Free Patriotic Music from USMC

The United States Marine Corps have some of the best musicians in the country. They have put together a selection of patriotic songs for free downloads. Just right click on each track to save the file.

• The National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner"
• The Marines' Hymn
• March, "The Stars and Stripes Forever"
• March, "The Washington Post"
• March, "Semper Fidelis"
• March, "Semper Fidelis" - Anchors Aweigh - The Marines' Hymn - Bugle strain from "Semper Fidelis" 
• Hail to the Chief 
• More John Philip Sousa marches

Additionally educational institutions can request to be added to the mailing list for free CDs.

Source: Tipradar

Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is often thought of as the unofficial beginning to the summer.  Pools open, BBQs turn on, and many people enjoy a three day weekend.

Remember that while you are enjoying a BBQ by the pool, men and women in our military are risking their lives to protect your freedoms.  Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a way to remember those members of the armed services that died protecting our country. 

Thank you to all the men and women who volunteer for the armed forces and protect our country.

---

I would also like to take this day to remind you all of one of those rights that men and women have died to protect is your right to be heard.  One of the easiest ways to be heard is to vote.  Are you registered to vote? I don't care who you are interested in voting for, but I want to make sure that all of my readers are registered to vote. The democratic process is one of the greatest things about being an American. We have the right to choose who runs out government.

Before an election - Make sure you are registered to vote. USA.gov has everything you need to find the correct registration for your state. Also make sure you know where your polling place is located. Depending on your area, it could be a school, library, or other local location.

Day of the election - Bring your photo ID with you to the polling place. If you recently moved, it's also helpful to bring your voter registration card just in case their paperwork wasn't updated on time. If you are not allowed to vote because you forgot something or you weren't listed, request a provisional ballot. They will record your ballot in a sealed envelope and it will be counted once they can verify your voter eligibility.

After the election - Be proud that you live in a nation that allows you to voice your opinion.

Cheap Welcome Home Banner for Families of Soldiers (Free + Shipping)

Since my friend deployed, I have been following his platoons Facebook page to stay up to date. Today they posted a deal from buildasign.com. They are giving away 150,000 custom vinyl banners and jumbo cards for free. You just need to pay shipping which is about $15. The 3ft by 6ft banner is regularly priced at $38.21 so $15 after shipping seems like a good deal.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of our brave men and women that have kept us safe and continue to keep us safe at personal risk to themselves.  A personal thank you goes out to my good friend, Victor (seen above) for always being there.

Check out all the free deals I found for retired and current military today. I only posted deals that didn't have a catch like buy one to get one.  Thank you again to all of our brave men and women.

Olive Garden - Free Entree (Select Menu)
Subway - Free Six Inch Sub (Select Markets)
Chilis - Free Entree (Select Menu)
Applebees - Free Entree (Select Menu)

If you know of any other specials, please post them as a comment.

Movie Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

I attended a screening of Captain America: The First Avenger on Wednesday. At the screening, the USO was on hand and half the theater was filled with active duty military and their families. Dunkin' Donuts, as a sponsor of Captain America, was also on hand to pass out cards about a great promotion. For every "like" they receive on Facebook from now until July 31, 2011, they will donate $1 to the USO. So go like Dunkin' Donuts on Facebook.

For my readers that haven't read the comic books or heard of Captain America prior to this recent movie, it was created by Marvel comics during World War II and served as a beacon of hope for many Americans. Steve Rogers (Captain America) is a young, weak American that wishes to serve his country even though he is deemed unfit by the army. His determination to enlist leads him by chance to Dr. Erskine who, with government support, is experimenting on creating a super soldier. Rogers volunteers and thus, Captain America is born.

Captain America: The First Avenger begins with a scene in the modern day before transporting us back to the 1940s. When the scene first zoomed out during the 1940s, I really felt emerged in the history. I was really impressed with the authenticity of the sets and costumes because they even recreated the World's Fair in Queens. The problem is they recreated the 1964 World's Fair but the scene would have taken place during the 1939 World's Fair. It was pointed out to me that the Unisphere was featured in Iron Man and since both heroes are from the Marvel comic world it might have been done on purpose for continuity within the movie world.

I was really impressed with how the production crew turned Chris Evans into a scrawny looking guy for the pre-transformation scenes. I honestly thought they found a different actor with a similar face and had to check IMDB when I returned home before typing this review. It seems that in editing, the CGI team removed Chris Evan’s muscles and removed a few inches from his height in every scene. The CGI team did a really good job on those scenes.

I really enjoyed the relationships seen during this movie and the complexity of them all. Steve (Captain America) formed some great relationships with Bucky (his childhood friend), Peggy (a British agent stationed in America), Dr. Erskine (the scientist responsible for the experiment), and other characters throughout the film. These relationships really helped add humanity to the superhero and helped to guide his actions throughout the film.

While I was impressed by the film's quality I was not impressed with the film's story line. When I think comic book/action hero movies I think about action. While the action scenes in Captain America were action packed, they were few and far between. The movie started out slow and felt like it was dragging on for a while. The movie was written with the perspective that no one in the audience knows the character and therefore goes through over-explaining everything in the backstory. While this is helpful to anyone that doesn't know his history, it is part of the reason why the film started so slow. The writers were not only trying to show Captain America, but the time period as a whole.

Captain America: The First Avenger is titled this way because it is leading to the upcoming 2012 film which will unite most of the Marvel superheroes. The first trailer for The Avengers was shown at Comic-Con and the rumor is that there will be a short teaser after the credits of Captain America. I stayed until the lights came on but did not see this rumored scene. However, this might be due to the fact that it was a pre-screening and they might only show the teaser during the actual release.

My personal opinion of this film is that I would wait until I could see it at a discount. I recommend seeing the movie but I don't think it's worth the full ticket price. Wait until a matinee or use one of the discount passes we've found on social shopping sites even if you have to wait the ten days after release. I would also recommend against seeing the film in 3D because it wasn't anything special. There were a few scenes where you would expect the amazing 3D but it just wasn't really impressive.

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released nation wide on Friday, July 22, 2011. If you are going to a Regal (or affiliate) theater, don’t forget to request your text message for a free popcorn from Yahoo! Movies on Facebook before you go.

Movie Rating for Captain America: The First Avenger

The passes for this pre-screening were won through 43Kix. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Free Club O Membership for the Military

Overstock.com has a new promotion for the brave men and women in our military. They want to give you a free membership to their Club O. Membership is normally $19.95 and is only worth it if you plan to spend over $400. However, for free I would recommend signing up.

If you are in the military, sign up for Overstock with your .mil email address and then follow the instructions on the Club O for Military website.

Membership in Club O gives you the following benefits:

• 5% Back on All Purchases
• Free Shipping
• 10-15% Back on Select Purchases
• Exclusive Shipping Events

Free Care Package for Military

Current members of the military can request a free care package from Scion. Although they are a car company, Scion wants to help out our military men and women by letting them know there are people who care.

Scion Care Packages include some choice Scion swag like beanies, a deck of cards and a complimentary hour of internet access - exclusively for U.S. Military personnel only. Just fill out the request form below and we'll send one your way.

The form asks a few questions that will verify your military affiliation and also requests a t-shirt size so the package might have more than listed on the site.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of our brave men and women that have kept us safe and continue to keep us safe at personal risk to themselves.  A personal thank you goes out to my good friend, Victor (seen above) for always being there.  Stay safe, and let me know when you need more coffee because I still have tons.

Check out all the free deals I found for retired and current military today. I only posted deals that didn't have a catch like buy one to get one.  Thank you again to all of our brave men and women.

Happy Almost Veteran's Day

Thursday, November 11, 2010 is Veteran's Day. To thank our brave men and women, many places will be offering great deals to veterans. Please assume that you will need proof of military association for these deals.

