Quartz and Quartzite for Kitchen Countertops

Veteran Carson Willingham received military honors in 2009 and was discharged honorably with the rank of sergeant. Now a sales manager, Carson Willingham works at Cowboy Stone, where he supervises the sale of natural stone products such as quartz and quartzite.

Homeowners in the United States often use quartz and quartzite for kitchen countertops. Though their names are similar, the two are different materials.

Quartz countertops are made by combining 90 to 94 percent of ground quartz with 6 to 10 percent polymers, resins, and pigments. Because the material is engineered, many varieties are available, all of which can be made into different shapes and sizes.

Quartzite countertops are made from a non-foliated metamorphic rock with quartz and sandstone content. The rock is mined, cut into slabs, polished, and sealed for use as countertops.

Both quartz and quartzite have pros and cons. Quartz is less prone to chipping because of its flexibility, while quartzite is harder and more durable. Quartz requires little maintenance, while quartzite must be resealed periodically. Quartz, however, is not heat resistant, so hot pans will damage it.

Overview of the National Defense Service Medal

A former sales manager at Texas Pride Construction, Carson Willingham, works at Cowboy Stone, LLC in the same capacity. Having served in the United States Armed Forces, Carson Willingham obtained the National Defense Service Medal.

One of the oldest service medals of the United States Armed Forces, the National Defense Service Medal was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 22, 1953. Members who have honorably served at a time of national crisis or war are eligible to receive the service medals. Moreover, active military members may be eligible for the honor based on the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.

In appearance, the National Defense Service Medal is one-time quarter inches in diameter and made of bronze material. An eagle with reversed wings settled on a sword and palm branch appears below the words “National Defense” on the medal's front side. At the middle of the opposite surface is a shield of the United States' Coat of Arms. The award has a ribbon of one-three eighth inches wide with eleven stripes comprising four colors: yellow, white, scarlet, and blue.

The symbol of honor holds various meanings. The American bald eagle displayed on the medal represents the United States, the sword signifies armed strength, while the palm indicates triumph. The shield is of the United States' Coat of Arms, and it implies authority. Moreover, the oak symbolizes bravery and strength, while the laurel indicates accomplishment and honor.

What Is the Combat Lifesaver Certification?

Sales professional Carson Willingham served as a sales manager at Texas Pride Construction before joining Cowboy Stone, LLC in Dallas, Texas as a sales manager. Prior to his career in the sales industry, Carson Willingham served in the United States military where he earned an honorable discharge, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Combat Lifesaver Certification among other credentials.

Combat Lifesaver Certifications are acquired through the U.S. Army Combat Lifesaver Course, an official medical training course that trains soldiers to provide medical care when a certified medic is not available. The course acts as a bridge between the core lifesaving skills soldiers learn during basic training and the more advanced medical training provided to medics.

The Combat Lifesaver Course spans a total of five days, over which time soldiers participate in a blend of classroom learning that covers three core areas of combat casualty care: Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and Casualty Evacuation Care. In addition, students participate in hands-on training, live-action scenarios, and a final written exam. Upon completion of the exam, soldiers are awarded a Combat Lifesaver Certification that must be recertified each year.

 

The United States Army’s Legendary 82nd Airborne Division

Working for one of the Midwest’s leading suppliers of countertops, Carson Willingham is the sales manager of Cowboy Stone in Dallas, Texas. Several years earlier, Carson Willingham served in the United States Army, serving in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Now over 100 years old, the 82nd is one of the most storied elements of the Armed Forces.

Although it is generally associated with World War II, the 89nd was actually formed in 1917. Since it had members from all 48 states (a distinction shared by no other unit) it was nicknamed the All-American Division. Supporting the French in World War I, the 82nd fought in the battles of Lorraine, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. One of its soldiers, Sgt. Alvin York, became famous for his heroism.

Sgt. York rallied the 82nd’s members as it returned to full strength for World War II. With a new mission of paratrooping in support of land invasions, the unit was renamed the 82nd Airborne. It was airdropped into Sicily as the first wave of the attack on Axis-held Italy.

In 1944 it moved to England to train for the assault on the beaches of Normandy. Dropped from airplanes and transported by gliders, it seized critical areas behind the German beachhead and fought for 33 days without fresh supplies. It participated in Operation Market-Garden and the Battle of the Bulge, the last two steps in the defeat of Hitler’s Germany.

The 82nd assumed Cold War duties in the 1950s and 1960s, returning to combat in Indochina in 1968 when one of its three brigades defended South Vietnam. It also saw action in the 1980s invasions of Grenada and Panama.

Another of the 82nd’s components formed the first line of defense in Saudi Arabia after Iraq occupied Kuwait. Shifting to armored vehicles, the division destroyed Iraqi defense forces in 1991 and returned for the Iraq War in 2003. Elements have been deployed to Iraq and also conducted humanitarian missions after Hurricane Katrina and the major earthquake in Haiti.