Washington, D.C. – BrightFarms wants to disrupt the produce supply chain and eliminate the amount of miles vegetables have to travel before landing on supermarket shelves.

“The produce will be at least a week fresher, taste better and be more nutritious and safer,” said Paul Lightfoot, CEO of BrightFarms. “It also reduces environmental input, uses less land, less fuel and less greenhouse gases.”

The concept? Hydroponic gardens on supermarket rooftops or in greenhouses next door or a few blocks away from grocery stores.

Chris Williams is the operator of a BrightFarms greenhouse in Yardley, Pa., that will provide fresh produce to a supermarket only a half a block away.

“About 20 percent of produce is lost to spoilage during shipping. This will provide year-round local produce that is higher quality and more nutritious,” said Kate Siskel, marketing and media relations manager with BrightFarms.

While several rooftop gardens are actively operating in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Chicago, the company expects to have seven greenhouses built in 2013 to supply lettuces and tomatoes to local markets in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Another 50 greenhouses are expected to be constructed by 2015.

Chris Williams is operating one of the latest — a hydroponic greenhouse in Yardley, Pa., that will provide produce to McCaffrey’s Markets, Superfresh and John Vena Inc., in Philadelphia.

“This company is extremely forward-thinking,” said Williams. “This is a groundbreaking opportunity and I wanted to be a part of it.”

BrightFarms contacted Williams while he was managing a hydroponic greenhouse in Vermont. After thinking it over, he moved his family to Pennsylvania to become part of the BrightFarms project.

Still in his 20s, Williams said there was no better time to try something new. “It’s a new challenge for me and a good time to take a chance and better myself, my family and my career.”

Williams is the operator of the hi-tech, sustainable greenhouse that is temperature controlled and recycles rainwater to conserve resources. The greenhouse will produce the equivalent of 100 acres of land, but occupy only one acre.

Jim McCaffrey, owner of McCaffrey markets that will receive the produce from Williams, expects this to be exactly what his customers have been looking for.

“I’m excited to be able to offer our customers locally grown food,” said McCaffrey. “To have produce that’s picked in the morning and delivered that afternoon is a win-win situation.”

Four of McCaffrey’s stores are within a 30-minute drive from the greenhouse. The store in Yardley, Pa., is a half block away. McCaffery said he is the first in the county to enter into an agreement with Brightfarms and the customers are looking forward to it.

“Our customers are excited about it. People are looking for all natural, organic products that are grown in a natural environment and this gives us a leg up on what we can offer our customers.”

Check out the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass for more information about additional federal efforts in local food”

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Today is International Women’s Day, and I can think of no better way to mark it than with all the different events this week around women’s empowerment.

President Obama has made promoting gender equality and advancing the status of women and girls central to our foreign policy and national security strategy, including by leading by example at home.

A few events this week highlighted the theme of women’s empowerment:

Today, the First Lady attended the International Women of Courage Awards at the Department of State with Secretary Kerry, an annual event that recognizes the incredible strength and courage of women from around the world – women who have stood up for our most basic rights, even when it meant risking their own safety. The First Lady emphasized that we must not only stand with these women and their efforts, but also use their example as a guide as we work to lift up the women and girls in our own communities. You can learn more about the women here.

This week, I traveled to New York City to participate in two events, on the private sector’s role in women’s equality. and on effective interventions to address intimate partner violence.

The first event focused on how the private sector is working to empower women in the workplace. I had a fireside chat with George Kell, Executive Director of UN Global Compact, the public-private partnership arm of the UN. The event also highlighted the Women’s Empowerment Principles, which offers businesses guidance on how to enable women to reach their full potential in the workplace, marketplace and community.

We had a wonderful and lively conversation about the innovative approaches the private sector is taking to overcome challenges to achieve gender equality in the workplace. These companies know that it’s not only the right thing to do—it also makes for a better bottom line.

The second event, hosted by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations during the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women, focused on effective prevention and responses to intimate partner violence. Our goal was to come together to find more ways to make sure that a woman suffering from violence in her home has a safe place to sleep at night, a lawyer when she needs protection in court, and an advocate who helps her break free from abuse.

In addition to the physical and emotional damage, intimate partner violence is also a significant barrier to women reaching their full potential. That’s why intimate partner violence is not just a women’s issue—it’s also an economic issue that affects all of society. For example, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that domestic violence costs more than $8 billion dollars a year in lost productivity and health care costs alone.

This event coincided with another landmark event this week: the President’s signing ceremony for the bill that reauthorized and strengthened the Violence Against Women Act.

Yesterday, at the signing, we heard the powerful stories of survivors- Diane and Tye—who inspired us with their strength and determination. Thanks to the VAWA reauthorization, they and so many women with familiar stories will have more access to the resources they need to help heal from the trauma of violence and protect them from violence.

In a statement today, President Obama said, “Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do. When women succeed, nations are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous.”

There are still challenges. There’s still work to do. But this week’s events reminded me that we are making progress, both at home and abroad. Together, we can help all women to have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

About Valerie Jarrett

Valerie B. Jarrett is a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She is also the Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls and she oversees the Offices of Intergovernmental Affairs; Public Engagement; and Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Sport.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, she was the Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company. She also served as Co-Chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, and Senior Advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign.

Prior to that, Ms. Jarrett has held positions in both the public and private sector, including the Chairman of the Chicago Transit Board, the Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley, and Deputy Corporation Council for Finance and Development. She also practiced law with two private law firms.

Jarrett also served as a director of corporate and not for profit boards, including Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chairman of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Vice Chair of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees. She was a Director of the Local Initiative Support Corporation, The Joyce Foundation, and a Trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry.

Jarrett received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981.

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Iowa City, IA – Today, we’re issuing one of our most important rules to date, the Ability-to-Repay rule. It’s designed to assure the reliability of mortgages – making sure that lenders offer mortgages that consumers can actually afford to pay back. This is a simple, obvious principle that needs to be cemented in the housing market.

In the run-up to the financial crisis, we had a housing market that was reckless about lending money. Lenders thought they could make money on a loan even if the consumer could not pay back that loan, either by banking on rising housing prices or by off-loading the mortgage into the secondary market. This encouraged broad indifference to the ability of many consumers to repay loans, which dramatically increased mortgage delinquencies and rates of foreclosures.

Earlier this year, we heard from a California man named Henry, who was in the process of foreclosure. He was desperate. During the overheated years, a lender sold him a mortgage valued at more than half a million dollars. This was far more than he could afford on his annual salary of less than $50,000. He said he’d assumed that the lender knew what it was doing when he qualified for such a large loan. He’s now worried not only about losing his home, but about losing his family’s entire future.

Henry is not alone. Unaffordable loans helped cause the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. People across the country were sold unsustainable mortgages. Some may have entered with their eyes open, seeking to ride the wave of rising housing prices, but many were led astray. For many borrowers, it appears that lenders ignored the numbers to get the loan approved. This kind of reckless lending was an endemic problem.

To put it simply: lenders should not set up consumers to fail.

The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act created broad-based changes to how creditors make loans including new ability-to-repay standards, which we are charged with implementing. Among the features of our new Ability-to-Repay rule:

• Potential borrowers have to supply financial information, and lenders must verify it;
• To qualify for a particular loan, a consumer has to have sufficient assets or income to pay back the loan; and
• Lenders will have to determine the consumer’s ability to repay both the principal and the interest over the long term − not just during an introductory period when the rate may be lower.

In addition to the Ability-to-Repay rule, today we are also issuing a proposal for potential adjustments. There are two key parts to the proposal:

• First, a proposed exemption for designated non-profit creditors and homeownership stabilization programs, as well as certain Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal agency refinancing programs. These programs generally appear to be already subject to their own specialized underwriting criteria, and they are designed to help consumers refinance into a more affordable home loan.
• Second, a proposed a new category for certain loans made and held in portfolio by small creditors, such as small community banks and credit unions, called “Qualified Mortgages.”

Qualified Mortgages are a category of loans where borrowers would be the most protected. They, among other things, cannot have certain risky features like negative-amortization, where the amount owed actually increases for some period because the borrower does not even pay the interest and the unpaid interest gets added to the amount borrowed.

