Small All White in the Forest

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Post No. 109: For Armed Forces Day — "The Soldiers Of The Cross"

(Image from McNaughton Fine Art Company)

"The Soldiers Of The Cross"

When everything is gone, which
you thought could never be taken;
And your morale—that you guarded
like a child—has up and left you;

And your world of certainty has
spiraled into an abyss of unknowns;
And you feel so alone, because no
one could possibly know your pain;

Remember, that you are never alone,
although you may be on your own! You
are positively surrounded by "Soldiers Of
The Cross," who are with you every day.

You have known them since boot camp,
or—perhaps—since this morning. They are
your fellow U.S. Military Personnel, who
are forever calling you to where duty is.

Your "Soldiers" come to you in more
ways than you can possibly imagine.
They come to remind you where your
duty does—and even does not—exist.

They come to confront you in your
fear and behold you in your courage.
For, it is only when a fear is faced
that courage is beheld in its place.

To your "Soldiers," you too are a "Soldier" and
are here to remind them, as well. For, you are
"The Soldiers Of The Cross" who have been
remembered—since you will never be forgotten!

And you have been called by duty as the way
to remember who you are. So, remember, you
are always in the presence of "The Soldiers
Of The Cross," because you are one, "Soldier."

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in The Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

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My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2012): On patriotic holidays, such as Armed Forces Day, I truly enjoy listening to music that celebrates the heroic service of all the men and women in the United States Military (both past and present) who are the real reason that America is "The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave!" And I also truly enjoy showing my appreciation for those who are heroically serving in the United States Military, each and every day, by making donations to charitable organizations that Support Our Troops! –Paul Whiting (written May 19th, 2012, revised May 31st, 2022 and revised August 16th, 2022)

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My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2022) [May 21st, 2022 Update]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 21st, 2022—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website in order to "salute" the service and sacrifices made by our Armed Forces!

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written May 21st, 2022, revised May 26th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised November 18th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'my writing,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'my writings' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
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My Writing About Celebrating Armed Forces Day As A New Tradition For Honoring The Service And Sacrifices Of U.S. Military Personnel (for 2022) [May 21st, 2022 Update—Continued]: I have decided to start a new tradition as a way to "salute" U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day!

Instead of having a celebration on Memorial Day—because that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died while serving in the U.S. Military—I think that the celebration to honor the service and sacrifices of U.S. Military Personnel should really be on Armed Forces Day.

Thus, I plan to have a holiday dinner on Armed Forces Day, and I also plan to listen to patriotic music, as a way to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America thanks to the service and sacrifices that are made, each and every day, by U.S. Military Personnel!

–Paul Whiting (written May 21st, 2022 revised May 22nd, 2022, revised May 29th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised May 19th, 2023 and revised May 20th, 2023)

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My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2023) [May 20th, 2023 Update]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 20th, 2023—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website in order to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices made by our Armed Forces!

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month! –Paul Whiting (written May 20th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)
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My Writing About Celebrating Armed Forces Day As A New Tradition For Honoring The Service And Sacrifices Of U.S. Military Personnel (for 2023) [May 20th, 2023 Update—Continued]: I have started a new tradition as a way to pay tribute to U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day!

Instead of having a celebration on Memorial Day—because that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died while serving in the U.S. Military—I think that the celebration to honor the service and sacrifices of U.S. Military Personnel should really be on Armed Forces Day.

Thus, I plan to have a holiday dinner on Armed Forces Day, and I also plan to listen to patriotic music, as a way to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America thanks to the service and sacrifices that are made, each and every day, by U.S. Military Personnel! –Paul Whiting (May 20th, 2023)

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My Writing About How I Have Changed The Way That I Label My Blog Posts 'Updates' For Any Additional 'Updates' That I Write, After The First 'Update,' By Using A Simple Numbering System, Which Starts With The First 'Update' [October 24th, 2023 Update No. 7 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:

I have changed the way I label the blog post 'updates' that I write because I oftentimes write more than one 'update' per day!

And in the past, I have labeled the second, third, fourth and fifth 'update' with the following extensions—on the days that I write more than 'update'—to differentiate any additional 'updates' from the first one, as follows:

[1st] Month Day, Year Update
[2nd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued
[3rd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further
[4th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More
[5th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before

However today, October 24th, 2023, I actually had more than five 'updates' to write, so I decided to change how I differentiate any additional 'updates,' from the first 'update,' by using a simple numbering system, which actually starts with the first 'update' that I write, as follows:

Month Day, Year Update No. 1
Month Day, Year Update No. 2
Month Day, Year Update No. 3
Month Day, Year Update No. 4
Month Day, Year Update No. 5
Month Day, Year Update No. 6
Month Day, Year Update No. 7

Therefore, that is why this 'update' is the seventh one for today! –Paul Whiting (written October 24th, 2023 and revised October 28th, 2023)

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My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2024) [May 18th, 2024 Update No. 1]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 18th, 2024—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—so, I did a Google search for "Armed Forces Day 2024 USO" and found the following USO (United Service Organizations) search result:

secure.uso.org
https://secure.uso.org › donate

Uso - Official USO Website

We're thanking our troops with shows that boost morale. Donate today to show your support. Our military heroes make incredible sacrifices. Support them with a donation today. 200+ Centers worldwide. 501(c)(3) Nonprofit. Give hope to the wounded. Boost troop morale.

And, after I read the search results above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:

★★★USO★★★

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AMERICA’S TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Honor their sacrifice by making a donation today.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Amount

[  ] $35
[  ] $50
[  ] $75
[  ] $100
[  ] $250
[  ] $500
[  ] $1,000
[✓] $ 25.00

Name

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Cell Phone (optional): [redacted]

DONATE $25

Your donations will support:

Transitioning Troops and Deployed Troops

During deployment, you can provide troops with a connection to their families, along with entertainment and relaxation. After service has ended, you can continue to support troops as they transition to civilian life.

