Happy Independence Day!

Namaste.

Memorial Day in the USA

My blog tracker lets me know that I have visitors from all over the globe, so I thought that I would share some knowledge about the US's Memorial Day holiday. I was listening to the radio yesterday and the DJ broadcasting (who is an American) didn't even understand what the holiday was for...

Memorial Day is meant to be a solemn day of remembrance to honor the US Soldiers who lost their lives in a war. It is not a day to honor any US Soldier - that day is Veteran's Day and the two are confused often.

Memorial Day was originally established to honor the soldiers who died during the Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day.
In 1966, Congress declared Waterloo, NY as the originator of the holiday in 1866.
In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a National Holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

According to CNN, approximately 1.2 Million Americans have died from the Civil War to present day wars (https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/us/memorial-day-fast-facts/index.html).  

I remember, honor and give thanks that those men and women stepped up to defend the USA and gave the ultimate sacrifice to allow my fellow Americans and I to live as we do today.


Namaste.

Always Remembering

Namaste.

Going to the Movies

I'm not a big fan of movies. 

I get bored...
I have to tinkle (doesn't matter how long the movie is)...
I can't stay awake...
I'm constantly worried about bed bugs...

But...
I admit, there are some good movies there worth the unbelievable ticket prices.

American Sniper is be one of them.

I read the book...
Way before they started even talking publicly about a movie.
Before the unfortunate death in Texas.

I loved the book...
I tried to talk MBB and OB into reading it.

I failed.

The movie was good...
The book was better...

As with most books to movies, they just have to cut so much out in order to make the movie.

I get it.

I know that Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper did what they had to do to make a hit that was in good taste, was true to the book and was respectful to the memory of Chris Kyle.

Everyone talked about the theater emptying out in complete silence.
Agreed...

I think that would be the case if I saw it 100 times.
I personally think that doing anything else would be just as bad as, if not worse than, talking during the National Anthem.

Go Google how Chris Kyle felt about that one...

I think that this movie is as deserving of as many awards as Chris Kyle received personally.

I must say, if you liked the movie - go read the book!

Namaste.

Pretty

 

Namaste.

Vacation: Poplar Forest

We went with Egypt's family to see Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's Retreat.
The octagonal shaped house was intriging, but they wouldn't let me take pictures inside.
Namaste.

Vacation: Amazement Square, Appomattox and Fun Stuff

We spent a day canoeing, but I didn't dare take the cameras with us.
Just know that despite lots of sun screen, we are using lots of aloe!

We then spent a day packed full of lots of things. . .
I even got the family to try Indian food - not such a big deal for MaBell, but a major feat for MBB and OB. The restaurant had a lunch buffet, so they got to try lots of things and find some sauces that they like. I'm very excited as I can start cooking with Curry now!!!

Amazement Square I highly recommend this place to anyone with kids. The four floors are full of interactive educational displays and you can travel between floors via an elevator, stairs that light up as you walk on them or a structure made of climbing tunnels and such (made for adults too...so of course, I had to try it out as well).

Appomattox
Another reminder of our freedom - for all of us Americans!

Fun Stuff
We then headed out for some Putt Putt, Go Karts and Water wars.
Namaste.

Vacation: D-Day

The D-Day Memorial was an emotional visit for me.
One of my grandfather's was in WWII and was a POW. I guess that made it very real for me.
And yes, I do treasure the freedom that so many died to ensure that I have.
Our tour guide made it very real for the kids as he shared stories that he heard from the surviving D-Day Soldiers who had visited the memorial over the years.
Namaste.

Beautiful Sight. . .

One to two days a week, I drive up into Cincinnati land to see Sadillac.
Yesterday was one of those days.

As I turned onto 32, I saw the most beautiful sight. . .
Keep in mind that this section of 32 is a four to six lane highway in a congested business area.
There were yellow ribbons about every six to twelve inches lining the road. They were tied to fence, they were tried to tree branches, they were tied to everything!
And right at the beginning of the strip was a huge professional looking sign that said:

"Welcome Home Matt"

It was a beautiful sight!
(If I find a picture of it, I'll add it to this post)

It is a wonderful thing that Matt has finally come home.
It is touching that his brother is escorting him home.
I just wish it was on his own two legs.
It is amazing that the funeral is at Great American Ball Park with overflow planned to be at Fountain Square watching the big screen.

Namaste.

America and 4th of July Tidbits...