Consumers should be able to trust the American dream of homeownership without worrying about losing the roofs over their heads and the shirts off their backs. The Ability-to-Repay rule will help ensure that lenders and consumers share the same basic financial incentives – that both of them win when borrowers can afford their loans. With this confidence, consumers can be active participants in the market and choose which of a wide variety of products they believe is best for them.

Today the Bureau also issued rules to strengthen protections for high-cost mortgages.

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My name is Credo Amouzouvik, and I’m running for Congress in the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee. I wanted to take a moment to speak with you, the voters in Tennessee and tell you a little bit about myself.

With the upcoming election it is very important that the voters of the 7th Congressional District know the people they are voting for. Here is everything you could possibly know about myself.

The Amouzouvik Family

I was born in Togo, which is a very small country in West Africa. I was raised in a family of nine, with one brother and five sisters. The same family values that Tennesseans hold dear were instilled in me from a very early age; these included trust in God, respect for my elders and those in positions of authority, hard work, helping others, believing in myself, standing up for what you believe in, and standing up for those who can’t stand for themselves. I’ve learned from a very early age how to keep a clean house, cooking food, as well as loving nature. I, like many other Tennesseans enjoys swimming, fishing, and hunting.

I was brought up with some very strict religious and conservative values. You put God first, your work hard, and you always treat people like you would want to be treated. These are values that the people of Tennessee will recognize.

I moved to the United States in 2000, to attend college. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I joined the U.S. Army to help defend and fight for this great country, I went to war where I was injured in combat, and was medically retired.

The front page of the New York Times reporting the attacks of 9/11/2001

9/11 was personal to me, because my sister was living about 30 blocks from the World Trade Center. It really woke me up. She could’ve been one of the victims of those tragic attacks. I was a student at “Bellevue University” of Nebraska, and I was getting ready for school that morning and like usual had CNN on the TV. I turned to face the TV as the 2nd plane fly into the towers. That was an unbelievable sight, and I was soon in a state of shock. After a few moments, I got on the phone and called my sister to find out if she was okay. She was safe!

I thought about the attacks for days wondering why would someone do this horrible thing, a question that everyone in America was asking the same. When the word came out that Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda was responsible for the attacks, and that the United States were waging war on our enemies, a group of friends and I decided that we would stand up, join the Army, and help take the fight to those who attacked this country.

I was given the privilege of becoming an American citizen in Omaha, Nebraska.

I went to basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I owe my allegiance to the United States of America, I have sworn to defend this country against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I will stand by that oath; and I don’t care when that call comes, I will honor it.

The United States is a country that everyone in the world wants to be a part of. That is because of the diversity that you find in the United States. Being given the opportunity to become an American citizen is great privilege. As an American citizen, what sets us apart from everyone else in the world is: We are our brother’s keeper. We stand for righteousness. We will always fight for the widow and the weak. That we will always stand for freedom and the truth. Life is about the choices we make, everything we do in this life is ultimately comes down to our choices. Once your choice is made, then made you deal with the consequences, which are either good or bad. But we always have our choices. And I chose to become an American citizen.

My time in the Army was great; it was both learning and a growing experience. I assigned to be part of the 3/320th Field Artillery Unit, which was part of the Screaming Eagles, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The camaraderie I’ve experienced with my fellow soldiers was amazing. As we fought together side-by-side every soldier trusted the others with their lives.

Credo Amouzouvik while serving in the U.S. Army

War is never a good thing. War is an ugly thing we should always choose war as the very last resort. Because what happens in war is total destruction and it will mark you for the rest of your life. Yes, we went and did what we had to do. Saddam Hussein was removed, we crippled the insurgency, returned Iraq to the Iraqis, and we got out. But the soldiers who serve in combat zones are marked for life; they will never be the same again. I am one of those soldiers.

To travel a 15 minutes route, it would feel like a two-hour trip, because of the tension. Before departing each soldier writes a letter to the family in case something happens to them on the mission. Once the tires start rolling, we were all waiting for the unexpected, the question on every soldier’s mind is “when is it going to happen, when are we going to be hit”, “who is going to die,” thoughts like these rush through the soldiers minds. Until something happens, everyone is on the edge. But the moment something happens, thanks to the Army training we all know what to do, and rush into action.

An IED explodes next to a Humvee

One day it happened to me. We were returning from a mission around 3 o’clock in the morning when an IED exploded in front of our Humvee. The vehicle ended up in the crater left by the explosion. I was injured, but because of the shock I was unaware of the severity. Our primary concern was to fight to get out of the kill zone.

A few days later I started to experience pain and tingling in my extremities and it was discovered that I’d broken my neck from the C-1 vertebrae down the C-5, and had suffered damage to both of my knees. I was med-evacuated to Germany and then back to Fort Campbell.

I remember my doctor Col. Freeman, who was the chief orthopedic surgeon at Fort Campbell at that time, telling me that he could not operate on me because I would die. It was almost a year later, before Major Russell Davidson out of Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia, told me that I had a 50-50 chance to survive after the surgery. I was also told that even if I did make it that there is a chance that I would be paralyzed. But he was willing to at least try.

When he asked if I had any questions for him, so I asked him if he was going to leave a big scar on my neck; he responded are you trying to be a neck model? He did the surgery for the first time and it didn’t work, and they had to go back and do it again. Then after that they had to put screws and cables in my neck and I had to go back a few times for injections into my spine. So I’ve had at least 5 to 6 procedures altogether.

People always ask me if I would do it again, and I always respond, “Yes! I would.” I thank God for being here. I am really grateful. That’s one of the reasons why I will use the life that I’ve been given to serve other people.

Here is a little story happened in Togo, when I was in high school. Teachers were having issues with the government, and I didn’t feel like they were being treated right. So I have organized a protest that other students have left the classrooms to join in on the streets.

It’s hard for me to stand by and watch things going wrong. That is just my nature. I’m driven to action when things are going wrong. Being a member of the Democratic Party is an exceptional thing to me, throughout the history of the United States, the Democratic Party has always worked hard to protect the middle class. They have always worked hard for the working class the United States of America. They have always worked hard to protect the women of this country, giving them their place in our society. That is the reason why I am a Democrat today. We value the hard-working people of the United States and we value all women. We fight to make sure that we have a level playing field for all Americans.

The motivation to run for elected office came from my oldest son Martavion (Tay). I had grown complacent with my life, I am retired and one day my son challenged that complacency. You’ve created a foundation that has helped many people, you have always extended your hand to help the poor, you have always stood up for people who been oppressed. So what happened to you? He asked. It seems like you have given up on the things that have always been important to you. This caused me to open my eyes and take a hard look at what is really going on with our community, our state, and our country.

After talking to people throughout our community. I personally came to understand that our representation in Congress has been sadly lacking leadership and is not representing our District; she went to Washington and became the problem instead of the solution. Senior citizens throughout the 7th congressional district tell me of the fear that they will lose their Medicare, Medicaid under the Republican plans. People worry about not having a roof over the head. Tennesseans wonder if they’ll keep their jobs, the next month. Women are so afraid that through the actions of the Republicans in the state legislature, they will slowly lose control over their lives and bodies. Campaigning through the district has been a heartwarming experience, and I want to thank the people of this district for receiving me with open arms. Nevertheless, their stories are what really strike home. They remind me that we have a lot of work to do.

We lack leadership in Congress right now. Congressional approval is the lowest it has been in the entire history of the United States. Our representative Marsha Blackburn is not representing the people here at home. When looking at the job that my opponent has done during her time in office, one can only rate it as pitiful. She has shown that her loyalties lay not with the people of our district, but with her party, and the people who give money to her campaign. The record of her time as our representative shows this quite clearly.

A man waits for the bus while looking for a job

When was the last time Marsha Blackburn fought to keep jobs here in our district, or to bring new jobs to Tennessee? I’ve lived in the 7th Congressional District for almost 9 years, and during this time I have seen so many hard working people lose their jobs, its downright scary. Marsha Blackburn’s positions against Tennessee workers have been equally clear with votes against increasing the minimum wage, allowing employer interference in union organizing, supporting free-trade measures while opposing assisting workers who lose their jobs as a result, as well as voting against allowing shareholders a say on executive compensations.

