Sgt. Stephen Taylor in Iraq.

My name is Ashley and I would like to Salute My Fiance’ Sgt. Stephen Taylor.

He is a Gunner in a Tank. This is his second tour to Iraq. He has been in Charlie Company for 6 years and just reenlisted for another 6 years. He is working with a Great group of guys! I am VERY Proud of him and love him with all my heart and cant wait till he is home SAFE and SOUND were he belongs!

Anchor Robin Meade

Yesterday morning our VIP tour came through the studio like it does every Thursday, and I stopped to chat with the viewers afterward. I was struck by one of them, who said she loved watching our daily “Salute to Troops” segment on “Morning Express with Robin Meade” and she thanked me profusely for showing the segment on air.

I thought to myself, ‘Ah she must know some folks in the military … or maybe her father or grandfather fought on a foreign shore … or maybe she’s a patriotic woman especially feeling the red white and blue headed into the Fourth of July weekend.’

Here’s what I learned about her during our chat: She is not only a viewer grateful to our current troops who are serving in harm’s way, but she is also a veteran and has just retired after 28 years in the service.

28 years!

I told her, in so many words, “Wait a minute … don’t thank me for a TV segment, let the rest of us thank you for your service!”

It’s in these moments we are reminded of the stellar character of our military men and women who are so selfless in doing their job.

So as the rest of us celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, hotdogs and parades….a big thank you and salute to all the servicemembers who can’t be home this holiday weekend … because you are doing your job.

It’s an effort for which we are all grateful. Thank you for your service!

Christina Fanitzi shares the story of how she and her husband, both servicemembers, were treated to a surprise dream wedding.

SP4 Brendan H. DeLaTorre has been an EMT since he was 16 years old and is now a combat medic stationed in Iraq.

My son, Specialist Fourth Class Brendan H. DeLaTorre, is currently serving in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, stationed at Saab al Bor, Iraq.

Brendan has been an EMT since he was 16 years old and is now a combat medic with 2w/104 CAV.

We just want him to know how proud his father and I are of him! We’re looking forward to his safe return home this upcoming September.

–Cynthia DeLaTorre

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Staff Sargeant Dustin Clark proposed to Rachelle in the airport while on leave last May.

My name is Rachelle Lusardi and I am saluting Staff Sargeant Dustin Clark.

Dustin is serving in Iraq until October. I would like to tell him that I am very proud of him and consider myself the luckiest girl in the world to be his fiance.

His children love him and miss him very much and can’t wait for their daddy to come home. I cannot wait for him to come home so that I can marry him and start our lives together.

Dustin proposed to me at the airport when he came home on leave from Iraq this May. We are getting married in November, a month after he gets back.

I just want to tell him we love him and I can’t wait to be his wife.

–Rachelle Lusardi

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Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Matthiesen with his wife

I want to salute my husband of seven years, Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Matthiesen. He is currently an instructor at a Submarine Learning Center here in St. Marys, Georgia but he will be leaving this fall to deploy on the USS Rhode Island, a Trident Subarine.

I am so proud of all his accomplishments but especially his recent Sailor of the Year honor that was presented to him by his command.  Not only was he chosen as the top Sailor at Trident Training Facility but also won the designation as the Top Sailor for all the Submarine Learning Centers worldwide for the U.S. Navy.

Despite all the dedication and hard work that he puts into his job, he still finds time to be a wonderful father to our three children, including our newest son who arrived this April! He is a devoted husband and, even after seven years of marriage, my heart still skips a beat every day when I see him walk up the driveway in his uniform.

We have learned after many deployments that one of the benefits of us being separated for months at a time is that our marriage always feels like it is in the “honeymoon phase” whenever he is at home!

Even though we will miss him when he leaves this fall for deployment, we want him to know that we are so proud of what he does and we want to thank him for being such a wonderful husband and father!

–Megan, Conrad, Sophia, and Vincent Matthiesen

P.S. He would be upset if I didn’t mention that he is a devoted Cubs/Bears Fan!

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Spc. Dennis Boney and his daughter, Kylee.

I would like to salute my husband Spc. Dennis Boney, serving in the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Because he was recently deployed to Iraq, he missed his first father’s day with our 9-month-old daughter, Kylee. He left last Wednesday, four days before father’s day. He will also miss her first birthday in September.

Kylee misses him so much. You should just see the way her face lights up by just hearing his voice or seeing his picture.

I want to tell him how very proud we are of him and the sacrifices he has made in service of our country. We love you, baby.

–Heather Boney

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Sgt Warmsley and his baby Tiana.

My husband Sgt Toree Warmsley has been in the Army for ten years now, he has been everywhere from Thailand to Iraq. He is currently serving as a Recruiter in Dallas, Texas.

Although his job is very demanding I want him to know that his baby Tiana and I love him very much and could not live without him. We want to thank him for his service to us his family and to his country.

– Anna Warmsley

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My name is Toni Rivera and I am a proud Army Wife. I want to send a salute to my husband SSG Ricardo Rivera, who is currently serving in Iraq.

I want to let him know that I love him with all my heart and could not be more proud of him and all those in his unit. He has been gone from us now 3 weeks and the next 11 months are going to seem like an eternity but, we will make him as proud as he has made us by being a strong military family and taking care of things back home.

Our children adore their Dad and couldn’t be blessed with a better father and we want to wish him a Happy Father’s Day and want to take this opportunity to let him know that we love him, miss him and have him in our hearts every minute of every day.

WE LOVE YOU, GOD BLESS AND STAY SAFE, MY LOVE.

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What a handsome soldier!

Hi Robin, I am Anna Castillo-Lora and I want to salute my son Specialist Robert Christopher Genaro. US Army, Infantry Soldier. He is returning home after 12 mouths in Afghanistan. Shortly after his 20th birthday he was deployed to Afghanistan. Not knowing if I would ever see him again or the condition he would return home kept me in constant prayer for him and his comrades.

Specialist Robert C. Genaro, now 21 years old, is schedule to arrive at Hood Army post located outside of Killeen, TX in June of 2009, Where he will be greeted by his wife Inna and three-year-old daughter Emily. Due to the short notice arriving schedule I will not be able to be there to welcome my son home.

I am very proud of my son and of his service to our country. At an early age Robert became a father and faces his responsibilities. Shortly after his 18th birthday he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, then he was deployed to Afghanistan for 15 month. While there the deployment was reduced to 12 months.

It has been very hard for all of us this past year but for three-year-old Emily it has been the hardest. Being the apple of her Daddy’s eye and not having him around was very confusing and lonely for her. They are a wonderful family and I am proud of them all. SP4 Robert Genaro, USA I salute you for serving your country. Inna and Emily Genaro I thank you for your unconditional love for my Son.

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