Commentary Search

  • Pausing to be grateful at Thanksgiving

    As a nation, we pause on Thanksgiving Day to recall all that we are thankful and grateful for as a nation. We gather as family members and friends to give thanks for all that has been given to us throughout this year as well as in years long past. We celebrate with parades, turkey dinners and all of

  • Vacation refreshes minds

    Many of us feel the need for a vacation but never follow through on taking a vacation for two reasons: (1) We feel it is too difficult to plan for or that we do not have time to plan for a vacation; or (2) We use the excuse that it is more work for us to do when we return after our vacation;

  • Preventing heat injuries- including over and under hydration

    Whether deployed to Southwest Asia or operating stateside during the summer heat, many military operations take place under extremely hot conditions. Because of the insidious nature of heat illnesses, heat injuries frequently result because people often don't recognize their symptoms until it's too

  • Take God with you on vacation

    Often times, the summer months provide for all of us longer days with warmer temperatures. We use this time to rest from our very busy and hectic lives: the hustle and bustle of daily living with its deadlines and demands on our time, not to mention the responding to instant messages, texting,

  • Rules of engagement for using fireworks on the Fourth of July

    Across the United States each year, millions of dollars in property burn, and thousands of lives are affected by fireworks related accidents. The incidence of fireworks related property loss and injuries have always been a concern to this community.The potential for a devastation wildland-urban fire

  • Suicide prevention: saving lives that matter

    Suicide. Even the sound of the word has a ring of finality to it. Most of us have been affected by it one way or another, whether experiencing the fallout from a friend's death, someone in our own family, or perhaps even thought of doing it yourself. When someone seriously considers suicide, they

  • Fitness editorial -- Part 3 -- Ride the rail (trails)

    The Western Massachusetts landscape is littered with the remains of the days when rail travel was at its peak. One of these old rail lines has been converted into a modern day recreation destination.     The Norwottuck Rail Trail, which runs from Northampton to Amherst, is an 8.5 mile paved

  • Fitness editorial -- part 1 -- Run a weekly 5-K

         Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series highlighting local attractions that encourage Airmen to participate in outdoor recreation and physical activity.          With less than a month before the Air Force's new fitness standards go into effect, most of us are in 'crunch time'

  • There is no easy way to Get One Now, but it's worth it

    The coin came in the mail. A shiny, new token for referring friends and relatives to what I regard as the best organization to work for in the world. For this I was being rewarded.The Get One Now Program, an ever-changing incentive plan to encourage current members to refer quality, interested and