A first-grade teacher in Texas got the sweetest surprise after her military mom showed up while she was teaching a class. Samantha Norris works at Harmony School of Innovation, a charter elementary school in Austin. She was in the classroom with her students when a surprise visitor stopped by—her mother, U.S. Army Sgt. Tamie Norris, …
Soldier
A 101st Airborne Division veteran whose combat injuries caused him to lose his legs was recently granted a smart home by the Gary Sinise Foundation. Retired Army Sgt. Christopher Kurtz of Adams, Tennessee, received the keys to his four-bedroom, three-bath mortgage-free home after being approved for one two years ago. “We help veterans and first …
In January 2020, retired Atlanta Police Department officer L.J. Williamson thought she was being recognized at a pep rally for working with a local program that helps kids in need. But she had no idea that she was in for a bigger surprise. While Williamson stood on the court, her eldest son, U.S. Army Spc. …
A Massachusetts woman took a sweet trip down memory lane when she received a letter written by her late husband to his mother—76 years ago. Angelina “Jean” Gonsalves, 89, received the airmail envelope from the United States Postal Service (USPS), who dropped it off at her Woburn address on December 9. John Gonsalves wrote the …
Twelve years ago, 95-year-old World War II veteran Frank Grasberger received a letter on an Honor Flight home from Germany, where he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The note, written by a 9-year-old girl named DaShauna Priest, featured a pencil and crayon drawing of an American flag and a soldier’s helmet with …
This story happened a few years ago, but it remains a beautiful reminder of the incredible bond between dogs and humans. Army Staff Sgt. Tom Hansen was deployed to Afghanistan twice and once to Iraq. During their special forces missions in Afghanistan, he had a brave companion who protected him: a yellow Labrador named “Princess …
This story happened in 2014, but it is a timeless tale and a beautiful story of how one man fought to give a dog a much-deserved chance to have a forever home. We’ve heard it all before: we don’t deserve dogs. A dog would not hesitate to save the life of his human, but often, …
A soldier on active duty is faced with not just physical, but also emotional and mental challenges. For the sake of protecting their country and their people, military men are compelled to be separated from their own families for most of their lives. Back when he was a U.S. Army brigadier, Vincent Buggs’ story was …
A soldier stationed at Fort Benning took the extra step to ensure that two hungry Alabama boys had their empty stomachs filled. Army Lt. Col. Robert Risdon was traveling back to Columbus from Mobile with football coach, Jason Gibson, when they decided to make a stop at a Taco Bell to grab some food. While …
He served for nearly a year in Iraq and while his worked saved thousands of lives, he struggled to keep his morale up and his emotions in check. In the high risk world of military service, the daily grind of working in war-torn areas can take its toll. For years, Army National Guard member Nick …