Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wednesday Hero


This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

I sat for three days trying to figure out how to write this post and I couldn't figure out how to do it right. The Buffalo Soldiers are such an important part of not only military history, but American history as well. So how do you condense 85 years of history into a couple of paragraphs and not skip over something important? They were the first all Black military regiment. They played a role in every war from the Civil War to the Korean. They gave rise to the Park Rangers and the Tuskegee Airmen. And they've had 23 men be awarded the Medal Of Honor. While not a forgotten part of history, the Buffalo Soldiers are certainly a part of it that doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
 
 
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Banners needed for the 2013 Face of America bike ride!

This year, I will again be collecting banners to use at the 2013 Face of America bike ride 
 
 
The banners are hung along the ride at rest stops and lunch stops to cheer the riders along with messages of support.

 If you, or a group that you know, would be interested in making and donating a banner to be used at the bike ride, please email me with the subject line Banner to  kasee60@gmail.com  


 Here are the instructions we've used in the past for how to make banners :)

Making a banner can be very simple or very elaborate. we will describe the simplest and most inexpensive versions and you can go from there.
 
Materials needed:
ONE light-colored pillow case (e.g., white, yellow, powder blue)
OR

ONE light colored cotton T-shirt (M-XL)

OR

ONE Light colored twin sheet

ONE package of multicolored Sharpie (or any type of) permanent markers (maybe two pkgs if you’re doing a sheet!)

OR

Tubs of tempera paints(a couple bright colors) and paint brushes/sponges, plus permanent markers for folks to sign their names

NOTE: Many fluorescent colors and yellow do not show up well on light colored fabric; select paint/marker colors that have a high contrast with banner fabric.

Optional: Stencils from a craft store to help sketch out the letters in pencil before using the permanent markers or paints (or use stencils to trace and cut out fabric letters)

NO, NOs (please!):

No poles or sticks (hard to transport; all banners will be hung from clothesline or fences, etc)

No paper (gets soggy and tears in rain and morning dew)

No glossy photos (get soggy and tear in rain and morning dew)

Fabric banners are best because they are easiest transport and to secure to ropes and fences with clothes pins or safety pins.
 

With your pens or whatever, decorate your banner with a simple wish, or cheer, or message of thanks or encouragement and then anyone and everyone can sign their name. J

If your banner will be from a group, I recommend writing the group name along one edge, left or right (across the bottom is less good as that part may drag the ground). Signatures can go all over!

DEADLINE: The banners must be received by Tuesday, April 23,2013.

This year's bike ride will be April 26-28 and we want to make sure we get it in time to take it to the bike ride!



Thank so much! if you or your group would like to send a banner to help support the riders Participants include many disabled veterans, along with currently active military and retired military. Active duty service and emergency response men and women also join hundreds of able-bodied citizens who ride together.
 
Please feel free to pass the word along about this!
 

2013 Face of America Bike Ride April 26-28

WE ALL RIDE THE SAME ROAD THIS APRIL 26-28, 2013

World T.E.A.M. SportsFace of America bicycle ride brings together riders with disabilities and riders who are able-bodied. In its 11th year, the ride from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia to the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania includes about 500 participants annually.

The Face of America rides honor the men and women who were wounded or disabled while in service to their nation. Participants include many disabled veterans, along with currently active military and retired military. Active duty service and emergency response men and women also join hundreds of able-bodied citizens who ride together.

 From its launch as a cross-country ride in the summer of 2000, through two years of serving as the official 9/11 commemorative ride from Ground Zero in New York to Washington, to the current Washington to Gettysburg route, the Face of America ride has brought together civilians, active duty military, first responders and adaptive veterans in an inclusive bicycle ride. This April 26 through 28, the Face of America bicycle ride returns.

New for 2013, participants can select their challenge. Riders may choose our popular, fully-supported two-day ride from the Pentagon near Washington, DC to the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Or, a rider may accept the challenge of one or both of our new one day metric century loop rides beginning and ending in Gettysburg. Through either option, these rides bring unique opportunities to honor America’s servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured, as they set and achieve new goals.

The 2013 Face of America is not just a bike ride. It is an opportunity to share stories and build camaraderie with 500 participants while honoring America’s disabled veterans and the American spirit. With many returning riders each year, this inspiring event has a limited number of entries.

Military veterans with disabilities pay no fees to participate. All other participants pay a minimal registration fee and need to meet or exceed minimum fundraising goals. All funds raised through participant fundraising will pay the costs of those participants with disabilities, along with event costs. Any remaining funds are applied to support upcoming World T.E.A.M. Sports events across the United States.

