MAF CARE PACKAGES FOR THE TROOPS INCLUDE:
Gourmet Coffee
Oreo Cookies
Lip Balm
Diana Nagy
"Journey of Life" CD
Planters Trail Mix
Candy Diplomacy Jelly Beans
Wet Wipes
Foot Powder
Sun Block
Gatorade
Premium Beef Jerky
Deodorant
Bug Repellant
Personal note from YOU



RADIO HOST & COMEDIAN DENNIS MILLER SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY THROUGH TROOPATHON


MAF is proud to include another wonderful supporter of the troops to our Troopathon guest list.  Dennis Miller has participated in the last 3 events with recorded messages that speak to the troops in his own personal way.  He has a way of reaching people few in the media can match and we are so excited to include him in this year's lineup.

We can't stress enough how important this year's Troopathon is, not only for the continuing mission of Move America Forward, but for the morale of our troops at a very important time. For months now we've been noticing that the troops over in Afghanistan aren't getting the proper coverage in the media, as people back home are worried about the economy or elections coming up.

While these things are all important, they don't outweigh the importance of supporting our troops overseas! We sent them there on a mission and we now have a responsibility to support them and their mission until the troops all come home! So please dig deep, see if there are things in your monthly budgets that could be trimmed or cut in order to make a contribution - our troops put their lives on the line every day so it's the least we can do!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION NOW!

DENNIS MILLER HAS A MESSSAGE FOR YOU!

Dennis Miller is known not only for his striking political commentary and uncommon sense of common sense wisdom, but also his amazing success as a comedian. Miller's comedy shows on HBO were hugely successful for over 9 years, as well as many stand-up specials he made successful.  In the political world Miller is a master of blending comedy with political opinion and common sense understanding of the issues as the popularity of his daily radio show attests.         

But when it comes to our military and the men and women in uniform nothing is comical to Dennis.  He supports the troops through many causes and efforts and we are so proud he includes Troopathon in those causes.

Miller's staunch support of our troops and their missions is characterized by this quote:

"I respect kids who go into, you know, tough places and do the work that quite frankly, you can't even image that they have the courage to do," he said.   "So I began to look at them and heard so many people saying, 'I support the troops, but not their mission.'  I thought that's insane, their mission is the essence."

We are proud of Dennis Millers' unapologetic support for our fighting men and women, and we're happy to have him as part of our Troopathon this year!

Will you join with Dennis Miller and be a proud supporter of Troopathon?  It only takes a few minutes but the gift it gives a soldier serving far from home can last many times longer. 
TIRED OF POLITICS YET?
LET'S PUT THE IDEOLOGY ASIDE FOR A WHILE
EVERYONE SAYS THEY SUPPORT THE TROOPS...NOW PROVE IT!

It seems like politics is everything these days. Every news story turns into a way for politicians to gain political capitol by using it to articulate or prove their point of view. Meanwhile our troops are forgotten.

WE SEE CONSTANTLY ON THE TV, THE RADIO, ON THE WEB - THE CALLS FOR MORE DONATIONS FOR SOME POLITICIAN, PAC, OR CAUSE.

LET OUR TROOPS KNOW YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THEM
SEND A PACKAGE WITH GOODIES TO SHOW THEM YOU CARE!

OUR TROOPS DON'T FIGHT POLITICAL BATTLES THEY FIGHT REAL BATTLES. THEY DON'T PLAY POLITICS - THEY DO THEIR JOB TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE.

Isn't it time we pause the political "battle-to-the-death" and remember that America is ACTUALLY STILL IN A REAL WAR? Both sides -- the right and the left -- should be able to agree that the freedoms and liberty we have in America are worth fighting for. Let's put aside our difference and come together to support our troops, who fight for the freedom and safety of all Americans, regardless of ideology!

In this time of divisive politics and never ending attack ads, Americans that once came together for common goals such as supporting the troops, are now being torn apart and the real loser in this equation is the troops that we depend on. 

