Been a hell of a ride....

Hello everyone!

It is with many emotions we post this here today, for we need to let y'all know something. As many of you already have discovered, we have been off the air since last Friday. We have discussed and thought about this decision deeply, and want you all to know it was not made lightly, or in haste. Greatly due to the economic climate today, we here at Bich1Radio have decided to close our 'doors', for good this time.

We want to thank each and every one of you who have stood by us for the last four plus years, laughed with us, cried with us, and shared so many great moments... the April Fool’s Day where each of us took other shifts and 'became' the other DJ's, goofy Halloween and holiday shows, our New Year’s Eve show.... the Birthday shows for Bich where ya just never ever knew what on earth was going to happen, the Memorial and Veterans day shows filled with great classic rock, the same music our boys listened to in Vietnam (and several armed conflicts since too). Hell, even our everyday shows were sometimes rife with the unexpected, which just made it all the more fun!

Playing shows for you has been an awesome experience for all of us, being able to share tunes with you, expose y'all to new bands you hadn't heard yet, or favorite tunes not heard for a long time perhaps.... and maybe one of the most important things... shared with you the blessing of being able to send care packages, cards, letters from school kid's classes, and just whatever else was needed to our fantastic men and women in  military service. YOU all deserve a huge thank you for your generosity and support... and we have been so pleased to be able to join with you to support our troops, wherever they happened to be.

So.. Even though we will no longer be broadcasting... the spirit of Bich1Radio will never be gone, it will go on in the sharing of support for our troops, it will go on in the music... the music is what made it all possible.

Thank You all for the last four plus years, and we wish each and every one of you a long and happy life, filled with laughter and loved ones around you.

Remember everyone... rock long, rock heavy, and rock HARD!!

Packages Help!!

Today we heard from a young wife of one of our deployed men. Her husband is overseas, along with so many others. She had heard from him that his unit had received some packages from Bich1Radio, and she wanted to get ahold of us to thank us, and to let other wives and spouses know about us also. Ya know, it's funny... she sought us out to thank us...

Here's the thing... the thanks do NOT belong to us here at Bich1Radio.
The thanks belong to the fine men and women who are so far away, standing the wall for us here at home.
The thanks belong to the spouses and families of those men and women, who put up with so much, and have to live their lives for a while without the person they love by their sides.
The thanks belong to YOU our listeners for your donations, without which we would not be able to help much at all, other than the music we play, hoping that the ones we all love will hear it, and have a short, small taste of home.

We have always, and WILL always support our men and women in the military. By extension, we also support their families and loved ones too...in any way we are able.
Below are some pics that were shared with us to share with all y'all. These is one of the units who have gotten the boxes y'all so generously filled with goods to send. (The backgrounds, insignias, and names have been scrambled to protect them and their locations.)But there are many more we'd like to help... so please... hit that donation button on our main site Bich1Radio, and rest assured that, as always, every penny you donate goes exactly where you mean it to... to our TROOPS.

Thank YOU, men and women of service, and to your families. We will keep the home fires burning for you, our hearts warm for you, and prayers on our lips and in our hearts for your speedy and safe return to us here at home. May God bless each and every one of you, and hold you all safe in His hands.

Bich

Thanksgiving Tribute to America's Troops

"This is a great song by former Army Ranger and Musician Jerod (JT) Thompson. Jerod takes to the road with his guitar strapped and roams the highways playing at clubs, barns, open fields and bonfires from California to Florida and everywhere in between. More more information on his music and when and where he will play next check him out at Reverbnation JT Thompson or visit his Facebook page: Facebook JT Thompson -- Video clips are from D. Co. 2/135 Infantry 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota Army National guard on their deployment to Farah Afghanistan in 2004/2005. These troops were the first American troops into Farah City and relied heavily on their relationship with the local residents. When they first entered the city in August of 2004 the first 20 soldiers lived in a simple Afghan house in the middle of the city. The experience later served as the basis for the bestselling book "Words in the Dust" by Trent Reedy. Trent was among these first 20 Americans into Farah City."

Celebration !!

Hey y'all..

It's that time!  We are now four years old and still kickin some rock n roll ass!
That's something that's not going to change. We thank each and every one of you, our listeners, for all your contributions and support throughout the last four years, and we look forward to many more years with all y'all!  We will continue to offer you the absolute most kick ass rock on the net today, from old school rock all the way up to what was just released yesterday.

As always, y'all feel free to add our DJs to your instant messengers (our addresses are on our schedule page, just scroll down the page a bit), and hit us up with your requests and feedback.









Now we have some new things for you too!

