MILITARY INFORMATION

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 7, 2003

BLUE STAR SERVICE BANNERS:

Blue Star Service Banners were a common sight in America's neighborhoods during World Wars I and II. The program was created in 1917; people hung the banners in their windows to show a member of the family was serving in the armed forces. Blue Star Banners will be available, at cost, at the following Wal-Mart stores. All booths open at 10 a.m.

Saturday, 1575 Space Center Drive.

May 17, 6310 S. Highway 85/87, Fountain.

May 24, 707 S. Eighth St.

May 31, 3201 E. Platte Ave.

June 7, 8250 Razorback Road. For information, call the American Legion, Centennial Post 209 at 599-8624.

FREE HAIRCUTS:

TONI &GUY Hairdressing Academy in the Albertsons Shopping Center, 332 Main St., is offering complimentary haircuts to active-duty military spouses and their children Wednesday, May 28, June 18, July 23 and Aug. 13. Appointments begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. Military ID cards must be shown at the time of appointment. For information or to make an appointment, call Dale LeMonds at 390- 9898.

FREE ADMISSION:

Active-duty military personnel and families are invited to visit the Dinosaur Depot Museum free May 17, in celebration of Armed Forces Day. The museum is at 330 Royal Gorge Blvd, Caon City. Present a current ID at the admission desk. For information and hours, call 269- 7150 or (800) 987-6379.

VOICE MESSAGING SERVICE:

Z-Tel Technologies Inc. is offering Operation Connect, to provide military families unlimited access to Z-Tel's voice e-mail service, allowing them to send personalized voice e-mail messages free to loved ones serving overseas.

Military families are not required to buy any Z-Tel service to take advantage of Operation Connect.

For information, visit www.ztel. com/ustroops or call (888) 983- 5872.

BREAKS FOR FAMILIES:

Christian music station Q102.7, KBIQ, is inviting military families with loved ones soon to be or serving overseas to go to kbiqradio.com and sign up for Military Family Relief Days, including pizza parties, amusement park visits and other getaways. For information, call KBIQ at 531-5438. Radio station 98.9 Magic FM, KKMG, has "adopted" military families with members who are or will be overseas. Families will be taken to pizza parties or the movies to give them a chance to think about something else. For information, call the station at 593-2700.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT:

People looking for ways to support the troops in Iraq must find alternatives to writing letters and sending packages, unless they are sending to a specific service member. The Defense Department is not accepting unsolicited mail to service members overseas to protect the troops. Only mail from family members and friends to a specific person will be sent to the troops. The Defense Department has recommended other ways to show support for the military: virtual greeting cards or calling card donations.

Check out these Web sites:

www.defendamerica.mil/sup port_troops.html

www.usocares.org/home.htm

www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq. html Wal-Mart has set up computers at which people can choose from 16 e-mail greetings to send to the troops.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Omni Military Loans in the Gateway Shopping Center, 2350 S. Academy Blvd., has initiated a program offering the following services to families of deployed personnel:

Free family financial counseling to help families work through issues that often arise during deployment.

Standing invitation to family members to use available computers at the Omni office from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays to communicate with personnel overseas. There will be no charge for the Internet access.

For information, call 393-9000 or go to www.yesomni.com.

HOME MAINTENANCE:

Harmony Homes, a Colorado Springs-based builder, is offering free maintenance services to Holiday Home homeowners who are deployed.

Services include snow removal, lawn mowing, changing furnace filters, changing smoke-alarm batteries, service to underground sprinkler systems and advice on repairs not covered under warranty.

A weekly safety walk around the exterior of the residence is provided for unoccupied homes.

Harmony homeowners being deployed can call Heather at 388-4320 to register for services.

HELP:

Military families who need information or help with a pending deployment can call Army Community Services at Fort Carson, 526- 4590.

CONTACT US: If you are affected by this deployment - as a service member, family member or friend - The Gazette wants to know your story. We want your ideas for items to include in Troop Notes. Contact us in an e-mail at citydesk@gazette.com or The Gazette, Attn. Troop Notes, City Desk, 30 S. Prospect St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Please include phone numbers where we can reach you.