FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, A MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP - DEDICATED TO ALL FAMILIES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. FOUNDED & DIRECTED BY: SAUNDRA V. HUNT IN NOVEMBER, 2001. SERVING ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. MILITARY, BOTH STATESIDE AND ABROAD. A DIVERSE ORGANIZATION WITH FAMILIES FROM: AKRON, BARBERTON, CANTON, CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA FALLS, COPLEY, DOVER, HARTVILLE, HUDSON, STOW, TALLMADGE AND WADSWORTH, OHIO.

FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP HAS BEEN KNOWN IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR YEARS NOW. 

OUR BEAUTIFUL RENEE IS STILL ENJOYING SUNNY HAWAII, YET LONGING FOR HOME. RENEE WANTS TO COME HOME NOT ONLY TO BE WITH HER BIRTH FAMILY BUT TO ALSO BE WITH HER ADDITIONAL FAMILY. FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP HAS ALSO BECOME RENEE'S FAMILY.

RENEE HAS JOINED A SUPPORT GROUP BUT JUST CAN NOT HELP THINKING OF THE WARMTH OF FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP. THAT REALLY MAKES US FEEL GOOD.

hEATHER yOUNG, OUR U.S. ARMY WIFE, IS IN GERMANY. HEATHER WRITES: "THE SUPPORT GROUP IS VERY CARING AND SUPPORTIVE WHEN DEALING WITH MILITARY ISSUES. I SEND MY PRAYER REQUESTS BY EMAIL FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS AND FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LOSE THEIR SOLDIER. IF YOU NEED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT OR KIND WORDS,OR EVEN HELP WITH PRAYER THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO. 

wITH OUR HUSBANDS BEING DEPLOYED FOR 15 MONTHS, LIFE CAN BE STRESSFUL AND THINGS HAPPEN THAT MAKE YOU WORRY MORE THAN NECESSARY. TIMES LIKE THIS MAKE IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THIS WEB SITE IS A GOOD PLACE FOR THAT. IT OFFERS SUPPORT AND PRAYER FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT DURING TIMES LIKE THIS. OUR SOLDIERS NEED ALL THE PRAYERS THEY CAN GET." 

IN SEOUL OM, SOUTH KOREA WALTER AND DIANE CADE HAVE DEVELOPED WHAT THEY LIKE TO THINK OF AS AN EXTENSION OF FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP.

WALTER CADE IS IN CHARGE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES FOR THE U.S. ARMY, AND HAS BEEN RUNNING A DINNER AND NIGHTCLUB CALLED "REGGIE'S PLACE" AND "mR. WALT'S". DIANE HAS ORGANIZED CHAT NITES WITH MEN AND WOMEN STATIONED THERE.

AT CHAT NITES, DIANE USES THEMES AND INFORMATION FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS TO BEGIN CONVERSATIONS AT LARGE ROUND TABLES IN THE CLUB'S LOWER ROOM.

MANY OF THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ARE FROM NORTHEAST OHIO. THEY DRAW COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILIATRY SUPPORT GROUP IS AVAILABLE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. THOSE FROM OTHER AREAS HAVE EXPRESSED SORROW THAT THEIR LOVED ONES DO NOT HAVE SUCH A SUPPORT GROUP.

WALTER AND DIANE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO ANOTHER BASE, FURTHER SOUTH IN SOUTH KOREA. dIANE CAN NOT WAIT TO BEGIN ANOTHER EXTENSION OF FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP IN THEIR NEW LOCATION.

THE NAVY RESERVE NEWSLETTER CONTINUES TO BE READ IN IRAQ, BRINGING UPDATES ON FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP.

WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON OUR INTER-NATIONAL HAPPENINGS.

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gEORGE brown of senator voinovich's office SHARED EXCERPTS FROM A WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICAL WRITTEN BY PEGGY NOONAN, TITLED "TO OLD TIMES". WE WERE ALL JUST SWOLLEN WITH PRIDE FOR THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS, PRIDE THAT RESOUNDED FROM 1938 WHEN AMERICA WAS FIGHTING TO GIVE FRANCE BACK TO THE FRENCH. JUST AS OUR SOLDIERS ARE FIGHTING NOW, TO GIVE IRAQ BACK TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AND FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE ARTICLE IS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND WELL WORTH READING IN IT'S ENTIRETY. THE LINK TO THE EDITORIAL FROM PEGGY NOONAN TITLED "TO OLD TIMES" A TOAST TO aMERICAN TROOPS, THEN AND NOW IS: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columinists/pnoonan/?id=110010511

 The following is the FINAL part of The Wall Street Journal article written by Ms Peggy Noonan.

Friday, August 24, 2007 12:01 a.m.

WE KNOW OF THE BROAD HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF THE OCCUPATION-THE HOSPITALS BEING BUILT, THE SCHOOLS RESTORED,THE SERVICES ADMINISTERED, THE KIDS TREATEATED BY ARMED FORCES DOCTORS. BUT THEN THERE ARE ALL THE STORIES THAT DON'T QUITE MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP, AND THAT IN A WAY TELLYOU MORE. THE LIEUTENANT IN THE FIRST CAVALRY WHO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQI KIDS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHO DIDN'T HAVE SHOES, SO HE WROTE HOME, STARTED A DRIVE, AND GOT 3,000 PAIRS SENT OVER. THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL FROM CALIFORNIA WHO SPENT HIS OFF-HOURS EMAILING HOSPITALS BACK HOME TO GET A WHEELCHAIR FOR A GIRL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH THESE STORIES. SO IS IRAQ. I ALWAYS NOTICE THE PICTURES FROM THE WIRE SERVICES, PICTURES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA. THE MARINE ON PATROL LAUGHING WITH THE LOCAL STREET KIDS; THE NURSE TREATING THE SICK MOTHER.

A FUNNY THING. WE'RE SO USED TO THINKING OF AMERICAN TROOPS AS GOOD GUYS THAT WE FORGET: THEY'RE GOOD GUYS! THEY HAVE AMERICAN CLASS. AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF IRAQ ARE NOT NOTICING, AND THAT IN SOME WAY DOWN THE ROAD THE SUM OF THESE ACTS WILL NOT COME TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL MEANING, SOME SPECIAL WEIGHT OF ITS OWN. THE ACTOR GARY SINISE HELPS RUN OPERATION IRAQI CHILDREN, WHICH DELIVERS SCHOOL SUPPLIES WITH THE HELP OF U.S. FORCES. WHEN HE VISITS SAGHDAD GRADE SCHOOLS, THE KIDS YELL, "LIEUTENANT DAN!"-HIS ROLE IN "FORREST GUMP," THE STORY OF ANOTHER GOOD MAN.

SOME SAY WE'RE THE ROMAN EMPIRE, BUT I DON'T THINK THE SOLDIERS OF ROME WERE KNOWN FOR THEIR KINDNESS, NOR THE PEOPLE OF ROME FOR THEIR DECENCY. SOME SPEAK OF ABU GHRAIB, BUT THE HUMILIATION OF PRISONERS THERE WAS NEWS BECAUSE IT WAS AMERICAN TROOPS ACTING IN A WAY THAT WAS OUT OF THE ORDER OF THINGS, AND APART FROM TRADITION. IT WAS WEIRD. AND THEY WERE BUSTED BY OTHER AMERICAN TROOPS.

YOU COULD SAY SOLDIERS OF EVERY COUNTRY DO SOME GOOD IN WAR BEYOND FIGHTING, AND THAT IS TRUE ENOUGH. BUT THIS MAKES ME THINK OF THE STATUE I SAW ONCE IN VIENNA, A HEROIC CASTING OF A RED ARMY SOLDIER. QUITE STIRRING. THE MAN WHO SHOWED IT TO ME PLEASANTLY SAID IT HAD A LOCAL NICKNAME, "THE UNKNOWN RAPIST."

