July 4th To Our Military

Amidst the fireworks, hamburgers, hotdogs, Family, Friends, picnics, outings, the greatest is our Military.

For those in the Military are the ones whom continue to keep America the "land of the free" and they are proof that America truly is "the home of the brave"

Thank You Troops!:

(The Sign of Thanks)   Happy Fourth of July! 

July 4th is our 1st and oldest military holiday.

The Meaning of July Fourth for the African Americans by Frederick Douglass (A speech given at Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852)


Independence Day on the Net - Did You Know: 4th of July

Thanks for Giving Troops!

A Soldier's Thanksgiving Day Poem
By Marcy Mobley, published Nov 12, 2008

I know we are at war,
But I hear change is in sight
Instead of family and friends for Thanksgiving you will
Chow with your comrades tonight
One to your left, the other to your right.
Your regiment, your battalion,
Have now become family and friends
Living day to day in a personal sacrifice
On a mission to defend.
You are the hero's who's faces we may never get to see
But the pride and glory that's lives in a soldier heart
Biers one word
"Integrity"
On this day
We give thanks and honor to those brave and true
Our banners, we will proudly wave
The Red, White, and Blue
We will give our thanks not only to our god
but also to every soldier for our bounties, that be.
For they give meaning to words
Home of the brave Land of the Free.
To the soldiers in the mess hall
Eating their thanksgiving feast,
to the troops in the desert eating another
Meal ready to eat.
May peace, hope and strength
Travel with you along the way
And may these wishes find you
On A Soldiers Thanksgiving day.

For our brethren Vets and Family whom on Thanksgiving have a Vacant Chair:

“The Vacant Chair was written to commemorate the death of John William Grout (1843–1861), a Union soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts, and an 1859 graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover."

Memorial Day

For all Men and Women of the United States Armed Services who have taken the The United States Military Oath of Allegiance:

I, ____________, do solemnly swear, or affirm, 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.

America Thanks You!

And in remembrance of those lives lost for the price of our many Freedoms, a modern rendition of:

Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping
Words by G.W.R.
Music by Mrs. L. Nella Sweet

published 1867

Kneel where our loves are sleeping, Dear ones days gone by,
Here we bow in holy reverence, Our bosoms heave the heartfelt sigh.
They fell like brave men (women), true as steel, And pour’d their blood like rain,
We feel we owe them all we have, And can but weep and kneel again.

CHORUS
Kneel where our loves are sleeping, They lost but still were good and true,
Our fathers, brothers (mothers, sisters) fell still fighting, We weep, ‘tis all that we can do.

VERSE 2:
Here we find our noble dead, Their spirits soar’d to him above,
Rest they now about his throne, For God is mercy, God is love.
Then let us pray that we may live, As pure and good as they have been,
That dying we may ask of him, To open the gate and let us in.

CHORUS
Kneel where our loves are sleeping, They lost but still were good and true,
Our fathers, brothers (mothers, sisters) fell still fighting, We weep, ‘tis all that we can do."


Memorial Day - Arlington (Trace Adkins)

Smithsonian Institution: Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?

Labor Day

Foremost to our Military, all those deployed... Thank You. To all in the work force, those actually in labor :), to the many unemployed waiting to labor; during this holiday of sales – picnics - BBQs - and gathering abouts:

Let's remember all those throughout history who have made this Holiday possible!

Dropkick Murphys Workers Song Lyrics

Yeh, this one's for the workers who toil night and day

By hand and by brain to earn your pay
Who for centuries long past for no more than your bread
Have bled for your countries and counted your dead

In the factories and mills, in the shipyards and mines
We've often been told to keep up with the times
For our skills are not needed, they've streamlined the job
And with sliderule and stopwatch our pride they have robbed

CHORUS:

We're the first ones to starve (start with) the first ones to die
The first ones in line for that pie-in-the-sky
And we're always the last when (they gravyish it out) the cream is shared out
For the worker is working when the fat cat's about

And when the sky darkens and the prospect is war
Who's given a gun and then pushed to the fore
And expected to die for the land of our birth
Though we've never owned one lousy handful of earth?

CHORUS (x3)

All of these things the worker has done
From tilling the fields to carrying the gun
We've been yoked to the plough since time first began
And always expected to carry the can

We Salute Our Troops

The Things That Make a Soldier Great by Edgar A. Guest

The things that make a soldier great and send him out to die,
To face the flaming cannon's mouth nor ever question why,
Are lilacs by a little porch, the row of tulips red,
The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed,
The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the wall:
'Tis these that make a soldier great. He's fighting for them all.

'Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a soldier brave;
'Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave;
For soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam
As when behind the cause they see the little place called home.
Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run,
You make a soldier of the man who never bore a gun.

What is it through the battle smoke the valiant soldier sees?
The little garden far away, the budding apple trees,
The little patch of ground back there, the children at their play,
Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray.
The golden thread of courage isn't linked to castle dome
But to the spot, where'er it be--the humble spot called home.

And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there
And homesick soldiers far away know spring is in the air;
The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green,
And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been.
He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call,
And only death can stop him now--he's fightin' for them all.

September 11 All TV and Radios OFF

We do not need to relive what is already etched in our hearts of days unkinder

Our Armed Forces – Men, Women still overseas is enough of a constant reminder

Instead, Let this be a day known that our Hearts and arms extend openly with Love

To all Survivors, Heroes, and Those Whose Loved Ones Wear Wings of Doves.

