Tag Archive | "military"

U.S. Army Promotes First Openly-Gay General

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ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – On Friday, August 10, the U.S. Army promoted its first openly-gay general officer. Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith received her stars in a private ceremony held at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The event also marked Smith’s coming out, although the 26-year Army veteran told Stars and Stripes, “I don’t think I need to be focused on that. What is relevant is upholding Army values and the responsibility this carries.”

Smith’s promotion, and coming out, occurs less than a year after the Pentagon ended its Don’t ask, Don’t Tell policy, under which service members faced discharge if they admitted being homosexual. A veteran of service in Afghanistan, Panama, and elsewhere overseas, Smith serves as deputy chief at the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve. Her wife, Tracey Hepner, is founder and Director of Operations for the Military Partners and Families Coalition, an advocacy group for LGBT service members. Hepner presented Smith with her general’s stars at the Arlington ceremony.

Style Concierge Highlights the Fashion Trends for Fall / Winter 2011 Menswear

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By Eric Christian

The fall and winter season is just around the corner.  While many of us in Florida and warmer sections of the country are still enjoying swimsuits, the beach and the sun, those in cooler climes are contemplating and beginning to prepare their wardrobes for the seasons ahead. Sooner or later, the temperature will drop, and with it will come heavier clothing needs. Fortunately, fall and winter fashions are available for purchase in stores now.

So what better time for the Style Concierge to tell you the fall/winter trends for men this season?

 

Velvet Hits the Runways
Velvet has been around for quite some time now. It’s considered very classic and timeless if worn correctly. Velvet should never be worn over velvet but with denim, trousers, and khakis. It’s now come back as a “new” trend for the fall. It’s most commonly seen in burgundy, black, navy blue, and chocolate.  It’s seen this season in runway shows from many designers including Lanvin, Gucci, Dsquared2, Dolce & Gabbana, and Etro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Influence is Back Again!
For those of you who don’t like it, guess what? Seems as if it’s here to stay! Channel your inner sergeant when you stock your fall and winter wardrobe this year – from army green, mocha, and brown to waist and double-breasted trench coats that flatter the body and hide any embarrassing flaws during the cold winter months. Designers such as Alexander McQueen, Neil Barrett, Versace,and Burberry Prorsum continue to keep this trend alive this fall/ winter 2011/2012 season.

It’s All About Shearling
According to Women’s Wear Daily, the outerwear trend for fall/winter 2011 is shearling.
This season, many designers such as Burberry Prorsum, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Rick Owens, Balmain, and Boss Black created their key jackets, coats, and blazers using this material that has become popular again.

I am certainly excited this fall/ winter season to see what everyone will be wearing. Any of these styles can be found in all major department stores.  For those of you that are on a budget, select look-alike styles at stores like Zara, Gap, Banana Republic, Top Shop, and H&M stores.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label Shearling Jacket

 

For styling, luxury personal shopping, editorial and shopping tours, contact fashion & style expert Eric Christian at eric@styleconciergemiami.com and online at www.styleconciergemiami.com

House Votes to Stop Gay Marriages on Military Bases

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite an announcement made by the Pentagon permitting same-sex marriages on military bases located in states that permit gay marriage, the Republican controlled House of Representatives voted to forbid military chaplains from performing same-sex marriages. The measure was attached to a defense spending bill.

Half of U.S. Forces Have Received Post-DADT Training

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Military officials say that over one million members of the U.S. armed forces have completed training on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This means that more than half the troops have completed their training.

So far, there has been none of the turmoil or consequences predicted by the opponents of the repeal of DADT. During the debate over repealing DADT, opponents said that dropping the ban of gays and lesbians serving in the military would cause resistance, cause enlisted members to quit the military early and a drop in recruiting.

One army general has referred to the training as having been a “non-event” and that the military is doing everything they can do to head off problems in training.