When was the last time Marsha Blackburn fought to help working-class Tennesseans keep their health insurance? She wants to kill the healthcare bill instead.

When was the last time Marsha Blackburn fought for our senior citizens, to protect Medicare or Medicaid, so that they will have the lowest possible medication costs?

When was the last time Marsha Blackburn stood up for the rights of our women? There is no record on this issue because she voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, argued in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood, as well voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

That is not the type of leadership we need to represent the 7th Congressional District in Congress.

A common question heard throughout the 7th congressional district run this election season is “Where is Marsha Blackburn?” The sad fact is that Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn is missing in action. An election is an opportunity for your candidates to hear your point of view on the issues facing our district and the state. No matter where I go in the 7th congressional district, people are tired, they can’t even get access to their representative, and more importantly the people of our district have not seen her lately.

My opponent is a prominent member of the Republican Party, and so must bear some responsibility for their policies. When Todd Akin made his comment about legitimate rape, why did we not see Marsha Blackburn standing up front defending the women of her district and the nation? Indeed, Blackburn cast an indefensible vote against women with her vote against the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay act of 2009, which allows women to hold businesses to account for their discriminatory pay practices.

I would appreciate if the voters of our district will choose to send me to Washington to represent them and send Marsha Blackburn home, because I will go to Washington DC to represent the interests of the residents of my district and no one else. My first name Credo means “I believe,” and here are some of the things that I believe in…

I’m a strong believer in community service, I was taught as a child that when a neighbor needs help, you step in and roll up your sleeves. The hard-working people of Tennessee know that good people always will stand up for those who cannot help themselves. This led me to found the Homeffa Foundation, an organization that was involved in providing disaster relief after the devastating earthquakes in Haiti in 2010, and right here at home after the great flood of 2010 in Clarksville, Tennessee.

I believe that education is the new world currency. We know that to have a strong economic system we need a strong education system. I would start first by working to improve our education system here in Tennessee. Teaching to the test is not working. I will work to direct more of our tax dollars toward our education system, to hire teachers and to reduce our classroom sizes. We need to make sure that our teachers are given the best tools to enable them to educate our children. We need to pay our teachers more to ensure that they have peace of mind and feel rewarded for the hard task they have at hand, so they can spend their time concentrating on teaching our children, rather than worrying about how to pay their bills. An investment in our teachers will pay great dividends for our future.

I believe in a strong America, no one in this country has no reason to fear any country on this earth. We accomplish this, both through our military might, and by our diplomatic acumen. By exercising our empathy and compassion, as well as working to build a better understanding of our fellow human beings, we can find a path forward, that leads to peace, security, and stability for all of the nations of the earth.

I believe in taking care of our seniors, so that are able to enjoy their retirement with a piece of mind.

I believe that women should have the right to speak for themselves, as well as choosing for themselves.

I believe that the voters of Tennessee will make the right choice in this election, selecting me to represent them in the halls of Congress to carry their voice.

Thank you so much Tennessee, for giving me this opportunity.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Editor’s note: The following is a news release from a political campaign, and our publication does not constitute an endorsement or political advertisement for the campaign. Any candidate for public office is welcome to submit campaign releases, position papers, or commentaries to *protected email*. These are published as our schedule allows.

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Washington, DC – This week, we continued to see historic levels of drought grip much of our nation, impacting thousands of farm families. Although the hard work and innovation of our producers has fueled a strong farm economy in recent years, President Obama and I understand the major challenges this drought poses for American agriculture.

As of July 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 1,055 counties across the country as disaster areas due to drought. Significant portions of many crops are impacted – for example, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report, 88 percent of our nation’s corn and 87 percent of our soybeans are in drought-stricken areas. Rising grain prices are threatening livestock and dairy operators with high input costs.

U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook

Our farmers and ranchers are no strangers to uncertainty – but it’s even harder to plan for the future when we don’t know how much more severe the drought will be.

Over the years, American producers have constantly innovated to meet new demands and adapt to new conditions, embracing new methods and utilizing new technology. The same innovative spirit that has positioned American agriculture as a global leader has helped to reduce the impact of the drought.

Nevertheless, the uncertainty of drought means this is a very difficult time for many. At President Obama’s direction, USDA is doing all it can within the Department’s existing authority to help.

Last week, I announced a final rule to simplify the process for Secretarial disaster designations – both to speed the process for producers and to reduce the burden on State government officials, who are also hard at work to help producers around the country cope with this disaster.

I reduced the interest rate for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans, effectively lowering the current rate from 3.75 percent to 2.25 percent to help ensure that credit is available for farm families who are hit by drought.

And finally, I announced that USDA has lowered payment reductions for Conservation Reserve Program lands that qualify for emergency haying and grazing in 2012, from 25 to 10 percent.

USDA officials are traveling to states around the country to see firsthand the impact of the drought, and we will continue to look for ways to help. But the fact is USDA’ s legal authority to provide assistance remains limited right now. That’s because the 2008 Farm Bill disaster programs, which were implemented under President Obama, expired last year. Prior to the expiration, these programs helped hundreds of thousands of U.S. producers during disasters.

If Congress doesn’t act, USDA will remain limited in our means to help drought-stricken producers. That’s why President Obama and I continue to call on Congress to take steps to ensure that USDA has the tools it needs to help farm families during the drought. Disaster assistance for producers is also one of many reasons why we need swift action by Congress to pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill this year.

I know that many producers are struggling today with the impact of this historic drought. The President and I are committed to doing all we can to help farmers and ranchers in this difficult time.

As all of us across America hope for rainfall, and while USDA does all it can to assist America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities, I hope that Congress will do all it can to help us get the job done.

Visit www.usda.gov/drought for the latest information regarding USDA’s Drought Disaster response and assistance. For an audio version of this week’s column, please click here.

Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture – Tom Vilsack

Tom Vilsack serves as the Nation’s 30th Secretary of the Agriculture.

As leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vilsack is working hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and secure a stronger future for the American middle class.

In three years at the Department, Vilsack has worked to implement President Obama’s agenda to put Americans back to work and create an economy built to last. USDA has supported farmers, ranchers and growers who are enjoying record earnings, provided food assistance to 1 in 4 Americans, conserved our natural resources and helped provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people.

Secretary Vilsack shares President Obama’s commitment to a rural economy that continues to reward hard work and responsibility while growing a strong middle class. To help drive innovation and build thriving economies in rural communities, USDA is promoting job growth and higher incomes through expanded production of renewable energy, outdoor recreational opportunities and development of local and regional food supplies. USDA has made historic investments in rural housing, in rural infrastructure like fire and police stations, libraries and health clinics and in rural access to broadband.

As chair of the first-ever White House Rural Council, Secretary Vilsack and USDA are taking steps to strengthen services for rural businesses and entrepreneurs creating job opportunities – finding new ways to partner with other Federal agencies and the private sector to spur investment.

USDA, at the President’s direction and with the Secretary’s leadership, is promoting American agriculture by conducting cutting-edge research and improving markets at home and abroad. USDA also works to ensure an appropriate safety net for America’s farmers and ranchers, enabling them to prosper even in tough times. Today, agriculture is a bright spot in the American economy, with record farm-sector earnings and record agricultural exports – worth $137 billion in 2011 – that helped support more than 1 million American jobs. New trade agreements President Obama signed with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama will create even more export opportunities for American farmers and ranchers.

Vilsack knows that conserving natural resources is critical to the long-term strength of our economy. That is why USDA has enrolled a record number of private working lands in conservation programs and implemented new strategies – such as landscape-scale efforts – to restore our forests and clean our water supply. This work is creating private sector jobs protecting and rehabilitating our forests and wetlands, and providing increased opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Under Vilsack’s leadership, USDA has partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to improve the health and nutrition of America’s children. He helped pass the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, so USDA is combating child hunger and obesity by making the most significant improvements to school lunches in 30 years. He led a comprehensive effort to improve the safety of the American food supply, implementing changes to food safety standards to prevent illnesses by reducing the prevalence of E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter in our meat and poultry.

