Memorial Day

Go a head and hug a veteran or thank an active duty service member for there service. Today isn't about them. It is about the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

They are somebody's son or daughter. They could be our neighbors. They are somebody's friend. To the Service Members they are Brothers and Sisters in arms.

I know several veterans and service members. I am proud and grateful for what they have done. Luckily I haven't known anyone who died in service. Pretty amazing if you think about it. Since for most of my life we have been involved in conflicts.

It is a different story for my parents. I remember going to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington with my parents. I remember them searching the wall for people they new. I would visit the Memorial from time to time. There always same to be Veterans there. The names on the wall is a great reminder of the human cost of war. It was neat to see what others had left for their fallen loved ones. You would see folks looking for names of people they knew just like my parents did.

An Air Force friend of mine also asked his friends to remember those who lost their life through their own hands. Sometimes war and returning home is too much.i certainly will add them to my prayers on this day.

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.

Pearl Harbor Day

If you are looking for the resilts of the Battle of the Bands contest I will have a post up on that tonight or tomorrow. Today is Pearl Harbor Day so I wanted to blog about that. It is a day that should be remembered. Over 2400 people died in that attack.

Here Veterans, survivors of that attack ring a bell to remember thise who did not survive..

Footage from the actual attack...

Aerial view of the base from last year..

To those who served in World War II thank you. May we always remember this day and hopefully lessons learned from that war.

Battle of the Bands: I Was Only 19 by Redgum

It is a new month Rocktober is over! I am shifting gears this month. Veteran's Day is this month and I am going to honor Veteran's with my battle of the bands.

The rules are simple I pick a song and present a couple of bands battling it out with the song. You pick the one you like best by casting your vote in the comments. The why's and other comments are always welcomed.

Please check out the other battles:

 list of Battle of the Bands participants..

 I snagged it from STMcC Presents 'Battle of the Bands': 

@ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THIS BELLE ROCKS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE. 
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE. 

It's a win win really. They get another visit and they treat you with some more battles featuring cool songs, musicians and bands!

I discovered an Australian band called Red Gum. They had a song called "I Was Only 19" and that is the song I am choosing for my Battle.


The Song: I Was Only 19

Contestant One: The Lancer Band (Australian Army)

Contestant Two: The Herd

 One song, two different versions. One close to the original with a female vocalist and the second one done in hip-hop fashion. It is all up to you, just vote in the comments for the one you like the best!

Thoughts on "Comedy Warriors: Healing through humor"

Stopping in the blog about a recent movie review I did for a film called Comedy Warriors: Healing through humor. I reviewed the film right before the Fourth of July holiday which was great timing for the movie. The film's theme is perfect for Veteran's Day, Memorial Days and other Patriotic Holidays. Also perfect if you want to get a glimpse on the lives of wounded warriors.

Here is the trailer for the movie...

It is a documentary. The movie did share some of the humor but it left me wanting to catch these warriors' full comedy set!

Here is a link you can find out more about the project. The film is definitely worth checking out!

A Walk in the Nation's Capital: What's Wrong in America

A small walk in the Nation's Capital reveals a lot about what is wrong with America. A human being shouldn't be laying on a busy sidewalk like a chalk outline. All the people who bustle around, someone should have checked on them. I am guilty as well as the hundreds, the thousands of others who passed by him. Homeless is a problem that needs to be eliminated as well as poverty.

Further down the road I was approached by a Vietnam Veteran begging for money on the same street. A generation (or more) ago our government sent people to fight half way across the world. We've repeated it since then a few times. People who risk their lives for our country shouldn't be reduced to begging in it! Gulf war veterans, Iraqi veterans, Afghanistan veterans is this what your future looks like? I hope not.

I was also approached by an ex-convict who said he was trying to raise funds for a program to rebuild his life. Gee, it looks like prison had  worked for this person. Perhaps he was ready to turn his life around, move away from crime but then he is roadblocked by lack of funds. I told him I couldn't help him due to my circumstances. He shook my hand and told me "Respect." Over  the years I have given to panhandlers. Very few have given me a  warm thank you. Here I turned the guy down but he understood why and respected that. The respect is mutual. If a program is so great it needs to be accessible. This man should be in the program, not begging.

What is even worse than these three stories? The fact the street was full of more of them. Maybe politicians should get a way from the secret service, the office, the cubicles, and take a walk down a street. Open their eyes and ears. 

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.

Homeless Shelter: Passing of a Belt

My youth is fading day by day. My waistline doesn't shrink like it used too. Needless to say I had a couple of belts at home I can't use anymore. Last night a gentleman came in to the homeless shelter and needed a belt. I asked him what size waist he had. Today when I went to the shelter I brought him a belt.

The belt work and he could use it. If it would have stayed at my house it would have been a useless piece of old leather. A big ice and snow storm was on the way tonight so I am glad the shelter was open for the guys who needed it.

There are two Vietnam era veterans at the shelter. There might be more veterans. Why are these veterans homeless? It is a shame. Our country sent them away to fight a war. No matter the politics soldiers, sailors ad airmen put their lives on the line in the name of our country. They deserve our thanks and gratitude. They follow orders. If they can get shot at, suffer all kinds of hell in the name of the country, why can't the country find them a home? They deserve better.

Observations

There is so much I could I blog about. So much has happened since my last post. I usually try to blog for Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. I missed blogging on Memorial Day. However, I would like to touch on that subject now. Over the weekend I attended a Blues Festival. The music was fantastic and I could blog for days just on the different blues act. However, something besides the music stayed with me from the weekend.

I have seen amputees before. However, last weekend I saw more amputees in one day than I had seen in my entire life at this festival. The first one I saw was on Friday. The man was in a wheel chair missing a leg. He appeared to be happy. He was enjoying the festival with his wife and son. He was obviously one of the few, one of the proud Marines. I gathered that by the Marine baseball hat he was wearing. I assumed he lost his leg being a proud Marine in Iraq or Afghanistan. Part of me wanted to go over and tell him thanks.I wanted to ask him if he lost his leg in action. The introverted part of me won out and I never did ask him. I didn't want to upset his happy vibe. I was thinking he probably didn't want to talk about how he lost his leg.

There was another gentleman at the festival who had the look like he was a former military person. He had lost both legs. The loss of his legs barely slowed him down and every time I saw him he appeared to be hustling off here or there.

I volunteered at this festival, on Saturday one of the session musicians entered a gate I was watching. The horn player, wanted to make sure he could park there and showed his artificial leg. He stated he lost his leg in Afghanistan.

I saw a couple who appeared to have peg legs. I thought to myself they must of lost their legs in an accident. The lady always managed to smile. The couple seamed to help one another and they appeared to be a loving a couple. My mind wandered to the terror the two had faced together.

The writer in me, saw stories in each of them. The war hero with his family, the war hero turned musician, the story unknown from the other amputee, and  the pegged legged couple. I never asked for the story but the story was there..

Any way the amputees did bring the latest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan back home to me. The first gulf war was more my generation. I was lucky the people I know made it home in one piece. My friends just went away for a long time. I know people died and I know people were wounded. The people I saw over the weekend brought home the war. Yes I know people paid the ultimate sacrifice in these wars.However, the folks who will live the rest of their lives missing a leg or two while serving for us in our military. They deserve our respect and our thanks regardless of politics.