Hello Military Families:

It is hard to believe that seven years have gone by, but they have!  With each passing day our Families continue to come and bond, knowing that we have a place where we can be ourselves.  I say we are "Living Stories" because we live this military life each and every day.

When I decided to start a support group, I envisioned a place where we could come and not be afraid that we were the only one with thoughts and feelings that are sometimes difficult to explain.  At each meeting we could look around and see reflections of ourselves, we would have a sense of home. 

 For the past seven years I have been blessed by the many families who have touched my life and those whose lives I have been blessed to touch.  It ranges from the sweet birth of babies to the Homecomings.  We are truly a Family of Families. 

When we say stateside and abroad, we mean just that.  As the song goes, "We are Family".

As we reach another year of "Standing on Common Ground", as I call it, let us not loose heart; let us not forget that we are proud:  Mothers, Fathers, Husbands, Wives, Grandparents, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Fiances, Fiancees, and Friends.

I want to say Thank You for these seven years, for allowing me to be a part of your wonderful Family.  GOD bless each one of you and remember:  We are Family and Friends Connected, Military Support Group.

Honor, Courage, Commitment, Accelerate Your Life.

Love,

Saundra 

Our COMMON GROUND

We are Families linked like a chain. A chain's formation is link by link, that is how we are connected. Our COMMON GROUND is the fact that we have family members who are a part of the military.

It transcends lines; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps National Guard, and Reserves. We are connected, on COMMON GROUND.

This is all about America!

We are all about America's Military Families!

We are all SUPPORTING AMERICA'S TROOPS!

THE MILITARY CAREER

• ENLISTMENT
• FAMILY NIGHT
• READINESS
• BASIC TRAINING
• GRADUATION
• ADVANCED TRAINING
• DUTY STATIONING
• DEPLOYMENT
• VETERANS

LOVED ONES MILITARY CAREER

A. He enlisted, now what?

    1. Your Journey Has Just Began, and we are here right from the start.

B. Family Night

    1. Readiness - What does this mean? Your reguar support group meetings explain it all.

    2. She is gone and so is the Recruiter - or so you think. Talk to Recruiters at your Family & Friends Connected, A Military Support Group meeting.

C. Basic Training

    1. Will he get the job that was promised?

    2. Graduation - Who attends, where do you spend the night?

D. Advanced Training

    1. Is she ready to fight? Do NOT listen to gossip or rumors, get accurate up to date information at your meetings.

E. Duty Stationing - Can the children and I live there too? Or, do we have to stay home?

F. Deployment

    1. Is my son going to Afghanistan?

    2. What about the equipment, is it sub-standard like I heard?

    3. What do we have to pay for?

    4. Are state-side military personnel considered active duty?

Loved ones must educate themselves by coming to Family & Friends Connected, A Military Support Group meetings regularly.

It is the only way to live the Military Family Life!

family & friends connected, military support group's administrative assistant

Mona Cade Bennett is Saundra's Administrative Assistant, and has served in this position for seven years now. 

Mona Bennett grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.  After her decision not to become a Nun, she left St. John's School for Girls and transferred to the University of Akron. 

In the first six weeks after moving to Akron, she met her husband of 36 years, Tony Bennett.

After completing two undergraduate degrees in education, Tony & Mona started their family and their careers.

What started as a small family grew from two boys and a girl, to include 17 foster children.

While raising her family, Mona went on to acquire two post graduate degrees. 

Mona is most proud of her children - ALL  20 of them.  Every last one is college educated. 

Sons - Mike & John are working in their choosen fields while happily married with children and homes.  Daughter Erika is married, has an 8yr. old son, and her husband Ronald was honorably discharged from the Marines Corps two weeks ago.

Helene Cade, Ambassador to the Elderly, is Mona Bennett's Mother.

the kulieke family & CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY SUTTON

When Congresswoman Betty Sutton makes a promise, she really delivers. 

The Congresswoman promised that she would be involved with Family & Friends Connected Military Support Group, and she has been true to her word.  The gracious Pam Walker attends our meetings representing the Office of Betty Sutton on a regular basis. 

Betty Sutton also promised that her office would do whatever it could on behalf of our troops.  Please continue reading to see just how she has kept that promise as well.

"Dear Congresswoman Sutton,

I am requesting your assistance in a matter involving the federal government.  This issue is in reference to the military and my son.  His name is Sgt. Alan J. Kulieke, US. Marine Corps.  He is in California @ Camp Pendelton.  He recently arrived there from Iraq, (Sept. 2 or 3).  He was kept 2 extra weeks in Iraq to help train the next unit taking over where his left off.

In the meantime, his battalion disbanded.  When he got back to the states no one knew what to do with him.  They didn't even know who he was until he was very persistant and they finally listened.  

