Over the last several months I’ve spent hours and hours researching non-profit organizations that support our troops and I have found a few that I truly believe are making a huge difference in the lives of our soldiers. These are organizations filled with good, no not good, that isn’t best word for what I want to say. These are organizations filled with extraordinary people that are doing some incredibly kind and generous things for our troops. These organizations are supported by nameless thousands of others who donate their time, energy and money. And that my friends, is something that I find to be astonishing! The fact that people would take the time to go out of their way to help a soldier. I love that! I love that there are people like that in this world and it restores my faith in my fellow man. Let me talk about some of them for a moment, please.
There are the Soldiers’ Angels who in my mind are “Angels here on earth” doing Gods work through their letter writing/care package mailing campaign along with a plethora of other tasks they do right here at home to support our troops. These are people from all walks of life, every age, every color, from all over the country. They bring blessings to us all through their acts of kindness and generosity and that has not gone unnoticed around the Newman household, I can tell you that! They are above average citizens who are bringing Gods Blessing to us all and for that I thank you Soldiers’ Angels.
Then there is the Task Force Dagger Foundation, and my friend Keith David is one of the key members of that organization. A retired Green Beret he is working harder and harder everyday to create recreational therapy activities for our wounded Special Forces Brothers who are now faced with the reality of learning how to survive in this world based on their new found capabilities. Like true warriors they don’t sit around looking for sympathy for themselves. No our wounded brothers want nothing more than to get back into the fight, back to their teams! Who could blame them? They are warriors! Now they may not be able to get back to where they were but as they continue to learn and grow as warriors, they are finding ways to still be a part of the SF Community and many of them are working to make the lives of others better. Imagine that! I will be talking about the Task Force Dagger Ozark Fishing Adventure coming up from 19 to 23 May in the Bull Shoals Lake Area of North East Arkansas in future articles but if you would, please take the time to check out the links I’ve provided.
In April, I will be going down to Adairsville Georgia to speak at the Southern Veterans Festival being sponsored there by that small town and my good friend Tim Godbee. You can find him on FB! Tim has been working tirelessly to feed, cloth and house homeless veterans throughout North Georgia for several years, despite the many hardships he faces in life. Though they are not that much different than many of the same hardships you and I face, you know, unemployment, or as it may be underemployment among other things like family issues, the death of loved ones, so forth and so on. Still he works to help others, giving way more than he will ever receive in return. That is my definition of a hero and that is why I support his efforts and the Southern Vets Festival. What a nice little town, what a great place for such a venue, what an incredible American….I salute you and your neighbors Tim!
Lastly, there is the Green Beret Foundation. This is an organization that is near and dear to my heart, having retired from the Army after over twenty years of serving as a member of the Green Berets. You may not all know it, but I have pledged a $2 donation from the sale of my book off this blog and my books website to this organization. Generally I sell on average about one book a day, or about five books a week. Now that may not seem like a bunch but the money makes a difference and I hope that my efforts to raise awareness have been helpful. Please read this part carefully, I will tell all of you that if you haven’t read my interview of Jennifer Paquette which can be found on this blog then you should stop everything your doing now and scroll down until you find it and then take the time to read it! She my friends, is the epitome of strength, honor and courage and the story about her life, her husband, and how she became COO of the Green Beret Foundation will hopefully spark within you an incredible sense of pride in our country and it should spur you on to take action! Look for it now and read it and then if you haven’t already ordered a copy of the book, do so now!
If you have any questions pertaining to these organizations please do not hesitate to email me at sbnou@live.com
God Bless our Troops!
“De Oppress Liber!”
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Saored
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ways to Support Our Troops
Since Christmas I have been focused on not only selling copies of “The Night Eagles Soared,” but also I have been working to support four different Non-Profit organizations. I have done this through social networking, pledging financial support, donating copies of the book to raise funds and by also dedicating time to attend different events as a guest speaker.
There are two events or causes that I have committed to supporting over the next few months that in my heart will be instrumental in helping out two separate groups of veterans. First, I will be at the Southern Vets Festival in Adairsville, Georgia on the 30th of April helping to raise money and awareness for Homeless Veterans of North Georgia; and there are many. Secondly, there is the Task Force Dagger Foundations’ Ozark Adventure that is geared towards helping our Wounded Warriors who are still in the process of recovering from life changing injuries.
The purpose of this post is to hopefully spur some into action but mostly to invite everybody who is able to attend the events in order to show solidarity and perhaps a little camaraderie with our brothers. There are four different organizations that I believe are doing excellent work for our brothers and sisters that I would like to introduce you to here. They are: Soldiers’ Angels, the Green Beret Foundation, The Task Force Dagger Foundation, and the Southern Vets Festival.