© ndpthepoetress (- Jeane Michelle Culp)

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
(by Erica Shea Liupaeter)

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see,

If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today,

While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,

And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready in Heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind, all those things I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,

For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, so much yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,

I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you, and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized, that could never be,

For emptiness and memories, would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow,

I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me, from his great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you.

Today your life on Earth is past, and here it starts anew".

"I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,

And since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past".

"But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true,

Though there were times you did some things, you know you shouldn't do".

"But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free,

So won't you take my hand now and share My life with Me".

So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.
To Our Troops:

Thank A Soldier

the gratitude campaign (short)

The below was emailed to me:
From KING 5 News:

----- Original Message -----
From: *@*
To: nomdeplumethepoetress@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: king5.com article from *

* [*@*] has sent you a story from king5.com.
(Page at: http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092307WAB_gratitude_campaign_SW.102c1d0ba.html)

Seattle man starts 'Gratitude Campaign' to thank soldiers
05:51 PM PDT on Sunday, September 23, 2007

By DEBORAH FELDMAN / KING 5 News

[SEATTLE - What began as a simple idea to say thank you to soldiers he passed on the street, has blossomed into a full scale campaign for Seattlite Scott Truitt.

He says many Americans want to express their gratitude to members of our military, but most aren't really sure how to proceed.

"I think there's a lot of politics wrapped around the military and that can get confusing for a lot of people," he said.

Both Truitt's father and father-in-law spent decades in the military, but even so, he realizes approaching strangers can be a little awkward at times.

"For several years I've been walking up and saying thank you to them when I've see them and sometimes its a really comfortable situation, and sometimes its not so comfortable," he said.

So he decided it would be nice to simply have a gesture to say thank you quickly and comfortably.

"The sign language sign for thank you starts at the chin and we thought geez, if you don't know what this means, you might not take it kindly. And that's certainly not the message we wanted to send," he said.

After a little research, he came up with a new idea.

"The gesture starts with your hand on your heart as if you're about to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And then you just bring the hand down and out in front of you. It actually means thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Truitt hopes his Gratitude Campaign will spread across the country, and says even if soldiers don't know exactly what the gesture means, they'll realize if it originates on the heart, its got to be good.

Truitt hopes his video will continue to be shown at the start of every home Seahawks game this season.]

The Gratitude Campaign

Do You Know the Sign?


I'd like to also add a BIG Thank You to all Military Men and Women!

Related Posts:
Veterans Day
Influential Women In The Military
The Flower of Remembrance

Happy Birthday US Marine Corps!

John Philip Sousa's Semper Fidelis March; the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps

Born November 10, 1775 - 234 years Strong!

^{U.S. MARINE CORPS:} During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.

A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.

The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines. click to read more

"The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway delivers the 234th Marine Corps Birthday message. " Carrying On A Legacy Of Valor " It honors all Marines past and present."


^Wikipedia: The United States Marine Corps includes just over 203,000 (as of October 2009) active duty Marines and just under 40,000 reserve Marines.

Fort Hood Prayers

On this day during the blogosphere event to BlogBlast for Peace; the need to 'Unite for Peace' is thrust into the realms of reality as News about the Fort Hood, Texas U.S. Army post shootings pierce the hearts of humanity. With an onset of minimal data released to the public, some people fear the worse. 12 people dead, 31 or more wounded.

^NowPublic: ...The alleged gunman killed^wounded on the scene was identified as Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

The shooting took place at the Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers enter and leave the base to go to and come home from war, and a Theatre Field Complex on the base.

President Obama held a news conference on the shooting saying that "my immediate thought and prayers are with the wounded and the fallen" and he asks all Americans "to keep the men and women of Fort Hood in your prayers".

Unfortunately; some associate the "alleged gunman's" last name with a possible National threat:

^{The Huffington Post:} It was not immediately clear whether Nidal Malik Hasan was, in fact, a Muslim, though reports surfaced that he had converted to the religion late in life.

^msnbc: 'Islamic groups were also quick to condemn the killing after it became clear that the suspected shooter was Muslim. The Council of American-Islamic Relations issued a statement calling it a "cowardly" attack.'

It clearly appears though that Hasan, born in Arlington, Virginia; was upset about being deployed to Iraq:

^NPR: Hasan was a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being sent to Texas in July. He was apparently upset about being scheduled to deploy overseas, according to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, who told Fox News that she was told he may have been targeting specific individuals.

Let our thoughts and Prayers beckon to all during this sorrowful occurrence. May we continue to stress, to post, to educate about the need for Peace in hopes of one day achieving such.

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

Related Post: Unite For Peace

Twin Towers Bow Sails

In honor of the U.S. Navy ship USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) (*the bow stem contains 7.5 tons of NY Twin Towers steel) leaving southern Louisiana where it was built - sailing for New York where the United States Navy will officially commission it on November 7, 2009:

The caterpillar dies so the butterfly could be born.
And, yet, the caterpillar lives in the butterfly and
they are but one. So, when I die, it will be that I
have been transformed from the caterpillar of earth to
the butterfly of the universe.
-- John Harricharan

 

 

 

* photos and display by my Brother Christopher L. Culp

^{Google News:} Two other ships, the Arlington and Somerset are being built in honor of the victims of the attacks on the Pentagon and United Flight 93 and are also incorporating materials salvaged from those sites.

^USSNY.org: USS NEW YORK will be in New York City for the period November 2 through 12. There are several days when the ship will be open for visiting. There is no charge, and visitors are accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Please visit http://www.ussny.org/commissioning.php for more information.