THERE ARE SIMILIAR MEMORIALS IN ESTORIA AND BERLIN; THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME NICKNAME. MY POINT IS NOT TO INSULT RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, WHO HAD BEEN BORN INTO A WORLD OF COMMUNISM, ATHEISM, AND STALIN'S INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF BRUTISH WAYS OF BEING. I ONLY MEAN TO NOTE THE STELLAR REPUTATION OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE SAME WAR AT THE SAME TIME. THEY WERE GOOD GUYS.

THEY'RE STILL GOOD.

WE SHOULD PONDER, SOME DAY WHEN THIS IS OVER, WHAT IT IS WE DO TO GROW SUCH MEN, AND WOMEN, WHAT EXACTLY GOES INTO THE MAKING OF THEM. 

WHATEVER IS DECIDED IN WASHINGTON I HOPE OUR SOLDIERS KNOW WHAT WE REALLY THINK OF THEM, AND WHAT MILLIONS IN IRAQ MUST, ALSO. I HOPE SOME DAY THEY GET SOME EARNED TENDERNESS, AND WIND UP OVER THE HILLS OF IRAQ, AND LAND, AND AN OLD GUY COMES OUT AND SAYS, "ARE YOU AMERICAN?" AND THEY SAY YES AND HE SAYS, "A TOAST TO OLD TIMES." 

Thanks for sharing to: George Brown Office of Senator George V. Voinovich 1240 E/ 9th Street Room 3061 Cleveland, Ohio 44199 216-522-7095.

Contact Us Today!

In your Enlistment Packet is our copy of Your Journey Has Just Began. This brief yet powerful letter introduces you to Family & Friends Connected, A Military Support Group. We are a very active group that brings together duty Armed Forces members, their families, and friends to bear up and sustain one another.

Our Families come from several counties to enjoy a family night, monthly speakers, and to receive a much needed time out with others on  Common Ground.

This site is for Our Families,

We hope you enjoy it also. Visit often, as we will feature different Families and other items of interest.

Ready - Set - GO!

We just love parades! On July 4th, we participated in the Stow, Ohio parade.

There was a large crowd and so many families from Family & Friends Connected, Military Support Group participated.    

 Just wait to see our style in the upcoming Labor Day Parade!

Stay tuned, details are forth coming.

CONGRESS WOMAN BETTY SUTTON

Saturday July 12, 2008, Congress Woman, Betty addressed the audience at the ground breaking for the Summit County Veteran's new building in Akron, Ohio. In her speech Betty Sutton talked about her deep appreciation for the work that Family & Friends Connected, Military Support Group performs..

We thank the Congress Woman for her kind words, and hope to see her at one of our monthly meetings soon.

Family & Friends Connected, Military Support Group is actually a large family. A very LARGE family that grows weekly.We are a strong family "Standing in the Gap", for everyone who has served, or is now serving in the United States Armed Forces - Stateside and Abroad.

We will continue "Standing in the Gap", not only until the last person comes home, BUT also - until the last Military Family needs us. For we are all standing on "Common Ground".

DR. DAVID JONAS GAVE A BRIEF TALK ON TIPS REGARDING POST TRAUMA; POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CONDITIONS.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING DR. JONAS, PLEASE CONTACT SAUNDRA DIRECTLY, VIA E-MAIL OR TELEPHONE.

FROM TIME TO TIME, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP. IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU, REMEMBER THAT IN EVERY ORGANIZATION THERE IS A "CHAIN OF COMMAND".

IN OUR SUPPORT GROUP WE DO NOT THINK OF IT AS A "CHAIN OF COMMAND", BUT AS ORGANIZATIONAL  PROCEDURE.

FOR OUR FAMILIES, THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT ORGANIZATIONAL PROCEDURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. INVITE EVERYONE TO THE NEXT MEETING.

2. PROVIDE THE WEB SITE ADDRESS.

3. REFER EVERYONE, AND EVERY  ORGANIZATION TO:

MONA M. BENNETT, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP: EMAIL BENNETT.MONA@YAHOO.COM

Family & Friends Connected,Military SupportGroup Parade Banner

Remember to direct questions, comments, ideas etc., to Mona Bennett, Admin. Assistant, Family & Friends Connected, A Military Support Group'

See below for contact information.