Small All White in the Forest — Poet: Post No. 159: For Memorial Day 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Post No. 159: For Memorial Day 2013 — A Memorable Memorial Day

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Memorial Day 2013 is when I first wrote the following new saying for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day: "Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

Thus, 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day' was the title of the original poem for my May 27th, 2013 Memorial Day post on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog. (Please see 'My Poetic Notes' below for that original poem.) And I replaced that poem—which was written for the Memorial Day 2013 post—as I often do with my writing!

You see, I replaced that poem when I came across a poem that I had written on May 30th, 2021, for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, which is titled, 'A Memorable Memorial Day,' and that is also titled, 'A Solemn Patriotic Poem,' as can be seen below:

A Memorable Memorial Day
(Or, "A Solemn Patriotic Poem")

He taps into his memorabilia;
She taps into her photo album;
They tap into their memories;
A day that taps into the
sacrifices that were made by
souls who have given their lives...

...I tap into my courage;
I tap into my patriotism;
I tap into my humility;
And I tap into a somber,
a solemnly respectful and
"A Memorable Memorial Day."

-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 IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2012): For Memorial Day 2012, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence for the all of Americans who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11th, 2001, in order to remember and honor their lives, their legacies and their last full measure of devotion for our country. And I also listened to patriotic music that celebrates the heroic sacrifice of all the men and women in the United States Military (both past and present), whose selfless dedication made it possible for American to become free and to remain free! –Paul Whiting (written May 28th, 2012, revised May 30th, 2022, revised July 19th, 2022, revised January 31st, 2023, revised May 29th, 2023 and revised May 28th, 2026)

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My Writing About A New Saying 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day' For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day: On Memorial Day, rather than saying "Happy Memorial Day," I choose instead to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," or I simply say, "Memorable Memorial Day." For, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance—just like a memorial service—and is truly about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2013, revised May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised May 29th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

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My Writing About God Never Forgetting Those Who Have Served Him: For those of you who have lost loved ones, while your loved ones were serving in the United States Military, I wish you 'A Memorable Memorial Day' as a day of loving reflection and healing peace. Please always remember that God never forgets those who have served Him. –Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022 and revised May 29th, 2023)

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My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2022) [May 30th, 2022 Update—Continued (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)]:

For Memorial Day 2022, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence for those "who made the ultimate sacrifice, including those we have lost due to their exposures to toxic chemicals while serving our great country" in order to remember and honor their lives, their legacies and their last full measure of devotion for our country.

And I also showed my support for the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act," or the PACT Act (H.R. 3967), which is "a culmination of years of work by national veterans groups, to finally establish that if a veteran has suffered an injury from toxic exposures like from burn pits during their deployments, they will be granted disability and healthcare benefits by the VA [Veterans Administration]."

And so, I sent letters to my Senators, via the IAVA website, urging them to support passing this critical legislation ASAP. And, after I sent those letters to my Senators, I also made a donation to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans!

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised July 19th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised January 31st, 2023, revised March 10th, 2023, revised May 26th, 2023, revised May 29th, 2023, revised September 10th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

[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.]

The #GoSilent Campaign

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, May 30th, 2022, to memorialize my participation in observing one minute of silence for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America). And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of somber patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day Parade: 40 Patriotic Songs" by American Music Experts on YouTube Music, which I started playing at 3:01 PM in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

"Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:01 PM on Memorial Day, May 30th, 2022, in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day." And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of somber patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day Parade: 40 Patriotic Songs" by American Music Experts on YouTube Music. Plus, I started playing the album after I observed one minute of silence at 3:00 PM for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) for Memorial Day.

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My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2023) [May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Like Never Before (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)]:

For Memorial Day 2023, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence "for our nation’s heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice," including "those who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror (GWOT)," which is "a war that continues to be waged to this day," because the "GWOT has killed more than 7,000 U.S. troops across more than two decades – every one of them volunteers." And I also made a donation to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 29th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

The #GoSilent Campaign

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, May 29th, 2023, to memorialize my participation in observing one minute of silence for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America). And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day, The Best American Patriotic Songs & Marches: God Bless America, Star Spangled Banner, Taps, & More!" by Various Artists on YouTube Music, which I started playing at 3:01 PM in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day." [Please see the blog post titled, "Post No. 238: For Memorial Day, Part 2 — Memorial Day from 2012 (Looking Back...): 'The #GoSilent Campaign'"]

"Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:01 PM on Memorial Day, May 29th, 2023, in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day." And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day, The Best American Patriotic Songs & Marches: God Bless America, Star Spangled Banner, Taps, & More!" by Various Artists on YouTube Music. Plus, I started playing the album after I observed one minute of silence at 3:00 PM for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) for Memorial Day. [Please see the blog post titled, "Post No. 238: For Memorial Day, Part 2 — Memorial Day from 2012 (Looking Back...): 'The #GoSilent Campaign'"]

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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 IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2024) [May 27th, 2024 Update No. 2 (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)]:

For Memorial Day 2024, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence "as our troops continue to be deployed in harm’s way to places like Iraq and Syria," which is why "this is also a good time to remind ourselves of those who keep stepping up and volunteering to risk their lives in order to keep us safe here at home every day." That is why I made the pledge to "#GoSilent with [IAVA] today at 3:00 PM local time to make sure that the sacrifice of the fallen is not forgotten, and to help us remind America of the true meaning behind Memorial Day." And I also made a donation to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

The #GoSilent Campaign

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, May 27th, 2024, to memorialize my participation in observing one minute of silence for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America). And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day Music" by Pianissimo Brothers on YouTube Music, which I started playing at 3:01 PM in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

"Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:01 PM on Memorial Day, May 27th, 2024, in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day." And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to over the weekend—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Memorial Day Music" by Pianissimo Brothers on YouTube Music. Plus, I started playing the album after I observed one minute of silence at 3:00 PM for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) for Memorial Day.

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My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form [November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1]: 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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My Writing About Telling Everyone In America My New Saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day, By Creating YouTube Music Playlists [May 26th, 2025 Update No. 1]: For Memorial Day 2025, I decided to create playlists on YouTube Music in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day...

