The Salute to Troops blog has a new home at HLNtv.com.

Visit the site directly at HLNtv.com/shows/morning-express-robin-meade.

You can also see more Salute to Troops content at HLNtv.com/salute.

Filed under: Salute to Troops

We were honored to have some special guests in the studio today for our "Salute to Troops." US Naval Commander Todd Lacy and Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Commander Marta Mulkins, both part of the current training class at the Naval Command College. And they brought along fellow classmates all serving in the military in 13 other countries. In alphabetical order by country:

Australia – CMDR Ivan Ingham
Belize – CAPT John Borland
Brazil – CAPT Paulo Colaco
Bulgaria – CAPT Petko Petkov
Canada – CDR Marta Mulkins
Estonia – CAPT Igor Schvede
India – CAPT Praveen Nair
Israel – CDR Tal Politis
Nigeria – CAPT Frederick Ogu
Jordan – CAPT Fadel Alsbaihat
Peru – CDR Kurt Bottger
Philippines – CAPT Adeluis Borando
Poland – CAPT Miroslaw Soltysiak
United Kingdom – CDR John Craig
United States – CDR Todd Lacy, USN
United States – CDR Greg Stump, USCG
United States – LtCol Varick Ready, USMC
CIV – Vincent Mocini, NCC Director/Dean of International Programs & Maritime Security Cooperation

Thanks to all of you for coming by this morning and thanks to you and your families for your service!

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Salute to Troops

The look on their faces when they see Dad walking up to them is absolutely priceless.

Three little scouts, Chance, Trent and Logan Raby put on their uniforms and went (with their Mom) to Hartsfield-Jackson International airport in Atlanta, to greet military men and women returning home from overseas. They believed that they would be earning a special scout badge by doing so.

What they didn’t know is that their DAD, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 P.J. Raby coming home from Afghanistan, was one of the soldiers getting off the plane! Tissues ready!

See more salutes, and find out how to submit a salute of your own by visiting the new "Salute to Troops" page at HLNtv.com

Filed under: Army • Homecoming • Salute to Troops • Welcome Home

This is a salute to SGT. Michael Watson, U.S. Army from the Chattanooga, TN punk band The Unsatisfied.

They write:
We received a message a few months ago from Sgt. Watson inquiring if we could send him some music to keep he and the rest of the 18th Infantry pumped up. He said they had a hard time getting good music in Iraq. We sent them a box of goodies. They even put our stickers on a few of their gun trucks. We felt an instant brotherhood with Sgt. Watson and the 18th Infantry. We are very happy to report that they will return to Fort Riley, KS soon.

Note: Why "love and blood?" The band says, "That's what we put into our music! All of our Luv 'n' all of our Blood!"

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Salute to Troops

This is a salute from Ana Tegtmeyer to her husband Chief Warrant Officer Mark Tegtmeyer, U.S. Army. Ana writes:

Hi Robin,
I would like to send this salute to my wonderful husband CW2 Mark Tegtmeyer. We are very proud and grateful for everything he has done and all of the sacrifices he has made to keep our family and our country safe. He is a fantastic husband, father, soldier and a true hero in our hearts.

Love,
Ana, Mark Henry, and Jacob

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Salute to Troops

We were thrilled to be a part of a special surprise this morning for Sergeant 1st Class Casandra Sanders.

Sgt. Sanders is one of the 70,000 American service members who are single parents. Her two daughters Kiera and Jade have already been away from their mom during a deployment to Kuwait in 2005. Now the family is facing a second deployment, possibly to Afghanistan next year... so in order to make sure they get as much together-time as possible before that happens we teamed up with Operation G.I. Jane, an organization that provides support for single moms who serve in the military.

Thanks to Operation G. I. Jane, Sgt. Sanders and her two daughters will be "deploying" together to a luxury hotel for three nights of indulgence. But wait, there's more! Wait till you see Kiera and Jade's reaction to ANOTHER surprise... an iPod Touch for each! Priceless!

With a full 5 percent of American Military raising a family in a single parent home, military supports groups can be vital resources. For example, Operation G.I. Jane helps to provide communication between deployed parents and their children, airfare for much-needed visits home, necessities kits for both mother and child, and even career transition help.

If you are a single mom in the military or if you'd like to lend a helping hand to single moms who serve, visit Operation-GIJane.org.

Single military dads, and military families in general can visit the U.S. Department of Defense Military Family Support page to find resources as well.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops