Nothing against Michael

I have nothing against Michael Jackson - in fact I enjoyed his music. I however support our military 100% and I am shocked that more people don't. To think that all the major networks carried the funeral of MJ that lasted several hours and when we lose a military person, they get a brief 30 second segment on the news. What is wrong with our networks.

JMO!

Another email this from a soldier

Subject: Letter from a Soldier


>> I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on
>> Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an
>> entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent
>> millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many
>> people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I
>> respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my
>> rant..
>> > >
>> > > Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their
>> minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the
>> country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to
>> flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to
>> hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
>> > > Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden
>> he's
>> a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What
>> about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those
>> Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still
>> raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United
>> States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the
>> people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them
>> because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier
>> dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for
>> IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of
>> GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and
>> instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
>> > >
>> > > I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN
>> CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for
>> every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to
>> PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American
>> people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom
>> that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have
>> provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because
>> there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we
>> will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or
>> write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood,
>> sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.
>> > >
>> > > Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Feel free to
>> pass
>> this along if you want.
>> > >
>> > > Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is
>> serving in the military;
>> > >
>> > > "So that others may live..."
>>

Just a reminder - received in an e-mail

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days
> will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and
> quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will
> speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all
> that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others
> who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them;
> families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be
> exposed to on the tube in the coming days.
>
> Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I
> tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.
>
>
>
>
>
> These American military members died in Iraq this month:
>
> Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
> Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
> Specialist Charles D. Parrish
> Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
> Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
> Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
> Captain Kafele H. Sims
> Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling
>
> And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:
>
> Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
> Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
> Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
> 1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
> Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
> Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
> Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
> Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.
> Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
> Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.
> Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
> Major Barnes, Rocco M.
> Major Jenrette, Kevin M.
> Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
> Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.
> Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
> Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
> Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
> Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
> Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
> Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.
>
> Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting.
>
> God rest them and God comfort their loved ones they've left behind.
>
> And may God use their deaths to remind us all of the shortness of our days.

Happy Day after the 4th

Celebration is officially over - at least the 4th - but we must remember to celebrate our military currently serving, served in the past and those who laid their life down for our freedom. Never forget those either.

Since this is based on my organizing I thought that I would share some tips with all of you.

I recently moved from an apartment into a house with a pool. What a difference all the room can make. I don't have enough furniture to fill the rooms yet. How nice is that.

Anyway - I must stress the importance of marking the boxes as you pack them. I did basic generic marking such as kitchen and how I wish I would have been more specific such as kitchen - pots and pans, etc. But what made things worse we the boxes I used had been used to move into the apartment, then my parents used them and we had markings all over them. In a case like that I would suggest using the boxes upside down and have all the new marking on the bottom which now is the top of the box! That has been a time consuming project of unpacking.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

As you are having your bar-b-ques, etc. don't forget to say a prayer of thanks to the many men, women and their families who are fighting for our freedom.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

HAPPY EASTER

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

The Old Man (it's a great story)

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at our age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as
I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me.

Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to p ay them if they could follow me back down and help him. The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and ppeared
to be comforting his wife.

When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman. When I
shook hands with him earlier he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood.

They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves.

Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off. For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name....... Congressional Medal of Honor Society."

I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, old men like him gave us FREEDOM for America ' America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them! Remember, freedom isn't Free, thousands have paid the price so we can all enjoy what we have today. GOD BLESS AMERICA