We have added a new contact on our Friends and Partners page, Homes For Our Troops. Please go check them out, it's a superlative organization, and we feel they deserve our utmost support.

We also want to address something that a few people have mentioned to us. With all the political rhetoric going on these days, people seem to be under the impression that, well, to put it bluntly, that supporting our military personnel is "over". We hear things like "well they're all coming home now", or "the war is pretty much over over there".  As many of you who have relatives in the service know, it's very much not over, and our family members and friends are still deployed, and very often in harm's way.  We in the U.S. have troops deployed all over the world. Many other countries do also, and we support them and their families just as firmly.  We are, however, expanding our thoughts and services to our now returning military people also, which is why over the last year or so we have begun putting up links to organizations such as Homes For Our Troops,  Pets For Vets, and  Make The Connection.

Our returning military often come back to us feeling out of place, disconnected, traumatized and distressed. In this very rough economy, they come home to no jobs, and sometimes no places to even call home. A great many people have suffered severe financial distress over the last several years, and this is affecting our returning troops also. These people have done so much, sacrificed so much, and in some cases given their very lives for what we here at home safely have.  We now wish to bring all this to your attention, so that you can join us if you wish in making their transitions home more successful.  We want to be part of helping, and we think you may too. With this in our hearts and minds, we now open our fall/Christmas donation drive.
Rest assured that every dollar you may donate will go to our troops, either our deployed or our returning troops, in the form of care packages or whatever they may need. Just hit our main site page (Bich1Radio) and slap that little donation button you'll find on the right side of the page. We will continue to do what we can, where we can, and when we can, and we hope that y'all will also keep this in your hearts and help us help them!

Thanks once again for all y'all do for us and with us..
Let's keep rockin!!! 

Updates, Videos, and Links, OhMy!

Hey Guys..
Thank You to all who viewed and commented on Camo Underwear on YouTube. We're glad you enjoyed it!

                                                                    UPDATE!!!

Pets for Vets is a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant Recipient

 Thanks to all of you who voted online, on Facebook and by text.  Pets for Vets finished in the top 10 in December.  We couldn't have done it without you!

 Pets for Vets has received the first half of the grant and will use it to expand the program to other areas.  Thanks for all of your support!

With Memorial Day 2012 coming up May 28th, we have posted up two new video tributes on our main station site, on our "tribute to the troops" page, including a Memorial Day tribute. But we're going to warn you too..
the Memorial Day tribute is very powerful, and unless you're completely inhuman, will likely require several tissues.

We have some new additions we'd like you to check out, and one we'd like to remind you of.
Let's do the reminder first...

The Veterans Site

This site offers tons of great merchandise, plus one thing we reaaaaaally really want you to do!
Once you hit that link, at the top in the middle you'll see a blue box that says "Click here to give - it's FREE".
By clicking that link, you will help so many vets with free meals! There are way too many homeless and hungry vets out there, and this is such an easy way to help...so please please.. add it to your daily routine, and click often!, It's totally free to you (their sponsors take care of the funding..yay!). 
When you click, they display ads from their site sponsors. 100% of the money from these advertisers goes to their charity partners, who fund programs to provide meals for homeless and hungry U.S. veterans.Their store gives a portion of every purchase to their charity partners too. Please tell your friends too!!

Here's the newer one we'd like you to know about and take some action on if you're moved to do so, (and we hope you are!).

Honor Flight

STARS AND STRIPES HONOR FLIGHT

Our mission is to fly WWII veterans and terminally ill veterans from other wars to see their memorials in Washington, DC.
                                              TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
As the last of the Greatest Generation approach their final curtain call, we are witnesses to a tremendous loss as we embrace a precious opportunity. One WWII veteran passes away every 90 seconds. They take their stories and history and enormous bravery with them. But many are among us still. There is no earthly way we can approach a gift that reflects our depth of gratitude. But we thank them anyway. With YOUR HELP we thank them.
Please… Help Honor Flight FLY.

We thank you for your support, both of us and the station, we're glad you're enjoying the tunes, and  remember ... keep rockin!! 

We're going to leave you with a celebration video,  the 235th Birthday party held at the Palm Springs USO for the United States Marines.  Enjoy!!

 

typical bich's voicemail

ya know.. there's not a damn thing i can even say to describe this.
y'all just listen...

Starting Early For Christmas

Hello, everyone!

We are starting our fall fundraiser for our troops! We are raising money now for our Christmas care packages. Christmas is right around the corner, and it takes quite awhile to get to our troops overseas, so let's get started!

We need donations to provide our troops with items such as personal care products, phone cards, gift cards so they can purchase items from the local PX, batteries, SNACKS!!! They need some holiday candies and hot chocolate over there! We will also have a link on here for http://www.letssaythanks.com/ , sponsored by Xerox. Here, you can send postcards to the troops for FREE...the cards are adorable, all drawn by children. You can choose to use one of the pre-printed messages or personalize your card. There is another free site where you can help fund meals for veterans with just a click. IT'S FREE...you click, you feed a homeless vet. What could be easier? The link is http://www.theveteranssite.com/ . So, let's start early with the cards, and get to clickin to feed the homeless veterans! A little goes a long ways...we all know the economy sucks and there isn't much extra to go around. Give what you can, or do the free stuff! Let's all get in on this together and show those far from home a little love and appreciation!

Keep Rockin' as always,

Christmas Phone Card Drive

We are pleased and proud to announce the start of our yearly drive to provide our deployed troops with phone cards so they can call their loved ones during the Holiday Season. You'll be hearing our DJ's talk about this on their Talk Spots, and any help you can provide will surely be appreciated. We already have several people working to get kids drawing and writing Christmas/Holiday cards for our troops, and into each we'd love to put a phone card from you all. We can't tell you how many times we've been told how much it means to just have a tiny little taste of home, from the personal hand of someone who's taken the time to show their love, thoughts and appreciation. The men and women who serve don't care if it's drawn perfectly, or if the colors match, or even that they have no clue who the child or person signing the card is... only that it's contact with home, with people who have not forgotten them, and send their love and thoughts at this special, and for many, very hard time of year. So let's get on it and see what we can do to lighten the Season for these wonderful people who are not at their own homes this year.... let's send them the sound of their children, their wives or husbands, mothers or fathers... let's send them that little bit of home that is so meaningful to them while they are over there standing watch for US.
contact one of our dj's for how to donate...or just hit that donate button on the main bich1radio page....
thanks for your help and generosity!!! we love ya, and rock ON!

Our New Friend!!

hi everyone...

we're putting up this post to let you all know something we're very excited about, and we need your help. this one is easy tho, and won't cost you a thing.

we have recently met and added to our group of friends an organization called Pets For Vets.
below you'll find their website addy and some information about who they are and what they do, and how it joins with us helping our troops. Right now, there's a push on tho, and we need your help on it. This is a time sensitive thing guys, so please read and help us help them out by casting your votes! It all counts..more than you know!

thanks.....

http://www.refresheverything.com/petsforveterans

Please Vote Pets for Vets for $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant in October

---

October 1st:

Unfortunately Pets for Vets was not one of the $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Challenge winners. However, thanks to our many friends and supporters nationwide Pets for Vets decided to re-enter the contest for a $50,000 grant. We need to be in the top 10 to win! Every vote counts.

To help us win $50,000 please log on to http://www.refresheverything.com/petsforveterans, sign in (you cannot vote unless you sign-in) and vote for Pets for Vets. Remember to check the vote counter at the bottom of the page to be sure your vote registered, it should change from 10 to 9. The "Pepsi beverage" sound doesn't mean you have voted. We hope you will support our bid for the top prize by voting every day through October 31^st.

 

Pets for Vets, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who could benefit from having a companion animal.

Pets for Vets is rebuilding the lives of U.S servicemen and women through the unconditional love of a rescued pet. Many of our veterans suffer from physical and emotional injuries making it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Pets for Vets believes that companion animals can be a life saving therapy or friend that many returning servicemen and women need. Your support helps us match a rescued companion dog or pet with an American veteran who would benefit from having a companion. In accomplishing this mission we do not want to create an additional burden on the veteran; with each match we provide all of the necessary equipment for them to start their new life together. In addition, the pet will be healthy and up to date on all vaccinations. A $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant will help us to ensure that they have everything they need. To find out more about Pets for Vets please visit http://www.pets-for-vets.com

What you can do to help:

• Register at www.refresheverything.com (they don’t spam)
• Vote daily during October at RrefreshEverything.com/petsforveterans
• Text * 103054 to Pepsi (73774)
• Spread the word on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other social networking tools, email all of your friends. You can also use your Facebook account to vote.

Thank you for your support over the last few months and your continued support this month.