He realizes that his is the first re-call unit to be established and they have lots of kinks to work out.  BUT - these men & women are defending our country and spending 12 & 14 hr. days working in 130 plus degree temps.

He is the last one in his unit left in California - everyone else is Home!  By keeping him in Iraq longer than the rest of his unit, it is holding up everything for him to get out.  Even his final physical.

When he received orders to return to the military & deploy to Iraq, he hooked up with the 7th ESB("A") Co. for support.  There is NO link to this mobile unit.  No Chain of Command.  No one knows him or what to do with him.  He says they don't have a systematic way of getting him our of the corp. He has NO link with a Reservist Unit.  He feels no one recognizes his rights and that they are using him up as a Military Unit. 

I"m very concerned.  His 8yrs. are up.  He served his time - Please see what you can find out for him - if not for him at least for other re-call men & women in the future.

Thank you for your time & efforts,

Sincerely,

Saundra Kulieke, Member of Family & Friends Connected Military Support Group."

RESPONSE:

"Dear Mrs. Kulieke:

Thank you for your correspondence requesting assistance on behalf of your son; SGT Alan Kulieke.

I have written to the U.S. Marine Corps to request information on the discharge of SFT Kulieke.  I will write to you again when I receive a response from the Marine Corps

If you should have any questions or any additional information that would help us pursue your case, please do not hesitate to call Pam Walker, in my Akron Office.  Mrs. Walker can be reached at 330-865-8450.

Sincerely,

Betty Sutton

Member of Congress"

UPDATE:  SGT Alan Kulieke U S Marine Corps will arrive home on Thursday, October 23, 2008.  He is coming home exactly one month after the date of Congresswoman Betty Sutton's response.  That is what you call keeping a promise!

UNFORTUNATELY, SGT KULIEKE WILL NOT ARRIVE TO A PARADE OR BANNERS OF THANKS, LIKE THE REST OF HIS UNIT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE TO WELCOME SGT KULIEKE HOME, PLEASE DO SO.  LET'S NOT LET HIM COME HOME THE WAY THAT OUR VIETNAM VETERANS DID.

THIS IS WHY WE DO IT!

Family & Friends Connected, A Military Support Group: 

Staff Members

Saundra Hunt,  Founder & Director

Mona Bennett,           Administrative Assistant

DEAN KULIEKE,                     CHAPLAIN

Family & Friends Connected, Military Support Group was formed in the fall of 2001. 

Each year we have a gala event to celebrate the anniversary of our first meeting. 

For those of you visiting our site for the first time, and because our anniversary celebration is approaching Saundra and I want to let you know just how it all started. 

Part 2: The support group grew so much that we relocated the meetings to the Riverfront Coffee Mill in Cuyahoga Falls.  By this time the guest speakers included Mayor Robart, Councilman At-Large, Michael Williams and Congressman Tom Sawyer.  The number of families kept growing, so much that we had to relocate again and again until we wound up at Denny's Restaurant on Romig Road in Akron.  The growth happened all in the first year. 

By this time the guest speakers included Mayor Plusquellic, judges, The USO, The Red Cross, auspcious members of Congress and Councilmen just to name a few.  Families were coming from Barberton to Cleveland.

We had our First Anniversary Celebration at Denny's.  The Celebration was a success thanks to the roasting of Saundra, our celebrated guests, and you, "Our Families".  

Then Denny's closed without warning and we needed a new meeting place.  We found one at the former Arabica Coffee House at Wallhaven in West Akron. 

A second and third year Anniversary Celebration passed.  As the Administrative Board of Family & Friends Connected Military Support Group, Saundra and I found ourselves serving on The 13th Congressional Board of then Congressman Sherrod Brown.  We met to share the concerns of Military Families.

Eventually, we were blessed to find Panera's Bread as meeting place.  Since our families like to eat, Panera's has been perfect.  So perfect that we celebrated our 4th, 5th, 6th, and now 7th year Anniversaries & Tributes to Saundra.

Our families now include:  Akron, Barberton, Canton, Cleveland, Copley, Cuyahoga Falls, Dover, Hudson, Stow, Tallmadge, and Wadsworth, Ohio.  We have business cards, flyers and a brochure. 

Saundra has worked so hard to establish a network that now extends inter-nationally.  This network focuses on links to benefit the families of Family & Friends Connected, Military Support Group, both stateside and abroad.

Just think:  a little seed,  a few phone calls to me, hundreds of phone calls to branch offices of the military - grew into all of this!

It has been quite a ride that began in little Akron, Ohio. 

WELCOME TO ALL THE WONDERFUL NEW FAMILIES. FAMILY & FRIENDS CONNECTED, MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP IS GROWING AND GROWING.

OUR BROCHURES!

Be sure to take one of our new brochures at the next meeting. You should take an additional one for people you meet in your daily lives, when you are talking about your support group.

You will be notified as new versions become available.