Mama Diaries

Monday, November 14, 2011

Blog Tour De Troops: Kid's View - What it Means to be a Soldier

Hi everybody!  Welcome to Blog Tour de Troops sponsored by Indie Book Collective.  You should have joined me from Rachelle Reese and  John E. Miller's blog.  Next stop will be Valerie Douglas' blog.  I hope you have been enjoying the tour!

Today's post is special.  Why?  Because anyone who comments on it will receive a free e-book of That Mama is a Grouch (it's a picture book - great for sharing with kids).  Mama Diaries is part of the Blog Tour De Force in which fifty authors are giving free ebooks to troops (and other assorted characters).  It's our way of saying, "Thank you for all you do."  If you're interested in receiving my ebook, be sure to include your email address with your comment.

One more thing - Indie Book Collective is giving away Kindles to some very lucky troops.  If you'd like to donate money toward those Kindles, simply use Paypal and ibcprograms@gmail.com as the address to send money to.  Please note in your payment that it's a troops donation.



                                                             
Now, without further ado, let's talk about soldiers.

"What are soldiers?" I asked my seven-year-old son.  I wanted to get his take on the subject.

"They're big brave guys who fight bad guys."

"That's right," I said.  "Do you think only men are soldiers?"

"Yeah."

"Nope.  Women are soldiers, too."

He looked at me kind of funny.  "You mean women dress up in camo clothes and put war paint on their faces?"

I nodded.  "Some do."

He couldn't believe it.  "But don't they have kids?  What if they're mommies?"

"Some soldiers are mommies.  Some are daddies," I said.  "It's a big sacrifice to leave their families.  But to them, keeping us safe and protecting our freedom is worth the sacrifice." 

My son got all quiet thinking about that.

Then my ten-year-old daughter entered the room.  I thought I'd get her view on the matter.  "Tell me about soldiers," I said.  "What do they do that's so important?"

Without missing a beat she said, "They make sure we never lose our freedom."

Right on!
                                                                                    





So, to all the troops who are reading this, my family and I send our heartfelt thanks.  Each and every one of you has made sacrifices to protect us.  We recognize this and appreciate all you do.

If you'd like to share any experiences, or send a message to my kids, please feel free to do so in the comments. 

Also, if you'd like to continue following this blog, I'd invite you to join this site, follow me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.

Be sure to visit Valerie's Blog next.

Thanks for stopping by!



104 comments:

  1. hi Sherry! your kids are awesome and i love what your older one said about soldiers making sure we never lose our freedom!
    thank you for your contribution to the troops and for participating in this tour. c",)

    aobibliophile(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Thank you for being so generous ^^
    You can give my copy to them as well if possible!

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  3. Thanks. mrice6@cox.net

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  4. Thank you for your participation in this blog tour de force. I'm sure the troops are very appreciative of the ebooks. Please give my copy to the troops too. Thank you so much!

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  5. This is a wonderful you and the other Indie authors are doing.
    Thank you to all of our service men, women, and families.

    kindle3.user@verizon.net

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  6. Thank you for taking part in the Tour and thank you to all that have served our country.

    andreagrendahl AT gmail DOT com

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  7. It is wonderful what you and the other authors are doing. Please send my copy of the book as a second copy to the troops.

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  8. Thank you for participating in such an amazing cause :) My Granddad was in the RAF and fought during WWII, as a big reader himself before he died I know he would have loved the idea of the Tour de Troops.

    shroudedheart(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  9. Thank you for this book tour. Thank you for sending books to our troops. pringpringles(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. Thank you for participating in this wonderful tour.
    I can't wait to read your book!
    Thanks Again,
    Laura G.

    cardinoles@gmail.com

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  11. What a wonderful idea. Sometimes we really need to hear from a child's point of view - it's honest and usually spot on!

    Thank you for doing this and supporting our troops. This book looks like a great read!
    tweezle(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. Adorable, absolutely adorable!
    suzy.turner[at]hotmail.com

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  13. Thank you so much for being a part of this amazing blog tour!!! Getting books to our troops is a very noble thing.
    Georgeanna
    tdf.gb@bucksmont.net

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  14. Thank your for participating. Look forward to sharing your book with my kids.

    pefrw at yahoo dot com

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  15. Thank your for participating in this tour. Thank you for sharing your children's perception of a soldier.

    Saph
    saphsbookblog at gmail dot com

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  16. Thank you for participating and donating books.

    acm05@juno.com

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  17. Thanks for supporting our troops and for the free read - I can't wait to check out your book!

    allyreads81 at gmail dot com

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  18. Hey, you have great kids! Thank you for your support and generousity.

    tamsyn5 at yahoo dot com

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  19. Thanks for your support of our troops. Many in my family have served and I know how important it is for them to get something from home.

