JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The 3^rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2^nd Infantry Division, will rededicate the Arrowhead Brigade Memorial on Wednesday, January 26, at 3 p.m., during a ceremony that will be conducted adjacent to the brigade headquarters.

The names of eight Soldiers who died during the brigade's 2009-20010 deployment to Iraq will be added to the memorial during the ceremony.

The Arrowhead Brigade Memorial is a 6-foot tall bronze statue of a Soldier in full battle gear, and the statue stands atop a granite base with panels etched with the names of fallen Soldiers. The memorial honors Arrowhead Brigade Soldiers who have fallen since the brigade's inception.

During the October 2007 ceremony at which the memorial was first unveiled, the names of 88 Soldiers assigned to the brigade who died in combat or training, as well as those from other units who died while they were under the brigade's operational control were read.

The Arrowhead Brigade Memorial project began during the 3^rd Stryker Brigade's first deployment to Iraq and the memorial was dedicated following the brigade's second Iraq deployment.  3^rd Stryker Brigade has deployed to Iraq three times (Nov 03-Sept 04; June 06-Sept 07; Aug 09-Aug 10).

The memorial was designed by Olympia-area sculptor Gareth Curtiss.

As a thank you to military members for their service and sacrifice, Grammy Award-nominated musician John Ondrasik and 13 other artists are contributing their talents to "For the Troops IV."

Beginning today, CD is available for free download to active duty Service members, veterans and their families worldwide with a valid military ID at www.shopmyexchange.com. Another 200,000 hard copies of the CD are being sent to military bases, USO Centers, and other locations across the nation and overseas, courtesy of TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Operation Homefront.

"I'm excited to launch CD ‘For the Troops IV' with a new roster of fantastic artists and great songs," said Ondrasik, who performs under the pseudonym Five For Fighting and spearheaded the CD's development. "This year's CD has a bit more pop and a few surprises, but at its core is a thank you to those whose sacrifices secure our freedom and that of our children."

The complete track listing of "For the Troops IV" is:

• Matchbox 20 - "If You're Gone"
• Wynonna - "What the World Needs"
• Mat Kearny - "Nothing Left to Lose"
• Brandi Carlile - "Before It Breaks"
• Five For Fighting - "Note to an Unknown Soldier"
• Our Lady Peace - "Paper Moon"
• 12 Stones - "We Are One"
• Ingrid Michaelson - "Mountain and the Sea"
• Barenaked Ladies - "Four Seconds"
• Gavin DeGraw - "Free"
• Rocket Club - "One Beautiful Thing"
• Finger 11 - "Gather and Give"
• Ryan Star - "Last Train Home"
• John David Kahn - "American Heart"

"Like John Ondrasik, we strongly believe that music can be an effective and healthy mental break during times of stress or family separation," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "We are exceptionally grateful for individuals like John and the other contributing artists who are driven to thank our Service members in memorable ways and who encourage others to do the same. It is an honor for TriWest to partner with John and Operation Homefront to distribute the CDs."
Ondrasik previously released music compilations of CD "For the Troops" in 2007 and 2008, and a comedy version in 2009. To date, more than 1,000,000 tracks featured on the CD have been downloaded at www.shopmyexchange.com, and another 800,000 CDs were pressed and delivered to Service members and veterans worldwide.
  

Lakewood, WA  - This past year while medically retiring at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, former firefighter and Army SPC Joe Brown became involved with the nonprofit organization Operation Ward 57. 

As a statement to honor his fellow wounded warriors he wants to add their logo to his collection of meaningful body art this Veterans Day.  Joining him in this statement is James Dahl, a former Airborne Ranger scout sniper who received three purple hearts and a bronze star for his service and injuries.  

Active duty SSG Jason Dunn is co-owner of Flaming Aces Tattoo shop.  A lifelong artist, he learned to tattoo while stationed in Korea five years ago and has been passionate about it ever since.  Dunn was part of the initial wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 with the 1st Infantry Division and recently returned from a year deployment to Abu Ghraib with the 4th Brigade 1-38 Infantry.  While deployed, his business partner Sarah Fried, a military spouse and breast cancer survivor kept the shop going with their other tattoo artist, Nick Reese.  
When Brown approached Dunn to do this tattoo, he immediately agreed to donate it.  

"Operation Ward 57 supports the amputee ward (57) at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Warrior Transition Battalions around the country and has done a lot for us here at Task Force Phoenix."

Doug Cox, an Operation Ward 57 Board member and owner of PosterGIANT worked with designers Alex Lewis and Eoin Doherty to create the logo for a custom tour poster fundraiser for Suburban Noize Record's 2008 "Strange Noize Tour." 
The designers put a lot of thought into the logo saying, "The primary element is based on the official insignia for Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The staff with wings and serpents wrapped around it is known as the Caduceus, an old symbol that has  come to be used in medicine. We replaced what was formerly the helmet of Minerva, who was the Goddess of Wisdom and the Patroness of Medicine, with an old style Army medical hat first used in WWII, crosses were hand painted in a variety of ways to identify medics on the battlefield. The color of the shield is a deep sanguine red representing blood." 