Military Families

You can help keep families strong and connected both during and after deployment. The USO provides a wide range of programs that support the entire family every step of the way.

Wounded Warriors and Families of the Fallen

Some troops return home with physical or invisible wounds. You can provide therapeutic and reintegration services as they navigate the road to recovery. You can also provide support to families of troops who have paid the ultimate price while serving their country.

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our military heroes make incredible sacrifices. ... Give hope to the wounded. Boost troop morale."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written May 18th, 2024 and revised June 15th, 2024)
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My Writing About Celebrating Armed Forces Day As A New Tradition For Honoring The Service And Sacrifices Of U.S. Military Personnel (for 2024) [May 18th, 2024 Update No. 2]: I have started a new tradition as a way to pay tribute to U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day!

Instead of having a celebration on Memorial Day—because that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died while serving in the U.S. Military—I think that the celebration to honor the service and sacrifices of U.S. Military Personnel should really be on Armed Forces Day.

Thus, I plan to have a holiday dinner on Armed Forces Day, and I also plan to listen to patriotic music, as a way to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America thanks to the service and sacrifices that are made, each and every day, by U.S. Military Personnel! –Paul Whiting (May 18th, 2024)

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My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is dedicated all of the United States Military Personnel, or "The Soldiers Of The Cross," who serve their country—all over the world—defending freedom and democracy!

And, speaking of United States Military Personnel, I have decided to start a new tradition as a way to "salute" U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day! Instead of having a celebration for Memorial Day—since that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died in war—I think that the celebration to honor the sacrifices of Military Personnel should really be Armed Forces Day. Thus, I am planning to have a celebratory dinner on Armed Forces Day as a way to celebrate of the many freedoms that we enjoy here, in the United States of America, thanks to the United States Military Personnel!

By the way, this poem is also a rewrite of a poem that I wrote to help my uncle titled, "Calling All Angels," which is published on this blog. (Please see "Calling All Angels-Style Poem" in labels for the poem.)

And, just to let you know, this poem was originally rewritten and published, on July 12th, 2010 at 2:10 PM! However, at some point in time, I decided to make this my official poem for U.S. Armed Forces Day, since this poem was written as "Dedicated To 'The Soldiers Of The Cross,'" as you can see from this post's original link, which is now defunct:

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2010/07/dedicated-to-soldiers-of-cross.html

Now, here is where this explanation is kind of complicated: you see, I was editing this post over the first weekend of May 2023 (specifically, May 5th to 6th, 2023), when I finally realized that my official Armed Forces Day poem was actually published in July of 2010!

Therefore, I decided to republish this post—by setting the date and time of publishing—to Armed Forces Day 2010, which was on Saturday, May 15th! And I decided to highlight the original link (as seen above) to acknowledge the fact that this post was originally published in July of 2010. (I hope that makes sense!)

And this poem was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

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"Armed Forces Day History" from the United States of America Department of Defense

A brief overview of the article can be found below:

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.

In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said, "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Mr. Truman stated:

"Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense".

The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was "Teamed for Defense." It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government. Although this was the theme for the day, there were several other purposes for holding Armed Forces Day. It was a type of "educational program for civilians," one in which there would be an increased awareness of the Armed Forces. It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life. It was a day for the military to show "state-of- the-art" equipment to the civilian population they were protecting. And it was a day to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States.

According to a New York Times article published on May 17, 1952: "This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces ... to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won't be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty."

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. In Washington D.C., 10,000 troops of all branches of the military, cadets, and veterans marched past the President and his party. In Berlin, 1,000 U.S. troops paraded for the German citizens at Templehof Airfield. In New York City, an estimated 33,000 participants initiated Armed Forces Day "under an air cover of 250 military planes of all types." In the harbors across the country were the famed mothballed "battlewagons" of World War II, the Missouri, the New Jersey, the North Carolina, and the Iowa, all open for public inspection. Precision flying teams dominated the skies as tracking radar were exhibited on the ground. All across the country, the American people joined together to honor the Armed Forces. ...

... Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://afd.defense.gov/History/#:~:text=Armed%20Forces%20Day%20is%20celebrated,over%20any%20period%20in%20May.

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May 4th, 2022 Update: May is Military Appreciation Month! So, I signed a Military Appreciation Month card "thanking our service members for everything they do to protect our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 4th, 2022, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "[SIGN THE CARD] Military Appreciation Month", which stated the following:

Happy Military Appreciation Month, Paul!

At moments like this, it’s more important than ever to take that extra step to make sure members of our Armed Forces know how grateful we are for their incredible courage and sacrifice — especially as thousands remain in Eastern Europe, ready to do whatever it takes to support our NATO allies.

That’s why we need at least 50,000 proud military supporters — including you, Paul — to sign the card thanking our heroes by midnight tonight: Will you add your name now to make sure our service members know you appreciate their service and sacrifice?***

America’s service members make immense sacrifices every day, from the safety and security of home to special moments with their loved ones, like birthdays, first steps and holidays. It’s challenging, but they do it because they believe freedom and democracy are worth defending.

I was honored to serve our country as a member of the Air Force, and now I’m honored to work with the USO to support today’s service members and their families. You are a crucial part of this mission too, Paul.

It means so much to a service member far from home to know that patriotic Americans like you understand the sacrifices they make. So please, take a moment and sign the Military Appreciation Month card for our service members before midnight tonight.***

Thank you so much for standing with our heroes in uniform!