Cross-Eyed NOTIFICATION

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By AJ Cross

 

The smell of bacon and eggs crept into my bedroom. I looked over at my alarm clock and exhaled, realizing that it was 5:10am and I had chickens, cows and horses to tend to. As I put on my sandals, bathrobe and glasses, I started walking down the old creaky wooden stairs that led right into my kitchen.

As I neared the bottom of the steps, I could see my mother at the refrigerator pulling out the orange juice. She turned around with a smile and said “good morning sweetie”. It was still too early for me to use my vocal chords, so I simply nodded and smiled back at her and took my seat at the table. As I began to dig in to the amazing smelling pancakes and eggs on my plate, she slapped my hand lightly and told me to wait for dad and prayer.

Though my personal beliefs often excluded the need for such rituals, I wouldn’t dare disobey or disrespect my mother, so I put down my fork and waited for about five minutes until my dad made his way inside the house and to the kitchen table. He had already been at work for an hour before I woke up, handling other farm chores he would not yet entrust to me.

He washed his hands at the sink and sat down across from me, not saying anything other than asking my mom to sit down so we could say grace. As my mother sat, we all grabbed hands and my father said “Lord thank you for giving us working hands to be able to provide this food; thank you for giving us working eyes to see the beauty of your creations and thank you for giving us working hearts to feel and share your love”.

We let go of one another’s hands and finally started to eat. My mother, as usual, had very little to say while my father started questioning when I was going to take after my older brother Logan and join the Army and get some “discipline”. It was not enough that I woke up every day before the crack of dawn and completed two hours of chores before going to school and then heading to my job at the Save Smart Shopping Store until 9pm.

My father believed that “real men” fought for their country. His speech was interrupted by the sound of knocking at

the front door. I quickly got up and went to the door before my mom or dad had a chance to react.

I opened the door and standing in front of me was a man and a woman in green military uniforms. The woman asked for my father by name. I asked what they wanted and the woman simply replied that she could only speak to my father. I called to my father, who came to the door pushing me aside. He said “I’m Joe Miller”. The woman took off her cap placed it under her left arm and said, ”Mr. Miller; on behalf of the Secretary of the Army, we want to extend our sincerest condolences for the loss of your son Staff Sergeant Logan Miller, who was killed during a tank explosion at approximately 3:30am”. My father stood at the door as if he had not heard what she just said. My stomach began to turn and I actually began to lose my balance and had to hold onto the door.

My father asked her name and she replied “Sgt. Green”. He then asked her to repeat herself and, before she could even reply, my father moved me away from the door and closed it in her face. I tried to grab him, but he just pulled away from me and went back to the kitchen. Seconds later, I heard my mother scream and I ran into the kitchen and watched as my father held my mother in his arms trying to keep her from collapsing on the kitchen floor.

Since that morning when I was told I would never see my brother Logan again, I have had the same question in my mind: If one day the President, while sitting in the Oval Office, received a visit from two Military Officers who gave him notification that his baby was dead, would that finally bring an end to our leaders so willingly sending our children into senseless battles? How tragic that we live in a world where the military has positions where the only mission is to notify a mother, father, wife, husband or, in my case, a brother that they will never see their loved one again.

Letters to the Editor

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DEAR EDITOR,

I wanted to personally thank Michael French for his fine article regarding Military Service which appeared in the May 19th issue of the Agenda.

Time often erases the memory and historical meaning of what it means and meant to have served honorably in the U.S. Military regardless of the DADT cloud over our heads which is seemingly facing a very slow but deserving ending.

As one of the founding members of the early vet’s = movement here in SE Florida it’s always heart warming to see our service members and vets remembered on Memorial Day regardless of their sexual orientation.

Thank you and the Agenda for the hats off article reminding our community and its many supportive business leaders, activist organizations, and family members about the importance of May 30th and those who live and died defending our country while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

God Bless you and America.
A-JAY?EDDIE

Honoring Americans in the Military at Home

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By Michael French

Memorial Day has traditionally been a day of remembering Americans in the Armed Forces.

