Showing posts with label Patriotic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patriotic. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Veteran's Day
Monday, July 25, 2011
Bandaid for the heart
In the town of Stapleton Nebraska is a lady by the name of Monica Harvey, affectionately known by many as "Lil Sis" She is an unassuming lady with a beautiful soul. In 2001 she assumed a ministry that has evolved into the Veterans Music Ministry. She travels from place to place visiting Veterans Homes,Hospitals,and get togethers such as moving walls, and the such. She sings and brings hope to a forgotten generation of warriors. When the World War II vets were welcomed home as the heroes they were, Korea a littel less so, and then a war broke out in some little god forsken corner of the world that very few could locate on the map. We shipped load after load of Sailors, Marines, Sldiers and Airmen, as well as Coasties to that remote place in Southeast Asia. During that timesome 58,000 did not return home, and those who did found a whole different war going on in this country. Those coming home learned to ditch their uniforms, hide their medals, and disguise their outside wounds and just try to blend in. However the wounds that were born on the inside never healed. the ound of the soul and the heart given by a country that they came from, given by their neighbors, school mates, and old friends. These wounds hurt far more than any bullet ever could. They were spat upon, called names and made to feel shame for what they did. As I said these wounds sat and sat day after day, month after month year after year. Many of these men vowed never tolet this happen again, to make every returning warrior feel welcomed when they returned, yet it did not really do anything for the internal anguish that they felt. Then along comes Lil Sis in her little corner of the world, singing to them, hugging them, caring for them, and welcoming them home. In addition she came up with a little trinket she called the healing heart medal. A little pin to be be attached to the hats, vests, and shirts of these mighty men. much beyond her control the name transitioned to the Band-aid for the heart, as that was what it is to these warriors who answered their countries call, adn gave unselfishly of themselves. It was a symbol of a gap being bridged and the wounds of the psyche being pulled together. It is a symbol of caring, and sharing of the pain that they feel. Many wear it proudly, probably more proudly that any medal they received. they wear it with honor and dignity. To them it is the trinket that shows someone really does care, and remembers the sacrifice they made.
From that Ministry sprang hope, love, and trust of a quiet unassuming lady who just wanted to express her gratitude. From her example has sprung the Healing the Heart Ministry ~ Vietnam & Veterans of all Wars and Ann Marie Hatchell, and has inspired me to transform my own Gale Farm Ministry to the Gale Farm Veterans Ministry, reaching out to all our Veterans, because as I personally know, the wounds on the outside will heal and fade, but the wounds on the inside never really do. So welcome home to all my brothers and sisters in uniform welcome home.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Oath
I was reflecting over the last week, with the 11th being Veteran's Day, the Oath of Office I swore some 28 years ago.
I Paul H. Bartoswicz, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
At the time I took that oath it was a very serious thing for me to do. I put a lot of thought into the oath before I swore it in front of the admiral, my pastor, and very close friend Polly. I had just finished a pretty intense training program over the past several months including military history, small arms qualifications, navigation, protocol, and the such. I was about to be commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. In the reflection I had taken upon myself regarding the oath of office I was about to I came to the following conclusions:
I Paul H. Bartoswicz, The one possession that I have that can never be taken away from me is my name, my background...the I Paul H. Bartoswicz, is the one thing that can never be taken from me. I may lose money, I may lose my health, I may lose my freedom, bu the fact is that I am who I will always be, and that can never be changed. My name may change, but me as a person will not. I am a culmination of the experiences of my past.
Do solemnly Swear. I had to make a solemn public affirmation in front of classmates, friends, and officers that I would do something. This affirmation is not to be taken lightly nor without deep soul searching of what it meant to me.
that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States, the one document above all others that sets the course of American life apart form that of any other country. Our founding fathers thought long and hard about what was to be set in stone so to speak as the founding document and guiding light for our great country. It is not a living document as some would try to make you believe, but a foundation for the country to be built, and the guiding light for our illumination through tumultuous times. It is the foundation upon which all other laws guiding our actions must be based, and the template for which the Supreme Court to rely upon for judging the admissibility of those laws. Before i swore this oath, I took the time to read and study the document I would be swearing to defend, and I came to the conclusion that these brave men in the infancy of our country were so wise beyond their years for the guidelines they set up. The electoral college to give all people of the country equal weight in electing the President, and not just leaving it to the heavily populated urban areas. The freedom of the press, the right to bear arms as well as the rest. It is a document and set of ideals well worth defending. I still pick up copies of the Constitution and read it today. It would be my wish that every graduating Senior form High School be given a copy of the Constitution along with their diploma as they set upon their future. We would all benefit from reading it and learning what our founding fathers meant when they set the pen to the parchment it was written upon. (The other document every senior should receive is the Declaration of Independence to give them insight as to what we were leaving behind when we set on the course of history we set upon). With the studying of this great document came the reading of some of the Federalist Papers to get a little better insight to what our founding fathers were trying to do. As a result of this intense research, I found that the Constitution was a document well worth supporting and defending, and that our states must remain United in a common cause.
all enemies, foreign and domestic, we have to remember there are people all around the world as well as within our own country that would love to tear down the structure and the very fabric of life we enjoy on a day to day basis. It was part of my oath that I would defend the country and our way of life from those people and ideologies, with in the confines of the procedures set upon me by the very document I was swearing to defend.
