May is Military Appreciation Month

May is Military Appreciation Month.  Last Friday was Military Spouses Appreciation Day. Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day.   From the Department of Defense (link),

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

In 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days.

The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense. 

The National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) website offers tips on how to appreciate our military families (link) - I added a few of my own suggestions:

1. Display the American Flag at home and work.

2. Engage media to highlight military and veteran events.

3. Send a care package to a soldier through USO Cares (link). Romance author Megan Mitcham is also accepting thank you letters for military/veterans at this link.

4. Encourage elected officials at all levels to recognize our military and veterans.

5. Thank anyone in uniform ... or those who wear military ball caps, T-shirts, etc. Most likely they are a veteran.

6. Hire a veteran.  Support businesses owned and operated by veterans.  

I am giving away a box of books from authors connected to the military - active duty, veterans, spouses, brats, and other family members.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Can you add to our list of how to appreciate our military families?  Can you recommend any organizations that support military families?  Do you know any businesses operated by veterans?

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Joint Military Color Guard 

Special giveaway for Military Appreciation Month

Joint Honor Guard

Public Domain (link)

May is Military Appreciation Month!  I am giving away a "basket" of books from authors connected to the military to one randomly selected commenter from all the posts in May:

Victoria Alexander (Air Force), The Daring Exploits of the Runaway Heiress
Robyn Carr (Air Force), One Wish
PC Cast and Kristin Cast (Air Force), Marked
Diana Cosby (Navy), His Destiny
Cindy Dees (Air Force), Target
HelenKay Dimon (Navy), Cornered
Eileen Dreyer (Army), Twice Tempted
Marie Force (Navy), Maid For Love
Rachel Grant (Navy), Incriminating Evidence
Lorraine Heath (Air Force), When the Duke was Wicked
Shirley Jump (Coast Guard), The Sweetheart Rules
Kieran Kramer (Navy), Sweet Talk Me
Merline Lovelace (Air Force), The Paternity Proposition
Catherine Mann (Air Force), Free Fall
Julie Miller (Marine Corps), Kansas City Secrets
Jessica Scott (Army), It's Always Been You
Tracy Solheim (Air Force), Risky Game
Delancey Stewart (Marine Corps), Redeption Red
Paige Tyler (Army), Hungry Like the Wolf
Michelle Willingham (Air Force), Unlaced by the Outlaw

Plus Way of the Warrior - An Anthology with Suzanne Brockmann, M.L. Buchman, Anne Elizabeth (Navy), Lea Griffith, Catherine Mann, Kate Serine, Tina Wainscott, and Julie Ann Walker. 

Plus swag from Emmy Curtis (Air Force), Geri Krotow (Navy), and Elle James (Air Force).

Plus trinkets from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.

This contests is open to US residents.  I will announce the winner on Sunday, June 5.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

May is Military Appreciation Month

5/1: Weekly Winners plus Special Giveaway to celebrate Military Appreciation Month
5/2: Jane Ashford's Rivals of Fortune/Impetuous Heiress
plus Kiersten Hallie Krum's WILD ON THE ROCKS - Book Review
5/3: Lori Wilde's LOVE OF THE GAME (Stardust, Texas No. 3)
5/4: Wednesday's Warriors with Terry Spear and ALPHA WOLF NEED NOT APPLY
5/5: Sally MacKenzie's HOW TO MANAGE A MARQUESS
5/6: Darcy Burke's ROMANCING THE EARL
5/7: Laura Lipman's WILDE LAKE
5/8: Weekly Winners
5/9: Adreienne Giordano's DOG COLLAR COUTURE
5/11: Wednesday's Warriors with Chanel Cleeton's FLY WITH ME
5/13: Elizabeth Hoyt's DUKE OF SIN
5/14: RWA in San Diego - A Future Duchess Lands at Navy Base Coronado
5/15: Weekly Winners
5/16: Siera London's CATCHING REBECCA
5/17: Hannah Dennison's A KILLER BALL AT HONEYCHURCH HALL
5/18: Marie Harte's TEST DRIVE
5/19: KC Bateman's TO STEAL A HEART
plus Jenn McKinlay's COPY CAP MURDER (Hat Shop Mystery No. 4)
5/20: Paige Tyler's TO LOVE A WOLF
plus Kate Ruggle's FAN THE FLAMES
5/21: Celebrate Little Victories
5/22: Weekly Winners
5/23: Laura Griffin's DEEP DARK
plus Marie Force's DESIRE AFTER DARK
5/24: Liz Talley's CHARMINGLY YOURS
plus Rachel Goodman's SOUR GRAPES
5/25: Nancy Scanlon's AN ENCHANGED SPRING (Mists of Fate #2)
plus Genevieve Lynne's SECONDHAND SINNERS
5/26: Victoria Vane's SADDLE UP
plus Carly Phillips' DARE TO TAKE
5/27: Carolyn Brown's WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS
5/28: Jennifer McQuiston's THE SPINSTER'S GUIDE TO SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR
plus Kirsten Lynn's CHOCOLATE COWBOY
5/29: Weekly Winners
plus DD Ayres' FORCE OF ATTRACTION
5/30: Memorial Day with Leslie Jones' NIGHT HUSH
plus Lily Blackwood's THE BEAST OF CLAN KINCAID
5/31: Samantha Chase's JUSTIN'S RETURN
plus Laura Trentham's KISS ME THAT WAY - New Release Today