...And so, in honor of all those who died while serving in the United States Military, I created the following two playlists on YouTube Music in order to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," everyone:

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 1' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID3rbd3KbNDH56ZhVR6yGDFo&si=w-RrGtk0z8qyChOO

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 2' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID0UKIenmgul5kC_IaZ53dPN&si=IJDrhoKCL2sTAu35

Here is the description from both of those playlists:

For Memorial Day, I decided to create this playlist in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day.

Thus, here is "My Writing About A New Saying 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day' For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day":

On Memorial Day, rather than saying "Happy Memorial Day," I choose instead to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," or I simply say, "Memorable Memorial Day." For, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance—just like a memorial service—and is truly about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2013, revised May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised May 29th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

Plus, here is a poem that I wrote on May 30th, 2021, for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, which is titled, 'A Memorable Memorial Day,' and that is also titled, 'A Solemn Patriotic Poem,' as can be seen below:

A Memorable Memorial Day (A Patriotic Poem)

He taps into his memorabilia;
She taps into her photo albums;
They tap into their memories;
A day that taps into the
sacrifices that were made by
souls who have given their lives...

...I tap into my courage;
I tap into my patriotism;
I tap into my humility;
And I tap into a somber,
a solemnly respectful, and
"A Memorable Memorial Day."

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2021 for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 13th, 2022 and revised May 14th, 2023)

Besides that, for Memorial Day 2025—as usual—I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence, which is asking “Americans to #GoSilent and participate in a moment of silence at 3PM local time in honor of the men and women in uniform that paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation.” That is why I decided to #GoSilent with [IAVA] at 3:00 PM local time in order to help draw “specific attention to those U.S. service members who were killed while deployed under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was passed in response to the 9/11 attacks, but was used to justify sending them to places other than Afghanistan. Troops killed in places like Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Niger, in addition to troops killed in Iraq well after America was told that the war there was over.”

https://iava.org/media/iava-urges-fellow-americans-to-gosilent-on-memorial-day-2

–Paul Whiting (May 26th, 2025, revised November 11th, 2025 and revised May 27th, 2026)

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[Blogger's Note: The following 'My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 2026', and 'My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 2026, Part 2', as contained within 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)', in addition to 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On May 17th, 2026)' — are NOT related to Memorial Day, but they are relevant to explaining that 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.

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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 (written April 16th, 2026 and revised May 21st, 2026
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April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026) [My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 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.

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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.

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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, revised April 19th, 2026, revised May 16th, 2026 and revised May 21st, 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)
---------------------------------------------
April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On May 17th, 2026) [My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 2026, Part 2]: This update is a follow-up to my 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026)', wherein I explained, in part, that I made a donation on April 16th, 2026, to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website regarding the 2026 USO T-shirt design!

Plus, I clarified that—even though I made a one-time donation for said T-shirt—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.

And I go on to explain 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!

Therefore, I explained that I decided to restart my recurring monthly donations, as part of the USO Home Team, on April 17th, 2026!

And I also clarified that 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.

Thus, that first recurring monthly donation started today, May 17th, 2026!

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. (I also donate for particular calendar observances, such as Armed Forces Day, or Armed Forces Month!) 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! –Paul Whiting (written May 17th, 2026 and revised May 18th, 2026)

P.S.: It's May 18th, 2026 and early this morning, after checking my regular mail, I received a postcard from the USO, which stated the following:

★★★ USO ★★★ Home ⋆ Team

Thank you for joining the USO Home Team! Your ongoing commitment is deeply appreciated. Your generosity ensures that we can continue providing vital support to our service members and their families.

For the people who serve,

[Name redacted]

Welcome to the USO Home Team, Paul!

And so, I wanted to share this postcard with you, my readers, as part of this update regarding my USO Home Team recurring monthly donations!

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My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2026) [May 25th, 2026 Update No. 3, Written On May 26th, 2026 (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)]:

For Memorial Day 2026, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence, which is thanking us "for joining IAVA as we #GoSilent this Memorial Day at 3PM to honor American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service and dedication to our nation." That is why I decided to #GoSilent with IAVA at 3:00 PM local time in order to help draw "special attention to the at least 13 U.S. service members killed in the most recent conflict with Iran. Our troops have been sent into harm’s way without clear public understanding of the scope, duration, or end goal of the mission. While these men and women faced that uncertainty, they did not hesitate to uphold the oath they swore to defend this nation. Even as many at home struggle to make sense of this new chapter of war, these service members never wavered. They gave everything in service to this country, and this Memorial Day, we #GoSilent to honor their sacrifice, remember their names, and ensure their service is never forgotten." And I also made a donation to IAVA in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 26th, 2026, revised May 27th, 2026 and revised May 28th, 2026)

The #GoSilent Campaign

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, May 25th, 2026, to memorialize my participation in observing one minute of silence for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America). And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened to on that day—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Taps: Remembering Our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day" by U.S. Military Bands on YouTube Music, which I started playing at 3:01 PM in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

"Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

The image above is a screenshot of my smartphone alarm going off at 3:01 PM on Memorial Day, May 25th, 2026, in order to represent the holiday wish "Have A Memorable Memorial Day." And in the image you can see one of the many albums that I listened on that day—of solemn patriotic music—that is titled, "Taps: Remembering Our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day" on YouTube Music. Plus, I started playing the album after I observed one minute of silence at 3:00 PM for "The #GoSilent Campaign" by the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) for Memorial Day.

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My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "On Memorial Day, rather than saying 'Happy Memorial Day,' I choose instead to say, 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day.' Or, I simply say, 'Memorable Memorial Day,' because this day of remembrance is like a memorial service. For, Memorial Day truly is about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military."

Although, to clarify, I revised the above-mentioned Memorial Day 2013 statement on Memorial Day 2023, as follows: "On Memorial Day, rather than saying 'Happy Memorial Day,' I choose instead to say, 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day,' or I simply say, 'Memorable Memorial Day.' For, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, like a memorial service, and is truly about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military."

Just so you know, I replaced the original poem, which was written for this post, as I often do with my writing! And I replaced that poem when I came across a poem that I had written on May 30th, 2021, for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, which is titled, "A Memorable Memorial Day," and which is also titled, "A Solemn Patriotic Poem." Therefore, I wanted to show you that original poem, which is titled, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day."

