Remembrance Issue 6 Being There-Reaching Out is honored to announce the First Wisconsin Gold Star Family Day April 13 - 14th, 2007 Madison, WI Please join us for this weekend of recognition Proclaimed such by Governor Jim Doyle For you Our Prayer Wheel Brendan, nephew of Isaiah Hunt (11/15/04) our littlest Angel, is home, but will need our continued prayers. He still has many surgeries to endure. Cpl. Daniel Castaneda, David Kretz, Cpl Shooter, Cpl Matt Sandt, STF Sgt. Brian Romans and Cpl Garilec friends of our own Johnny Mattek (Iraq- 6/13/05) and who are all serving in Iraq. Cheryl Nussberger, mother of SSG Patrick Lybert (6/21/06-Afghanistan) and her younger son who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and multiple mood swings. Charity and Chasity (sisters of Eugene Uhl 11/15/03-Iraq) are both dealing with health problems. Our girls! Mark Kalscheuer cousin of Matthew Kading (10/31/05-Iraq) is serving in Afghanistan. And Jason Madaus, also Matt’s cousin, who is still dealing with a lot of pain since his injury in Iraq 3 years ago. Ray and Gary Hemauer, Uncles of Kyle (5-23-05 Afghanistan) and brothers to Andy. Both are gravely ill with cancer. SFC Leslie Santos (CAO for the Karlson’s when their son Warren Hanson was killed in Iraq)) is in Iraq. Leslie’s son was killed in Iraq 10-15-04. Joan Uhl (Mother of Eugene 11/15/03-Iraq) is running for Village Trustee in Amhearst, WI. Announcements Birthdays:>)))) The few I found out about:>)) Belle Wichlacz(3-7) and Joan(3/17) our own leprechaun! Emery Nicholas Yanke, grandchild of Jim and Cindy Anderson (father of Nick, 3/13/06-Iraq) arrived at 8:55AM on 01-17-07. He was 6 lbs, 12 oz.19 inches. Congrats to all… (Ed Notes: I suspect this beautiful child will be very spoiled! See the Photos :>)) Earl and I are expecting our 3rd baby in early August My dad has predicted a girl, but did the honors of choosing the name if we are blessed with a little soldier boy! New little one might be ready to be shown off at the BT-RO August High Grounds event! Courtney and Emma are growing well, and little Courtney is excited about her new "baby cupcake.” Love, Chastity and Earl Walker-sister of Eugene Uhl (11-15-03-Iraq) (Ed Notes: Send Diapers!) Penny Splinter is engaged! To my Friends, January 31, 2007: I wanted to let you know that Alan (Seed Man), the man I've been dating for the last year, and I got engaged last night. No date has been set. The kids are happy about this also. Thank you all for your support and please continue to pray for us. Penny (Widow of Chris 12/24/03-Iraq) (Ed Notes: I’ll let you know the date so we can all attend:>)) LOL! Matthew Wallace, Brother of Andrew Wallace (KIA 9-26-05) and a Veteran himself, and Kelly Jones of Fort Pierce, FL are engaged! See Photo! (Ed Notes: I’ll let you know the date so we can all attend:>)) LOL! But…..that’s not all! James Brockman, Andrew’s step- brother, is getting married June 16th to Theresa Haag in Florida! (See photo…and we can go to that one also:>))) Calendar of Events-2007 April 13-14th: BT-RO Gold Star Family Day gathering in Madison: Concourse Hotel May 28th: Milwaukee Memorial Day Parade, service, and remembrance of our Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action with a 25,000 balloon lift-off…The largest in the Country. June 17-18th: Leinenkugel’s BT-RO Golf Outing and Fund Raiser at the Fox Hills Resort, Mishicot, WI. July 28th: Our 2nd annual WI Gold Star Family Pig Roast at John and Marsha Mattek’s in Antigo, WI (Johnnie 6/13/05-Iraq). August 25th : Our 2nd Annual Highground Pot-luck Picnic and Laying of Legacy Stones in the memory of our loved ones, in Neillsville, WI. Fish grilled by Mike Hunt (Isaiah 11/15/04-Iraq) at the picnic:>))) per usual:>)) Sept 28-30: Cranfest in Warren, WI with Allen Stevens and Deb Schroeder (Andy Stevens, 12/1/05-Iraq) “A Salute to Our Veterans” October 13t: BT-RO Fundraiser and Banquet in Milwaukee Nov 10th: Milwaukee Veterans Day parade. You will be escorted in the parade on the motorcycles of the Patriot Guard Riders People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it is real. But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of each others lives, whether you are a reason, a season or a lifetime. L-J Matt Mattek Sent in by Marsha Mattek (Mother of Johnnie Mattek (6/13/05-Iraq) From Jeff Thelen's Blog: Channel 7 in Wausau Check out this high school graduation picture. At first glance it probably looks like the millions of those that are taken, traded with friends and given to aunts and uncles all across the country. But to me, it's very special. This is Matt Mattek, who will be a proud graduate of Antigo High School in the Class of '07. And that tie he's wearing is a tribute to his brother John Mattek. John was a Lance Corporal in the US Marines who was killed while fighting the war in Iraq. I've never talked with Matt, but his sister told me after he saw the tie, he knew he had to wear it for his graduation picture. He saw it one night while I was wearing it on the air. You see, the tie is mine. I usually wear it when I have to work on Memorial Day, July 4th or on an election night. I got it from a friend for Christmas. I thought it was pretty nice when I first got it. It's a nice tribute to the nation. But now, it has special new meaning for me and always will. Matt you can borrow that