September 2008
3 posts
A Special Letter to Melissa
Dear Melissa, As you represent the United States and compete as a member of our swim team at the 2008 Paralympic Games, I am delighted to extend to you my heartfelt support and best wishes for much success. In Beijing and beyond, I know you’ll pursue every goal with hard work and honor. At this year’s Games in particular, I hope you will race with pride in having confronted and...
August 2008
4 posts
teejunkie
A big thanks to Kay at teejunkie.com for writing about the Melissa Stockwell shirt. It looks like we robbed the potential spot reserved for some other t-shirt, from some other company, by coincidentally being on top of our email-response/having graphics ready-to-send game. We’re fine with that.. because, as you all know, Melissa deserves the recognition!!
Thanks again to teejunkie for...
Compter Screen to Silk Screen, Pixels to Ink
I present to you, the Melissa Stockwell inspired TakePride ‘Stronger’ shirt. Available at TakePride.com:
MELISSA STOCKWELL - FAN BOARD
[Newest to Oldest]
Email Me To Leave A Message For Melissa
____________________________________________________________________
Hi Melissa!
Wow! What an amazing story! You’re outlook , strength, and determination truly inspire! I want to wish you the best of luck in your upcoming race, you are such an inspiration! I will be rooting for you, be sure to let me know how it goes! Thank you for...
More Detailed Account of Melissa’s Story
Stronger tells the story of Melissa Stockwell and it is the most inspiring story TakePride has ever told.
It starts on a hot day in April of 2004 on a desolate stretch of road near Baghdad. Melissa was 23 and living her dream – wearing the uniform of the United States and doing her part to make the world a better place. She was leading a transport convoy through the city. Somewhere off in the...
June 2008
3 posts
TakePride in Entrepreneur Magazine
Check out p. 21 in the July 2008 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. It already hit newstands in NYC and should be out already or coming out in the next few days everywhere else. Click the banner above to check out the full article.
Thanks to 'Tcritic'
Thanks to Tcritic.com for posting about TakePride and our latest shirt; a boy, a bear & a soldier. Check it out.
TakePride FOR LIFE!
We received an awesome email a few months back from Scott Godbey, a supporter and former member of the 10 Mountain Division. Scott wrote to let us know that he was getting the TakePride logo tattooed on his arm. A week or two after that email he sent us another one with photos showing us that he did infact go ahead and get it done. Your the man Scott. Check it out.
Scott reccomended American...
May 2008
2 posts
Thansk to 'I Love Your T-shirt'
Thanks to David, the man behind iloveyourtshirt.com for featuring a sick post about TakePride’s new shirt ‘A Boy, A Bear & A Soldier’ on the iloveyourtshirt blog.
Pro Troop Doesn’t Mean Pro War; Pro-Peace Doesn’t...
To whom it may concern, I have a comment about your new Memorial Day t-shirt. I would first like to say that I have bought several shirts from you, and greatly appreciate your work for soldiers and their families. I am an Army spouse, my husband is a Captain and he is currently deployed to Iraq. I was so excited to see a new Memorial Day shirt, and I really loved the graphic on the front,...
April 2008
4 posts
Response: SGT Michael Geary
I’ve been a Soldier in the Massachusetts Army National Guard for a little over six years now. I’m currently on my second tour of Iraq with some of the same faces from last time, but mostly a new crew. I would like to first and foremost thank these Soldiers I have served with daily. Their sacrifice and service is remarkable and I couldn’t be prouder of the job, the missions we...
The Cactus Cuties
We first heard about the Cactus Cuties through a video that had been sent around in a mass email. The video shows 5 girls [ages 8-13] singing the National Anthem at the Texas Tech vs Texas basketball game on January 20, 2008 in front of over 11,000 people. We were immediatly stunned at how amazing their performance was. The video has close to 5 million views on Youtube [4x the amount of views from...
Response: Kathryn Levine
I am 52 years old and have 4 brothers. My older brothers were fortunate enough not to have been drafted into the Vietnam war. One went to the Naval Academy and served as a Marine for 5 years thereafter, but not in combat. One went to Fort Schuyler, a NY Merchant Marine college. He was probably the closest to being drafted. Another was not old enough to be to be drafted for Vietnam. He...
Response: Michelle Dickson
First time writing in a blog, but I hear everybody and their mother is doing it now though, so here goes: First and foremost I would like to thank all the men and women who have served and are currently serving in order to protect our freedom. I have a friend, he’s a former marine: once a Marine, always a Marine, :), who says it can be uneasy accepting a thank you at times. You all...
March 2008
23 posts
Response: Mark Jacobsen
“My name is Mark Jacobsen and I live in Williamsburg Iowa. I am a past member of the US Army and the US Army Reserve. I think the troops are doing a wonderful job. I think there have been some mistakes but everything is on track now. I believe it would be a terrible disservice to those who have given their blood and in some cases their lives to abandon these wars now. I know it is hard to fight...