And it was written like this:

Have A Memorable Memorial Day

Rather than saying
"Happy Memorial Day,"
I choose instead to say,
"Have a Memorable
Memorial Day."

Or, I simply say,
"Memorable Memorial
Day," because this day of
remembrance is like
a memorial service.

For, Memorial Day
truly is about honoring
the men and women who
died while serving in the
United States Military.

And, thus, I replaced it with the poem above.

Also, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to this blog, of which this is one.

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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May 30th, 2022 Update, Written On May 26th, 2022: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I signed a Memorial Day card "for all the brave service members who put their lives on the line to defend our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 26th, 2022, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Sign the card to honor our heroes this Memorial Day", which stated the following:

Paul,

Too many people forget what Memorial Day is really about: honoring the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

That’s why we’re asking our most dedicated military supporters, including you, to show their support by signing our Memorial Day card for all the brave service members who put their lives on the line to defend our country. Please, will you be one of the 100,000 grateful Americans we need to sign the card and let our troops know how much we value and appreciate their service?

SIGN THE CARD***

I served multiple deployments during my time in the Navy, and I can’t tell you how much it meant to me and my fellow service members to know that folks back home were thinking of us on important holidays like Memorial Day.

Signing a card may not seem like much, but it sends a powerful message of support and gratitude to our troops as they make immense sacrifices to keep us safe and free. So please, before your Memorial Day weekend starts, will you sign the card now to help show our troops how much you appreciate their sacrifices?

SIGN THE CARD***

Thank you for taking a moment to stand with our troops before celebrating this special day with your loved ones. It means so much.

We hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend.

— [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 our troops, "As we honor all of our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and the immense sacrifices you make every day to protect our country."

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, the 'article' above is actually a video, which is why I didn't include the author(s) name(s) and the publishing date.

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 26th, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised July 1st, 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 14th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised May 26th, 2023, revised May 28th, 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 30th, 2022 Update—Continued [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2022)]:

For Memorial Day 2022, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence for those "who made the ultimate sacrifice, including those we have lost due to their exposures to toxic chemicals while serving our great country" in order to remember and honor their lives, their legacies and their last full measure of devotion for our country.

And I also showed my support for the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act," or the PACT Act (H.R. 3967), which is "a culmination of years of work by national veterans groups, to finally establish that if a veteran has suffered an injury from toxic exposures like from burn pits during their deployments, they will be granted disability and healthcare benefits by the VA [Veterans Administration]."

And so, I sent letters to my Senators, via the IAVA website, urging them to support passing this critical legislation ASAP. And, after I sent those letters to my Senators, I also made a donation to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans!

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised July 19th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised January 31st, 2023, revised March 10th, 2023, revised May 26th, 2023, revised May 29th, 2023, revised September 10th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

[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 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I signed a Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 26th, 2023, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Before you kick off the holiday weekend, please take a moment to thank our troops.", which stated the following:

Paul,

With barbecues, parades and fireworks to look forward to, so many people tend to forget that Memorial Day is an occasion to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.

Before you celebrate this holiday weekend, we’re asking you to take a moment to remember our fallen heroes and show your support for the brave troops sacrificing so much today. Please, will you be one of the 100,000 patriotic Americans we need across emails, text messages, and advertisements to sign the card before Memorial Day ends, and let our heroes know how much folks back home value their service and sacrifice?

SIGN THE CARD***

My husband has had to miss precious time with family while serving in the U.S. Air Force, and while nothing can make up for those moments missed, I can tell you that having the support and gratitude of folks back home truly meant the world — to both of us.

As they risk their lives to protect ours, your signature, combined with thousands from other patriotic Americans, will send a powerful message of solidarity, one that can uplift a service member during their darkest moments. So please, don’t miss this opportunity to thank our troops: Sign immediately to stand with our heroes in uniform ahead of Memorial Day.

SIGN THE CARD***

Thank you for taking the time to be there for our military heroes before enjoying the holiday weekend with your loved ones. It truly means the world.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

—[Name redacted], USO

Hi, it's [name redacted] from the USO. I hope your long weekend is off to a great start - but I'm reaching out today to make sure we all take a few moments to remember what this day is truly about: honoring the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.

We owe them, and those who continue to risk their lives to defend our country, so much. That's why the USO has set a goal of 100K signatures on this special Memorial Day thank-you card for troops deployed around the world to make sure they know we're thinking about them, today and every day.

As a military spouse, I can tell you that your words of support and gratitude really do make a difference, especially when a service member is missing their family or having a tough day. So, I'm personally asking, will you add your name?***

Thank you,
[Name redacted], USO

Between beach days and barbecues, too many people forget that Memorial Day is about remembering all the courageous heroes who have lost their lives in service to our country.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

Please, sign the thank-you card now to help reach our 100K signature goal and show our troops that you value and appreciate their immense sacrifices:***

-Team USO

This Memorial Day, help us reach 100k signatures on the card supporting our military heroes. They need to know we have their backs, so please, add your name now! >>***

Dear Paul,

Memorial Day weekend signifies many things: the start of summer, outdoor festivities and time spent with loved ones. But most importantly, this day is about solemn remembrance, commemorating the brave service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Yesterday, today and every day, we must reflect on the sacrifice and service of American troops throughout our great nation's history. I am eternally grateful to all the brave heroes in uniform who put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms of our country. We must remember and honor their bravery and commitment every single day of the year.

As you get back to your long weekend, I want to thank this community of dedicated military supporters for understanding what this day is truly all about. No matter what, the USO will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to honor and support service members and their families — and you are critical to that mission.

Thank you for being a part of this patriotic community and for standing with our courageous heroes in uniform.

Solemnly,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
United Service Organizations, Inc.

So, I wanted to share the email above with you, my readers, as my last 'update' with regard to me signing the USO's Memorial Day card for 2023. You see, I signed the USO's card four times to thank our troops, plus I made four donations to the USO, based upon one email and three text messages that I received from May 26th, 2023 to May 29th, 2023.

(Please see my 'May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023,' and my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023,' as well as my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On May 28th, 2023,' in addition to my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More,' which can be found above.)