    Don
    djcox@liphoto.net

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  20. Aw, your kids are wonderful! And so are you for taking part in this fantastic initiative! :)

    writer.chicka[at]gmail.com

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  21. Thank you troops and your families for our freedoms. rhonda rlrlaney at yahoo.com

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  22. That was nice.And adorable.
    This is such a great way to support the troops
    divavixenqueen(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. Thank you for making sure your kids know this very important lesson, that soldiers are men and women, mommies and daddies, but also sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters (the brothers and sisters part might be something they can really relate too.)

    rivawriter(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. Thanks for the great post. You can send my copy of the book to the troops as well.

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  25. Thanks for being part of this tour and I hope your book makes somebody’s day better :)

    hellenlovesbooks (at) gmail (dot) com

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  26. I'm so proud of all our troops. God bless them and bring them all home safe and sound. Not one more life should be lost!
    rinald47@gmail.com

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  27. Wonderful; thanks for sharing and participating in this giveaway for our troops!
    egstanley(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. Thanks so much for participating in this! Your kids sound adorable :) Please donate my copy to the troops. Thanks :)

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  29. Thank you for supporting our troops. I don't have any children to share your book with so please send my copy to the troops.

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  30. Thank you for your support of our troups! This is my second year following the book tour. Thanks again.
    ashleypbarry(at)gmail(dot)com

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  31. Thank you so much for participating in this lovely event. God bless our troops!

    Karen

    kmoaton@Hotmail.com

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  32. Happy to support a good cause.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

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  33. Thank you for participating in this :)

    Please send my copy to the troops as well :)

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  34. Thank you so much for participating in this, as an air force veteran I can really appreciate it.

    shayne
    milldirt@msn.com

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  35. Thanks to those who serve, their families - and to everyone participating in this tour. What a wonderful way to support the troops!

    beritlemons AT gmail DOT com

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  36. As a 24yr vetran it does me good to know that some kids do understand what we do.

    thank you and yours for your support.

    ryan.mills68(at)gmail(com)

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  37. tHANKS FOR HELPING THE TROOPS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US READ YOU BOOK . SMILES gOD bLESS oUR tROOPS ELVISBABY44@YAHOO.COM

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  38. amazing kids you have there. :) very cute.

    shirleykcarter at yahoo dot com

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  39. Thanks for supporting our troops!
    SWyland808@msn.com

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  40. Thank you for participating in the tour and supporting the troops.
    Have a great day!
    pauline@pjhandcrafts.com

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  41. Thanks Sherry! Love your posts.
    junkmail96@yahoo.com

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  42. Thank you so much for supporting our troops!

    nook_heartnsole at yahoo dot com

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  43. Sherry, Thanks so much for teaching your kids what it means to be a soldier. My maternal grandfather & two of his brothers served in WWII. One brother, Howard, was killed near Winghausen, Germany by enemy fire on April 6, 1945 while serving in the Medical Corps. Everyone in our family has made sure that future generations understand that freedom is not free & soldiers are the real superheroes.

    drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

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  44. Just stopping by to say Hi! and please donate my copy to a soldier. Hope you have a great tour. Thanks!

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  45. Just another author on the tour checking in. It's been an awesome experience, being a part of the tour. Here's to many more, similar tours with similar success!

    ~ Erin M. Klitzke
    athensmcleod@hotmail.com

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  46. cool blog! Thanks for doing this!
    diamondskye20 at yahoo dot com

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  47. I used to send books overseas via 'Books for Soldiers', and this is the best way I've seen yet to continue that effort!

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  48. My gratitude to all our soldiers and their families. I already have a copy of your wonderful book, so please send my free ebook on to the soldiers. Thank you.

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  49. I'd like to get your book.

    kolists a\t gmail dt com

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  50. your daughter sounds very wise. :-)
    leahnassar@gmail.com

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  51. Thank you for participating in the blog tour and for generously giving to the soldiers and your commentators.

    Please send my copy of your book to the soldiers, thanks.

    You've done a good job with your kids when that is how they will answer those questions.

    sophiarose1816@gmail.com

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  52. Your daughter (and son) are right on! Thanks to the brave soldiers who protect our freedom here and abroad, and thanks to you, Sherry, for your participation in this effort!
    kuhnboone@cinci.rr.com

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  53. From the time my son was old enough to distinguish between a soldier, policeman, fireman, or any uniformed public servant he has wanted to be a soldier. He is currently in college studying with a goal to be a doctor in the service. I have had to tone down my emotions during the Blog Tour de Troops, as we have so much to be grateful to our troops and veterans for. This is such a wonderful event, thank you so much for participating and honoring our veterans on their day and giving to our troops the joy of a good book. I am also thankful for your providing us readers a copy of your lovely book as well. Your efforts are appreciated.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  54. It's a wonderful thing all these authors are doing with the Blog Tour de Troops. I was just reading a news article in which active duty troops were lamenting the lack of new books to read! Thank you for your generosity and the contest!

