The distinctive Stetson and spurs have been worn by cavalry units since the American Civil War. That tradition continues with today’s cavalrymen, but they are never simply issued these items. They must earn them.

The sunshine seemed perfect for the day’s mood as wives and Family members came out to see what it was to be an infantryman, at least for the day.

The Town Center apartment that Pfc. Matthew Sanchez lives in with his wife Maelisa and their two children, 4-year-old Mallorie and 3-year-old Maverick, is more than their house. It serves as a home away from home for the many single Soldiers Sanchez works with at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

While the snow melted weeks ago on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, it is still accumulating foot upon foot in the mountains of Western Washington. With so many ski resorts nearby it is hard to decide just where to ski and snowboard, but the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation has you covered with trips planned through March.

Trade in your seat in a Stryker for a rack on a naval vessel in nearby Bremerton, a quaint waterfront town across the Puget Sound from Seattle. Only a 45-minute drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Bremerton is an ideal town for a daytrip to learn about the life of Sailors and the Navy’s history in the Pacific Northwest.

SCHRIEVER AFB, Colo. — When Air Force Capt. Stan Maczek was a young child, he responded to frightening sights and sounds in the dark like most of us: He pulled the covers up over his head and hoped the event would pass quickly. Nowadays, Maczek sprints enthusiastically toward such events.

Evacuating troops critically injured overseas and providing them with acute care may be first things that come to mind when aeromedical evacuation missions are mentioned. But AE missions don’t end when patients are taken out of harm’s way. In fact, some may consider what comes next a new beginning.

Specialist Lucas Sutton has always believed that in life things happen for a reason.

Sam and his older brother, Spc. Tom Brandon, a Soldier with 17th Fires Brigade, rode together in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers van the evening of Jan. 27.

SAN ANTONIO — Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal, a former active-duty Soldier and current military wife and mother, added Operation Rising Star winner to her repertoire Dec. 17 at Fort Sam Houston Theatre.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord continues to have its share of VIP visits, but when a group includes a sophisticated pig named Olivia, a needy bear and his friends, along with an army of mosaic penguins, kids like Anna Grace Rasberry, 4, can’t be expected to miss it. She was one of several JBLM children on hand for “Storytime” at the McChord Field library, Jan. 12.

Sergeant Kristen Collison knows that in the Army being a Soldier comes first.

You’ve been on the road for eight days of non-stop flying and the plane just broke down. Your crew is transporting wounded servicemembers from the war zone to receive medical treatment in a country nearby. Everyone is counting on you to fix the problem, your hands are shaking and you’re trouble-shooting the issue as quickly as you can.

Ten-year olds Jason and John Carlson stare intently at the family computer as they play an online game together. They are comparing two photos to identify the differences, but the photos are not ordinary scenes.

When Twyla Eddins was 4 years old she heard a song on the radio she thought was pretty. She walked over to the piano and began to search out the keys to play it.

Deborah Semer knows that some things are just necessary — and one of those things is music.

Jason Hansman remembers the anticipation of leaving then Fort Lewis to enter the civilian world, go to college and get a good paying job.

Rob Horn’s first Christmas in Washington was lonely.

As if their holiday concerts weren’t enough, what may be the hardest working Army band in show business continued to earn their title as 56th Army Band instrumental quartets played festive music throughout the month of December.

Clothing, toys furniture, appliances ... You name it, they had it — and last week they gave most of it away. For one Family living on McChord Field, a devastating fire revealed what was most important in their lives, and it wasn’t “things.”

For many military Families, celebrating the holidays without a loved one is expected. Such was the case for one Family on Joint Base Lewis-McChord — or so it thought.

It seems like a foregone conclusion that there will be more e-readers and tablet computers needing gift wrap this holiday season than all previous ones combined. Before anybody in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community starts making e-book purchases with their shiny, new devices, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation wants you to know ... your library remains open.

Emmit McRae has been part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s annual tree lighting for the last 20 years.

The iPod Touch Airman Kevin Bailey asked Santa for is off his Christmas list thanks to McChord Field’s senior NCOs.

KABUL, Afghanistan — When asked what they miss during a deployment, most married servicemembers start the list with their spouses. When Sgt. Ana Salah is asked, her husband not only doesn’t top the list — he doesn’t even get mentioned.

Myah will always have a special place in Shirley Schmunk’s heart.

KENT – Mary Bradshaw’s life changed June 25, 2009, when she received notification that her son, 1st Lt. Brian Bradshaw, had been killed in eastern Afghanistan.

“One hundred men we’ll test today, but only three win the Green Beret.”

The screen of a protective mask hides the expression on his face, but Thomas Bingman’s stance and the way he holds his weapon speaks with challenging, restrained aggression.