Dunn has offered a special rate of $100 (not including tip) for others who want to also get the logo tattooed and show their support for this special cause.
Joe Brown & James Dahl will be tattooed from 12 - 4 pm, on Veteran's Day, November 11th at Flamin Aces. 10003 Bristol Ave. SW Lakewood WA, 98499.    

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in Tacoma brings military families an evening at the theater. The Broadway Center is hosting a "Welcome Home Heroes" event in conjunction with Jo Dee Messina.

To honor those serving the country, tickets are buy one, get one free when you show your active military ID at the time of purchase. The show is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and tickets run from $34 to $64.

For more details, click here.

J.M. SIMPSON: LOCAL ARTIST, AUSA TEAM UP FOR PAINTING >>>



Small drawings can tell great stories.



"I try to capture the mood, time and sense of a place," said Patrick Haskett as he made a pencil sketch of Sgt. John Ordway.



A noted artist with an unparalleled and heralded ability to paint
military subjects in an impressionistic manner, Haskett respects
soldiers and their missions.



"I honor soldiers - whether it's 1803 or today," said Haskett.



One of those soldiers is Ordway.



"Sergeant John Ordway was the first sergeant of the famed Meriwether
Lewis and William Clark Corps of Discovery," wrote retired Maj. Gen.
John Hemphill in an e-mail.



Hemphill is a driving force in the local chapter of the Association of United States Army, or AUSA.



"As with today's first sergeant, he was the backbone of his unit."


On orders from President Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark conducted a
successful exploration from the Mississippi River through unmapped
territory to the Pacific Ocean and back.



Ordway was one of the sergeants from the young United States Army who
volunteered for the expedition, which lasted from 1803 until 1806. 



During the mission, Ordway, who was third in line in command, had a
number of responsibilities, such as issuing provisions, keeping
registers and records, and maintaining the expedition's security.  He
also kept a journal during the expedition.



"He was a trusted young man; he was a real professional. If you were
Lewis and Clark, you would have to trust him," said Haskett.



That trust and the importance of all first sergeants are ingrained in the history of Fort Lewis, named in honor of Capt. Lewis.



On Sept. 23, 2006 - the 200th anniversary of when the Corps of
Discovery successfully completed its epic mission - AUSA dedicated a
bronze, larger-than-life statue of Ordway.



The statue is located in the Capt. Meriwether Lewis Memorial Park just outside of the post's main gate.



"This is the United States Army's only statue of a named enlisted soldier," said Hemphill.



In order to further highlight the importance of what a first sergeant
stands for, Hemphill approached and asked Haskett if he would make a
painting of Ordway. Haskett accepted and began researching Ordway and
making small drawings.



"The painting and high quality prints that will be reproduced will
provide a way to export the meaning that first sergeants are
indispensable leaders … and an essential part of the backbone of the
Army," concluded Hemphill.



That is a great story.

Photo:  Patrick Haskett makes a number of small sketches of
John Ordway, the first sergeant of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Photography by J.M. Simpson

MICHAEL SWAN: FORT LEWIS HOSTS CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION >>>

OK, so the Caribbean-American Heritage Celebration Monday at the Cascade Community Club won't be a full-on wild bash that might occur at a beach bar in the Caribbean. It will still be fun I imagine.  Here is the press release to prove it …

MICHAEL SWAN: THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST >>>

I have to say, this photo scares me. It's the promo shot for Paradise Theatre's production of The Miss Firecracker Contest, which opens June 19 at the Gig Harbor theater.

If this doesn't scare you, grab more details here.

MICHAEL SWAN: INTERNATIONAL MILITARY BAND CONCERT >>>

Free tickets are available beginning today at noon for the International Military Band Concert held June 21 at The Washington Center in Olympia. The afternoon concert will feature music by The 56th Army Band, The United States Navy Band Northwest, the Band of the 15th Field Regiments and Marine Forces Pacific Band.

Yes, it's free, but you must reserve your seat with the Washington Center Box Office. You can score up to four tickets.

Take dad. It's held on Father's Day.

MICHAEL SWAN: WHO'S GOING? >>>

Gen. Colin Powell will be the guest speaker at the grand opening of the new National Infantry Museum June 19 in Columbus, Ga. Read the full story here.

LITTLE MICHAEL SWAN: GET TO TAM BEFORE JUNE 14 >>>

Celebrate Father's Day early with a "Dad and Me" trip to David Macaulay: The Way He Works, closing June 14 at the Tacoma Art Museum. Macaulay's work illustrates and explains the how and why of things, from airplanes to pyramids, subway tunnels to remote controls, the circulatory system to flying buttresses.

[Tacoma Art Museum, through June 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, $6.50 military and students, children younger than 5 are free, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258]