tie anytime. God Bless you, your family and especially John for a sacrifice that goes beyond imagination. Jeff Thelen, announcer, Channel 7 Sent in by Karen McMullen, Mother of Lance Cornett (2/3/06-Iraq) The State of Kentucky passed a resolution on February 8th honoring and remembering 12 fallen heroes. My son SFC Lance Cornett was in Kentucky when he went into the service so Kentucky is listed as his Home of Record. They called all the families and asked them to come to the actual KY House of Representative's session where the proclamation was read at the Capitol building in Frankfort. My daughter Cristie, her husband Jim and son Jesse, and I were there on March 1st when they read the resolution on the floor and read Lance's 15 year military bio and medals he had received. We were presented with the actual written resolution and a flag at the beginning of the session and it was ended that day remembering and honoring them. It was one of the proudest moments of my life and one I'll never forget. Our fallen heroes are still bringing honor to themselves and their families even after they are gone,,,,they must never be forgotten! Who are the Patriot Guard Riders? by our friend DJ of the Patriot Guard Riders: 30 OCT 06 There were zero PGR a year ago today. As of now, there are over 60,000. The PGR has doubled since May. This growth has not come easy, and it is not perfect. And in case anybody misunderstands, I thought I should make it clear who the PGR are to me. The PGR is the Hell’s Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen soldier. The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him. The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him. The PGR is the biker that will ride over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero….Alone. The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be many more tomorrow. The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, starting at 0400...In the rain. The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 90 degree heat, only to find out later the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq. The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the soldier that killed himself. The PGR is “freebird57” from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him. The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain. The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support. The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protesters will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protesters scream in his face, shielding them from the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him that feel exactly the same way. The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the gravesite of a friend’s father, on the anniversary of his passing: A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty; A father whose family had no idea what he had done and the award he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death. If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider if you are in the right place. If you do, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere. And when the organizers of this parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one. And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that I should attend, I will not be there either. Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do. You may have the mother of a fallen soldier cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there. You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his face. Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever. Mike Hunt, father of Isaiah Hunt (11-15-05-Iraq) with our little Brendan, his grandson, at Christmas. Cheryl Nussberger, with Michael Reagan’s portrait of her son, Patrick Lybert (6/21/06-Afghanistan). Note from Judith: Let me know if you don’t have your portrait yet. Jesse Yanke, sister of Nick Anderson (3/13/06-Iraq) her family, and their newest addition, Emery Nicholas. Oh, yes….and the happy grandpa, our own Jim Anderson:>))) Patrick Lybert fishing at what is now Camp Lybert in Afghanistan. The camp was named after Patrick who was Fallen 6/21/06 in Afghanistan. From Ray Maida, father of Mark 5/27/05-Iraq) We recently received a thank you from the parents of PVT. Evan Bixler (12/24/06) and noticed the stamp had Evan's photo on it. I went to the web site stamps.com, and ordered the same with our Son, Mark’s picture on it. It is a simple process using your own picture files on your computer. I thought this would be good info for other families, if it has not been shared yet. If it has been shared prior to our contact with you, it could be repeated. Thanks for all you do, Ray Maida, proud father of Mark (5/27/05-Iraq) Note: Bobbie Samme, mother of Eric Palmisano (4/2/06-Iraq) ordered stamps in his memory from Zazzle.com and sent it to us to see. LCPL Eric Palmisano postage stamp. How beautiful… April 13-14th-Madison Wisconsin Gold Star Family Day Let me know if you have any questions Custom Engraved Gold Star Magnet The Gold Star has long been recognized as identifying a family that has lost someone who was on active duty. These are laser engraved on a special magnet that results in a glittering, textured, gold colored engraving. $14.95 http://www.inourhearts.org Conference room dedicated in