USS NEW YORK commissioning ceremony is a ticketed event Because of severe space limitations, tickets are no longer available and all the tickets have been fully allocated. We urge you to take advantage of ship visiting hours.

A number of tickets have been reserved for the 9/11 community. If you are a member of the 9/11 community or First Responder group, tickets to view the commissioning ceremony will be distributed by random lottery through October 14. Please click the following link to apply. http://www.national911memorial.org/ussnewyork

This is the 234th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Navy

13 October 1775-2009

Navy Birthday Ball

Columbus Condemnation or Commendation

In great appreciation for ‘our’ Military, ‘our’ Freedom, and in recognition/honor of America that won its Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain to become The United States of America and with high regard/recognition for the United States Constitution:

^Wikipedia We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

I am proud on this Federal Holiday to present my oldest Nephew Dirk singing the U.S.A. National anthem:

Dirk Parker, National Anthem,

Fall Concert for Lejeune High School, 2009

In regards to Columbus Day:

What is now known as the United States of America began with a basic question, 'Is the world flat or round'? Ironically; there is a continuous revolving issue surrounding the ultimate results to that inquiry and that is, ‘did Christopher Columbus discover America’? Take into consideration the ‘fact’ that the Native People were already inhabiting the land. Also:

^Wikipedia In 1964, the United States Congress authorized and requested the President to proclaim October 9 of each year as "Leif Erikson Day". This date honors Leif Ericson (Leifr Eiríksson), as the "first European to land in North America (excluding Greenland) 492 years before Christopher Columbus".

Additionally; it is alleged that:

^{Walter White Jr.} "The story of the slaves in America begins with Christopher Columbus".

^factbook.org Columbus oversaw the establishment of the encomienda (trusteeship) system, by which Spaniards were granted exclusive use of Indian labor in return for converting them to Christianity; this policy amounted to enslavement of the local population.

^Wikipedia Requerimiento was used to justify the assertion that God, through Saint Peter and his Papal successors, held authority as ruler over the entire Earth, and that the Inter Caetera conferred title over the Americas to the Spanish monarchs.

See Laws of Burgos

^{Wilcomb Washburn} Columbus informed the natives of the terms: "We shall take you and your wives, and your children, and shall make slaves of them, and we shall take away your goods, and shall do you all the mischief and damage that we can, and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault ." - Christopher Columbus

^{Voyages of Christopher Columbus} Rounding up the slaves resulted in the first major battle between the Spanish and the Indians in the new world.

In regards to Christopher Columbus's national origin - there are serious doubts. In the mainstream culture he is assumed to be Italian (Genoese). If this is true, it is sadly coincidental that his nationality Genoese consists of the first 4 letters in the word genocide, which is basically what Christopher Columbus initiated and participated in. 

^{Indian Country Today} For the second year in a row, the Senate has voted to apologize to Native Americans for historical injustices. The apology, known as the Native American Apology Resolution, was attached to a defense appropriations bill, which the congressional body voted on Oct. 6.

Despite the massacre, massive loss of life, and eventually land; the Indians are to be commended because two centuries later without the influence from the forced Requerimiento, without prejudice, or harvesting revenge; simply ‘in the spirit of’ what most Western society deems Christianity - the Indians gave the Pilgrims bounty:

^{The first Thanksgiving} In the culture of the Wampanoag Indians, who inhabited the area around Cape Cod, "thanksgiving" was an everyday activity.

"We as native people [traditionally] have thanksgivings as a daily, ongoing thing," says Linda Coombs, associate director of the Wampanoag program at Plimoth Plantation. "Every time anybody went hunting or fishing or picked a plant, they would offer a prayer or acknowledgment."

But for the 52 colonists - who had experienced a year of disease, hunger, and diminishing hopes - their bountiful harvest was cause for a special celebration to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

In conclusion; to be politically correct, 'Columbus Day was established mainly as the anniversary of Columbus's 1492 landing in the Americas, NOT discovering America. Whereas Christopher Columbus and Spain used the international law principle called the Discovery Doctrine to claim the New World now known as The United States of America.

Therefore the revolving question remains; should Columbus be honored for 'discovering' America or merely 'accredited' for bringing the attention to the Western civilization that the Native Peoples populated it at the time?

Make your Vote count! See poll on sidebarThank You For Voting! (This Poll has ended, here are the results): 

 

An Open Letter From the AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT of Colorado and Our Allies

When the Taino Indians saved Christopher Columbus from certain death on the fateful morning of October 12, 1492, a glorious opportunity presented itself for the cultures of both Europe and the Americas to flourish.

What occurred was neither glorious nor heroic. Just as Columbus could not, and did not, "discover" a hemisphere already inhabited by nearly 100 million people, his arrival cannot, and will not, be recognized by indigenous peoples as a heroic and festive event.

From a Native perspective, Columbus' arrival was a disaster from the beginning. Although his own diaries reveal that he was greeted by the Tainos with the most generous hospitality he had ever known, he immediately began the enslavement and slaughter of the Indian peoples of the Caribbean. click to read more

Please visit: Operation Morning Star

Of Interest: My Nephews

Influential Women In The Military

Author: Heather Posted: Mar 4th, 2009 at ArticlesBase.com

The Military Women 

Throughout the history of the military, women have played a large role. Not only by supporting the soldiers but standing next to the male soldiers, ready to fight. Over nine thousand women served over in Vietnam and more served at hospitals caring for wounded soldiers (Wilson, 1996). In September of 2005 there were an estimated 203,000 women on active duty serving in the United States military (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2007, ¶ 24). While some do not believe women should be on the front lines, having women in the military has helped create a strong, more integrated fighting force

Vietnam and Other Wars 

When Pearl Harbor was attacked the military did not have enough male soldiers to fill certain jobs which did not have to do with direct combat. These jobs are supported military occupational specialties (MOS). Many of these jobs were clerical duties, nursing, civil service and laundry workers. The government finally decided to let women fill these jobs and let them men go fight in the war. Many served in the civilian sector but some were sent overseas; and some women did die in World War II and Vietnam. 