Now, I have put a link to each organizations website so that you will be able to research them yourself. Know that I am endorsing all of them and hope that you will choose to support one or the other, or all of them. My wife is a Soldiers’ Angel, and I work with the other three. So there is something there for everybody! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions about how you may be able to help at. sbnou@live.com
Also, don’t forget that you can donate to the Green Beret Foundation through your purchase of a signed copy of, “The Night Eagles Soared” through the secure Buy Now button on the top of this page. Your support will go directly toward helping out a wounded Green Beret or his family and besides, you will have a great book to read, so why not? Go ahead and do it today!
God bless you all!
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
There are two events or causes that I have committed to supporting over the next few months that in my heart will be instrumental in helping out two separate groups of veterans. First, I will be at the Southern Vets Festival in Adairsville, Georgia on the 30th of April helping to raise money and awareness for Homeless Veterans of North Georgia; and there are many. Secondly, there is the Task Force Dagger Foundations’ Ozark Adventure that is geared towards helping our Wounded Warriors who are still in the process of recovering from life changing injuries.
The purpose of this post is to hopefully spur some into action but mostly to invite everybody who is able to attend the events in order to show solidarity and perhaps a little camaraderie with our brothers. There are four different organizations that I believe are doing excellent work for our brothers and sisters that I would like to introduce you to here. They are: Soldiers’ Angels, the Green Beret Foundation, The Task Force Dagger Foundation, and the Southern Vets Festival.
Now, I have put a link to each organizations website so that you will be able to research them yourself. Know that I am endorsing all of them and hope that you will choose to support one or the other, or all of them. My wife is a Soldiers’ Angel, and I work with the other three. So there is something there for everybody! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions about how you may be able to help at. sbnou@live.com
Also, don’t forget that you can donate to the Green Beret Foundation through your purchase of a signed copy of, “The Night Eagles Soared” through the secure Buy Now button on the top of this page. Your support will go directly toward helping out a wounded Green Beret or his family and besides, you will have a great book to read, so why not? Go ahead and do it today!
God bless you all!
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
Monday, December 27, 2010
"THE MAKING OF OUR WARRIOR" by Jeff Falkel
There are no words that I could write to ever accurately define the sorrow and regret expressed by Author Jeff Falkel in the book he wrote about his son Chris; “The Making of Our Warrior”, How SSG Chris Falkel became a Green Beret Warrior and Hero. The task of explaining to others the emotions that Jeff expresses through his writing is impossible to accomplish and that is why this book is a must read for everyone. I mean absolutely everyone; ‘disregardless’ of their political affiliation, religious views or any other orientation that may guide anybody’s thought process.
This book will absolutely change your mind about the way you see the world in which we live and the freedoms we take so easily for granted here at home. It will leave some readers feeling ashamed of whom they have become in comparison to this young man, his brothers and his father. For others, they will feel a since of pride in that they shared in his sacrifice in some way; be it through their service to our great nation, in doing their patriotic duty here at home, by serving their own communities in some way or another, or by just flying Old Glory in front of the house, paying their taxes and voting their conscience when the time comes. One thing for sure; after reading this book, the feelings of indifference that many of our fellow citizens feel about OUR war, OUR government, OUR military, OUR freedoms and OUR way of life will no longer exist!
As I read Jeff’s words I could hear Chris calling as he pointed the way, “Pick up a Weapon and Follow Me; I am the Infantry!” Chris’ life example is a call for action, for all to head. The story beckons the reader to take a stance as Chris did. He stood the test in defense of our nation! His life is a call to action, to do that which we are capable of to ensure that life as we know it and the freedoms we have protected will not perish. It is a reminder of exactly who we are as a people and what it has taken for us to become the greatest nation on earth, the last bastion of freedom.
Still, there is one particular point in his writing that I must put my foot down and absolutely disagree with Mr. Falkel about. On various occasions he wrote; “My only regret, of the entire battle, was that I was not there. It is the only regret I have for my entire life. It is a pain that I will never recover from.” And although the pain of having lost his son may never subside; the fact is, Jeff Falkel was there with his son that day and everyday of his life, be it physically or spiritually. Jeff you lived in your son’s heart, in his mind and in his soul.
I can tell you all from my own experiences in life that the lessons my father taught me as a child are still with me and I hear his voice everyday. Whenever I have a decision to make, my first thought is; “How would my father go about doing this?” Then I ask myself, “Would my father approve?”
As a fellow soldier, I am absolutely positive that Chris was asking himself those very same questions from the moment he left home, throughout his time in service and at that very moment of his glory. I know without a shadow of doubt that as he fought so valiantly that day, he had his father there with him, at his side, on his left side, in his Falcon Spirit, covering his Six! Just as Jeff feels that his son Chris is there with him, guiding him, making demands of him to this day, he was there with Chris that day, if not in body, then in mind and soul.
