An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Heroes
Did You Know About This???
I sure didn’t! I’ve never heard of it, and that pisses me off!! But I am awed that this company, and the families of the fallen refuse to forget!
Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run (online) or mail checks to
P. O. Box 398
Palos Heights, IL 60463-0398
I would love the catch the scum who throw those mementos in the river! Throw THEM in the river!!!
Shared by Jack – veteran.
Let Them Do Their Job
After watching a bit of coverage yesterday, we decided it was time to change the channel. The constant rehash, the speculation, was starting to grate on both our nerves. No new information, just a lot of ‘he saids’. This is not news. It is not information. What I did see were civilians and emergency crews doing their very best to help those injured, being heroes. This is what Americans do!
- intense fear: intense or overwhelming fear
- terrorism: violence or the threat of violence carried out for political purposes
- something causing fear: something that causes intense fear, e.g. an event or situation
No matter who is responsible, we must not allow them to succeed. We must stand tall as Americans do, and spit in their eye!
Standing with Boston
James Carafano – The Foundry
America is at its best when it faces adversity with courage, confidence, and determination. That recipe of “what makes us who we are” holds for hurricanes, disasters, and tragedies like the one that occurred during yesterday’s Boston Marathon.
A security professional knows what to do first: Take care of the injured, protect the responders and bystanders who are racing to the scene to help (who can often be the target of follow-on attacks), and preserve the evidence available at the scene. Those efforts appear well underway. We should be proud of the responders and the citizens of Boston.
Our assessments and speculation on what to do next should not outpace what we know. Even very authoritative-sounding reports issued from the scene or shared by on-scene reporters or witnesses may turn out to be inaccurate. That has already proven the case in Boston with conflicting reports on the number of explosions, claims of suspects in custody, and statements about unexploded devices being recovered.
In cases such as this, officials often can garner a tremendous amount of evidence from the crime scene in the first 72 hours. In such investigations, you start with the evidence and that leads to suspects, not the other way around.
Law enforcement in other communities may want to take additional precautions. Pittsburgh, for example, has a citywide marathon coming up in a few weeks. That might be prudent. Any additional security after an event like this, however, should be based on professional assessments of risk and any intelligence that is available. America’s enemies can’t be everywhere.
Protecting large public events is the most difficult of public safety challenges. Further, these gatherings are most vulnerable to exactly the kind of incident that occurred in Boston. That said, the reasonable public safety precautions that can be taken to thwart them are well known. After the fact, it will have to be determined if these were properly taken.
Unfortunately, such measures—even if fully implemented—cannot perfectly safeguard such large crowds. The best security, if this is confirmed as a coordinated, predetermined act, is to stop the perpetrators before they undertake their attacks.
Bringing perpetrators to justice, preventing further attacks, and learning lessons from this incident on how to prevent or respond to future incidents will come in time. For now, we should all stand with Boston. We should all show the world that today will we get up unafraid, and America will step forward into the day.
Screwed Up Priorities!
I don’t give a damn about some piece of human excrement that behaved like a pig on a basketball court. I couldn’t give two chits about who wins so called American Idol. Honey Boo Boo is a fat, spoiled brat who needs to be taught some manners, and put on a diet.
THIS is where my priorities lie. These are MY heroes, and I don’t worship idols! How about we get our priorities straightened out, and stop letting those left wing lunatics in Hollyweird and the lame stream media control our lives, eh? GOD, FAMILY, COUNTRY!!!
Our Veterans, Our Heroes
Why a Car Commercial Can Make You Cry
The Foundry
Is there a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces in your life? If so, tears likely came to your eyes when you saw Jeep’s Super Bowl commercial. Oprah Winfrey’s voice-over was a moving tribute to those who fight for us: “In your home, in our hearts—you’ve been missed. You’ve been needed. You’ve been cried for, prayed for.”
This Man….
….and many others like him, have kept ME safe! Honor him!
Wounded Warriors Project
I support our troops. That is a fact. It won’t change. However, due to recent events, I won’t be supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, unless they change their policy. This truly saddens me.
