Being in the mortgage industry for the past 8 years I have come to realize that showing appreciation to your clients is a must. If I were running my own company I would even make it mandatory for VA loan officers. If you think about the process of buying a home it would seem like the Broker holds all the cards, but in reality it’s the Solider or Veteran.

The Loan Officer works for them, not the other way around. At any time during the process of completing the application and closing of escrow, the client – if they want – can find someone else to work with. I don’t want to sound like VA loan officers have no value or bring nothing to the table, its just good to understand what my responsibility is – WHICH IS HELPING THE SOLDIER/VETERAN! Without them I cannot put food on the table, but they can still get a VA loan without me.

I hope that did not sound like a rant, I just want to get the point across of how important the Veteran is.

There are many ways that I can show appreciation for Veterans and Soldiers buying homes. Let me list some of what I have done:

1. Give them the service they deserve. When talking with them on the phone or in person be sure to thank them for their military service. Sometimes address them using their Rank – this shows respect. Be prompt in your timelines and expectations.

2. Offer the best rates. Be competitive in the marketplace. Veterans and Soldiers will know if you are giving them higher VA interest rates and higher fees. I’m not suggesting doing the loan for free, but don’t “stick it” to them either. Trying to back pedal after you’ve been “caught” offering a bad deal is not a fun situation to be in.

3. Communicate. This is key. The best clients I have are the ones where I talk with them about the process of buying a home. I always try to educate Veterans or Active Military. Before closing explain to them how the final settlement statement looks and if there are any changes regarding rates, fees etc. NEVER DO A BAIT AND SWITCH!

4. Give them something of value. This is not too much to ask. Something simple like a Home Depot gift card or a house warming gift. The most recent purchase I did was here locally in UT. There were some speed bumps along the way to say the least. At the closing table I brought in a gift basket full of over the counter medicine as a joke. I also had some dish towels for the wife. They did not expect this, but they were very grateful because it was going above and beyond the call of duty.

5. Follow up. After the dust settles and your clients have moved in or completed their refinance, call them and ask how they like their new home or lower monthly payments. Send them birthday cards or Holiday cards.

In order to be successful in this business, you must always show your Veteran/ Active military clients that you care and appreciate them. Before you know it they will be sending referrals to you and that’s when you know you have created a business partner for life.

Each year the number of US. veterans increase as soldiers returning from America’s most recent wars come home. As the survivors are welcomed home after pursuing a dutiful career serving their country, a new generation of men and women suffering from mild- to severe-traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are greeted with battled medical budgets and flawed TBI technologies, which don’t provide the necessary services and treatments required to improve their newly developed disabilities.

With an average of 1.4 million Americans undergoing some form of TBI, the number of scientists and researchers striving to cure these individuals should be ever increasing, however, dwindling budgets continue to compress and squeeze war-related brain injury funding. In 2006, the U.S. House and Senate slashed the allocated funding for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) in half from the previous year.
Traumatic brain injury is the “signature” injury of the Iraq war, according to military doctors and experts. It is imperative for struggling soldiers to find assistance with their TBI-related disability.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

A traumatic brain injury occurs when a person’s brain is physically injured, usually by a sudden force. With military members, this is often the result of a concussive blast or explosion. It can also be caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, or any sudden blow to the head.  Because the damage is internal, there may be no visible head wound.

In prior conflicts, approximately 14% – 20% of surviving casualties had a TBI.

What are the Symptoms of TBI?

Every brain injury is unique and symptoms can vary widely.  Damage to different parts of the brain will result in different symptoms.  TBI shares symptoms with other physical and mental health conditions, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, which complicates diagnosis.  Below are some of the symptoms.  Having some of them, however, does not necessarily mean a person has TBI.  Only a doctor can definitively identify and diagnose a TBI.