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  55. Thank you for supporting the troops! I think this tour is a wonderful idea and I'm glad so many authors are participating!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

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  56. Thank you for this support you are giving to our troops and thoe of us that are left behind at home.

    As the wife of a soldier currently in Afghanistan I can tell you from experience that it is difficult for the kids as well. My husband and I have three daughters, they miss their dad so much. I hear the pain in their voices when they talk about him. But they also hold a pride in him that is amazing to see. We are all so proud that he has made so many sacrifices for his country. Freedom isn't free, so many sacrifices are made by the soldiers and their loved ones.

    betty.vickery.johnson@gmail.com

    My loving soldier Jon:

    provert247 AT gmail DOT com

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  57. your kids are Great!! Thanks for sharing this, and thank you for supporting our troops!!!
    magluvsya03@yahoo.com

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  58. Awww, you've got some awesome kids! Good picture choice :).

    evanbartholomew@gmail.com

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  59. Indie authors are so great to do this for our troops. Please send book to ackleybj@verizon.net

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  60. Please give my copy to a soldier. My kids are all older.

    Heather

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  61. Thank you for for supporting our troops in such a wonderful way!

    Please donate my copy to a service member.

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  62. What a great idea interviewing your kids.
    Thanks for supporting our troops this way. I am sure a soldier would love a good book to escape to while they are away from their families protecting out freedom.
    Thanks again
    Linda Meza

    linmeza@hotmail.com

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  63. Thank you for caring and brightening the day of many soldiers. christygibbon at juno dot com

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  64. Aww that was great I love taking things from the perspective of kids :) Thank you to all Veteran's and those still serving.

    miranda.grissomATgmailDOTcom

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  65. Thanks for supporting the troops. Please send my copy to the troops as well. thanks again.

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  66. This is so great that you all are doing this tour for the troops. Thank you so much. carolynvaldez51@yahoo.com

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  67. Thank-you for doing this.
    robyn.hummel@gmail.com

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  68. Even though I cannot find my comment here (maybe I commented on another day's post?)
    I have already received my book code from you.
    And I read your picture book this morning!

    It is a wonderful book! And it applies to those of us who carry on with such behaviour into our adult lives as well.

    Thank you,
    Janey
    jandhj2 (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca

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  69. Aw, your kids are so cute! Thank you for participating in this great tour, I look forward to reading your book!
    melorabrock {at} gmail {dot} com

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  70. Being a Veteran, I have always taught my children what it means to be in the service of their country. They have a deep respect for what freedom really costs. Than you for your participation!

    psdpoling@sbcglobal.net

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  71. Thank you for supporting our troops. :)

    reikibirth at gmail dot com

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  72. This was such an amazing idea! Thank you for helping support our troops!

    ruby[dot]meek[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  73. What a great way to support our troops! Thank you :-)

    SarahM
    smaccall AT comcast.net

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  74. thanks for doing this. As an army veteran of multiple deployments, I can assure you that reading provides sanity and a chance to explore worlds outside the dust/rain/dirt of the present un-fun. With the advent of eBook readers it has become even easier to read, try new authors and to feel less cut off from the world.

    sincerely - Holly (prosekniticATyahooDOTde)

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  75. The book tour is a great way to support the troops! My husband was in the military twenty four plus years. I would always send him care packages when he was away, but he told me that there were many troops that DIDN'T get care packages. He would share his, as he said it means so much to get the Love from home. Good luck with spreading your holiday cheer. There are many of those troops who do have family, and children who will love your book "That Mama is a Grouch." ~Best, Virginia

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  76. Thank you for taking part in this wonderful event for our troops and thank you for your post.

    glenn(at)keyaquests(dot)com

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  77. A fellow Indie stopping in to say thank you for taking part in the Tour and thank you to all that have served (or are serving) our great country.

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  78. Thank you for supporting our Troops!
    t_manfredi@hotmail.com

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  79. Thanks for sharing your book with everyone.
    I love your kids responses. They're so honest and open.
    helpersarah2009@gmail.com

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  80. Smart kids!

    It's an amazing sacrifice. A couple of years ago I found out a school friend - and some one I'd stayed in touch with until we hit our early twenties - had died aged 28. He left two small children and his wife. I can't think about him without welling up because I know that all he ever wanted was a family but serving his country was something he needed to do.

    I'm glad he was able to do both but I'm eternally sorry he never came home.

    Donna
    donna.haw@gmail.com

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  81. I enjoyed your post. I think it is very important that children know about the people that make their childhood possible. I am glad that you mentioned too that there are mommies out there defending our country. I think this is a very important evolution of our military and gives young girls a point of view that is important in this day and age. Thanks for your post and your participation in the tour.