Applebee's - There will be a special menu with seven free options, including a burger, salad, chicken, sirloin, and shrimp. Dine in only. Beverages and tip not included.

Chilis - Free entree from limited menu.

Golden Corral - Military appreciation day is Monday November 15, 2010 from 5-9pm.  All current and retired military will receive a free meal.

Texas Roadhouse - Free entree from the early dine menu, but available 4-10pm.  This might be a regional offer so call ahead.

Unos - Free entree for current or retired military personnel when another entree is purchased.

If I find more Veteran's Day deals, I will update this post. Please leave a comment if you know of any deals.

Free Stand Up Comedy Album for Military

CD For the Troops III is a collaboration effort from some of today's funniest comedians including Adam Sandler, Jeff Foxworthy, and more.

This album is for military personal only and you will need a military ID for the download.

Source: Combat Clippers

Free Procter & Gamble Coupon Book for Military Personnel

If you or someone you know if in the military, let them know about this new offer from Procter & Gamble.

Sign-up for Family UNIT (Unification Navigation Inspiration Transformation) and you will get a coupon book for P&G products. For each coupon redeemed at the commissary, P&G will give the USO $0.25.  Make sure you you select "yes" for the options regarding direct mailings to get your coupon books.

Since these coupons can only be used at the commissary, the books are only available to members of the military and their families.

Source: Free Stuff Finder

Free Cruise for Active Military Personnel

Discovery Cruise Line is offering active military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan during the past year a chance to relax for free (all costs including taxes are covered) during a one day Bahamas Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island. The cruise is five hours each direction and four hours docked at Grand Bahama Island.

A one day cruise doesn't sound like much but if you are already planning a vacation to Ft. Lauderdale or live in the area, it could be a great addition to a vacation you are already planning.

I have never traveled with Discovery Cruise Lines and I am not in the military, but when I read about this promotion I thought I would share it with you.

Source: Gina's Kokopelli

Free Google Voice Invite for Students

Google Voice is a great free service that allows you to forward calls from one number to any phone.  Since Google Voice is still in beta testing it is only available by invite.

The good news is they are now offering rushed invites for anyone with an .edu email address.  If you are a student or work at a college you can take advantage of an invite within 24 hours of your request.

They have also been sending rushed invites to people with military emails (.mil).  The military invite program has been going on for a while and I'm not positive it still works, but the link is still there so it's worth a try.

I have been using Google Voice since its predecessor, GrandCentral, so I was able to immediately upgrade my account from the old program when Google Voice began.

While you need to link it to a phone when you sign up, you can set it to never ring or text your phone.  You can then log-in and see your voicemails and SMS messages in a similar fashion to your emails.  When I sign up for free stuff, I always give the Google Voice number so I don't worry about telemarketers and other annoying calls.  For more information about it, check out their page.

When You Have Unused or Expired Coupons

I've heard about this before, but I finally found information to help everyone do it. U.S. military bases allow families to use expired coupons for months past their expiration dates.  For the cost of a stamp, you can help our military families overseas save money when they buy their groceries on base.   They can only accept manufacturer coupons from the newspaper so do not send internet coupons.

When mailing overseas there are two ways to send them.  The first is to mail them to a specific family, however this only works if you personally know people overseas.  The second way is to mail them to the bases' family services.  If you are mailing the coupons to family services, I highly recommend writing somewhere on the envelope "contents: grocery coupons" so that they know what is in it.  Additionally ALL mail to military bases require a return address.  If you do not put a return address on the envelope it will be destroyed and not delivered for the safety of our soldiers.  Although it is overseas, military bases are considered U.S. Territory so it costs the same as domestic mail.

Instead of posting names and addresses that might change as people are transferred, I would like to direct you to this list.  The site states that it updates monthly and list February 2010 as the latest update so it is currently updated.

If you have too many coupons for an envelope (that's a good thing) and need to send them in a larger, package size, envelope you will need to fill out a customs form.  Just list it as coupons with a value of $0 and check the box that says gift. 
Source: Grocery Saving Tips