6/1: Wednesday's Warrior with Monica McCarty's THE GHOST
6/2: Nancy Herkness' THE ALL-STAR ANTES UP
6/3: Lauren Layne's FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
plus Cynthia Eden's TORN
6/4: Celebrate Little Victories - Tracy Solheim's SMOLDER
6/5: Weekly Winners
6/6: Celebrate Hawaii with Kate Pearce from the Big Island
6/7: Celebrate Hawaii with Jennifer Bernard from the Big Island
6/8: Wednesday's Warriors - Celebrate Hawaii with Mitchell Charles from Oahu
6/9: Celebrate Hawaii - Celebrate Hawaii with Melissa Schroeder from Oahu
6/10: Celebrate Hawaii with Jill Marie Landis from Kauai
6/11: Celebrate Little Victories - King Kamehameha Day
6/12: Weekly Winners
6/13: Rachel Miles' CHASING THE HEIRESS
6/14: US Flag Day and US Army's Birthday with Sharon Hamilton's BAND OF BACHELORS: ALEX
6/15: Wednesday's Warriors
6/16: Julie Ann Walker's DEVIL AND THE DEEP
6/17: HE'S IRRESISTIBLE COLLECTION Book Blitz Tour
plus Sandra Hill's ANGELS WORE FANGS
6/18: Celebrate Little Victories
6/19: Weekly Winners
6/20: Amanda Forester's IF THE EARL ONLY KNEW
6/21: Samantha Chase's ALWAYS MY GIRL
6/22: Jennifer Bernard's DRIVE YOU WILD
6/23: Terry Spear's BILLIONAIRE IN WOLF'S CLOTHING
6/24: Cindy Kirk's SUMMER IN GOOD HOPE
6/25: Celebrate Little Victories - Battle of Bannackburn with Lecia Cornwall's BEATY AND THE HIGHLAND BEAST
6/26: Weekly Winners
6/27: Celebrate Canada with Anne Lethbridge
plus Maya Rodale's CHASING LADY AMELIA
6/28: Celebrate Canada with Shana Gray
plus Laura Trentham's THEN HE KISSED ME
6/29: Celebrate Canada with Julie Rowe
plus Mary Jo Putney's ONCE A SOLDIER
6/30: Celebrate Canada with Toni Anderson

7/1: Celebrate Canada with Kaylea Cross
7/2: Celebrate Little Victories
7/3: Weekly Winners
7/4: Freedom isn't Free
7/5: Alissa Johnson's A GIFT FOR GUILE
7/6: Wednesday's Warrior
7/7: Leigh Greenwood's No One But You
7/8: Jill Mansell's YOU AND ME, ALWAYS
7/9: Celebrate Little Victories - Aloha, San Diego!
7/10: Weekly Winners
7/11: Open
7/12: Lauren Blakely's THE SAPPHIRE AFFAIR
7/13: Wednesday's Warrior
7/14: Open
7/15: Sara Humphreys' TROUBLE WALKS IN
7/16: Celebrate Little Victories
7/17: Weekly Winners
7/18: Lauren Layne's TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
7/19: Katie Ruggle's GONE TOO DEEP
7/20: Wednesday's Warriors
7/21: Mira Lyn Kelly MAY THE BEST MAN WIN
7/22: Open
7/23: Celebrate Little Victories
7/24: Weekly Winners
7/25: Open
7/26: Jade Lee's AS RICH AS A ROGUE
7/27: Wednesday's Warrior: Lindsay McKenna's SECRET DREAM
7/28: Gwen Cready's Every Time with a Highlander
7/29: ML Buchman's HEART STRIKE
7/30: Celebrate Little Victories
7/31: Weekly Winners

8/1: Laura Trentham's TILL I KISSED YOU
8/2: Lillian Marek's A SCANDALOUS ADVENTURE
8/3: Wednesday's Warrior
8/4: Susan Schild's SWEET CAROLINA MORNING
8/5: Open
8/6: Celebrate Little Victories
8/7: Weekly Winners
8/8: Open
8/9: Open
8/10: Wednesday's Warrior
8/11: Open
8/12: Open
8/13: Celebrate Little Victories
8/14: Weekly Winners
8/15: Open
8/16: Open
8/17: Wednesday's Warrior
8/18: Open
8/19: Open
8/20: Celebrate Little Victories
8/21: Weekly Winners
8/22: Open
8/23: Reserved
8/24: Vanessa Kelly's MY FAIR PRINCESS
8/25: Open
8/26: Open
8/27: Celebrate Little Victories
8/28: Weekly Winners
8/29: Open
8/30: Jodi Thomas' SUNRISE CROSSING

9/28: Lindsay McKenna's UNBOUND PURSUIT

Weekly Winners

May is Military Appreciation Month.  We are all winners for the sacrifices of our military families.

Tonight's Final Jeopardy Question, Category:  Military Slogans.

In 1779 Captain Jones advertised for these, later a 1992 movie title.  

Do you know the answer? 

We have winners at SOS Aloha:

From my recaps of Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND (link, link, link, and link)
- Debby wins a book choice from my convention stash

Two Dukes and a Scandal Virtual Book Tour 
- Barbara E. wins a book choice form my convention stash

Sweet and Sassy Blog Tour

- Cathy P. wins print copies of both books

Sue-Ellen Welfonder's TO LOVE A HIGHLANDER
- Diane wins a print copy from Forever Romance

Lily Dalton's NEVER ENTICE AN EARL
- Catslady wins a print copy from Forever Romance

Darlene Marshall's THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY
- Maureen wins a print copy from Darlene Marshall

Belles On Wheels - Gallery Books  Bus Tour 2014
- Elizabeth H. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners - please claim your books by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Vintage photo of the Boys Scouts "taking over" at Hickam AFB.