Because of the importance of the election this year we are finding that raising money for the troops is not on people's minds. As politics consumes the TV,  radio and newspapers, stories about our troops are on the back pages or none at all. To change this and show the troops the honor they deserve we must start now by coming together 4th of July and our Troopathon and show our heroes the support they deserve as they continue on in Afghanistan.

Let's welcome them home from the fighting together, as one voice of gratitude and appreciation, not divided over who is going to make talking points out of our troops sacrifice to win an election.

SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION BY SENDING CARE PACKAGES
TO LET OUR TROOPS KNOW YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THEM!
TROOPATHON IS NON- PARTISAN,
NON-POLITICAL. FOR THE TROOPS

These pro-troop celebrities are putting the politics aside, and giving some of their time to the troops. They're participating in TROOPATHON to help raise money for care packages for our soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and guardsmen overseas!

They will be participating in Troopathon on July 12th along with many other pro-troop celebrities!
ENJOYING THE 4TH OF JULY? - DON'T FORGET OUR TROOPS!!
The 4th of July is meant to celebrate our freedom - freedom that we only have and maintain thanks to our brave troops who serve.

As Americans back home are enjoying fun in the sun, firing up the grill, and watching some fireworks, let's not forget our troops in Afghanistan...ESPECIALLY ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Troopathon is only a week away, and we owe it to our troops to make it a success! Help us raise enough to send the largest shipment of packages we've ever sent to our troops overseas! Donate to Troopathon now!

Let's compare how our troops are spending their 4th of July with how we're spending our holiday.

BACK HOME IN THE USA

Fireworks are a national tradition on the 4th of July. Back home, we can enjoy these amazing displays of pyrotechnics at parks, air bases, or other public places.  Many cities allow families to light their own fireworks in the street.

Millions of Americans went to religious services this weekend at synagogues, churches, temples and other houses of worship. Across the nation people listened to sermons, and knelt to pray for wealth, their health, a promotion, more money, a new car, a chance to hit that lotto number.

Is there anything better than a nice barbeque in the backyard or a picnic at the park?

Thousands this weekend flocked to parks and hung out in the patio out back grilling up delicious hot dogs and hamburgers.
OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS

In Afghanistan our troops versions of fireworks today might look like this. It's called a "Controlled Detonation". An IED was luckily discovered and detonated from a safe distance before it kills or more of our troops.

But in Iraq and Afghanistan our troops were praying too, not in big beautiful churches, but huddled together outside their trucks ready to go out and meet the enemy. They are praying that they make it back alive and live to see the day when they can see their loved ones again.

Our troops in the field had to make due with M.R.E.s that come with a meager hot dish, and usually a piece of bread or cracker. Luckily the packages come with salt and pepper, but even that isn't enough to make MREs more than barely edible.

This is the time to send our troops a care package with thick cuts of savory beef jerky in peppered, teriyaki and original flavors. Each of them also includes refreshing Gatorade, coffee and cookies to wake them up in the morning, and jelly beans and other delicious goodies give them some comfort during their difficult deployments.

They are completing their missions to keep us safe back home. Show your thanks and appreciation with a care package that will boost morale and give them what they need to keep fighting.


US

Don't we all love to enjoy the outdoors? Back home we can enjoy a nice hike in the mountains and take the natural beauty of this magnificent land we live in.


In your leisure time, isn't it nice to kick back and enjoy a day out on the lake fishing with your friends and family? There's nothing better to do on a beautiful 4th of July afternoon but talk and wait for that fishing line to tug.
OUR TROOPS

Our troops spending their days climbing huge mountains in Afghanistan. In the oppressive heat, our troops have  only the supplies they can carry on their backs!


In Afghanistan, our troops don't get to spend their free time hanging out or watching baseball, they spend their free time cleaning their weapons and making sure their equipment is in tip top shape. Their lives depend on it.

We depend on our troops to protect the freedoms and liberties that we're celebrating today. There are many terrorists out there who would destroy America and kill our families and fellow citizens if they had the chance. Our troops are the only thing standing in their way.

