Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

From CNN: The United States and NATO will end their combat mission in Afghanistan next year, transitioning to a training role, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said. "Hopefully, by mid to the latter part of 2013, we'll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise and assist role," Panetta told reporters traveling with him to Belgium. The information was confirmed to CNN by a defense official. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The USO and Cheerios have teamed up to spread cheer and show military families that America cares -- and you can help. I spoke with USO President Sloan Gibson about the program, and other services the USO provides. Listen here .

I'm posting an extra "Book Talk" this week because best-selling author Robyn Carr is hosting an extra special contest. Here's what Robyn says: In response to my desire to honor our men and women who serve and their families, Harlequin Enterprises is hosting a wonderful contest. Between now and December 15 we are asking military families to submit their own homecoming stories for a chance to win amazing prizes. The first place prize will be a family vacation for up to four people, anywhere in North America or the Caribbean, courtesy of Armed Forces Vacation Club; a $500 gift card from Wal-Mart, a family photo session and a signed copy of Bring Me Home for Christmas . The entry form and rules are at www.HoldOutForAHero.com . Winners will be selected by a panel of judges at Harlequin. You can listen to my conversation with Robyn here . Look for tomorrow's "Book Talk" with best-selling author Philippa Gregory.

From CNN: "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," President Obama said Friday, announcing full withdrawal of U.S. troops by year's end. "Today I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays," he said. Obama said the United States will continue its interest in a strong, stable Iraq after U.S. troops leave.

Thomas Edward Clark was born on April 15, 1939 in Emporium, Pennsylvania as the third son of the late Otto and Josephine Schager Clark. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tom enjoyed the outdoors. He was a star fullback at Cameron County High School, graduating with honors in 1957. After attending Penn State University for two years, Clark received an appointment to the Air Force Academy from which he graduated in 1963. The graduation ceremony included the first commencement address to the Academy from a sitting president, President John F. Kennedy. That same year Tom married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Mottern of Emporium. The 1963 Air Force Academy Yearbook states that Tom's goals were to be a pilot and a politician. On February 8, 1969 Captain Clark was flying an F-100D Super Sabre, of 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 37th Tactical Fight Wing, in a flight of four mission over Laos. The flight controlled by an F-4 Forward Air Controller, engaged a 23mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery...

From the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home : TENTATIVELY, we believe that the service will be held at the Kane Area High School on Wednesday or Thursday. The day and time will be announced. Afterwards, the funeral cortege will leave the high school, turn onto Hemlock Avenue, then onto South Fraley Street and process thru "Uptown Kane" on its way to Gibbs Hill Cemetery for interment. THE CEMETERY SERVICE IS PRIVATE, but well-wishers my line the streets to pay homage to Ken's family en route.

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Staff Sergeant Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard says the others who died are 47-year-old Sgt. Edward Koehler of Lebanon and 49-year-old Sgt, Brian Mowery of Hailfax. Five others were wounded, but their injuries are non-life-threatening. They were all serving with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, which is primarily in charge of convoys and convoy security. VanGiesen was a 1999 graduate of Kane Area High School. He was on his fourth active-duty tour. He previously served in Germany from 2002 to 2003, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 2009 with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. His parents went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today to pick up their son’s body. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements. http://pa.ng....

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard and the Defense Department have not released any further details yet. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements, which will be announced. http://kanerepublican.com/content/ken-vangiesen-kane-soldier-killed-afghanistan http://www.ronaldmcdonaldfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1213160&fh_id=12423

A western Pennsylvania soldier posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of four comrades in Iraq will be inducted into the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence at this year's Little League World Series. 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnnis of Knox died in 2006 after he dove on top of a grenade that had been thrown through the gunner's hatch of a Humvee on patrol outside of Baghdad. Little League president Stephen Keener calls McGinnis a true hero. McGinnis played second base and the outfield for six years in Little League. His mother, Romayne, says baseball taught her son teamwork and a commitment to achieving common goals. For more on this story go to LittleLeague.org .

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) announced that he has proudly joined the Senate National Guard Caucus, joining his Senate colleagues in advancing the needs of our country’s National Guard men and women. In Pennsylvania specifically, the National Guard has a strong presence. The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 19,000 Air and Army Guard members have had more than 25,000 individual deployments since Sept. 11, making it one of the largest and most-deployed Guard forces in the nation. The Pennsylvania National Guard currently has more than 600 soldiers and airmen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and supporting NATO operations in Libya, as well as many other locations around the world. “We appreciate Senator Toomey's interest in joining the National Guard Caucus of the U.S. Senate,” said Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard. “The senator's support is invaluable and recognizes the fact that the National Guard is the most cost-effectiv...

