Small All White in the Forest

Friday, June 14, 2013

Post No. 160: For Flag Day — "The Old Red, White and Blue!"*

Image by Paul Whiting

"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

Look so high above us,
She waves to us so true!
There she flies to love us,
"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

-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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*I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the font size being way smaller on the blog post 'header' titled, "Post No. 254: For Flag Day — 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'" on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog. Thus, the font size on this blog post header is smaller than the font sizes on the other blog posts' headers on the aforementioned blog. (Although, I have noticed that the header font size keeps changing back and forth, between the small size and the normal size, as I am editing the post.) And I cannot figure out what is causing this "smaller-blog-post-header-font anomaly" on this particular blog post, but it may be whomever is sabotaging my blogs—as I mentioned above—because they are 'bothered' by this "The Old Red, White and Blue!" poem that I wrote... –Paul Whiting (written June 14th, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022 and revised July 29th, 2022)

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/06/for-flag-day-old-red-white-and-blue.html

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My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Look so high above us, she waves to us so true! There she flies to love us, 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'"

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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June 14th, 2022 Update, Written On June 13th, 2022: I received two emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) with regard to the patriotic observances celebrated on June 14th, including both Flag Day and the U.S. Army's birthday!

And the first email I received from the USO was on June 10th, 2022, with the subject line, "How much do you know about the stars and stripes, Paul?" regarding the celebration of Flag Day, which stated the following:

Paul, Flag Day is right around the corner! We hope you'll celebrate with all of us here at the USO by learning more about the history of this holiday celebrating the American flag we all know and love.

In honor of Old Glory herself, check out the special Flag Day Timeline we put together for this incredible community of military supporters.

VIEW TIMELINE NOW:***

Whether you're planning to attend a parade, wear red, white & blue or enjoy a special Flag Day treat, we hope you enjoy this opportunity to celebrate this important symbol of our country.

The USO

We've got an important occasion to celebrate on Tuesday, Paul: It's the U.S. Army's 247th birthday!

From the Revolutionary War until today, America's bravest have answered the call to protect our freedoms and keep us safe whenever they've been asked. Now it's time for us to show them how grateful we are for their service and sacrifice.

That's why we set a goal to get 24,700 signatures on our Army Birthday Card before midnight on Tuesday. Show how much you appreciate everything Army heroes do for us by signing our Army Birthday Card now!

SIGN THE CARD***

Those serving in the Army risk their lives every day to defend our nation. They carry on a proud tradition that began in the 1700s and continues through this day. The U.S. Army is one of the world's foremost guardians of peace and liberty — we are so lucky they've got our backs.

And it may not seem like much, but we often hear from active-duty service members that getting messages of support from military supporters like you makes such a big difference when they're serving in challenging, dangerous conditions.

We're counting on at least 24,700 military supporters like you to sign our Army Birthday Card by midnight Tuesday — so add your name now and show the Army's heroes how grateful you are for their service!

Thanks!

— The 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.]

So, I signed the card, since "the Army turns 247 on June 14, and our troops need to hear how grateful we are that they’re here for us!" Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our Army heroes, "We are beyond grateful for the sacrifices you make to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. In honor of the Army’s 247th birthday, thank you for your service!"

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

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

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

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

–Paul Whiting (written June 13th, 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 25th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 11th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised June 5th, 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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June 14th, 2022 Update—Continued: I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the font size being way smaller on the blog post 'header' titled, "Post No. 254: For Flag Day — 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'" on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.

Thus, the font size on this blog post header is smaller than the font sizes on the other blog posts' headers on the aforementioned blog. (Although, I have noticed that the header font size keeps changing back and forth, between the small size and the normal size, as I am editing the post.)

And I cannot figure out what is causing this 'smaller-blog-post-header-font' anomaly on this particular blog post, but it may be whomever is sabotaging my blogs—as I mentioned above—because they are 'bothered' by this "The Old Red, White and Blue!" poem that I wrote... (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

The aforementioned poem can be seen below:

"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

Look so high above us,
She waves to us so true!
There she flies to love us,
"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/06/for-flag-day-old-red-white-and-blue.html

Therefore, that is why I decided to provide you with this 'June 14th, 2022 Update—Continued' for the "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, with regard to the post titled, "For Flag Day — 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'" on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, because my poetry is an integral part of my "Online Activism!"

–Paul Whiting (written June 14th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 29th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised May 30th, 2023, revised September 19th, 2023 and revised May 4th, 2024)

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

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June 14th, 2023 Update: Did you know that June 14th of each year is both Flag Day and the U.S. Army's birthday?

Neither did I! That is, until I received two emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) last year on June 10th, 2022 and June 12th, 2022, with the subject lines, "How much do you know about the stars and stripes, Paul?" and "Help us celebrate the Army's 247th birthday!", respectively.