Capital: Washington D.C.
Motto: "In God We Trust"
National Anthem: "The Star Spangled Banner"
National Bird: Bald Eagle
National Flower: Rose



Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
In 1781, Massachusetts was the first legislature to recognize the Fourth of July.
In 1941, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day a federal paid holiday.
The residents of Vicksburg, Mississippi celebrated the Fourth of July in 1941 for the first time in 78 years (since the Siege of Vicksburg ended with a Union victory during the Civil War on July 4, 1863).

In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the U.S. (and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence and became President) died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" is set to the tune of an English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven".

The words "Under God" were added in 1954 to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Betsy Ross sewed it, but Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, actually designed the first U.S. flag.

The stars on the flag were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported that George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens."

The flag has 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies (7 red and 6 white).

Namaste.

The sites with the info listed above:
http://www.geocities.com/starchaser-m/fourthofjuly/funstuff.html
http://encarta.msn.com/list_fourthofjuly/10_Surprising_Facts_About_the_Fourth_of_July.html
http://oldeducator.com/july4factsandtrivia.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

Feelings

There is a freedom surrounding feelings:
- They belong to you.
- They are not wrong. . .They just are.
- No one has the right to say that someone else's feelings are incorrect.

I make an effort (I'm may not be 100% successful, but I try) to understand feelings that belong to others. If I did something that was misunderstood (or not) and caused some of those feelings, I want to understand. It is not my place to point fingers or place blame. It is my place to learn, to live and this is part of that experience.

At the same time, I take responsibility for my feelings. They are mine. I try to keep those feelings in "I" statements when discussing them. My opinion is that "you" statements have no place in these types of discussions.

Having said all of that - it still hurts when I share my feelings and then get bombarded with "you" statements that have nothing to do with my feelings or the situations that played a role in creating those feelings. I wish that more people would try to understand rather than jumping to conclusions.

The result? I closed down. I saw no reason to try to explain myself. I let it go. After all - they are my feelings. I understand them. I need to process them. I need to deal with them. It is about me.

Any attachment others may have to them is not about me. . .Those feelings belong to them.

Namaste.

"What you think of yourself is much more important than what others think of you." - Seneca

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love, I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice.
I'm here every night.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... An American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother. . .
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "Harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "Or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget,
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled,
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I don't know who wrote it, but it appeared in my e-mail in-box and is one of those that I wanted to share.
Even though it is a "Christmas" poem, I thought it was worth reading for Thanksgiving as well.
If anyone is sending packages for the Holidays, please be aware that the mail cut-off date is soon.

Namaste.

"My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt." - Anna Sewell

9/11. . .Remembering

I got choked up today on my way back from lunch when I saw that my office had the flag at half mass.
I expected it, but it still choked me up.


There is a wonderful project out there called 2996. 3,412 (more than the original target of 2,996) bloggers each wrote about a hero from 9/11. . .the ones that will be missed.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get in on this one, but Blackfive and Air Force Family have wonderful memorials that are must reads.


Namaste.

Godspeed Marine Cpl. Tyler Warndorf

I headed out around noon today to grab a bite to eat. . .Saw a fire engine at the overpass of my entrance to the Highway. I didn't think much about it - they must have been in the final stages of accident clean-up.

I headed onto 75N and I saw another Fire Engine with the American Flag waving on the overpass of my exit. . .And it hit me. Last night, Marine Cpl. Tyler Warndorf came home. I knew this. I said a prayer for his family and a thank-you to him for all he had done. What I didn't know was that his funeral was today.

I had lunch with my sister and started back to work. I knew I was in trouble when I saw all of the fire fighters at attention and saluting. I was in even bigger trouble when I saw 75N was shut down and the police car was coming towards me as I was merging onto 75S. A quick call to my sister was the only thing that kept me from breaking down in tears as the hearse drove by followed by the funeral procession. A procession that was full of motorcycles carrying American Flags. What a wondrous tribute.

I got back to the office and the only mention I could find on cincinnatienquirer.com was in the traffic section: 75N slow due to funeral procession. Interesting.

Tonight, I could not find mention of this local hero. . .Until I linked to the Northern Kentucky news site. http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/ae/20060907/NEWS01/609070357 Very interesting.

My opinion of Cincinnati Enquirer on-line (which is the only way that I stay in-touch with local news) is very low at this point. This was one of the most important things that happened in our Tri-State area today and there wasn't even a one-liner about it.

Godspeed Marine Cpl. Tyler Warndorf. . .And Thank-You to all of our Firefighters who took the time to honor a local hero and remind me that even though I don't support the White House, I do support my soldiers. Time to send some more care packages!

Namaste.