You see, I give from the heart, BECAUSE of my faith. It was what I was taught, and will continue for the rest of my time on this earth. When an organization rejects such faith, then I must reject them. I know they do good work for our returning wounded troops, but there are other organizations who work just as hard for them. We don’t have much money to spare anymore, so I must be quite selective as to where it goes, and who it will truly aid.
Wounded Warrior Project Rejects Funds from Local Church
As reported by Todd Starnes at Fox Radio, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church and Academy, Wallace Cooley, said that “they had already paid a $100 registration fee to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and were about to launch the campaign when they received an email from the organization.”
The church had planned on taking up a special offering on the last Sunday in February and students were collecting money from family and friends.
“We must decline the opportunity to be the beneficiary of your event due to our fundraising event criteria, which doesn’t allow community events to be religious in nature,” read an email from the WWP community events team. “Please note your registration fee will be refunded within the next 7-10 business days.”
WWP said as a nonpartisan organization they cannot accept event fundraising from companies “in which the product or message is religious in nature.”
Pastor Cooley said they were so shocked that the school secretary called Wounded Warrior to make sure there hadn’t been a mistake. He said a WWP representative assured her that “religious” was indeed on their banned list.
Well, I’m not an organization, but my faith, as with most folks, is religious based. Since they refuse funds from ‘religious organizations’, I guess they don’t want my money either.
According to the news story, Pastor Cooley “told NewsChannel Five that a representative from WWP called him.The representative apologized and said he would be meeting with other administrators from the organization to talk about this incident.”
How does being “nonpartisan” have ANYTHING to do with accepting funds from a church group? Most nonprofits that get in trouble with the IRS do so because of what they DO with the funds… not where they come from. The Wounded Warrior Project does great work for out troops. But the organization and the rules governing nonprofit activities need a little common sense.
If WWP does come to their senses, I will consider a continued donation, IF we have any money left. If not? Well, then I’m afraid they’ll likely see their donations drop due to their blatant foolishness. Does Fisher House reject faith based donations?
Here’s a partial list of organizations that help our warriors from Charity Watch, with their rankings. I notice WWP isn’t listed. 
I’m sure there are others, but this is what I found with a very quick search.
The History of Executive Orders
A Good Cause!
And ya don’t have to live in Hardin County, or even Tennessee, to care about the kids!
I’m not attaching any W-9…obviously. If you wanna give, give from the heart! If you want to have a tax deduction, talk to your accountant.
R.I.P. Hero
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who led coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War, dies
A U.S. official says retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait in 1991, has died. He was 78.
The official tells The Associated Press that Schwarzkopf died Thursday in Tampa, Fla. The official wasn’t authorized to release the information publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
A much-decorated combat soldier in Vietnam, Schwarzkopf was known popularly as “Stormin’ Norman” for a notoriously explosive temper.
He lived in retirement in Tampa, where he had served in his last military assignment as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command. That is the headquarters responsible for U.S. military and security concerns in nearly 20 countries from the eastern Mediterranean and Africa to Pakistan.
Duck and Cover
Just a little tune from Sheldon Allman, remember Mr Ed? Hmmm… I remember it in black and white. Well, if you are old enough to remember that show, then you are surely old enough to remember ‘duck & cover’! Shared by The Bunker. 
Heartbreaking
At least 4 dead after train crashes into trailer during Texas veterans parade
A freight train slammed into a parade float carrying wounded veterans on Thursday, killing four people and injuring 17 others as the float a West Texas railroad crossing on its way to an honorary banquet, authorities said.
The eastbound train was sounding its horn before it hit the float around 4:40 p.m. in Midland, Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said. A preliminary investigation indicates the crossing gate and lights were working at the time, Lange said, though he didn’t know if the train crew saw the float approaching.
Two people died at the scene of the crash, while two others died at Midland Memorial Hospital, City of Midland spokesman Ryan Stout said. Ten of those injured are in critical condition, while the other seven are in stable condition, he said.
“There is going to be a very thorough investigation,” Lange said. “It’s obviously a very tragic incident.”