Secretary Vilsack has also worked to make the Department more efficient, transparent and effective. Through his Blueprint for Stronger Service, USDA will continue to maintain top-notch service for the American people despite reductions to our budget while creating more than $150 million in efficiencies annually.

He has made civil rights a top priority, reaching historic resolutions to all major past cases of discrimination brought against USDA by minority groups, and taking definitive action to move USDA into a new era as a model employer and premier service provider.

Prior to his appointment, Vilsack served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. After graduating Hamilton College and Albany Law School, he moved to Mt. Pleasant – his wife Christie’s hometown – where he practiced law. The Vilsacks have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

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Washington, DC – How important is water? Well, it’s not a question I have to think too hard about. What I can tell you is that without it, there wouldn’t be any humans or critters roaming the earth.

In the U.S., we use a little more than 400 billion gallons of water a day. According to the UN, in the worldwide picture about one in five people lack access to a clean, improved water source.

At USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) we view clean water as a top priority. Every day, our employees work with farmers and ranchers to improve on-farm water management—using a systems approach to avoid, control and trap pollutants.

The type of pollutants we are working to control, through our conservation actions or “practices” are farm waste, fertilizer, sediments, pesticides and herbicides. Our goal is to stop these at or before the edge of a field, so they don’t run into the water. And that’s why we recently created the National Water Quality Initiative.

We launched the National Water Quality Initiative with $33 million dedicated for farmers and ranchers, with financial assistance for any size agriculture operation to help reduce the loss of excess nutrients and sediments from their fields. We expect to show how the actions of farmers and ranchers can remove a stream from the impaired list.

When large numbers of farmers take action together in one area, in one watershed, it can make a difference—it can stop an algae bloom or keep bacteria from reaching a drinking water source. And clean water is absolutely critical for the freshwater ecosystems that 44,000 aquatic species call home.

In Texas, ranchers Gary and Sue Price have been working with NRCS and the Navarro Soil and Water Conservation District for over 35 years to implement conservation practices on their ranch which lies in the Trinity River Basin—an area that provides water for over 40 percent of Texans.

The Prices began addressing water quality several years ago when they converted a portion of their cropland to a wetland. Wetlands are the clean water sponges, or kidneys, of the land. They minimize soil erosion and are excellent wildlife habitat. The couple also installed a riparian buffer with native plants. This buffer acts as a filter while creating habitat for both bobwhite quail and Rio Grande turkey.

If you are a farmer, rancher or forest landowner interested in signing up, you can check a map online and see if you are located in a priority area. If you prefer the in-person route, we have USDA service centers in almost every county, and you are always welcome to stop in and complete an application. Applications must be submitted by June 15, 2012 in order to be considered for this fiscal year’s funding opportunity.

Since the White House Rural Council was established last June, the Council has provided a forum for increasing conservation work and creating jobs in rural America. Through the National Water Quality Initiative, we will have measurable progress achieved with support from the Rural Council.

Follow NRCS on Twitter.

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Washington, D.C. – So, what’s a typical day like for a White House Intern

It’s a question I’m often asked, and the honest answer is that there’s no such thing. The mission of the White House Internship Program is to make the “People’s House” accessible to future leaders from around the nation, and to cultivate and prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. To this end, the programs and opportunities of the Internship Program make for days filled with unique learning experiences, thought-provoking conversation, and unforgettable events.

President Barack Obama waves goodbye after talking with summer interns from the White House Internship Program in the Rose Garden of the White House, Aug. 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

White House Interns work in one of sixteen White House departments where they conduct research, manage incoming inquiries, attend meetings, write memos and staff events. Some of the offices where they work include the Office of the First Lady, the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of the White House Counsel, the National Economic Council, the Office of Communications, the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Digital Strategy.

In addition to their regular duties, each week, White House Interns hear from senior members of the Administration including the First Lady, the Chief of Staff and the White House Counsel. They meet in small groups to discuss policy issues and take off-site field trips to learn more about Washington, D.C. They participate in service projects at non-profits and schools. Not to mention, they spend three months alongside other Interns who are devoted to public service and with whom they build long-lasting friendships.

Staff and interns gather on the South Lawn of the White House to watch President Barack Obama's Marine One departure en route to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Oct. 21, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Yesterday we opened the application for the Summer 2012 White House Internship Program. The summer program runs from May 29th, 2012 through August 10th, 2012, and the application deadline is January 22nd, 2012.

If you are interested in public service – Apply.

Tell other young leaders who are interested in public service to apply.

Be part of a program where there’s no typical day, and where young people from across the country dedicate their time, talents, and energy to better the White House, the community, and the nation.

The post Apply Today for the White House Internship Program appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Soldiers pledge their lives joining the military, knowing that they can expect the worst at war. They join to serve their country to their fullest extent. They join, knowing that they will do their country proud. One of those soldiers includes Mitchell Messer, an E6/Staff Sergeant in the U.S Army. Everybody knows the risks of joining the military. These risks include missing your family, getting hurt, or even worse, seeing your friends die around you. These are all risks that Mitch has taken.

When asked about why he joined the military, he had an elaborate answer. “I felt that it was my duty as an American.” Well, what does he mean? “Our ancestors founded this country on certain beliefs, and I felt it was my duty to share in the responsibility to uphold those standards and beliefs,” he answered.

Arianna Reiley reads from her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

A soldier goes through changes in the military. They make lots of sacrifices, and they think about a lot when they’re at war. When asked about his thoughts when he is overseas, he answered: “I mainly concentrate on the mission at hand. It is an unbelievable feeling to know that you are directly involved with providing freedom to a society that has never experienced anything like it. The people that we have freed from tyranny have never experienced the freedoms that we have here in United States. They are seeing the benefits of the freedom that we enjoy.”

Arianna Reiley receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

Mitchell has also made a lot of sacrifices as well, though. “I have spent a lot of time away from home. In the past sixty-eight months, I have spent thirty-seven of those in a combat zone. I missed the entire first year of my daughter’s life. She was born six days before I deployed and I did not make it home until after her birthday the following year.”

Although never being severely hurt in war, Mitch has lost hearing in his left ear due to roadside bomb explosions. There are many more things about being hurt in war, though. You can be scared to death, and that could be hurting you. “The scariest thing about war, to me, is the thought of my kids growing up without a father. We all know the risks that come with the job when you raise your right hand and swear to defend this country against all enemies, foreign or domestic. I won’t run away from a fight that our citizens ask me to fight. I’ll be the first one to volunteer to lead the charge, but the thought of my wife and children crying over a casket with a flag draped over it scares the hell out of me.”

Even though there are bad times in the war, they aren’t always scary. When asked about good times in the military, this is what Mitch said, “There are way too many to mention. For example, my first deployment to Iraq, my LT and I were sitting outside the Node Center drinking our coffee when we started to have mortars dropping on us. They were about 150 meters away from us, and we didn’t even break stride in conversation. I was only twenty years old at this time. My LT looked at me and said ‘Mitch, did you ever think when you were a kid that you would be sitting in a combat zone, having incoming mortars not far away, and not even move or break stride in conversation?’ I also remember fishing in one of the lakes that Saddam Hussein had dug out. Sitting around our campfire, making dinner with anything that we could find. Fried Spam isn’t all that bad.”

When you talk to a soldier, you know that they are proud. They stand proud for our country, facing many challenges daily and nightly. They face death, injuries and pain. Mitchell Messer, SSG in the U.S. military, is one of them. He is a brave, courageous, and daring piece of my heart.

The post How Mitchell Messer Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Today, I interviewed my grandfather Dr. Leon R. Sitter. During the interview we discussed his service in the Army from 1943-1946.

My grandfather was a staff sergeant of the US 86th Infantry division in WWII, and was awarded a bronze star. He fought at the crossing of the Rhine, marched through Nazi occupied France and Germany, and was one of the approximately 16 million men and women that fought for the allied cause in WWII.