honor of fallen soldier: Major Chris Splinter By JOHN RICHMEIER, Times Staff Writer Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:00 AM (Times photo/John Richmeier) Penny Splinter and Col. Michael Edwards unveil a display for the Major Christopher J. Splinter Memorial Conference Room Friday at Fort Leavenworth. While assigned to the Operations Group C of the Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Christopher J. Splinter was the type of Army officer everybody wanted to be friends with, a former commander said. Many friends and family members gathered Friday at the headquarters for Operations Group C as a conference room was dedicated in Splinter’s honor. The major was killed on Christmas Eve 2003 near Samarra, Iraq. He was 43 years old. He served with Operations Group C from May 2001 to July 2003 as an engineer observer and trainer. “There couldn’t be a better room within the headquarters that we could dedicate in Chris’ honor,” said Col. Michael Edwards, commander of Operations Group C. He said the site, which is now known as the Major Christopher J. Splinter Memorial Conference Room, is the heartbeat of the organization. He said the room is the site of major planning and decisions. He said the room also is used for ceremonies. “And I promise you Chris spent a lot of time in this room,” he said. Lt. Col. Joe Tyron, a longtime friend of Splinter, said he was happy to know the location being dedicated in the major’s honor is not a cheesy conference room where no real work gets done. Retired Col. William Moyer, former commander of Operations Group C, said everyone loved and respected Splinter. Moyer said Splinter was filled with conviction and courage. Lt. Col. Michael J. McGuire, who served with Splinter, said there are many things he loved about his friend. One that stands out is the fact that Splinter loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. McGuire described Splinter, who grew up in Wisconsin, as a devoted husband and father. Tyron said Splinter was a great soldier who was blessed with tremendous common sense and wisdom. After leaving Fort Leavenworth, Splinter went to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he served as the battalion operations officer for the 5th Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade and was deployed to Iraq. He was killed in action when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Two other men, Sgt. Benjamin Biskie and Capt. Christopher Soelzer were killed. More Gold Star License Plates WISCONSIN FREBRV Gold Star Family Gold Star Family SPC Benjamin Smith I received my Gold Star Plates for my pick-up a while ago and I thought I would share what I had placed on them. I have FREBRV, which stands for Free and Brave which is on Benjamin's marker. It exemplifies Benjamin and is also some of the last words of the Star Spangled Banner. Lenore Smith, Mother of Ben(11/2/05-Iraq). WISCONSIN 4 Hans Gold Star Family Gold Star Family Capt. John “Hans” Kurth We have this Gold Star Family license plate on Hans' vehicle, a '94 Chevy Blazer. John and Retta Kurth, parents of Hans (3/13/04-Iraq) The Final Inspection Author unknown The soldier stood and faced God, which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, just as brightly as his brass. "Step forward now, you soldier, how shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?" The soldier squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't because those of us who carry guns, can't always be a saint." "I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was tough, and sometimes I've been violent, because the world is awfully rough." "But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep. Though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills got just too steep." "And I never passed a cry for help though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God, forgive me...I've wept unmanly tears." "I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fears." "If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand." There was a silence all around the throne where the saints had often trod, as the soldier waited quietly for the judgment of his God. "Step forward now, you soldier, you've borne your burdens well, walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell." Melissa’s Very Very Icy Polar Plunge for “Bob” (CW2 Joshua Scott Fallen 5/26/05-Iraq) and Special Olympics From Melissa: You guys! We did it. It was COLD, but yet it was euphoric! I started to make the yellow shirts last night, and finished them off this morning. We were so proud to walk around with our "All For BOB" shirts on. Many people asked "who is Bob?", and even after the fiftieth plus time, we were proud to tell about who he was. He did a lot for others in his short lifetime. This was a great way to continue to help others, and recognize him at the same time. When it was our turn, they announced us. The announcer said "CW2 Joshua Scott KIA" but instead of saying killed in action, she said KIA like the car. She looked at Sherri and said does that say KIA (she was reading it off a card). Sherri grabbed the mike and told everyone that we raised money and were jumping in honor of Josh - aka "Bob" who died in Iraq. The crowd was quiet as we stood on the pier shaking partially from temperature and mostly from fear. We had our