Think about how nice we have it here back home in America, the greatest country in the world because of the promise of freedom and liberty. That liberty is protected by our troops serving overseas right now. Don't they deserve a little bit of thanks in recognition of what they go through and what they sacrifice for us back home?




Troopathon 2012 is almost here! We now have only 17 days left! We have a long way to go if we're going to send the largest-yet shipment of care packages to our troops! Join the cast of celebrities, musicians, journalists, and others who are coming together to support our troops and Troopathon 2012! Send care packages to our troops today!


MORE TROOPS DEPLOYING TO AFGHANISTAN
THEY NEED OUR HELP!

Across several states this weekend, friends and family bade farewell to fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands and wives deploying to Afghanistan to fight and protect our country from ruthless terrorists.

Over 800 Troops from the Alabama National Guard.

About 150 Troops from the Utah National Guard.

300 Troops deploying out of Ft. Benning, Georgia.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is training for deployment.

Over 3,000 Troops from Ft. Riley, KS now set to deploy.

2,950 Troops from the 101st Airborne are set to deploy out of Kentucky.


Army Col. Michael Getchell, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division's 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, discusses the concerns of Afghan provincial leader role players during an exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., June 11, 2012. The brigade is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in the fall.




Troopathon is a month-long effort that culminates on July 12th, but we are taking donations for Troopathon RIGHT NOW!

Troopathon brings together conservative celebrities from all walks of life to concentrate on supporting our troops for one day, where we really try to hit it out of the park for our military servicemen and women.

Mark your calendars now, and be ready July 12th for an event that will amaze and energize you to support our troops more than ever! 

The Best, and Worst, in Kabul Military Dining
By ANDREW SAND

(U.S. Navy Reservist Andrew Sand is currently deployed to Afghanistan and occasionally sends blogs to the New York Times for publishing. In his last blog, he talks about the food available to troops deployed over there.  What he found was that in order for troops to really get a decent meal, they had to travel to FRENCH or BRITISH bases. Read some excerpts from his blog.)

I've risked my life in Afghanistan for a plate of French cheese. While not as arduous as serving in rural Afghanistan, the prisonlike conditions on Kabul bases ? no family, long hours, repetitive food and confined spaces ? often drive service members to extremes to escape the pressure and keep up their spirits.

Camp Warehouse DFAC
Rating: 4 Exploding Stars

The premier military dining facility in Kabul. Dashing Frenchmen sport oversize berets. A 30-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower looms over plates of creamy Camembert and smoky Gouda. French chefs serve up authentic French fries, crisp and hot. And fresh sole with a lemon cream sauce in a landlocked country ? how did they do that? At this quaint French base, meals end sweetly, with rare deployment joy found in the delicate bûche de Noël. All in all, an exquisite dining experience that brings a bit of Paris to Kabul.


Camp Eggers DFAC
Rating: 2 Exploding Stars

Camp Eggers has two dining facilities ? Goat and Marshall, for double the capacity and double the mediocrity. Fake Tex-Mex, fake roast beef, fake turkey and fake burgers. Even the real steak tastes fake. Given the selection, most meals ultimately degrade into some combination of cereal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and saltine crackers. Slightly better than eating field rations in the mountains while evading insurgents, but not by much.

Camp Julien DFAC
Rating: 1 Exploding Stars

"The food at Camp Julien was revolting and unhealthy.... I'd rather eat shell casings...."
- Anonymous U.S. Special Operations service member

You can read the full article HERE which rates 6 overseas dining facilities:

FATHER'S DAY ONLY 2 DAYS AWAY

With Father's Day coming up this Sunday, it's more important than ever to support our troops before one of the most important holidays of the year for men in the military, who are usually family men. 

Below is a heartwarming story about some fortunate troops who actually get to be home for Father's Day this year.


According to the calendar, Father's Day is Sunday. But for four men who recently returned from overseas tours of duty with our armed forces, the holiday came early this year thanks to their favorite Major League Baseball teams.

