Military Briefs (7/1)

Military personnel climb for free July 4

Ape Index Rock Climbing Gym, located at 9700 N. 91st Ave. in Peoria, is inviting all military personnel to climb for free on July 4 - just show your valid military I.D.

For information, call (623) 242-9164.

Orta completes basic combat training

Army Pfc. Alexandria C. Orta has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

She is the daughter of Sandra Abril and granddaughter of Rosalie Mayfield, both of Phoenix, and is a 2006 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School.

New service allows veterans to tell their story online

Thousands of active United States military personnel and veterans have specialized license plates signifying their service and sacrifice for our country. Over 65 million drivers on the road see those plates but have no idea the stories that are represented by the drivers or passengers in the vehicle.

Dr. Kevin Ross has been trying to bridge that gap for years, which led him to ask active U.S. military personnel and veterans about ways they can tell their stories to the millions of Americans who appreciate their service.

The new Web site, www.WhatsYourPlate.com, became the solution. The site is a national database of personalized license plates, where license plate holders can register their plates along with pictures and stories about themselves, their experiences and their vehicles. All U.S. military personnel (past and present) who have specialized plates are offered free registration and access to www.WhatsYourPlate.com as a small way to say thank you for their service to this country. Along with free registration, active U.S. military personnel and veterans will have unlimited access to search the database to see others' plates and stories.

The site is not just limited to military plates.

For more information, call Ross at (480) 580-7950 or visit www.WhatsYourPlate.com.

Fraternal Military Association to visit Normandy

The Fraternal Military Association of the United States of America will visit the Normandy invasion beaches in August to mark the 65th anniversary of that momentous event.

The nine-day tour will depart from New York on Aug. 28 and will visit Paris, London, Cherbourg, Caen, Bayeax, Falaise and many other World War II invasion sites. Included are the American Military Cemetery, St. Lo and St. Mere l'Eglise.

For more information, call (561) 865-8495 or write to Sy Canton, executive director, 14130 Nesting Way, Suite C, Delray Beach, Fla., 33484.

Support Arizona's military at no cost to you

Stefanie Campbell, president of the Arizona Society of Enrolled Agents, wants to make Arizona residents aware of an opportunity to obtain an Arizona tax credit while assisting Arizona military service members and their families.

Since 2003, Arizona has lost 123 soldiers. The funds collected for this relief fund will be administered by the Arizona Department of Veteran' Services (ADVS), an Arizona state agency. Your donation will directly impact the lives of Arizona heroes and their families. State law mandates that 95 percent of funds collected are distributed to the families in need. Five percent may cover the program's administrative costs.

Arizona law allows a tax credit for cash donations made by individuals to the Military Family Relief Fund. This tax credit is your donated amount limited to a $200 donation for a single individual, $400 for married couples who file joint returns or your tax liability for the year. You will get your money back if you pay income taxes in Arizona.

Mail your donation with your name, address and the last four digits of your Social Security number to the Military Family Relief Fund, Arizona Department of Veteran's Services, 3839 N. Third St., Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85012. The Tax Credit Donation form is also available at http://www.azmfrf.gov/Departments/MFRF/VET_/form.pdf. All donors will be mailed a receipt for tax purposes or may call Diane D'Angelo at (602) 234-8421. You may also contact the Arizona Department of Revenue at (602) 255-3381.

Expired coupons help military families

For military families who relocate overseas, the financial transition can be difficult. Enlisted soldiers and their families may find stretching their dollars a real challenge, even more so than those who are based in this country.

One way we can help is by saving expired or unused coupons and sending them to select co-op operations around the country. There are several military family support centers overseas who offer coupon exchanges. The military commissaries overseas accept manufacturer's cents-off coupons for up to six months past their printed expiration dates.

For those who would like to participate, it is suggested that you cut and trim the sides of the coupons (this is not only helpful to the receiving centers, but you do not want to pay postage on dead weight); separate coupons into two major categories - food (for humans) and non-food (pet food would be non-food) - and place them in large, sealed freezer bags and label; and attach a dollar total of the coupons onto the bag.

Treasures 4 Teachers in Tempe has adopted a base in Ramstein, Germany, and is now a collection site for coupons that are expired or unwanted. A drop-off box is located outside the door so coupons can be dropped off anytime, or they may be mailed to Treasures 4 Teachers, Inc., Attn: Barbara Blalock, 2127 S. Priest Drive, Suite 406, Tempe, 85282.

For more information, visit www.treasures4teachers.org.