Common Symptoms Immediately After Injury

• Being Dazed, confused, or “seeing stars”
• Not remembering the injury
• Losing consciousness (being knocked out)

Common Symptoms Later On

• Persistent headache or neck pain
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Loss of balance
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Feeling tired all the time, lacking energy
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of sense of smell and taste
• Slowness in thinking, acting, speaking or reading
• Symptoms that may appear to be mental health conditions
  • Sudden mood changes for little or no reason
  • Difficulty managing relationships
  • Chronic anxiety, depression, apathy
• Short term memory loss
• Getting lost or easily confused
• Having more trouble than usual with
  • Paying attention or concentrating
  • Organizing daily tasks
  • Making decisions

In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBIC testified to a Senate subcommittee that while “body armor may save troops caught in blasts it leaves many with brain damage,” according to a USA Today news report. Additionally, the article cited several disturbing statistics on the state of TBI and war veterans.

· 10 percent of all troops in Iraq suffer from concussions during combat.

· 20 percent of all frontline infantry troops suffer from concussions during combat.

· Scientists believe the Pentagon must screen all troops returning from Iraq.

· The Pentagon has declined screenings for all returning troops and only screens a small population of soldiers.

· If left untreated or untested, multiple head injuries and concussions can cause permanent brain injury.

Also, several equally disturbing statistics have been reported from several specialized journals including Brain Injury, Internal Medicine, Soldiers Magazine, MIT’s Technology Review and Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. These statistics area as follow:

· Nearly 25 percent of all military veterans of the Iraq war are diagnosed with a mental illness.

· War-related TBI patients often manifest distinct personality changes.

· Of the 35,000 soldiers screened for TBI, approximately 11 percent have had symptoms of mild TBI.

· No treatments currently exist to cure long-lasting symptoms of TBI.

While all this information may seem bleak, it is important to note that the majority of individuals who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury will completely recover in a matter of weeks to months.

I have always been proud to be an American but seriously the past couple of weeks have really hit a soft spot and I have got to tell you that at times I wonder what in the world is wrong with this country and more importantly those that are making and enforcing our laws.

The video that I am sharing in this blog post is of a group of 4-5 yr old pre-school children performing for their parents.  As I filmed this video I found myself conflicted.  I had a strong feeling of pride as a parent and also as an American living in a great country where we are free to worship how we want and to wear what we want.  At this same time I felt a bit sick to my stomach as I realized I was hearing this at a private school, not a public school!  Do you think our kids can sing a song with the words AMERICA and GOD in it?  There is no way.

In the past week alone on the news I have seen of kids getting kicked out of school for wearing old navy shirts with the American Flag on them.  I have heard of kids of other races, yet still living here and claiming to be American, being allowed to wear shirts with a flag of another country.  I don’t have any issue with diversity and I think others should be able to wear flags from countries of their roots and nationalities, however why the double standard?  It is absolute garbage and in my option one of the major reasons this country is losing its luster!  How about a recent news story where the ACLU is suing the Federal Government for allowing a white cross to be in a national desert?  Here is what the ACLU says…

“Contrary to what some believe,” said Peter Eliasberg, staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California and First Amendment specialist, “it is not the role of the federal government to advance Christianity or any other sectarian belief. Americans are perfectly competent to make such decisions for themselves without government interference.”

I have to wonder if they would have sued or tried to pull down a monument of the Menorah or perhaps something representing Islam?  I bet the would not have.  Again I am all for religious freedom and freedom of speech, but this double standard in our country is utterly ridiculous.

People need to also realize that they have the RIGHT TO NOT GET OFFENDED SO EASILY.  Political correctness is destroying this Nation that so many are fighting for, have fought for and hopefully will continue to fight for.

Feels good to get this off my chest!

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States Government.  All branches of the U.S. Military are eligible to receive the medal.

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I have often wondered why someone would willingly leave behind their families, their friends— basically their life—to serve their country. Why would someone “volunteer” to get deployed for a year or two and put themselves in such danger? A lot of troops serve their country way beyond that time span. Others for their entire life. I have concluded that their bravery, their honor, and their vision and sacrifice for America and our freedom runs deeper than a lot of people can comprehend. I believe soldiers have such a profound gratitude for the freedom of our Nation and their loved ones that they can’t help but serve our country.