He grandfather enlisted in the army at the age of eighteen, in his home town of Cobden IL. At the time of his enlistment, Cobden was a town of only 1000 people, and almost all of the men of enlistment age were either drafted or enlisted. Out of a town of only 1000, 14 men did not return from World War II.

Seth P. Sitter reads a small part of his essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

He marched all the way through Eastern France and through most of Germany. Most of the time during the marches the soldiers would not have any motorized vehicles to carry them. Also the soldiers had, little or no tank or aircraft support to defend against enemy armor or their devastating counter attacks.

The weapons that my grandfather’s generation was equipped with can not even begin to compare to the modern weapons of today. In WWII there were no bulletproof vests, guided missiles, robots, or even thermal and night vision goggles to see an enemy stalking in the night.  Armor tech has also increased throughout the years. My grandfather was an infantry soldier, however for the tank crews during WWII, their then mighty tanks were easily knocked out of action, however, today the mighty M1A1 Abrams tank has lost very few, if any operators.

Seth P. Sitter receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

The same applies to the soldiers, not to belittle today’s soldiers, but once or twice a week you see on the news about an IED going off overseas and killing 3 or 4 soldiers, but During WWII there were staggering losses every day on all fronts. The low number of casualties in modern warfare is due to the advanced weapons, tactics, and improved armor that the average soldier is equipped with. Because of this, we no longer suffer such staggering losses on the field of battle, however as General George S. Patton once said, “Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow, and of the man that leads that gains that victory.”

My grandfather told me many stories about his time in the war zone, but there was one in particular that stood out. He had chased a German soldier through a neighborhood, when the soldier ran into a house with my grandfather close behind. He chased him upstairs, and found him in a closet attempting to change into civilian clothing.  This was a common occurrence with German soldiers towards the end of the war, as they did not want to be captured and be forced to leave their families.

As my grandfather took the German downstairs the soldier claimed that the family downstairs was his, and he begged not to be taken away. My grandfather explained to the best of his ability, that the soldier and his family will be soon reunited as that the war was almost over. To this day, my grandfather wonders if the soldier ever made it back to his family.  When I heard this story, it made me realize, even though the man on the other side may be your enemy, but he is still a human being and almost always has a family who are hoping and praying for his safe return.

My grandfather’s tour led him through most of France and Germany, and part of the Pacific. As I get older, I believe that I am becoming better able to appreciate the sacrifices that our service men and women made. In the world today we are so well informed by the news that we cannot help but to notice all of the tragedies happening overseas. Some seventy plus years ago our WWII soldiers marched off to battle, and now only a few remain alive. I will try to keep these stories alive for future generations of my family. After all it is much more then history, veterans like my grandfather lived through it.

The post How Leon R. Sitter Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Veteran, this word means so much to so many people. The dictionary defines it to mean a man or woman who has served or experienced warfare. But to many others it is a hero, a survivor who gave their all defending our beautiful county, securing for us the freedom that we take for granted.

So many men and women gave their lives in the line of duty to keep us safe, and we should remember them for that. But, how many of you stop when you see a veteran, to shake their hand and thank them for their sacrifice. We set aside a day of honor every November to remember and celebrate these men and women who gave everything for us, but very few people actually spend the day thinking about those who we celebrate.

For example not many people know the remarkable Dave Roever.

Kayla Clark reads a small part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

He had only served for eight months when his ship came under attack by enemy forces. During the heat of the fight Dave was poised to throw a phosphorus grenade when it exploded in his hand. His body became covered with this lethal burning chemical. Thinking fast some of his teammates pushed Dave into the water hoping the water would rinse off the deadly chemical and ease their comrade’s pain. The ordeal left him hospitalized for fourteen months. While in the hospital, Dave underwent numerous surgeries. The doctors thought he would not make it, but to everyone’s surprise a miracle happened and he survived.

Kayla Clark receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

When Dave returned home he was injured and disfigured beyond recognition, but instead of leaving him his wife and family were loving and supportive. They stayed by his side even though the rest of the world turned and treated him badly. Dave stayed strong and faced all the obstacles of his new life.

Today Dave is a humorous speaker for military installations, businesses, schools, and youth groups. A message of hope is found in every speech he gives. Through his speeches he teaches people how to over come everyday problems like peer pressure, loneliness, and pain. When people hear him tell of his story, they stop and listen.

In May 2005 Dave was awarded an honorary doctorate degree for his life and service.

He was also the recipient of many medals including: a Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal, First Class Color with Palm), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device.

Thirty-four years after his experiences in Vietnam, Dave is still happily married to his wife Brenda with two children and four grandchildren. He has established a compassionate and ongoing mission project for Vietnam and other nations. Dave also is the founder, chairman and president of two nonprofit organizations: Roever Evangelistic Association (REA) and Roever Educational Assistance Programs (REAP) located in Fort Worth, Texas. Together he and his wife co-founded the Eagles Summit Ranch near Westcliffe, Colorado where they train wounded soldiers and young leaders in subjects such as public speaking, marital and emotional recovery, and support after devastating injuries. Their goal is to help these people how to reach their destinies. A second center is in development near San Antonio, Texas.

Hopefully after reading all of this, you will begin to recognize veterans for their service  and thank them because they deserve it for all that they have done. So the next time you pass a veteran on the street, stop, shake their hand, and let them know that you really appreciate all they have done. Because the many men and women like Dave need to know that there are people out there that truly care. The next time Veteran’s day appears on your calendar do not spend it wasting time on events meant make you happy and relaxed, spend it talking to someone you know is a Veteran,  and ask them if they wouldn’t mind telling you their story.

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At the early age of seventeen, Larry Boyer entered the army as an infantryman. Coming from the small town of Superior, Wisconsin, he had no clue what he was getting into. Security, safety, homely comfort, regular visits with family and friends- he was used to these luxuries. He didn’t know that soon he would be deprived of them. Determined, and self-motivated, the young, inexperienced boy took his chances and began his life as a United States soldier.

Being in the Army required extreme dedication. It consumed so much of his time that there was none left for anything else. Larry would have to work long hours on base, or would be out in the field for days. He wouldn’t be able to see his wife or kids much at all. It didn’t leave ample family time, let alone time for a social life.

Maria Boyer reads a part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Safety was huge too. Every day he lived was a blessing. There were so many dangers surrounding him that it was a miracle surviving through the conditions, let alone the people trying to kill him. One of Larry’s most dangerous trips was in Panama. There were piranhas, Black Palm Trees, snakes, spiders, poisonous frogs, etc. and he had to maneuver through all of this in a triple canopy forest. At night, it was total darkness.

Maria Boyer receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

As if Mother Nature was not enough to deal with, they also had to think about the enemy’s threats. Missiles, bombs, flurries of bullets, chemical weapon scares, and much more dangers were very common. It was never the question of if it would happen; it was always the wonder of when, and if they would survive. Because of constant imminent danger, there was no such thing as privacy. Anything the army wanted to search, survey, or even confiscate was their prerogative. “It was like living under a microscope;” Larry stated, “We were always being watched.”

Training was extremely challenging, and vigorous. Sometimes training would be hands on, like Jack Frost of ‘88. Larry and his troops were sent out on a training exercise in Germany. Temperatures were frigid. Huge water buffalo would freeze solid. After washing a pan to cook in, it would freeze to the ground in a matter of seconds. Because of the icy climate, people would crank pot belly stoves all the way up to stay warm. This created a fire danger. Larry treated more frostbite there than he ever had in his life. This wasn’t even a mission, it was merely an exercise.

Basic training however put his mind to the test more than anything. Physical training for example, was hard. He had to keep himself going simply by convincing himself not to quit. Then there were things such as: jumping out of planes, going through gas chambers without a mask, learning how to fight hand to hand combat, learning how to shoot someone, crawling through mud or sand, and finding ways to avoid unavoidable obstacles. He had to be thoroughly trained in everything. It was not a choice, but a necessity. He couldn’t pick and choose what he wanted to do. Everything was mandatory whether or not he wanted to, or thought he could do it.