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I interpreted this to mean that I would hold my faith and allegiance to this document the Constitution of the United States as the guiding light of the governance of this country. I had the most trouble with this part as a Christian Man of Faith, in that in Sunday School we were told to swear allegiance to no power but God's. It was only after talking to a chaplain that I was able to overcome tis obstacle to my searing the oath, In that we were not swearing an oath that made the Constitution a divine guidance, but a political guidance for the governance of the country, and that we could hold a faith and allegiance to God as our religious belief, but also a faith and allegiance to the Constitution as the guiding light of our countries political future.
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. I was not coerced, or in any other way forced to swear this oath of affirmation. I was able to do so with a clear conscience, and no wavering, or using as a method of evading any other responsibilities I may have had.
and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. This is an affirmation I try to do in all aspects of my life now as well as then, whether it be my job, my extracurricular interests, my marriage, or my family, I will faithfully execute the responsibilities expected of me in all aspects of my life. I will try to be a builder rather than one to tear down. I will try to be a supporter rather than one to be supported. I will try to be a positive influence, rather than a negative one.
So help me God. My divine guidance, my religious faith is not separate from my civic responsibilities. My life is an intertwining of my religion and my civic duties, and as an American Citizen it is my responsibility to balance the two aspects of my life and not let one over run the other. The very document I was swearing to uphold and defend, was the very document that guaranteed, not the freedom of religion as we hear so often touted, or the freedom from religion that others would have you believe, but the freedom that we would not be imposed with a state sanction religion as they are in so many other parts of the world. We are free to believe and worship as we see fit. The country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but the founding fathers were to weary of making the government the controlling factor in ones religion. So many had come to this country to get away from state mandated religions.
So the oath the I swore that day some 28 years ago was without reservation that I would not be able to uphold the office I was being commissioned into, and is pretty much the same oath the President swears every four years on January 20th. I think we should all reflect on what this oath means as we move forward to that date again this year
I Paul H. Bartoswicz, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
At the time I took that oath it was a very serious thing for me to do. I put a lot of thought into the oath before I swore it in front of the admiral, my pastor, and very close friend Polly. I had just finished a pretty intense training program over the past several months including military history, small arms qualifications, navigation, protocol, and the such. I was about to be commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. In the reflection I had taken upon myself regarding the oath of office I was about to I came to the following conclusions:
I Paul H. Bartoswicz, The one possession that I have that can never be taken away from me is my name, my background...the I Paul H. Bartoswicz, is the one thing that can never be taken from me. I may lose money, I may lose my health, I may lose my freedom, bu the fact is that I am who I will always be, and that can never be changed. My name may change, but me as a person will not. I am a culmination of the experiences of my past.
Do solemnly Swear. I had to make a solemn public affirmation in front of classmates, friends, and officers that I would do something. This affirmation is not to be taken lightly nor without deep soul searching of what it meant to me.
that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States, the one document above all others that sets the course of American life apart form that of any other country. Our founding fathers thought long and hard about what was to be set in stone so to speak as the founding document and guiding light for our great country. It is not a living document as some would try to make you believe, but a foundation for the country to be built, and the guiding light for our illumination through tumultuous times. It is the foundation upon which all other laws guiding our actions must be based, and the template for which the Supreme Court to rely upon for judging the admissibility of those laws. Before i swore this oath, I took the time to read and study the document I would be swearing to defend, and I came to the conclusion that these brave men in the infancy of our country were so wise beyond their years for the guidelines they set up. The electoral college to give all people of the country equal weight in electing the President, and not just leaving it to the heavily populated urban areas. The freedom of the press, the right to bear arms as well as the rest. It is a document and set of ideals well worth defending. I still pick up copies of the Constitution and read it today. It would be my wish that every graduating Senior form High School be given a copy of the Constitution along with their diploma as they set upon their future. We would all benefit from reading it and learning what our founding fathers meant when they set the pen to the parchment it was written upon. (The other document every senior should receive is the Declaration of Independence to give them insight as to what we were leaving behind when we set on the course of history we set upon). With the studying of this great document came the reading of some of the Federalist Papers to get a little better insight to what our founding fathers were trying to do. As a result of this intense research, I found that the Constitution was a document well worth supporting and defending, and that our states must remain United in a common cause.
all enemies, foreign and domestic, we have to remember there are people all around the world as well as within our own country that would love to tear down the structure and the very fabric of life we enjoy on a day to day basis. It was part of my oath that I would defend the country and our way of life from those people and ideologies, with in the confines of the procedures set upon me by the very document I was swearing to defend.
