Veterans day quotes

PPT - American Weirdo feat Glen Reynolds & PiKaHsSo @ ACL 2008

2011-10-30T00:00:00.001-07:00

www.pikahsso.com while out on the road performing at the world famous ACL Music Festival with Bavu Blakes. The American Weirdo PiKaHsSo decided to shoot a video for his solo song off the PPT Denglish CD called American Weirdo Featuring Glen Reynolds this was an amazing day. Click Below to buy the PPT Denglish CD/DVD or the iTunes downloads www.idolrecords.com PRESS QUOTES: "This trio of rapper / producers Picnic, Pikahsso, and Tahiti pull off what most hip-hop veterans can't: They talk about getting older without getting boring. Their music falls somewhere between Stankonia-era Outkast and post-Purple Rain Prince, evenly pleasing the backpacker types and the cats who just want a little heavy funk. They're ballers too: PPT wrote the official song for the Dallas Mavericks' playoff run, Rowdy, Loud and Proud". SPIN "A soulful hip-hoppy romp through the perils and peaks of relationships." URB "Fans of feel-good hip-hop a la Outkast will be pleased". OKAYPLAYER.COM "Blending the loose-limbed intellectualism of De La Soul's classic 3 Feet High and Rising with the soul vibe of Jurassic 5 and topping it with the infectious energy of the Three Stooges." Fort Worth Star Telegram PPT swims upstream in the raging Dirty South river, doing their own thing, their own way, with disco beats filled with cowbells, funky synth lines utilizing jazzy drums, and intelligent lyrics flowing in well-crafted rhymes. Houston Chronicle "I Love PPT. Those cats are soulful, skillful and best of all ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw50BM61Tdw&hl=en

Veteran's Day with Gen. Colin Powell

2011-10-21T02:20:00.001-07:00

In the first installment of his new web show for CBSNews.com, "Early Show" co-anchor harry Smith speaks with former Secretary of state and retired Gen. Colin Powell at Arlington National Cemetery about the state of the military today and the great commitment of America's soldiers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-os49HaKok&hl=en

Cost of War

2011-10-14T03:20:00.001-07:00

DemocracyNow reports on the high rate of suicide in the military. For the 2nd year in a row the deaths from suicide in deployed troops exceeded the combat related deaths. Juan Gonzalez quotes a Veterans Administration document stating that among veterans on average there are 30 suicide attempts EVERY day with 18 successful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xbfYOnq8Ik&hl=en

Veteran's Day Final

2011-10-07T11:00:00.001-07:00

Honoring our veterans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhsEzzfuYPI&hl=en

SCORE 2009 Baja 1000 Andy McMillin Warm-up

2011-09-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

2009 Baja 1000 Winner! First in class and first overall four-wheel vehicle. Andy started and drove to race mile 206. His father, Scott, drove to RM 500 and Andy drove the final leg. Andy McMillin shared the driving duties with his father Scott, which resulted in a magnificent Baja victory for the father-son duo. This was Scott's first Baja 1000 overall victory and third class win in SCORE Trophy Truck. "The plan was to kind of take it easy and let the race come to us," Andy said at a press conference after the race. "We knew Sal laid out a really rough, tough course this year. And we knew it was going to take one truck that didn't have any problems to get the win. So that was our plan all day was just to stay smooth, and not have any down time and no flat tires." Post Race Quotes; Andy said: I started the race and I think we started 17th on the road. The plan was just to kind of take it easy and kind of let the race come to us. Sal (Fish) laid out a really rough, tough course this year. We knew that it was going to take one trip that didn't have any problems to get the win. That was our plan all day stay smooth and not have any downtime, no flat tires. I gave my dad the truck at mile 206 and I think we were seventh on the road and pretty close on the overall lead. My dad drove the San Felipe loop and the Mikes loop. By the time he got to San Felipe, he was the first truck on the road. My dad handed me a helluva lead, so it was pretty easy. It was kind of just stay on the ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5a42RBJ2p8&hl=en

ICN 5/2/10 Immigration Protests, Tea Party, New World Order ?