[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to America's service members, "Thank you for fighting to keep us safe and free. We are so grateful for your service, and we’ll always have your back."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written May 4th, 2022, revised May 7th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised May 26th, 2022, revised June 13th, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised September 4th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 2nd, 2023, revised May 14th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised June 14th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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May 21st, 2022 Update [My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2022)]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 21st, 2022—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website in order to "salute" the service and sacrifices made by our Armed Forces!

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written May 21st, 2022, revised May 26th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised November 18th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
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May 21st, 2022 Update—Continued [My Writing About Celebrating Armed Forces Day As A New Tradition For Honoring The Service And Sacrifices Of U.S. Military Personnel (for 2022)]: I have decided to start a new tradition as a way to "salute" U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day!

Instead of having a celebration on Memorial Day—because that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died while serving in the U.S. Military—I think that the celebration to honor the service and sacrifices of U.S. Military Personnel should really be on Armed Forces Day.

Thus, I plan to have a holiday dinner on Armed Forces Day, and I also plan to listen to patriotic music, as a way to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America thanks to the service and sacrifices that are made, each and every day, by U.S. Military Personnel!

–Paul Whiting (written May 21st, 2022 revised May 22nd, 2022, revised May 29th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised May 19th, 2023 and revised May 20th, 2023)

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May 1st, 2023 Update: May is Military Appreciation Month! And I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "A Military Appreciation Month gift for you!", which stated the following:

Happy Military Appreciation Month, Paul!

We’ll be celebrating this special month with all sorts of ways to honor and support our heroes in uniform, but first, we’re kicking it off with a special digital giveaway for our most dedicated military supporters — including you!

We designed these exclusive phone backgrounds with patriotic Americans like you in mind, and we hope you love them as much as we do. Click here to choose and download one now and show your military pride this Military Appreciation Month!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD***

We’re so grateful for supporters like you who help keep our brave troops connected to family, home and country through every step of their military journey. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you do to stand with our troops.

[Name redacted], USO

Happy Military Appreciation Month! 🇺🇸 In honor of this special time of year, we set a goal to reach 150K signatures on this thank-you card for our troops - but our deadline is approaching and it looks like we're missing your name!

SUPPORTER ID: 5********5
SIGNATURE: MISSING

We know you're a patriotic military supporter who wouldn't want our troops to feel forgotten as they risk their lives to protect our country - so please, don't miss this chance to show them you care. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬?***

-USO

We’re halfway through Military Appreciation Month, Paul!

As we continue to celebrate this special month and honor our heroes in uniform, we’re inviting our most dedicated military supporters — including you — to write a personalized message to our troops to thank them for their service.

SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR TROOPS***

As a military spouse, I have a deep understanding of the challenges our troops and their families face every day. From deployments to PCS orders and relocations, it never gets easier being away from your loved ones — and I know just how much a few words directly from you would mean to our brave heroes this month.

Your message will help send support to heroes like my husband who risk their lives day in and day out to defend our country. It’ll make such a difference for service members stationed far from home to know that folks back home understand and appreciate the immense sacrifices they make for us.

That’s why we need 50,000 dedicated military supporters via email to write their own unique personalized message to troops before our midnight goal deadline. Please, will you write a note now to show your gratitude for our courageous service members as they sacrifice everything to protect our country?

SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR TROOPS***

Thank you for voicing your support for our military heroes, today and always.

[Name redacted], USO

There’s a service member who really needs to hear from you.

A simple “thank you for your sacrifice” will mean so much. Send a message to the troops today.

And so, I decided to send a message to the troops for Armed Forces Day 2023 with my official Armed Forces Day poem titled, "The Soldiers Of The Cross" (which was originally published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog), as follows:

Insert a custom message here...

Armed Forces Day:

"The Soldiers Of The Cross"

When everything is gone, which
you thought could never be taken;
And your morale has up and left you...

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2010/05/for-armed-forces-day-soldiers-of-cross.html

Sincerely,

First Name: Last Name:
Paul Whiting

Then, after I shared my "The Soldiers Of The Cross," poem, I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website that is the donation I mentioned above in my 'May 20th, 2023 Update,' which also appears as 'My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2023)' on some of my blogs.

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month! –Paul Whiting (written May 20th, 2023, revised July 30th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)

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October 24th, 2023 Update No. 7 [My Writing About How I Have Changed The Way That I Label My Blog Posts 'Updates' For Any Additional 'Updates' That I Write, After The First 'Update,' By Using A Simple Numbering System, Which Starts With The First 'Update' (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:

I have changed the way I label the blog post 'updates' that I write because I oftentimes write more than one 'update' per day!

And in the past, I have labeled the second, third, fourth and fifth 'update' with the following extensions—on the days that I write more than 'update'—to differentiate any additional 'updates' from the first one, as follows:

[1st] Month Day, Year Update
[2nd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued
[3rd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further
[4th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More
[5th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before

However today, October 24th, 2023, I actually had more than five 'updates' to write, so I decided to change how I differentiate any additional 'updates,' from the first 'update,' by using a simple numbering system, which actually starts with the first 'update' that I write, as follows:

Month Day, Year Update No. 1
Month Day, Year Update No. 2
Month Day, Year Update No. 3
Month Day, Year Update No. 4
Month Day, Year Update No. 5
Month Day, Year Update No. 6
Month Day, Year Update No. 7

Therefore, that is why this 'update' is the seventh one for today! –Paul Whiting (written October 24th, 2023 and revised October 28th, 2023)

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May 1st, 2024 Update No. 1: May is Military Appreciation Month! And I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 1st, 2024, with the subject line, "This Military Appreciation Month, remind our heroes how much their service means to you", which stated the following:

IT'S MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH!