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I interpreted this to mean that I would hold my faith and allegiance to this document the Constitution of the United States as the guiding light of the governance of this country. I had the most trouble with this part as a Christian Man of Faith, in that in Sunday School we were told to swear allegiance to no power but God's. It was only after talking to a chaplain that I was able to overcome tis obstacle to my searing the oath, In that we were not swearing an oath that made the Constitution a divine guidance, but a political guidance for the governance of the country, and that we could hold a faith and allegiance to God as our religious belief, but also a faith and allegiance to the Constitution as the guiding light of our countries political future.
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. I was not coerced, or in any other way forced to swear this oath of affirmation. I was able to do so with a clear conscience, and no wavering, or using as a method of evading any other responsibilities I may have had.
and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. This is an affirmation I try to do in all aspects of my life now as well as then, whether it be my job, my extracurricular interests, my marriage, or my family, I will faithfully execute the responsibilities expected of me in all aspects of my life. I will try to be a builder rather than one to tear down. I will try to be a supporter rather than one to be supported. I will try to be a positive influence, rather than a negative one.
So help me God. My divine guidance, my religious faith is not separate from my civic responsibilities. My life is an intertwining of my religion and my civic duties, and as an American Citizen it is my responsibility to balance the two aspects of my life and not let one over run the other. The very document I was swearing to uphold and defend, was the very document that guaranteed, not the freedom of religion as we hear so often touted, or the freedom from religion that others would have you believe, but the freedom that we would not be imposed with a state sanction religion as they are in so many other parts of the world. We are free to believe and worship as we see fit. The country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but the founding fathers were to weary of making the government the controlling factor in ones religion. So many had come to this country to get away from state mandated religions.
So the oath the I swore that day some 28 years ago was without reservation that I would not be able to uphold the office I was being commissioned into, and is pretty much the same oath the President swears every four years on January 20th. I think we should all reflect on what this oath means as we move forward to that date again this year
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election
I have been uncharacteristically quiet over the last several weeks as this election heated up into the media frenzy it has become. I am an avid upholder of the Constitution and the intent of our forefathers when they penned that great document that has been the blueprint for our civilization for the last 200 plus years. We separated ourselves from the despotic rule that the English had held over the colonies, and in doing so penned one of the greatest documents guaranteeing personal freedoms that has ever been written.
John McCain was not my first choice of candidates for the Presidency of the Unites States, however he is the candidate that the Republican Party has chosen to be the candidate to represent them in the race for the Presidency and he is now my choice for President of the United States. In supporting my choice of Candidates I have been called a racist bigot, yet those that know me know that it is far from the truth. I believe all humans are born equal with the ability endowed upon them by God to become whatever they may decide to become. My lack of support for one Barack Obama has nothing to do with race, and more to do with his lack of coming clean with the American people. When I swore my oath in 1980 to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to follow the legal orders of the Officers appointed over me (which include the postion of the Commander in Chief, POTUS, President of the United States) I subjected myself to a background check that was very extensive and thorough. I had to meet certain criteria in order to hold the position I was being considered for. My life became an open book so to speak. Barack Obama is not willing to let the information out that I had to let be known in order to hold my security clearance, and the clearance Obama would hold is much higher than the clearance I had.
I recieved this information in my e-mail this morning and it really makes you think, what is Obama trying to hide...
John McCain was not my first choice of candidates for the Presidency of the Unites States, however he is the candidate that the Republican Party has chosen to be the candidate to represent them in the race for the Presidency and he is now my choice for President of the United States. In supporting my choice of Candidates I have been called a racist bigot, yet those that know me know that it is far from the truth. I believe all humans are born equal with the ability endowed upon them by God to become whatever they may decide to become. My lack of support for one Barack Obama has nothing to do with race, and more to do with his lack of coming clean with the American people. When I swore my oath in 1980 to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to follow the legal orders of the Officers appointed over me (which include the postion of the Commander in Chief, POTUS, President of the United States) I subjected myself to a background check that was very extensive and thorough. I had to meet certain criteria in order to hold the position I was being considered for. My life became an open book so to speak. Barack Obama is not willing to let the information out that I had to let be known in order to hold my security clearance, and the clearance Obama would hold is much higher than the clearance I had.
I recieved this information in my e-mail this morning and it really makes you think, what is Obama trying to hide...
A Guy named Joe, who happens to be a plumber with ambitions for a bigger business, questioned and challenged a Guy named Barack, who happens to be running for President of the US/Leader of the Free World. And within 24 hours The Media has given us more information about Joe's life than they've given us about Barack's life in the past 18 months!
Thanks to a diligent press corps, we now know about Joe's professional licensing status, his income tax situation, his employment history, his domestic squabbles, his voting record, everything associated with his personal identity; his education. It's probably been reported somewhere whether he wears boxers or briefs.
