Army Gold Star Wife Stephanie Dostie on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the opportunity to publically demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our servicemembers - past and present. Each year the president makes a proclamation, reminding Americans of the important role the U.S. Armed Forces have played in the history and development of our country.

Memorial Day, is the only federal holiday in May and is celebrated on the last Monday of the month. The day, dating from the Civil War era, traditionally has marked recognition of those who have died in service to the nation. Each year on Memorial Day, the White House Commission on Remembrance promotes one minute of silence at 3 p.m. local time to honor the military's fallen comrades and to pay tribute to the sacrifices by the nation's service members and veterans.

 On Saturday, May 23, 2015 tune in to hear Gold Star Wife, Stephanie Dostie who lost her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Dostie, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Tune in to hear her talk about her meeting her husband for the first time at UT Knoxville, falling in love, and embracing being an Army wife with her heart and soul.

Listen to her recount their early years of marriage moving from country to country prior to 911. She talks about her husband's love of family and country and his bravery. She tells the last days of  Sgt. Dostie's life and how she knew he was KIA before she ever received the knock on the door at Fort Campbell shortly after Christmas.

Stephanie Dostie talks openly about raising the children alone and the difficulties of the early years without the love of her life and hero. She talks about the support of the Fort Campbell community and what has helped strengthen her over the years. She also talks about the importance of being there for other families and gives the audience suggestions on how they can comfort, support, and honor families who have loss a service member.

This show promises to empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life. Living Your Best Life, can heard on 760 The Gospel in the Middle Tennessee region, Tune-In, www.UStream.TV and military bases from 9-10AM CST.


More About Dostie Family and the National Memorial Day Concert

The 2015 National Memorial Day Concert will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on NPT and other PBS affiliates around the country on May24. This year, two Middle Tennessee children will be among the honored guests whose stories will be part of the annual celebration.

Bayleigh and Cameron Dotsie will be among the honored guests. The National Memorial Day Concert will be part of the segment wherein letters from servicemen and servicewomen and/or their families are read by celebrities. The Dotsie children are Gold Star Children who have lost a parent to war. Their father, Shawn, was killed 10 years ago while serving in Iraq. Their story focuses on memories of their father before he went to war, and then how everything changed when just after Christmas “two men in uniform” came to their house. Bayleigh‘s words will be read by actress Stefanie Scott.

NPT will broadcast the National Memorial Day Concert live at 7 p.m. on May 24, with an encore presentation immediately following at 8:30 p.m.

The National Memorial Day Concert will be hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise — celebrating their 10th anniversary as co-hosts — and will include appearances by General Colin L. Powell (Ret.); seven-time Grammy Award-winner Gloria Estefan; actress Stefanie Scott; “The Voice” season five winner Tessanne Chin; classical cross-over artist Katherine Jenkins; and renowned tenor Russell Watson in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly.
Also participating in the event are the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard, and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.


All Photos: Stephanie Dostie

HERstory: Dr. Betty Moseley Brown on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

In 1999, Congress designated the month of May as Military Appreciation Month to recognize and reflect on the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who serve and have served this great country of ours. This month is to celebrate and honor the contributions of those who are a part of and have been a part of the US Armed Forces and the contributions they have made in preserving our way of life. Many organizations and communities around the country are celebrating this month in various ways to recognize our Active Duty members and their families, our Reserve Component members and their families and our Veterans and their families.

Join Living Your Best Life as we celebrate "HERstroy...Women In the Military" for the next few weeks. We will hear from military women, active and veterans, who are daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends. Women from the Marines, Army, Air Force, and Navy will share personal stories and highlights from their military careers. All have roles that made them the "first" in many endeavors throughout their lives and in the military. We will hear about their many acts of courage and sacrifice that embody servant leadership that will empower, inspire, and motivate listeners.

On Saturday, May 26, 2012, we will hear from leaders in the Veterans Administration. Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, Associate Director of the Center for Women Veterans, and Colonel Many-Bears Grinder, the first female to lead Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, will share how their decision to serve our country helped shaped their passion to serve others.

In 2010, the theme for Women's History month was "Writing Women Back into History." Dr. Moseley Brown, a Marine, challenged the theme's concept by asking, "When were women written out of history?" That question lead her to initiating HERstory to recognize the contributions of women veterans. Starting internally within the VA, she advocated for women who have severed our country faithfully and courageously stories be told. In 2011, HERstory went beyond the VA to other branches of the military. Dr. Moseley Brown efforts are now being duplicated by many around the country who want to share the countless stories of women who have served in the Armed Forces.

