Service Members of the Year” Award, Gannett Government Media Corporation, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA, USA 22159

By Fax to: 703.642.7325, attn: Military Times “Service Members of the Year” Award.

At MOAA national, we know the value of belonging to a local MOAA chapter. It fosters community engagement and camaraderie between fellow servicemembers and veterans. But for some members, it does more than that.

With May being Veterans Month, and also celebrating military spouses on May 11, one member of the Southwest Florida Chapter took it upon himself to write in to NaplesNews.com, his local news affiliate, to explain why he finds it valuable to be a member of several veterans organizations. A veteran of World War II and the Korean war, Col. Savage, USA (Ret) puts it better than we ever could:

I wish that all of us veterans would be members of a military organization, as it is a reminder of what we should do for those younger ones who are serving in our country’s military today.

Read his full letter to NaplesNews.com online, and then find and join a local chapter near you! And don’t forget to wear a poppy on Veterans Day!

Photo copyright, Moyan Brenn

On Tuesday, April 23, more than 15 Nationals players, coaches and broadcasters made their annual visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The group visited inpatients in the hospital as well as those working on their physical therapy at the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC). In between signing autographs and posing for photos, the team was able to spend time listening to individual stories and thank the veterans for their service.

Since 2005, the Nationals have annually visited wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, now located in Bethesda, Md.

Military Appreciation Day Presented by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) will be celebrated on Saturday, and will offer 3,000 complimentary tickets to servicemembers.

To mark the first game of the 2013 Patriotic Series, the Nationals will offer 3,000 complimentary tickets to members of the military (active duty, dependent, reservist or retiree) in recognition of Military Appreciation Day.*

Military Appreciation Day pregame ceremonies will include:

• Ceremonial First Pitch thrown by Admiral Sandy Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Game Ball delivery by USMC
• Lineup Card delivery by Deborah Lee James, President, Technical & Engineering Sector, SAIC
• National Anthem performed by U.S. Army Chorus Quartet
• U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard will present our nation’s colors
• Starting eight featuring children representing the USO Metropolitan Washington
• Play Ball announcement made by Cheryl Hall, COO of USO Metropolitan Washington
• U.S. Naval Academy Football Team, including head coach Ken Niumatalolo will be recognized on the field
• USAF Drill Team will perform in Center Field
• U.S. Navy Bluegrass Band Country Current will perform at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk

At the Sun-N-Fun event in Florida last weekend, an historic World War II era B-25 bomber was damaged, and repairs will cost an estimated $30,000 to fix.

According to WTSP News, “…the plane was damaged with a deep scratch — approximately 18″ long and about 6 feet off the ground — to the exterior portion of the plane on the left side in the area of the fuselage.”

The plane, named Panchito, was an annual attraction at the Fun-N-Sun event and parked near the beer tent for spectators to view. It’s unknown exactly who damaged it, or when. Police and the plane’s owners think it was damaged overnight and are looking for information on the suspects.

Photo from the WTSP website