Thanks to a lazy press corps we still don't know
1) what grades Obama made in college
2) how he got into Harvard
3) when he met Bill "the bomber" Ayers
4) when he stopped doing illegal drugs
5) his medical history
6) whether he still smokes cigarettes
7) the extent of his affiliation with socialist/communist organizations
8) why he's no longer a licensed attorney
9) whether he lied on his Bar application
10) whether he'd qualify for a security clearance if he were just an "average joe"
11) what passport he used to travel to Pakistan in 1981
12) who his ex-girlfriends are
13) whether he was or still is an Indonesian citizen
14) why his Kenyan grandmother insists he was born there
15) whether he was ever legally named Barry Soetoro or anything else besides Barack Hussein Obama
16) why he needed the help of a crook to purchase his family home
17) where he was on Nov. 6 and 7, 1999
18) what the long-version of his birth certificate says
19) why he helped an anti-American, pro-Islamic candidate for Kenyan President against US interests
20) why he listened to Rev. Wright's sermons for 20 years
21) how many times he took his kids to a Rev. Wright sermon
22) what he actually did as chair of the Annenberg Challenge
23) the depth of his relationship with ACORN
Thanks to a diligent press corps, we now know about Joe's professional licensing status, his income tax situation, his employment history, his domestic squabbles, his voting record, everything associated with his personal identity; his education. It's probably been reported somewhere whether he wears boxers or briefs.
Thanks to a lazy press corps we still don't know
1) what grades Obama made in college
2) how he got into Harvard
3) when he met Bill "the bomber" Ayers
4) when he stopped doing illegal drugs
5) his medical history
6) whether he still smokes cigarettes
7) the extent of his affiliation with socialist/communist organizations
8) why he's no longer a licensed attorney
9) whether he lied on his Bar application
10) whether he'd qualify for a security clearance if he were just an "average joe"
11) what passport he used to travel to Pakistan in 1981
12) who his ex-girlfriends are
13) whether he was or still is an Indonesian citizen
14) why his Kenyan grandmother insists he was born there
15) whether he was ever legally named Barry Soetoro or anything else besides Barack Hussein Obama
16) why he needed the help of a crook to purchase his family home
17) where he was on Nov. 6 and 7, 1999
18) what the long-version of his birth certificate says
19) why he helped an anti-American, pro-Islamic candidate for Kenyan President against US interests
20) why he listened to Rev. Wright's sermons for 20 years
21) how many times he took his kids to a Rev. Wright sermon
22) what he actually did as chair of the Annenberg Challenge
23) the depth of his relationship with ACORN
Well, you get the idea.
But, really, I am SO relieved that the Mainstream Media has done its job vetting Joe The Plumber, who is NOT running for public office, but who had the AUDACITY to challenge Barack Obama, who wants my vote for President of the United States of America."
Think what you may of McCain and Palin but their lives are open books compared to Obama. When questioned about his being born in Panama, McCain produced his birth certificate, revealing that he was born to American parents. His father a Naval Officer, his mother and American Citizen, He was born under military jurisdiction thus make him an an American Citizen by birth..
The argument is being made that Srah Palin is not qualified to be Vice President of the United States, when she was a Governor and a Mayor. Obama was a senator for 140 days before deciding to run for President of the United States. He was an assemblyman and a community organizer before that. So I guess that autmatically qualifies him to be President of the United States.
In closing I urge every person to go out and vote. it is our Constitutionally right to be able to cast a vote for the President of the United States and every other elected office of this country. Whether you agree with me or not about my choice for President, exercise your right to vote for President.
Think what you may of McCain and Palin but their lives are open books compared to Obama. When questioned about his being born in Panama, McCain produced his birth certificate, revealing that he was born to American parents. His father a Naval Officer, his mother and American Citizen, He was born under military jurisdiction thus make him an an American Citizen by birth..
The argument is being made that Srah Palin is not qualified to be Vice President of the United States, when she was a Governor and a Mayor. Obama was a senator for 140 days before deciding to run for President of the United States. He was an assemblyman and a community organizer before that. So I guess that autmatically qualifies him to be President of the United States.
In closing I urge every person to go out and vote. it is our Constitutionally right to be able to cast a vote for the President of the United States and every other elected office of this country. Whether you agree with me or not about my choice for President, exercise your right to vote for President.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
I need Your Help
My family has been on a terrific journey for the last 23 years. We are a family that steps up to the plate and helps people and groups when they need help. It is not uncommon for us to spend our vacations and free time helping out in some volunteer capacity. To me it can be much more rewarding and relaxing then just laying around on a beach somewhere. I have bitten in lately to several projects which are to say the least huge.
A minor project which is no less important than any of the others is where I need the help right now. In an effort to collect can tabs for the Shriners Hospital of Boston
One man's trash is another man's treasure, and in this case the little aluminum can tabs are collected at approximately 1300 tabs to a pound. The tabs are sorted and then sold for recycling value to help pay for the Shriners Hospital of Boston which provides free care to children up to 18 years of age.
My family is undertaking a collection drive for these tabs, and help raise money for this much needed project. I need 5 gallon buckets to help in the collection and storage of these tabs. I strongly encourage anyone to collect these tabs, and if you have clean 5 gallon containers that we can use at collection sites and for storage in my barn I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Please e-mail me at bartoswicz@roadrunner.com
A minor project which is no less important than any of the others is where I need the help right now. In an effort to collect can tabs for the Shriners Hospital of Boston
One man's trash is another man's treasure, and in this case the little aluminum can tabs are collected at approximately 1300 tabs to a pound. The tabs are sorted and then sold for recycling value to help pay for the Shriners Hospital of Boston which provides free care to children up to 18 years of age.