★ ★ ★

MAKE SURE OUR SERVICE MEMBERS KNOW YOU SUPPORT THEM!

GOAL: 150,000 SIGNATURES

SIGN THE CARD NOW***

May is Military Appreciation Month, Paul. And we want to invite you to take a moment and thank our heroes in uniform.

Top military supporters from around the country are coming together to recognize everything our brave service members do for us: From risking their lives in some of the world's harshest and most isolating conditions to sacrificing time with their families, our heroes deserve our unending gratitude and recognition.

That's why, in honor of Military Appreciation Month, we've set a goal to get 150,000 grateful Americans to sign our thank-you card via email and text messages by the end of the month. Please, show your gratitude as a top military supporter by signing now:

★ ★ ★

Happy Military
Appreciation Month
– we appreciate
everything you do!

ADD YOUR NAME***

Our service members continue to make tremendous sacrifices day in and day out — from providing humanitarian relief around the world to keeping us safe back home.

The men and women in our military are heroes. And all too often, they don't get the recognition they deserve.

Truly, the least we can do is ensure they feel the gratitude and appreciation from top military supporters like you. So please, take a moment and sign our Military Appreciation Month card for our service members before our goal deadline.

ADD YOUR NAME***

Thank you so much for supporting our heroes in uniform.

The USO

SIGN THE CARD***

secure.uso.org
https://secure.uso.org › donate

Uso - Official USO Website

We're thanking our troops with shows that boost morale. Donate today to show your support. Our military heroes make incredible sacrifices. Support them with a donation today. 200+ Centers worldwide. 501(c)(3) Nonprofit. Give hope to the wounded. Boost troop morale.

And, after I read the search results above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:

★★★USO★★★

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AMERICA’S TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Honor their sacrifice by making a donation today.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Amount

[  ] $35
[  ] $50
[  ] $75
[  ] $100
[  ] $250
[  ] $500
[  ] $1,000
[✓] $ 25.00

Name

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Cell Phone (optional): [redacted]

DONATE $25

Your donations will support:

Transitioning Troops and Deployed Troops

During deployment, you can provide troops with a connection to their families, along with entertainment and relaxation. After service has ended, you can continue to support troops as they transition to civilian life.

Military Families

You can help keep families strong and connected both during and after deployment. The USO provides a wide range of programs that support the entire family every step of the way.

Wounded Warriors and Families of the Fallen

Some troops return home with physical or invisible wounds. You can provide therapeutic and reintegration services as they navigate the road to recovery. You can also provide support to families of troops who have paid the ultimate price while serving their country.

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our military heroes make incredible sacrifices. ... Give hope to the wounded. Boost troop morale."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written May 18th, 2024 and revised June 15th, 2024)
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May 18th, 2024 Update No. 2 [My Writing About Celebrating Armed Forces Day As A New Tradition For Honoring The Service And Sacrifices Of U.S. Military Personnel (for 2024)]: I have started a new tradition as a way to pay tribute to U.S. Military Personnel in honor of Armed Forces Day!

Instead of having a celebration on Memorial Day—because that holiday is really designed for grieving, and/or mourning, and/or paying respect to those who have died while serving in the U.S. Military—I think that the celebration to honor the service and sacrifices of U.S. Military Personnel should really be on Armed Forces Day.

Thus, I plan to have a holiday dinner on Armed Forces Day, and I also plan to listen to patriotic music, as a way to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America thanks to the service and sacrifices that are made, each and every day, by U.S. Military Personnel! –Paul Whiting (May 18th, 2024)

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November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know it will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop!

P.S.: It's July 31st, 2025, and I feel like I need to provide an addendum (that is, "an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something") to this November 6th, 2024 'update!'

You see, a couple of days ago, on July 29th, 2025, I copied the text of this update to use as my reason for unsubscribing from a particular political email that I received that same day!

And so, I actually bothered to read this update—in order to verify that it made sense for me to use as a response to the request on this political email's unsubscribe page which stated, "Please tell us why you are leaving"—during which I realized there was a typo (that is, 'a typographical error') in the text of the update, as I have highlighted below, with the correction in brackets:

"And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know [it] will be over!"

Thus, I accidentally left out the word "it" in the sentence above. Hence, I corrected said typo on July 29th, the verification of which can be seen reflected in the addition of the date "revised July 29th, 2025" after my name.

However, as I got to thinking about the fact that I had originally said I may not be voting in any upcoming elections, I realized that, in fact, I did vote in Portland Oregon's Multnomah County Special District Election on May 20th, 2025, just like I usually do! [I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat, which is why I was worried about voting in any upcoming elections given President Trump's clear disdain for Democrats.]

Therefore, I decided to write this "P.S." today, July 31st, as a way to clarify that I am still voting in elections (even 'special elections'), it's just that I am no longer engaging in any 'Online Activism,' during Trump's Presidency, as I explained in great detail above. (I hope that makes sense!)

–Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024, revised November 7th, 2024, revised July 29th, 2025 and revised July 31st, 2025)

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[Blogger's Note: The following updates — 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1' and 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026),' as well as 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On April 19th, 2026) — are NOT related to Armed Forces Day, or Military Appreciation Month, but they are relevant to explaining I have restarted donating to the USO (United Service Organizations) as of April 2026.]

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April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1: I received a text message today, April 16th, 2026, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

[Image of the 2026 USO T-shirt design.]

USO T-shirt alert: Paul, we're so excited to share that the exclusive 2026 USO T-shirts are here! As a thank you for being a top supporter, we're giving you early access before the T-shirts are available to the general public. So please, get yours now before they're gone! 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 $𝟮𝟵 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧-𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁 — 𝗼𝗿 $𝟱𝟮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗧-𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘀?***

As the official uniform of military supporters, this exclusive USO T-shirt is one of the best ways to show your pride and support our nation's service members. Please, don't miss your chance to be among the first to get yours.