The reunions took place at Mariners, Braves, Twins and Diamondbacks games this season. EspnW talked to the teams, the servicemen and the family members to bring you an inside look at how these special homecomings happened.

In each case, the teams came up with a plan, but executing the surprise with so many moving parts wasn't easy. It took planning, some luck and, of course, some deliberate misdirection, requiring the assistance of friends, family members, team mascots and, in some cases, the umpires working the games.



This is an amazing achievement on the part of these sports teams. They have made this Father's Day an uplifting and unforgettable holiday for these families. But there are thousands of troops, many of them also fathers, who are still serving bravely in Afghanistan, and they WON'T be home this Sunday to see their families for the
holiday.

Think about the troops that didn't get the heartwarming homecoming events, the troops that won't get to come home for another 3, 6 or even 9 months. THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT NOW!

TROOPATHON 2012 ANNOUNCEMENT

We at Move America Forward are excited to announce our plans for the fifth annual Troopathon, coming July 12th, 2012.

Mark your calendars! This July 12, 2012 at 4 PM Eastern / 1 PM Pacific at www.troopathon.org our 5th annual Troopathon, "Never Forget Our Troops" will begin streaming live as well as simulcast on multiple radio stations across the country!

This year's theme for our TROOPATHON is "NEVER FORGET Our Troops" which just gives the Troopathon 2012 a little of it's own unique flavor! This year we are going to put on a bold event to support our troops with participation from all our favorite Troopathon guests who you will remember previous years.

But our "Never Forget" theme is not ONLY about our troops, because this year we have another individual to honor with the Troopathon, our dear friend Andrew Breitbart, who tragically passed away this year.

We all miss him and in recognition of Andrew's devotion to the troops, we're going to dedicate this year's Troopathon to his memory and his life's work.

Andrew participated in every Troopathon, from our inaugural event in 2008, up until last year's event at the Nixon Library. From 2009-2011 Andrew was a co-host for three consecutive Troopathons. Troopathon would never have been as successful as it was without Andrew's dedication and hard work.

He was an unforgettable figure...so "NEVER FORGET" is an appropriate theme for not only honoring Andrew's legacy, but also to remind people not to forget about our troops in Afghanistan!

For this, the FIFTH annual Troopathon needs to be bigger and better than the last four! We are pulling out all the stops in order to send the largest care package shipment to our troops! It's a lofty goal, and a gigantic undertaking, and we need your help if we are going to succeed!

Please help us put on a great show for YOU and OUR TROOPS. The better show we can make, the more people will donate and send more care packages to our troops - so we must do our very best! Please make a donation today and make this year's Troopathon the best ever!


DON'T KNOW WHAT A "TROOPATHON" IS?

If you don't know what the Troopathon is, or didn't watch the last four, it's time to familiarize yourself with a concept that is making waves and breaking new ground in efforts to support our troops.

The Troopathon is a unique event that comes once a year and is designed to show a huge outpouring of support for our troops. We love sending care packages to the troops. We do so all year long especially on the holidays, but once a year the Troopathon raises a huge amount of care packages for the troops. It's the biggest day of the year for our organization, and it's VERY important that we make it a success!

Over the years, our Troopathons have raised millions to send TONS and TONS of care packages to the troops...over 190 TONS, in fact!

The Troopathon is a great concept, and very unique. Move America Forward was the first organization to attempt this and continues to be the only pro-troop organization that holds an annual Troopathon-like event. The concept is to bring all of your favorite pro-troop celebrities who we already know and love from talk radio, television, Hollywood movies, the music scene and internet bloggers who support our troops.

You will recognize names like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Dr. Laura Schlessinger...the list goes on! They come on the show to support our troops because they understand how much the troops sacrifice and the importance of their mission to defeat the terrorists and keep America safe!

WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU our loyal Move America Forward supporters, to help us put this show together and make it a reality. Without your help and support, none of this would be possible, so we are grateful for the amazing support you have all displayed in the past with your donations and contributions.