"Freedom isn't free - just ask any Soldier / Marine!" - The footer on my email

I Know, I Know. . .

I haven't been blogging like usual. Yes, that means that I haven't been to the gym this week like I should. What can I say? Life got in the way!

Found a blog entry by Capt. B that I wanted to share with everyone. It is about one of my fellow Cincinnatians who WILL come home: http://www.onemarinesview.com/one_marines_view/2006/07/marines_give_he.html

In other news - MY PAINTING HAS ARRIVED!!!! Every since I bought it on my Alaskan Cruise, I have been doubting my sanity - especially when I got the first installment of the bill! But now that it is here - I am thanking sweet spirit that I made it a part of my house.

Kinda fitting that I'm talking about it in relation to Capt. B's post - the painting is of an Angel, in front of an American Flag, cradling a man's head in her lap. Even though the painting is in response to 9/11, it reminds me of our soldiers. . .And gives me faith that the Angels are watching over all of them, especially Matt Maupin. Use this link to see a story about the painting turning into a tattoo. . . http://www.rutfineart.com/member/mike.html

Namaste.

"Here's a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't." - Richard Bach

Forwarded Emails

Some of what gets forwarded in email land is entertaining, though most is a figment of the imagination. A great deal of the emails get annoying for the previous senders don't delete out all of the "forward lingo" from the last 10 people who have forwarded it. I, personally, have made it a practice to be very selective in what I pass on - probably about 1% of what I receive and to clean it up before I hit the send button.

I opened my email today to find a forward that touched my heart. Instead of forwarding it, I'm sharing it here (in it's cleaned up form, of course). I think it's time to get some more care packages in the mail, despite my feelings for those in D.C.!

The Daughter of a Soldier

Last week, I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well, almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course, I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying "Your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon."

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded as the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause.

As I stood there applauding and looked around, their were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.

Namaste.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

Must - Read!

Wanted to throw this link up real quick:

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/07/i_think_you_hav.html#more

Definitely a reporter that we should support in the future!

Namaste.

Celebration of Freedom

As I sit here typing, I hear the wonderful sound of fireworks being sent off to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. I have to admit that this is my favorite holiday of the year; however, I have begun to 'celebrate' it much differently than I did when I was little.

Tonight instead of searching out where the firework show near my house is, I am reading military blogs to remind myself the meaning of America, the sacrifices that U.S. Marines/Soldiers are making and the history behind this wonderful holiday. This has become a more reflective holiday for me over the past five years. . .interesting that I only really noticed it this year.

>Michael Yon: Online Magazine was one of the sites that became my weekly read after I decided not to put too much time into MSM (Mainstream Media - i.e. the evening news). He has traveled with troops during the war and is not there to risk himself for "the video feed", but to document the truth of the journey both good and bad. The link takes you to his most recent dispatch and reminds me once again of what a hero is and why I read blogs and not TIME.
http://michaelyon-online.com/wp/warrior.htm

>Capt. B is a Marine that I sent care packages to through the anysoldier program. I began to read his thoughts via emails that he sent out to those of us who were sending packages. He is now in the states and I keep in-touch via his blog. My understanding is that he is co-writing a book that will definitely be on my to buy list. This link points to his post about "who knows what this holiday is about". Of his three questions, I hit the first two exactly. I struggled a bit with the third one, but knew enough that I feel like I wasn't totally ignorant on the subject.
http://www.onemarinesview.com/one_marines_view/2006/06/what_do_you_kno.html

>Blackfive was the first blog that I ever read. He has gotten so busy that he now has other bloggers posting on his site as well (a shame, if you ask me) so I don't visit the site as often as I used to. He hasn't posted his "fourth of July" message yet, so I am linking to the first post that I read there - it is hilarious and a must read!
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/12/every_care_pack.html

I mentioned care packages above: The past few years, I found myself with the uncontrollable desire to send care packages to my troops (yes, I did say 'my'. . .they are defending my freedom aren't they?) both through www.anysoldier.com and www.soldiersangels.org. Until recently, I did not know any of the soldiers that I sent packages to (last count I had shipped to 69 Units/Soldiers/Marines, many multiple times). I can say that I don't like/support (however you want to phrase it) the guy at the White House, but I will always support my guys/gals on the front line.

I don't feel like I have missed anything this weekend by spending a bit more time in front of the computer. I will get my 'ooh' and 'aah' fix during Cincinnati's huge fireworks show in September for Labor Day Weekend.

Namaste.

"How we remember, what we remember, and why we remember form the most personal map of our individuality." -Christina Baldwin