Vietnam was a remarkable breakthrough for women in all armed forces. Women served in the Marines, Air Force, Navy and Army. By the time the military was leaving Vietnam, 7,500 women had accomplished oversea tours (Holm, 1982, chap. 16). During Operation Just Cause in Panama 1989, a few hundred women served executing refueling missions and resupply missions while being shot at by the enemy (Wilson, 1996, ¶ 6). These missions still were not considered combat missions. 

Women served in large numbers during the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. Over 40,000 (Ghajar, n.d., ¶ 8) women reportedly served in the battle between Kuwait and Iraq. These women had set a milestone in women’s history and set record numbers. Today the women serving overseas against the War on Terrorism has helped contribute to the success of the military women. 

The War on Terrorism has brought men and women together. Not fighting against each other about gender but fighting together as a strong force. Even though the military does not consider what women do in Iraq and Afghanistan as combat, many women find themselves in danger at any given moment. The women of these wars have made exceptional achievements and accomplished many successful missions. 

Achievements 

The military has given credit to the well deserved men and women. Women, who helped in the Revolutionary War, were the first to receive pensions. These women, not yet considered military, were recognized for "drawing well water" (Wilson, 1996, Military Women "Firsts" and their History) for soldiers on the battlefield. These women were accredited no matter how small the pension was and today female soldiers receive the same veteran benefits and pensions of male soldiers. But few have received as many awards as their male counterparts. 

The only woman to receive the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor, is a Civil War surgeon Dr. Mary Walker. She was awarded the medal, and Congress eventually took it away from her for reasons still not exactly known. After her death, President Carter "reinstated her medal" (Wilson, 1996). There have been many women to receive the Purple Heart, which is the oldest and first military award. 

The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who have been injured or killed during combat, directly engaged with enemy. The Purple Heart is an award of honor and is held in high regard. With the awards come honor but to receive honor one must receive rank that deserves respect. 

Recently the first female was given the rank of four-star General. This is the highest commissioned rank in the military. Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody was promoted in November of 2008, which shifted the outlook on women officers (CNN, 2008). Women have served all branches and parts of the military. 

The Army’s non-commissioned officers (NCO) are thought to be the "backbone of the Army". These NCOs train and fight next to their soldiers guiding them through their battles. There are only a few exceptional women NCOs documented, but there are many who have served. These NCOs stand for, what the military is; they fight beside their soldiers and lead from the front. Women have participated in the long tradition of the NCO ranks. Women NCOs have showed that they too can do what is right and lead the force. 

Even though there are more men given awards of merit and so forth; the women have stood by these soldiers doing the same job. The physical fitness and training standards may be different, but these soldiers work together to get the mission accomplished.  

Feminizing the Military 

Many people will argue that women do not belong in the military or front lines because the obvious physical difference. Can a woman carry the same weight as a man on her back? Can a woman run as far as the man running beside her? 

The military adopted the different physical standards to help provide fair evaluations of female recruits. Some female soldiers are able to run further then male soldiers, some may even be able to carry a heavy load longer distances than men. These standards are set in place to help women overcome the physical differences. The training of soldiers though does not have the same standards. 

Training in a co-ed environment may be a little stricter on language and harder on sexual harassment. The women are trained in the same areas of men and are given the exact evaluations. These training units instill a tough sexual harassment and equal opportunity policy. Still with these policies in place there is a list of units and batteries that women are not allowed to train for ("Women in the Army", n.d., ¶ 7). These units are thought to be ones that would send a woman into direct combat. 

A unit that does go into direct battle needs support soldiers, these support elements are: criminal intelligence, clerical, medical, military police, civil affairs, engineers and signal. Women are allowed to serve in all support units and go to war with the combat units. The support elements will engage in missions that will put women on the front lines. And even though the military will not recognize women serving in combat, in a support MOS, a soldier will be in the line of danger and fight along with the combat soldiers. 

Views on Women in the Military 

The combat readiness of female soldiers is a long debate. There are many that believe that because of a woman’s emotional needs that do not belong on the battlefields. Some say women are a distraction to men on the battlefields and women cannot carry the same load as men. 

Today there are numerous women serving in support units which complete dangerous missions daily. The military prohibits women serving in line units (infantry) (Norris, 2007, ¶ 4) but females are part of a specialized unit themselves. The War on Terrorism brought a new threat, women suicide bombers. 

The Muslim beliefs made it hard for male soldiers to search Muslim women properly who could be hiding critical information or weapons. The military designed a group of women, usually belonging to a military police unit, to conduct missions with combat units to help search the women. The "Lioness" proved to play a very important role in the ground war (Solaro, 2006, chap. 3). 

These women help show respect to the Muslim beliefs and are very important in the War on Terrorism. This job puts these women on the front lines and many women in these units find themselves in battles with the enemy. These women know all to well the effects of war and have firsthand experience. Again, the military will not acknowledge that they put women on the front lines, they are there. 

