50 Years…

steve_marchA message from Ox Gara, AFF Director and Drum Major of  the Allied Forces Pipes and Drums, on November 17, 2015:

“From The Allied Forces Foundation Pipes and Drums: Our hearty congratulations and best wishes to our President and CEO Maj. (Ret’d.) Stephen Cain, MBE, on this 50th Anniversary of his Commissioning. Read more

AFF launches Online Store

Support Allied Forces Foundation. Show your pride and help raise funds for our work with wounded veterans through a purchase or two from our online store.

By purchasing products from the official AFF shop, you’ll carry our name wherever you go, create awareness and inspire greatness. You’ll also help to raise funds for AFF Read more

Veterans Day 2015

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

AFF MCM Teams visit to FBI Laboratory, Quantico, VA

Allied Forces Foundation MCM Teams were hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Quantico, Virginia for a guided tour around the laboratory and facilities.

 

The Teams were broken up into three groups to visit and learn about mission capability of the FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), Firearms/Toolmarks Unit (FTU) and Explosives Unit (EU).

It was amazing to see how all the evidence is collated and investigated by all these very specialized teams who make up the FBI Laboratory, and also for Wounded Warriors to see these activities that will help stop events happening in the future to our servicemen and women, Law Enforcement and security agencies around the world.

The AFF Teams were very privileged to have the opportunity to see some of the approximately 7500 weapons which are held by the FBI. We were able to see some very famous gangsters’ weapons of the 1920-1930 era, from those of John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd to some of the rarest weapons in the world. We also saw a Sedgley Office of Strategic Services (OSS) .38 (Glove Gun) designed for OSS in World War 2, the first firearm suppressor by Maxim in the early 20th century, and a StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44) assault rifle 44 which the USSR used to develop the AK47 as we know it today.

This was a very special day made available by the kind support of the FBI team from the Laboratory and TEDAC. Thank you from the all the AFF and Teams from our partner nations.

 

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