Help continue and extend the legacy of Move America Forward's great work for our troops...please make a donation today and make Troopathon 2012 a successful event for the 5th year in a row!
In an amazing story showing his faithfulness and dedication to the troops, actor and 4-time Troopathon participant Gary Sinise is making news again from his astounding level of dedication to our American troops.

Cpl. Joshua Benjamin "J.B." Kerns (USMC)..., lost both his legs below the knee as well as his right arm below the elbow during combat operations in Afghanistan while the then 21-year-old Marine was serving his third combat tour of duty in "The 'Stan" as that nation is referred to by Marines.

In an Associated Press article via Fox News, Sinise promised J.B. that a benefit concert scheduled on March 31st by Sinise's "Lt. Dan Band" would help raise money to construct a "smart home" for the wounded warrior.

Unfortunately, Sinise had to postpone the gig due to an automobile accident he was recently involved in.

True to his word, the concert is back on for this upcoming Thursday.

Sinise, who has raised millions of dollars to aid wounded military vets and first responders, was quoted by the AP:

"These are young guys that have ...given a lot for their country and they're going to have to go for the rest of their lives with a real challenge.

We're trying to do as much as we can for as many of them as possible."

GARY SINISE IS KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO A MARINE. LET'S MAKE GOOD ON OUR PROMISES TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

These brave troops are deployed in some of the most dangerous provinces in Afghan war zone, including Sangin and Helmand Province.

Updating our progress towards reaching our goal, it looks like we have raised enough funds to support 411 of our 800 Marines. That means we're more than half-way to our goal! 

This is an amazing outpouring of support! But we have to keep the momentum going and get all the way to our goal! 

We have already collected enough to help over half of our Marines, however there are still  389 Marines out there who need YOU to sponsor a care package for THEM! Please Help today!

Don't let our troops be forgotten! Every day when we read the news it's the same headlines over and over. The media is obsessed with election coverage, football teams trading players, and which football team Peyton Manning is going to. There is no coverage about our important mission in Afghanistan.

While our troops are out fighting the terrorists, America is at the mall, worrying about our own problems when there are brave troops overseas who NEED OUR ATTENTION AND SUPPORT! We can't let our brave military men and women be forgotten, especially not with Easter just around the corner!

SEND AN EASTER CARE PACKAGE.
REMIND OUR TROOPS THAT WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THEM!


Reminding us of the importance of our mission, a statement was released today by Senators McCain, Graham and Lieberman, as a plea to the American people not to forget the importance of our mission in Afghanistan and the troops who are winning the war on terror.

"The painful lesson we learned on Sept. 11, 2001, remains true today: What happens in Afghanistan directly affects our safety here at home. We abandoned Afghanistan in the 1990s, and the result was a fanatical regime that allowed its territory to become a base for global terror attacks, while inflicting medieval tyranny on the Afghan people, especially women. If we quit Afghanistan again, and abandon the millions of Afghans who have risked everything to be our allies in the hopes of succeeding together, the consequences will be disastrous for both our peoples".


- Joint Letter, March 21, 2012
Sen. John McCain
Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Sen. Lindsey Graham

Our troops need us now! Show your support by sending a box full of goodies and necessities ! Your personal message will be sent in a care package packed by our volunteers and sent along with a box full of goodies including special Easter treats! The Easter Holiday is coming up quickly, so get your orders in now!



Don't Forget! We're On the Lookout for Troops!

Soldier Registration is easy! If you have the address of someone on active military duty, such as a spouse, child or sibling, you can click here for our Soldier Sign Up to register each one with the program, or copy this link:

http://www.moveamericaforward.org/apply-servicing.php

e-mail it to them so they can register themselves. Once registered, they will be eligible to receive a package and messages of support from caring fellow Americans.
As we plan our Easter egg hunts and Easter Brunch feasts with our families, American troops are thousands of miles away from their loved ones and fighting for our country.  Every year our troops fighting the War on Terror spend the holidays Afghanistan, fighting to keep America safe. They are going to be missing their families on Easter Sunday, April 8th!