My family is undertaking a collection drive for these tabs, and help raise money for this much needed project. I need 5 gallon buckets to help in the collection and storage of these tabs. I strongly encourage anyone to collect these tabs, and if you have clean 5 gallon containers that we can use at collection sites and for storage in my barn I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Please e-mail me at bartoswicz@roadrunner.com
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Offended
I am offended by this picture of Christine Agullera holding her baby wrapped in an American Flag. The American Flag is not an article of clothing, nor is it a blanket in which to wrap a baby. The American Flag is supposed to fly free and wave in the breeze.
My other pet peeve are people who put a flag up in their yard then just leave it their until it it is all tattered an torn and then continue to leave it there. Please folks when the flag is worn you take it down fold it respectfully and take to an American Legion or VFW post and they will dispose of the flags in the prescribed manner in a respectful way. The only time the flag should be a cover is the casket of a President or a Veteran , or military personnel killed during their time of service.
The flag is to be revered and honored. The colors are not to be treated disrespectfully, nor is it to touch the ground. It is to fly high and free unfettered, and to be shown the respect that would be shown to all who served in the uniform of this great country in order to protect the flag.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Service
I was at part of the towns Fourth Celebration this morning at the parade, and someone asked me why I had joined the service when I did. I went in after Vietnam when people still treated servicemen badly. I didn't even have to think about it. I pointed to a flag that was waving proudly in the breeze, and said that is why. I was born in country where you can be anything you put your mind to.There are no guarantees, but if you work hard and apply yourself and have a solid plan behind you you can achieve just about anything. There are those who say the American Dream is dead,that there is nothing you can do about it.I say that is bull crap and you can still achieve if you desire to. We live in a country where regardless of the station of your birth you can become active in the political function of the country. Regardless of your status at birth you can become a business leader. College dropouts can become one of the richest men not only in the country but the world.
This is why I joined the military and served my time. I believe it is the duty of each of us to put something back into this country without thought of personal gain. For me it service time in the Navy, for others it may be the Peace Corps, or Teach America. In Israel every person has to serve in the military for a certain amount of time. I do realize that some people are not cut out for the military, but there is some level of service they can give back. I carry this philosophy forward with me to this day, I try to give back to the community I live in by making a better, more enjoyable place to live in. I don't do it for personal gain, I don't do it to get my face plastered all over the paper because of all the great things I do. I do it because it is the right thing to do, and I do it because it helps the people of my community. I do it to see the smiles on the faces of people who benefit because I do it. Personally I get frustrated by the people who ask, "What's in it for me to do this?"
When I can I love to anonymously leave a Thanksgiving Basket for someone who is having a tough time of it. I also love to buy presents for Christmas for people who might otherwise have anything. Having been on the receiving side of the coin at Christmas one year I can tell you personally how it feels to have some one think of you in a time of need like that. Some years like this year I am struggling to put food on the table to feed my own family, so I can't do as I would like, but other years I can be very generous, and I love to be. People seem to look for my ulterior motive when I do things like that, but believe me there is none, my only reward is because I know it is the right thing to do, and to to see the smile on the face of someone who benefits. My wish is to have foundation that can just help families in need, and not have to worry so much about my own needs all the time, and God willing it will come, but in the mean time to see the smile on a little boys face when he finds the quarters that just happened to fall out of my pocket on the way into the store, when I know his dad is having a hard time of it, and the little boy would like a candy bar every now and then. That says it all. I served my country proudly in uniform, and would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to, but I also enjoy serving my community and fellow man when I have the ability and the chance.
This is why I joined the military and served my time. I believe it is the duty of each of us to put something back into this country without thought of personal gain. For me it service time in the Navy, for others it may be the Peace Corps, or Teach America. In Israel every person has to serve in the military for a certain amount of time. I do realize that some people are not cut out for the military, but there is some level of service they can give back. I carry this philosophy forward with me to this day, I try to give back to the community I live in by making a better, more enjoyable place to live in. I don't do it for personal gain, I don't do it to get my face plastered all over the paper because of all the great things I do. I do it because it is the right thing to do, and I do it because it helps the people of my community. I do it to see the smiles on the faces of people who benefit because I do it. Personally I get frustrated by the people who ask, "What's in it for me to do this?"