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If you are interested in learning more about riding in the above ride, sponsoring a rider, or volunteering, please go HERE
 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Wednesday Hero


This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael
Watertender First Class Elmer Charles Bigelow
Watertender First Class Elmer Charles Bigelow
24 years old from Hebron, Illinois
USS Fletcher (DD-445)
July 12, 1920 - February 15, 1945
 
U.S. Navy
 
The Son of German immigrants, Elmer Bigelow joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Fletcher in 1943. In 1945 Watertender Second Class Bigelow was killed when his boat was hit by enemy fire which ignited several powder cases. With little regard for his own safety, Bigelow rushed below with two fire extinguishers to put out the fires before they could cause anymore damage. In doing so he forwent the breathing apparatus that would have saved his life because it would have taken too much time to put on. He was able to extinguish the fires but his lungs were seared and he succumbed to his injuries the following day. For his heroics that day, Watertender Second Class Elmer Bigelow was posthumously awarded the rank of Watertender First Class, the Medal Of Honor and in 1957 a destroyer, USS Bigelow (DD-942), was named in his honor.
You can read more about Elmer Bigelow here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Dancing with My Daddy by Valery Murphy: A Book Review

                                                  Dancing with my Daddy by Valery Murphy

This book examines the author's relationship with her father, a World War II British veteran whom she  came to realize  suffered from what we now call PTSD. The story is framed in the larger context of how a daughter's relationship with her father affects her relationship with a Heavenly Father.

What struck me strongly in reading this book was when Valery wrote of her father's struggle with his wartime scars from a child's point of view. We read so much today about PTSD as it affects veterans, yet here is a story of how it also affects those too young to even realize what is affecting them at the time, and why.

 Valery was eventually able to forgive her father for how his struggles affected she and her family as she grew ,and establish a relationship with a loving God. She wrote this book so that other women  would see how she came to that point in her own life, and perhaps be able to find such a relationship for themselves.

At the end of each chapter are some suggestions for thought,and some Bible verses and a prayer. This book would be an excellent study book not only for an individual woman, but perhaps a women's Sunday school or Bible study group.

A very thought provoking book. My thanks for the opportunity to review it.

-----------------------------------
This book was offered for review on the Hooah Wife and Friends blog where I post at times, and I'm cross-posting my review here.
















 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Congratulations,Dustin!

Last Sunday my husband and I made a quick trip down to Georgia, to see his son (my stepson :) Dustin get inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy club at Ft. Stewart

(that's Dustin and his wife Mari in the middle)

Congratulations,Dustin. Job well done! and so glad they included Mari in the ceremony, military wives sacrifice a lot when their husbands are working hard to achieve something like this! We're very proud of both of you!







 

Virginia Soldiers' Angels: Valentine's Day for Our Troops...

Virginia Soldiers' Angels: Valentine's Day for Our Troops...: “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” was not just a top hit on the music charts in the late 1960s, it is what volunteers did this Valenti...

Wednesday Hero


Cpl. Alvin Krumrey
Cpl. Alvin Krumrey 91 years old from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Army Air Corps
 
Alvin Krumrey didn't think much about his military dog tags that he had lost over 70 years ago. That is until they were found in a coin store in the Solomon Islands.
You can read more about Alvin Krumrey here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Thursday, February 07, 2013

Wednesday Hero


Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, pilots a KC-130J Hercules in southwestern Afghanistan in 2011, when he commanded 2nd MAW (Forward). Walters assumed command of 2nd MAW in May 2012, just two months after returning from Afghanistan.

 "Instead of employing the wing in combat, now I'm preparing Marines for combat," Walters said. "It's the continuum of who we are as Marines, answering the call to do our nation's defense wherever we're called." Photo taken by Staff Sgt. James R. Richardson courtesy U.S. Marines

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here
 
 

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Four Chaplains Day

From the Wikipedia entry:

The Four Chaplains were four U. S. Army chaplains who were killed in action when the USAT Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943.

They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out.
230 of the 904 men aboard the ship were rescued.

On 19 December 1944, all four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross.[2]


The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism was authorized in 1961 and posthumously presented by the President of the United States to the families of the chaplains.

The chaplains were also honored with a stamp,issued in 1948 and by an act of the United States Congress, designating 3 February as "Four Chaplains Day."

The chaplains were Lieutenants







The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation website can be found HERE


John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.