Our history has shown us that no matter one’s race, religion or gender; oneself can be successful in this country. A woman can run a business just as well as a male. An African American woman can run the same business. And a Muslim, African American woman can run the business just the same. 

Women and men of many races and religions fight the war together, proving the country is united. This lets our enemies know the United States of America does have equality and will rise from our shortcomings. The military may not recognize women are on the front lines because of the policies, but the women overseas know better. They are fighting alongside the male soldiers in direct combat and, they are just as important to the success of the war. Virginia Woolf a British author once said "As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is my whole world."

References Chamber of Commerce. (2007). U.S. Census Bureau News Release Available from Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/cb07ff-03.pdf CNN (2008). Army general is nation’s first four-star woman. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/14/woman.4.star.general/index.html Ghajar, L. (n.d.). Persian Gulf War. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from Hagen, M. (2004). Women in the Military. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://www.mscd.edu/~history/camphale/wim_001.html Holm, J. (1982). Women in the Military an Unfinished Revolution. Novato, CA: Presidio Press. Lewis, J. (n.d.). About Women and World War II. Retrieved January 3, 2009, from http://womenshistory.about.com/od/warwwii/a/military.htm Norris, M. (2007, October 1, 2007). Roles for Women in U.S. Army Expand. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14869648 Solaro, E. (2006). Women in the Line of Fire: What You Should Know About Women in the Military. Emeryville, CA: Seal Press. Wilson, B. (1996). Military Women "Firsts" and their History. Retrieved January 5, 2009, from http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/firsts.html Wilson, B. (1996). Vietnam-Southeast Asia. Retrieved December 29,2008, from http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvetsnam.html Women in the Army-Historical Highlights. (n.d.) Retrieved January 11, 2009 , from http://www.asamra.army.mil/eo/eo_docs/Women in the Army - Historical Highlights.doc Woolf, V. (n.d.). World of Quotes. Retrieved January 15, 2009, from http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/Virginia-Woolf/1/index.html

About the Author: My name is Heather. I am 25 years old and currently live in Vicenza, Italy, with my husband of 2 years. I have no children but I have two cats. I currently am studying to become a social worker. I have always loved to write but never had a chance to show what I can do. I hope to eventually become better at writing and maybe write a book one day!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Influential Women In The Military

* You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as you leave the article title, author name, body and resource box in tact (means NO changes) with the links made active and you agree to our posted publisher terms of service. - ArticlesBase.com

This is such an extraordinary article written by Heather that I just had to share this here and at FLOW (FOR THE LOVE OF WOMAN)!

Recommended site: What I can do - I will - "What I can do - I will - pays tribute to veterans in general and is the way of saying Thank You to those who have served. Stacey, a native Texan, is a friend to veterans, a voice for those who have yet to return. I live to honor those who made it back, and remember those who did not. It has been my honor to attend the funerals for five fine Americans who gave their all, yet had to wait over thirty years for their homecoming Stacey says." - THE MOON AWARD SILVER

A Mother’s Nightmare

Tugs on a Mother and Aunt’s, Family Heart Strings

Some Readers are familiar with my luck that as the old saying goes, when it rains it pours. Such as in my post The Extensive Misery of Bad Luck about my car breaking down, the sadden loss of my pet, and a Happy Birthday to me - here’s an abscessed tooth, etc. Stress Stinks about the ever increasing pressures on my job, the health of my Co-Worker, more car repairs for me again. And When Is It Okay To Scream? about carrying for Humanity and the strange events surrounding the health/deaths of many of my Co-Workers.

Recently however; I have been happy that the events in my life have been pretty much even-steven as the saying goes. Though at the end of January, 100 People including myself were laid-off from our place of employment. Then toward the end of February, the Unemployment Commission forgot to send me my benefit package. Happily; they fixed that relatively quickly. Meanwhile; miraculously my online Federal tax rebate was in my checking account in less than five days! And a Friend of mine helped direct me to a program that might assist with one of my medicines. Having properly applied for the prescription program, waiting 30 days, and my medicine running low; I called to inquire about my application. However; the company said they had nothing about me on file! Luckily a few days later, my Doctor office called to say the medicine was in! My Sister however; has not been as fortunate. And it is with her permission I share these startling, tragedy events with you:

My Sister lives on a military base with her Husband and their two boys, my Nephews. In April while they all were at the movie theater, someone broke in to their home. Perhaps a kid/teenager because nothing was taken except some coins in a jar and their things rummaged through. Still creepy knowing someone was in your home and able to even get in your home on a military base. Then at the beginning of May, her Husband headed overseas for his second stint, like many of our Men and Women in the military service. Shortly afterwards, on May 7 our father Gene passed away of a lingering illness. One would think if you knew you were dying, you would make proper arrangements. However; our father did not and so my Sister took care of all the funeral arrangements. I never realized how much is involved in the burial of a person until my Sister shared with me the long process.

Based on our State residency, each Sibling needed to sign a waiver to give her our permission to be in charge of his remains. The mortician had to wait for the Doctor to sign the death certificate. Later my Sister had to fill in any additional personal information that was needed to complete the form. Meanwhile; a donor organization called my Sis to request various organ donations. Then for some reason the funeral parlor isn’t open on the weekends (like do People not die on the weekends?), so my Sister was unable to get his ashes the weekend she drove here to SC. Finally, May 11th the cremation was preformed and his ashes mailed to my Sister. She wrote a beautiful obituary for him and sent that to the local Newspaper where he resided. Then on June 18th, his birthday – there will be a private memorial service for him.