And I wrote an 'update' regarding those emails from the USO, a copy of which can be found below:

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June 14th, 2022 Update, Written On June 13th, 2022: I received two emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) with regard to the patriotic observances celebrated on June 14th, including both Flag Day and the U.S. Army's birthday!

And the first email I received from the USO was on June 10th, 2022, with the subject line, "How much do you know about the stars and stripes, Paul?" regarding the celebration of Flag Day, which stated the following:

Paul, Flag Day is right around the corner! We hope you'll celebrate with all of us here at the USO by learning more about the history of this holiday celebrating the American flag we all know and love.

In honor of Old Glory herself, check out the special Flag Day Timeline we put together for this incredible community of military supporters.

VIEW TIMELINE NOW:***

Whether you're planning to attend a parade, wear red, white & blue or enjoy a special Flag Day treat, we hope you enjoy this opportunity to celebrate this important symbol of our country.

The 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 viewed the timeline, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to respond to the request, "This Flag Day, will you make a donation to send a little bit of home to our service members and show them how much you appreciate their incredible service and sacrifice?"
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And speaking of the U.S. Army's birthday, as I mentioned above, the second email that I received from the USO, regarding June 14th, was on June 12th, 2022, with the subject line, "Help us celebrate the Army's 247th birthday!", which stated the following:

We've got an important occasion to celebrate on Tuesday, Paul: It's the U.S. Army's 247th birthday!

From the Revolutionary War until today, America's bravest have answered the call to protect our freedoms and keep us safe whenever they've been asked. Now it's time for us to show them how grateful we are for their service and sacrifice.

That's why we set a goal to get 24,700 signatures on our Army Birthday Card before midnight on Tuesday. Show how much you appreciate everything Army heroes do for us by signing our Army Birthday Card now!

SIGN THE CARD***

Those serving in the Army risk their lives every day to defend our nation. They carry on a proud tradition that began in the 1700s and continues through this day. The U.S. Army is one of the world's foremost guardians of peace and liberty — we are so lucky they've got our backs.

And it may not seem like much, but we often hear from active-duty service members that getting messages of support from military supporters like you makes such a big difference when they're serving in challenging, dangerous conditions.

We're counting on at least 24,700 military supporters like you to sign our Army Birthday Card by midnight Tuesday — so add your name now and show the Army's heroes how grateful you are for their service!

Thanks!

— The 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.]

So, I signed the card, since "the Army turns 247 on June 14, and our troops need to hear how grateful we are that they’re here for us!" Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our Army heroes, "We are beyond grateful for the sacrifices you make to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. In honor of the Army’s 247th birthday, thank you for your service!"

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

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

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

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

–Paul Whiting (written June 13th, 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 25th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 11th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised June 5th, 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 'my writing,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'my writings' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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Thus, today is both Flag Day and the Army’s 248th birthday! And I received a text message today, June 14th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

Paul ... Only 3k Americans have signed our birthday card for the U.S. Army! We just checked our records, and it looks like YOUR name is missing:

Supporter ID: [redacted]
Signature: PENDING

Please, honor those who serve and sacrifice so much for us by wishing the Army a happy birthday before midnight tonight. It's the least we can do. Sign the card here >>***

Thank you,
USO

"When is Flag Day and Five Must-Know American Flag Facts" from the USO

By Mike Case | Wednesday, Jun 14, 2023

“Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” – Saturday, June 14, 1777; Journals of the Continental Congress

There are many famous stories about the American flag, from Betsy Ross to the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, to firefighters raising the flag at Ground Zero in New York after 9/11.

To help celebrate Flag Day on June 14, which is the “birthday” of the American flag, here are 5 less well-known facts that you might not know about the “Red, White and Blue”: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.uso.org/stories/2768-when-is-flag-day-and-five-must-know-american-flag-facts

And so, I decided to highlight this article from the USO for you, my readers, to consider reading too! By the way, there was a donation prompt at the bottom of the article, which stated the following:

"Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice." GIVE TODAY

Plus, after I read the article, I made another one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members."

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

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

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

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

–Paul Whiting (written June 14th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised July 31st, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised June 14th, 2024)

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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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June 14th, 2024 Update No. 1: Flag Day is yearly (annually) on June 14th!

And I read an NBC article today, June 14th, 2024, which is titled, "The American Legion weighs in on upside-down American flags," while I was doing my occasional news searches on Google, which I do as often as I can manage. A simplified overview to the article can be found below:

"The American Legion weighs in on upside-down American flags" from NBC News

The American Legion said flags should be flown upside down only if there is “extreme danger to life or property.”

By Megan Lebowitz | June 13, 2024

WASHINGTON — The veteran organization the American Legion weighed in on the upside-down American flag controversy on Thursday, noting that flags should only be flown this way if there is "extreme danger to life or property." ...

... "The American flag is a symbol of courage, strength, freedom and democracy," said the American Legion National Commander Daniel Seehafer in a statement to NBC News. "American Legion members swore with their lives to protect all that the flag stands for."