And I did this in order to show my appreciation for the service and sacrifices of our U.S. Military Personnel and our U.S. Veterans. For, Memorial Day truly is a solemn occasion—which is like a memorial service—to honor those who have died while serving in the United States Military. –Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2023 and revised July 28th, 2023)

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May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Like Never Before [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2023) (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)]:

For Memorial Day 2023, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence "for our nation’s heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice," including "those who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror (GWOT)," which is "a war that continues to be waged to this day," because the "GWOT has killed more than 7,000 U.S. troops across more than two decades – every one of them volunteers." And I also made a donation to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 29th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

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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 27th, 2024 Update No. 1, Written On May 23rd, 2024: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I signed a Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 23rd, 2024, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Before you celebrate Memorial Day weekend…", which stated the following:

SIGN THE CARD

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

HONOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

ADD YOUR NAME***

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Paul,

Before Memorial Day weekend arrives, we want to make sure we all take a moment to remember what this holiday is really about: honoring the heroes who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our country — and those currently risking their lives to defend our freedoms.

We're counting on 100,000 proud military supporters like you to sign the card via email and text message before Memorial Day ends to show your support for active-duty service members deployed around the world: Will you join thousands of other military supporters and thank our heroes before midnight?

THANK OUR HEROES

Right now, our service members are facing emerging threats from the Iranian military in the Middle East and increased hostility from the governments of Niger and Chad.

In the face of these escalating conflicts around the world, your gratitude and support right now mean so much to our service members risking their lives for our country.

So please, don't miss this chance to honor the fallen and show all our heroes in uniform serving across the globe how much you appreciate everything they do for us. Sign the card now to thank our service members this Memorial Day.

THANK OUR HEROES

Thank you for standing with those who serve this Memorial Day.

The USO

SIGN THE CARD***

***[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 our troops, "As we honor our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and the immense sacrifices you make every day to protect our country."

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 (May 23rd, 2024)

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May 27th, 2024 Update No. 2 (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) [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2024)]:

For Memorial Day 2024, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence "as our troops continue to be deployed in harm’s way to places like Iraq and Syria," which is why "this is also a good time to remind ourselves of those who keep stepping up and volunteering to risk their lives in order to keep us safe here at home every day." That is why I made the pledge to "#GoSilent with [IAVA] today at 3:00 PM local time to make sure that the sacrifice of the fallen is not forgotten, and to help us remind America of the true meaning behind Memorial Day." And I also made a donation to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2024 and revised May 28th, 2026)

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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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May 26th, 2025 Update No. 1: [My Writing About Telling Everyone In America My New Saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day, By Creating YouTube Music Playlists] For Memorial Day 2025, I decided to create playlists on YouTube Music in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day...

...And so, in honor of all those who died while serving in the United States Military, I created the following two playlists on YouTube Music in order to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," everyone:

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 1' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID3rbd3KbNDH56ZhVR6yGDFo&si=w-RrGtk0z8qyChOO

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 2' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID0UKIenmgul5kC_IaZ53dPN&si=IJDrhoKCL2sTAu35

Here is the description from both of those playlists:

For Memorial Day, I decided to create this playlist in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day.

Thus, here is "My Writing About A New Saying 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day' For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day":

On Memorial Day, rather than saying "Happy Memorial Day," I choose instead to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," or I simply say, "Memorable Memorial Day." For, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance—just like a memorial service—and is truly about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2013, revised May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised May 29th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

Plus, here is a poem that I wrote on May 30th, 2021, for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, which is titled, 'A Memorable Memorial Day,' and that is also titled, 'A Solemn Patriotic Poem,' as can be seen below:

A Memorable Memorial Day (A Patriotic Poem)

He taps into his memorabilia;
She taps into her photo albums;
They tap into their memories;
A day that taps into the
sacrifices that were made by
souls who have given their lives...

...I tap into my courage;
I tap into my patriotism;
I tap into my humility;
And I tap into a somber,
a solemnly respectful, and
"A Memorable Memorial Day."

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2021 for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 13th, 2022 and revised May 14th, 2023)

Besides that, for Memorial Day 2025—as usual—I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence, which is asking “Americans to #GoSilent and participate in a moment of silence at 3PM local time in honor of the men and women in uniform that paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation.” That is why I decided to #GoSilent with [IAVA] at 3:00 PM local time in order to help draw “specific attention to those U.S. service members who were killed while deployed under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was passed in response to the 9/11 attacks, but was used to justify sending them to places other than Afghanistan. Troops killed in places like Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Niger, in addition to troops killed in Iraq well after America was told that the war there was over.”

https://iava.org/media/iava-urges-fellow-americans-to-gosilent-on-memorial-day-2

–Paul Whiting (May 26th, 2025, revised November 11th, 2025 and revised May 27th, 2026)

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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) [My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 2026]’, as well as 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On April 19th, 2026)', in addition to ‘April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On May 17th, 2026) [My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 2026, Part 2]' — are NOT related to Memorial Day, but they are relevant to explaining that 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 (written April 16th, 2026 and revised May 21st, 2026)
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April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026) [My Writing About How I Restarted Donating To The USO (United Service Organizations) As Of April 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

Double your impact

Many employers have a donation matching program that will double or triple the value of your donation. Just enter the name of your employer, and we'll see if your impact can be amplified!

Your company (optional): N/A

Enter your address

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

You donate $20 USD/month

[  ] Cover transaction costs

Donate

"...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.

[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.

★★★ USO ★★★ Home ⋆ Team

Thank you for joining the USO Home Team! Your ongoing commitment is deeply appreciated. Your generosity ensures that we can continue providing vital support to our service members and their families.

For the people who serve,

[Name redacted]

Welcome to the USO Home Team, Paul!

And so, I wanted to share this postcard with you, my readers, as part of this update regarding my USO Home Team recurring monthly donations!

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May 25th, 2026 Update No. 1: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. This update is a follow-up to my 'May 26th, 2025 Update No. 1,' which stated, in part, the following:

May 26th, 2025 Update No. 1: For Memorial Day 2025, I decided to create playlists on YouTube Music in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day...