I have also tried to imagine what life would be like if we couldn’t enjoy the freedoms we have. What if it didn’t exist in our country? What if we didn’t have men and women who were willing to enlist in the army today? It would be a disservice to those veterans who served in the past, who fought for their lives and freedom with many dying in the process.

I’m in awe when I think of the soldiers who trust in and rely so heavily on those they serve with. Their lives lie in the hands of the person next to them. I’m amazed at the strength and resilience of these forces. Their unity must be a great thing to experience, just as we citizens of our country must be united and take care of each other. We too must do our part.

I believe in Freedom. I believe in the right to choose. I believe in self-government, the right to bear arms in self defense, and free conscience. The right to free speech, a fair trial, and to assemble. I believe in the right to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor and to provide nature’s necessities. I believe in a United Country (hence, the “United States of America”). I believe in our Soldiers to help us accomplish and sustain this. I also deem that we as citizens have certain duties we are held to—both public and private. Such duties include not stealing, being honest in all our doings, abide the laws of the land, to provide for and protect our families, and of course to help those who are less fortunate, in need and sick. We as citizens need to become economically independent. We need to participate in our society, vote, volunteer, and be family-oriented. Doing these things will help our soldiers keep our country strong and standing. They can’t do it alone.

In today’s world it is starting to become more real to me the way our government and economy is going. And I, like many others, have had an awakening of how truly grateful I am for those men and women who are willing to stand and fight those who dare take our liberty and our rights from us. It has taken me a while to understand what independence means to me personally, but I am now forever changed by it. My appreciation for the thousands and millions of troops who serve now and who have served in the past runs deep. We need to show this appreciation more, not just on Veteran’s Day. They need and deserve that.

I am so proud to be an American. We are all truly blessed to live in this great country. Our soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors are a force for good in the world. This really is the land of the free because of the brave. Let’s not forget that. I am grateful for troops who protect our freedom, who create our freedom, and who support our freedom.

(1775 – 1783) The Revolutionary War

Spawned when the American colonies rejected British Parliament as a suitable government and formed the Continental Army, this revolution was the apex of the colonial up-rise. Originally a conflict between Great Britain and thirteen former British colonies in North America, the war escalated into a global affair and eventually resulted in the independence of the United States of America.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 6,188
DEATH: approx 8,000 in battle plus 17,000 due to disease fallout.

(1812 – 1815) War of 1812

While Britain was already at war with France, they attempted the enforcement of a number of trade restrictions between the US and France, as well as, enacted forceful recruitment of US citizens into the Royal Navy. In addition to these annoyances, the Brits also offered military assistance to the Native Americans to impede colonial expansion into the West. As a response by the United States to stand up against what they believed to be “British insults,” the War of 1812 was fought between the US and the British Empire primarily on the Atlantic Ocean and the coasts of North America.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 4,505
DEATH: 2,260 plus 17,000 due to disease fallout.

(1817 – 1898) Indian Wars

The Indian Wars is a term used to refer to a series of conflicts between numerous Native American tribes and the United States federal government in North America. Though early American settlers boasted peaceful relationships with the Natives, they eventually had to side with their government as it forcefully expanded into the West and encroached on Native territories. The series of land wars fought over the century resulted in roughly 1,000 American deaths – not to mention the Natives.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: N/A
DEATH: N/A

(1846 – 1848) Mexican-American War

Even though the state of Texas was officially annexed from Mexico in the Texas Revolution of 1836, the Mexican government remained unconvinced of the true boundary line. When President Polk’s agenda to expand the Pacific boundaries even further arose, a second conflict between the United States and Mexico resulted in a war that the Mexicans refer to as The First American Intervention in Mexico.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 4,152
DEATH: 1,733 in battle plus 11,550 due to disease fallout.

(1861 – 1865) U.S. Civil War

Also known as the War Between the States, this internal US conflict arose when the South declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate Army. A bitter conflict between eleven southern states (The Confederacy) and the remaining free states from the north (The Union, in cahoots with five border slave states), this war is known as the deadliest American war to date, having resulted in the death of 620,000 Americans.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED:
North = approx 280,000
South= 137,000+
DEATH:
North= 360,000
South = 260,000

(1898) Spanish-American War

Sparked by the rising turmoil in the Spanish colonies at the time, this conflict between the United States and the Spanish Empire took place in the name of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippians. Considered a war for Cuban independence, the United States was the victor as Spain released Cuba and conceded Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippians as US territories.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: approx 1,600
DEATH: 345 in battle plus 2,565 due to disease fallout.

(1914 – 1918) World War I

Sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, this was a global conflict between the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) over preexisting disagreements in imperialistic foreign policy. Alliances were soon called to action and though the war as already under way, the United States joined forces with the Triple Entente in 1917.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 204,002
DEATH: 53,402 in battle plus 63,114 due to disease fallout.

(1939 – 1945) World War II

Accounting for more than 70 million human lives worldwide, the Second World War is widely known as the deadliest conflict in human history. Initiated on September 1st, 1939 by the Nazi invasion of Poland, this conflict between the Axis of Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) and the Major Allied Powers (United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia) reverberated world wide and caused an international blur between military and civilian resources.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 671,846
DEATH: 291,557 in battle plus 113,842 due to disease fallout.

(1950 – 1953) Korean War

When communist Russia took occupancy of the Northern peninsula in the mid 1940s and the US held strong to the South, Korea remained politically divided in its wake. As a result, the big players in the Cold War held a proxy war between the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) in an attempt to work out the bigger issues on a smaller scale. After years of trench wars, The United States in cahoots with the UN and South Korea managed to gain little ground on communism and in a stalemate, the lines between the Koreans remained.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 103,284
DEATH: 33,686 in battle plus 20,560 due to disease fallout.

(1959 – 1975) Vietnam War

Reminiscent of the Korean War, this war took place between the United States in alliance with the government of South Vietnam against a communist North Vietnam and its allies. Though the North Vietnamese government fought a more traditional war, the greatest opposition was found in the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong – a sparsely armed communist militia from South Vietnam. Fought in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, this war escalated greatly in 1961 and the US’s involvement exceeded its expectations.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 303,635
DEATH: 58,159 in battle plus 1,724 that went missing.

(1990 – 1991) Persian Gulf War

When Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait in August of 1990, the United States received authorization from a coalition force of 34 other nations to intervene and forcefully remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Commonly referred to as Desert Storm, the US was joined by other nations such as Saudi Arabia, The United Kingdom and Egypt to lead the charge against Iraq and therefore complete Kuwait’s annexation from Saddam Hussein and his regime.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: 776
DEATH: Of the 379 killed, 148 were American.

(2001) Invasion of Afghanistan

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the United States in alliance with Coalition Forces launched Operation Enduring Freedom against the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and its Taliban supporters for their use of Afghan resources for terrorist activities. Though it appeared to be a quick and clean victory, a late wave of counterinsurgencies has caused this conflict to be ongoing.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

DEATH: appox 1,509 as of 2003 … this is ongoing.

(2003) Invasion of Iraq

Led by the United States and supported by the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Poland and Spain, the initial mission was to enter Iraq to disarm their Weapons of Mass Destruction and remove Saddam Hussein from power in an effort to free the Iraqi people. Though claims state that no weapons were found (excluding the remnants from pre-1991 production), forces remained in Iraq in attempt to gain order and establish an Iraqi government.

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

WOUNDED: approx 31,100 as of April, 2009 … this is ongoing.
DEATH: approx 4,345 as of September, 2009 … this is ongoing.

