Veteran's Day

Celebrating our heroes, past and present. Thank you for our freedom.

The Battle of the Somme

The 100th anniversary of The Battle of Somme. 

On July 1, 1916,  20,000 dead and 40,000 wounded, it was the bloodiest single day in British military history.

WW1 forever changed the face of Britain. I personally cannot comprehend the horror these men endured and I am forever in their debt.

The battle was long and horrendous, so many lives lost in a futile war.  The working class lads were cannon fodder and the educated, landed gentry, were the leaders whose ranks were just as decimated.  May we never see the likes again.  May we never forget.

A fitting and respectful tribute from Great Britain.  Say what you will about the Royals, they know how to pay their respects to the fallen.

A Somber Film

The ruins of Berlin in '45.



H/T: IOTW

RIP Leonard Nimoy

Hell Yeah!

Never Forgotten

"Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest
passions known to man." ---V. Nabokov

 "Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death
 should not be an even greater one."
     --- V. Nabokov

Obama Fatigue And The Modesty of George Bush

The wheel of time (with apologies to Robert Jordan) grinds forever forward until we're back where we started, only better.

From the pen of Peggy Noonan:

In all his recent interviews Mr. Bush has been modest, humorous, proud but unassuming, and essentially philosophical: History will decide. No finger-pointing or scoring points. If he feels rancor or resentment he didn't show it. He didn't attempt to manipulate. His sheer normality seemed like a relief, an echo of an older age.

And all this felt like an antidote to Obama—to the imperious I, to the inability to execute, to the endless interviews and the imperturbable drone, to the sense that he is trying to teach us, like an Ivy League instructor taken aback by the backwardness of his students. And there's the unconscious superiority. One thing Mr. Bush didn't think he was was superior. He thought he was luckily born, quick but not deep, and he famously trusted his gut but also his heart. He always seemed moved and grateful to be in the White House. Someone who met with Mr. Obama during his first year in office, an old hand who'd worked with many presidents, came away worried and confounded. Mr. Obama, he said, was the only one who didn't seem awed by his surroundings, or by the presidency itself.

There's more. Read it all. Twice even! Is this a flickering glimmer of sanity from the left? Or am I just dreaming?

Words From A Man Who Knows

This gentleman was a Chinese citizen in Beijing in 1989 and witnessed the slaughter at Tiananmen square. His words are the words of experience.

History and Culture

Courtesy of the Utah State University digital library, here is a wonderful book about the four-corners area of the American southwest. I hope you enjoy the stories and the old photographs!

And On This Day We Honour And Remember Them

Remembrance Day 2012, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.



Video courtesy of Veterans Canada.

Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey.  British soldiers killed in Afganistan.

 

 

 

 

Thank you brave soldiers for your courage and sacrifice.

Television Worth Watching

Canadian television has some original shows. One of best of those shows is a program called "Canada Sings"

The idea of the show is to have employees from two different employers do a "Glee Club" performance in competition with employees from another employer. Each group is competing for a prize -- but that prize is to be given to a specific charity chosen by the group. Even though the performances are done by amateurs, most of them are very enjoyable and are very well done.

The performers are not working as professional dancers or singers, although some of them may have experience along those lines. Earlier this year, members of the Royal Canadian Air Force competed. Their charity was an organization to take care of veterans wounded, disabled, or otherwise physically effected by their service. Some of these service men and women performing were musicians, but none of them were dancers. I don't think any of them were singers, either. But they were competing for something that was important to them and, as service people do, they did was expected of them.

Have a box of Kleenex handy.

July 4th, 2012

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

It's 1775.

Lest We Forget

11/11/11

With humbled hearts and grateful souls we thank and remember all who served and serve, and all who died. And we pay tribute to our fathers:

Lawrence J. Meaney US Army (RadioMattM's father):


Jack Greenwood (Fay's father) British Army.


Please post your tributes to your family members - including YOU. Photo's would be lovely as well.

ODE OF REMEMBRANCE (from the poem "For The Fallen")

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

- Laurence Binyon

THE FINAL INSPECTION (with thanks to Alison)

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’

- Author Unknown


IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

Thanks For The Memories

Delores Hope, wife of Bob, has passed at age 102. I cried when Bob Hope died, and I'm all choked up that Delores has joined him. These two have a special place in the hearts of all military families.



Thank you, dear lady.

A Quiet Sadness Settles Over The Land

A melancholy musical interlude as the sun dips below the green mountains and the first stars begin to twinkle in the eastern sky.

The Chickens Have Come Home To Rooooost....

Jane Fonda is wringing her hands and whining about being unceremoniously dumped by QVC:

Fonda, 73, was supposed to appear on the home shopping network today to promote her upcoming book Prime Time: Love, Health, Sex, Fitness, Friendship, Spirit - Making the most of all of your life.

But she claims angry viewers forced the cable channel to slam the door on her highly promoted appearance.

Awww. What kind of people would do such a mean-spirited thing? Says she:

I am, to say the least, deeply disappointed that QVC caved to this kind of insane pressure by some well funded and organized political extremist groups.

"Political extremist groups" like millions of American vets and their families? Scary bunch.

Hanoi Jane cavorting with the Viet Cong, 1972

Celebrate America!

Memorial Day

Never Again For Anyone...Except If You're A Jew

Charming, a campus event comparing Israeli actions to those of the Nazis.

the group Never Again for Anyone, which is the host of the abhorrent tour, printed on the website for the event that a suggested donation of $5-$20 would be asked for at the door. Only after 200-400 pro-Israel supporters showed up did the event–held in a state school, paid for by both tax dollars and student fees–begin to discriminate who could enter the event free-of-cost.

First, the organizers of the event asked all of those who gathered together in opposition to the event to stand in a separate line and wait for seating to take place. Meanwhile, those in anti-Israel apparel, keffiyahs and hijabs were taken aside, given green wristbands, labeled as event “staff” and given free entrance. At one point, the hosts of the event, which ranged from groups like theInternational Jewish Anti-Zionist Network to the International Socialist Organization, tore apart a suggested donation sign leaving only the admission fee visible. The group then said students could attend free-of-charge if they became members of BAKA.

"...to stand together in a separate line and wait" that phrase made me squirm.

Toe-Tappin' Rockabilly!