Just think of all your family's beloved Easter traditions: boiling and coloring Easter eggs, going to church together on Easter Sunday and coming home to enjoy a special Easter feast with dear family and friends, putting on Easter egg hunts and giving baskets full of candy to the kids. Our troops will be missing all of that!



These care packages do a lot to help our troops while on the front lines and fighting terrorists over in the Middle East. So many of them have families back home they miss and cannot see. Some of our troops have already missed Christmas with their families; they have missed loved one's birthdays; some have even missed the birth of their own children!

No one wants to be far away, missing their families, but that is a sacrifice our troops make to keep us safe. We owe them a little gratitude!! Our Troops don't ask for anything, but they appreciate everything we send to them.



"We have been receiving your boxes  . . . that are truly a blessing to everyone here.  To know that someone is thinking of us is such a great feeling inside."
-Master-Sergeant Donika Nealy

"This package means a lot to me, and I am grateful you remembered me by sending this package...I will pray for all of you who put this package together. God will bless you and he will be with you. I don't ever know how I can express myself because it was too much for me."
-Petty Officer 2nd Class Pat Honvo

To add a touch of Easter greetings, we have included items in our packages that will remind our troops of the holidays and make them feel right at home. Our Easter Package comes with special products tailored just for Easter!

For this year's special Easter Care Packages for the Troops, we are including a classic Easter treat EVERYONE will recognize; MARSHMALLOW PEEPS!

These soft, sugary, marshmallow chicks are the original, the name brand PEEPS that everyone recognizes. The camo-eggs come in many varieties and are filled with assorted candies like sweet tarts, smarties, and an assortment of hard candies and other chews.

Don't forget, these Easter Care Packages may still include
all of our troop's favorites from year round, including:


**  PEEPS Brand Marshmallow Chicks
**  Premium Roasted Coffee
**  Hot Cocoa
**  Hot Apple Cider
**  Gatorade
**  Beef Jerky
**  Oreo Cookies
**  Planters Trail Mix
**  Candy Diplomacy Jelly Bellies
**  Chap Stick    
**  Deodorant
**  Various Candy
**  Bug Repellant
**  Wet Wipes
**  Sun Block

Most importantly, as always, MAF Care Packages include a personalized note from YOU! Our troops need to hear that you support them and their missions! Make sure to include your mailing address - the troops love to write back!

During these tough economic times, families of troops are struggling to get by. There is a fear that they will have fewer resources to send packages to their loved ones in war zones. This is why it is so important for you and other patriotic Americans to send what we can to our troops. We must never let them forget that we are not only thankful for our families here at home, we are thankful for their selfless sacrifices for our great country.


Don't let our troops be forgotten! With the media's willful ignorance and Easter on its way we must remind our troops overseas that we still remember why they are there and everything they are doing for our nation!

Look at the latest headlines - the media is obsessed with election coverage, football teams trading players, and which football team Peyton Manning is going to. There is no coverage about the looming fight coming in Afghanistan.

Every spring, the "down-season" of winter melts away with the snow of the Afghan mountain ranges. When spring and summer arrive, the Taliban come out of their caves and face our troops. We can't let our brave military men and women be forgotten!

"They are going to come out at us very hard in the east," predicts US Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of US-led coalition troops in Afghanistan.
- Wall Street Journal (03/19/2012)

We've finally made Easter Care Packages for the Troops available for you to sponsor. Give our troops some much deserved support and offer a message of gratitude.

Your personal message will be sent in a care package packed by our volunteers and sent along with a box full of goodies including special Easter treats! The Easter Holiday is coming up quickly, so get your orders in now!

Don't Forget! We're On the Lookout for Troops!

Soldier Registration is easy! If you have the address of someone on active military duty, such as a spouse, child or sibling, you can click here for our Soldier Sign Up to register each one with the program, or copy this link:

http://www.moveamericaforward.org/apply-servicing.php

e-mail it to them so they can register themselves. Once registered, they will be eligible to receive a package and messages of support from caring fellow Americans.

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