By Tom Konecny It was a 75-year wait, but a World War II marine veteran finally came home. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Millard Odom, killed at age 26 in the Battle of Tarawa on the first day of fighting – November 20, 1943 – had his remains identified and was laid to rest on November… View more
By Tom Konecny Thrilling tales of heroics abound in our Civil War history, but few compare to that of Robert Smalls. He was an enslaved African-American who boldly escaped to freedom by stealing a Confederate ship, disguising himself as the captain, using a secret code book and hand signals to thwart guard ships and rescuing… View more
By Tom Konecny When the wife of a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist wanted to donate a toy at Christmas, she couldn’t find any organization to take it. Her husband wanted to help. Guided by a motto of “Ready, Relevant, Responsive” the reservist took matters into his own hands. He created his own charity. It all… View more
By Tom Konecny Like so many inventions and creations, Wreaths Across America started by mere chance. When Maine wreath businessman Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of wreaths at the end of the 1992 holiday season, he didn’t want them to go unused. As he recalled a boyhood trip to Washington, D.C. at age… View more
By Tom Konecny They’re strong allies now, but at one point the United States and Britain weren’t on the best of terms. You might recall a little disagreement in the 1770s, and a follow-up War of 1812 which didn’t exactly smooth things over. Things were touch-and-go through the rest of the 19th century. So you… View more
By Tom Konecny At least once a year it’s easy to get that feeling of goodwill toward all. It’s then we like to empty our pockets or donate our time to a greater cause. Giving is a lot easier when the calendar tells us to. But when Bing Crosby’s exhortations and the mall’s red kettles… View more
By Tom Konecny Exactly 116,708 American military personnel died during World War I, the third-most war casualties in U.S. history behind the Civil War and World War II. Another 204,000 were wounded in military action. All of this is significant as we honor Veterans Day on an important milestone. This year marks the 100th anniversary… View more
By Tom Konecny America was built on sacrifice. One definition reveals sacrifice as “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else more important.” That, in a nutshell, also defines anyone who’s served in the military. Acts of sacrifice abound throughout our great history, and the story of the “Four Chaplains”… View more
By Tom Konecny “Remember the Alamo!” is a call once used to rally Republic of Texas rebels who refused to surrender their fortress to Mexican forces. After the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, Mexican soldiers continued to storm Sam Houston’s brigade of rebel volunteers, and his troops were losing confidence and hope. But Houston… View more
By Tom Konecny As a Baptist minister, it’s no surprise that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. loved music and singing. It started at an early age when his mother was a talented organist and choir leader who took young Martin to different churches to sing. He received attention for regularly singing the popular Gospel hymn,… View more
By Tom Konecny Twenty years have passed since Pat Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals into the National Football League, and you might be surprised just how much you didn’t know about this American hero. It’s well-documented how Tillman received acclaim for leaving a lucrative sports career and enlisting in the United States Army… View more
By Tom Konecny A lot of people want to help veterans and those in the armed forces, but they don’t know how. Two members of the U.S. Army Reserve are giving Americans a chance to help, and they’re not just talking the talk – they’re literally walking the walk. That’s because on Friday, September 7,… View more
By Tom Konecny, MeetAmerica As much as America can be divisive, Ken Leslie knows where to find common ground. Veterans. No matter if you are one, will be one, know one, or even don’t – Leslie is sure of this much, everyone comes together for American veterans. He should know. In 2012, Leslie founded Veterans… View more
By Tom Konecny, MeetAmerica There may be no roadmap for fatherhood, but Larry Hagner is providing good directions. His noble online movement – Good Dad Project – does things differently than most dad-sites. He’s not looking for attention. He’s not an influencer. He doesn’t brag about awards, rankings, followers, or media appearances. He’s just a… View more
