The latest news from NROTC

Welcome to the NROTC News!

Issue #13, JULY 2007

Issue Date: July 5th, 2007

Total Active Subscribers: 51

From: Tom Ruley, Founder and President, NROTC

Dear Readers,

I hope all of you had a happy Independence Day. Let us all give thanks to our military men and women, who over the years have fought and died for our freedom. We are truly the home of the free, because of the brave.

This newsletter is viewed by the general public entering from our website and is emailed directly to our subscribers. This is only our second issue for 2007. There just hasn't been much activity to report until recently.

If you haven't subscribed yet, please do so. As a subscriber, from time to time you will be informed on our charitable activity. Its easy, just look for the sign up area on the left margin of page one of our website.

Okay so let me try to summarize our activities since our last newsletter in January. First, NROTC did get a little press in our local newspaper on February 1st, here: http://www.nrotc.org/eastcountytimesfeb07.jpg

Near the end of February, our website went through another evolution. Our main Home page was divided into five seperate pages, our Home page, a Service Banner History page, a The Service Banner Today page, a Service Banner Regulations page, and a Summary page. All of our pages including the other pages not mentioned here now have their own color schemes, each is different. If you haven't visited our website in awhile, take a look here: http://www.nrotc.org/

On March 25, we implemented a new idea to raise funds, the sale of patriotic t-shirts on the NROTC website. Individual t-shirt purchases provide for 50% of the sale proceeds to support our charitable activity and wholesale, by the dozen purchases support us at 20% of the total purchase. We have ten designs right now and plan to introduce at least four more designs over the next month or so. If you haven't yet, take a look here: http://www.nrotc.org/

We pray that those whose tours of duty were extended back in April, are soon reunited safely with their families.

This past Memorial Day on May 28th, my day started at 9:00AM at a local cemetery where members of my community here in the suburbs of Baltimore City showed up in numbers to honor local home heroes who have died while in service to our country dating back to WWI. Coincidentally, there was also a 12 noon burial service at the same cemetery for a 22 year old U.S. Army Specialist, Casey Nash, who was killed in Tahrir, Iraq by an improvised explosive device on May 18th. I personally presented the Gold Star Service Banner to his mom within five minutes of her receiving the burial flag. Specialist Casey Nash served with the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry based in Fort Hood, Texas. Thank you Patriot Guard Riders for honoring this family and hero. Patriot Guard Riders

View and sign the Legacy.com guest book of: Specialist Casey Nash

Friday June 07, 2007 - Our volunteer representative on Long Island, New York, Don Daniels, made a Gold Star Service Banner presentation at a funeral home in Oakdale, New York, on behalf of the NROTC and caring Americans everywhere, to the parents of Private First Class Matthew E. Baylis. PFC Baylis was killed in Baghdad, Iraq on May 31st by hostile small arms fire. He was 20 years old and had served with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. During the presentation, Don reminded the family that "We were all just part of a long line that would always be there, weaving in and out of their lives to come, ready to do whatever little thing we could to help in any way." A sincere thank you goes out to Don Daniels for another superb banner presentation. Thank you for your compassion, professionalism and sense of duty Don.

View and sign the Legacy.com guest book of: Private First Class Matthew E. Baylis

As you may be aware, in our December 2006 issue, we had mentioned that because our organization was once again broke after having just mailed out 73 service banners, we were not taking any new service banner applications. Well, we have recently received a few very much needed and appreciated donations which have allowed us to purchase 100 service banners. These banners have been put into inventory for distribution. Our service banner program is reinstated and we are once again accepting online service banner requests, thanks to the following donors:

6-22-07 - Coachman Industries, Inc., Elkhart, Indiana http://www.coachmen.com/

6-19-07 - Francis Kline, Baltimore, Maryland

6-5-07 - Samantha Smith, Lisbon, Ohio

5-18-07 - TEMPLE-INLAND FOUNDATION, Austin, Texas http://www.templeinland.com/

4-15-07 - The Blue Marlin Bar, Essex, Maryland

4-15-07 - Dan Adams, Essex, Maryland

3-22-07 - World Wide Ventures, DBA VietVentures.Com, Port Charlotte, Florida http://www.vietventures.com/

3-22-07 - Thomas M. Pilitowski & Assocs. DBA U.S. Rare Coin Investments, Port Charlotte, Florida http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com/

Going out in the mail today are 21 Single Star Blue Star Service Banners and one Two Star Blue Star Service Banner.

