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Free Admission for Military and Family to Over 600 Blue Star Museums

free military admission

This year, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, active duty military and their immediate family members will receive free admission to over 600 Blue Star Museums, located in all 50 states.

According to the Blue Star Museum website:

  • If you are active duty military personnel and/or an immediate family member – spouse or child – to gain free access, please show either a Geneva Conventions CAC ID or a DD Form 1173 ID card at the museum admissions desk.
  • Immediate family members under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an appropriate ID holder.
  • Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program, so check with the museum directly.

Free admission is available to the service member and up to five immediate family members. You can find out more information on the Blue Star Museum FAQ page as well as a list of participating museums.

This is an amazing opportunity for our military families. I thought this would be a great opportunity for all those families PCS’ing this summer to break up their travel with some free museum trips. It is also a great way to try out museums before you commit to purchasing a membership.

Thank you Blue Star Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting our military and their families!

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Wounded Warrior Project

When my husband was injured we spent a lot of time at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The thing that made the biggest impression on me during the time I spent in the waiting rooms were all the young men and women I saw in wheel chairs, using crutches, or missing arms or legs. I remember sitting next to one family in the neurology waiting room and the young man had a scar that went all the way across his head. You could tell by watching him that he had severe difficulties communicating and it didn’t seem hopeful he would ever fully recover.

My heart broke for these young service members. I couldn’t imagine losing so much so young. I wish I had time to talk to every one of them, listen to their stories, and thank them for their sacrifice.

wounded warrior project

When Cracker Barrel contacted me and asked if I would spread the word about their partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project I was thrilled to help in this small way. If you aren’t familiar with the Wounded Warrior Project it is an organization that provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life. According to their website, the Wounded Warrior Project’s goals are:

  • To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women,
  • To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
  • To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

I visited the website and was immediately drawn to the Meet the Warriors section of the site. I couldn’t stop reading their stories and was amazed by their perseverance. Each one of them had a reason to fight, a reason to live, and were prepared to die. These warriors not only had a physical loss, they lost their military careers as well. The Wounded Warrior Project is a great resource for those who are leaving the military due to an injury.

Wynonna Judd has joined Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® in its support of Wounded Warrior Project with the release of Love Heals, a collection of Wynonna’s top singles and three other tracks not available until now. On May 24, 2010, a portion of the proceeds from each Wynonna CD and Wounded Warrior Project products found in Cracker Barrel Stores will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Plus, Cracker Barrel will double the donations of products sold between May 24 and 31, 2010.

I have a Wounded Warrior gift basket donated by Cracker Barrel to giveaway. (Full disclosure- they gave me one too) Because I want to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, I am asking you all to help spread the word. To enter to win this great gift basket, which includes a $25 Cracker Barrel Gift Card, you can leave a comment, Tweet about this giveaway, Facebook about this giveaway, or tell your friends. For each entry leave a separate comment. Giveaway ends May 24, 2010.

photo of Michael Buyas courtesy of Wounded Warrior Project.

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Outback: Free Bloomin’ Onion for Military in March

outback

It is no secret I love Outback! We don’t eat there often, but it is one of our family’s favorite restaurants. I was thrilled to find out that Outback is serious about supporting our troops. During the month of March all active duty and veterans will receive a FREE Bloomin’ Onion at their local participating Outback Steakhouse.

If you aren’t in the military you can help Outback in their efforts to support our troops by ordering off the Red, White and Bloomin’ menu.

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First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended for Active Duty Military

Good news for military serving overseas, the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has been extended for an entire year.

home for sale

From the IRS website:

  • Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.
  • In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer’s principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual’s spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer’s principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.

In other military housing news, the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) provides relief to families who cannot sell their homes due base closures and realignment. This looks like a great program and has recently been expanded to include assistance to wounded soldiers who are forced to transfer because of their injuries, surviving spouses of wounded warriors,  and military members who cannot sell their house because of the current mortgage crisis. This is a huge benefit, so please share this information with anyone who might be in this situation.