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝗦𝗢 𝗧-𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁:***

—The USO

Help support our troops — and claim your 2026 USO T-shirt today!

Wear your support for our troops — support they can see. Every donation helps support critical programs for our brave soldiers that keep them connected to home as they serve worldwide. This year's T-shirt also celebrates America's 250th birthday, so supplies won't last long! Please donate $29 for one or $52 for two collector's edition 2026 USO T-shirts before they're gone.

Your donation will be used where it is needed most.

Secure donation

[✓] $29
[  ] $52
[  ] $100
[  ] $250
[  ] $500
[  ] $1,000

Select your thank-you gift

[  ] Donate without thank-you gift

[✓] 1 T-shirt
For $29+ one-time
View details
Size: 2X

[  ] 2 T-shirts
For $52+ one-time
View details

Enter your details

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Phone number (optional): [redacted]
Donate as an organization: N/A

Enter your address

Street address: [redacted]
Apartment/suite/floor: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip code: [redacted]

You donate $31 USD

[✓] Cover transaction costs

Donate

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Wear your support for our troops — support they can see. Every donation helps support critical programs for our brave soldiers that keep them connected to home as they serve worldwide. This year's T-shirt also celebrates America's 250th birthday, so supplies won't last long!"

In addition to that, I used to make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel. Besides that, I also formerly made one-time donations to the USO as often as I could manage whenever they requested a donation via email or text message. However, I am currently on an "Activist Sabbatical" due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election. Please see my 'November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1' (that also appears as 'My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form'), which can be found on this blog post for a complete explanation of this "Activism Sabbatical," so to speak, that I am currently taking.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' through one-time donations to the USO—even during my "Activist Sabbatical"—for special occasions, such as America's 250th Birthday! –Paul Whiting (April 16th, 2026)
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April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026): Yesterday, April 16th, 2026, I wrote about receiving a text message from the USO (United Service Organizations) regarding the 2026 USO T-shirt design! And I explained that I made a one-time donation for said T-shirt, but I also clarified that I am not currently donating to the USO on a recurring monthly basis, like I used to do, due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election.

Now, today, I realized that I shouldn't really be withholding monthly donations just because Donald Trump is President, since the USO is providing really important support to Our Troops, who are putting themselves in harm's way in order to Protect Our Country and Defend Democracy!

So, what got me to thinking about restarting my recurring monthly donations to the USO is the fact that I received an email from the USO yesterday, after I opened the donation webpage from their original text message referenced in my 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1,' which can be found above, to get the correct phrasing from that donation webpage in order to represent said page as accurately as possible for the description that I provided in my 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1.' And, in doing so, I entered the information in each box, just like I was planning to make a donation! However, I was simply capturing the formatting of the USO's donation webpage text, so that I could replicate it.

Then—lo and behold—yesterday, April 16th, 2026, I received an email from the USO, with the subject line, "You are so close to providing help & support," which stated the following:

[Picture of "a soldier sitting against a fence, looking pensive while holding a small object in his hands. The background features trees and grass, indicating a calm outdoor setting."]

Don’t leave your impact unfinished

You can make a powerful impact for service members and their families.

By making a donation today

• You give our heroes a lifeline: The USO is the only nonprofit dedicated to keeping service members connected to loved ones and the comforts of home — from free Wi-Fi calls to connections home and holiday meals that remind them their sacrifice is valued.
• You make sure no one serves alone: No matter how far, remote or dangerous the deployment, the USO shows up — just like our service members show up for us. But 6 in 10 service members don’t even know the full range of programs available. Your support ensures they can find and use the help they deserve.
• You help power $230,000 of care every single day: It takes $230,000 a day to provide these life-changing programs. Your generosity makes it possible for every hero to feel the comfort of home no matter where duty takes them.

Every day the USO is on the frontlines with our service members. We couldn't do this critical work without generous friends like you.

For the People Who Serve,

– [Names redacted], USO

Complete your donation***

The USO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and acknowledges that no goods or services were provided to you in return for your contribution. Donations to USO are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

And, after I read my own blog post update text, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Donate to support our service members

Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country. So please, donate now.

By donating, you agree to allow the USO to use your gift, combined with others, in a matching gift fund.

Secure donation

[  ] Give once
[✓] ❤ Monthly

[  ] $100
[  ] $55
[  ] $25
[✓] $20
[  ] $10
[  ] $5

Upgrade to quarterly donations

Would you consider switching your $20 monthly gift to a quarterly support? Your quarterly commitment helps us plan ahead and make an even greater impact every season.

[  ] ❤ Upgrade to $60/quarter
[  ] Upgrade to $57/quarter
[✓] Keep my $20 monthly donation

Enter your details

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Phone number (optional): [redacted]
Donate as an organization: N/A

Enter your address

Street address: [redacted]
Apartment/suite/floor: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip code: [redacted]

You donate $31 USD

[  ] Cover transaction costs

Donate

And to clarify another thing: I decided to increase what I donate to the USO on a monthly recurring basis to $20.00, since I used to donate $10.00 per month—which was increased from $5.00 per month—as explained below, from my 'April 17th, 2023 Update,' which can be found on this blog:

"...In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel:

01. USO: United Service Organizations recurring donation of $10.00 (which used to be $5.00 per month, but I increased it by an additional $5.00 per month; so starting on August 17th, 2022, the USO recurring donation is now $10.00 per month)..."

