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Armed Forces -- A tribute to the men & women of our ARMED SERVICES......

By Jeff Belonger

Mortgage and Lending with Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

July 21, 2007 09:09 AM

American Flag

I guess I bleed red, white, and blue in so many ways. After 911, which was very devastating to so many of us, I think it was a wake up call to so many of us. Telling us that we are not safe on our own soil and that we need to make a stand to anyone that threatens us, our family's, and our homeland.

I had the privilege of serving in the United States Army for 2 years, from '86 to '88. There was a part of me seriously thinking about going back after 911 and it's one thing I regret now, especially after they raised the enlistment age to 39. And that age has now been raised to 42, but under certain conditions.

I am actually helping a retired 1st Sergeant and his wife purchasing their first home and just received a phone call from a cousin of mine in Wisconsin to help her with her refinance. She is also serving in the Air Force. I have also had the chance to meet several people here on ActiveRain who at one point in their life, served our country.

911

Active Rain member's who have served :

Rich Schiffer Rich served for 2 years before becoming wounded. He talks about it on here : I have been nominated for a MEME...

Ron Withers Ron has just retired from the Army as a Lt. Colonel, if I am not mistakened. Here wrote this beautiful tribute a few months ago and is a must read. A Tribute To OUR Armed Forces (Big Brothers & Sisters)....May God Bless and Protect You!

David Kucic Retired as a 1st Sergeant in the Army. Please go to David's profile page and read his many accomplishments in the Army and a few of his awards that he received.

Bruce Bourgault A retired US Army officer who is now a loan officer servicing the Honolulu area. And if I can remember correctly, he just received a great offer with another lender to help a division of theirs. Congratulations Bruce.

George Souto George served in the Navy for many years.

Rich Jacobson Rich served in the Navy for 4 years on a submarine.

If I forgot anyone, please let me know in a comment. Thanks....

And before I share the video with you, I wanted to share with you what Marlene Bridge's wrote about. 4th of July - In Gratitude - Remembering Freedom Isn't Free I know many of us have our own opinions about the current situation in Iraq. You can hate the idea, but you can't hate those that are giving their lives. Even if you didn't serve, there is so much that we can do for our troops over there and any where else in the world. Please read Marlene's blog. And here is one that Brian Brady has shared with us. Pin Ups For Vets

Enjoy the video.... I certainly did.

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Rich Schiffer

Swarthmore, PA

Referral Agent, e-PRO

Thanks Jeff. I am honored to be mentioned.

Jul 21, 2007 11:33 PM

Ron Withers ----Retired Mortgage Professional

Kissimmee, FL

Jeff,

Thanks for the post and the mention. I appreciate it. Likewise the promotion, as I retired at the rank of Major. I had the time and grade to go to LTC however my civilian career commitments would not permit me to complete the luxury of my continued military education. So as with everything there is a season. Part of me misses it and there are countless memories of all the events and all the people that I had the privledge to work and cross paths with. Many with very noteable accomplishments. The military certainly molded me as a person and a man.

NO regrets! Again, thanks for your tribute. Again, recognizing and demonstrating our appreciation and respect of their service, duty, commitment and sacrifices is what they value the most.

Jul 22, 2007 12:30 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Missy.... I would love to know more that have served that are from Active Rain. thanks for stopping by.

Rich..... my pleasure and again, thanks for your service.

Ron..... Major Withers, my apologies. Seriously though, that is a great accomplishment in itself. And I couldn't agree with you more in the memories that it left with me and what it did to me as a person.

Overall, thanks for the thoughtful comments and thanks for your service to our country.

Jul 22, 2007 02:19 AM

Jonathan Vetter

Mercury Lending - San Francisco, CA

It is hard for us to thank everyone for their service, because there are soooo many people that contribute to our freedom. All you can do is say Thank You. So Thank You to all who serve and have served. That video was awesome.

Jul 22, 2007 03:34 AM

1SG (Ret.) David Kucic

Hawaii Military Realty, Inc. - Ewa Beach, HI

President and Owner

Jeff-That was a great Sunday morning read while I enjoy a cup of coffee. The video was very moving. Thank you very much for the mention also. That was nice of you to do.

I truly believe that almost all Americans support our troops. There are a very small number (and dwindling all the time) that support the war in Iraq.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen are only following orders. Doing what they have been trained to do. They dont make the decisions they just execute the orders from superiors. Nobody should ever blame them for what is going right or wrong with the war. America should have leared that lesson when they treated the returning Vietnam Veterans so poorly. Those men and women didnt make the decision to start that conflict either, they just followed orders.

Thanks for being such a great supporter of our troops. I know that you understand.