(Dr.Betty Moseley Brown and Colonel Many-Bears Grinder at Women Veteran's Summit)

Colonel Many-Bears Grinder will share her life's journey and how 35 years of service in the military gives her wisdom and compassion on how to serve our men and women after their military duties have ended. Her story includes her life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and mother-in-law of a fallen solider. She bares her heart and soul in an interview that will leave you wanting to hear more from one of Tennessee's inspiring servant leaders.

This series of shows will have a "few surprises" as well. Tune into 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live online at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

More About Dr. Betty Moseley Brown

Betty Moseley Brown assumed the position of Associate Director of the Center for Women Veterans on November 1, 2004. Dr. Moseley Brown’s passion for Veterans began during her United States Marine Corps service from 1978 – 1992. During her military years she was a Chaplains Assistant in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, a recruiter in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Personnel Chief in San Diego, California. Her Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) career began at the San Diego Regional Office, where she was a Veterans Benefits Counselor and served as the Women Veterans Coordinator. She briefly left the VA to work for the Department of the Navy.

Dr. Moseley Brown’s Mother was an Army Veteran and her Father retired from the Air Force. Both are in eternal resting places at a VA National Cemetery. In March 2010, Dr. Moseley Brown kicked-off the “Her Story” campaign to recognize the military contributions of women Veterans.

Photo credits: TN Women's Veteran Summit in Nashville: TN Dept of VA

Dr. Betty Moseley Brown with family: Dr.Betty Brown Moseley

More about Colonel Many-Bears Grinder here.

More about Colonel Jacqueline Nave here.

HERstory: Colonel Many-Bears Grinder on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

In 1999, Congress designated the month of May as Military Appreciation Month to recognize and reflect on the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who serve and have served this great country of ours. This month is to celebrate and honor the contributions of those who are a part of and have been a part of the US Armed Forces and the contributions they have made in preserving our way of life. Many organizations and communities around the country are celebrating this month in various ways to recognize our Active Duty members and their families, our Reserve Component members and their families and our Veterans and their families.

Join Living Your Best Life as we celebrate "HERstroy...Women In the Military" for the next few weeks. We will hear from military women, active and veterans, who are daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends. Women from the Marines, Army, Air Force, and Navy will share personal stories and highlights from their military careers. All have roles that made them the "first" in many endeavors throughout their lives and in the military. We will hear about their many acts of courage and sacrifice that embody servant leadership that will empower, inspire, and motivate listeners.

On Saturday, May 26,2012, we will hear from Colonel Many-Bears Grinder, the first female to become Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Veteran Affairs. Colonel Grinder will share stories from her military career. We will hear her humble spirit as she shares about serving the troops even before she enlisted. Colonel Grinder will share how being a female made her determined to be successful and why she purposely selected non-traditional women roles throughout her military career.

As Memorial Day approaches, Colonel Grinder will share intimately why we should never forget the many sacrifices that are made daily for our country by our men and women in the military.

This three part series will have a "few surprises" as well. Tune into 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live online at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

More About Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder TN Depart of Veterans Affairs

In January 2011, Governor Bill Haslam selected Many-Bears Grinder to be the Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, the first female in the State to serve in this capacity. She is responsible for the operation of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs’ Field Offices, Claims Office, and four State Veterans Cemeteries. She is also an ex-officio voting member of the Tennessee State Veterans Home Board, which controls the three existing State Veterans Homes, and plans for future homes in Tennessee. Commissioner Grinder serves as the Southeast District Vice President for the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

In order to accept the State post, Grinder retired from the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Colonel with over 35 years of service. She is an Operation Enduring Freedom combat veteran, having served as the Head of Secretariat for the International Police Coordination Board. She traveled throughout Afghanistan, working with international diplomats and police as well as the Afghan leaders and local police officers, to ensure standardized training and equipment for the Afghan Police.

Grinder was inducted into the Fort Benning Hall of Fame in 2004. She is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. Her military awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

Grinder holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Commissioner Grinder is a member of numerous military and Veterans associations, including AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Women Veterans of America, Military Officers Association, the National Guard Association of the United States and is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Grinder moved to Tennessee in 1989 where she met and married Ernie Grinder.


Previous HERstory: Colonel Jacqueline Nave found here.

Photo credits: Photos from Memorial Day 2011, Tennessee Dept of Veteran Affairs