When I can I love to anonymously leave a Thanksgiving Basket for someone who is having a tough time of it. I also love to buy presents for Christmas for people who might otherwise have anything. Having been on the receiving side of the coin at Christmas one year I can tell you personally how it feels to have some one think of you in a time of need like that. Some years like this year I am struggling to put food on the table to feed my own family, so I can't do as I would like, but other years I can be very generous, and I love to be. People seem to look for my ulterior motive when I do things like that, but believe me there is none, my only reward is because I know it is the right thing to do, and to to see the smile on the face of someone who benefits. My wish is to have foundation that can just help families in need, and not have to worry so much about my own needs all the time, and God willing it will come, but in the mean time to see the smile on a little boys face when he finds the quarters that just happened to fall out of my pocket on the way into the store, when I know his dad is having a hard time of it, and the little boy would like a candy bar every now and then. That says it all. I served my country proudly in uniform, and would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to, but I also enjoy serving my community and fellow man when I have the ability and the chance.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Fair Treatment from Fair Point
In the idyllic town of Tamworth New Hampshire, nestled at the base of the White Mountains just north east of Lake Winnepesaukee a group of dedicated veterans and other volunteers resurrected a veteran's memorial updating the names and adding markers. In this same community FairPoint Communications worked hard to take over the communications service from Verizon, as it did for all of Norther New England, and many of these veterans supported the buyout. One of the publicity ads supporting the buyout by FairPoint was how they wanted to be part of the community and work with the communities they are in.
Now a little bit of history and I do hope I get this entirely correct, but this band of volunteers who updated the memorial approached Verizon who at that time owned the pole seen in the picture that detracts form the solemnness of the hallowed memorial. Verizon told this group they would relocate the pole for $30,000. No FairPoint comes on the scene and when this intrepid group approaches FairPoint the price jumps to $42,000 but magnanimously offers to defray $12,200 of this cost from their "Community and Economic Development Fund" bringing the price to $29,800 a savings of a whole $200 over the cost that Verizon quoted originally. Jeffery Allen Executive Vice President for External Relations of FairPoint also suggested that the committee contact the Power Company and the Cable Company to get their donations for the movement of this pole. If FairPoint was truly interested in the community they would work with their tenants on the poles and find a suitable and expedient solution to this distasteful problem. With the amount of money people pay the phone companies for their service, and the state of the competition of the cable companies are giving the phone companies for internet and communications, you would think that FairPoint would be eager to generate the goodwill that moving these poles would bring.
Please let FairPoint know what you think of this atrocity in the middle of the Tamworth Veterans Memorial
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Moving Wall Part IV
Brenda, who blogs under the page ENROUTE 365 posted a comment on my last post...."I was just wondering if there were any commonalities in the stories told during this event? Or any thoughts on what you think the greatest benefits are from events like this? Obviously it's good for the young to learn and understand part of the country's history. But it's good for us adults, too. A cousin of mine who served in Vietnam is now also just started to discuss his war experiences ... something that I think is good for us, his family, as well as for him."
I think it is time to answer these questions. There is a commonality of the stories I have heard on this occasion and it is that of putting a face on the name of the wall. giving a more human look on the causalities. We have to remember that these are more than just names on a piece of aluminum in the case of the moving wall, or marble in the case of the Memorial in Washington.. These were people, who had brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives, and sons, and daughters. They were people who lived, loved, laughed and cried. They were scared, and bewildered in a foreign land. I talked to a man who had left a can of beer in front of his friends name because he owed him a drink from their last time on liberty. Another Veteran left 29 cents at the wall because he had borrowed it from his buddy to buy a pack of cigarettes the morning before he was killed, and this was the first time he was able to pay him back. A veteran from Iraq left his CID (combat infantry badge) and jump wings in tribute to all who lost their lives in Vietnam. In church this morning they showed a video that talked about Milton Oliver III who won the Medal of Honor because he picked up a live grenade cradled it to his stomach and then fell on top of it to protect his platoon. My 21 year old daughter picked some lilacs and left them in front of panel 9 East in honor of this brave man to let him know that people in New Hampshire appreciated his ultimate sacrifice. A veteran came under the cover of darkness to visit the wall as he walked along the wall looking at the ground ahead of him. He could not bring himself to look at the wall. I walked over to him in my camouflage shirt with my ribbons on it, I took his hand and said Welcome Home. He looked at me, then the bars on my collar, his eyes then glanced down to the ribbons on my chest, he dropped my hand and gave a bear hug, thanked me then wished me a welcome home. The next thing I knew we were walking across the field to the name tent to look up the only name he remembered, we then walked back to the wall and looked up the name as John then stood there and told me how this kid had just come the the United States from Turkey, and could barely speak English, but he joined the Marines, and he was one hell of a Marine. He died one night on patrol when he stepped on a mine. When he heard the click he froze, and warned the rest of the squad to get out of the way before he lifted his foot off the mine. John then sat on the bench in front of the east wall and told me in tearful eyes, how he was transfered to another platoon, never had a chance to get to know all the guys in the platoon, but they were ambushed . He couldn't remember any of their names but he knew the date, so I gave him the link to the wall website in Washington so he could do a search by the date of casualty. He then told me what happened, they were on the top of a hill when an artillery round landed right in front of him. He was wounded but the impact of the shell mainly mushroomed up over the top of him. The only survivors were the four closest to the impact. He was going to go home and do a search and get their names. We talked for an hour and he gave me another hug and walked out of the field with his head held high.
A woman asked me to help with a rubbing, as we rubbed the name she told me about her brother that she had hardly known because he was 12 years older than her, who had proudly enlisted in the Navy only to be killed when the tragic fire happened on the Forrestal.
