Life in the Northeast

2008-09-21T12:13:00.002-04:00

"If a man does his best, what else is there?" ~ George Patton

Darris Dawson, Sr., 24, FL
Renee Deville, 44, NY
Wesley Durbin, 26, TX
Jason Freiwald, 30, MI
Marcus Knight, 24, CA
Nicholas Madrazo, 25, WA
John Marcum, 34, MI
Jesse Melton III, 29, MD
Michael Murdock, 22, NC
Daniel Sexton, 53, MO
Michael Slebodnik, 39, PA
Eichmann Strickland, 23, WA
Vincent Winston, Jr., 22, MO
Darrick Wright, 37, TV

Remember. . .

2008-09-14T14:42:00.002-04:00

''The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little bit longer.'' ~ U.S. Navy Seabees

Michael Dinterman, 18, PA
Jorge Feliz Nieve, 26, NY
Kenneth Mayne, 29 GA
Jordan Thibeault, 22, UT
Bryan Thomas, 22, MI
Dustin Tucker, 22, CA
Daniel Whitehead, 22, CT

Remember. . .

2008-09-07T14:27:00.002-04:00

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Carlo Alfonso, 23, WA
Keith Cooper, 25, KY
Steven Fitzmorris, 26, MO
Michael Gonzalez, 20, NJ
Joshua Harris, 36, NC
Patrick May, 22, NY
Tan Ngo, 20, OR
Sean Powers, 24, NH
Gregory Rodriguez, 35, MI

2008-08-31T11:23:00.002-04:00

(I was out of state last weekend and, therefore, combined last Sunday's Remember post with today)

"If a man does his best, what else is there?" ~ George Patton

Jennifer Cole, 34, CA
Paul Conlon, Jr., 21, MA
Donald Garwile, 29, MS
James Hale, 23, IL
Nickolas Lee Hopper, 27, IL
Janelle King, 23, CA
Juan Lopez-Castaneda, 19, AZ
John Mattox, 23, TX
Daniel McGuire, 40, MA
Anthony Mihalo, 23, IL
David Paquet, 26, MD
Kristopher Rodgers, 29, MI
George Stanciel, 40, MS
Travis Stottlemyer, 20, PA
Brian Studer, 28, MN
David Todd, Jr., 36, LA
Jacob Toves, 27, CA

Remember. . .

2008-08-17T10:52:00.002-04:00

It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press;
It is the Solder, not the poet who has given us the freedom of speech;
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to demonstrate
It is the Soldier-- Who salutes the flag; Who serves beneath the flag; and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Anthony Carbullido, 25, Guam
Michael Ferschke, Jr., 22, TN
Kenneth Gibson, 25, VA
Jaime Gonzalez, Jr., 40, TX
Adam McKiski, 21, IL
Stewart Trejo, 25, MY
Jose Ulloa, 23, NY

Hungry Wolves

2008-08-11T11:26:00.001-04:00

A friend sent me the following story:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside of us all. One is Evil. It is...
anger, resentment, self-pity, envy, jealousy, regret, greed, arrogance, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is...joy, peace, love, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 'Which wolf wins?'
The old Cherokee simply replied...
'THE ONE YOU FEED.'

Remember. . .

2008-08-10T12:27:00.002-04:00

"A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world." ~ George Santayana

David Badie, 23, IL
Ryan Baumann, 24, MD
Seteria Harris Brown, 22, FL
Jair De Jesus Garcia, 29, CA
Kevin Dickson, 21, MO
Michael Girdano, 23, PA
Gary Henry,34, IN
Timothy Hutton, 21, MT
Holley James, 24, NC
Garrett Lawton, 31, W.VA
Ian McVey, 23, MA
Jonathan Menke, 22, IN
Brian Miller, 37, IN
Andre Mitchell, 25, NY
William Mulvihill, 20, KS
Ronald Schmidt, 18, KS

What is Love?

2008-08-05T13:22:00.002-04:00

A friend sent me the following e-mail:

"What does love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and you give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,"
Bobby - age 5

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate."
Nikka - age 6

"There are two kinds of love. Our love, God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
Jenny - age 4

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - Age 5

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine - age 5

"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 8

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
Bethany - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen - age 7

"Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget,"
Jessica - age 8

Remember. . .

2008-08-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

"Gold is good in it's place, but living, brave, patriotic men are better than gold." ~ Abraham Lincoln

My deceased soldiers for this past week did not die in Iraq or in Afghanistan. However, they died of their injuries sustained in Iraq. At least their struggles are over and they, hopefully, have found peace. At least they also died in America with their family members present.

Faoa Apineru, 31, CA
James McHale, 31, MT

I recently finished Final Salute by Jim Sheeler. The book chronicles Major Steve Beck, who is a casualty notification officer, as he notifies families of their Marine's death. Although the book is definitely difficult, especially since most of the families have been mine, I think every American should read it and know what happens when a simple knock at the door occurs.

Remember. . .

2008-07-27T10:20:00.001-04:00

"Spending time with America's soldiers is always inspiring." ~ John Boehner

Nick Dewhirst, 25, WI
Danny Dupre, 28, LA
Jackie Larson, 37, WA
Willington Rhoads, 23, NV
Ivan Wilson, 22, CA

Remember. . .

2008-07-20T11:57:00.002-04:00

“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
~ General George S. Patton

(list includes the 9 soldiers killed in the Afghanistan base attack)

Sergio Abad, 21, KY
Jonathan Ayers, 24, GA
Jason Bogar, 25, WA
Jonathan Brostrom, 24, HI
Douglas Bull, 29, PA
Steven Chevalier, 35, MI
Joseph Dwyer, 31, NC
Daniel Farkas, 42, NY
Bryan Fouty, 19, MI
Israel Garcia, 24, CA
Brian Guerrero, 34, Guam
Jason Hovater, 24, TN
Alex Jimenez, 25, MA
Jason Mann, 29, NJ
William McMillan, III, 22, KY
Thomas Michael, Jr., 21, NY
Samson Mora, 28, Guam
Matthew Phillips, 27, GA
Pruitt Rainey, 22, NC
Jeffrey Stevenson, 20, NJ
David Textor, 27, VA
Megan Touma, 23, NC
Daniel Verbeke, 25, PA
Jeremy Vrooman, 28, SD
Mitchell Young, 39, GA
Gunnar Zwilling, 20, MO

Remember. . .

2008-07-13T11:01:00.002-04:00

"The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth." ~ Thomas J. Jackson

Gregory Dalessio, 30, NJ
Matthew Hilton, 37, MI
Joseph McKay, 51, NY
Mark Palmateer, 38, NY
Joshua Plocica, 20, TN
Estell Turner, 43, SD
Anthony Woodham, 37, AR

A Neat Story

2008-07-10T21:29:00.001-04:00

My friend sent me the following story. Although I don't know if it is true, the message still is comforting.

During WWII, a U.S. marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock and quickly crawled inside of one.
As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will, I love and trust you. Amen.
After praying, he lay quietly, listening to the enemy draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of the cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening in the cave. He thought, "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he was ready to make a last stand. To his amazement, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as though no one had entered for quite a while.
"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a man's brick wall."

Remember. . .

2008-07-05T21:25:00.002-04:00

"A boistrous sea of liberty is never without a wave." ~ Thomas Jefferson

John Aragon, 22, CA
Dustin Burnett, 19, AZ
Ryan Connolly, 24, CA
Jason Cox, 21, OH
Layton Crass, 22, IN
Alejandro Dominguez, 24, CA
Philip Dykeman, 38, NY
Max Galeai, 42, America Samoa
Michael Garren, 20, TX
Du Hai Tran, 30, CA
Robert Hammett, 39, AZ
Edgar Heredia, 28, TX
Travis Hunsberger, 24, ID
Eugene Kanakaole, 19, HI
Dwayne Kelley, 48, NJ
Anthony Mangano, 36, NY
Matthew Mendoza, 24, TX
Javier Perales, Jr., 19, TX
Tyler Pickett, 28, WY
David Pietrek, 24, IL
Marcus Preudhomme, 23, FL
Jeffrey Radamorales, 32, Puerto Rico
Gerrand Reed, 40, FL
Marc Retmier, 19, CA
Nelson Rodriguez, 22, MA
Andrew Seabrooks, 36, NY
Chris Strickland, 25, FL
Shawn Simmons, 39, MA
Joel Taylor, 20, NC
Eric Terhune, 34, KY
Bryan Thomas, 22, LA
Ross Toles, III, 37, MI
Michael Toussiant-Hyle Washington, 20, WA
James Treber, 24, CA
James Walton, 41, MD
Kelly Watters, 19, VA
Andrew Whitacre, 21, IN
James Yohn, 25, PA

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-04T09:21:00.004-04:00

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays for many reasons. However, the most prominent reason is simply because we celebrate our nation's birthday. Regardless of this country's faults, I am very to be an American and to be identified as one. For me, this country represents freedom: freedom to be one's self, freedom to dream and to pursue that dream, freedom to think and to challenge, freedom to live. If and when you see a Veteran or a soldier, thank him.

I wrote the following story after an experience I had while living in Russia:

The ride seemed to last an eternity. As I stared out the window watching the countryside whiz by, my thoughts blended with the rhythm of the music filling the car. Occasionally, the woman in the front seat turned to smile at me. Gesticulating, nodding our heads at each other, and laughing had been our communication for the past month. She turned to me one last time and, with twinkling blue eyes, whispered, “Da Da, Aimee.” Her excitement made my nervous stomach do one more flip flop. We were going some place extra special that had required her to prep me every night for the past four weeks. After all, she was taking me to meet her father, a once fierce soldier of the Red Army.
When we arrived at the hovel he called home, the figure of a tall, well built man stopped chopping wood nearby and walked towards where I was standing next to the car. The closer he came to me, the more noticeable his old age became: a web of telling wrinkles occupied his face whereas a few wisps of grey hair occupied his head. He wore a black, faded sweatshirt with the hammer and sickle positioned in the center, which emphasized his political ideology. I felt as though Karl Marx himself were walking towards me. Then, before I knew it, he was standing right in front of me, casually studying me face. Quite surprised, I noticed his eyes were misty and his chin shook. Not sure of what to do, I extended my hand, a hand that would someday practice the essence of democracy, into the gentle grasp of hands that once fought to keep communism alive. I smiled into his eyes; he smiled into mine, and softly letting go of my grasp, he placed his callused hands on either side of my face and spoke in a mere whisper, “Americanski, Americanski.” His lips then softly pressed on my eyes, on my nose, and on his tears that trickled down my face. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his tight embrace. The steady rhythm of his heart in my ear made me realize the beat belonged to a victim of political ideology. Still hugging each other, we knew Stalin, Khrushchev, and all the other deceased Russian leaders had not won. Two months after returning home, I received a letter from my host family, letting me know the tragic news. A few weeks after our meeting, the Soviet soldier had suffered a massive heart attack and died. However, they went on to explain that he had died happy and content. His life long dream had been fulfilled: he had met an American.

Remember. . .

2008-06-22T12:07:00.002-04:00

"Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." ~ John Quincy Adams

James Carter, 42, AL

Shane Duffy, 22, MA

Thomas Duncan, III, TX

Jonathan Emard, 20, TX

James Finley, 21, MO

Quincy Green, 26, TX

Scott Hagerty, 41, OK

Derek Holland, 20, PA

David Hurst, 31, OK

Cody Legg, 23, CA

Steve McCoy, 23, GA

Andre McNair, Jr., 20, FL

Justin Mixon, 22, LA

Andrew Shields, 19, WA

Lance Waldorf, 40, MT

My Second Book!

2008-06-18T21:22:00.003-04:00

I have published a second book, which is a 120 page examination of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In addition to including my photos from the various visits to this camp, I also included diary entries from SS, prisoners, and Jewish Sonderkommando members, who worked in the seven crematoriums. The Wind Wails: Inside Auschwitz-Birkenau will be available to purchase at the end of this month. I thought to sell it on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble, but they take 55% right off the top! I'd rather this money be applied to my Holocaust work and therefore, will be privately selling copies.

My first book There Exists a Fence, which is about the Yurburg, Lithuania, Jewish cemetery restoration project also continues to do quite well.

Thoughts

2008-06-10T20:00:00.001-04:00

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all a state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
you can ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
to the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later, the man who wins
is the one who thinks he can.
--Unknown

Remember. . .

2008-06-08T10:55:00.002-04:00

"There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream." ~Archibald MacLeish

Christian Cotner, 20, CT

Chris McCarthy, VA

Kyle Norris, 22, OH

David Nunez, 27, CA

Joshua Waltenbaugh, 19, PA

Remember. . .

2008-06-01T11:14:00.002-04:00

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." ~ JFK

Jeffrey Ammon, 37, UT

Matthew Brown, 20, PA

Justin Buxbaum, 23, ME

William Cooper, 22, MS

Victor Cota, 33, AZ

Robert Crutchfield, 21, OH

John Daggett, 21, AZ

Jason Dene, 37, VT

Jeffrey DePrimo, 35, PA

Blake Evans, 24, IL

Frank Gasper, 25, CA

Chris Gathercole, 21, CA

Branden Haunert, 21, OH

Howard Jones, Jr., 35, IL

Joseph Moore, 54, ID

Chad Trimble, 29, CA

Davy Weaver, 39, GA

Soldiers Angels

2008-05-27T21:12:00.002-04:00

I have been involved with Soldiers Angels since 2004 and cannot fully express the importance of supporting America's service members. Most people do not realize how much a piece of mail or a care package means to someone who is thousands of miles away from home deployed to either a FOB in Iraq or to a Navy ship on the high seas. A fellow member of Soldiers Angels shared the following letter her soldier sent her with the organization. I think it is beautiful.

"Cards, care packages, cookies, they're not going to stop that bullet or that IED but do you all know what they do? They bring a small piece of home to us. Sure you might not be here on the front line covered in filth, smelling like hell, your heart going a mile a min not knowing what's coming next. If your next step is on that TRP or if your going to be the latest recruiting tool for some insurgents new video while they take pot shots at you. But what you all do with those cards, care packages, cookies is just as important. YOU have the greatest power of ANYONE here. YOU can send us a small piece of home. I don't know it this makes any sense to you but, when I get a box or anyone else get's a box its hard to describe. You find a nice quite corner and everyone knows not to bother you. You sit there and look over the box as if you had never seen anything like it before. You read who it's from and a smile crosses your face, you recognize the name. You might already know what's inside, but it does not matter. Some tear it open as fast as they can, others take their time and enjoy every sec of it. Once inside, you go threw it, every little item once, twice, sometimes three times, it's a very delicate process. You breath it in and you think of the person who sent it to you. You think of home, family, cars, summer.....everything all at once and for a very short time, you are there away from this SH#$T hole. You are grateful. Then you look around and there's always a buddy who is down or having a bad day you share your box. Sometimes just with the one guy, sometimes with everyone and it's electric. Everyone catches that feeling and we start talking about home, about things we miss, things we are going to do when we get back and the heaviness of the day lifts and it's not so bad. C, its not the "things" that are sent that matter to us, it's the thought. That's the power ALL of you have who take the time to send things. You can change the worst day into the best day, in a split second. "

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T19:08:00.002-04:00

I have been in PA since Friday and will combine my Remember post with today's Memorial Day reflection. My aunt, Rev. Connie Gibbs, wrote the following poem:

WE Must Remember
--Rev. Connie Gibbs

We pause on this Memorial Day, a brief moment in time,
to bring close to our hearts those memories we hold so dear
of the men and women before us who unselfishly put their dreams,
and their lives on the line, where danger lay as a stalker,
waiting to take away each breath,
while the soldier plowed with determination the furrows of death.

We must remember, we must, you and I, those special heroes who chose to
fly through the skies of blue that turned as dark as the midnight sky.
Their wings began to shudder as smoke choked their breath away,
And hope gave way to the resignation, “Today, I’m going to die.”

Treading waters so deep and wide, for God and Country, their hearts abide.
Surprised by attacks with brutal disregard for human life,
they fought to the end, knowing that life and limb would be lost,
whether of self or friend.

Yes, by land, by sea, and in the skies, they fought for our land,
Fighting for freedom so that you and I might stand,
Stand for what is right, for what is good and true, fight that we might
say without fear, “God loves you.”

Yes, we must remember for freedom is not cheap,
for lives and limbs were lost so that we might keep, all the things that we
have and all the things that we do,
Like cars and boats and a house with a roof. Like going to church without fear,
And reading the Bible where we find the truth. The truth of knowing that whether
We are red, yellow, black or white, we are all God’s children and we need to learn to
Love one another as God first loved us.
For if there is to be peace on earth, where all of humankind is free, it must begin with each of us, let it begin with you and with me.

Yurburg Website!

2008-05-20T18:48:00.003-04:00

The Yurburg, Lithuania, Jewish cemetery restoration project finally has a website!! I am so excited about this news and also because the DVDs are also completed. When we arrived at the cemetery, my first thought was, "Dear God. How are we ever going to finish in time?" Fortunately, we were able to put up 700 ft of new fence, unearth and upright about 100 headstone, and clean existing erect headstones. A piece of me will always exist in Yurburg, Lithuania, and when some days seem longer than most, my mind drifts to a distant place and finds peace for there exists a fence.

Project Preservation's next project is in the Ukraine. I will not be participating this time, but will be on the next one.

Check out the link:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~projpreservation/yurburg/

My Yurburg book is also doing fantastic, which makes me happy simply because the lost Jewish community will not be forgotten. Check out my book at the link to the right that says, "My Book".

Remember. . .

2008-05-18T11:25:00.002-04:00

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." ~ Samuel Adams

Casey Casanova, 22, MS (first female from MS to die in Iraq)
Ara Tyler Deysie, 18, AZ
Jessica Ellis, 24, OR
Joseph Ford, 23, ID
Alex Gonzalez, 21, TX
Jeremy Gullett, 22, KY
Miguel Guzman, 21, CA
Mary Jane Jaenichen, 20, CA
James Kimple, 21, OH
Glen Martinez, 31, CO (his wife, also a Marine stationed in Fallujah, Iraq, accompanied his body home)
Jeffrey Nichols, 21, TX
Isaac Palomarez, 26, CO
Kevin Roberts, 25, NM
Aaron Ward, 19, CA

Irena Sendler

2008-05-12T20:29:00.003-04:00

I have visited Warsaw several times and have occasionally explored the remains of the Jewish ghetto. Naturally, many of the buildings were destroyed during the uprising in 1943 then during the Soviet siege of the city. However, the surviving structures are something everyone should visit at least once. No regular tour guides, though, venture to that part of the city and exploration is self-motivated. How anyone could have survived the Warsaw ghetto is a miracle. How anyone could have smuggled and saved 2500 Jewish children from the ghetto is an even bigger miracle.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_on_re_eu/obit_sendler

Remember. . .

2008-05-11T21:25:00.003-04:00

"This is essentially a people's contest... whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all - to afford all, an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life."
- Abraham Lincoln

Bryan Bolander, 26, CA
Chad Caldwell, 24, WA
Clay Craig, 22, TX
William Dix, 32, CA
Lawrence Ezell, 30, TX
Adam Marion, 26, NC
Marcus Mathes, 26, FL
David McCormick, 26, TX
David McDowell, 30, CA
Guadalupe Ramirez, 26, CA
Mark Stone, 22, TX

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T20:55:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to one of the most important woman in my life. Not only has she instilled values and determination in me, but her continuous display of compassion and love has been such a powerful influence. She has been such a fantastic friend and mother and my hope is to be the kind of woman to my children as she has been to me.

What is a Mother?

"A Mother has so many things to do,

From washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.

She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews,

She bathes the children and washes their clothes.

When they forget to wash their faces clean,

And their clothes are the muddiest you've ever seen,

Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?

Of course, that is what a Mother will do.
Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,

Applying a bandage or giving them a pill?

Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?

She must never her duty shirk.

Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?

For missing things she must look and look?

Who becomes a listener to every heartache,

To every accomplishment that a child makes?

Who scolds their children when they are naughty,

Or remind them of God when they are to haughty?

Who tends her family with love and patience, too?

Of course that is what a Mother will do."

- Unknown

Happy 60th Birthday, Israel!!

2008-05-08T20:25:00.002-04:00

HaTikvah ("The Hope")----Israeli National Anthem

As long as the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart,
With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion,
Then our hope - the two-thousand-year-old hope - will not be lost:
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem

Remember. . .

2008-05-04T12:45:00.002-04:00

I am a member of Soldiers Angels and one of the teams I am on is called the Living Legends. This team provides support to the families who have lost a soldier either in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Each Sunday, on my previous blog, I dedicated the Sunday post to the fallen soldiers I had received during the week. I decided to continue this ritual here as well.

"Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death." ~ Omar Bradley

John Bishop, 22, MI

Ronald Blystone, 34, MO

Timothy Cunningham, 26, TX

Dwayne Davis, 29, OK

Merlin German, 22, NY

Jordan Haerter, 19, NY

Andrew Pearson, 32, MT

Ronald Tucker, 21, CO

Matthew Vandegrift, 28, CO

Shaun Whitehead, 24, GA

Jonathan Yale, 21, VA

Jonathan Yelner, 24, CA

New Blog

2008-04-30T13:59:00.003-04:00

For the past almost two years I have been blogging on Yahoo 360 and for some reason my blog no longer exists! So, I have returned to this site, dusted it off, and will resume posting here. I will still designate every Sunday for my "Remember" posts.

Miami Memorial

2007-01-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from Miami's Holocaust Memorial.

The Value of a $1.00

2006-10-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

My friend sent me this interesting piece and I thought to pass it along:

Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it. The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.
If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know. If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order has begun."
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning, "one nation from many people". Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And, for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

Remember. . .

2006-10-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Edward Garvin, 19, MA
Philip Johnson, 19, CT
Scott Nisely, 48, IA
Brad Payne, 24, AL
Benjamin Rosales, 20, TX
Jeffrey Shaffer, 21, AK
Kampha Sourivong, 20, IA
Angelo Vaccaro, 23, FL

Remember. . .

2006-10-06T17:36:00.000-04:00

These are this past week's living legends soldiers:

Jerry Durbin Jr., 26, TX
Merideth Howard, 52, WI
Casey Mellen, 21, AZ
Clarence McSwain, 31, MS
Jared Raymond, 20, MA
Jonathan Rojas, 27, IN
Aaron Seal, 23, IN
Aaron Smith, 31, TX
Travis Zimmerman, 19, PA

May their service and sacrifice never be forgotten

Elie Wiesel

2006-10-05T20:29:00.000-04:00

I recently had the honor to attend one of Elie Wiesel's receptions and lectures hosted by Dor Chadash in NYC. He is a remarkable individual who has lived, learned, and lost in this life. Society needs to really listen to his words:

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forgot that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. . . Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God himself. Never."

Realize

2006-10-01T18:36:00.000-04:00

A friend sent this e-mail to me and I thought it was a good one to share.

To realize the value of a sister: Ask someone who doesn't have one
To realize the value of ten years: Ask a newly divorced couple.
To realize the value of four years: Ask a graduate.
To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of one minute: Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one-second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

Happy October 1!

Remember...

2006-09-29T23:16:00.000-04:00

This week's Living Legends team requests are:

Emily Perez, 23, TX
James Worster, 24, OH

Holiday Project

2006-09-24T21:12:00.000-04:00

I am helping my friend with her project, which is described in the following e-mail:

OPERATION: LOVE FROM HOME
During this holiday season, let's show our troops we love and support them!!!! From September 30 to November 30, I will be collecting holiday cards for troops stationed in high-combat areas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Being away from home and living in harsh conditions during the holiday season is especially difficult ~ they need to know we have not forgotten them!!! Mail from home helps to keep our troops' morale strong, making a very real difference in their lives.
Send your signed, unsealed holiday cards to:

Mrs. Kathy Orr
OPERATION: LOVE FROM HOME
P.O. Box 1660
Loganville, Georgia, 30052

The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand-written or typed letter is just as wonderful! This is a great opportunity to get your Scout troop, school, church and other civic organizations involved in doing something to show support for our troops.
If you wish to send an email greeting (which will be printed off and mailed along with the holiday cards), please send an email to: LoveFromHome@Gmail.com**IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or materials. Please also refrain from making political statements of any nature. I will be reading and screening every card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to. Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them! If you have any questions, please contact me at LoveFromHome@Gmail.com

Remember...

2006-09-22T19:09:00.000-04:00

This week for SA's living legends team, I received the following soldiers:

Richard J. Henkes, II, 32, OR
Ryan A. Miller, 19, TX

Happy New Year to those in the Jewish faith!! The following is an e-mail forward my friend sent to me:

As 5767 Approaches.... This week we Jews will begin our 5767th year on this earth! Who would have believed this possible? If anyone had told Abraham that his people would be around this long he probably would have been astounded. Imagine, we did this without beheading anyone on TV, without a single suicide bomber, without kidnapping and murdering school children, without slaughtering Olympic athletes, and without flying airplanes into skyscrapers. We lasted this long despite 400 years as slaves in Egypt, 40 years of wandering in the desert, the mighty Roman army who nailed us to ten thousand crosses; despite the best efforts of fervent Crusaders, the Spanish Inquisition, Hitler's third Reich, Stalin's gulags, Arab wars of annihilation and 100 years of hateful terrorism, hundreds of hate-filled UN resolutions! How did we Jews do it? We survived by concentrating our efforts on education, love of family, faith, hard work, helping one another, and a passionate dedication to life no matter what evil befell us! We hung in there in hope the rest of the world would one day overcome its hatreds, jealousies, violence and join us in a life of cooperation and mutual respect. We're not there yet, but we're still hopeful. And when so many of us enter our places of worship this weekend, this is what we'll pray for with all the strength in our hearts. Best wishes for a New Year filled with health, happiness, laughter, success, joy, and kindness and may this coming year bring peace and security to Israel and to the Jewish communities in the Diaspora. 5767 and counting!

Living Life

2006-09-20T18:02:00.000-04:00

This list contains some of my definitions on how to really live life:

Take time to listen to snow as it falls freely from the sky and laugh when a snowflake lands on your nose
Grab your sweetheart’s hand and tightly hold it for there will be a day when the opportunity no longer exists
Be nice to hotel maids, public bathroom attendants, and waitresses
Listen to older adults’ stories with interests regardless of how many times you may already have heard them
Don’t stand too close to bonfires
Watch squirrels and chipmunks chase each other
Look an individual square in the eye when shaking his hand
Roll around in a fit of laughter at least twice a day
Write letters
Sing in the shower, sing in the vehicle, and sing in bed
Never take yourself too seriously
Stare at a rainbow, imagine where it ends, and think of who is doing the same thing at the exact moment
Pray
Donate to charities
Clean out your closets every six months and donate the clothes/items you haven’t wore in months, the ones with the price tags still attached, and the ones you hold on to for sentimental reasons
Smile at people and really mean it
Don’t judge people; rather, look at each one and see his true potential
Money is a piece of paper
Wash your hands quite often
There is no room in a grave for luggage
Plant flowers
Lay in the fresh cut grass on a summer’s eve and just be
Let a child run her sticky fingers thru your hair
Adopt animals and love them to death
Adopt children and love them to death
Set goals and achieve them
Remove all mirrors from place of residence except for one
Talk to people in elevators, on planes, in checkout lines, and at the doctor’s office
Go apple picking
Flip your mattress every six months and buy a new toothbrush every three months
Pay attention to a dog’s reaction to a person
Cry and laugh at the same time
Watch a sunset with someone special
Behave honestly and respectively because one never knows who is watching
Open the door for your mother
Be the type of friend you’d want in your corner or in the bleachers
Vote
Hug people
Help the person at the grocery store who can’t reach an item
Never stop hoping
Relax
Daydream

Remember...

2006-09-12T20:10:00.000-04:00

These are the fallen soldiers I received this week from SA:

Johnathan Benson, 21, MI
George Draughn Jr, 29, GA
John Fralish, PA
Hannah Gunterman, 20, CA
Joshua Hanson, 27, MI
Robert Hollar Jr, 35, GA
Jordan Pierson, 21, CT

Thank you for your service and sacrifices. Thank you to your families for sharing you with the rest of our nation.

That September Morning

2006-09-10T14:18:00.000-04:00

"America has its faults as a society, as we have ours. But I think of the Union of America born out of the defeat of slavery. I think of its Constitution, with its inalienable rights granted to every citizen still a model for the world. I think of a black man, born in poverty, who became chief of their armed forces and is now secretary of state Colin Powell and I wonder frankly whether such a thing could have happened here. I think of the Statue of Liberty and how many refugees, migrants and the impoverished passed its light and felt that if not for them, for their children, a new world could indeed be theirs. I think of a country where people who do well, don't have questions asked about their accent, their class, their beginnings but have admiration for what they have done and the success they've achieved. I think of those New Yorkers I met, still in shock, but resolute; the fire fighters and police, mourning their comrades but still head held high." --British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Remember.....

2006-09-08T22:35:00.000-04:00

I am a member of Soldiers Angels and one of the teams I am involved with is called Living Legends. This team honors our fallen soldiers from either OIF or OEF. Some weeks I receive many names whereas other weeks are quiet. Each team member receives an e-mail with the soldier's name in addition to a picture and/or cause of death. The e-mail also contains the family's mailing address so they can receive our cards/notes of sympathy, support, and strength. Since most people do not check the DOD's casualty name list, I've decided that every Friday's post will be dedicated to those fallen soldiers who entered my life during the week. They are more than just a brief blurb mentioned on the nightly news or in the back of the newspaper. They are each an individual.

Larry Benson, 46, NC
Kenneth Cross, 21, WI
Daniel Dolan, 19, UT
Rodney Jones, 21, PA
David Mahlenbrock, 20, NJ
Shaun Novak, 21, WI
Matthew Schneider, 23, NH
Shannon Squires, VA
Matthew Vosbein, 30, LA

Happy Birthday, BBJ!

2006-09-06T19:39:00.000-04:00

Today is my big brother's birthday: 32 years young. We have always gotten along just fine and have always been close, especially in elementary school. He protected my sister and I from the school bus bullies, which made me feel so safe to have him as a brother. Some have brothers who are the bullies, but not me. He left for college the year I started middle school and although he was only an hour away, his absence seemed to be beyond measure. I would sneak into his bedroom after school and cry as I buried my face in his cold pillow. This behavior eventually ceased after a couple of months and didn't present itself again until the night before his college graduation. Instead of a 13 year old crying in the room, a 17 year old stood there. Although he no longer used the bedroom on a regular basis, the room still spoke him. The vacant room still spoke him three years later when he prepared to become a husband. This time, instead of a 17 year old standing in the room, a 21 year old buried her face in his cold tear soaked pillow. Although we have grown into adults, we are still the same kids who rode the school bus together. Be true to yourself, BBJ, and follow your dreams. If they are dusty, wipe them off. If they are forgotten, remember them. If they are lost, find them. If they are non-existent, create them. If they are dormant, give them life. Happy Birthday!

Welcome Back

2006-09-05T19:47:00.000-04:00

I started this blog with the hopes of writing a daily entry. However, due to some unexpected twists and turns, I fell short of this goal. During the past couple of months, my grandfather has become lost in the dark shadows called Alzheimer's disease. Most of my thoughts and actions have been directed towards/ for him, which has caused me to become lost at sea. Today is the first time in months where I actually feel as though things will be ok. The title of today's entry comes from a comment my grandfather said during one of our visits. He thought he had just returned to the naval shipyard from the Pacific and as we talked, he informed me of the incredible welcome back party they had for them. In a way, I feel as though I myself have just returned from a long trip and am ready to return to life. Many people have often said that this disease takes away one's breath. I agree, but would also add that in order to cope with this disease, one has to take an enormous gulp of air so she is not caught gasping in the final chapter.

Old Glory

2006-01-10T19:14:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite sights to see first thing in the morning is something beautifully sacred. This sight also greets me each time I look out the window. I am referring to the enormous American flag that flies above one of the condos across the channel from my home. The condo is situated on a hill, but is not visible because of all the trees. However, the flag is the only thing one can see since the owners cleared the whole area around the pole. They also have a spotlight that shines upon it at night, which makes for a magnificent display. The illuminated flag stands out like a beacon of hope. Sometimes I just stare out the windows watching it wave in the summer wind or sparkle in a winter snowstorm because it is just so breathtaking.
As I look at this particular flag or any American flag, my mind instantly becomes filled with thoughts of citizens who have ever gazed upon the stars and stripes. I think of the soldiers who fought and are fighting to defend what it represents. I think of the newly sworn in citizen and what emotions he must be experiencing as he looks at the colors of the country he now calls home. I think of people who desecrate it and wonder why they believe this is a correct manifestation of their opinions. I think about the lawmakers and wonder how their decisions will impact my future children. I think about Betsy Ross and Francis Scott Key. I think about the soldier who is draped in it and wonder if he can feel those who have fallen before him in the threads. I think about when I arrived at JFK after my adventure to Russia and feeling such a surge of relief, comfort, and pride when my eyes saw it swaying in the wind. I think about battles and what the enemy thought as well as felt as he saw it approach him. I think about the work and the social rights progress that still needs to happen as well as the successes that have already occured. I think about how fortunate I am to be a female citizen of this nation along with how my daughters will one day look at the flag and feel pride in the colors that represent courage, purity, and loyalty.

Look at those Ink Marks

2005-12-15T18:08:00.000-05:00

Today is my first post as a blogger and as I start this new endeavor, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate a historical feat. Congratulations are in order to the Iraqi citizens! On this day, people wanted their voices to be heard and their opinions to be felt by the world. On this day, people decided bravery is best manifested by ink stains on fingers. On this day, people claimed their basic right to question, to think, to hope, to dream, and to express the desire for a future. On this day, women experienced their 1920 to the applause of Mott, Stanton, and Anthony. On this day, people became individuals and VOTED!
Furthermore, I think it is also important to congratulate our soldiers who have sacrificed a tremendous amount during these past 2 1/2 years to help make this day possible. Without their dedicated efforts, children would not have seen the thrill on their parent's faces today as they practiced the essence of democracy. As a result, they now dream of the day when they, too, can experience the privilege themselves.
As someone who is a strong proponent of the right to vote in addition to someone who really enjoys the voting process as a whole, I extend my hand to the Iraqi people and say welcome!