An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Archive for Veterans
Hollywood Icon Gone
The loons in Hollyweird could have learned a lot from this man. Dignity, grace, humility, just to name a few.
Rest in peace sir, you have surely deserved it!
Charlton Heston Dies at Beverly Hills Home
Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing “Ben-Hur” and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the ’50s and ’60s, has died. He was 84.
The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.
Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.
“Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played,” Heston’s family said in a statement. “No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country.”
Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, saying, “I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure.”
With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. “I have a face that belongs in another century,” he often remarked.
The actor assumed the role of leader offscreen as well. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute and marched in the civil rights movement of the 1950s. With age, he grew more conservative and campaigned for conservative candidates.
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An Update on the Scum
Texas Hold ‘Em Blogger has some more information on the dirt bag who canceled the event featuring our American heros!
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Now THIS Seriously Chaps My Hide!
From Texas Hold ‘Em Blogger:
SCHOOL COWARDS CANCEL MILITARY EVENT
Here’s yet another example of the linguini-spined cowards running our schools. As well as the pure, black, unadulterated hatred of the Left toward the U.S. military.
School officials in Forest Lake, Minn., canceled an event featuring returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan after receiving calls from antiwar moonbats complaining that it was a political event.
A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won’t be stopping at Forest Lake High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.
Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.
He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.
“The event was structured to be an academic classroom discussion around military service. We thought we’d provide an opportunity for kids to learn about service in the context of our history classes,†Massey said. “As the day progressed, it became clear that this was becoming a political event … which would be inappropriate in a public setting.
“We decided to cancel,†Massey said.
I can’t even begin to express my disgust for these feckless, and cowardly, weasels!
Read the rest here.
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More Outrage From The Trash
Vandals deface Vietnam war memorial
New Haven (WTNH) _ Veterans are outraged that a war memorial in New Haven has been vandalized.
The Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf was spray painted with the threatening words “Kill whites MS 13.”
Seeing this just crushed the veterans we spoke to. The names on that wall that are covered in paint, are the names of those who fought and died for this country in the Vietnam War. Tonight, police are investigating whether this is the work of a violent street gang, but the veterans we spoke to, say whoever they are, aren’t as tough as they might think.
“This irks me. This hurts me deep to my heart,” Vietnam Veteran Emery Linton Sr. said.
Linton looked in disgust at the graffiti covering New Haven County’s Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf.
Linton, who served in the Army, fought in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972. He lost friends there and he says the mess, on a memorial to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, is a slap in the face.
“People here respect these names. They gave their lives for everything, for the freedoms they have,” Linton said.
Whoever did it sprayed “MS-13″ all over the place. According to law enforcement, MS 13 is a violent international gang with roots in El Salvador. Members are involved in drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and even human trafficking and their presence is growing in the U-S. Just this summer, police in the Boston area did a big round-up of MS 13 gang members.
That said, New Haven police say there hasn’t been any documented MS-13 activity so far in the city. But they are investigating this incident.
“I don’t know who would want to do this,” said Lori Grenfell, another veteran who is heart broken over the vandalism. “They have the right to say what they want to say. They can thank these guys for that right.”
While it’s unclear if these are true gang markings, Linton has a message for those responsible. “If it is a gang related thing and if you guys really think you’re bad, join the service, get in the action and see what it’s really like,” Linton said.
It’s unclear how much money it will cost to get rid of this paint, but members of the New Haven County Vietnam Veterans Group vow they will have it cleaned up.
Was this on the news anywhere? I didn’t see a word about it, anywhere. It’s possible I missed it, but why wouldn’t something like this be repeated, nationally? I’m more angry at the total lack of respect shown those who gave all by those who give nothing! I can’t even find the words to express the anger I feel right now.
If anyone hears of them soliciting funds to help pay for the clean up, will you please let me know?
H/T: American and ProudÂ
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An American Hero!
WWII vet receives Bronze Star award in surprise ceremony
Haynes C. Smith, 83, received the Bronze Star, the nation’s fourth-highest combat award, Sunday from his minister, the Rev. Michael Sluder of Bearden United Methodist Church.
The coveted medal, a bronze star 1 1/2 inches in circumscribing diameter and a red ribbon that is a little more than an inch wide, was 63 years late in coming to Smith.
But what made the receiving even sweeter was the secret his family kept since November when they learned he was eligible for the award.
He didn’t know he was getting the medal until Sunday’s church services.
“The Bronze Star just means everything to me,” Smith said. “I can’t say more than that. I just can’t believe it.”
Thank you sir, for all you have done for us!
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Rest In Peace Sir, and Thank You!
One of the Last World War I Veterans Dies at 109
The last World War I veteran in Ohio, and one of only three known remaining U.S. veterans of the conflict, has died.
J. Russell Coffey was the last WWI vet in the state, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. He died Thursday at the age of 109, said the Smith-Crates Funeral Home in North Baltimore, about 35 miles south of Toledo.
(…)
Coffey, born Sept. 1, 1898, did not see action overseas. He enlisted in the Army while he was a student at Ohio State University in October 1918, a month before the Allied powers and Germany signed a cease-fire agreement.
Coffey played semipro baseball, earned a doctorate in education from New York University, taught high school and college and raised a family.
He drove his car until he was 104 and lived on his own until three years ago, according to the funeral home.
The other known surviving American soldiers are Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, W.Va., and Harry Landis, of Sun City Center, Fla., according to the Veterans Affairs Department.
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Shafting the Vets
Study Faults Charities for Veterans
Some Nonprofits Shortchange Troops, Watchdog Group Says
Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.
Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation’s largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.
There are no laws regulating the amount of money charities spend on overhead, fundraising or giving. But the institute’s report suggests that 20 of the 29 military charities studied were managing their resources poorly, paying high overhead costs and direct-mail fundraising fees and, in some cases, providing their leaders with six-figure salaries.
You would assume that a person running a charity would have the decency to forgo a hefty salary.
The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog, issued a report card this month for 29 veterans and military charities. Letter grades were based largely on the charities’ fundraising costs and the percentage of money raised that was spent on charitable activities. The charities that received failing grades are in bold type.
(actually, no, they aren’t, but I did put them in bold here)
Air Force Aid Society (A+)
American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation (F)
American Veterans Coalition (F)
American Veterans Relief Foundation (F)
AMVETS National Service Foundation (F)
Armed Services YMCA of the USA (A-)
Army Emergency Relief (A+)
Blinded Veterans Association (D)
Disabled American Veterans (D)
Disabled Veterans Association (F)
Fisher House Foundation (A+)
Freedom Alliance (F) This one REALLY surprised me.
Help Hospitalized Veterans/Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (F)
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (A+)
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (F)
National Military Family Association (A)
National Veterans Services Fund (F)
National Vietnam Veterans Committee (D)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A+)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (F)
Soldiers’ Angels (D)
United Spinal Association’s Wounded Warrior Project (D)
USO (United Service Organization) (C+)
Veterans of Foreign Wars and foundation (C-)
Veterans of the Vietnam War & the Veterans Coalition (D)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (D)
VietNow National Headquarters (F)
World War II Veterans Committee (D)
I have to admit, some of these organizations, I’ve never even heard of. We give a lot to veterans organizations, and I’m fairly annoyed that one in particular, HHV, got a failing grade. I understand it costs quite a bit to ask for money, but they might save quite a bit if they’d stop inserting dollar bills when asking. Not everyone returns the bill, with a donation. And honestly, I don’t need another calender! The only one I really like are the ones from the WWII Committee.
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