We had a gentleman drive from Bangor Maine about 4 hours because he heard the Moving Wall was coming to us, and he felt it was finally time to say goodbye to some long lost friends. Another gentleman came to the name tent with a long list of names on tattered crinkled paper, as the volunteers looked up the names they could only find one fo the names, they wrote down the location of that one name, and while handing it to the man they apologized for not finding more of the names for him. He wiped a tear form his eye, and told them not to apologize, because the list of names were of guys he had served with, but lost contact with, he was very sure of the spelling he had for each man so if their names were not in the directory, then they had lived and he could finally put his nightmares to rest.
In my case even though I did not serve in Vietnam it finally gave me the chance to put some demons of my own to rest by sharing these stories with men who had gone through Hell and back. Even those who had never serve were able to put heir hand on someones back while their heads were bent in sobs over names of friends who never came back.
I strongly suggest if you have the chance to work on an event like this the rewards you get back far exceed any inconveniences to you for the time you spent doing the event. Every man woman and child that worked here is walking away from it much richer in their lives for the stories they hear. One lady walked over to me gave me a huge bear hug, kissed me on the cheek and thanked me for my service, and all I could do is croak out a thank you to her as I tried to hold back my tears. The children were very respectful and some kids got to meet the memory of a grandfather they never knew. I know my kids are walking away much richer for the time they spent at the Wall. The high school students who came to help set up were working shoulder to shoulder with battle hardened veterans, and hearing their stories.
Talking and crying are good at an event like this and it allows people to voice the demons that have haunted them for years. It is very important for our kids to learn the history of our past for those who do not study their past is doomed to repeat it. One of the greatest men I had the opportunity to meet during this visit is Major Frank McCarthy USMC. He is a Marines Marine, and presented opening remarks for the Wall on Friday night, his talk did not leave a dry eye. My intention was to leave a wreath for the Sailors and Marines who lost their lives in Beirut when the Marine Barracks were bombed,Frank found out about this and informed me there would be a formal wreath laying at 1600 hours Saturday, and all I could say was "Yes Sir" Frank then dug up another Veteran of Beirut and got us in formation and He made a small speech and and saluted me as I laid the cross I had purchased for my quiet impromptu wreath laying. When we dismissed the formation, Frank Saluted me and said "Well done Sailor, now you are Home". Another battle hardened Vietnam Veteran took my hand, placed them on my ribbons, and told me you've done well sir, you've done well.
I think it is time to answer these questions. There is a commonality of the stories I have heard on this occasion and it is that of putting a face on the name of the wall. giving a more human look on the causalities. We have to remember that these are more than just names on a piece of aluminum in the case of the moving wall, or marble in the case of the Memorial in Washington.. These were people, who had brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives, and sons, and daughters. They were people who lived, loved, laughed and cried. They were scared, and bewildered in a foreign land. I talked to a man who had left a can of beer in front of his friends name because he owed him a drink from their last time on liberty. Another Veteran left 29 cents at the wall because he had borrowed it from his buddy to buy a pack of cigarettes the morning before he was killed, and this was the first time he was able to pay him back. A veteran from Iraq left his CID (combat infantry badge) and jump wings in tribute to all who lost their lives in Vietnam. In church this morning they showed a video that talked about Milton Oliver III who won the Medal of Honor because he picked up a live grenade cradled it to his stomach and then fell on top of it to protect his platoon. My 21 year old daughter picked some lilacs and left them in front of panel 9 East in honor of this brave man to let him know that people in New Hampshire appreciated his ultimate sacrifice. A veteran came under the cover of darkness to visit the wall as he walked along the wall looking at the ground ahead of him. He could not bring himself to look at the wall. I walked over to him in my camouflage shirt with my ribbons on it, I took his hand and said Welcome Home. He looked at me, then the bars on my collar, his eyes then glanced down to the ribbons on my chest, he dropped my hand and gave a bear hug, thanked me then wished me a welcome home. The next thing I knew we were walking across the field to the name tent to look up the only name he remembered, we then walked back to the wall and looked up the name as John then stood there and told me how this kid had just come the the United States from Turkey, and could barely speak English, but he joined the Marines, and he was one hell of a Marine. He died one night on patrol when he stepped on a mine. When he heard the click he froze, and warned the rest of the squad to get out of the way before he lifted his foot off the mine. John then sat on the bench in front of the east wall and told me in tearful eyes, how he was transfered to another platoon, never had a chance to get to know all the guys in the platoon, but they were ambushed . He couldn't remember any of their names but he knew the date, so I gave him the link to the wall website in Washington so he could do a search by the date of casualty. He then told me what happened, they were on the top of a hill when an artillery round landed right in front of him. He was wounded but the impact of the shell mainly mushroomed up over the top of him. The only survivors were the four closest to the impact. He was going to go home and do a search and get their names. We talked for an hour and he gave me another hug and walked out of the field with his head held high.
