Valour-IT Fundraiser
Valour-IT: Technology for the Wounded: Another successful campaign!
Looks like over $100,000 for this worthy cause.
Many thanks to those who donated. You guys rock!
Beat Farmers Cover Neil Young - Powderfinger
Loved the Beat Farmers when they were together. Are they still together? Haven't heard from them in a while. I sing this one better though ;-)
November 11th ~ Thank You Veterans!
>> November 11, 2009
In observation of Veterans Day I'll give my "shout out" to my grandfather: US Army, WWII and Korean War veteran.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please, allow me to introduce you to someone. I think you'll like him. His name is Ross D. Provost, my grandfather. He is the most honorable man I have ever met. He’s a church going man, a Christian. A man who understands from experience the value of life and liberty, and what it takes to hold on to those precious gifts.
To look at him, you would never guess the trials he has been through. It just doesn't show.
In 1944, at 16 years old, he crawled out the dusty back window of a one-story schoolhouse to run off and join the Army/Airforce.
You see, there were soldiers fighting in the second "War to end all Wars". I guess he felt the need, along with most Americans, to do their part for freedom. He enlisted "indefinitely", which, in civilian speak of the time meant, "as long as we need you", for a 3 year stint with the option to renew. About a year later, the Army/Airforce discovered he was under age and kicked him out. Home he went. After a few months, he could stand it no more. He pleaded with his parents to sign his tickets and let him rejoin. They reluctantly agreed. At the ripe old age of 17 he rejoined the Army to deploy at Yokohama, Japan, toward the end of WWII.
After WWII, at 19 years old, he was stationed in Newburgh, NY, at a portion of West Point, where he was a member of the Pilot Training Crash Crew. They assisted with pilot training, obviously. My grandpa's portion of the training was to rescue pilots from the burning planes that the pilots crashed during the course of training. Sounds like loads of fun to me.
Then the Korean War began. Another deployment. This time he was a Field 1st Sergeant, commanding the 105 Howitzer regiment. At one point, serving on the same front line with all three of his sibling brothers at Hungnam - the 38th parallel. He lost his brother Donald in Korea. Paw also told me of the freezing cold and of jumping into an unknown foxhole with snow up to his stomach. I'm sure he was wondering who's foxhole it was, thankful that it was friendly.
After a "promotion" or title change, Paw left the smell of white phosphorus and lord knows how many obliterated landscapes, to the enviable job of...
"One Man Land Mine Discovery and Disposal Unit". This job consisted of "skipping a small tube of nitro across a piece of land like skipping a stone across a pond" in the hopes of exploding the nitro tube and creating a concussion, which would explode the land mines. He told me of times when his friends, seeing that the jeep he was driving was loaded down with tubes of nitroglycerin would give him an extra wide berth. ~ Why wouldn't they?
My grandfather's next military assignment was "Gray Registration", an obscure term for, in my opinion, what can be the most solemn and yet honorable task of any soldier, to escort the body of a fallen military brother to their home.
During a brief assignment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma he and his fellow soldiers broke wild horses for shipping to Greece. The horses were to be used as pack mules for the armed forces in the area. Afterward, he was tasked with the responsibilities of Master Sergeant at Camp Polk, LA. breaking and training new recruits for action. If my grandfather was their instructor, you can bet they were ready. I wonder though, what "Camp" Polk looked like back in the day.
I didn't know about most of my grandfather's military history until today. I had the idea to feature "Paw" in this post when I called him asking, "Would you mind if I told a bit of your story?" Maybe, I said, some of these newly awakened patriots need to be reminded of what you and your brothers in arms went through to secure our liberty. He graciously agreed.
Lucky me.
Lucky US.
Sometimes our heroes are reluctant to share the torment, the harshest, indescribable anguish of war. Who am I to blame them? I've never been to war. I don't know those horrid memory flashes that only an angel can erase. Nor do I remember the bygone friends and brothers who gave their lives for all of our freedom. It is precisely because of those brave soldiers, that I am here, reminding you to give thanks to my grandfather and men and women like him. They are the true patriots. I know that he would tell you, no, implore you, to get involved. He would demand that you take back the America that we have lost in just the few short years since he and his brothers in arms fought and died for it.
Do not let those lives and ideals go to waste.
Liberties lost are never found again.
We must fight to keep them, or fall into oblivion.
Raging Elephants!