Then, after I made said donation, I received an email from the USO today, April 17th, 2026, with the subject line, "Welcome to the USO Home Team, Paul", which stated the following:

[Graphic image of "a red heart on a blue watercolor background."]

Thank you for becoming a recurring supporter

Thank you Paul!

Thank you for your monthly recurring gift of $20.00 USD.

Your Recurring ID is: [redacted]

On behalf of all of us at USO, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to you for your recent recurring donation and your support. Our mission depends on the support and compassion of donors like you.

– Your friends at the USO.

Thus, I made a recurring donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country."

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation! –Paul Whiting (written April 17th, 2026, revised April 18th, 2026 and revised April 19th, 2026)
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April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On April 19th, 2026): Three days ago, on April 16th, 2026, I wrote about receiving a text message from the USO (United Service Organizations) regarding the 2026 USO T-shirt! And I explained that I made a one-time donation for said T-shirt, but I also clarified that I am not currently donating to the USO on a recurring monthly basis, like I used to do, due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election.

Then, on April 17th, 2026, I wrote about restarting my recurring monthly donations to the USO due to the fact that I received an email from the USO two days ago, on April 17th, 2026, because I realized that I shouldn't really be withholding monthly donations just because Donald Trump is President, since the USO is providing really important support to Our Troops, who are putting themselves in harm's way in order to Protect Our Country and Defend Democracy!

Then today, April 19th, 2026, I received an email from the USO, with the subject line, "Will your employer match your donation?", which stated the following:

[Graphic image showing a USO logo, then a "+" (plus sign), followed by a gift box emoji with the word "You" written under it, then another "+" (plus sign), followed by another gift box emoji with the words "Company Match" written under it, then the "=" (equals sign), followed by a much larger gift box emoji with the words "Double the impact" written under it.]

Hi Paul,

We’re so thankful for your recent donation!

Did you know that thousands of companies match donations made by their employees to organizations like the USO? Please visit our matching gift page to see if your company will match your gift and to access the forms, guidelines, and instructions that you need to complete your submission.

[ ] Step 1: See if I'm eligible! Click here***

We want to know when you’ve submitted your matching gift request! Once you’ve submitted, click the link below to let us know.

[ ] Step 2: I've submitted my matching gift request! Click here***

If your company doesn't offer a matching gift program or won't match your donation, click the link below to help us keep our records up to date.

[✓] I'm not eligible for a matching gift.***

For the People Who Serve,

[Name redacted], [name redacted] and [name redacted]

USO Matching Gift Team

Sent on behalf of United Service Organizations., Inc.

Let us know why your gift is ineligible

Thank you for notifying us that your donation is not eligible to be matched by your company. To note this in our records, please select one of the reasons below. Your selection will not be saved until you click "Submit" below.

[  ] I'm retired.

[✓] I am self-employed, a government employee, or not currently working.

[  ] I'm self-employed.

[✓] I'm not currently working.

[Blogger's Note: The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so that is why I indicated that "I'm not currently working."]

[  ] I'm a stay-at-home parent.

[  ] I'm in the public sector.

[  ] I work for a nonprofit.

[  ] I work part-time.

[  ] My company doesn't offer a matching program.

[  ] I don't work for the company you sent info for.

[  ] My donation doesn't meet my company's matching gift program requirements.

[  ] I don't want to submit a match request for this gift.

[  ] I prefer not to say.

Submit

---------------------------------------------

Thank you for your response. We have updated our records.

Thus, I responded to the USO's request to see if my donation could be matched, by indicating that "I'm not currently working."

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation! –Paul Whiting (April 19th, 2026)

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May 1st, 2026 Update No. 1, Which Also Discusses April 2026 And April 27th, 2026: May is Military Appreciation Month! And I recently received two communications from the USO (United Service Organizations).

And the first communication, which I received sometime in April 2026—that I believe was around the middle of the month, but before April 16th—was a mailer from the USO, which stated the following:

[I used to scan and copy the text from the documents for these types of mailers using Google Lens! However—for some reason—I can't do that anymore and I am not sure why! I even tried to scan the documents and then turn them into a PDF file, so that I could copy and paste the text, but that didn't work either. So, I had to hand-type all of the text on my smartphone. And it takes a lot of time and energy in order to hand-type these kinds of documents, so I tracked how long this took me to hand-type and it was about an hour and a half. Then I re-read, and edited, the typed text of said documents in order to make sure that I included all of the italicizing, bolding and/or underscoring where applicable.]

★★★ USO ★★★
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE.™

Dear Mr. Whiting,

Somewhere right now — half a world away from home — a young American is standing watch in a harsh, unforgiving place so that you and I can sleep safely in our beds tonight.

This is someone's son. Someone's daughter. Someone's spouse. Someone's best friend.

And they are serving far from home.

Recently, I met one of those young Americans while visiting the USO Center at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa — one of the most austere forward operating bases in the world. The heat is relentless. The days are long. The isolation is crushing.

He looked me in the eye and said something I'll never forget:

"Sir, I honestly don't know if I would have made it through this deployment without the USO."

He wasn't talking about food or Wi-Fi — though those matter. He was taking about feeling human again.

About stepping into a place that felt normal. Safe. Familiar.

A place where he could call home.

A place where, for a little while, he could breathe.

That place was the USO.

For 85 years, the USO has had a singular mission: to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families.

And today — more than ever — that mission matters.

Our men and women in uniform are deployed to remote, dangerous corners of the world — often with little notice, limited communication with loved ones and enormous stress on their shoulders. Fewer than 1% of Americans serve in uniform. Yet they defend 100% of us.

The USO is the only nonprofit tasked with being there — wherever they serve — providing a true home away from home.

