In honor of Sgt. Matt Maupin

Today marked a sad day for Sgt. Matt Maupin's family. Their hopes of finding Matt, who was ambushed in 2004 west of Baghdad and has been missing ever since, were put to rest today. The remains of Matt have been identified through DNA.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4553871

We all can hold the family close and wait, so that we all may welcome Matt home and that he will now be able to rest in peace.

Not Ready To End The Fight

This video was sent to Taylor and she loves it. Cpl. David Thibodeaux pretty much puts it on the line and says how he feels and it is how Taylor feels to! (the video was made in response to the Dixie Chicks and their lack of patriotism and supporting the troops)

Taylor felt this young man deserves a huge OOH RAH and great recognition for saying how it should be. So, Taylor asked me to put it on her blog for everyone to see and for everyone to remember, there are indeed MANY troops who wish to stay the course........
http://youtube.com/watch?v=11fHIINaZDQ

THANK A VETERAN!

Taylor has a new mission and she needs YOUR help and anyone else you can think of. Here is a copy of the email she sent out:

Hello everyone, this is Taylor Batten. How are you doing? I am ok, a bit sick but nothing I can't handle.

I need your help please. I am trying to get emails and cards for veterans and when I get them all, I am going to take them to local nursing homes and then the VA nursing homes and deliver them to our veterans. It doesn't have to be a holiday or Veteran's Day to say thank you to a veteran does it? I don't think so and I want our veterans to know they are appreciated. Especially our older veterans in the homes, they might not get many visitors and might not feel like they are loved. Can you help me? You can send an email back to me marked VETERAN and then we will print it out. I will cross out your email address if you want to. Or you can send a card marked VETERAN in care of Taylor Batten and I will not open the card but take it to the homes and let the veterans open them. Also if you can, pass this around to anyone you know that you might think will help me.

My email address is cab24@verizon.net and the address to send cards to is:
VETERAN in care of Taylor Batten
PO Box 350
Mendon, MI 49072

I will be collecting for a couple of weeks to make sure I get them all. Thank you very much if you can help me! And remember, pass this on to other people if you think they can help. It is our duty to make sure our veterans know they are appreciated and this is one way I can do that.

Thank you,

GySgt. Taylor Batten

So, as you can see, this IS a worthwhile project. One that she holds close to her heart and one that is so very important. In contacting some of the nursing homes, we were told that some of the veterans don't get any visitors and it totally appalled Taylor. She has enlisted the help of her entire school system and is setting her sights on other schools as well. PLEASE HELP TAYLOR THANK OUR AMERICAN HEROES!