Sometimes he would work straight through holidays, and even days in general. He would go days without sleep. “You developed a sense of duty. That’s one of the things that separated us from civilians. We were never off at a set time. If the job wasn’t done, we stayed until it was finished.” Larry explained. He couldn’t leave until he was dismissed. He was assigned missions, not hours.

Larry Boyer served twenty two years in the service, from May 1977 through August 1998. He joined at the age of seventeen and retired as an E7 Sergeant (SFC) at thirty nine. He endured harsh conditions, sacrificed family and friend time along with privacy and a sense of security. He put his life on the line almost every day to protect our freedom, and safety. He is one of many that have served and sacrificed for the better good of the nation.

The post How Larry Boyer Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The military is important. The Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps all work together to keep our country safe. Ever since the attack on September 11th, 2001, our soldiers have been more highly respected and are more essential for our nation to survive. Most of us know at least one soldier. My soldier is my protector. He is my Dad. He joined the military in August of 1998 and has been serving for our country ever since. Some of the things he has sacrificed are time with his family, safety and friends.

My dad, Specialist Zechariah Larson, has been on four deployments for the Army and away from home for a total of over four years. His first time overseas began in March of 2003, when I was almost five. He was gone to Iraq for eight months.

Michaela Larson reads from her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Michaela Larson receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

Being in Iraq three times was scarier to him than his one time in Afghanistan. Although, every time he deploys he worries about his safety and the safety of his team. It is dangerous in the Middle East because the terrorists do not care about your life, family or your responsibilities. They would kill you if given the chance. However, taking another’s life is no joke, even to defend yourself. It is a huge weight to carry on your shoulders. It made my Dad feel extremely guilty when he killed his first guy. In addition, one of the worst experiences for my Dad was losing a friend.

Make no mistake, war is dangerous, even for trained soldiers who have been to war before. You could see your buddies die at any moment. Corporal Alexander Jordan, my Dad’s comrade, died while at war. It is not easy to get over something like losing a friend. You just have to move on. I know that my Dad will never forget him.

War is not a fun game like most boys imagine it to be. It is not an adventure and it is not like the video games picture it. It is a rivalry between countries as they fight for beliefs, territory and more. It causes unneeded death. War will never really be over. It’s not often a peace treaty is signed. It demands sacrifice for their service. It is very heroic to be willing to fight for every single person, good and bad, in this country. If you see a soldier, thank them for their service because they do more than you know.

The post How Zechariah Larson Served and Sacrificed for our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

James W. Hooten, the only son of James and Dottie Hooten served and sacrificed for our nation. He is my Great Uncle. He was eighteen years old when he was first drafted, right after he graduated from high school in 1969.

He had to do his training (boot camp) at Fort Knox, then he was sent to Fort Campbell Kentucky for six months, before he had to leave his close family and friends to go in fight in Vietnam War.

He was SP4 field artillery, so he was in the thick of it all! All his life up to this point was spent with his family, so he had to grow up fast. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. He was scared, but he told himself if he wanted to make it home alive. He had to be strong and become a man fast.

Alayna Pike reads a part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Having to walk in swamps day and night was terrifying especially during the night because he couldn’t see what was right in front of him let alone what was behind him. They also had to worry about bacteria on the feet and skin, and had to watch out for insects that could bite them. He had to go with his instinct to keep his mind on what was going on around him.

Everyday he was over there he would hear loud terrifying guns firing and men yelling. Think of the worst sounds you could think of; he heard them all. He walked and fought with veterans who soon became his family, but he didn’t t know if any of them would make it to see another day.

Alayna Pike receives an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

The men who fought in this war were young just like my Great Uncle James. He saw a lot of his friends get blown up, parts of their bodies not there anymore, or there would be nothing left of them. The hardest thing my Uncle had to see was his friends dying right in front of him, and knowing he couldn’t do anything to save them.

My Great Uncle said “Being over there listening to all the guns firing, hearing screaming , seeing fires, planes going down, never knowing what was ahead of them as they were walking for miles, was a huge nightmare!” He said his experiences made him become a man fast, and made him realize what they were fighting for.

He was over there for one year; he did have R&R. They sent him to Austria for three weeks, and then he went back to Vietnam. He served another year. He was gone a total of two years before he finally came home to stay in 1971.

The experience he had being in the army had affected him a lot. Even to this day he has nightmares about his time in Vietnam. Dreaming about the death he saw over there is horrible. Thousands of young men died for our country. I simply can’t imagine what my Great Uncle went through.

Back then soldiers were treated badly when they came home from the war. Now, when James sees a soldier coming home from the war, he is so them.

The post How James William Hooten Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, this flag is presented to you as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service,” these were the words spoken to my family by the Honor Guard at my grandfather’s funeral in October 2010. On behalf of a grateful granddaughter in October of 2011, I am showing my appreciation for my grandfather’s honorable and faithful service for my freedom by writing this for him. He served in the seventh infantry, thirty-second regiment, and the first battalion Charlie Company, which was a combat unit during the Korean War.

Grace Hinson reads a part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Once he went through basic training, Billy and 1500 other soldiers were sent on a troop ship to Puson, Korea. They had told them that it was just a police action, but when they arrived, they found out it had turned out to be an all-out war between the Chinese and North Koreans on one side and the South Koreans and Americans on the other.

Grace Hinson was the Middle School Division winner at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

He was part of the main line of resistance and was a Browning automatic rifle man. The officers were saying, “Men don’t be afraid! Stand your ground and keep fighting.” He later recalled, “I remember hearing the Chinese soldiers before ever seeing them. They were banging on pots, hitting on pans, blowing their horns and trumpets as loud as possible to scare us and boy was I scared!” It would have been very hard to be brave when you know people are going to lose their lives, especially the men you art trying to help.

Sitting around the campfire, they often found themselves telling stories of home during the long, cold nights. He dreamt of his Tennessee home and family. It was bitterly cold and many of his friends had died from freezing during the night. He had to be pulled off the front line, for he had pneumonia and his legs were frost bitten so severely they had to carry him on a stretcher back to camp. Lying there he started thinking, what would happen if his mother received a letter saying he had not made it through the war. He could not picture his mom in such pain. He made the decision he had to survive for her. The last thing he remembered is praying, “Lord, please help me make it home and if it be your will, let me see my mamma…”

He awoke two days later in an army hospital. He had frostbite and his legs were stiff and dumb, but they said he would be just fine. A few weeks later he was let out of the hospital and put back on the battlefield. Six months later, on July 27th, 1953, Corporal Hinson returned home after being gone for 10 months. When they reached San Francisco, California, on his return trip home, they told them there had been a ceasefire and the war was over.

54,000 men died during that war. One of those could have been my grandfather and he knew the risk that he was taking, but he said no sacrifice was too great for his country. He was a proud patriot and once read these words on Veteran’s Day in honor of his fellow soldiers:

“He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, in his exploits to his buddies they are heroes every one. And though sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a joke, all his Legion buddies listened for they knew whereof he spoke. But we’ll later hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away. And the world’s a little poorer for a soldier died today.”

- A Soldier Died Today by A. Lawrence Vaincourt.

The post How Corporal Billy Granville Hinson Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

“The Army is a lifestyle filled with duty, honor and sacrifice. I knew that when I signed up back in 1988, and I don’t expect it to change after I retire in 2014″ said Lieutenant Colonel Darin Haas. He is an officer in the United States Army that has missed over four years of time with his wife and children because of his service to our nation. He is a Human Resources Specialist that has traveled all over the world in defense of the United States of America.

Lieutenant Colonel Haas deployed  four times between March of 2003 and the present day in support of the country’s wars on terrorism. The nation has asked Lieutenant Colonel Haas to leave his family on more than four occasions to deploy to Iraq,  Afghanistan, and Korea in support of their freedom between March of 2003 and March of 2011.

