It's always a good time to give thanks to the troops but for one California woman it's a full-time job.
She runs Operation Gratitude.
Fredricka Whitfield has her incredible story.

Chances are, you've seen the art work of Ernie Barnes.
Like many painters who want to emulate him, you may have been inspired.
And that's what he wanted.
The former pro-football player turned artist died last April from complications of a rare blood disorder. Six months later, the tributes and memorials seem to be just getting started.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield has more.

One wedding coordinator has found a way to help struggling brides, and children, all for $40.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield explains.

It’s 0600 hours in Fayetteville, Georgia and I’m up with troops preparing for a very special mission. I start making rounds, talking to many of the nearly 80 World War II Veterans about to take a trip of a lifetime.

They are heading to Washington DC to see the memorial built in their honor. For many of these veterans, it will be the first time they’ve ever seen it. The trip was provided by Honor Flight…an organization with one mission: to honor veterans for their sacrifice by sending them to their memorial in Washington DC for free!

As I speak to the vets, their excitement is easy to see. Many tell me this was a trip they never thought they’d be able to make. They are happy to talk about their appreciation towards Honor Flight, but when it comes to the war… most don’t tell me much.

Soon, we loaded the buses and headed towards the airport with an escort by local law enforcement and patriot guard riders. On the plane, some veterans start opening up to me and photojournalist Rich Brooks.  But still, the war stories were few and far between.

Two hour later we arrived in Washington, DC and the sight brought tears to my eyes.  A heroes welcome in the terminal.  A brass band played old war tunes.  A massive crowd waved flags, cheered and thanked each and every veteran for their service as they stepped off the plane. Watching their expressions, their reaction to this was truly one of the best things I’ve experienced.  I stood at the end of the reception line.  So many stopped and told me this was more elaborate then the reception they received when they returned home from war and one of the first times they’ve ever been thanked for their service.

At their memorial, even more thanks.  Most gasped to see how big it was.  They slowly made their way down into the memorial.  Facing the reflection pool and Lincoln memorial is a wall of stars. Each represents 100 service members who lost their life in WWII.  There are 4,000 stars on that wall! I felt a tap on my arm and saw one of the veterans standing beside me.  He told me about his experience storming the beaches of the Pacific, the men they lost and how lucky he was to be witnessing this moment when so many of his comrades didn't make it.  He told me that was the first time he’d ever told anyone his story.

It was amazing! The same veterans who didn’t want to speak about the war just hours before were now willingly sharing their stories. Luckily, Rich was around to record a lot of it on tape! The stories were unbelievable. Stories of the D-Day invasion, pilots being shot down by enemy fire and chilling tales from inside POW camps. I felt so privileged to be there at that moment.

From the memorial we took a quick trip to Arlington National Cemetery to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

By the time we got back to Atlanta it had been a 20 hour trip!  The elderly warriors seem renewed rather than exhausted by their whirlwind trip. 

Peharps because this was meant to honor these WWII Veterans who never asked for thanks. They went off to save the world and when they got home, continued on with their lives. They never asked for honors. The real honor, for me, was to spend the day with this great generation of heroes. It is a trip I am grateful to have the opportunity to take and one that I will never forget!

Today, if you see a veteran of any war, take the time to thank them!  I can tell you from experience, that small thanks means more to them then you'll ever know!

Click here to read more on this trip.

Or if you want to learn more about Honor Flight and their mission, click here.

They belong to you, me, and every citizen of the United States.

I'm talking about the national parks.

Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns is debuting his new series Sunday on PBS.

He joined Fredricka Whitfield from Washington to tell us about his documentary.

Are you happy?

The new general social survey reveals in the past three decades men have gotten happier while women are less happy.

Do you believe it? Perhaps the picture either becomes clearer or cloudier when you hear the break down of some of the possibilities.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield explores.

Now, a closer look at one of our top stories.

This comes just two days after the world found out Iran is building a new uranium enrichment plant.

Western leaders say Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Fredricka Whitfield discussed this with Jim Walsh is an international security analyst at MIT in Boston.

CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield talks to Darius Weems of 'Darius Goes West' about his upcoming MTV birthday celebration.

Flood waters that coursed through Atlanta area neighborhoods this week have finally drained back into nearby rivers and creeks. But hundreds of families are still coping with the environmental disaster inside their homes, which are covered with layers of mud and mold.
Weather forecasters predict more rain this weekend.

That's the last thing most residents want to hear, but at one Atlanta company, a brewery, workers will welcome the rain. Instead of cursing more rain, they will consider it heaven sent - both an economic and environmental blessing.

In just a week, the rain has filled the tanks at 5 Seasons Brewery and restaurant. They've collected 2,500 gallons of water which...if my math is right...will make roughly 20,000 pints of beer!

So help save the planet, one pint at a time.

They're mad as heck and they want their political power back.

Whether you call them the base of the republican party or the far right, right now social conservatives are gathering in Washington.

Their goal: To take back the house, the senate, and the white house. They're coming together for the annual "values voter summit." And anyone who hopes to win political office is in attendance and ready to trash all things democratic.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield speaks to Politco.com's Andy Barr on the politics of values voters.