Thank You

On this day, we remember the high price paid for our freedom. Freedom is not free.

The Price of Freedom

My Gifts, Among Other Things: Update on Friend#links

My Gifts, Among Other Things: Update on Friend#links

I just read this post a few minutes ago. Even though it has been over a year since Mark's last deployment, I am well aware there are familes praying for the protection of their loved ones.
This is a prayer request for a man who was injured.
Please keep this family in your prayer.

Job Well Done

Thank You.

While We Sleep

While we sleep, they stay awake.
While we sleep, they guard our freedom, keeping the enemy from our shores.
Before we place our heads to pillows, let us pray for the men and women who make up our troops. Pray for their protection, that they return to their loveds and give thanks that they are willing to give their lives so that we may enjoy ours.

No Words

Adjustments

Being a military family has never been easy. But today, our families face demands generations before us never have.
For the past two years, we have been at war. Our servicemen and women have faced back to back deployments. Wives, husbands, parents and children have said more goodbyes, send more carepages and letters than ever before. While we have e-mail, cell-phones and Skype, they still do not take the place of mum or dad being in the same room. Thanks to Cable and 24 News, we see what is going on in the war zones in real time. We search for our loved ones' faces in the sea of army gear and pray that the report of a dead soldier isn't our loved one.
More marriages strain under five and six deployments, more children live in insecurity.
And as more of our soldiers come home, our heroes cannot find jobs to care for their families.
Thankfully, today's military is aware of the struggles the service person and their families face today. Today's Veteran's Center are working hard for those who are struggling to adjust to their present life. While Mark continues to look for a job (it has been two years) he is going for counseling at the VA Center for PTSD. I go with Mark on some of his visits, but mostly this is his time. It was discovered that I too suffered from second hand PTSD, better known as SPTSD. Liken to second hand smoke, simply statement, this means the spouse and even the children can take on the stress of the Veteran. So, we as a couple are being treated for PTSD, learning to handle the unseen wounds.
Oh, it is easy to dismiss PTSD as just depression, just 'snap out of it.'
Easy to say, not to do.
The first step is knowing what is wrong. The next, is finding the resources to help to begin to help the wounds, to begin the adjustments so we can move forward once again.
The VA Center and VA hospitals are both good places to start.

Prayers For Our Mothers and Fathers

I saw this picture about ten minutes ago, and was moved to write the following:
You raised your son to always strive to do his best.
You raised you daughter to be proud of her nation.
You taught him stand and take of his hat when the Flag passed by.
You taught her how to place her hand over her heart in respect.
He grew up to be the finest of young men.
She grew up to be loveliest of young women.
Their future bright, they could have chosen any other path.
They chose to serve and protect their nation.
Today you lay your little boy to rest.
Today you kiss your baby girl goodbye.
Not just another warrior who laid down their land for the nation,.
This was your son, your daughter.
Your child.
And the thing that hurts more than kissing the top of their coffin, washing the wood with your tears,
is knowing there are men and women who could care less, even rejoice in their deaths.
as your baby's blood was shed for that this land shall remain free.

Welcome Home, Mommy

Sometimes We Forget

Sometimes, we forget the good the men and women of our armed service do. Sometimes we forget the Footballs they hand out to children so they can play ball. We forget the candy they give little ones or the schools they help to build. We forget the wells they have overseer dug so that a village may enjoy fresh water. We forget the aid they are now bringing in the form of Clinics.
I remember when Mark was deployed, one of the projects he began was the building of a clinic so that not only were the villagers were treated, but a Vet was brought to take care of the village's animals. We forget the hope they have brought to so many.
What good have we done?
Ask the mother of a little girl that a soldier saved from being hit by a truck. And in doing so, he himself was struck and killed, leaving small children of his own behind.
Ask the man who's goat was treated by an army Vet and is healthy once again, able to provide milk to the family once again.

Every once in a while, I like to go through pictures of Mark's various deployments, so that I don't forget.

Thank You For Your Service

Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

The Beauty of Love

No Greater Love (One)

 

All of us who has a loved one who dons the umiform, knowing the price of loving our service man or woman. The missing milestones in life. Sending off Carepackages. Praying for their safely.
And praying that when answering the knock at the door, there are not two officers with sad faces, preparing to utter those words none of us wish to here.
But some families have paid that high price. They have opened the door. They have made funeral arrangements. They have recieved that folded flag from a grateful nation.
There are some many of these stories. I have written so many cards and to a grieving wife, mother, sister. I have cried over the phone with a grieving father.
And I remember some many of the pictures.
After the flowers die and the years pass, I still remember the faces, the stories of those who gave their own for my freedom.
Knowing, there but by the grace of G-d it could me, pressing that flag that once draped the coffin of my son. Or my husband.

