I'm Outty!

This has been an unpleasant  insane day at work.  And it's only Thursday!  Normally that would mean there is one more day to the work week, but in my case that is not the truth this week.  You see, the U.S. Army has this program called the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  When a soldier returns from Iraq or Afghanistan he or she is supposed to attend a class on suicide prevention.  I never did, and I got out.  But, I went back into the Reserves before my original contract was up.  So my name was still in the system.  So, now I am required to attend this class.  But the campaign is really more than just a suicide prevention class.  The also have people who can give information about all sorts of Veterans Affairs benefits.  Some examples are financing to assist with school, medical information, mental wellness information, and more.  Therefore, I will be getting on a plane at 7 a.m. local time tomorrow morning to fly to beautiful, sunny Orlando, Florida!  It is supposed to be 75 degrees there tomorrow!  That's so much better than the mid-forties we have here today!  Of course, I'll just be gone for the weekend, but that's okay.  The whole trip is paid for, as well.  With that, I must say a large thank you to our American tax payers.  It is not wasted monies, as I know I will get useful information and assistance from this trip.  I also thank you all for supporting the troops.  American, British, Italian, French, Japanese, it matters not.  You may not agree with the idea behind the war or how it is being handled.  But I must say that whatever the reason, I served and am serving as a proud American who loves the FREEDOM the so many before me died for.  Thanks and God bless.  See you all next week!!

Support Our Troops

No, today is not Memorial Day. Nor is it Veterans Day. It is not V-J Day or V-E Day. It is none of those special days we have set aside to remember those who have fought for, and have even given their lives for, our freedom. No, this is just another ordinary day. We go to work, we walk our dogs, we watch television, we go shopping, we buy groceries, and do all the things we do every week in our every day lives. But our soldiers are still in Iraq. They are still in Afghanistan. Our news stations regularly announce death and destruction in these wars, but often it becomes just another far and away news story for the simple fact that we have heard it day in and day out for the past eight years.

Well, today is not just another ordinary day for those over there. Each day is lived on a wing and a prayer that God will protect each of them and bring them home safely. Today's blog is a tribute to our soldiers, our airmen, our marines, our sailors. I, now, take a moment of silence for the fallen........and offer a salute to those who still are fighting for us today, our HEROS.

(The above photos are actual photos taken by soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq.)