dog tags and dimes (long story - ask me if you really want to know). I reminded the team that we were ALL going to do cannonballs. Yes, I DID do a cannon ball, yet somehow I was the only one. You guys... No matter how much you psych yourself up for the bitter cold water, there is NO way that you can imagine how cold it really is. When you're in the water swimming those 3-5 strokes to the ladder, there's nothing that you can think about except getting out. Then once I was out, I felt refreshed. It didn't seem that cold. I even considered doing it again. I want to let all of you know that I truly appreciate all of your donations and support. It was a great way to remember Josh. I hope that next year we'll have even more people come along and jump or support the causes. We've decided to do this every year! Most people were freezing for a reason, we were freezing for two. Melissa Railey (Ed Note: Next year….We’re with you Mel) Happy Before the plunge….. Going in…. They’re in! Geez……. After the plunge:>)))) HE HE… Yup….I’m going to be VERY nice to Kay Castner (Mother of Stephen, 7/24/06-Iraq) after viewing this photo of her petting one of her favorite pets! It’s not a pet Kay! It’s a bull! Matthew James, nephew of Matt Kading (10-31-05 -Iraq) at his Baptism with Aunt Lindsay (Matt’s girlfriend). Way too cute! ….Special. April 13-14th-Madison Wisconsin Gold Star Family Day Let me know if you have any questions Here they are – my winners of the Pinewood Derby. Left to right: Curtis took 2nd place for the race. Tyler took 1st place for show. Zach took 5th place for race and 2nd place for show and Brandon didn’t get anything but was a good sport – well, sort of. Some crying was involved. Sent in by Belle and Dennis Wichlacz (Parents of Travis, 2/2/05-Iraq) LOL!!! There’s always one….. This is one of the quilts Belle Wichlacz is making for you, our beloved Families of the Fallen. Belle lost her son, Travis, 2/5/05 in Iraq and has made this project her labor of love in his name. Please talk to her about it when you see her April 14th in Madison. Veterans Memorial planned for West Bend, our busy Belle Wichlacz is the impetus behind it…of course:>)) Congrats to Matthew Wallace (Brother of Andrew, 9/26/05-Iraq) and Kelly Jones on their engagement! There’s more…. Congrats to Andrews’ step-brother, James Brockman, who is going to marry Theresa Haag on June 16th in Florida! $$$$$$..... He He… Two Reputable Charities for our Wounded Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (fallenheroesfund.org): Built a topnotch rehab facility at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas that opened this year. Similar projects on the horizon. Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org): Constructs housing spaces at medical facilities so injured vets can be with their families while they heal. (Note: we’d like a Fischer house in WI) The snowmobile is raced by Eric and Leland Thyes of Pulaski. Leland is a former Marine. The guys put the names of Wisconsin fallen Marines on their snowmobile to honor them. Sent in by Rose Scannell, Mother of Ben Edinger (11/23/04-Iraq) Joe Campbell, Co-founder of BT-RO has been very busy eading the Veteran movement in Milwaukee to prevent the commercialization of our sacred VA Grounds and cemetery. His and his fellow Veterans hard work and long hours have proven very worth while. See article below. Thank you Joe for keeping our Veterans cemetery sacred. City officials drop plans for Zablocki VA center Veterans groups opposed proposals By TOM DAYKIN: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tdaykin@journalsentinel.com . Posted: Feb. 27, 2007 Mayor Tom Barrett's administration is dropping plans to create a high-tech business park and veterans housing at Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, with city officials saying Tuesday that opposition from veterans groups killed the proposal. Barrett's proposal called for preservation of five historic buildings on the VA grounds that are either vacant or largely unused. The restored buildings would include Old Main, the original Soldiers Home that opened in 1869 atop a hill that now overlooks Miller Park. The Soldiers Home grounds, which include several 19th-century buildings, are adjacent to the modern medical center complex.Under the city's plan, Old Main would be converted into apartments for elderly veterans. CommonBond Communities, a St. Paul, Minn., housing developer, would have created 57 assisted-living units, along with 17 apartments set aside for veterans with spinal cord injuries. CommonBond planned to renovate another building into 62 apartments for veterans. A 14,000-square-foot building would have been used as offices for veterans groups. The chapel would have been restored for its original use, and the former Ward Memorial Theater would have housed America's Freedom Center Museum. Barrett also wanted to develop an office park on 27.5 acres of vacant land east of the medical center, near Miller Park Way and W. National Ave. The office park would have targeted biomedical firms and other high-tech companies. Some veterans, however, said the office park would interfere with efforts to expand Wood National Cemetery, a burial ground for veterans that borders the medical center and the Soldiers Home grounds. Wood National Cemetery should be expanded on to that