Recently the Global War on Terrorism struck very close to home for the NROTC. Our Vice President Tom Conlan's neice, (his sister's daughter), lost her husband, U.S. Army Sergeant Dustin J. Perrott, 23, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who gave all on June 21, in Miri, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Due to my heart condition, I am advised against traveling long distances. I am so sorry that I was unable to attend the services to support our Vice President, pay my respects to his family and honor this soldier and hero. Our Vice President Tom Conlan presented his neice and widow with the Gold Star Service Banner. Tom, I don't think you know just how sorry I am to have missed this solomn and important event. My prayers go out to you and your family. Thank you Patriot Guard Riders for honoring this family and hero. Patriot Guard Riders

View and sign the Legacy.com guest book of: Sergeant Dustin J. Perrott

As we sadly mourn the loss of Specialist Casey Nash, Private First Class Matthew E. Baylis and Sergeant Dustin J. Perrott, we sadly remember and honor all those who have been lost. Our heartfelt prayers are with every single American affected by the loss of a loved one who served proudly in our military.

Remember also the now over 26,350 troops who have been wounded. Many have sustained permanent debilitating injuries. We pray for them and we pray for their families and caregivers.

We pray that all of our active duty troops will return home safely to their families and friends at the end of their tours of duty.

There can be no doubt that NROTC is accomplishing a very worthwhile goal if only in a small way compared to the tremendous overall need. If any of you reading have any doubt at all, please read: What Our Visitors and Service Banner Recipients Are Saying

Please remember our troops and their families and try to do something,... anything... to honor their service and sacrifice.

Help us financially if you can. If you work in private industry, please ask your employer to support us. If you are a veteran, ask your local VFW or American Legion Post to support us. Consider volunteering some of your time or becoming a commisioned NROTC t-shirt sales rep. Click the "Become A Representative" link on our website.

To our 51 current subscribers and other readers, I ask another important favor. Vote for us on R. Lee Ermey's website! Just click the banner at the bottom of this newsletter.

Below here you will read a few recent comments we have received and a list of recent service banner donees.

Thank you for reading and thank you for voting for us on R. Lee Ermey's website!

Yours in freedom.

That is all,

Tom Ruley, Founder and President, NROTC
Email: captntom@comcast.net

Here are a few recent comments we have received:

July 02, 2007 - Fred, Texas
Thank you for remembering our loved ones.

July 02, 2007 - Poplar Grove, Illinois
God Bless and Thank you so very much.

June 26, 2007 - Alton, Illinios
I am so thankful for this! My husband will be giving this flag to our son when he is old enough to know what it means. Our son is 15 months right now, while his dad is headed for Iraq for his second tour.

June 19, 2007 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I am touched that you would send me the blue star banner and it is highly appreciated. God Bless you and Support Our Troops.

June 16, 2007 - Oceanside, California
Thank you so much for your support and prayers

March 9, 2007 - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Thanks for the banner, I speak for everyone in my household when I say we'll be proud to display it. Its great that you take the time to send banners to these families. Little things like that make people feel appreciated.

February 18, 2007 - Honolulu, Hawaii
God bless you for this amazing site!!! and your support of our troops!!!

February 6, 2007 - Fort Hood, TX
As far as my Blue Star Banner, thank you does not seem enough. From the day I received it, it has hung on my front door behind my storm door! I have had neighbors and delivery people ask me what it was, and with pride I told them.

January 21, 2007 - Nashville, TN
I really enjoyed my visit. Interesting and I learned alot.


The following 21 homes are now flying a Single Star Blue Star Service Banner in their window:
(As a matter of military secrecy, respect for privacy, and to protect all of our service banner donees from anyone, including domestic terrorists who may want to do them harm, we do not publish actual names or complete street addresses)

XXX Camino Uno SW
Albuquerque, NM 87031

XXX Tierra Blanca #A
Oceanside, CA 92054

XXXX Christie Court
Tampa, FL 33637

XXXXX Hwy B
Sextonville, WI 53584

XXXXX Katelyn Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22407

XX Semicir Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15214

XXXXX Mohawk Ct. Unit 2
Fort Hood, TX 76544

XXXX Watalee St
Alton, IL 62002

XXX Minnich Road
Chambersburg, PA 17201

XXXX B Gardner
Fort Knox, KY 40121

XXXX James Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76110

XXX S. John Street
Jonesboro, IL 62952

XXX Galway Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46385

XXXX Napa Valley Bend
Leander, TX 78641

XXX Baywood Drive
Piney Flats, TN 37686

XXX South State St.
Poplar Grove, IL 61065

XXXX Cardinal Elm Street
Fresno, TX 77545

XXX County Rd 4880
Fred, TX 77616

XX W Gore Rd
Selah, WA 98942

XXXX LLoyd Thayer Circle
Stockton, CA 95206

XXXXX Elmwood lane
Yucaipa, CA 92399

The following home is now flying a Two Star Blue Star Service Banner in their window:

XXX W. Saunders Road, Lot A1
Dothan, AL 36301


PLEASE GIVE NROTC A REAL QUICK VOTE ON THE GUNNY'S WEBSITE...
(It helps us get a higher placement on the list and more people will find out about us)

(Click on the banner)

http://rleeermey.com/links/


Click here to go to our website
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Published by:
The National Remember Our Troops Campaign, Inc.
111 North Stuart Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21221
http://www.nrotc.org