...And so, in honor of all those who died while serving in the United States Military, I created the following two playlists on YouTube Music in order to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," everyone:

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 1' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID3rbd3KbNDH56ZhVR6yGDFo&si=w-RrGtk0z8qyChOO

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 2' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID0UKIenmgul5kC_IaZ53dPN&si=IJDrhoKCL2sTAu35

And for 2026—which America's 250th Birthday/Anniversary—I add the following new playlist to the above two playlists:

"'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 3' by Various Artists: Country Patriotic Music" (on YouTube):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5ASnKWDRID11OSDlxsLkX7sqimeW5_uE&si=l_2rztA0idrQt1Ap

Admittedly, however, this new "'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 3' by Various Artists: Country Patriotic Music" playlist is mostly songs that are more upbeat than the previous two playlists for Memorial Day, which were designed by me to be much more solemn patriotic music.

You see, I was trying to find some really great country songs about Memorial Day—the kind that truly honor the sacrifices made by those who died while serving in the U.S. military—which is why I decided to create this playlist in the first place. Though, there really weren't any of those kinds of songs on these particular playlist albums.

Plus, some of the songs on these albums seemed a lot more like "jazz," or "blues," or even "Dixieland," than "country." So, I selected the only songs that really appealed to me from these specific albums that I found on YouTube Music for this new playlist.

However, I decided to keep this new playlist because I really wanted to "tip my hat," so to speak, to all the song writers of country music, who I feel create some of the best new music, which is what I was hoping to find on these albums!

And, even though I originally created this new "'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 3' by Various Artists: Country Patriotic Music" playlist on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th, I actually started listening to this new playlist on Tuesday, May 26th.

Thus, I first started by listening to the "'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 1' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" playlist on Monday May 25th, followed that same day by "'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 2' by Various Artists: Somber Patriotic Music" playlist, which carried over until Tuesday, May 26th.

Then, as mentioned above, I started listening to "'Have A Memorable Memorial Day, Part 3' by Various Artists: Country Patriotic Music" on Tuesday, May 26th and finished on Wednesday, May 27th.

Therefore, this new playlist of more upbeat music, I actually started listening to the day after Memorial Day—which I feel is a solemn holiday, like a memorial service—so then I could continue listening to typically more upbeat "marching band-stye" Memorial Day albums until the end of May.

And here is the description from all three of those playlists:

For Memorial Day, I decided to create this playlist in order to tell everyone in the United States of America about my new saying, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day" for such a solemn holiday as Memorial Day.

Thus, here is "My Writing About A New Saying 'Have A Memorable Memorial Day' For Such A Solemn Holiday As Memorial Day":

On Memorial Day, rather than saying "Happy Memorial Day," I choose instead to say, "Have A Memorable Memorial Day," or I simply say, "Memorable Memorial Day." For, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance—just like a memorial service—and is truly about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military. –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2013, revised May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised May 29th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

Plus, here is a poem that I wrote on May 30th, 2021, for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, which is titled, 'A Memorable Memorial Day,' and that is also titled, 'A Solemn Patriotic Poem,' as can be seen below:

A Memorable Memorial Day (A Patriotic Poem)

He taps into his memorabilia;
She taps into her photo albums;
They tap into their memories;
A day that taps into the
sacrifices that were made by
souls who have given their lives...

...I tap into my courage;
I tap into my patriotism;
I tap into my humility;
And I tap into a somber,
a solemnly respectful, and
"A Memorable Memorial Day."

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2021 for Memorial Day on May 31st, 2021, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 13th, 2022 and revised May 14th, 2023)

Besides that, I made two donations to the USO for Memorial Day 2026 (please see my 'May 25th, 2026 Update No. 2, Written On May 25th, 2026 And May 26th, 2026, Which Also Discusses May 18th, 2026 And May 19th, 2026,' which can be found below).

Additionally, for Memorial Day 2026—as usual—I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence, which is thanking us "for joining IAVA as we #GoSilent this Memorial Day at 3PM to honor American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service and dedication to our nation." That is why I decided to #GoSilent with IAVA at 3:00 PM local time in order to help draw "special attention to the at least 13 U.S. service members killed in the most recent conflict with Iran. Our troops have been sent into harm’s way without clear public understanding of the scope, duration, or end goal of the mission. While these men and women faced that uncertainty, they did not hesitate to uphold the oath they swore to defend this nation. Even as many at home struggle to make sense of this new chapter of war, these service members never wavered. They gave everything in service to this country, and this Memorial Day, we #GoSilent to honor their sacrifice, remember their names, and ensure their service is never forgotten." And I also made a donation to IAVA in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans (please see my 'May 25th, 2026 Update No. 3, Written On May 26th, 2026', which can be found below).

https://iava.org/events/gosilent

Furthermore, I made a donation to Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) as part of my Memorial Day observations (please see my 'May 25th, 2026 Update No. 4, Written On May 27th, 2026, Which Also Discussed May 2026,' which can be found below), as well as a donation to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) for Memorial Day (please see my 'May 25th, 2026 Update No. 5, Written On May 27th, 2026,' which can be found below).

–Paul Whiting (written May 25th, 2026, revised May 26th, 2026 and revised May 27th, 2026)

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

May 25th, 2026 Update No. 2, Written On May 25th, 2026 And May 26th, 2026, Which Also Discusses May 18th, 2026 And May 19th, 2026: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I recently received two communications from the USO (United Service Organizations).

And the first communication, which I received on May 18th, 2026, was a mailer from the USO, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read as follows:

2X THE MORALE-BOOSTING SUPPORT
★ GIFTS BY JUNE 30 WILL BE MATCHED ★

And an additional 'back teaser message' shows an image of a USO American flag on the left and the USO's America 250 Years baseball hat on the right, with the following text:

FREE GIFT for Your Donation to Support Our Military Heroes.

Please scan the QR code or visit uso.org/memorialday to donate online.

uso.org/memorialday

And the mailer above stated the following:

[I used to hand-type the text of the documents from these types of mailers on my smartphone; however, it takes a lot of time and energy in order to hand-type these kinds of documents: so, instead, I scanned and copied the documents using Google Lens! Then, I edited the copy of said documents to include all of the italicizing, bolding and/or underscoring where applicable.]