For over two decades you were there for him, and prepared him to face the greatest moments of his life. You prepared him to become one of a few selected individuals to earn the Green Beret. You prepared him to spread his wings and fly as only he could, as a member of that ‘Spartan Team of Brothers.’ You prepared him so that he would be able to take his place around the fire as a member of something greater than himself, as member of the Brotherhood! The Brotherhood of the Warrior, the Brotherhood of the Special Forces Soldier and with him he brought the spirit of his father, and in his action he reflected the spirit of his ancestors, the Lakota Spirit of the Falcon!
Because of you, your son Chris earned his place in history as a Warrior among Warriors. He has brought honor and respect to his name, to his Brothers-in-Arms and to ‘Our’ family. Therefore I say feel not regret, for you did your part and embrace the pain; because as you wrote, “That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger!”
God Bless the Falkel Family and our Nations Warriors!
“De Oppresso Liber!”
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
This book will absolutely change your mind about the way you see the world in which we live and the freedoms we take so easily for granted here at home. It will leave some readers feeling ashamed of whom they have become in comparison to this young man, his brothers and his father. For others, they will feel a since of pride in that they shared in his sacrifice in some way; be it through their service to our great nation, in doing their patriotic duty here at home, by serving their own communities in some way or another, or by just flying Old Glory in front of the house, paying their taxes and voting their conscience when the time comes. One thing for sure; after reading this book, the feelings of indifference that many of our fellow citizens feel about OUR war, OUR government, OUR military, OUR freedoms and OUR way of life will no longer exist!
As I read Jeff’s words I could hear Chris calling as he pointed the way, “Pick up a Weapon and Follow Me; I am the Infantry!” Chris’ life example is a call for action, for all to head. The story beckons the reader to take a stance as Chris did. He stood the test in defense of our nation! His life is a call to action, to do that which we are capable of to ensure that life as we know it and the freedoms we have protected will not perish. It is a reminder of exactly who we are as a people and what it has taken for us to become the greatest nation on earth, the last bastion of freedom.
Still, there is one particular point in his writing that I must put my foot down and absolutely disagree with Mr. Falkel about. On various occasions he wrote; “My only regret, of the entire battle, was that I was not there. It is the only regret I have for my entire life. It is a pain that I will never recover from.” And although the pain of having lost his son may never subside; the fact is, Jeff Falkel was there with his son that day and everyday of his life, be it physically or spiritually. Jeff you lived in your son’s heart, in his mind and in his soul.
I can tell you all from my own experiences in life that the lessons my father taught me as a child are still with me and I hear his voice everyday. Whenever I have a decision to make, my first thought is; “How would my father go about doing this?” Then I ask myself, “Would my father approve?”
As a fellow soldier, I am absolutely positive that Chris was asking himself those very same questions from the moment he left home, throughout his time in service and at that very moment of his glory. I know without a shadow of doubt that as he fought so valiantly that day, he had his father there with him, at his side, on his left side, in his Falcon Spirit, covering his Six! Just as Jeff feels that his son Chris is there with him, guiding him, making demands of him to this day, he was there with Chris that day, if not in body, then in mind and soul.
For over two decades you were there for him, and prepared him to face the greatest moments of his life. You prepared him to become one of a few selected individuals to earn the Green Beret. You prepared him to spread his wings and fly as only he could, as a member of that ‘Spartan Team of Brothers.’ You prepared him so that he would be able to take his place around the fire as a member of something greater than himself, as member of the Brotherhood! The Brotherhood of the Warrior, the Brotherhood of the Special Forces Soldier and with him he brought the spirit of his father, and in his action he reflected the spirit of his ancestors, the Lakota Spirit of the Falcon!
Because of you, your son Chris earned his place in history as a Warrior among Warriors. He has brought honor and respect to his name, to his Brothers-in-Arms and to ‘Our’ family. Therefore I say feel not regret, for you did your part and embrace the pain; because as you wrote, “That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger!”
God Bless the Falkel Family and our Nations Warriors!
“De Oppresso Liber!”
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
Monday, December 20, 2010
An Update from the Author
The Night Eagles Soared is about a Special Forces Team Sergeant who leads the first team of Green Berets into Afghanistan after 9-11; and although it is a fictional story it is based on true events, facts and emotion. As the Author, I created the protagonist Mike, and that allowed me to construct the story based on my own experiences in the Army.
Told in 1st person narrative, the protagonist relates the story of how he came to be selected to lead this team at that incredible moment in history. The story begins at the ending and goes back in time taking the reader on a journey into the jungles of South America and across the deserts of the Middle East. It comes around full circle to end at the beginning, through, “The Night Eagles Soared.”