Connor Haas reads a portion of his essay at the Kiwanis Club's “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Lieutenant Colonel Haas said that it was easier being in convoys around gunfire and mortar attacks on war-torn roads than it was being away from his almost three-year old son Connor and his pregnant wife Alissa.  He went on to say that he felt blessed that he was able to make it back in time to see his daughter Caitlin born so that his Battalion Commander didn’t have to be at the hospital as his replacement.

Two years later, after being promoted to Major, Lieutenant Colonel Haas was deployed to Iraq again in an effort to maintain the peace in the country. This time his focus was on providing postal support to over fifty thousand soldiers as they assisted the Iraqi Army in rooting out the terrorists that threatened security in Iraq, and the world.

This time he left his wife and all three of his children behind for an entire year. His  youngest girl Claire, was only 4 months old when he left. “This was a hard deployment for me” Lieutenant Colonel Haas told me, “because I left my wife with three small children to take care of, and when I came back Claire was afraid of me. My wife was great when I got back” he continued, “she not only kept the family going, but she helped Claire and I form our father and daughter bond.”

Connor Haas received an award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

After two trips to Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Haas was sent to Korea to assist in a fifty-year old alliance in the defense of freedom and democracy once again.

While in South Korea in 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Haas was in charge of all postal and finance support for over three thousand soldiers in the 501st Sustainment Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Haas told me that “the Sustainment Brigade was stationed in Korea and partnered with two Korean Brigades that conducted joint exercises in order to maintain a high level of preparedness, in the event that North Korea followed through with their threats to attack South Korea.”

He went on to say that “the Sustainment Brigade’s mission was to provide supplies and ammunition to both United States forces and partner South Korean units.”

Lieutenant Colonel Haas’ last deployment took him to Afghanistan in May of 2010. “Afghanistan was my hardest deployment by far” he told me in our interview. “My mother was dying, and I had to leave my wife behind to take care of her and our children.

To make things worse, I had to assign soldiers by name to units and positions only to see the reports of their battle injuries come back sometimes within hours of their arrival.

I worked eighteen to twenty hour days for over four months and had very little contact with my family. I was emotionally drained within days of arrival.” During this deployment he worked with Officers from the Afghan Army and taught them how to keep track of the number of personnel in their units, and how to provide postal and financial support to them as well.

“During this whole deployment we received rocket and mortar attacks daily. I was also was on the road with small arms fire, and Improvised explosive devices on more than three occasions. Still, being away from my family was the hardest part of all. You just cannot explain the emotional stress of battle combined with the longing to be with your family. The closest I can come is it feels like a professional boxer is hitting you in the stomach every day over and over again. That is why I plan on retiring in two years. I don’t ever want to be away from my family again.”

In conclusion, Lieutenant Colonel Haas has sewed his country with distinction while deployed to Iraq, Korea, and Afghanistan in defense of freedom on multiple occasions. He has also sacrificed a great deal physically and emotionally while he was gone. There is no doubt that being away from his family, and not being able to provide the emotional love and support that he wanted to from so far away were great sacrifices for both him and his family.

The post How Darin O. Haas Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

My grandfather, James Harvey Johnson, was just a young man, straight out of a small town high school in southeastern Kentucky, when he voluntarily joined the U.S. Army. James made several sacrifices while he served, which has allowed him to be awarded not only a Bronze Star, but also a Purple Heart and many more medals.

It was Friday, May 28th 1966, the last day of high school, when James knew what he had to do; join the Army. That was his only choice since he and his family didn’t have enough money to send him straight to college. When he informed his parents on the decision he was making, they weren’t very emotional because they knew that was what he had to do. Then on June 1st, he went and enlisted in the Army.

Skyler Johnson reads a small part of her essay at the Kiwanis Club's “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

An article about him in his local news paper states, “While he was pinned down by enemy fire, the citation states:”

Johnson ’advanced on the enemy with disregard for his own safety, ran through a hail of machine gun and mortar fire, and destroyed two enemy bunkers, killing at least eight Viet Cong’.

He fought off the enemies until his men could reach safety and reinforcements. That is how he got the Bronze Star.

Skyler Johnson received the Most Heroic award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

After James returned home from Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. That spring his younger brother Willy Johnson was sent to Vietnam and fought as well. Then in 1968, James was honorably discharged from the Army due to medical reasons. He said looking back on it; he wishes he could have stayed in the Army. He then attended Southeast Community college in Cumberland, Kentucky. After that, he worked a few jobs such as a correction officer, for the postal service and a few other jobs.

I am very appreciative and thankful, that there are brave people here in the U.S. that serve and sacrifice their lives for the safety of others like James did. It makes me especially proud of him since he is my grandfather and of my father as well who currently serves in the Army. James is very active with a group of veterans and he believes that they stick together now more than ever because our nation was and still is in a state of war. He also stated, “The most important thing we need to do now is educate the people about what a veteran means, what he is, and what he stands for today. That is freedom and sacrifice-we paid the price.”

The post How James Johnson Served and Sacrificed for our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Colonel William Hickman is 50 years old and has obtained 28 years worth of memories in the United States Army. These memories include loss, pain, sorrow, happiness, joy, and pride. He has received a lot of awards for his leadership and perseverance.

Colonel Hickman entered the United States Army at the young age of 22 after graduating from Vanderbilt University.

His first assignment was unforgettable, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

 There he was assigned to the Eighty-Second Airborne Division from 1983-1986, as a Platoon Leader. Also, while stationed there, the division visited Puerto Rico for a training exercise. It was not a typical landing either. The division jumped out of planes with parachutes as one of the training drills.

Elizabeth Hickman reads a small part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

From 1993 until 1995 Colonel Hickman was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment. While there Hickman met Mayme Bennett whom he married on May 28, 1994. Soon after their marriage, Colonel Hickman deployed to Haiti with the 75th Rangers for Operation Uphold Democracy in order to help secure the country after a dictator was forced out of power.

Soon after Colonel Hickman returned, he was assigned to Fort Campbell, KY and the First Battalion in the Second Brigade. A few months after moving into their house at Fort Campbell, Mayme gave birth to their daughter Elizabeth Ann Hickman on November 27, 1996 .

After living in Georgia for a couple of years, the Hickman family once again returned to Fort Campbell, KY, this time the Colonel served as the commander of the First Battalion in the Second Brigade.

Soon after taking command of the battalion, the 101st Airborne Division was deployed to Iraq in order to execute Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq, Colonel Hickman’s next job was the Division G3 working for General Petraeus. This allowed his family to live at Fort Campbell for another year, before moving to Rhode Island.

Once his previous assignment was complete, the Hickman family moved back to Fort Campbell, KY and Colonel Hickman deployed again to Iraq from 2005 to 2006, in order to help train the Iraq’s Army. He then served as the commander for Second Brigade and deployed in 2007 to 2008 a third time to Iraq to help protect the Iraqi people.

His last deployment was 2010 to 2011, when he deployed to Afghanistan as General Petraeus’ military assistant. A year before his deployment to Afghanistan, Colonel Hickman traveled to many different countries, while working for General Petraeus. Such countries include, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Omen, and many more. Each country he visited brought new life experiences to Colonel Hickman.

Colonel Hickman always knew that he wanted to help make a change in the world, ever since he was a kid. As a teenager he became an Eagle Scout. He} has also received awards such as the Legion of Merit. Currently, Colonel Hickman is stationed with his family at Fort Campbell, KY where he works for General McConvilIe as one of the two Deputy Commanders of the 101“ Airbome Division. He plans to continue serving as long as his family supports him.

References

Colonel William Hickman

The post How Colonel William Hickman Served and Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

CW3 Scott A. Schroeder is a great example of a soldier who has served and sacrificed. He entered the U.S. Army when he was twenty years old. He was just a month away from his twenty-first birthday.By entering the Army, he was hoping to tum his life around.

When asked why he chose the Army, Mr. Schroeder stated that he; didn’t want to be on a ship all of the time so the Navy was out, and the Air Force was too picky for him. He was living in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the Marines did not really have presence there. He knew he wanted to serve in the military, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Autumn Brown reads a part of her essay at the “Interview A Veteran” Essay Contest Winners program Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

Mr. Schroeder spent three years with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and two years with the 1st SOCOM (Special Operations Command) there.