Whether they served, are currently enlisted or lost their lives during the wars in which the United States has been involved, this is the day our country has officially dedicated with acknowledgment, gratitude, and in memory to those Americans who have served and protected their country.

Every one of our lives has been touched in some way by the contributions our fellow Americans in the Armed Forces have made to the United States. Even if you don’t have a relative or friend who is serving or has served in the military, you probably know someone who does.

Dare to imagine what our country would be like. Would we even exist today without the sacrifices and service Americans in the Armed Forces have given to their country when she has needed them to serve. Are you able to even fathom the horrors, hardships and heartache many of these people must endure? Even the most realistic Hollywood production cannot truly “put” you in the “shoes” of our men and women in the Armed Forces.

Dad served in the Marines during the Korean War. He was the only survivor of his platoon, and suffered what we now call “post traumatic syndrome” until the day he died. My father was awarded the Purple Heart medal for his bravery and service to his country.  Anytime the phone rang, with the pop of a balloon or the snap of a firecracker, he would jump. As children, we learned to tell our friends never to call at dinner time because if the phone rang during dinner, my father would jump and his hands would lift the table, catapulting the meal my mother just cooked all over the place. We didn’t understand then that something so dark happened to my dad to cause this reaction. He did not talk about the war; all he did was give me pictures to look at that he took while there. My father said, “The only people who are quick to want war, are the ones who have never gone.”

My sister Joanne served in the Air Force, stationed in England, interpreting Soviet codes coming from over the Arctic Circle. There were so many other things an 18 year old girl could have chosen.

It doesn’t matter what your political views are regarding war. Regardless of what they might be, be charitable by giving of yourself, and give thanks to your fellow Americans for the generosity they have shown defending our country. There are many ways to show your “Thanks.” Some are: visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes, flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon, flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ or participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at  3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day. Make sure you call someone you know who served to personally say “Thank You”. Send a thank you note to a veteran who is a complete stranger!

Yes, Memorial Day is a salute to our Armed Forces. It is also the traditional first day of the summer season. Have a BBQ at home and make sure the US flag is there, too. Don’t lose focus of the most important reason for the party! There are countless Memorial Day party ideas on the web. Cook up the iconic American BBQ “cuisine” of hot dogs, burgers, corn on the cob and potato salad in new, health conscious and inventive ways.  During the festivities, ask everyone to pause for a moment, raise that cocktail high and give a hearty, sincere thanks for everything our fellow Americans in the military have done, sacrificed and preserved for us. This Memorial Day, give a special thanks to the brave Navy Seals! The next time you are having fun sipping that martini enjoying the joie de vie, take a moment and toast with gratitude that man or woman dodging bullets on the other side of the world.

Thanks Dad! Thanks Joanne!

 

 

 

 

Michael French, is Agenda’s Home from Home columnist. Contact Michael at mf7954fla@gmail.com

US Navy Revokes Move to Allow Same Sex Marriage on Bases

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US Navy has revoked its guidance allowing chaplains to conduct same-sex marriages in some states following outrage from Republican lawmakers and social conservatives.

The suspension came late Tuesday after opponents of same-sex military marriages claimed the move would violate a law prohibiting federal recognition of gay marriage. A copy of a memo revoking the guidance was obtained Wednesday by FOX News Channel.

“My memorandum of 13 April 2011 is hereby suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and inter-Departmental coordination,” the memo, issued by the Chief of Chaplains Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd, read.

Despite the revocation, military officials said the US Defense Department might still permit gay troops to marry in military chapels in states that recognize homosexual marriages after US President Barack Obama lifts a ban on openly-gay service members known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the Washington Post reported.

As part of its DADT Repeal Training, the Navy had decided that facilities on U.S. Naval Bases may be used for same-sex marriages and that Naval Chaplains will be permitted, though not required, to perform such ceremonies. The ruling only applied to Naval bases located in states where same-sex marriage is permitted by law.

Citing “additional legal review” by Navy attorneys, the Chief of Navy Chaplains, Admiral Michael Tidd originally said the Navy “has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation neutral.”