Seehafer pointed to the Flag Code, a detailed set of guidelines laying out how the American flag should be displayed, as evidence the flag should not be inverted unless to signal distress.

"Our organization also led the creation of the U.S. Flag Code, which includes the following: ‘The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property,’” Seehafer said. ...

Besides that, in observance of Flag Day, I did a search on Google for "Flag Day USO" and found an article on the USO.org website titled, "When is Flag Day and Five Must-Know American Flag Facts." A brief introduction to the article can be found below:

"When is Flag Day and Five Must-Know American Flag Facts" from the USO

By Mike Case | Wednesday, Jun 14, 2023

“Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” – Saturday, June 14, 1777; Journals of the Continental Congress

There are many famous stories about the American flag, from Betsy Ross to the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, to firefighters raising the flag at Ground Zero in New York after 9/11.

To help celebrate Flag Day on June 14, which is the “birthday” of the American flag, here are 5 less well-known facts that you might not know about the “Red, White and Blue”: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.uso.org/stories/2768-when-is-flag-day-and-five-must-know-american-flag-facts

And even before I read the article above—since I was already planning to donate—I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, it has been the USO's mission to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members."

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 (June 14th, 2024)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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[Blogger's Note: The following updates — 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1' and 'April 16th, 2026 Update No. 1 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On April 17th, 2026) [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 Flag 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

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)
---------------------------------------------
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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June 14th, 2026 Update No. 1, Which Also Discusses June 3rd, 2026: Happy Flag Day, everyone! I received a mailer from the USO (United Service Organizations) on June 3rd, 2026, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read as follows:

2X THE MORALE-BOOSTING SUPPORT
★ GIFTS BY JULY 15 WILL BE MATCHED ★

Hurry — Offer Ends Soon!

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/summersupport to donate online.

https://give.uso.org/page/2606_flowers2

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.]

Dear Mr. Whiting,

I'm reaching out again because this moment is too important ...

In my previous letter, I shared that [business name redacted] is matching all donations up to $70,000 for our troops. That opportunity ends July 15th, and we are running out of time to deliver the vital support our service members need.

Right now, thousands of men and women are serving in isolated, stressful and often dangerous conditions ... to protect you and me. And many won't be home for our nation's 250th birthday. They'll be standing watch instead ... exhausted yet unwavering in their commitment.

Your last gift on 10/30/24 of $7 made a meaningful difference for those serving far from home. Today, your renewed support will have double the impact and go even further thanks to our matching gift offer.

[Blogger's Note: The above referenced "gift on 10/30/24 of $7" was the last donation that I made to the USO in October 2024, as explained in my 'October 30th, 2024 Update No. 1, Which Also Discusses October 26th, 2024.' Please see my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, as well as my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "October 30th, 2024 Update No. 1, Which Also Discusses October 26th, 2024"]

One soldier recently confided: "The USO is the only place that reminds me someone back home hasn't forgotten about us." That line stays with me.

It's why I'm writing to you again, more urgently than before because the USO is the only nonprofit supporting our active duty troops no matter where they are called to serve and protect.

Because without your immediate help, we will leave matching dollars unused — and that means fewer connections to home and fewer reminders that these brave Americans matter.

Please don't let this moment slip by. Your gift today will be DOUBLED and let a service member downrange know that their service and sacrifice are fully recognized on the home front[.]

I'm asking you sincerely ... and urgently ... to act with a gift today.

For the People Who Serve,

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

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO HAVE YOUR GIFT MATCHED. Give to help fund programs like these (and more):

USO2GO
Deliver comforts of home.

Phone Calls Home
Bring the voice of a loved one to service members on the front lines.

Tech to Connect
Equip a USO Tech room to connect military heroes to their families.

Your generous gift may not be matched if we reach the maximum match amount before receiving it, in which case, your important contribution will be used where it is needed most to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families.

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

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

DOUBLE THE VALUE OF YOUR GIFT!

Your gift between now and July 15 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/2606_flowers2

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

[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.™

URGENT: LAST CHANCE TO GIVE AND GET MATCHED

✓ Yes, Match my gift today so that it 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
✓ $10.00 Any amount you give today can have TWICE the impact.

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 celebrating America's 250th anniversary 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/summersupport to donate online.

https://give.uso.org/page/2606_flowers2

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 in honor of Memorial Day to support of America's military heroes? [Blogger's Note: And also in honor of Flag Day for my donation today, June 14th!] 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
[✓] $10

Become a monthly supporter

Would you consider becoming one of our valued monthly supporters by converting your $10 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 $10 gift

Enter your details

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

Enter your address

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

You donate $10 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, June 14th, 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 $10.00 USD donation!

Dear Paul Whiting,

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

Donation Amount: $10.00 USD

Donation ID: [redacted]

Donation Date: Jun 14, 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 Flag 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 (June 14th, 2026)

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This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 160 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

Friday, June 14, 2013

Post No. 160: For Flag Day — "The Old Red, White and Blue!"*

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