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	<title>Salute to Troops</title>
	
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		<title>Salute to Troops</title>
		<link>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com</link>
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		<title>Thanks to all who have served</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/vgN_LgAVKh4/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/11/thanks-to-all-who-have-served/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:06:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=483</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every day we send out a Salute to Troop &#8211; our heartfelt bit of thanks to American service men and women giving so much for our country.
In honor of Veterans Day, we&#039;d like to offer a very special thank you to our troops.
Check out our special edition of the podcast. It&#039;s all about you, troops!
Thanks, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=483&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>Every day we send out a Salute to Troop &#8211; our heartfelt bit of thanks to American service men and women giving so much for our country.</p>
<p>In honor of Veterans Day, we&#039;d like to offer a very special thank you to our troops.</p>
<p>Check out our special edition of the podcast. It&#039;s all about you, troops!</p>
<p>Thanks, again, for all you do for us.</p>
<div align=center><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/bestoftv/2009/11/10/mxp.salute.benning.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript></div>
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		<slash:comments>16</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/11/thanks-to-all-who-have-served/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Be safe, know that we love you</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/Tv6WExO7dXc/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/10/be-safe-know-that-we-love-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This salute is from Robin Gregory to her son PFC Aaron William Oxenford who is with the Army Infantry and deployed to Al-Nasiriyah, Iraq.
Aaron has been in Iraq since May, and was unable to celebrate his first anniversary with his new wife Danielle Oxenford. They were married a year on 8/20/2009 (which was also his [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=481&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/10/oxenford.irpt.jpg" alt="testing captions" border="0" width="416" height="234" /><div class="clear">testing captions</div></div>
<p>This salute is from Robin Gregory to her son PFC Aaron William Oxenford who is with the Army Infantry and deployed to Al-Nasiriyah, Iraq.</p>
<p>Aaron has been in Iraq since May, and was unable to celebrate his first anniversary with his new wife Danielle Oxenford. They were married a year on 8/20/2009 (which was also his Grandmother Carol Smale&#039;s birthday). </p>
<p>Aaron has one sister (Kelly Gregory) and two brothers (Kyle Gregory and Jonathan Oxenford). </p>
<p>Aaron is a 2004 graduate of Southern Lehigh High School. Aaron is an avid musician, and plays many different instruments. Aaron is an animal lover and is being missed by his beloved dog Curtis. Aaron will be celebrating his 24th birthday this Halloween.</p>
<p>Be safe, know that we love you, we&#039;re all proud of you, and our best wishes for a happy birthday!</p>
<p>See all of your Salutes <a href="http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/">here.</a></p>
<p>Upload your Salute to Troops at<a href="http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=1490"> CNN iReport</a>!</p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/10/be-safe-know-that-we-love-you/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>He is keeping his spirits up</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/qVPXZjNnv_4/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/09/he-is-keeping-his-spirits-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:23:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=477</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This salute is from Angela Gaffner to her son Specialist Cory Gaffner, Army Reserves.
&#034;Cory is an Army Reservist out of Phoenix, AZ 348th transportation unit 365 day tour in Afghanistan stationed at Camp Leatherneck, He is a Driver and a 50 cal gunner.
He has been there for 2 months so far and he is keeping [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=477&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/gaffner.irpt.jpg" alt="testing captions" border="0" width="416" height="234" /><div class="clear">testing captions</div></div>
<p>This salute is from Angela Gaffner to her son Specialist Cory Gaffner, Army Reserves.</p>
<p>&#034;Cory is an Army Reservist out of Phoenix, AZ 348th transportation unit 365 day tour in Afghanistan stationed at Camp Leatherneck, He is a Driver and a 50 cal gunner.</p>
<p>He has been there for 2 months so far and he is keeping his spirits up, He enjoys representing his country and feels very proud about what he is doing, he is a wonderful young man with a lot of love in his heart.  He is planning on having a huge wedding on September 18th, 2010 to his fiancée Brittany.&#034;</p>
<p>See all of your Salutes <a href="http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/">here.</a></p>
<p>Upload your Salute to Troops at<a href="http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=1490"> CNN iReport</a>!</p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>This is the stuff I want to tell my grandkids about</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/4BiK9hKDAo0/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/04/this-is-the-stuff-i-want-to-tell-my-grandkids-about/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=466</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just wanted to update you all on my son,s status, here are a couple of pics as well as a letter that was just written to me
It states as follows:
&#034;Mom I am well do not worry about me, I love my friends here and I love my missions which I finally started. I am very [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=466&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/salute.cory.irpt.jpg" alt="A new poll shows Romney up front in Iowa." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">A new poll shows Romney up front in Iowa.</div></div>
<p>Just wanted to update you all on my son,s status, here are <a href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-346744">a couple of pics</a> as well as a letter that was just written to me</p>
<p>It states as follows:</p>
<p>&#034;Mom I am well do not worry about me, I love my friends here and I love my missions which I finally started. I am very proud to be doing what Im doing. Sorry I have not got a chance to write, things have been crazy here. I&#039;m a 50 cal gunner and a driver now.</p>
<p>When you roll out on a convoy all the other soldiers and marines look at you like you are some kind of HERO. 90% of the people on the post will never even go out of the front gate like I do on a DAILY basis. I miss my home, I miss my family and my dogs, Arizona in general and yes, I miss my wife. This place is not that bad, time is going by fast.  This is the stuff I want to tell my grandkids about, disgruntled old veteran suits me just fine.   Thank you for sending packages, I really could use some more wet wipes and I loved those white grape juice drinks.</p>
<p>Love,<br />
Cory<br />
(Camp Leatherneck)&#034;</p>
<p><strong>- Angela Gaffner</strong></p>
<p>See all of your Salutes <a href="http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/">here.</a></p>
<p>Upload your Salute to Troops at<a href="http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=1490"> CNN iReport</a>!</p>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/04/this-is-the-stuff-i-want-to-tell-my-grandkids-about/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>She always has a smile on her face</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/xbaHw8dsRLQ/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/04/she-always-has-a-smile-on-her-face/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:04:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My wife, Sargent Eboni Johnson, is a very strong, loving and caring woman. She is not only a great soldier but a great mother. As well she is a Christian who loves to serve God and have fun with family and friends, and she always has a smile on her face.