2011-07-15T21:00:00.001-07:00

ICN Informed Citizen News broadcast Sunday May 2nd, 2010. The news you should have heard, but didn't. This week's stories... #1 Violent Immigration Protest in Arizona: Media Blackout breakthematrix.com www.washingtontimes.com #2 Omaha man stops armed robbery www.kptm.com #3 European Central Bank leader delivers a speech at CFR calls for "global governance" www.youtube.com Famous new world order quotes www.youtube.com #4 Vote-Tracker charts votes in congress www.votetrackers.com #5 Hidden toll of US wars: 18 veterans commit suicide daily www.armytimes.com #6 Bill Clinton Sees 'More Immigrants' As A Way To Reduce Deficit news.yahoo.com #7 Want to get rich? Work for feds www.washingtonexaminer.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yuTSzAiros&hl=en

Google I/O 2011: Python@Google

2011-06-08T05:40:00.001-07:00

Wesley Chun, Guido van Rossum Python is one of the key languages at Google today. It runs on many our internal systems and shows up in many of our APIs. Some of the key contributors to the language are Googlers and continue to actively promote, use, and support the language. In this talk, we'll discuss Python's background & history, discuss its philosophy, show you some syntax, and give some examples of what we use it for at Google.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKQS8EDG1P4&hl=en

Quote of the week! Week of 11/10/10

2011-05-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Website www.itiswhatitis.tv Facebook page on.fb.me Twitter www.twitter.com/kennedyzimet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTvOdanzqH8&hl=en

Patriotic Quotes and Scriptures

2011-05-01T21:00:00.001-07:00

A tribute to our Veterans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvVAR_qRsl8&hl=en

For Freedom asl

2011-04-05T07:20:00.001-07:00

Veterans Day service song special I am going to do in church. This is my practice video so that I can see myself and improve on it. Please feel free to leave comments and view my other songs. Thanks and God bless you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1ilx3e_QU&hl=en

SukiOnDa.mov

2011-02-22T19:20:00.001-08:00

Call (916) 821-4507 for a superior holistic spa treatment including a nutritious and healthy menu from which clients are encouraged to experience. Special Veterans Day discount available to all women veterans.an in the video doesn't accurately quote the number; he's an idiot...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IitxS-HmaxY&hl=en

Nuclear Testing Footage: Operation Crossroads - Part 5 (1946)

2010-12-04T03:00:00.001-08:00

1946 www.amazon.com Watch the full film: thefilmarchived.blogspot.com All Crossroads operations were designed to keep personnel from being exposed to more than 0.1 röntgen (R) per day. At the time, this was considered to be an amount of radiation that could be tolerated for long periods without any harmful effects on health. Since there was no special clothing or radiation shielding available, the protection plan relied on managing who went where, when, and for how long. Radioactively "hot" areas were predicted in advance, and then checked with Geiger counters, sometimes by remote control, to see if they were safe. The level of measured gamma radiation determined how long personnel could operate there without exceeding the daily allowable dose. Instant gamma readings were taken by radiation safety specialists, but film-badge dosimeters, which could be read at the end of the day, were issued to all personnel believed to be at the greatest radiological risk. Anyone whose badge showed more than 0.1 R / day exposure was removed for one or more days from areas and activities of possible exposure. The maximum accumulated exposure recorded was 3.72 R, received by a radiation safety specialist. A percentage of each group working in less contaminated areas was badged. Eventually, 18875 film-badge dosimeters were issued to about 15% of the total work force. On the basis of this sampling, a theoretical total exposure was calculated for each person who did not have a personal badge ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmw1TjX6ZOk&hl=en

Veteran Benefits That May Help Pay For Costs of Assisted Living

2010-10-03T04:51:00.001-07:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

There are many veterans and surviving spouses of veterans who are currently either in assisted living or are looking to move into an assisted living community; however, the costs become such a burden on the resident and often times, the family has to keep their loved one at home due to the high costs of moving their loved one into an assisted living community. What many people don't know is that there is a benefit for veterans and surviving spouses of veterans. The benefit is called Aid and Attendance and is provided by the VA. For the actual veteran, he/she can receive up to nearly $2,000.00 each month as a reimbursement for his/her expenses in assisted living.

Now, I'm not the expert on getting you the benefit, but I am the expert on giving you enough information to know if it's something that you should be looking into and where you can get more information. For the surviving spouse, he/she may be eligible for close to $1,000.00 each month as a reimbursement for his/her expenses in assisted living. Now, you or your loved one is living in a skilled nursing facility and you're wondering if the benefit will help pay for those costs. The answer is, absolutely. Most (if not all) medical expenses in fact, are reimbursable up to the cap amount that was mentioned previously.

How do you know if you qualify? Here are a few tips. The veteran will have had to be on active duty at least one day during one of the major wars such as Vietnam, World War II, or the Korean War, etc. The VA will look at your current income also. If your income is less than your medical costs (and yes, every penny of the cost of assisted living is considered a medical cost), you will be eligible to be reimbursed up to the full amount of the benefit. For example, say your income is $1,500 per month and your medical expenses are $3,000 per month. You will be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $1500 each month. This amount is paid to the veteran directly and not to the facility. Will they take into consideration that the veteran still owns a home and has other assets? Yes, however, there are legal ways to move these assets around to become eligible for the benefit. I would use the professionals to help you do this to make sure you're doing it right.