At forward operating bases like Camp Lemonnier, at airfields, aboard ships and in combat zones, the USO delivers something no one else does:

A welcoming place to rest and recharge.

A reminder of home, dignity and humanity.

A moment of connection in the middle of sacrifice.

There are thousands of stories like the one that young Soldier shared with me. Thousands of moments where the USO made the difference between despair and resilience — between giving up and pressing on.

But we can only be there because of you.

The USO receives no guaranteed government funding for these critical services. We are a nonprofit, and our ability to show up for America's sons and daughters depends entirely on the generosity of citizens who believe in their service. Citizens like you.

Today, I'm asking citizens like you — heart to heart — to stand with them.

Your gift will help ensure that no service member deployed overseas ever feels forgotten. That no young American serving far from home ever doubts that their country cares.

They are willing to give everything for us.

Please give what you can today so the USO can continue giving them something priceless: a place that feels like home when home is impossibly far away.

For the People Who Serve,

[Name redacted]
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired
[Title redacted], USO

P.S. When you support the USO, you are directly supporting the men and women who defend our freedom — often in the toughest places on earth. Your generosity matters more than you know.

P.P.S. I came across these photos from the field and wanted to share them with you. I know you care as deeply as I do that no service member feels forgotten. Because of you, we can be there for them.

[Three enclosed postcard-sized photos of military personnel at USO facilities, which I displayed as part of my Military Appreciation Month and Armed Forces Day decorations in my apartment.]

---------------------------------------------

★★★ USO ★★★
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE.™

GIVE THEM A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

[✓] Yes, [name redacted]! I will support America's military and their families with a tax-deductible gift in the amount of:

[  ] $10
[  ] $15
[  ] $20
[  ] $25
[  ] $30
[✓] My best gift of $7.00

Mr. Paul Whiting
[Street Address and Apt. No. redacted]
[City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

Please make your check payable to: The USO. Use reverse side to donate by credit card and to ensure receipt of your gift acknowledgement.

"QR code message": Please scan the QR code or visit uso.org to donate online. Thank you.

https://give.uso.org/page/2506_evergreen

And, after I read the letter above, I scanned the QR code to open the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:

Donate to support our service members

Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country. So please, donate now.

By donating, you agree to allow the USO to use your gift, combined with others, in a matching gift fund.

Secure donation

[✓] Give once
[  ] ❤ Monthly

[  ] $1,000
[  ] $500
[  ] $250
[  ] $75
[  ] $45
[  ] $30
[✓] $7

Become a monthly supporter

Would you consider becoming one of our valued monthly supporters by converting your $7 contribution into a monthly donation.

Ongoing monthly donations allow us to better focus in our mission.

[  ] ❤ Donate $7/month
[✓] Keep my one-time $7 gift

Enter your details

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Phone number (optional): [redacted]
Donate as an organization: N/A

Enter your address

Street address: [redacted]
Apartment/suite/floor: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip code: [redacted]

You donate $7 USD

[  ] Cover transaction costs

Donate

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country."

Then, after I made said donation, I received an email from the USO today, May 1st, 2026, with the subject line, "Thank You for Your Donation to the USO", which stated the following:

★★★ USO ★★★

[Picture of "a soldier kneeling to embrace a child in an airport setting, conveying a message of reunion and support, with the USO logo on the left."]

Thank you for your generous $7.00 USD donation!

Dear Paul Whiting,

Thank you for your generous tax-deductible gift in support of the USO.

Donation Amount: $7.00 USD

Donation ID: [redacted]

Donation Date: May 1, 2026

Email: [redacted]

Your gift honors the service and sacrifice our troops make for us every day and will provide comfort and support to them and their families.

As a reminder, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by federal law. And if there is a premium associated with your donation, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

If you have any questions or would like to contact the USO, please call [phone number redacted].

-Your friends at the USO

And the second communication, which I received on, April 27th, was another mailer from the USO, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read as follows:

YOUR GIFT, OUR THANKS

Enclosed: A gift for you and an opportunity to thank our service members

And the mailer above stated the following:

[I used to scan and copy the text from the documents for these types of mailers using Google Lens! However—for some reason—I can't do that anymore and I am not sure why! I even tried to scan the documents and then turn them into a PDF file, so that I could copy and paste the text, but that didn't work either. So, I had to hand-type all of the text on my smartphone. And it takes a lot of time and energy in order to hand-type these kinds of documents, so I tracked how long this took me to hand-type and it was about an hour and twenty minutes. Then I re-read, and edited, the typed text of said documents in order to make sure that I included all of the italicizing, bolding and/or underscoring where applicable.]

★★★ USO ★★★
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE.™

[Name redacted], Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired
[Title redacted], USO
____________________________________________________
USO ★ [Street Address and Suite No. redacted] ★ [City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

Dear Mr. Whiting,

The American flag isn't just something we honor . . .

. . . sometimes it's the only piece of home our service members carry into places where the ground shakes, the air burns and the deafening silence can mean danger.

Some of those brave Americans come from Portland.

They're the sons and daughters who once ran through your parks, stood under your stadium lights and placed their hand over their chest to honor what the flag represents in your schools.

Today, that same flag flies above them on remote bases as they lace up dusty boots, brace against harsh terrain and miss everything of home — the laughter around the dinner table . . . the warmth of familiar voices . . . the moments they'll never get back.

What pushes them forward is knowing the people who raised them, cheered for them and believed in them are standing behind them with unwavering pride.

That's why I'm asking you to take two meaningful actions today.

First, sign the enclosed thank you card.

When you return it, your message will be displayed at USO Centers across the globe — places where a service member far from home might glance up, see your words beside the American flag and feel that surge of recognition: Someone back home remembers me. Someone cares.

