“My daughter is a water baby. Always has been. She was part of the Sea Scouts group here in town for four years. She got certified in scuba when she was 14. She learned how to sail small boats and big boats. Her uncle has … Continue readingNaval daughter part of military family legacy
“I really like to paint military rocks, eagles, U.S.A. rocks. I’m proud of my country. I love my country. One time this lady wanted me to paint a picture of a tattoo. It was a military scene with a flag and these soldiers shaded in. … Continue readingPainted military rock finds its true home
“It began in college. I had a class called Sex and Gender in Latin America. It was talking about the machismo culture and what women in those countries are going through, not really being protected or having a voice for themselves. I remember reading these … Continue readingA voice for women who endure abuse in the military
“When you go into the military, you have this illusion that you can have it all. You can have a family. You can serve your country. You can have an amazing, fulfilling career. You know it will come with sacrifices. But you don’t know exactly … Continue readingMom rebuilding relationships after military career
When then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem in August 2016, he said it was because of his views on the country’s treatment of racial minorities. About a month after that action began stirring … Continue readingKaepernick was ‘practicing his freedom of speech’
“I put in 10 years in the military and eight years in civilian service. If you had told me that one day I’d be homeless, I would have said that you’re full of crap. But after coming back here and having trouble finding steady work, … Continue readingTough to stay positive amid personal struggles
Robert Ortiz was a federal cop in California when he reported his superiors for strong-arming military families. “I knew the minute I opened my mouth, that was the end of my career.” Related: Jobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops Marine’s plan to focus … Continue readingDecision to act ‘was the end of my career’
“When I got out of the Marines, I was a federal cop in Hawaii and California. We worked on military installations as federal civilians. We did the policing on the bases so that the MPs could go deploy. “But I ended up being a tattletale. … Continue readingJobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops
There were a few family dogs through the years, but none that Megan Swaney could call her own. “I had been wanting my own dog since I was 6,” she said. “It wasn’t until I was 23 that I finally got one.” Now, Swayze the … Continue readingDog groomer draws strength from military career
Any time an 81-year-old takes a nasty fall, visions of broken hips dance in your head. While Ken Pridgeon managed to dodge that bullet during a recent tumble, his right hand didn’t fare so well. And that is a scary thing for a lifelong painter … Continue readingPainter’s mission in life is to honor fallen soldiers