He has been with the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell for nearly twenty years. The 5th Special Forces Group has a rich combat history with duty tours in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, just to name a few.

Missing out on birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmases has been very common for Mr. Schroeder. He believes his biggest accomplishment while serving is his ability to keep a family together and stable over all of his deployments.

Autumn Brown was the High School Division winner and won the Most Inspiring award at the Clarksville Kiwanis Club's Memories of Service and Sacrifice Project's "Interview a Veteran" essay contest.

He has lost count on the number of deployments he has been on. Since October of 2001, he has deployed to the Middle East for a period of four to six months at a time. Upon his return, he would then spend a couple of months at various military schools for the rest of the year. When I asked Mr. Schroeder how many friends and comrades have fallen, he tearfully responded, “More than I would like to keep track of; then: are too many.”

In the middle of July 2010, Mr. Schroeder left for an eight month deployment to Afghanistan. He said his unit was going village by village by village, working hard to have the Afghanis take control of their lives.

On December 10th, 2010, he was traveling in a convoy when his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED).

While he was still in the field, both of his legs were amputated above the knee. His right arm was severely injured, had significant tissue loss, and was full of shrapnel. Additionally, it was fractured and broken. As if those injuries were not enough, he also suffered a mild TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).

A few days me; the explosion, Mr. Schroeder was transferred to a base in Germany, and when he was stable enough, he was sent to Walter Reed Medical Center, arriving there on December 14th. His long road to recovery then began.

He has had over thirty surgeries, the majority on his right arm, as doctors tried desperately to save it from being amputated. Unfortunately, the severity of the damage has slowed down the recovery process.

While at Walter Reed Medical Center, Mr. Schroeder met many other wounded soldiers many with similar injuries, many half his age. These wounded warriors helped each other through some of their darkest days.

Mr. Schroeder said he was well-cared for by the doctors, nurses, and therapists. He was measured for prosthetic legs and on April 13th, nearly four months after the explosion, took his first steps on what are called “shorties.” His release from the hospital required that he not depend on pain medicine.

Friday, May 6th‘ was a joyous day for Mr. Schroeder and his family as he was released from the hospital. During his recovery Schroeder’s wife, Laura, and son Zach, have had to make Washington, D.C. their home away from home, getting a small apartment close to the hospital.

Author Autumn Brown

Mr. Schroeder said his current job is to get better. He goes to physical therapy five days a week. He is uncertain of his future plans, but hopes to be able to return to his home in Clarksville by February 2012.

That day in December changed Mr. Schroeder’s and his family’s life forever. His service, and all he has sacrificed for our nation makes him a hero. He is extremely humble, and does not consider himself a hero, but his bravery went far beyond what anyone could have reasonably expected of him. Although he has served in combat and fought many battles, his biggest battle has been finding the inner strength to recover. He faces this ongoing battle with a positive attitude; and the love and support of his family, friends, and fellow warriors.

References

Email interview with CW3 Scott Schroeder
The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN
Personal Interviews with Dean and Joanna Brown
Elizabeth Hickman

The post How CW3 Scott Schroeder Served & Sacrificed for Our Nation appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

State Senator Roy Herron with his 94 year old mother Mary

When my 94-year-old mother Mary was born, women were not allowed to vote. But then Tennessee ratified the 19th Amendment, and for seven decades Mother has voted faithfully. This year, my Republican colleagues in the legislature took away that right when they made it harder for her — and as many as 675,000 other Tennesseans — to continue to vote.

Ironically, legislators from the party that supposedly favors less government and more privacy passed a law requiring my mother to obtain a “big-government” photo identity card in order to vote. When the law goes into effect with the March 2012 presidential primary elections, poll workers will no longer accept her voter registration card as sufficient proof of identity.

Mother has not driven in at least two decades, so she has no driver’s license. But when she is pushed in her wheelchair to the polls, not one election worker will mistake her for another 94-year-old trying to cast a felonious, fraudulent vote.

My mother is one of 675,337 Tennesseans age 18 and older who, according to the Department of Safety, either have no driver’s license or have a license that does not carry their photo. These citizens may be registered to vote, but unless they obtain a photo ID from a driver’s license station or can produce another type of government-issued photo ID that the new law accepts (such as a military ID or a passport) they will not be allowed to vote.

This new requirement creates several problems.

First, one cannot get a government ID card from the state Department of Safety without producing a “primary proof of identity,” most commonly a birth certificate. Not surprisingly, my mother’s 1916 birth certificate has been misplaced. So she and thousands of other registered voters like her will have to get new birth certificates, which is where the next problem arises.

To apply for a birth certificate, my mother must either travel to the state Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records in Nashville, submit her request online or telephone the office. Traveling nearly halfway across the state is not feasible for many elderly, disabled, mobility-challenged, poor or employed Tennesseans. My mother and thousands of other Tennesseans are not computer literate, so they cannot order a birth certificate online.

I recently asked Annie Prescott, a Nashville attorney, to navigate the third option — a phone call to the Office of Vital Records. She spent the better part of an hour on the phone trying to speak to a live person.

Over 15 menu options offered by a series of recorded messages led to three busy signals and four hang-ups. Finally, Prescott got a real person on the phone, who instructed her to call another number. That number was for a company that charges an additional $15 to process the $15 request. And unless you pay another $5 to expedite service you must then wait weeks to receive the birth certificate.

So the total cost of what is supposed to be a free state-issued photo ID card so far is $35, not counting the long-distance charges for the phone call, the cost of \one’s time or the frustration of the process. And applicants still have to take the birth certificate to a driver’s license testing station, where they may have to wait in line for hours.

Only 43 of Tennessee’s 95 counties have such centers. Half the counties in West Tennessee, and two-thirds of the counties in my state Senate district, don’t have them. Some of the rural Tennesseans I represent will have to drive from their county through a second county and into a third to reach the closest driver’s license center — a trip of 40 to 60 miles each way. Taking a day off work and with gas averaging $3.58 a gallon, even at minimum wage the expense of travel and lost wages will cost people perhaps an additional $80 to $100 to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

This cost of this process—in many cases totaling $110 to $135, if not more — is such a burden that for many voters it will amount to disenfranchisement.

My Republican colleagues claim this legislation is necessary to prevent voter fraud, citing a state Senate election in Memphis in 2005 in which votes were recorded from two deceased people. But the fact is that the culprits in that case were dishonest election workers, not voters. Photo ID cards would not solve that problem.

My mother has children who live in West Tennessee, and we’ll do what has to be done to ensure she can continue to vote. But what about the other mothers and fathers, the blind, the hearing-impaired, the disabled, the elderly, the poor and the working people who already struggle to pay their bills, much less these new “poll taxes” of $100 or more to meet the requirements of the photo ID law?

This law is simply the latest in a long chain of outrageous actions designed to keep those who don’t look or think like the controlling politicians from voting. People have died trying to register to vote. Now even those who are registered may still be denied the right to vote.

About Roy Herron

Roy Herron represents Benton, Decatur, Henry, Henderson, Lake, Obion, Perry, Stewart, and Weakley counties in the Tennessee State Senate. You can contact him him via telephone at (615) 741-4576, or *protected email*.

The post Photo ID Law is More Voter Suppression appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Next week I am scheduled to make salsa with the youth at Brandon Hills but our veggies are not ready yet.  If you have extra tomatoes, peppers (both hot and sweet) and onions, please drop them off at my office no later than July 19th.

The Montgomery County Extension Office is located at 1030 Cumberland Heights road, or if it is closer to leave them at my house you are welcome to do that.  I live at 410 West Coy Circle…behind Barksdale off of Madison street.

For More information me at 931.648.5725 or email me at *protected email* or *protected email* .

About Karla Kean

Karla Kean

Karla Kean serves as the Extension Agent for the UT Agricultural Extension Office for the University of Tennessee in Montgomery County.

The UT Extension Service provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach u​nit of the Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-based information to citizens throughout the state of Tennessee. Working with farmers, families, youth, and communities, Extension helps improve people’s lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state, and national levels.

The post Calling all Gardeners! appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.