President Obama, Army MG Daniel V. Wright, Army BG Michael S. Repass, Army CSM Mario Virgil, AF CoS GEN Norton A. Schwartz meeting returning soldiers to Dover AFB. They were returning as do all fallen soldiers via a Globemaster C-17.

The Army ALWAYS has at least a 2-star general for each flight to repatriate the soldiers.

After the soldiers disembark the plane, they conduct a formal repatriation ceremony, followed by an award ceremony during which any medals are awarded to the soliders.

BG = 1 star general

MG = 2 star general

LTG = 3 star general

GEN = 4 star general

CSM = command sargant major

Side note - I worked with Norton Schwartz when he was operations chief for the Joint command.

Afghanistan and Iraq Photos

Eight Years

It has been 8 years since we invaded Afghanistan - with all the sidetracking and such, we'ven't accomplished what we set out to do at this point.

5,130 identified US Soliders have given their lives in both wars - Meet them at: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/

953 were killed in Afghanistan.

Side Note: we're 6 months short of being the same length as the Vietnam War.

8,,(

www.OurMilitaryKids.org

GREAT organization - they help the children of soldiers (non-officers) get to do things... i.e. they'll pay the cost for the child to join the band, go on school trips, join a sports team, etc... It is just sad that our government will not provide this service to them for free.