Salute to our Military

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PFC Steven Landa, U.S. Army990 views"Hello there! My name is Steven Landa, I am 19-years old and in the U.S. ARMY. I first saw Big Ben play when he took over for Tommy Maddox in 2004 - it was my first season watching football. I instantly became both a Steelers fan and a Big Ben fan.

I know he must be going through a lot right now with all the criticism but I truly believe Ben has more than what it takes to make it to the top 5 QB's. Not a lot of fans might know this about Ben, but I know there is this poem called, "Don't Quit" that Ben reads before a game. That poem actually helped me not to give up during basic training.

I also don't mind waking up at three in the morning to watch the Steelers play, win or lose! I have been a huge Steelers fan since '04." -- PFC Steven Landa,Charlie Battery 1-43 ADA, U.S. Army.

Veterans Day Weekend - 2012989 viewsHere is that photo I promised for BigBen7! This is a photo of me holding my Terrible Towel in front of the Korean War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea!

Loving my Steelers, and even though I'm far from home and from my wife and kids, they are supporting me and the Steelers as well! Happy Veterans Day!

Josh AKA SteelGambit

Veterans Day Weekend - 2012989 viewsThe United States Marine Corps will be celebrating another birthday on 10 November...Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps and Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served before me and continue to serve.

God Bless the Steelers, United States Marine Corps and our beloved Country!!

Thank you Ben! -- Semper Fidelis, Sarah Lukes, Major, United States Marine Corps MCLC (FWD)

May 17, 2017 - Warrior Wednesday - Eric Ochoa972 viewsI served 8 years in the Marine Corps, and Iâ€™ve been a Steelers fan all my life. Born and raised in California, never been to Pittsburgh, but still a fan.

During my time in the Marines, I did two combat tours in Iraq and one to Afghanistan. I remember in 2009 waking up at 2 in the morning in Iraq to watch the Steelers beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

In late 2013, I had the privilege to deploy to Jordan to train the Jordanian Army before they went to Afghanistan. During one of our driving courses, I pulled out my black terrible towel, I always kept with me, and asked some of the soldiers to take a picture with me holding the terrible towel.

I told them it represents the best football team in America. Hopefully one day my wife, kids and I can make it to Pittsburgh to witness the best players at home. #HereWeGo â€” Eric Ochoa.

December 14, 2013 - Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery963 viewsA little snowman gives a proper salute at the grave of an unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

"There were 23 trucks that were in the WAA convoy. One special trailer had a 6-foot wreath going to the Statue of Liberty. All volunteers. Wonderful people here in Maine." -- Janice Albright

This is all part of the wonderful organization, "Wreaths Across America"!

You can follow them on Twitter here:

@WreathsAcross

You can "like" their Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/WAAHQ

You can check also check out their website here:

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

Photo credit: Arlington National Cemetery

Greg Ferrell945 viewssent a photo of his wife, deployed with the Kentucky National Guard, showing off her Steelers pride in Africa!!

Major Sarah Lukes, USMC929 viewsErin,
I am the Marine that sent you a picture of me with my terrible towel standing on an M1A1 Marine Corps tank at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Today I received my Christmas care package from my nine year old daughter, she knows I love my Pittsburgh Steelers...she sent this PASS TO COME HOME on a Pittsburgh Steelers lanyard! I will end my 7 month deployment on 10 Jan and thought this was so precious and wanted to pass it along for the BigBen7website for holiday cheers to our awesome team!
Go Steelers!!
Much love sent from Afghanistan,
Sarah Lukes
Major, United States Marine Corps

August 2013 - "Kuwait is Steelers Country"893 viewsSgt. Steven Palencik and members of his unit sent this photo and wanted to wish Ben and the 2013 Steelers their best season ever! He said they are â€œbleeding black & goldâ€ while serving our great country in Kuwait! GO STEELERS!

Sgt. Palencik is in the front row, far right, holding the Terrible Towel. Thatâ€™s Major Delbrugge, far left, front row, holding the Steelers banner. CW3 Poindexter, is on the back row, middle, holding up the Terrible Towel, and SGM Miracle is on the back row, left, holding the Terrible Towel.

Gentleman, thank you for serving our country! Stay safe and God bless!

Veterans Day Weekend - 2012867 viewsFiring away on the M240-B, SSgt Kevin Spaulding is a die hard STEELERS fan. His targets for this occasion were paper targets of Baltimore Ravens logos. I have it on good authority that once he was done firing, there was nothing left of those Ravens!!!

"Another division title in the future! Let's get to 7th heaven!!! HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO!!! Photo was taken at Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. Shout out to the 459th Air Refueling Wing! Security Forces Huuuah!!" -- Kevin Spaulding

Veterans Day Weekend - 2012839 viewsPhoto of Michael Moore.

*Click on any photo for a larger version!

#WarriorWednesday - Toy Soldier Edition797 viewsWe received an email from Senior Airman Casey Hulllette, USAF (one of the â€œtoy soldierâ€ recreators below) that he wanted us to share with you!

â€œFirst off, I want to thank you Ben for your support of the troops and all military veterans. Second, I want to introduce myself. Iâ€™m Casey Hullette, a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force.

Iâ€™m originally from the small town of Lincolnton, NC, and my beautiful wife, Caroline, and I have been blessed with 2 amazing little boys, Tripp 4 and Finnley 2. We are currently stationed at Dover AFB in Delaware.

Now just wanted to give you a little run-down of the other 3 guys, some of the best friends Iâ€™ve ever had, and together we made it through our deployment to Bagram AFB in Afghanistan, where this picture was taken. We are all Air Transportation Specialists (we do all of the cargo and passenger movements).

The toy soldiers from left to right: SSGT Alex Franklin (currently serving in Korea); Senior Airman Kyle Bowman (currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state); Me â€“ with both weapons in the air; and Technical Sgt Russell Meredith (who just returned from another tour in Iraq).

From all four of us we thank you for sharing our picture with Steeler Nation.

And Ben, again, we want to make sure you understand the appreciation we have for your support of the troops. Congratulations on your success in the NFL.â€ â€” Casey.

Casey, Alex, Kyle & Russell: thank you so much for the email, and especially for your service. God bless all of you and keep you safe!

November 11, 2020 - Ben's Veterans Day Salute553 viewsMy name is Stefon Stile and I live in Beaver County. We just wanted to say that we looked forward to the season so much and to see you back in action.
My girlfriend Natalie Karpinsky is a Senior Airman in Security Forces for the U.S. Air Force. She has been serving for 3 years and is currently active duty. She was deployed in the Middle East for 7.5 months this year. When sheâ€™s not deployed she serves full time at the 171 Refueling Base in Pittsburgh.
Natalie is extremely passionate about her job and family. She knows the seriousness of what it takes to do her job and do it well. Her father served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as well and her toughness, her love for this country, and her willingness to be unselfish shows very much in her upbringing.
Besides her family, Natalie keeps love for her Country first and love for her City second. She is a Black & Gold girl through thick and thin. We even have a â€˜Ben wallâ€™ in our game room, lol. Needless to say, she is proud to be an American and proud to be a Yinzer.

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