    Best wishes to you and your family,
    D. M. Kenyon
    author at lotus blossom book dot com

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  82. Thanks for supporting our troops by doing this. My father, Husband, and brother-in-law have served or are currently serving, and anything that supports them and our troops is something that is near and dear to my heart.
    Many Thanks,
    Andrea
    a_ariail(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  83. Sometimes I think kids are smarter than us adults. I used to love that show Kids Say The Darndest Thing. Thank you for your support of the troops the past, present, and the future.
    Also thank you for all your hard work. I can't wait to read your book.
    tammi.hagberg@sbcglobal.net

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  84. Thank you for participating in this tour! My granddad was in the navy, so the military holds a special place in my heart as well :)

    nurse6030@gmail.com

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  85. Children bring it all into focus don't they? Thanks for all of this.

    nancyg5997@gmail.com

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  86. We've had similar conversations with our kids, too. Such important ones to have. Thanks for this. ~ Melissa, peanutboo2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  87. What a wonderful idea. The men and women who serve our country and protect the lives of others leave children behind while they serve for more than a year from home! My son in law is one of them. Thanks for honoring these brave souls and it means the world to them, and to me.

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  88. I love this! Thanks for posting the story, and for being part of this event.
    traci
    nebby AT zoominternet DOT net

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  89. Loved your children's viewpoints. Thank you for participating in this event, I think the tour is a great way to show support for our troops and am happy to see so many participating authors. shadow31071 (at) suddenlink (dot) net

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  90. Thank you for participating in this wonderful project, and thank you to our veterans and their families for their service!

    lindaspencer@mac.com

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  91. Thank you for participating in this great event. And thanks to all the service men and women active snd retired and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could remain free and safe.
    MJB
    msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com

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  92. I can't wait to read your book with my son! Thank you for being a part of such a great program!
    melissa.gwinn(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  93. Thank you for supporting our troops in such a generous manner! I know that each and every book received will be greatly appreciated! And thank you for allowing me to be a part of it through you!

    iarvd@yahoo.com

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  94. Cute interview! Thanks for participating in the Blog Tour de Troops! Such a great cause. :)

    ~Jesi

    jesilea(at)charter(dot)net

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  95. Thanks for participating! That was such a wonderful story!

    Roxs
    roxburysnoopy-blogtourdeforce at yahoo.com

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  96. Thank you to all that serve.

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  97. Thanks for doing this. Looking forward to reading your book.

    Sonya

    sidonie DOT wa AT netzero DOT net

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  98. Thanks so much for what you are doing. Please send my copy to the troops as well.

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  99. What smart kids. Thank you for sharing that with us.

    stefscat@gmail.com

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  100. I love how you questioned your kids and shared it with us. I also really liked how you told your son that soldiers are mommies and daddies not just men. Thank you to all of our troops in and out of service, veterans and heroes. You'll never know how much you are appreciated. I hope that you all return home safe and sound.
    jessangil at gmail dot com
    -Jessica B

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  101. I'm so glad there's another Tour de Troops!! Can't wait to see if there's more comments than Memorial Day! What a great way to give our troops a little escape in a book while they are away from home and at war. Thanks IndieBookCollective!!

    I grew up a Navy Brat, so I greatly appreciate the sacrifice of our military and their families! As a former Navy Brat, I know the families definitely serve and sacrifice also! Luckily, my dad wasn't sent to war (he was enlisted during the 70's) but he had A LOT of sea duty and was out to sea for months at a time! He missed many birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. We moved around the country a lot. So another big sacrifice was that we changed schools a lot (7 times in one school year moving from Virginia to California - literally coast to coast), but I wouldn't trade it for anything! I am so proud of his service. Just as I am so incredibly proud of all the heroic men and women fighting for us today whether they are overseas or stateside, they are all important to our nation. I can't wait to see them all coming home, hopefully soon.

    I would like the troop book to go to my cousin Zachary Neer serving in the United States Army in Afghanistan.
    His email is: zach.ne(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Thanks for the free book - can't wait to read your story!
    Melissa
    missyebookmail(AT)mediacombb(DOT)net

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  102. Wow!!! Wow a tremendous outpouring of support for our troops! Thanks to all who visited. I have sent books to all who wanted them. A few emails didn't work the first time, but I re-sent. Hopefully everyone received a copy. If not, contact me a sherry.ellis@cinci.rr.com.

    You guys are great! The troops thank you!

    -Sherry Ellis

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  103. Wow! What a tremendous outpouring of support for our troops! Thank you! Everyone should have received their books. There were a few emails that bounced back the first time, but I re-sent. Hopefully you all got it. If not, contact me a sherry.ellis.cinci.rr.com.

    You guys were great! The troops thank you!

    -Sherry Ellis

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  104. Thanks for participating in this blog tour and supporting our troops.

    readingrat@yahoo.com

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