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Walt Disney World’s Armed Forces Salute 2010

From January 3, 2010 to July 31, 2010, Active and Retired U.S. Military, including members of the U.S. Coast Guard and active members of the National Guard or Reservists, may purchase 4-Day Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets for themselves and up to five (5) family members and/or friends for $99.

Block out dates 3/27- 4/9/2010  for all locations and 7/3-4/2010 Magic Kingdom only. Tickets available for purchase at Shades of Green beginning January 3, 2010.

This program is slightly different from the 2009 Armed Forces Salute. Disneyland is not included in this promotion and tickets must be activated by September 26, 2010 and the tickets expire September 30, 2010.

If you are planning a trip to Disney, you might want to check out my 30 Days of Disney series I wrote last year after our family trip to Disney World.

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Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program is a US DOD only (no DHS – Coast Guard) initiative that is designed to reduce the impact frequent transfers have on the career options for military spouses. This program provides a lifetime benefit of up to $6,000 of Financial Assistance (FA) for military spouses who are pursuing licenses, certificates, credentials or degree programs leading to employment in Portable Career Fields. It won’t pay for classes which provide computers as part of the fee.

These benefits can be yours if you’ll go to My Career Advancement Account and register with a career/degree plan.You have to establish an account and designate a career field. You then select the school and courses which will make you competitive in your chosen field. Be sure to include the name of the school and all course information. Double check this data because if it is wrong you’ll be responsible to pay with no benefits.

As of this writing, there is a backlog of 4 weeks for assistance so I’d advise you to look for courses starting at least 6 weeks out to ensure the money gets to the school in time.

Make the most of your pay and benefits and take advantage of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program!

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Hero Salute 2010

Here’s to the Heroes 2010

Free Admission to Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks for Military and up to Three Direct Dependents

The Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks have continued their Here’s to the Heroes program in 2010. During the 2010 season (check your local park to confirm hours) Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place will all offer free single day admission to military members and up to three of their direct dependents. We have taken advantage of the Hero Salute since 2005 and enjoyed our trips to Sea World!

I have to say the Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks really know how to support the troops! It might not be a big deal for them, but as a military family member the Hero’s Salute means a lot to me. They even honor military members throughout the park by recognizing them during certain shows and events. Thank you Anheuser-Busch for your commitment to our Troops.

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2010 BAH Rates Available

2010 BAH rates for military have been released. The average increase is 2.5%.

If your BAH decreased you will continue to receive the old BAH under the Individual Rate Protection

Individual rate protection prevents decreases in housing allowances, as long as the status of a service member remains unchanged. This means that service members are entitled to the BAH rates published 1 January or the amount of housing allowance they received on 31 December, whichever is larger. Rate protection continues unless the status of a service member changes due to:
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Reduction in paygrade Change in dependent status
Note that the definition of change of status does not include promotions. Also, note that BAH distinguishes between with-dependents and without-dependents, not the number of dependents.
In other words, after a service member arrives at a new duty station, rate protection applies. The service member will receive any published increase, but no decrease, in BAH. When new BAH rates take effect at the given duty station, rate protection guarantees that the service member?s typical out-of-pocket costs may be less, but never more, than upon arrival.

Click here to find your 2010 BAH.

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Veterans Day Tribute

It seems fitting I spent the beginning of this week visiting Colonial Williamsburg. Many of the re-enactments detail events leading up to the Revolutionary War. It is sobering to realize the pursuit for independence was not taken lightly, and divided father against brother, friend against friend, and country against country.

Today we honor our veterans. Those who have served, fought, and even paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Thank you.


W.B. Anderson

United States Navy

M.J. Donahue

United States Marine Corps

A. J. Schaeffer

United States Marine Corps

The Happier Grandfather

United States Marine Corps

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The Happier Husband

United States Navy

Link up with your Veterans Day tribute, photos, or appreciation post.

Remember to thank a Veteran today.