See all of your Salutes [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=459&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/salute.johnson.irpt.jpg" alt="A new poll shows Romney up front in Iowa." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">A new poll shows Romney up front in Iowa.</div></div>
<p>My wife, Sargent Eboni Johnson, is a very strong, loving and caring woman. She is not only a great soldier but a great mother. As well she is a Christian who loves to serve God and have fun with family and friends, and she always has a smile on her face.</p>
<p>See all of your Salutes <a href="http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/">here.</a></p>
<p>Upload your Salute to Troops at<a href="http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=1490"> CNN iReport</a>!</p>
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		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>Happy birthday sweetheart!</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/M5HXIPEBKHE/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/29/happy-birthday-sweetheart/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:05:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Major John Belanger is on his 4rd deployment. He also has a birthday next month. John joined the military when he was 18 and he is turning 41. 
John is my best friend; he is a Transportation Offices assigned to 82nd Division from FT Bragg, NC. John works hard and loves to have fun, especially [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=453&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/29/belanger.irpt.jpg" alt="Rute Belanger and her husband Army Major John Belanger." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">Rute Belanger and her husband Army Major John Belanger.</div></div>
<p>Major John Belanger is on his 4rd deployment. He also has a birthday next month. John joined the military when he was 18 and he is turning 41. </p>
<p>John is my best friend; he is a Transportation Offices assigned to 82nd Division from FT Bragg, NC. John works hard and loves to have fun, especially in sports. He is a great athlete; he has run numerous triathlons and marathons, he plays and coaches hockey. He is very energetic and committed to live a healthy well balanced life. </p>
<p>Happy Birthday sweetheart! We love and miss you and can&#039;t wait to see you soon. We are so proud of you!</p>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/29/happy-birthday-sweetheart/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>A dad, a wrestling buddy, a best friend</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/uQ4zyqrXlKo/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/27/a-dad-a-wrestling-buddy-a-best-friend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:34:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We want to salute our Soldier, Sr A Benjamin Frank with the 151st CES, EOD team serving in OEF Afghanistan. He is a Dad, a wrestling buddy, a husband, and a best friend. He has been gone over a month and we miss him like crazy! 
Ben has left behind 3 little boys and his [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=450&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/27/salute.frank.irpt.jpg" alt="Navy Senior Airman Benjamin Frank and his children." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">Navy Senior Airman Benjamin Frank and his children.</div></div>
<p>We want to salute our Soldier, Sr A Benjamin Frank with the 151st CES, EOD team serving in OEF Afghanistan. He is a Dad, a wrestling buddy, a husband, and a best friend. He has been gone over a month and we miss him like crazy! </p>
<p>Ben has left behind 3 little boys and his princess who writes him daily and are trying to be as strong as they can to help out Mom while Dad is gone. We can&#039;t wait for his return home in April. </p>
<p>We love him so much and we are very proud of what he is doing for our family and for the country. Stay strong and keep safe, Love you babe!</p>
<p><strong>- Tera Frank</strong></p>
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		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>After meeting him once, you will remember him forever</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/5YcUJ0birG4/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/22/after-meeting-him-once-you-will-remember-him-forever/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:36:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=447</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Specialist Wesley Walker is not only the love of my life, but the most amazing person that I&#039;ve ever met. 