Photos of the float taken during the parade show about two dozen people seated in chairs set up on the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer decorated with American flags. A banner across the truck’s front bumper reads, “Heroes on Board.”
Many prayers going out to the families and friends. No words can express the sorrow.
Via My West Texas: Of the 17 injured, 10 are in critical condition and seven are in stable condition, officials said.
Hear A Veteran’s Story
Those of us who have never been to war have no idea what these men and women go through. We can’t understand the horrors, or the close camaraderie. We can listen to our friends and family who have experienced more in a rather short period of time, than we will in our entire lifetimes, but we will never truly understand. All we can do is thank them, hug them, pray for them, and be there when they need us. Hopefully, we can help to heal the wounds, both physical, mental, and emotional. May God Bless each and every one!
Hear a Veteran’s Story
The Foundry
For nearly 100 years, America has been celebrating on November 11. Originally it was to remember the end of the First World War that was supposed to be the one that would end them all. Sadly, this was not the case. In 1952, a small town in Kansas started to use the date to remember veterans of all America’s wars. Two years later, President Dwight Eisenhower recognized the brilliant stroke of a small group of “regular” Americans by making it a national holiday.
Some cynics today would say we should grow past the parades and the thousands of memorial ceremonies in small parks across America. May it never be so! Every generation of Americans has had men and women step forward and stand for this nation. Every new generation needs to learn to acknowledge the debt the nation owes them.
As we honor those who have died in the service of the nation on Memorial Day, we must acknowledge those who have served on Veterans Day.
11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” (DVA)
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation renaming the day when it became known as Veterans Day, to include those who had fought in WWII, and the Korean War:
[L]et us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores to preserve our heritage of freedom; and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.
To ALL the veterans, of all the wars, past, present, and sadly, future, the utmost gratitude is due!
REAL Heroes
If you have a blog, please share. Or email, or whatever you can to get the word out. Thanks! These guys likely don’t have the big PAC bucks to buy up a bunch of advertising time on the alphabets.
Where Were You?
Astronaut Neil Armstrong dies at 82
Neil Armstrong was a quiet, self-described “nerdy” engineer who became a global hero when as a steely-nerved U.S. pilot he made “one giant leap for mankind” with the first step on the moon.
The modest man who entranced and awed people on Earth has died. He was 82.
Armstrong died Saturday following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures, a statement from his family said. It didn’t say where he died.
Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969, capping the most daring of the 20th century’s scientific expeditions. His first words after setting foot on the surface are etched in history books and in the memories of those who heard them in a live broadcast.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” Armstrong said.
There are moments in your life that you will always remember. Events that shaped the world, and you, to some extent or another. Those events, if you are as old, or older, than I am, you will likely remember long after you forget your kid’s name. Things like, Elvis being drafted, watching John Glenn circle the earth for the first time, the Cuban missile crisis, where you were, and who you were with, when you heard that JFK, RFK, Martin Luther King had been shot. In more recent years, what you were doing when you heard about Reagan getting shot, 9/11, etc.
One of those pivotal moments in my life was Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. I had just gotten home from a date when my dad told us to hurry up…come into the den and watch! We sat there spellbound. To actually SEE a human being take the first step on that thing we took for granted being in the sky? It was one of those “Oh wow!” moments that I’ll never forget. Just me, my dad, and the boyfriend of the time. They have both since passed on, my dad and the boyfriend, and now, one of those heroes from my past is gone as well. I didn’t realize it would affect me in such an emotional manner, but I guess it’s one of those times when you realize that you really are moving on towards the end.
We had such high hopes back then for a bright future, with more space exploration to come. A great many advancements came from those space programs (other than Tang), but I’m sad to say, we didn’t go near as far as we could have, or should have, to our great shame.
Now, our space program includes wanting to make Muslims feel better about themselves? Yes, we do have the Curiosity roaming around Mars, but we should have had a base there by now, along with one on the moon, and a functional space station…or more than one, actually.
Many prayers with the family at this time. Perhaps Armstrong’s achievements will encourage kids to look toward the future, and the stars.