The April 13 memo signed by Tidd said navy chaplains would have the option to officiate at a same-sex union if it agreed with their religious beliefs and the laws of the state.

But in the new memo dated May 10, Tidd reversed course and suspended his guidance.

Training programs about the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell” for US Navy chaplains and sailors would continue as scheduled, a navy spokeswoman said.

Details of the April 13 memo led to an immediate backlash in congress. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) released a letter signed by 62 other members of congress that called on the secretary of the navy to obey the Defense of Marriage Act.

“The law of the land is that the federal government defines marriage as between one man and one woman,” Akin wrote. “This new guidance from the navy clearly violates the law. While our President may not like this law, it is unbelievable that our navy would issue guidance that clearly violates this law.”

 

 

 

 

 

Troops Begin Post-DADT Classes

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AFGHANISTAN – This week, troops in Afghanistan began to receive training to prepare for the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. A senior U.S. Marine general said that soldiers coming off the battle field will undergo formal classes, discussion groups and extensive training to make sure each person understands the new rules.

Educational materials have already been distributed to senior officers.

‘Don’t Ask’ for a repeal

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Congress on verge of eradicating anti-GLBT policy from the military

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV

Petty Officer Larry Whitt of Fort Lauderdale traveled to Washington DC two months ago and got arrested after chaining himself to the White House. Now Officer Whitt and the thousands of other United States military personnel who have been fighting the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy know their work has not been in vain. By a 234-194 vote last week, The United States House of Representatives approved an amendment to repeal the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. Miami representative Ileana Ros Lehtinen was one of the few republicans to vote for the repeal.The Senate Armed Service Committee, by a 16-12, approved a similar amendment repealing DADT. Florida Senator Bill Nelson did vote for the repeal in the committee. The full Senate must still vote on the measure, expected sometime this week.

If the amendment is passed in the Senate, the actual repeal would take place 60 days after a Pentagon report about the affects of letting gays and lesbians serve openly is completed. The report is due by December 1.

“I am pleased that both the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee took important bipartisan steps toward repeal tonight… Our military is made up of the best and bravest men and women in our nation, and my greatest honor is leading them as Commander-in-Chief. This legislation will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity,” President Obama said in a statement after making it a campaign pledge of his to repeal the ban.

The American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) and other LGBT groups are not exactly jumping in the air in excitement about having to wait for the actual repeal to happen after the December 1 report is returned, but they are pleased that this step towards LGBT equality was a long time coming.

“AVER is cautiously optimistic that the actions taken by Congress this week towards repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will eventually accomplish an end to discrimination against gay and lesbian service members and halt the discharge of trained military professionals who possess critical skills necessary for our nation’s defense against terrorist attack,” said AVER National President Danny Ingram.

“The bottom line of this week’s actions, however, is that today openly gay and lesbian troops are still being discharged from the military, which means that critical support services are still being denied to troops on the battlefield. And crucial members of America’s intelligence operations, including highly trained military linguists, are still being ejected from service.”

Support for the repeal among the general U.S. population is the strongest it has ever been. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey taken last week announced that 78 percent of the public favor allowing openly gay people to serve in the military.

Still, some right wing Christian groups are vehemently fighting to keep the ban intact.

According to a research paper published by the Family Research Council, an anti-GLBT group, “The military already has a serious problem with sexual assault by homosexuals. If the current law against homosexuality in the military is overturned, the problem of same-sex sexual assault in the military is sure to increase.

If the law is overturned and open homosexuals are welcomed into the military, the number of homosexuals in the armed forces can only increase-leading to a corresponding increase in same-sex sexual assaults.”

The Family Research Council findings conclude that. “Allowing open homosexuality in the military would do nothing to enhance the readiness or effectiveness of our armed forces. On the contrary, it would clearly damage them-in part because it would increase the already serious problem of homosexual assault in the military.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid believes he has the 60 votes needed to get the legislation passed as part of the annual Pentagon budget.

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