One such story was caught by the cameria of John Moore.
Mr. Moore recorded the heartbreaking  image of Mary McHugh at the grave of her fiance Sgt. James John Regan at Arlington National Cemetery. Sgt. Regan was killed by an IED in Iraq, Feburay 2007. The picture was taken May 27, 2007.
I was reading online about Mary's tribute to her beloved. I am sure there wasn't a dry eye as she shared her heart.
“Jimmy was a hero to many, but he was always very humble,” she said of her beloved. “He always sought team success and not personal glory.”
Sgt. Regan McHugh, had planned to return as a medical student at Emory University, when his Army service ended. 
But he was killed in February 2007 by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Sgt. Regan was an All-American larcross player. He was also a All-State football scholar at Chaminade High School in Mineola. He had graducated from Duke University five years ago.
Like many americans, Sgt Regan was deeply affected the Terror Attack of 9/11. The Attack claimed many lives in Manhasset. He even turned down a position at financial services firm UBS and deferred a scholarship to Southern Methodist University Law School to join the Army in 2004.
He had earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
“Jimmy and I were so excited to stand up in front of God, our family and friends and declare our love for each other,” Mary said. ”Only God knows why we were deprived of that opportunity, but it doesn’t change the sentiments I have.”
After reading a love letter he had written to her, Mary said in a passionate whisper, “Jimmy, we never got to wake up next to each other every morning. Jimmy, I will wake up every morning and thank God for the opportunity to love and be loved by you.”
Mary remembered her beloved as someone who always wore a smile and “simply wanted to be happy and make others around him happy.”
Sgt.Regan’s father, also named James, said his son did just that.
“Last week in Iraq the bell tolled for Jimbo and he gave the ultimate sacrifice,” the grieving father said. “You have done your duty, son, as you saw it. You are a wonderful son.”
Thank you Sgt. James John Regan for giving your all. May you rest in peace.
May G-d continine to comfort you, Miss Mary

No sir, you have not been forgotten.

Laugh For the Day

When I saw this picture today, I remember right after we announced our engagement, Mark hugged me like this and same those famous lines above. And i have to admit, I do the same thing to.

Isn't it nice to be loved so much?

We Made Our Huppah: It Rained That Too#links

We Made Our Huppah: It Rained That Too#links

A Reel Dog.

Montague has been part of our family for almost two months now.
And think he is fitting in very nicely:

His first night home....

"Red beans and rice...your going to share, right?"

"Since your not using your office chair, you don't mind if I take my nap here, right?

"My Beatle Look."

"Well, we are a Army family...."

"Ain't I cute?"

There Were Those Who Served

It is once again Black History Month.
I remember one of the first facts I learned in school that the celebration of Black achievements, in our nation and in our world.
Amoung them are men and women, who despite the odds, when their nation called, they answered. Yes,
I refer the black men and women who joined and served in the Armed Services. And like many others, their blood was shed for the very freedoms we hold dear.

The very first was Crispus Attucks. In 1770, Crispus Attucks was the first casualty of the Amercian Revolution.

This statue of Crispus Attucks is in the heart of the Boston Commons.

The Boston Commons was my son Aries's playground; we lived only a few blocks away from the Commons. And I would make a point to tell Aries the story of  Mr. Attucks.

There were many others who would die in wars since then.

And blacks never failed to answer the call.

Whether it was the War of 1812, the Civil Was, two World Wars to the present, blacks picked up and bear arms for a country that often question their loyalty African-American soldiers and civilians fought a two-front battle during World War II. There was the enemy overseas, and also the battle against prejudice at home.

"Soldiers were fighting the world's worst racist, Adolph Hitler, in the world's most segregated army," says historian and National Geographic explorer in residence Stephen Ambrose. "The irony did not go unnoticed."

Good enough to fight, good enough to shed their blood. But when they returned home, the black serviceman still had to ride in the back of the bus and could drink from the same water fountain.

Many of my own family members were and are amoung those who donned the uniform of service to this nation. About three years ago, I found a copy of my grandfather Joe Prude's (my mother's father's) draft card. My uncles served in the service, as well as many of my cousins. I have at least two members of my family deployed, as well as my son, Aries. He followed in the steps of my late Uncle Joe Jr. and went into the Navy. My step-father and father-in-law have served and my husband is still in the Army Reserves.

We as a nation have indeed come a long way. Now men as well as women of all colours and religions are welcome to join the branch of their choice. No, it isn't perfect. But it is better than it was.

Is there still racism in the service? Sadly, yes. But now it isn't permitted or winked at.

A nation is as Strong and as good as her people.

And we are a good people.

Stop Racism

Wall Photos

This happened on TAM airlines.

A 50-something year old white woman arrived at ...her seat and saw that the passenger next to her was a black man. Visibly furious, she called the air hostess.

"What's the problem, ma?" the hostess asked her
"Can't you see?" the lady said - "I was given a seat next to a black man. I can't seat here next to him. You have to change my seat"

- "Please, calm down, ma" - said the hostess
"Unfortunately, all the seats are occupied, but I'm still going to check if we have any."

The hostess left and returned some minutes later.

"Madam, as I told you, there isn't any empty seat in this class- economy class.
But I spoke to the captain and he confirmed that there isn't any empty seats in the economy class. We only have seats in the first class."

And before the woman said anything, the hostess continued

"Look, it is unusual for our company to allow a passenger from the economy class change to the first class.
However, given the circumstances, the commandant thinks that it would be a scandal to make a passenger travel sat next to an unpleasant person."

And turning to the black man, the hostess said:

"Which means, Sir, if you would be so nice to pack your handbag, we have reserved you a seat in the first class..."

And all the passengers nearby, who were shocked to see the scene started applauding, some standing on their feet."