There are some basic rules of thumb―currently on active duty for at least 180 days, 90 days of war service, 180 days of peacetime service before the 1980’s, or 24 months of continuous service after the 1980’s, or 6 years in the Guard or Reserves, or the surviving (un-remarried) spouse of service member who died on active duty or due to a service related disability. Of course these requirements assume an honorable discharge, but disability or hardship discharges are also acceptable. Just because you don’t fit these categories doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible either. There are other categories of acceptability, like cadets of Coast Guard , Military or Air Force Academies, midshipman from the Naval Academy , or officers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I admit I had to look that one up…try Googling NOAA. The complete list of eligibility is hard to find.

Once you think you meet the eligibility requirements you need to get an eligibility certificate. The easiest way is to let your lender file for it electronically, but this only works for those who are in the VA records system. Basically, you have to file VA form 26-1880 with proof of service and mail it to the eligibility center in North Carolina. Unless you are the surviving spouse, then use form 26-1817. I couldn’t find a separate form for the special categories, but you might have to call the VA Loan Eligibility Center at 1-888-244-6711 for more information.

Don’t be overwhelmed; if you have a good loan officer they’ll make it easy. It’s his or her job to know all this, not yours. Next time: Reusing VA eligibility, Can I obtain another VA loan?

Resources: http://www.homeloans.va.gov

I have often wondered what it would take for the US Military to activate the Draft again.  When I was a kid this was talked about quite often and it always made me wonder what paths I would have take had I been drafted.  The last time the Draft was instituted was from 1948 to 1973.  For more than 50 years, Selective Service and the registration requirement for America’s youth have served as a backup system to provide manpower to the US Armed Forces.  President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the country’s  first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service Service System as an independent Federal Agency.  From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means.  In 1973, the draft ended and the US converted to an All-Volunteer military.

So what would it take for the Draft to be re-instituted?

I can think of only 2 reasons.

1.  A conflict that becomes so severe that it requires more military than what’s enlisted.

2.  Regardless of conflict – less and less people are volunteering for the military.

Its basically a simple calculation of supply and demand.  Could we ever get to that point like we did back in 1948?  I believe we can.  For example:  The Selective Service System (SSS) and the U.S. Department of Education now are gearing up to compare their computer records, to make sure all men between the ages of 18 and 25 who are required to register for a military draft have done so.  The SSS and the education department will begin comparing their lists on Jan. 1, 2005, according to a memo authored by Jack Martin, acting Selective Service director.  While similar record checks have been done periodically for the past 10 years, Martin’s memo is dated Oct. 28, just a few days before the Nov. 2 presidential election, a hard-fought campaign in which the question of whether the nation might need to reinstate a military draft was raised in debates and on the stump. It took several more days, until Nov. 4, for the document to reach the Federal Register, the official daily publication for rules and notices of federal agencies and organizations. The memo was also produced after the U.S. House voted 402-2 on Oct. 5, against House Resolution 163, a bill that would have required all young people, including women, to serve two years of military service.  Under federal law, a military draft cannot be started without congressional support.  About 94 percent of all men are properly registered for a draft, according to Richard Flahavan, associate director of the office of public and intergovernmental affairs for SSS.

Here are some requirements for registration:

All male US citizens and male aliens living in the US between the ages of 18 and 25
Dual nationals of the US and another country, regardless of where they live
Young men who are in prison or mental institutions do not have to register while they are committed, but must do so if they are released and not reached age 26
Disabled men who live at home and can move about independently.

What happens in a Draft?:

Congress would likely approve a military draft in a time of crisis, in which the mission requires more troops than are in the volunteer military.
Selective Service procedures would treat married men or those with children the same as single men.
The first men to be called up will be those whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed by those age 21, 22, 23,24 and 25.
The last men to be called are 18 and 19 years of age.

Here are some historical facts from the last Draft:

The last man to be drafted was in June 1973.
Number of Drafted for WWI : 2.8 million
Number of Drafted for WWII: 10 million
Number of Drafted for the Korean War: 1.5 million
Number of Drafted for the Vietnam War: 1.8 million
Source: Selective Service System

So could the state of things in our country cause another Draft?  I stand by my resolve and answer – YES.  GET READY.