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

[Business name redacted logo]

Dear Mr. Whiting,

The air is heavy and hot ... not from the charcoal and cookouts filling neighborhoods this Memorial Day, but from a place where a U.S. service member watches a horizon where danger rarely announces itself.

Their "holiday weekend" is spent at a cramped outpost with the weight of body armor and the constant thump of helicopters overhead.

While we gather in backyards, they brace for the unthinkable and the unexpected: a sudden alarm and a mission that cannot wait.

On days like Memorial Day, when America pauses to remember, service members are living the very reality we honor — carrying the burden of our freedom on proud, yet tired, shoulders that never truly get to rest.

After 35 years in the Army and now as CEO of the USO, I know firsthand what that sacrifice costs, and how much it means to our troops to know they are not forgotten once the headlines fade.

That's why, as Memorial Day approaches, I'm inviting you to stand with these brave men and women through the USO Salute.

This year, your gift of $10, $15 or $20 will be doubled — but only through June 30, thanks to a generous $70,000 match from [business name redacted].

Mr. Whiting, your support means more than you may realize. Your matched gift today will help provide the essential programs and services that offer connection and encouragement to our troops — especially during the toughest deployments.

Your generosity sustains more than 250 USO locations worldwide — places where service members can get a snack, call home or simply feel the support of a grateful nation. And for those stationed where a USO Center can't exist, you help us deliver a connection to home and the essentials in the most remote — and often dangerous — locations.

One of the most meaningful lifelines you make possible is the simple ability to communicate with loved ones. Through your [...end of this page...]

(over, please)

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

[START OF SIDEBAR]

Help provide EVEN more:

Phone Calls Home
Bring the comforting voice of family to service members standing watch on the frontlines.

____________________________________________________

USO2GO Packages
Deliver familiar comforts to our troops - snacks, movies and essentials that remind them of home.

____________________________________________________

Tech to Connect
Equip a USO tech space so our military heroes can stay closely connected to the families they love.

[END OF SIDEBAR]

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

[...start of the next page...] support, the USO provides free phone calls and internet access in hundreds of locations worldwide.

Meeting these needs — and all the others we provide for America's military community — requires a significant commitment, one that costs more than $230,000 every day. As you know, the USO is not a government agency; we rely on the kindness of patriotic Americans like you.

Will you help us honor the service and sacrifice of our heroes this Memorial Day?

Your support today — matched by [business name redacted] — ensures we can continue to be there for those who defend our freedom. Your gift sends a powerful USO Salute that the American people stand behind them.

Thank you for your steadfast support of our service members and their families. Because of you, the sacrifices of our fallen heroes — and the courage of those who continue to serve — will never be forgotten.

Our heroes count on America. And I hope we can count on you today.

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, I'd be honored to send you a USO baseball hat celebrating America's 250th anniversary or an American-made U.S. flag — a small token reserved for our most loyal friends of the USO. Plus, every gift made by June 30 will be matched by [business name redacted], up to $70,000.

P.P.S. And if you feel called to make an even deeper impact, I'd be grateful to welcome you into the USO Home Team — a group of supporters whose steady monthly commitment shows our troops, day after day, that they are never forgotten.

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

[Side one of an additional insert with the following text:]

DOUBLE THE VALUE OF YOUR GIFT!

Your gift between now and June 30 will go TWICE as far thanks to our partner [business name redacted].

Your matched gift will ensure more:

• Phone calls to loved ones
• USO2GO packages with familiar items from home
• Long distance bedtime stories for children to hear their parent's voice no matter how far away they are stationed
• Community-building programs for military heroes and their families
... and so much more!

Give Today and Receive a FREE GIFT as a Proud Supporter of Our Troops

Choose Your Free Gift:
Flag OR Limited-Edition Hat Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary

[Image of a USO American flag on the left and the USO's America 250 Years baseball hat on the right.]

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

"QR code message": Show your appreciation immediately.

Scan here to give a gift:

https://give.uso.org/page/2605_FLOWERS

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

[Side two of an additional insert with the following text:]

★ LETTERS OF THANKS FROM THOSE WE SERVE ★

"It means a lot to have the support of the USO out here."

—Captain,
Deployed to Eastern Europe
U.S. Air Force

"It can get tough during a deployment, to say the least, and having a place to step away from duty, even briefly, makes a big difference."

—SPC
U.S. Army

"I always look for the USO. I know I can always count on getting the resources or help I need."

—Petty Officer 2nd Class
U.S. Navy

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

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

YOUR GIFT WILL BE MATCHED TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

✓ YES, I want to give today because my gift will go TWICE as far to provide vital support services for service members and their families. Please accept my gift of:

[  ] $10 becomes ... $20
[  ] $15 becomes ... $30
[  ] $20 becomes ... $40
✓ $17.00 Any amount you give today can have TWICE the value.

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

Please enclose your check payable to: The USO. To donate using your credit card, please use the reverse side of this form. Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law. Thank you for your generosity.

FP [  ] Please send me a free 3-by-5 foot American flag for my gift of $20 or more.

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

[  ] Yes, I would like my support to go even further by joining the USO Home Team with a monthly gift. (Please use reverse side of this form.)

DF [✓] No need to send me a gift. Please use my full donation to benefit our service members.

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

https://give.uso.org/page/2605_FLOWERS

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

Match your gift and support America's service members today!

The USO is there to provide our service members with the critical resources they both need and deserve. Will you rush your gift and have it DOUBLED to support America's military heroes? Please donate today to support our Armed Forces as they make incredible sacrifices for our country.

[Business name redacted] is matching all gifts to the USO, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $70,000, through June 30, 2026.

Secure donation

[✓] Give once
[  ] ❤ Monthly

[  ] $200
[  ] $100
[  ] $55
[  ] $50
[  ] $30
[  ] $25
[✓] $17

Become a monthly supporter

Would you consider becoming one of our valued monthly supporters by converting your $17 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 $17 gift

Enter your details

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

Double your impact

Many employers have a donation matching program that will double or triple the value of your donation. Just enter the name of your employer, and we'll see if your impact can be amplified!

Your company (optional): N/A

Enter your address

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

You donate $17 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: "The USO is there to provide our service members with the critical resources they both need and deserve. Please donate today to support our Armed Forces as they make incredible sacrifices for our country."