Response: Adisha Verma (TakePride)
“Being only eighteen years old, I can’t say that I have experienced much in America’s history other than reading about past wars and conflicts in my obsolete high school textbooks. One thing that I can comment about with a general amount of knowledge is how the media today perceives the war. I don’t personally know anyone who has gone to fight in Iraq; what I see of the war is only what the...
Response: Sarah Rose
Thanks for giving us an opportunity to voice our opinion on the war in Iraq. First, let me say that your organization is great. My friend is currently serving in Iraq, and he had never heard of TakePride. He was thrilled to find out that there is an company like yours out there. My feelings on the war. First, not enough good news is getting out there to the public. It’s amazing the...
Response: David Pavia
“5 years in and without a doubt the most tragic aspect of this war is the devastating psychological impact it has had on those involved on the ground level. Troops (and their families) along with Iraqi civilians have been exposed to a horrific cycle of violence and terror. The impact of this has been profound and it will have a long lasting impact on the health and well being of those most...
Response: Judith Dale
I am the mother-in-law of a wonderful soldier, Darrin Whaley, who was just deployed to Iraq with Indiana’s 76th Brigade 1/293rd Alpha Company. He had already served his country as an Army Ranger in both “Desert Shield” and “Desert Storm” and was out of the service working as a Sergeant with the Indiana’s Sheriff’s Department when, for reasons only he can really understand, he re-upped at...
Response: OJ Betz
Another betz chiming in…..one thing that concerns me about our country is the number of young people I see, many just graduating from high school, with absolutely no direction. Some service to their country would do them a world of good, not to mention the good it would provide to the country. I am not saying they all have to serve in the military. That is good for some, but others could...
Response: Dana Vagu
I currently have a son who is a Ranger, and about to go overseas for the 4th trip to Iraq, etc. He leaves a wife and baby. He loves his job immensely. It has given him a tremendous pride for the military as a whole, and, pride in his abilities. He feels this is his purpose. Our families pray each and every day, and, are, often awakened at night to pray for some unit, or, someone, in...
Response: Sandra Cheek
Hey Guys! We love your t-shirts…and we DO wear them! I just wanted to share with you the photo of my son, Matthew, (and his proud parents) after he took his oath or enlistment for the Alabama Army National Guard in February 208. He is a Freshman communications major at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa and he also joined the ROTC on campus. He had been talking about joining...
Response: Marilyn Durso
I saw your email about participating in this blog. Ironically, I am drafting a letter to our candidates hoping to get a response. This forum gives me a good, first outlet. My name is Marilyn from Massapequa. My son is attending USMA @ West Point, Class of 2010, a childhood dream. My pride is only surpassed by my love for him. He will honor his Commander in Chief and the duty before him at the...
Response: Tracy Eads
I am a mother of a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne. He was home for an 18 day leave in early March. He will be leaving the mountains in late August to return to his wife and newborn child in Italy. He is very proud to serve his country and joined at the age of 24. He doesn’t question his duty, yet hopes for an end to the war and peace to resume in all ...
Response: Carol Pettirossi
“I sit at my computer, watching Fox News, reading your email and I can’t allow my fingers to push “Delete”. How do I feel about “war”? I despise the idea that in the year 2008, with a vivid world history of wars, oppression, genocide, etc. we still have a need and no other way to settle our differences. But how do you counteract the acts of terror that...
Response: David Melton
I don’t really know what were the exact reasons and motivations of President Bush and the other members of the government who made the decision to go to war. I don’t think of Bush as the evil schemer, bumbling idiot, or cartoonish villain he’s often portrayed as. VERY few wars in human history have the sort of clear cut moral high ground that I think can fairly be...
Response: Ann Pierce
“Carol Megathlin, Coordinator of Adopt-a-Soldier project for 3rd ID in Savannah, said it best in an op-ed piece in The Telegraph (Macon, GA) on Nov 10, 2007. Title of the piece was “Where do we find these young men?” I am in awe of these young men and women who serve so selflessly - especially in combat areas. I thank God for every one of them and pray for their ...
Response: John Mattek
Hi, i am the Mother of a fallen Marine LcPl John J. Mattek Jr. 6-13-05. The unfortunate part of war is there are many more opionion’s then there are solution’s. I have alway’s felt, if we, as a Country are at war, we can not begin to accomplish anything if we are at war with ourselves. Which is exactly what is going on with our Country. This time there is more time spent on...
Response: Sherry Helm
“I have been touched by this war personally - my brother had to go for his year and a half tour. a coworker lost her brother in the war and i have friends who served or are getting ready to serve in Iraq. This is and has been pure HELL on us, the ones left behind. i cant explain the feeling that overcomes a person who is faced with saying goodbye and watching as your loved one boards a...
Response: Ryan Cooper
It is a bit overwhelming when I sit here at the computer to type out my thoughts on our current War on Terrorism. I would rather not be long winded or ramble on and try to act deep. There are just a few basic points and comments that I wanted to share. Thank you. Thank you for hosting this forum, thank you for your dedication, thank you for your shirts (which my wife buys regularly and I...
