Support the Troops
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day. This one-day celebration came from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department, the Department of Defense. The 2010 motto is, "United in Strength."
In 2010, the American Morgan Horse Association is proud to "Salute the Troops" and has adopted the 340 members of Vermont's National Guard 172nd squadron which took the name "Task Force Morgan" when they deployed to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009.
The Morgan horse is closely related to Vermont and its military history, playing an important role in many important Civil War battles.
"We thought Task Force Morgan was appropriate, especially since this is the first opportunity for the 172nd Cavalry to go into theater as a unit," Captain Christopher Gookin told local media. "We're conscious of our cavalry forebears, and we wanted especially to live up to those deeds and attributes."
In the coming months, AMHA will share stories and pictures of the troop's deployment and post requests by soldiers. In honor of the troops who protect us, hundreds of troop support groups across America ship thousands of care boxes each year to them all over the world. These care boxes have included everything from phone cards, games, magazines, books, music CDs , DVDs, toiletries, and food--creature comforts that usually are hard to come by in places like Kosovo, Afghanistan, or Iraq.
To help out, go to www.ourmilitary.mil/send_packages.shtml# for a list of organizations that work to assist our armed forces.
AMHA would also welcome pictures and stories from AMHA members who have family who are presently deployed. To add to this story, send pictures and shorts news to chris@morganhorse.com.
Photos courtesy of CPT Richard F LaBarre
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 I finally found one of these that you always see in the war movies. |
 I always take pictures of myself when I find a new hat to wear. I found this one from the local chow hall guys. It's one of those paper hats. I'm liking the idea of wearing one of these. I'm sure the pay is less but it's gotta be much safer! |
 These brothers insisted I take their picture as they stood in the entrance of their family home. We were meeting with the towns leadership and on my way in and out of the house they saw I had a camera and wanted to see themselves. Apparently they don't have too many digital cameras around this town so they've never seen themselves in digital representation. You just have to be really careful when you take out your camera or in my case the iPhone that it doesn't get yanked out of your hand and they run off with it. They will steal anything not tied down on is. They like our pens, knives, flashlights, etc. One soldier lost her gerber multitool and I almost lost a pen and a knife in my pocket. But I felt it getting picked and swatted the little shit. That's all for now. See ya! |
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 One of our soldiers giving candy to a little girl. The girls are typically not allowed around males because of the culture. |
 They were just getting out of school when we stopped in their town to talk to the Afghan National Police. |
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