Shortly after his death on May 7, my oldest Nephew age 15 and one of his Friends were invited into a home on the military base where they live. They were invited in by an older guy who is like an assistant coach or some kind of semi-pro football player, I’m not sure which. Having stepped inside the home, this guy introduced the boys to his mom. Suddenly this guy’s mother shouts get out. My Nephew asked the guy if his mother was joking when this mother says, you think I’m joking and quickly shoots a 9 mm gun that passes right by my Nephews ear, into the next home, and lodges outside in another person’s shed! How blessed was my Sister’s Son, my Nephew! How fortunate no one next door was shot.

My Nephew was smart. He ran, hid, and thinking first of his Mom calls and says don’t come out of the house - there’s a woman with a gun, then he calls the police. My Sister of course isn’t going to stay inside knowing her Son is out there, so she goes looking for him. It wasn’t til late that the military police show up merely stating the woman was in the right to protect her home cause her story was she woke up startled thinking someone had broken into her home. Despite the fact; that her son seeing his Mom armed, immediately shouted just before the gun went off, Mom what are you doing. Later it was learnt that it is possible this woman had shot a gun once before. The local police said they could not get involved because it was Federal property. Finally; tension on the military base escalated until a military meeting was held and they opted for the woman and her family to move off the base. But guess what, her husband gets to come home from the war to help them move because the military say it is his responsibility. Dang, this just isn’t fair, she shoots at my Nephew, my Sister’s Son and her husband gets to come home from the war. Shouldn’t my Sister’s Husband be the one to get to come home?

After this shooting incident, my Sister promptly got my Nephew understandably needed psychiatric help. Shortly afterwards, my oldest Nephew and his younger Friend who was with him in the house the night of the shooting decided to skip school. The first time my Nephew ever cut class and they of course were suspended. You’d think the principle would have taken into consideration the psychological mind frame of the kids, given what they had been through.

Meanwhile; things continued to go awry for my Sister. She opted to let my oldest Nephew pump gas in her van while she went inside the gas station to get change. She returned to see my Nephew pumping diesel instead of unleaded! We both agree this is an easy mistake to make because those dang diesel pumps shouldn’t even be on the same gas isle. I often worry myself about doing the same thing when I fill up with gas. Anyhow; the grand total to drain and repair her van was $500 with the mechanic stating it would have been worse if unleaded were put into a diesel vehicle.

Then at school a 6’2, 17 year old guy decided to pulverize my oldest - 15 year old Nephew! For some reason this guy had a habit of often grabbing one of my Nephew’s breast. My Nephew usually just took the invasion of privacy and said nothing, not wanting to make any trouble. Only this day my Nephew decided to merely push the guy’s hand away. My Nephew having already been suspended for cutting school and this being his second suspension knew the school policy was 3 strikes you are expelled; so he dared not fight back, as the guy continued to pound into his face. My youngest Nephew finally intervened and just as he did, this 6’2 guy and a Friend of his ganged up on my youngest Nephew and his ribs. Both older guys and my youngest Nephew were suspended, fortunately not my oldest Nephew cause he didn’t do anything. Still again no consideration from the principle for the circumstances involved, Brother standing up for Brother and two on one. My Sister took my Nephews to the doctor especially because my older Nephew looked as if his jaw was broken. Thankfully; both my Nephews are okay.

Wow, my poor Sister! All this with her health not doing so well either. For example; her back becomes strangely out of joint in various areas at times. The current diagnosis is possible degenerative disc disease. Yet I am a firm believer that with every rain there is a rainbow and so it is for my Sister. The house her Husband and her picked out before he went overseas is now theirs! As of July her and her two boys will be moving in until February when her Husband can join them!

Yes this has been a long post, however; if I didn’t write it, who would believe so much could happen to one person; (besides to me lol). Maybe such will help others to count their blessings.

And so no matter what you are going through in life, for you, for my Sister:

“May God give you...For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.” - Irish Blessing

Statue of OverSeas Progress

¹As part of the U.S. Army's Task Force Ironhorse, the 4th Infantry Divisionwas deployed in Iraq for most of 2003, participated in the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003, and saw many of their comrades killed and wounded in the violence that followed the end of major combat operations. In mid-2003, while the 4th Infantry Division was headquartered in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss, the division's top noncommissioned officer, headed up a project to commemorate the unit's dead and conceived of a memorial featuring the figure of a forlorn soldier kneeling to mourn before empty helmet, boots, and rifle — an array of objects that traditionally represents a fallen compatriot.

Needing a sculptor to carry out his vision, Sgt. Maj. Fuss and other Americans asked around for local talent, and an Iraqi contractor recommended a 27-year-old artist named Khalid Alussy to them…

As the work neared completion, Sgt. Fuss and the division's commander, Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, decided it needed a clearer connection to Iraq. The general suggested adding a small child to symbolize Iraq's new future… After four months' worth of night and weekend labor, Mr. Alussy completed his assignment, and the statues were installed in an entranceway inside the 4th Infantry Division's headquarters in Tikrit. In February 2004 the statues were flown to the 4th Infantry Division Museum at the unit's home base of Fort Hood, Texas.

²The statue arrived at Fort Hood's Robert Gray Army Airfield Feb. 16, along with the first 60 soldiers in the task force to redeploy from Iraq, said Capt. Charles Armstrong, secretary of the general staff for the rear detachment.

Task Force Ironhorse soldiers donated the $18,000 to cover the cost of the statue, created by an Iraqi sculptor from the melted-down remnants of statues he had been forced to sculpt for former dictator Saddam Hussein, said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Division at its Iraq headquarters in Tikrit.