Second: If you're able, please send a gift of $10, $15, $20 or an amount that feels right for you.

Your support keeps the USO where we must be — right beside our troops, wherever they're serving. You see, the USO is the only nonprofit who goes where active-duty go — no matter where they may be.

As a small token of our appreciation for taking these actions, I've enclosed some patriotic American flag name address labels. They are designed to reflect the pride and gratitude Americans like you share for those who serve. They aren't just labels — they are a reminder of the values our service members defend every day.

So is your generosity. It helps deliver the support our troops rely on:

• Free phone calls home, so a service member can hear the voice they miss the most.

• Welcoming USO Centers, where they can rest, recharge or simply feel human again amid the demands of duty.

• Care packages and essential supplies, offering reminders of home in places where those things don't exist.

• Support for wounded and injured service members and their families, from the front lines through recovery.

When you send your card and your generous gift today, you're doing far more than expressing gratitude. You are strengthening the daily life of the brave men and women who defend our nation — and showing them that the American people remain steadfast in our support.

Please return your gift and your card as soon as possible. Your message will be proudly displayed in USO Centers worldwide — Centers you help build and sustain for our heroes.

Because of you, a deployed service member can walk into a USO Center, pick up a phone and hear home.

That moment . . . that connection . . . exists because of you.

On behalf of all those who serve, thank you for standing with our troops and their families.

For the People Who Serve,

[Name redacted]
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired
[Title redacted], USO

P.S. With a gift of $20 or more, you may request an American-made flag or a limited-edition USO baseball hat created especially to honor America's 250th anniversary. These items are reserved for loyal friends like you who choose to stand closest to our heroes

Make a faster impact at uso.org/supportnow

---------------------------------------------

★★★ USO ★★★
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE.™

I want to show our heroes how much America cares.

Please use my thank-you card to tell our brave service members I value their service and sacrifice. Keep them strong with my donation of:

[  ] $10
[  ] $15
[✓] $20
[  ] My best gift of $_______

THANK YOU. To donate using your credit card, please use the reverse side of this form. Or, enclose your check payable to: The USO

[  ] Make my gift monthly (See back of form.)

Mr. Paul Whiting
[Street Address and Apt. No. redacted]
[City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

CHOOSE YOUR FREE GIFT WITH A DONATION TO THE USO

LH [✓] Please send me a free limited-edition USO hat for my gift of $20 or more.

FP [  ] Please send me a free flag for my gift of $20 or more.

DP [  ] You may keep my free gift, and use my full donation to benefit our troops.

---------------------------------------------

[An additional insert that shows an image of the USO's America 250 Years baseball hat on the left and a USO American flag on the right, with the following text:]

As we mark 250 years of our great nation, we're inspired to show our patriotism.

With your gift of $20.00 or more, you can receive a FREE limited-edition USO baseball hat or a FREE American-made U.S. flag honoring America's 250 anniversary as a thank you for supporting our military heroes and their families.

For delivery, please allow 6-8 weeks from receipt of your contribution. While supplies last.

Deadline: May 31, 2026

---------------------------------------------

[Text from one side of the enclosed thank you card:]

THANKS
—★★★—

We Can Celebrate Our Freedom
Because Of You

★★★ USO ★★★
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE.™

[Text from the other side of the enclosed thank you card:]

Please know that wherever you are,
What you are doing for America is greatly appreciated.

All of us here at home are with you in spirit.
Your courage keeps us safe.
Your sacrafices keep us free.

May you stay safe and come home soon.

With Thanks From
This Grateful American

Paul Whiting     Signed 05/01/2026

And, after I read the letter above, I entered the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:

Donate to support our service members

Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country. So please, donate now.

By donating, you agree to allow the USO to use your gift, combined with others, in a matching gift fund.

Secure donation

[✓] Give once
[  ] ❤ Monthly

[  ] $1,000
[  ] $500
[  ] $250
[  ] $75
[  ] $45
[  ] $30
[✓] $20

Become a monthly supporter

Would you consider becoming one of our valued monthly supporters by converting your $20 contribution into a monthly donation.

Ongoing monthly donations allow us to better focus in our mission.

[  ] ❤ Donate $10/month
[  ] Donate $5/month
[✓] Keep my one-time $20 gift

Enter your details

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Phone number (optional): [redacted]
Donate as an organization: N/A

Enter your address

Street address: [redacted]
Apartment/suite/floor: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip code: [redacted]

You donate $20 USD

[  ] Cover transaction costs

Donate

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can't do that without support from military supporters like you. Our heroes are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country."

Then, after I made said donation, I received another email from the USO today, May 1st, 2026, with the subject line, "Thank You for Your Donation to the USO", which stated the following:

★★★ USO ★★★

[Picture of "a soldier kneeling to embrace a child in an airport setting, conveying a message of reunion and support, with the USO logo on the left."]

Thank you for your generous $20.00 USD donation!

Dear Paul Whiting,

Thank you for your generous tax-deductible gift in support of the USO.

Donation Amount: $20.00 USD

Donation ID: [redacted]

Donation Date: May 1, 2026

Email: [redacted]

Your gift honors the service and sacrifice our troops make for us every day and will provide comfort and support to them and their families.

As a reminder, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by federal law. And if there is a premium associated with your donation, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

If you have any questions or would like to contact the USO, please call [phone number redacted].

-Your friends at the USO

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via regular mail, email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO! –Paul Whiting (written May 1st, 2026, revised May 2nd, 2026 and revised May 3rd, 2026)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 109 was edited on May 3rd, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Small All White in the Forest — Poet

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Post No. 109: For Armed Forces Day — "The Soldiers Of The Cross"

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