The Military of the United States has helped to maintain the freedoms of our country. Since the Revolutionary War, veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have shed blood, sweat, and tears to protect the liberties that we hold dear. The following is a list of just ten of the freedoms for which I am grateful that those veterans have protected over the past 233 years. They are listed in no particular order.

#1 Freedom to worship God how I see fit. This is an inalienable right. One that is guaranteed to us by the Constitution. And while some fight to take away this right, by limiting how or where we may worship, one thing is certain: veterans of the United States have fought to protect our right to worship our God. “In God We Trust” is not a cute tag line, but a mantra that the Founding Fathers lived by.

#2 Freedom to say what I want to say. Speech is protected by the 1st Amendment. It allows me to write this blog for veterans. It allows me to question those who govern me. Again this is an inalienable right and one which I often over look and will never be thankful enough for.

#3 Freedom to own a firearm. This is a hot button issue across the country right now. Many veterans and non-vets alike enjoy the freedoms secured by the 2nd Amendment. The right to own a gun is a right meant to ensure that the government cannot hold the country hostage as the British did before the Revolutionary War. Along with our military, organizations such as the NRA, will work tirelessly to ensure that we never lose this freedom.

#4 Freedom to move. This is a freedom that many people may take for granted. We have the ability to jump on the interstate and drive across the country if we so please. The freedom to move about our own country is not one that is shared universally. Many countries across the world do not allow their citizens to move about as freely a we do.

#5 Freedom to cause change. In the United States of America we have right and obligation to make changes to the makeup of our government when we disagree with how we are being led. It is our duty to observe how are elected officials represent us, and ,should their values not reflect our own, to oust them from power.

#6 Freedom of Press. Much like freedom of speech, freedom of the press allows the news to be reported. It also allows blogs like this one to be posted for reading. The press has the responsibility to report the news no matter how damning it may be. The press helps the people to be informed and cause change.

#7 Freedom to own a home. This freedom may be taken for granted by many veterans and non-vets alike. Because of our due process laws we are able to own our own homes without fear of our government taking it away without compensation.

#8 Freedom to get an education. We are not limited by our government as to what we can and cannot do with our own lives. Because of the military we are free to be educated as we see fit. As an added benefit to our veterans, programs have been established to help them with their education. The Montgomery GI Bill and other programs such as ROTC has allowed generations of veterans the opportunity to be well educated in the field of their choice.

#9 Freedom of Entrepreneurship. Thanks to our military’s and its veterans’ efforts, we are able to enjoy the capitalist society that we have. Entrepreneurship is the basic form of capitalism. At its heart, the economy of America rides on the backs of small business owners and the entrepreneurial spirit that they foster.

#10 Freedom to not live in fear. Perhaps the most underestimated freedom that American have because of our veterans. This freedom was briefly put away after the events of 9/11, however because of the brave men and women of our military Americans once again do not live in fear.

The land of the free and the home of the brave is no cliche.  I have compiled a short list of what many consider must see military/patriotic travel destinations.  I haven’t been to all these locations so I did some research and took some opinions.  In almost every case the lives sacrificed in our behalf during different eras have shaped the world into what it is today.  In no particular order:

1.  Boston MA

Boston prides itself on its role in the Revolutionary War and its hometown heroes like Paul Revere and John F. Kennedy with numerous museums, historic sites, monuments, and special events. Its compact downtown area ensures that you can see most of the important historic sites in a couple of days, but there’s also enough in the surrounding area to keep you occupied on a longer trip. I  have actually been to “bean town” and it is a fantastic place to visit you can feel the spirit of the founding fathers as you walk the streets and see the sights.

2.  Colonial Williamsburg Virginia

Travel back in time 250 years and experience American colonial life as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson lived it by visiting the historic recreation town of Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Williamsburg is the largest outdoor living history museum in the country.  It offers such a fantastic glimpse of early American life and how things were built and run it is amazing to see how far we have come.