>> November 10, 2009
New addition to the blogroll ~ Apostle Claver tells it like it is. Saw him speak at the TEA Party Rally Saturday. Great speaker with a great message.
Find out more at Raging Elephants main page.
Memeorandum Helps Get The Word Out ~ Ooh Rah!
Thanks to Cassandra at Villainous Company, the blog team has made the main Memeorandum page.
Semper Fi!
Happy Birthday Marines! Semper Fidelis
From our Valour-IT Marine team leader:
The Marine team is within sight of our 35K goal, but we need your help to get there! I can't think of a better way to celebrate the birth of our Corps than to boost the Marine team to its first victory ever.
Valour IT provides adaptive technology to help severely wounded vets recover faster, establish a support system, and regain their independence. Since the program began, every single dollar raised by Valour IT has been used to provide:
· 4,100+ voice activated laptops
· over 30 Wii systems
· and nearly 100 handheld GPS devices to wounded vets at:
Balboa Naval Hospital
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton
Brooke Army Medical Center
Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital
Madigan RMC
Walter Reed AMC
National Naval MC (Bethesda)
and VA centers nationwide.
The men and women of the United States military have given their all to defend the values we Americans hold dear. For the price of a few sixpacks of beer or some dip and chips, you can tell them that you honor their sacrifices and their service. Please give generously. They did:
GO MARINES!!!
New Banner and Blog Title
>> November 9, 2009
A little house cleaning. I finally got around to making a bonafide banner for the site. While I was at it, I changed the title to match the url. Silly and anal, I know. Sue me. :) Hope you like the new banner.
Read more...What is The Meaning of Semper Fidelis?
Sometimes it's best to look at the definition of a phrase from a personal perspective.
Found at at Oo-Rah.com by Cam Beck:
"...the Marine Corps has never experienced a mutiny. Marines in England were revered for their loyalty to the crown, just as United States Marines are now revered for their downright fanatical dedication to each other, their service, and their country. Using Latin to characterize this quality represents its legitimization--its codification. Significantly, for Marines at least, it also provides a caste--a group that is separate and unique from any other--a group that has no desire to be like any other.
What is left unsaid in the motto is also notable. The phrase is "Always faithful." It isn't "Sometimes Faithful." Nor is it "Usually Faithful," but always. It is not negotiable. It is not relative, but absolute. Who is always faithful, though. and to what, exactly are they faithful? Interestingly, the simplicity of the phrase and the calculated neglect to specify its parameters seems to strengthen it. Marines pride themselves on their straightforward mission and steadfast dedication to accomplish it."
Don't forget to hit that Valour -IT fundraiser widget at the top right of the page. We may not all be Marines but we can be faithful. Only two days left in the fundraiser!
Semper Fi
Read more...
Found at at Oo-Rah.com by Cam Beck:
"...the Marine Corps has never experienced a mutiny. Marines in England were revered for their loyalty to the crown, just as United States Marines are now revered for their downright fanatical dedication to each other, their service, and their country. Using Latin to characterize this quality represents its legitimization--its codification. Significantly, for Marines at least, it also provides a caste--a group that is separate and unique from any other--a group that has no desire to be like any other.
What is left unsaid in the motto is also notable. The phrase is "Always faithful." It isn't "Sometimes Faithful." Nor is it "Usually Faithful," but always. It is not negotiable. It is not relative, but absolute. Who is always faithful, though. and to what, exactly are they faithful? Interestingly, the simplicity of the phrase and the calculated neglect to specify its parameters seems to strengthen it. Marines pride themselves on their straightforward mission and steadfast dedication to accomplish it."
Don't forget to hit that Valour -IT fundraiser widget at the top right of the page. We may not all be Marines but we can be faithful. Only two days left in the fundraiser!
Semper Fi
Health Care! Getcher "Free" Healthcare Here!
>> November 8, 2009
iOWNTHEWORLD is on the stick once again, pointing to the Democratic Underground's comment section, where they are all dismayed over the price of "free" healthcare. I'm going to refrain from any snarkism for the moment. It is interesting to watch the implosion though.
Also, here is the contact information for Congressman Cao, the sole "Republican" (RINO) who voted for the HC bill. We should send encouraging words, says one DU commenter. Hmmm.
Here is the full roll call of the HC vote
plus the roll call of the Stupak aborton Amendment
via Michelle Malkin
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