Blogging from A to Z 2018: F is for The Finest Hours

A lot of my reading of late is influenced by television and the movies. My latest read is a prime example of that. The Finest Hours was made into a movie in 2016. A trailer for The Disney Movie is below...

The Coast Guard men in the book/movie came through in their finest hours. It was based on a true story and without a doubt they were heroes. Obviously the men had to enlist into thw Coast Guard. Second a bad storm needed to develop. The tragedy of two ships falling apart in the frigid waters needed to fall in place. Lastly the Coasties needed to rescue folks to be heroes. The book discussed one boat which was unsuccessful. The brave men where lucky to return to shore. The book went farther than the movie and discussed some if the guilt and other feelings that went with becoming heroes. The story had been told before and was choppy at times. However, the story did tell the tale of some courageous Coast Guard members. 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is so much more than an unofficial start of summer or an excuse for a three day weekend. It should be a somber reminder of the cost of war or conflict. A somber reminder that cost is measured in more than dollar and cents.

The day should be a reminder to the world to strive for peace. It should be a reminder for politicians to remember the sacrifice of conflict.  It should be a reminder that when diplomacy fails there is a price to pay.

Today is a day to remember those who have served in the military and who are no longer with us. Especially those who died in service. The people we remember were neighbors, friends, family members, loved ones, parents, someone's mom or dad. Yes they were Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines. Ues they served in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines. However, they were so much more. 

Some fall in the line of duty performing tasks, practicing, saving lifes, and just by performing dangerous tasks. Today is a day to remember them as well. 

Today is a day to remember their sacrifice and our Country's sacrifice. It is a day to pray and strive for peace. It is a day to remember and reflect.

Happy Veterans Day A Simple Thank You

I've written plenty of Veterans Day posts in the past and they all give thanks to Veterans who deserve it for the job they do.

Veteran's Day is wrapping up. Really it should be an everyday thing. My Veteran's Day celebration started Monday. My daughter's school had a program for the Veteran's in the community. I live in a very big military community. 

My picture is a poster my daughter made to honor my Dad's service and that of other Veterans. Other students made handmade cards which they gave the Veterans. It was nice to see the community coming together to say thank you.

That day I was inspired and told one of my colleagues at work Thank You for your service since she was a Veteran and it made her day.

To those who have served and to those who are currently serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or reserves thank you for your service. 

Just a simple but heart felt Thank You!

Reflections on Memorial Day

Memorial Day has become a holiday marking the unofficial start of summer. It is a much bigger day than that. It is a day to remember those servicemen who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It should be a somber reminder to all the cost for conflicts, military actions, and wars.

Politicians and diplomats need to be reminded of this cost before they decide to enter a new confrontation. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guards have highly trained personnel. They deserve our support and our gratitude.

Certainly their are times to fight. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made. Diplomats need to find peaceful solutions. Politicians need to seek out peaceful policies. Peace is what we should be looking for and fewer graves filled with young people who gave all.

Veteran's Day

Most Veteran's Days I write a blog post thanking our veterans. They deserve a thank you everyday for the sacrifices they make and they all make sacrifices. I say thank you to those who served in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, The Coast Guard, the reserves and guard.

I wish you all peace! I also wish your brothers and sisters in arms who are missing in action make it home some day and that they are never forgotten!

A Thank You on Memorial Day

Today on Memorial Day I send out a simple thank you to all the military, police and fire fighters who have lost their lives in duty and to their families. I was humbled to write such simple words considering their great sacrifices. However, those are worlds often forgotten to be said when the heroes are alive.

Taps....

I hope you can take a moment and reflect what on the sacrifices these fine folks have made while you are enjoying you holiday. No long rambling post today, just a simple thank you.

Veteran's Day

Most years I write a Veteran's Day blog I've said thanks a million times. I support the troops, sailors, military men and woman. I don't always support the politicians and diplomats who put them in harms way. I respect them and thank these brave men and woman. Some of these folks are my friends, fraternity brothers, so my caring goes even deeper.This time I wanted to show some clips and show why I am thankful for Veterans.This is why they deserve are respect.

Here is the Coast Guard performing a recent rescue..No matter politics you have to respect these folks putting themselves in risks to rescue people...

Here the Marines help people recover from Sandy...

Here Army National Guards make a rescue in New Jersey...

Here the Air Force delivers supplies to help with Sandy...

Here the Navy helps clean up after Sandy

Veteran's Day

I humbly thank the service members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Many of them have to work on their Holiday. They work long hours, sometimes stationed away from family and loved ones. I thank them for their sacrifices big and small. They should never feel their job is thankless.

For those away from home, I hope they will return home safe and sound and reunite with their loved ones. For those who have had to deal with the loss of fellow co-workers, Brothers and Sisters in arms I can't say I know how you feel as a civilian. I'm sure there is pain, sorrow, and other emotions. I can say I am sorry for our Country's loss, for your loss, and for their family loss. I an say I am thankful of their sacrifice.

I hope we get politicians and diplomats who can succeed at diplomacy more. So war and battles will be fewer. However, I am proud of all who stand ready. I am thankful of your non-battlefield activities as well. Thank you for your law and order, your humanitarian efforts, your entertainment, and your rescues.Things you may feel are over look we see and say thanks.

Memorial Day

This blog will probably read like the blog I wrote last Memorial Day. I hope everyone has a safe Holiday, and have had a safe weekend so far. I hope between the cook outs, gatherings, and other good times that yo have the opportunity to reflect on the Holiday.

I'd like to say a thank you to those in the armed forces. Thank you for those sacrifices you all make. I know lots of them are still in places where it is not peace time. I hope peace comes to those areas and those who are there can come home safely. Even in peace time, these brave men and woman, make sacrifices to attend deployments, trips, trainings often leaving behind their families for days, weeks, and months. When the orders come they answer the orders.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard I am thankful for each and everyone of you. Some of you are lucky to have really cool jobs, some of you have the jobs that need to be done, you face the dangers most of us will hopefully never have to face(thanks largely to what you do), some of you do important research that makes the world better, you all make impacts on your communities (Toy for Tots-comes to mind but I know there are other programs), you help fight terrorism, you help with law enforcement, rescues, humanitarian efforts, and more. Even the part timers, the Reserves, I am proud of what you do. I am proud that you answer the Nation's Call. I am proud you step up in times of natural disasters and other emergencies and help so many. I am thankful and proud of the job you all do everyday.

To those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I humbly thank you. I offer my condolences to your family and Brothers and Sisters in Arms.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. It is time to say thank you to a veteran. It's time to remember the soldiers, Marines, sailors, pilots who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The brave men and woman who face the war zone everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan are heroes. Today is not a day of politics, though I think we all pray or wish for a time of peace. Even in peace, there are rescue missions. There are natural disasters where the National Guard put themselves in harms way for our protection. As you enjoy your Holiday take a moment to think about the ones we have lost. Take a moment to be thankful for the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. Take a moment to be thankful for the National Guard and reserves. May we one day have peace, may one day may all of our POWs and missing service men come home, and may we never forget the ultimate sacrifices which have been made.