1. Snopes
2. U.S. Department of Defense

What Country's Flag Colors Really Represent

[“Meet the world” and to the idea of using flags of different nations as vehicles to transmit it was a Grande Reportagem campaign "created by 25 year old Brazilian Icaro Doria who has been working for the magazine". In each case, the colours that appear on various national flags were used to symbolize a social or political issue that is specific to the country in question. Grande Reportagem “Flags” campaign is the winner of EPICA D’OR 2005.] - Protools

Grande Reportagem is a Portuguese news magazine.

Meet the world Grande Reportagem flag campaign should not be confused with "Meet the World attraction at Tomorrowland in Tokyo Disneyland from 1983 until 2002."

United States Flag Code

Think Before You Speak

*email forward found on internet some where
'Some people!' snorted a man standing behind me in the long line at the grocery store.

'You would think the manager would pay attention and open another line, 'said a woman.

I looked to the front of the line to see what the hold up was and saw a well dressed, young woman, trying to get the machine to accept her credit card. No matter how many times she swiped it, the machine kept rejecting it.

'It's one of them welfare card things. Damn people need to get a job like everyone else,' said the man standing behind me. The young woman turned around to see who had made the comment. 'It was me,' he said, pointing to himself.

The young lady's face began to change expression. Almost in tears, she dropped the welfare card onto the counter and quickly walked out of the store. Everyone in the checkout line watched as she began running to her car. Never looking back, she got in and drove away.

After developing cancer in 1977 and having had to use food stamps; I had learned never to judge anyone, without knowing the circumstances of their life. This turned out to be the case today.

Several minutes later a young man walked into the store. He went up to the cashier and asked if she had seen the woman. After describing her, the cashier told him that she had run out of the store, got into her car, and drove away.

'Why would she do that?' asked the man.

Everyone in the line looked around at the fellow who had made the statement. 'I made a stupid comment about the welfare card she was using. Something I shouldn't have said. I'm sorry,' said the man.

'Well, that's bad, real bad, in fact. Her brother was killed in Afghanistan two years ago. He had three young children and she has taken on that responsibility. She's twenty years old, single, and now has three children to support,' he said in a very firm voice.

'I'm really truly sorry. I didn't know,' he replied, shaking both his hands about.

The young man asked, 'Are these paid for?' pointing to the shopping cart full of groceries. 'It wouldn't take her card,' the clerk told him.

'Do you know where she lives?' asked the man who had made the comment.

'Yes, she goes to our church.'

'Excuse me,' he said as he made his way to the front of the line. He pulled out his wallet, took out his credit card and told the cashier, 'Please use my card. PLEASE!'

The clerk took his credit card and began to ring up the young woman's groceries.

Hold on,' said the gentleman. He walked back to his shopping cart and began loading his own groceries onto the belt to be included. 'Come on people. We got three kids to help raise!' he told everyone in line.

Everyone began to place their groceries onto the fast moving belt. A few customers began bagging the food and placing it into separate carts.

'Go back and get two big turkeys,' yelled a heavyset woman, as she looked at the man. 'NO,' yelled the man. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. The entire store became quiet for several seconds. 'Four turkeys,' yelled the man. Everyone began laughing and went back to work.

When all was said and done, the man paid a total of $1,646.57 for the groceries. He then walked over to the side, pulled out his check book, and began writing a check using the bags of dog food piled near the front of the store for a writing surface. He turned around and handed the check to the young man.

'She will need a freezer and a few other things as well,' he told the man.

The young man looked at the check and said, 'This is really very generous of you.'

'No,' said the man. 'Her brother was the generous one.'

Everyone in the store had been observing the odd commotion and began to clap. And I drove home that day feeling very American.

We live in the Land of the free, because of the Brave!!! Remember our Troops of Yesterday and Today!!!

A great example of why we should be kind and patient.

Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.

May God's many blessings continue to be with you - ALWAYS!!!

MAY THIS KEEP GOING via email....

IT WILL OPEN A LOT OF EYES,

HOPEFULLY HEARTS,

AND KEEP SOME MOUTHS SHUT.

The Flower of Remembrance

¹In 1938, a United States Congressional Act made November 11th a Federal Holiday. The Act declared it "...a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace". The Act was amended in 1954 to rename the holiday to 'Veterans Day', so that all veterans could be honored.

²The important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

³The day has different names in different countries, but its purpose is the same everywhere it's observed. Whether called Armistice Day, Remembrance Day or Veterans Day, it remains a time to recognize those who fought and to renew our commitment to peace.

⁴In Flanders Fields By John McCrae

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.

“This was the poem written by World War I Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada 's First Brigade Artillery. It expressed McCrae's grief over the "row on row" of graves of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields, located in a region of western Belgium and northern France.

McCrae's poem had a huge impact on two women, Anna E. Guerin of France and Georgia native Moina Michael. Both worked hard to initiate the sale of artificial poppies to help orphans and others left destitute by the war. By the time Guerin established the first sale in the U.S., in 1920 with the help of The American Legion, the poppy was well known in the allied countries — America, Britain, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — as the "Flower of Remembrance." Proceeds from that first sale went to the American and French Children's League.