After enlisting in the military straight out of high school, he left his friends and family and moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is constantly giving 100%, regardless of whether or not he feels [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=447&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/22/salute.walker.irpt.jpg" alt="Sarah Walker and her husband Army Specialist Wesley Walker." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">Sarah Walker and her husband Army Specialist Wesley Walker.</div></div>
<p>Specialist Wesley Walker is not only the love of my life, but the most amazing person that I&#039;ve ever met. </p>
<p>After enlisting in the military straight out of high school, he left his friends and family and moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is constantly giving 100%, regardless of whether or not he feels up to it. </p>
<p>After us only being married for 6 months, he left for Iraq in January of 2009. I never thought I could be so proud of someone as I am of him. </p>
<p>After meeting him once, you will remember him forever. He always can put a smile on your face, even when you&#039;re having the worst day. I love Wesley more than anything in the entire world, and am incredibly proud to call such a thoughtful, caring, intelligent, and all around unbelievable person my husband. Every day I&#039;m amazed at how lucky I am. </p>
<p>I never thought at 20 years old that I&#039;d be married, but I wouldn&#039;t have it any other way. Wesley makes me proud to call myself an Army wife.</p>
<p><strong>- Sarah Walker</strong></p>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/22/after-meeting-him-once-you-will-remember-him-forever/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>The man of my dreams</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/LhYGA8rYclM/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/19/the-man-of-my-dreams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:07:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=444</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Steven and I met  almost 4 years ago, we started dating and he never thought twice about sharing a life with myself an my three children from another marriage ... it was all or nothing and it was never a problem. 
In 2007 He proposed and was ready to take on a ready made [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=444&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/19/gal.salute.doyen.irpt.jpg" alt="Michelle Doyen salutes her husband SGT Steven Doyen of the Army Reserves." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">Michelle Doyen salutes her husband SGT Steven Doyen of the Army Reserves.</div></div>
<p>Steven and I met  almost 4 years ago, we started dating and he never thought twice about sharing a life with myself an my three children from another marriage ... it was all or nothing and it was never a problem. </p>
<p>In 2007 He proposed and was ready to take on a ready made family, also in that year he reenlisted in the Army Reserves, he was due to be done in February but it was something he believed in and I told him he was in the Army when he met me so it was not my decision to make and that whatever he decided I would be there standing beside him! He enlisted for 6 more years. </p>
<p>In Sept. of 2008 we got married which was the most incredible day of our lives, we went on a wonderful honeymoon cruise and everything was amazing. Then we got the news that his unit the 445th TC out of Sac City &amp; Waterloo Iowa were being deployed to Iraq in May/June, it was like a knife went into my heart, it took so many years to find the man of my dreams and now he was leaving me. </p>
<p>In June we had the send off which was one of the saddest, yet most humbling days of my life, I have never been more proud to be an Army wife and an American. Words cannot describe the emotions of that day. Now we sit and wait missing him everyday, our one year wedding anniversary was a very emotional day spending it apart, but I keep telling myself he will come home and we will have 100 more anniversaries together! </p>
<p>Technology is great and has been a life saver we get to Skype and see each other in conversation and I can see for myself that he is alright, it helps a little but sometimes makes it worse because then I miss him even more! </p>
<p>Hopefully he will be back with us safe an sound next June or so, but being an Army wife there will always be the possibility he will leave again, but I will be strong, take care of things at home so he can do his job and come back to us! God bless all our soldiers and their families for all your sacrifices!!!! We love you Sgt. Steven Doyen!!</p>
<p><strong>- Michelle Doyen</strong></p>
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		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
		</media:content>
	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/19/the-man-of-my-dreams/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>He puts those he loves first and never asks for anything in return</title>
		<link>http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_salute/~3/V8GUH7DB1cM/</link>
		<comments>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/15/he-puts-those-he-loves-first-and-never-asks-for-anything-in-return/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:32:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Salute to Troops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/?p=441</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SPC Joshua Beauchene is currently on his second deployment to the Middle East. Two weeks after he left to train at Fort Bliss, I found out I was pregnant with our first child. 
While this is an amazing and exciting time for us, it has also provided an even greater emotional struggle as he has [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=salute.blogs.cnn.com&blog=4133426&post=441&subd=cnnsalute&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br />			<div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox" style="border:none;margin-top:0px;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/15/salute.beauchene.irpt.jpg" alt="Rachel Beauchene and her husband Army SPC Joshua Beauchene." border="0" width="585" height="382" /><div class="clear">Rachel Beauchene and her husband Army SPC Joshua Beauchene.</div></div>
<p>SPC Joshua Beauchene is currently on his second deployment to the Middle East. Two weeks after he left to train at Fort Bliss, I found out I was pregnant with our first child. </p>
<p>While this is an amazing and exciting time for us, it has also provided an even greater emotional struggle as he has only able to be home for two weeks of the pregnancy and we are not sure if he will be able to be here for the birth. </p>
<p>While he was home, he came with me to all of my maternity appointments and even a birthing class. He not only showed his love and devotion to me but also to our family and friends by going above and beyond helping them while he was home. </p>
<p>He puts those he loves first and never asks for anything in return. He is my hero, not only as a soldier but as my husband and I am more than lucky to have him in my life! </p>
<p><strong>- Rachel Beauchene</strong></p>
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		<media:content url="" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Kate Taylor</media:title>
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	<feedburner:origLink>http://salute.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/15/he-puts-those-he-loves-first-and-never-asks-for-anything-in-return/</feedburner:origLink></item>
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