Then, after I made said donation, I received another email from the USO today, May 25th, 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 $17.00 USD donation!

Dear Paul Whiting,

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

Donation Amount: $17.00 USD

Donation ID: [redacted]

Donation Date: May 25, 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

Memorial Day is almost here, a time we remember that freedom is never free. As we plan time with family, our troops continue to serve. Add your name to the USO's Memorial Day card today and help us reach our goal of 250,000 signatures of support. Please sign here:***

★★★ USO ★★★

Honor our service members this Memorial Day

Memorial Day exists to honor and remember the service members who paid the ultimate price in defense of freedom.

Join thousands of patriotic Americans in signing the USO's Memorial Day card to honor our fallen and recognize those who still serve today.

This Memorial Day, we honor our fallen heroes and we express our deepest gratitude to the men and women who still serve our country today. Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice

With gratitude,

First Name*
Paul

Last Name*
Whiting

Email Address*
[redacted]

Mobile Phone Number (Optional)
[redacted]

By providing your cell phone number, you agree to the Mobile Messaging Terms for recurring autodialed donation messages from USO to the phone number you provide & to the Privacy Policy. Msg&data rates may apply.

SIGN THE CARD

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

Thanks for signing the card! Will you take a few minutes to complete a quick survey about supporting all of our nation's heroes?

Our service members endure harsh conditions to keep folks like us safe. How important is it to you to support our service members deployed far from home?
[✓] Extremely important
[  ] Very important
[  ] Somewhat important
[  ] Not at all important

The USO gives our service members the support they need to keep their spirits up, from phone calls home to A-list entertainment. Do you think it's important to keep service members' morale high by letting them know patriotic Americans back home stand with them?
[✓] Yes
[  ] No

Hundreds of thousands of service members are currently deployed overseas, putting themselves in harm's way in dangerous combat zones around the world. Have you or a family member or friend ever served in the military?
[✓] Yes
[  ] No

Our service members make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, missing special moments like the first day of school or a baby's first steps while deployed far from home. How important do you think it is to help our service members stay connected to family back home during deployment?
[✓] Extremely important
[  ] Very important
[  ] Somewhat important
[  ] Not at all important

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

Thank you for taking the survey!

Now, as we work to deliver our brave service members a touch of home, we need to ask for your support.

It takes a lot of time, coordination and funds to get our care packages and other services to the hundreds of thousands of service members who are away from their families, continuing a 250-year legacy of defending our nation. The USO is not a government agency; we are a nonprofit, and we rely on the generosity of military supporters like you.

For a limited time, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, thanks to [business name redacted]. When you make a gift of $29 or more, you'll also receive a USO T-shirt as a symbol of your support for our troops. Will you please make a generous matched donation today and send a little bit of home to deployed troops around the world?

EMAIL: [name redacted]
DONATED TODAY: NO
SUGGESTED DONATION: $52

[  ] Yes, I'll donate $29 — send me a T-shirt!

[  ] Yes, I'll donate $52 — send me two T-shirts!

[✓] Yes, I'll donate, but I don't want a T-shirt!

[  ] No, I don't want to donate today.

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

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

Double your impact

Many employers have a donation matching program that will double or triple the value of your donation. Just enter the name of your employer, and we'll see if your impact can be amplified!

Your company (optional): 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 25, 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. (I also donate for particular calendar observances, such as Memorial Day.) 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 on May 25th, 2026 and May 26th, 2026 and revised June 14th, 2026)

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

May 25th, 2026 Update No. 3, Written On May 26th, 2026 [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2026)]:

For Memorial Day 2026, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence, which is thanking us "for joining IAVA as we #GoSilent this Memorial Day at 3PM to honor American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service and dedication to our nation." That is why I decided to #GoSilent with IAVA at 3:00 PM local time in order to help draw "special attention to the at least 13 U.S. service members killed in the most recent conflict with Iran. Our troops have been sent into harm’s way without clear public understanding of the scope, duration, or end goal of the mission. While these men and women faced that uncertainty, they did not hesitate to uphold the oath they swore to defend this nation. Even as many at home struggle to make sense of this new chapter of war, these service members never wavered. They gave everything in service to this country, and this Memorial Day, we #GoSilent to honor their sacrifice, remember their names, and ensure their service is never forgotten." And I also made a donation to IAVA in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 26th, 2026, revised May 27th, 2026 and revised May 28th, 2026)

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

May 25th, 2026 Update No. 4, Written On May 27th, 2026, Which Also Discussed May 2026: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received a mailer from the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) sometime during the month of May 2026, which stated the following:

[I used to hand-type the text of the documents from these types of mailers on my smartphone; however, it takes a lot of time and energy in order to hand-type these kinds of documents: so, instead, I scanned and copied the documents using Google Lens! Then, I edited the copy of said documents to include all of the italicizing, bolding and/or underscoring where applicable.]

The Armed Services YMCA

Dear Mr. Whiting,

Skyrocketing costs of housing, groceries and child care — and high unemployment rates among spouses — have left 1 in 4 brave active-duty service members and their families struggling to afford enough to eat.

Our heroes are on the front lines, willing to put their lives on the line. They shouldn't have to worry about feeding their children. Since 1861, support from friends like you has helped the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) provide service members and their families with the assistance they need.

You've given to support our troops before. They need you now more than ever. Please.

And right now, thanks to [business name redacted], your gift of $15, $25 or even $50 or more will be DOUBLED* to deliver food, low- or no-cost child care, employment assistance and more.

Serving those who serve,

[Name redacted], Vice Admiral, USN (Ret)
[Title redacted] and [title redacted]

All gifts matched 2X!

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

Your gift supports our troops and their families!

[✓] YES! Please match my gift to support military families.

[  ] $15 →DOUBLES TO→ $30
[  ] $25 →DOUBLES TO→ $50
[  ] $35 →DOUBLES TO→ $70
[  ] $50 →DOUBLES TO→ $100
[✓] My best gift of $10.00 DOUBLES.

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

Please enclose your check made payable to Armed Services YMCA or see reverse to give by credit card.

[  ] Make my gift monthly.

Make your gift online: asymca.org/May26

https://give.asymca.org/campaign/770422/donate

Armed Services YMCA
Keeping our military heroes & their families strong.