3.  Philadelphia, PA

The city of brotherly love also loves visitors—and shows it too.  Liberty Bell or Independence Hall Gettysburg PA; Valley Forge, PA

Because Philly is between two huge tourist meccas, New York City and Washington, D.C., it can be overlooked.  But don’t forget the many free historic attractions, in fact most of Philadelphia’s top patriotic attractions are free year-round, including Independence National Historic Park, home to Independence Hall; the Liberty Bell; Christ Church Burial Ground, where Ben Franklin is buried; and many other important Revolutionary War structures.

4. Washington DC

Our nation’s capitol is a spot every American should plan on visiting.  It is overflowing with the largest number of patriotic attractions, most of which are free, if that isn’t American I don’t know what is. Travelers have the opportunity to see and attend in short the largest collection of American historical sites anywhere.  The short list includes the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Don’t forget the National Mall- with 9 World Class museums with the Capital on one end and the Washington Monument on the other.  The White House is just two blocks away as well.  I have been to DC a couple times and growing up on the West Coast I didn’t get to walk past the constitution and Bill of Rights as a 5th grader, it made the experience even more special and moving to understand better what those items represent and how they are more then just words on paper.

5.  Arlington VA

In and around Arlington there are also many historic and patriotic sites.  First of which is Arlington National Cemetery.  I visited there on a trip to DC, there are very close.  The tomb of the unknown soldier is a solemn and reverent place, to know there are many, who have given the lives in our behalf that we don’t have names for.  The other sites include Mt. Vernon- which is gorgeous, after visiting there I understood why George Washington tried to get back home as often as he could.

6.  Pearl Harbor, Oahu HI

If you aren’t aware of what transpired on December 7, 1941 then you didn’t attend elementary school or you have been stuck in a cave for 68 years.  It is the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor Hawaii.   Among the many ships sunk, destroyed or damaged 15 ships and destroyed 188 airplanes.  Among them on the USS Arizona 1,177 crew members perished, making it the greatest loss of life on any U.S. warship in American history.  Today above the resting place of that ship, a memorial has been erected and is a place of profound reverence and you can still see oil coming up from the ship on the surface of the water.

7.  Normandy France

What to say in a paragraph about D-Day and the liberation of Europe.  Lets just say when I visited this area in France, the people were so kind and grateful for their freedom, they seem to know that unless America had stepped in and stopped the Nazis they may be speaking German instead of French.  The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is something every American should see.  I know it is a long way from home but worth the trip, no question.  In a previous blog post I have a picture of me there, it just doesn’t do the location justice, nearly 10,000 graves, facing West toward the United States and many of the crosses bear the inscription for unknown soldiers. It reads ‘Here rests in honoured glory a comrade in arms known but to God’.

8. New York City, NY

A travel destination for millions every year The Big Apple is known throughout the world as the City that never sleeps.  Of course for our purposes here on patriotic American sites to see we know the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France on America’s 100th birthday is there.  Kind of a thank you gift for saving them from the Nazis I always thought.  In addition you do not want to miss a piece of American history you can find no where else- Ellis Island.  Having visited this site and seen the pictures and to feel as you stand there the sheer number of people looking for a better life to have passed through that place, over 12 million immigrants came with hopes and dreams of their own American Dream.  The site is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.  Don’t miss it.

9.  Baltimore MD

Birthplace of the National Anthem, simple as that!  Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the Star-Spangled Banner during the Battle of Baltimore, September 13-14, 1814.  The valiant defense of the fort by 1,000 dedicated Americans kept the flag flying through the night into the morning.  You probably know the words to the first verse but there are a few others, from the last verse these words say why this place is special.

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

10.  Gettysburg, PA

July 1-3, 1863 was the Battle of Gettysburg, it was the battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War.  It is considered the turning point where the Union started the advance of the Confederacy toward the north.  Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day battle. That November, President Lincoln used the dedication ceremony for the Gettysburg National Cemetery to honor the fallen and redefine the purpose of the war in his historic Gettysburg Address.  A reminder of why this address is so amazing is easy to see from the 3 paragraphs below.  It sums up America’s Credo with great accuracy.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate…we can not consecrate…we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.