Donations received in return for these artificial poppies have helped countless veterans and their widows, widowers and orphans over the years. The poppy itself continues to serve as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their lives for the nation's freedom.” Read complete document

This week Classic Poetry Aloud will read War Poems by 7 Poets in these 7 days leading up to November 11th. The Poems include:

Fears In Solitude by Samuel Coleridge

The Man With the Wooden Leg by Katherine Mansfield

Ball's Bluff by Herman Melville

Speech from Henry the V (representing combat) by William Shakespeare

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

Strange Meeting by Wilfred Owen

For the Fallen (extracts) by Lawrence Binyon

Remembrance:



⁵Arlington National Cemetery -- America's best known national cemetery still buries service members and some veterans.

⁵ National Cemeteries -- The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains national cemeteries throughout the country for the burial of veterans of America's armed forces, their spouses and young children.

1. Knowledge Hound
2. History of Veterans Day
3. Knowledge Hound
4. The Flower of Remembrance
5. Celebrating America's Freedoms

War Poetry Remembrance Week

“¹If you're not familiar with Cabaret, it's an interesting play to revive now. Depicting the denizens of a decadent Berlin night club sleep walking their way through life as the Nazis rise to power, it's a cautionary tale of the need to be on guard against the naive belief that the worst can never happen and others will take care of society's problems for us.

Choosing to ignore the spread of brutal, reactionary and racist ideologies, we end up abetting the contagion. There are times when we have to take a stand, no matter how much we'd rather be dancing our lives away.”

I’ve quoted the above from Francis at Caught In The Stream as an introduction to the subject War. On Sunday November 4th, the blog site Classic Poetry Aloud will be running a week of “²War Poems to coincide with Remembrance Week, the week leading up to the 11th of November. In the Uk on the 11th of November, People traditionally will pause for two minutes at 11 O’clock in the morning which is the exact time on that day that the Declaration of Peace was signed at the end of the first World War in 1918.” The goal by Classic Poetry Aloud is to read War Poems by 7 Poets in these 7 days leading up to November 11th.

Classic Poetry Aloud will begin on Sunday November 4th with an Occasional Miscellany that introduces the week to include poetry from Samuel Coleridge, Katherine Mansfield, Herman Melville, William Shakespeare, Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen and Lawrence Binyon.

We “²hope you will be able to join us during this week to take the time to listen and perhaps take some time on November 11th to reflect on where the poems have led you to that week.”

Thank You



1. A Fall Night Out in Rogers Park: Catching Cabaret, Carving Pumpkins (consent to quote granted to Binding Ink)

2. Occasional Miscellany Number 2

Labor Day Working Together

Labor Day, a Federal Holiday Day for the Working to be off from their daily chores. A three day week-end for some! Yet for many this is just another day, as they must work. For that we Thank them, especially those in the Military whom are unable to enjoy this time, as they continue to uphold their duties to America and all us Citizens. Even on this Holiday, the “Mission of Love” continues to spread throughout the Blog World - Blogosphere on the Wings of The Blog Fairy and from our hearts. For Love is not a task, rather a gift to everyone - every day; around the internet and beyond; as such a precious gift flows into our daily lives. And so as some celebrate this Holiday, let us not forget all the Armed Forces nor Love; let us continue to work and work together, unite-united hand in hand!

LETS WORK TOGETHER


Let's Work Together by Canned Heat

Together we'll stand
Divided we'll fall
Come on now people
Let's get on the ball
And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every girl and man
People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
You know together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, two or three minutes
Two or three hours
What does it matter now
In this life of ours
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every woman and man
Ahhh, come on now...
Ahhh, come on, let's work together...
Well now, make someone happy
Make someone smile
Let's all work together
And make life worthwhile
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, come on you people
Walk hand in hand
Let's make this world of ours
A good place to stand
And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Well now together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man

Life-Size Posters of Parents Actively Serving OverSeas in the Military

Flat Daddies and Flat Mommies are life-size printed posters of parents who are actively serving overseas in the military. These posters are made available free* to the children of deployed service members through the generous support of sponsors. FlatDaddies.com is dedicated to helping make this possible.

* Plus $9.50 shipping and handling, one per household, and a limited number are available weekly.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Flatdaddies Mailing List"
To:
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 9:26 AM
Subject: Flatdaddies News

As a recipient or friend of Flat Daddies, I thought you might be interested in a quick update. Please feel free to share this with friends and family.

1,700 Flat Daddies And Counting…

We have received over 1,700 Flat Daddy orders to date, with over 700 shipped to deserving children and families across the country and around the world.

An Easy Way To Help

Our current resources and sponsor commitments enable us to produce around 60 Flat Daddies per week, which does not even come close to meeting the demand that we are seeing daily. To help remedy the problem we recently made it easier for individuals to donate online via our website www.FlatDaddies.com/donate. Anything you can do to introduce the Flat Daddies donation link to others would be greatly appreciated.

NEW :: Flat Families For Mother's and Father's Day 2007

Moms and Dads deployed overseas may be receiving a Flat Family for Mother's and Father's Day. Using what we learned during Flat Daddies we are now offering Flat Families using a new silky smooth, durable, two-sided fabric. Simply upload your family photo, complete the order form, pay and click. In around two weeks a Flat Family will arrive at your loved one's door – just in time for Mother's or Father's Day!

Proceeds generated from Flat Families will help us offset the cost of continuing the Flat Daddies program. To send a Mother's Day gift please have orders in by 5:00 pm (EST) on May 4th, Father's Day orders should be in by June 6th. To learn more, or to order please visit www.fabricfamily.com.

Thank you for your attention and support.


Eric T. Crockett

National Program Director

SFC Flat Daddies

Binding Ink is not associated with Flat Daddies... This is only a Post to help introduce Flat Daddies. Enjoy!