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

Since the Civil War, the Armed Services YMCA has been serving our troops and strengthening military families with the generosity of our donors.

1861 —• Civil War (ASYMCA services begin)

President Lincoln wrote that the "benevolent undertaking for the benefit of the soldiers, was "proper and praiseworthy."

1917 —• U.S. enters WWI

1941 —• Pearl Harbor propels U.S. into WWII

1950 —• Korean War

Serving soldiers during the Korean War and continuing through the Vietnam Conflict.

1955 —• Vietnam begins

1991 —• Desert Storm

2001 —• 9/11 spurs Global War on Terror

2020 —• Global Pandemic

Over 2 million lbs. of food distributed: 4,000 children of essential workers in child care.

2026 —• Your Support

Serves thousands of military service members and families at nearly 100 military installations country.

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

Without YOU, the ASYMCA would not be able to support our military community with:

MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Programs exclusively tailored to meet the needs of military members and their families serving throughout the United States.

HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE
The ASYMCA provides programs to help brighten the holidays and strengthen family connections to bolster fortitude in families struggling with the challenges of military life.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT
The Armed Services YMCA offers early education and development opportunities for toddlers, camps and resiliency programs for school-age children and family bonding opportunities for all ages.

Please visit asymca.org to learn more.

THANK YOU for helping to strengthen our military families!

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

[The following is the text of a notecard enclosed with the letter above.]

Dear Friend

Food insecurity is a reality for military families. The Armed Services YMCA is here to help, but we can't help all the families that need us without you!

Thank you for supporting the ASYMCA and for sending your most generous gift today.

[Name redacted]
Vice Admiral USN (Ret)
[Title redacted] and [Title redacted]

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

[The following is the text of an additional insert enclosed with the letter above.]

★★★ URGENT ★★★ URGENT ★★★ URGENT ★★★

Emergency Support for Our Troops and Their Families

U.S. service members are deployed in the Middle East and across the globe on dangerous missions.

This is a critical moment to stand with those who give so much for our freedom.

Please don't wait. Rush your gift today to stand by our brave service members and the loved ones counting on them. IT WILL BE MATCHED UP TO $150,000 FOR TWICE THE IMPACT!

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

ARMED SERVICES YMCA
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Give Military Families the Support They Deserve

The need is urgent: food insecurity, frequent relocations, worries about the cost of living and the stress of separation during deployments weigh heavily on young service members, their spouses and their children. Your support empowers the Armed Service YMCA to meet these challenges with services that strengthen military families and reduce financial strains.

YOUR GIFT FUELS RELIEF. You'll fill food pantries, fund child care and provide critical assistance, ensuring no military family is left behind.

Make an Impact Today!

[✓] Give once
[  ] Monthly ❤

Choose an amount to donate one-time

[✓] $10
[  ] $25 SUGGESTED
[  ] $50
[  ] $100
[  ] $200
[  ] $300

$10.00 USD

[  ] Dedicate my donation

Donate

Armed Services YMCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your receipt as your official record. We'll email it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

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

$10.00 / One-time

Finish & donate

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting

[  ] Hide my name from the public.
[  ] Hide my donation from the public.
[  ] Donate as an organization

Email for receipt: [redacted]

[✓] It's OK to contact me in the future.

Address: [redacted]
Address 2 (optional)
Zip code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Country: [redacted]

Donate now

And so, I made a one-time donation to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) on May 25th, 2026, since "skyrocketing costs of housing, groceries and child care — and high unemployment rates among spouses — have left 1 in 4 brave active-duty service members and their families struggling to afford enough to eat." That is why I contributed to ASYMCA as part of my Memorial Day donations, because "thanks to [business name redacted], [my] gift of [$10] will be DOUBLED to deliver food, low- or no-cost child care, employment assistance and more." –Paul Whiting (May 27th, 2026)

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

May 25th, 2026 Update No. 5, Written On May 27th, 2026: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received a text message on May 25th, 2026 from Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which stated the following:

FINAL HOURS: Hi Paul, it's Team WWP. We're texting to ask for your help before Memorial Day ends. Warriors who lost friends in service are struggling today. Hours remain to provide 2X the free, life-changing help. Please GIVE BY MIDNIGHT to have your gift matched up to $100K. >>>***

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

Donate Now

This Memorial Day, honor our nation's heroes with a gift that goes twice as far.

America turns 250 this year. We can never repay the generations of heroes who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. But we can honor them by providing free, life-changing help to the wounded warriors who are still with US.

Thanks to a generous matching gift from [business name redacted], your Memorial Day donation will be doubled up to $100,000.

Please don't miss your chance to honor and empower wounded warriors with 2X the impact.

• Your gift of $100 doubles to $200
• Your gift of $75 doubles to $150
• Your gift of $50 doubles to $100

[WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT AMERICA 250 LOGO]

Choose A Gift

[✓] One-Time Gift
[  ] Monthly Gift

You'll make the most impact for our wounded warriors when you support them with a monthly gift. As a monthly donor of $19 or more, you will receive a Wounded Warrior Project® fleece blanket.

[  ] $250
[  ] $150
[  ] $75
[  ] $100
[  ] $50
[✓] $10

[  ] Make this a gift in honor or memory of an individual.

Your Information

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Address Line 1: [redacted]
Address Line 2 (Not Required): [redacted]
Country [redacted]
ZIP Code [redacted]
City [redacted]
State [redacted]
Phone Number (Not Required) [redacted]
Email Address [redacted]

[✓] Yes, I would like to receive communications from WWP with updates on warriors and programs.

[  ] This donation is on behalf of a company.

[  ] Yes, I would like to cover the 3% processing fee.

Donate $10.00

And so, I made a one-time donation to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) on May 25th, 2026, since "[they're] texting to ask for [my] help before Memorial Day ends," because "warriors who lost friends in service are struggling today." And "hours remain to provide 2X the free, life-changing help." That is why I "[GAVE] BY MIDNIGHT to have [my] gift matched up to $100K." –Paul Whiting (May 27th, 2026)

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This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 159 was edited on June 14th, 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

Monday, May 27, 2013

Post No. 159: For Memorial Day 2013 — A Memorable Memorial Day

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