My original intent was to create a story that would be understandable and enjoyable to younger readers, say at the age of seventeen. I did this by not making the story so technical that only my fellow soldiers would be able to understand it. My hope has always been that the story will impart a sense of pride in the military and perhaps convince some to join.
So far my youngest reader has been ten years old and I’ve been told that it is the cleanest war book ever written. The reason for that is? Tate Publishing is a Christian organization, and therefore required me to find others ways of describing certain scenes that are violent or sexual in nature without using gratuitously graphic language. This reality stretched my abilities as a writer by forcing me to come up with other ways of describing certain subjects. The end result was the creation of a much better story that not only leaves some detail to the readers’ imagination, but also appeals to a much wider audience.
Since the official release date on the 5th of October, 2010 we have received endorsements from several different organizations. First the Green Beret Foundation that supports wounded Special Forces Soldiers and their families. Second, the Special Forces Book Store.com that generally lists only non-fiction but included “The Night Eagles Soared” in their line up as an exception to the rule because the story rings so true. Thirdly, we have received an endorsement from the warriors on Professional Soldiers.com; which is an online forum for Special Forces soldiers and others. Lastly, we have recently received an endorsement by the Soldiers’ Angels, a benevolent organization that is supporting thousands of our soldiers through the sending of letters and care packages among other incredible acts of kindness and generosity. I am so proud to be associated with all of these fantastic organizations and appreciate greatly their support of my writing.
In other news, I recently contacted my publisher and informed them about my intent to complete the sequel to “The Night Eagles Soared” so far titled, “Burnt Yellow and Red.” Their response based on the synopsis that I provided was to immediately offer me a contract with the proposed start of production in March 2011. If we meet this deadline, it will enable us to release the sequel sometime in late summer, early fall of 2011.
Most recently, we were nominated for consideration to compete for the W. Y. Boyd, Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction. This award is administered by the American Library Association and will be granted sometime in July 2011. This doesn’t mean we’ve won the award, it just means that we are in the running and being considered, an incredible honor that stands on its own merit.
Therefore, please allow me to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the readers out there that have purchased and enjoyed their copy of “The Night Eagles Soared.”
God bless you all and never forget that fortune favors the bold!
“De Oppresso Liber”
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
.
Told in 1st person narrative, the protagonist relates the story of how he came to be selected to lead this team at that incredible moment in history. The story begins at the ending and goes back in time taking the reader on a journey into the jungles of South America and across the deserts of the Middle East. It comes around full circle to end at the beginning, through, “The Night Eagles Soared.”
My original intent was to create a story that would be understandable and enjoyable to younger readers, say at the age of seventeen. I did this by not making the story so technical that only my fellow soldiers would be able to understand it. My hope has always been that the story will impart a sense of pride in the military and perhaps convince some to join.
So far my youngest reader has been ten years old and I’ve been told that it is the cleanest war book ever written. The reason for that is? Tate Publishing is a Christian organization, and therefore required me to find others ways of describing certain scenes that are violent or sexual in nature without using gratuitously graphic language. This reality stretched my abilities as a writer by forcing me to come up with other ways of describing certain subjects. The end result was the creation of a much better story that not only leaves some detail to the readers’ imagination, but also appeals to a much wider audience.
Since the official release date on the 5th of October, 2010 we have received endorsements from several different organizations. First the Green Beret Foundation that supports wounded Special Forces Soldiers and their families. Second, the Special Forces Book Store.com that generally lists only non-fiction but included “The Night Eagles Soared” in their line up as an exception to the rule because the story rings so true. Thirdly, we have received an endorsement from the warriors on Professional Soldiers.com; which is an online forum for Special Forces soldiers and others. Lastly, we have recently received an endorsement by the Soldiers’ Angels, a benevolent organization that is supporting thousands of our soldiers through the sending of letters and care packages among other incredible acts of kindness and generosity. I am so proud to be associated with all of these fantastic organizations and appreciate greatly their support of my writing.
In other news, I recently contacted my publisher and informed them about my intent to complete the sequel to “The Night Eagles Soared” so far titled, “Burnt Yellow and Red.” Their response based on the synopsis that I provided was to immediately offer me a contract with the proposed start of production in March 2011. If we meet this deadline, it will enable us to release the sequel sometime in late summer, early fall of 2011.
Most recently, we were nominated for consideration to compete for the W. Y. Boyd, Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction. This award is administered by the American Library Association and will be granted sometime in July 2011. This doesn’t mean we’ve won the award, it just means that we are in the running and being considered, an incredible honor that stands on its own merit.
Therefore, please allow me to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the readers out there that have purchased and enjoyed their copy of “The Night Eagles Soared.”
God bless you all and never forget that fortune favors the bold!
“De Oppresso Liber”
S. B. (Steve) Newman, Author
The Night Eagles Soared
.
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