Response: Carolyn Sheaf
“Hi to all, First I would like to thank everyone at takepride you all are doing an awesome job, getting the word out and supporting our troops. I can’t believe we are still in this war and can’t imagine the grief and anguish of the friends and family members of our fallen heros. I pray everyday that they can come home, that we elect a president that can end the war and bring...
Response: Anne Conrad
“I am a mother who was so excited that her son was coming home February of 2007 after a year in Afghanistan, only to have Defense Secretary Gates order the 10th Mountain, 3rd Batallion to stay an additional 4 months. It was like being kicked in the stomach to get the e-mail from my FRG leader that our men would not be coming home after all. Our men were already starting home. In fact...
Response: Kathy Miller
“I am a widow of a 100% service connected vet who died at the age of 38, probably from his ground tour in viet nam and agent orange, he gave his life for this country as have countless before him and since. I miss him every day, 20 years later, as due our children who are so like him and don’t remember him. I don’t have answers to this war and our bumper sticker patriots, but one...
Response: Art Conrad
“Today I watched and listened to a presentation and discussion hosted by The American Enterprise Institute on Iraq. I had believed that we should finish the war in Iraq as a key step in fighting terrorism regardless of why we went there in the first place. Why we went there is now irrelevant. We art there and must do what is necessary under current circumstances not what were the...
Response: Carolyn Durbin
Hi my name is Carolyn Durbin (I have attached a photo) and I live in Jupiter, Florida. I am 38 years old and have an 18 year old daughter. I received your email and just wanted to add a few of my thoughts…. I grew up with a father that was in the Navy during the vietnam war, a grandfather that served during the Korean War, an Uncle in the Army during the Vietnam War, so basically I...
Response: Maria Kieser
“I take great pride in my country and our amazing military men and women. I thank God everyday that we have brave men and women who are willing and able to devote their lives in part for this great nation. I am one of those people who believe we are doing the right thing, sorry as I am that the intelligence was faulty the cause is just. Most of all we must see it through and not...
We want to have a conversation and to do so, we...
Whether putting themselves in harms way or being away from their loved ones the sacrifices that the men and women in our country’s armed services have made over the past 5 years while engaged in Iraq and Afganistan are too many to number. I look at my son who has been on this earth just 14 months and to think of all the things I would have missed had I been away just 1 month let alone 15+...
January 2008
4 posts
WatchAwesome video via OUR.MARINES.COM. To create the video they traveled to 15 locations across the U.S. Our.Marines is a collection of stories submitted from across the country about the impact of the Corps, the reasons Marines serve, and why it matters to each of us.
Kaj Larsen wearing TakePride
Yesterday Kaj Larsen wore the TakePride ‘February 2nd’ shirt on Current TV. Kaj Larsen is an award-winning journalist for Current TV. He is a former US Navy SEAL, and an executive board member of the Center for Citizen Leadership, a non-profit dedicated to mentoring wounded veterans into Public Service. The reason you might not recognize the shirt is because it’s the newest...
Preview of Retail Shirts
Below you’ll see a preview of 2 of our retail shirts. Hopfully they’ll be in stores soon!! Hope you like em!
TakePride in Crain's NY
Click on the images above or here to view the full article.
November 2007
2 posts
Mike Training in Afghanistan
Mike sent these photos over before he left to come back to the states on leave. He’ll be running the Philideplphia Marathon on November 18th. You can check for more or hi-res versions on the TakePride Flickr page.
We've been busy.
Planning for the ‘Race for Heroes’ has been insane. We’ve been building and sending out press kits, fulfilling customers orders, printing new shirts, making plans for Philly, and tons more… We’ve also raised close to $45k so far for the Wounded Warrior Project and other worthy charities. Since I’ve been slacking on the blog posts I thought I’d put up a...
October 2007
2 posts
RFH in NEWSDAY
Sophia Chang wrote a great article about Mike’s Race for Heroes for Long Island news paper, NEWSDAY. It hit newsstands around NY this past Sunday. Click the image below to read it and view a life size version of the article.
IG - Trend Central
The Race For Heroes TakePride Special Edition shirt ‘Our Best’ got a little write up in the Intelligence Group’s Trend Central Report. Check it out: TakePride in the Intelligence Group’s Trend Central Report.
September 2007
5 posts
Message to 4-31
We received this email from one of TakePride’s 4-31 supporters and we thought it would be perfect for the blog: Dear Soldiers, I just want to thank all of you for your courage and your personal strength through this long deployment. You will always be heroes in the eyes of those who love you and in the eyes of thousands more who through bits and pieces of real information in the media out...
iloveyourtshirt.com
David from ILoveYourTshirt.com put up a little post about the 4-31 shirt. His site is pretty sick. Be sure to check it out and look at the 4-31 post here.
July 4th Photo
We reached out to everyone to send us photos and [ahem] many promised to send some in… not everyone did! Thanks Amelia. “My name is Amelia and I am 17, from Shelton,CT. My brother is in Iraq right now,with a year left to go,and he also spent a year in Afghanistan. His name is Captain Michael Filanowski of the Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd...