An Atlanta radio station organized a letter writing campaign so each

of the 375,000 men & women deployed outside the US would

personally receive a hand written "thank you!" for Thanksgiving

(how appropriate ! what a fabulous idea! )

they are 75,000 letters short and asking for more.

here's the link:

Big Thank You

m2

I recently sent in about 7 VHS tapes to a company who will convert them to DVD's. I have about 20-25 and figure I will do them in stages to control the costs. But they have very reasonable rates and I should receive my first batch in a week or so. I'll let you know how they come out.

http://hdmediaservices.com/

Later I am also going to convert some old 8mm's from my childhood. It will be nice to have them on DVD's before they lose their quality.

AFA - Flag Folding

Federal government bans flag-folding recitations following one complaint

It is time for Christians to say enough is enough

October 26, 2007

In the latest attack on Christianity, the U.S. government has banned the flag-folding recitations at all 125 national cemeteries. The banning came as the result of one complaint! The situation is similar to that in which one person removed prayer from schools.

This article from The Associated Press explains the situation:

Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries.

At thousands of military burials, VA volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.†The 12th glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost."

Citing a need for uniformity, the National Cemetery Administration has prohibited unpaid VA volunteers as well as employees from conducting the recital at all 125 national cemeteries.

American Legion attorney Rees Lloyd calls it "another attempt by secularist fanatics to cleanse any reference to God."

Following one complaint, the Veterans Administration has made anti-Christian bigotry the law of the land. The U.S. government has bowed to pressure from one radical anti-Christian secularist. Allowed to stand, the action by the Veterans Administration, in essence, means that anti-Christian bigotry is now the accepted and approved law of the land.

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GOOD GRIEF! Now if we complain, what will they do?

http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/rpg_surgery

Live RPG removed from soldier

A fellow soldier was impaled by a live RPG. For medics and a helicopter crew, there was only one choice.

Rocky sent this to me. WOW! You gotta view this. It's incredible from start to finish!

Received this from John McAuliffe, 87th Inf Div:

M&M will be in the States on a visit as seen below. This is George Ciampa's (of Let Freedom Ring) welcome speech.

Subject: Speech for the dinner/get together for Mathilde and Marcel

Dear Mathilde and Marcel,

We welcome you here tonight as true and loyal Belgian friends. Most of those here tonight have been to Belgium and met you there. A few have come to see the people who they have heard so much about.

Over the past thirteen years, Dottie and I have told our friends that we feel that you are better Americans than many in our own country. We have seen what you are, and how you continue to be hosts to so many American veterans of WW II and their families. How you have fed and sheltered them in your home next to your wonderful Remember Museum on what was once a farm. And you do the same with our service men and women who are now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and are stationed in Germany, many of whom are there recuperating from battle wounds.

Let us not forget how you have adopted so many graves of those who gave their lives in the liberation of your country. And you find others to do the same.

You are friends of generals and privates and plain citizens. They all love you and cannot express how wonderful you both are. In a few days you will be guests of retired general David Grange, who we met through you, to be at a Veterans Day ceremony in Illinois.

My buddy, 607th GR Company, Vito Mastrangelo and his wife Theresa, met you in 1994 when you opened your museum and I believe they are among the first American veterans that you met. Because of that meeting, Dottie and I met you shortly thereafter and knowing you has been a highlight of our lives.

Mathilde and Marcel, I cannot tell you the impact you have made on the lives of so many Americans. Veterans who served in Belgium during the war, all, without exception, feel that the Belgian people are wonderful and you are special. What a great example you are.

For those who don’t know, Mathilde and Marcel Schmetz received, this year, the U.S. Army’s highest civilian award. Congratulations and thank you for everything you do!!

Vive le Belgique.

Cher Mathilde et Marcel,

Nous vous accueillons ici ce soir comme les amis vrais et loyaux belges. La plupart de ces ce soir a été ici à la Belgique et vous a rencontré là-bas. Quelques-uns sont venus voir les gens qu'ils ont entendus si beaucoup de.

Par-dessus le passé treize années, Dottie et j'ai dit nos amis que nous sentons que vous êtes meilleur Américains que beaucoup en notre pays. Nous avons vu que vous êtes, et comment vous continuez à être des hôtes à tant de vétérans américains de WW deux et leurs familles. Comment vous avez nourri et les avez abrités dans votre maison à côté de votre merveilleux Rappelez le Musée sur quel était une fois une ferme. Et vous faites le même avec nos hommes de service et les femmes qui servez maintenant dans Iraq et Afghanistan et êtes stationné en allemagne, beaucoup d'entre que récupère là-bas des blessures de combat.

Nous laisser n'oublie pas comment vous avez adopté tant de tombes de ceux qui a donné leur habite en la libération de votre pays. Et vous trouvez des autres pour faire le même.

Vous êtes des amis de générals et de privates et les citoyens simples. Ils vous aiment et ne peut pas exprimer comment merveilleux vous les deux sont. Dans quelques jours vous serez des invités de Ferme de David générale retraitée, que nous avons rencontré par vous, être à une cérémonie de Jour Des Anciens Combattants dans Illinois.

Mon copain, ma Compagnie de GR 607, Vito Mastrangelo et son Theresa de femme, vous a rencontré dans 1994 quand vous avez ouvert votre musée et je crois qu'ils sont parmi les vétérans premièrement américains que vous avez rencontré. A cause de que rencontrant, Dottie et je vous ai rencontré par la suite et sachant bientôt que vous avez été un essentiel de nos vies.

Mathilde et Marcel, je ne peux pas vous dire l'impact vous avez fait sur les vies de tant d'Américains. Les vétérans qui ont servi dans Belgique pendant la guerre, tout, sans l'exception, se sentir que les gens belges sont merveilleux et vous êtes spécial. Qu'un grand exemple que vous êtes.

Pour ceux qui ne sait pas, Mathilde et Marcel Schmetz a reçu, cette année, la plus haute récompense civile de l'Armée américaine. Les félicitations et merci pour tout vous faites ! !

Vive le Belgique.