vacant land to provide more burial plots, said Joe Campbell, vice president of the Allied Veterans Council of Milwaukee County. Campbell said the city's plan for a columbarium, a building for interment of ashes of cremated vets, amounted to a "token" gesture. Campbell said commercial development of the vacant land would intrude on the tranquility of the cemetery and Soldiers Home grounds. Also, both Campbell and Terry Troutman, state adjutant of the Wisconsin American Legion, said the city's plan would have allowed non-veterans to live in the CommonBond apartments if there were open units and no veterans to fill them. "This should be for veterans only," Campbell said. The apartments, working with veterans groups, would have maintained an active waiting list of veterans, said Andrea Rowe Richards, Department of City Development spokeswoman. Barrett said the city's proposal respected the cemetery, complemented the Zablocki center's mission and sought to create job opportunities at the business park. But the opposition was too strong, Barrett said. Even when city officials changed plans to accommodate the concerns of veterans, including the housing plan, those efforts were "met with derision," he said. The city plan, including the development of vacant land, became "a very, very emotional issue" for some veterans, said Rocky Marcoux, Barrett's development secretary. The city wanted to lease the land and buildings from the Department of Veterans Affairs and spend $21 million on the improvements. That money would have been repaid through property taxes generated by some of the new developments. Additional funding would have come from CommonBond and private fund-raising efforts. City and federal officials also said the development would have created new revenue for the Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing it to plow more money back into maintaining and preserving the 19th-century buildings. Campbell said local, state and federal officials should work with veterans groups to create an alternate plan to preserve the buildings. He said possible uses could include a recreation center for Zablocki patients, housing for families of veterans receiving long-term care at the medical center, and a facility to help homeless veterans. (Note: Joe and other Veteran leaders in the Community are now forming a task force to develop a proposal that they feel better represents the needs of our injured, and the need for additional burial sites.) Remembering Our Dear Beloved Fallen March 4th Donald Eacho 7th Andrew Bossert 10th Bert Hoyer 13th Nick Anderson 13th Hans Kurth 29th Sean Schneider April 2nd Eric Palmisano 5th Jesse Thiry 6th Ryan Jerabek 9th Michelle Witmer 17th Michael McGlothin May 2nd Michael Anderson 5th Nathan Vacho 11th Eric Clark 15th Grant Dampier 19th Kirk Straseskie 23rd Kyle Hemauer 26th Mark Maida 26th Matthew Schram 27th Joshua Scott June 4th Justin Linden 5th Eric Poelman 5th Jamie Jaenke 13th Johnnie Mattek 21st Patrick Lybert 24th Charles Kiser 26th Charles Kaufman Folded burial flag And Let us not forget our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action from the wars in the Middle East Lieutenant Commander Michael “Scott” Speicher…Missing 1/17/1991 SGT Matt Maupin…Missing 4/9/2004 SPC Ahmed K. Altaie…Missing 10/23/2006 Major Troy Gilbert…Missing 11/27/2006 And all Prisoners of War - Missing in Action February 7, 2007. POW UP-DATE BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Shiite militant group has issued a video of an Iraqi-American Soldier who was kidnapped nearly four months ago while visiting his wife in downtown Baghdad, an American television network reported Wednesday. The U.S. government has offered a $50,000 reward leading to the recovery of Iraqi-born American Army translator Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, a 41-year-old reserve Soldier from Ann Arbor, Mich., who was abducted by gunmen on Oct. 23. The video was broadcast by CNN and it was unclear when it was made. Al-Taayie’s uncle identified him from the video, the network said. The video did not immediately turn up in an Associated Press search of militant Web sites. A huge search operation turned up no solid leads to the fate al-Taayie, who was visiting his Iraqi wife when he was handcuffed and taken away by gunmen during a visit to the woman’s family. Al-Taayie’s uncle, Entifadh Qanbar, said at the time that he believed his nephew’s abductors belong to a “well organized” rogue cell from the Shiite Mahdi Army militia of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. He said he had received through an intermediary a demand of $250,000 from the kidnappers. He had in turn demanded proof that his nephew was alive and well before entering negotiations. The U.S. military said at the time that there was “an ongoing dialogue” to win al-Taayie’s release but didn’t say with whom or at what level. Al-Taayie, whose name is also spelled Ahmed Kousay Altaie, was born in Iraq and moved to the United States as a teenager. He joined the Army Reserve in December 2004 and was deployed to Iraq in November 2005. Your next issue of Remembrance should be out in July, so keep your photos, articles and updates coming in. Judith Singer: 414-476-0558, Cell: 414-241-1809 Gentlyjs@yahoo.com And Joe Campbell414-607-0527, Cell: 414-333-2012jfcampbell@machweld.com