Brigadier General (Pa.) Michael G. Gould speaks at the Memorial Day ceremony in Eldred on Monday. Gould, a 1977 graduate of Otto-Eldred High School and 1981 graduate of United State Military Academy at West Point, served in the U.S. Army for more than 29 years before retiring last year. He now works in the Pennsylvania State Veterans Affairs Office. Photo courtesy of Sandra Rhodes

Members of Charlie Company end the annual Memorial Day parade in downtown Bradford and begin the ceremonies in Veterans Square. Stan Black, US Air Force (Ret.) places a wreath on the Air Force Cross (left). This is the 60th year Elmer DeLucia (right) has marched in the Memorial Day parade. Elmer reminds us that the anniversary of D-Day is coming up next week. Steve Jones of Charlie Company (front and center) performs with a dance troupe from Elizabethtown following the parade and prior to the ceremonies in Veterans Square. The dancers (minus Jones) gave an encore performance following the ceremonies.

A Chautauqua County soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. US Army Sgt. Kevin White was serving in an infantry unit east of Kabul near the Pakistani border when he died on Monday after his unit was attacked by an IED. White was a 2006 graduate of Westfield Academy and Central School. UPDATE: May 5, 2011 -- Cpl. White was posthumously promoted to sergeant. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14469

The Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest at the funeral of the seven children killed in a fire earlier this week in Perry County, PA. In a news release, the church says the fire was a result of God’s wrath for Pennsylvania because the man who sued the church after they protested at his son’s funeral is from York, Pennsylvania. Albert Snyder’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, died in 2006 while serving in Iraq. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the church can protest at military and other funerals. U.S. Senator Bob Casey says he's disgusted by the church's plan to protest at the funeral of the fire victims. “Westboro Baptist Church’s repeated exploitation of personal tragedy is disgusting," he said in a news release. "They have protested funerals of troops killed serving their country. Now it is targeting the funeral of children. The protesters should stay in Kansas and pray for the Clouse family." "The U.S. Supreme Court may say that they can c...

A 20-year-old Harborcreek Township man is one of three U.S. Army soldiers killed Wednesday in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. The U.S. Department of Defense late Thursday night confirmed the death of Jarrid King. King was stationed at Fort Drum, New York. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14199

Marine Corps Pfc. Danielle M. Cuthbertson, daughter of Charlotte and Daniel Cuthbertson of Bradford, Pa., recently completed the Basic Electrician's Course. During the course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N. C. , students receive instruction on the repair and maintenance of generators, transformers and power lines. In addition to the mechanical skills involved, studies also include circuitry, electrical theory and related safety procedures. Cuthbertson is a 2005 graduate of Archbishop Walsh High School of Olean, NY.

CUBA, NY – Two area veterans who answered their Country’s call to military service before graduating from high school received long overdue diplomas during a special ceremony Monday at Cuba-Rushford High School. Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean) was joined by Cuba-Rushford Superintendent Kevin Shanley and Belfast Central Superintendent Judy May to present high school diplomas through New York State’s Operation Recognition in honor of Marine Corps Sergeant Lester Baker, West Clarksville, and deceased Army Air Forces Corporal June E. Lockwood, who was a Cuba native. “The dedication displayed by these two patriots is exemplary. The experiences and skills they learned in the defense of our freedom have given them, and all of our veterans, unique knowledge and special insights that most others never could attain. These diplomas reflect our pride and gratitude for their sacrifice and bravery,” said Senator Young. Sgt. Baker was a senior at Belfast Central School in 1962 when h...

Navy Seaman Recruit Paul Michael A. Lehrer, son of Harmony J. Leonard of Bradford, Pa., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Lehrer completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ''Navy'' flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.

Following the House of Representatives’ vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Senator-Elect Pat Toomey issued the following statement supporting repeal and supporting a Senate vote at the appropriate opportunity on the Senate calendar. “As I’ve said previously, my highest priority is to have the policy that best enables our armed services to do their job,” Senator-Elect Toomey said. “Our civilian and professional military leadership have now spoken and said we should repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I would support a free-standing measure to do so.”