^{Hearts for HEROES 2.14.2012} 

  American Soldier Network teaches the importance of  Patriotism & giving back!  

This year we at American Soldier Network made it a priority to get into the community and have school children from all over Southern California make Valentine’s with messages of “Thanks” for our troops here at home.  The children were more than happy to step up to the task! We recieved hundreds of hand made adorable Valentines for our Heart’s for Heroes.  Tuesday 2.14.2012 our founder Annie Nelson along with her friend television personality Leeann Tweeden (www.leeanntweeden.com) set out to deliver and visit with our combat wounded heroes and other enlisted troops from San Diego, CA to Orange County, CA. On one of our stops we were greeted by another friend Navy Dr. Andy Baldwin  (http://www.andybaldwin.com/) who took time out to check out the Valentine’s from the children. We were also in the presence of a dear friend and hero, Medal of Honor recepient USMC Col Jay Vargas.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Vargas)

Today was a day to give love, support, thanks and attentive ears to our heroes. It is so vitally important that we all embrace each and every member of our US Military when they return home. We thank them, we support them and most of all we listen to them and give them unconditional love and respect. Our men & women give so much and ask so little. The silent sacrifices they and their families make every day need to be recognied, appreciated and honored. We as an organization stand behind those words and truly believe if all organizations that are supporting our veterans would collaborate… together we would impact the masses and truly make a difference much more timely and efficently. Freedom Isn’t Free its time we all get involved and give back now.

^{According to Wikipedia here is a little bit of history on “Valentines”:}

Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.^[4] In the UK, just under half of the population spend money on their Valentines and around 1.3 billion pounds are spent yearly on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts, with an estimated 25 million cards being sent.^[46] The mid-19th century Valentine’s Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow.^[47] In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts in the United States. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates packed in a red satin, heart-shaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine’s Day as an occasion for giving jewelry. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When you include the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines.^[40] In some North American elementary schools, children decorate classrooms, exchange cards, and are given sweets. The greeting cards of these students sometimes mention what they appreciate about each other.

by Mary Forney, LA Horse Racing Examiner

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the pictures in this slideshow from yesterday’s Military Appreciation Day at Del Mar Racetrack certainly leave one speechless.

The Labor Day event, hosted by a group of benevolent horse owners and the racetrack, and organized by Annie Nelson of American Soldier Network, gave more than 100 combat veterans and combat wounded returning from Iraq and Afghanistan a chance to forget for a little while the many hardships they have faced and those that still lie ahead.

The soldiers enjoyed an afternoon of racing, handicapping the horses with team competition, and visits to the saddling paddock, starting gate, and winner’s circle. When they gathered on the racetrack in mid-afternoon and faced the stands, they received a long and emotional round of applause from the on-track crowd.

A very special guest this year was Tibor (Ted) Rubin, Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War veteran. Rubin, who survived 14 months in the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria as a child and was liberated by the U.S. Army, went on to serve in the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division and was a POW in North Korea for 30 months. He was twice wounded and received two purple heart awards.

Nelson, who worked with TVG’s broadcast department to help broaden the reach of those viewing the event, said: “There are so many veterans in attendance or watching the races on TVG that have never been thanked or appreciated. This touches them, too, because it’s like a brotherhood. It shows them Americans really care.”

Donations to this cause can be made here.