A woman asked me to help with a rubbing, as we rubbed the name she told me about her brother that she had hardly known because he was 12 years older than her, who had proudly enlisted in the Navy only to be killed when the tragic fire happened on the Forrestal.
We had a gentleman drive from Bangor Maine about 4 hours because he heard the Moving Wall was coming to us, and he felt it was finally time to say goodbye to some long lost friends. Another gentleman came to the name tent with a long list of names on tattered crinkled paper, as the volunteers looked up the names they could only find one fo the names, they wrote down the location of that one name, and while handing it to the man they apologized for not finding more of the names for him. He wiped a tear form his eye, and told them not to apologize, because the list of names were of guys he had served with, but lost contact with, he was very sure of the spelling he had for each man so if their names were not in the directory, then they had lived and he could finally put his nightmares to rest.
In my case even though I did not serve in Vietnam it finally gave me the chance to put some demons of my own to rest by sharing these stories with men who had gone through Hell and back. Even those who had never serve were able to put heir hand on someones back while their heads were bent in sobs over names of friends who never came back.
I strongly suggest if you have the chance to work on an event like this the rewards you get back far exceed any inconveniences to you for the time you spent doing the event. Every man woman and child that worked here is walking away from it much richer in their lives for the stories they hear. One lady walked over to me gave me a huge bear hug, kissed me on the cheek and thanked me for my service, and all I could do is croak out a thank you to her as I tried to hold back my tears. The children were very respectful and some kids got to meet the memory of a grandfather they never knew. I know my kids are walking away much richer for the time they spent at the Wall. The high school students who came to help set up were working shoulder to shoulder with battle hardened veterans, and hearing their stories.
Talking and crying are good at an event like this and it allows people to voice the demons that have haunted them for years. It is very important for our kids to learn the history of our past for those who do not study their past is doomed to repeat it. One of the greatest men I had the opportunity to meet during this visit is Major Frank McCarthy USMC. He is a Marines Marine, and presented opening remarks for the Wall on Friday night, his talk did not leave a dry eye. My intention was to leave a wreath for the Sailors and Marines who lost their lives in Beirut when the Marine Barracks were bombed,Frank found out about this and informed me there would be a formal wreath laying at 1600 hours Saturday, and all I could say was "Yes Sir" Frank then dug up another Veteran of Beirut and got us in formation and He made a small speech and and saluted me as I laid the cross I had purchased for my quiet impromptu wreath laying. When we dismissed the formation, Frank Saluted me and said "Well done Sailor, now you are Home". Another battle hardened Vietnam Veteran took my hand, placed them on my ribbons, and told me you've done well sir, you've done well.
The Moving Wall Part III
This is going to be a very simple short post as all I want to say is Thank You.
Thank You to David and Susan for letting me help
Thank You to all who came
Thank You to all who shared their stories
Thank You to Major Frank McCarthy for helping me put some problems to rest
Remember on this Memorial Day on Monday, that Freedom is not Free, and that all our soldiers, sailors and airman gave some, and some gave ALL.
Thank You to David and Susan for letting me help
Thank You to all who came
Thank You to all who shared their stories
Thank You to Major Frank McCarthy for helping me put some problems to rest
Remember on this Memorial Day on Monday, that Freedom is not Free, and that all our soldiers, sailors and airman gave some, and some gave ALL.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Moving Wall Part 2
Today was the second day of the moving wall and I had the honor again in being the Officer of the Day. We had quite a few schools come in today and learn about Vietnam and the men who fought there. The National Guard brought in a Huey today for a display the kids loved it. Again I was totally impressed with the quality and range of questions the kids had. They were also very impressive in their behavior and the respect they showed The Wall and the 58,246 men and women whose names are listed their.
I ran into a Marine tonight who visited the wall and for the first time he was able to look up the name of a kid he knew g who was killed over their. We stood in the V of the wall and discussed the his service in country and the men he knew. I am learning so much working on this event and bringing closure to an aspect of my life.
I ran into a Marine tonight who visited the wall and for the first time he was able to look up the name of a kid he knew g who was killed over their. We stood in the V of the wall and discussed the his service in country and the men he knew. I am learning so much working on this event and bringing closure to an aspect of my life.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Wall Part 1
We worked hard this morning. After we had received the bad news that the driving force behind the Wall David Dube was in an accident on his way to meet the Wall in Tamworth. He required 20 stitches in his head and back. After things got sorted out we ramped up into full speed when it arrived in Constitution Park. A group of High School students from Kingswood came to help with the assembly. They were such a joy to watch, eager to work, and willing to learn. The wall went together without incident, and we were pretty much open for business by noon. While the attendance at any one time was not very high, it was a steady stream all afternoon into the evening. I stayed until about 8:45 and to see it lit up was inspiring.
I so hope many people take advantage of this visit to the area, and visit this tribute to our Vietnam Veterans, and grasp how many of our finest young men didn't come home from that remote area of the world to see their loved ones
I so hope many people take advantage of this visit to the area, and visit this tribute to our Vietnam Veterans, and grasp how many of our finest young men didn't come home from that remote area of the world to see their loved ones
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