Clarissa Black

Pets for Vets Founder and Program Director
www.Pets-for-Vets.com

Happy Second Anniversary!!

it's almost August 22nd..and it's our second anniversary.
let's take a look back.

one day couple years ago...i got an email. it was from a soldier in Iraq.. and all he wanted to do was thank me for the music..for giving him a taste of home while he was a long ways from it.
something inside me jumped a bit.
my husband was military...
my husband was a musician...
and it was like i was being told... do something...DO something!
then... cuz my head's a little dense..
the idea finally solidified.... combine them...
give the music...give the gift... pay it back..
say the thanks.

and our mission came to life
since that time... you...our listeners...YOU..have graciously and generously allowed us to say it with you, and for you. to this date we have sent hundreds of phonecards for our troops to call their loved ones, to hear the voices they long to hear.

we have shipped dozens and dozens of packages to them.
giftcards, home baked goodies..
razors, sunscreen, lipbalm, snacks, trail bars and trail mix...
soap, lotions, aloe vera, playing cards, magazines, books
batteries..discs... just whatever they ask for that is needed.

but always... always in those packages is thoughts...good wishes, love, and care.... a way to let them know that we have not, and never will forget that they are there to fight OUR fight, to protect US, to give the most precious gift they can give.
we know that what has been sent is appreciated, very much so, and we thank you, one and all.

we will continue, with your support, to send everything we can put together. we will continue to pay it back...we will continue to send our prayers, thoughts, and our hearts, all wrapped in rock and roll. we will continue to send a taste of home to those we love. Thank you, bich1radio listeners and friends... thank you for your assistance and your generosity... we are honored to do what we can, and humbled by your help and generosity.
rock on, bich1radio... ROCK ON!!

Still Touching Our Hearts

In 1992, Mike Corrado bought his first guitar, learned three chords and started writing songs while at The Citadel. He then graduated and joined the Marine Corps to lead our nation's finest and see the world. His tours – both of duty and concert – would take him around the world, serving and performing from the North Carolina Coast to Iraq. Along the way, Mike crossed musical paths with Edwin McCain and John Mayer.

Then, on September 11, the world and Mike’s band was forever changed. Mike and his fiancé, a flight medic in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, were mobilized back to active duty. In 2002, Mike continued to train with the Marines and prepare for deployment. He married his wife Kate, who soon after was called to Afghanistan. During all this, Mike penned the song "On My Watch Tonight," a story of a Marine's journey from boot camp to the front lines.

In 2004, Mike re-recorded “On My Watch Tonight” and dropped off a copy to Greg Brady at WRHT 96.3 – “The HOT FM” – in North Carolina. “On My Watch Tonight” was posted on the HOT Morning Show's Web site and began receiving up to 5,000 downloads a week. Calls and e-mails continued to flood the station as military members, family members and fans were downloading the song and sending it to service members and loved ones across the country and deployed around the world. “On My Watch Tonight” was quickly becoming the anthem for U.S. troops deployed around the world and those here at home who keep a watchful eye.

Just days before deploying to Iraq in 2005, Mike released his CD Falling Awake. While in Iraq, he spent a year at Camp Falluja and served with some of the greatest people in the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force.

To listen to Mike Corrado’s “On My Watch Tonight” song and view photos taken in Iraq, click here.

Take a look at Mike's Web site at www.mikecorrado.com

A Poem For The Troops

Stand up and show your pride
for the soldiers that fight for you.
Honor them and give them thanks
for everything they have been through.
They fight for their country, for freedom
and for their fellow man.
Dealing with hardships and dangers
in those foreign lands.
Side by side they fight
at the enemy line.
Serving and protecting
the country they left behind.

So to each brave soldier
we should stand and say

THANK YOU and may God Bless
and protect you everyday.

QueenSheBit

Holiday visit home

We at Bich1radio have published many pictures of our military personel and their hardships.

We thought it would be nice to publish a picture from some of our servicemen listeners that are currently stateside.

The proud parents of this young Marine contacted us and wanted to share a photo of their son on a holiday visit. This young Marine hasn't been deployed yet. He and his family enjoy listening to the station, and we will be going along with him when and if he is deployed, as with all of our military personel. Bich1radio stands behind them 100%. With you, our listeners, helping us with your generous donations, we are able to continue to not just support, but actually help supply them with a few comforts of home. We thank them for their service, God bless them, both stateside and those in harm's way. Semper Fi...from Bich

Troop Care Package Updates

Bich1radio would like to inform you all, from your generous donations we were able to send four care package boxes to Iraq . Military personel totally 50 soldiers per unit, recieved 100's of razors, peanut butter crackers, Juice boxes and numerous of other snacks and personal care items. Along with these items every soldier recieved a greeting card sending them all of our support, love and thoughts. It was extremely and greatly appeciated by each and every soldier.

In Asia the airbourne soldiers recieved two care package boxes. Containing home baked cookies from two of our DJ's and their family totalling several dozens of baked goods. Which they shared with their entire units, consisting of 20 soldiers per unit. Recieved an email back they were extremely grateful for the kindness of being able to have some home made goodies MMMMMMMMMMMM..............

The donations we have been recieving weekly are adding up thanks to you listeners. Im pleased to inform y'all we will be sending additional packages/phonecards/gift cards in the next week or two. Some of the donations takes care of shipping cost for overseas. I personally see that every cent is going directly to our troops. Here at Bich1radio we cannot thank you enough for your generosity in the donations to make this ALL possible.

Thank you,

Bich

In Their Shoes...

So...
how did you sleep last night?

Maybe the bed was just a bit too lumpy..


or maybe it was too firm?
or too humid?
or too cold...
or too hot?




or maybe you had to go to the john, or needed a drink of water...



and yeah...it really IS like that.

Count your blessings, pray for them, and Thank God for them!

and the next time you find yourself bitching at the other car who just cut you off in traffic, or whining cuz you had to park a lil farther away from Walmart than you wanted to, or you got slightly warm food in your fast-food order, or your shower ran out of hot water...
think of THEM.
out there...protecting your freedom, sacrificing for YOU.
















This is a real picture, taken in Iraq on 9 September 2003 by the Baker Company, with the 7th Marines, 1st Battalion, to honor the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. According to the Rock Hill, South Carolina, Herald:

Helmets atop rifles honored the day so many died. Four U.S. Marines in Iraq held Old Glory a few feet off the desert sand. Dozens of others stood around them, spelling out a special message. The unit assembled Tuesday in a formation of husbands and sons and helmets and weapons that spelled out, "9-11: We Remember."

Andrew Schoenmaker, 25, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an executive officer of Baker Company, with the 7th Marines, 1st Battalion.

Lt. Schoenmaker and his commanding officer bandied about the idea for a picture to send home to the United States signifying that the unit is still in Iraq, but the pose ended up honoring the Sept. 11, 2001, victims.

"It is in remembrance of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, and the reason that no matter how long we are here, we will continue to push and never forget why we serve," Andrew wrote in an e-mail to his father.

Happy First Anniversary!

we'd like to share a lil something with you all that happened recently to us here at bich1radio.

as you all know, we use our donations exclusively to support our troops. now, alot of people can afford to send us a donation, and some can't afford to at all. times are hard, we understand that, it's also part of why we are here too..to bring some smiles, some tunes during these times to all y'all. but here's the thing....sometimes a donation comes thru that just is so far beyond amazing it needs to be shared..and this is one of those times.

It seems we have a group of youth in canada who tune us in. (we HOPE they're not repeating anything they hear on bich's shows LOL ). these fine young people are part of Sifton Family and Youth Services...here's a bit about the center itself:
Vision and Mission
Our Vision
Oki Noo'Kosakaa - Gather Round My Children Strong, safe, caring, families and communities
Our Mission
We are committed to working together with the community for the safety and well being of children, youth and families, while respecting cultural diversity.

now....it seems that these fine young people enjoyed our shows, that they felt moved to help, to give back, pay it forward. So they just damn straight did it. they sent in a fifty dollar donation to bich1radio, a donation that they themselves took up, collected.
now...times ARE tough, all over. yet these kids took time, effort, and they just plain got out and made it happen..and they continue to do so. talk about courage? talk about drive? talk about integrity? honor? values? we can't even fathom how to thank them, on behalf of all the men and women who'll be touched by their generousity. they've infected others around them too with the spirit of help, giving, sharing, and now it's spilled over to the staff and adults around them too.
And that's the name of the game folks... get excited...pass your positive attitude forward, cuz it might seem on some days like it's not appreciated, or it's overlooked..but it's NOT. it MATTERS! and we here at bich1radio would just like to thank each and every one of these fine young people for their hearts, their generousity, and we know that the world is a better place for having them IN it. thank you once again y'all..from the bottom of our hearts at bich1radio.

Thank you!!
Bich

Break Before Deployment/Redeployment

a little break before they go

May God hold them all in His hands and keep them safe.

The Only Flag That Doesn't Fly

Between the fields where the flag is planted, there are 9+ miles of flower fields that go all the way to the ocean. The flowers are grown by seed companies. It's a beautiful place, close to Vandenberg AFB. Check out the dimensions of the flag. The Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains the proper Flag dimensions, as described in Executive Order #10834. This Flag is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with 5 pointed Stars, comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in diameter; each Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain more than 400,000 Larkspur plants, with 4-5 flower stems each, for a total of more than 2 million flowers.

a big thank you to annie for sharing this with us!!!!!

Away from Home

Some of our troops/listeners overseas in Iraq. We're happy you're tuned in guys, and hope you're enjoying the music. You're all in our hearts and thoughts every day. Stay safe, and come home to us very very soon!!