Jul 22, 2007 06:08 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Jonathan..... I agree, so many out there that have served and are serving. But it's those that use their freedom of speech and take it too far, at least in my opinion. And yes, I enjoyed the video also.

David....... thank you very much, glad that you enjoyed it. And we both agree these service people are just doing their job, following orders.

Thanks for your feedback and for the supportive comments.

Jul 22, 2007 07:30 AM

Thomas Weiss

Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Jeff,

Once again, terrific post especially about our forces over seas..

Tom Weiss

Jul 22, 2007 08:19 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Tom W. ....... Let's hope this catches on more than the negative feedback that we hear so often of. Thanks a lot and thanks for stopping by.

Jul 22, 2007 01:06 PM

Sandy Nelson

Riley Jackson Real Estate Inc. - Olympia, WA

your Olympia area Realtor

I always appreciate when our service men and women get due acknowledgement and gratitude for their service to our country. I've served as a soldier in the US Army for three years and then served as a military spouse to my husband, who retired from the Army after 21 years. My daughter is currently serving in the US Air Force. Soldiers and their families are close to my heart. They're a special bunch of people. I did not enjoy the video, though.

Sandy

Jul 22, 2007 01:08 PM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Sandy.... first off, I would like to add that I enjoyed the video because it was well done and very real. Not that it made me happy, but that it was reality and more people need to see these types of videos. Besides, the song went well with it.

On another note, applaud your gratitude for these men and women, for your service in the US. Army, and for your husbands previous service. And my thoughts and prayers go out to your daughter and your family for her current service in the Air Force.

Overall, I agree, so many special people. And I thank you for stopping by and for your feedback. thanks

Jul 23, 2007 02:21 AM

Christopher Pike, 803.727.7800

Keller Williams® Realty - Columbia, SC

Sandy,

I want to thank you and your family for your service!

Jul 23, 2007 01:38 PM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Christopher.... thanks for stopping by and for the comment to Sandy and her family.

Jul 24, 2007 01:25 AM

Bruce Bourgault, Vice President, Mpro

Central Pacific Homeloans - Honolulu, HI

Hi Jeff and thanks for the comment. One thing a little unusual is that David Kucic and I served in the same unit. I commanded the 2nd of the 11th Field Artillery as a CPT in 1970-1971 and David was a First Sgt in the unit here at Schofield Barracks just before he retired. Much of who I am is directly attributable to my service in the military. Aloha

Aug 11, 2007 09:46 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Bruce....... my pleasure and thanks for your service. What a small world, that you served with David at one point and he is a realtor and that you are a loan officer. Thanks for stopping by and for the little tidbits.

Aug 11, 2007 03:17 PM

Christopher Pike, 803.727.7800

Keller Williams® Realty - Columbia, SC

I love this post so I can back to hello.

Sep 16, 2007 03:17 PM

Michael Sloan

RE/MAX Advantage - Las Vegas, NV

Vegas, Nevada RE/MAX Advantage Las Vegas, Nevada

OMG!!!! every where i go on AR you are there! when do you get a chance to sleep? I re state my last, you are the man!

Dec 01, 2007 03:18 AM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jeff My husband and I support the armed forces - he was a combat Marine

Jan 06, 2008 11:38 AM

Cindy Jones

Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA

Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Jeff-you may want to read my last blog which I put in the Inspired by a Song group. I'm fortunate enough to work with a number of servicemen, women and their families moving to the military installations in Northern Virginia. Thanks for your post.

Jan 06, 2008 12:36 PM

Latonia Parks

Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC

Certified Military Relocation Expert

You can add me to your list as a Army Retiree (37 days now). My husband is still active so the Armed Forces will ALWAYS be near and dear to our hearts. There have always been so many people who passed you in uniform and make it a point to stop you to say, Thank you for all you do." It's awesome. I worked as a re/deployment NCO for 6 years in Hawaii and we pulled out all the stops for those leaving or returning. You wouldn't believe the sponsors and those who came out to shake the hands of the troops as they downloaded the aircraft. A portion of the band was also required to be there to play both ways. Some of these guys were returning to no family members but that little attention they were shown helped get them through the moment.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Jan 06, 2008 12:48 PM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

A new tribute to Veteran's Day :

Veterans Day & Proud to be an American!!!!! - Remembering all who served & still serving!!!!

CHRISTOPHER..... . thanks and thanks for serving...

MICHAEL..... . it's my sexy double... lol Seriously, thanks, but I have slowed down on here, because it just takes a lot of time...

KAREN.... . tell your husband thanks for serving..

CINDY..... . I never did get a chance to look at it... if you read this, could you link the post in here? thanks

LATONIA.... . thank you for both you and your husband serving. You make an excellent point to those that come home to no families or loved ones. Everyone needs our support, no matter what. thanks

Nov 11, 2008 04:54 AM