Now, how do you get the benefit? There are two ways. You can either go to the VA yourself and do all of the paperwork yourself or you can have a company help you in the process. There are pros and cons to each. If you do the paperwork yourself and work directly with the VA, it may take a while as there are several forms to be completed and if you don't submit them just right, it may delay the reimbursement. If you use a company that specializes in this process, they'll know exactly what needs to be submitted and they'll help you submit it correctly the first time (allowing you to start getting the maximum benefit). These types of companies typically charge anywhere from $500-800 to help you complete the paperwork, but that will pay off after one month of reimbursement potentially. http://va.gov is the site where you can find more information about this benefit. Put in the key word "aid and attendance."

So how do you find a company that will help you in this process? I would call an assisted living community near your home and ask them. In Utah there is a company in Salt Lake County call Senior Care Associates that does a pretty good job at this.

One final and very important piece of information. With this benefit, it's not retro-active in one sense; however, there is a form called Statement in Support of Claim found at va.gov/vaforms/form_detail.asp?FormNo=21-4138. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! Get this form in first. From the time that the VA receives this form from you, you will be reimbursed back to the date they received this (while you're taking some time to gather all of the other necessary forms and documents to get the benefit).

After jumping through all of the hoops, you'll be grateful to have know about this benefit. Now you need to share this valuable information with others who could benefit from it.

AssistedLivingUtah.com

Anniversary Celebrations With A Delicious Menu

2010-09-21T20:00:00.001-07:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Anniversary is a time of joy at which point one just looks back and see the years that had passed by, the ups and downs that came along, the love and happiness shared, sharing comfort during the rough times, etc. It is a time to see how the relationship got its foundation and how with time it grew stronger. Such times should be celebrated with great joy and detailed planning. The detailed planning must include writing invitations, decorations, planning the menu, etc. and this can be best achieved by jotting down the things on the paper from time to time so that a plan can be made and executed perfectly.

Among other things that need all your attention for the Anniversary Party, the most important is the menu that would make your guests rock. One such menu would be a three course meal to include Mussels Josephine as an appetizer, Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms as the main dish and Caramel Pear Dessert. Apart from this there can be other recipes that you can look into but this course is tested and proven and many have enjoyed celebrating their anniversary with this course.

Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms would be an excellent dish for the Anniversary Party. To make this recipe, you would need eight ounces of boneless skinless chicken breasts, four ounces of mushrooms, quartered two green onions, one cup grape tomatoes, half cup of white wine, half lemon, juice and zest of three garlic cloves, one pound sliced spinach, about two teaspoons of parmesan cheese and fresh grated salt pepper. These are the ingredients that you are going to need to prepare the main dish.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for anniversary party supplies and fun Anniversary party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Anniversary Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Veteran's Day Ceremony- UCF - Daytona Beach

2010-09-06T02:00:00.001-07:00

This is a video presentation that I put together for the Veteran's Day Ceremony that we held at the Daytona Beach UCF campus on November 10th, 2009. On this day I am reminded of a quote from the movie GladiatorWhat we do in life echoes an eternity. This is so true with regards to all of our veterans. What you have sacrificed for our liberties and our freedoms is immeasurable. Because of you, we sleep safely at night, we can pray without fear of persecution, we can speak our thoughts and ideas freely, we can hope for the future, we can simply live. For those who served, sweat, bled, and died for this country, what you have done for us, will echo an eternity. As a US Navy Vet, and citizen of this great country, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mwiWswROec&hl=en

America Thy Will Stay Free!

2010-05-19T15:00:00.001-07:00

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH4NiyGI7XI&hl=en

PASS Day , more Obama in Schools...

2010-05-07T20:00:00.001-07:00

PLEASE SEE MY BLOG FOR FULL DETAILS paintbrush12.com a wise insider Rayo.Azul It occurs to me that as they seek to overwhelm every system, we are all going to be faced with individually-overwhelming force, and it will be much more necessary to help our neighbors and friends in ways we would never have done before. Prayers will be needed. Service will be needed. Work will be needed. No more living near people and never knowing a thing about them. We will have to become a whole network of support for one another. If we don't, then we will fall individually before the onslaughts leveled against us. "There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out, many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs. . . It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names" Barack Hussein Obama from Dreams of My Father "I found solice in nursing a pervasive sense of grievancee and animosity against my mother's race" Barack Hussein Obama from Dreams of My Father ______ The Whitehouse has plans also to directly educate the children about the importance of healthcare reform, the census and the environment. This is just the beginning. Why not address the children when they are home, with their parents? So that you can see how the children are being enlisted to help produce propaganda for this administration, the classroom helps for k-6 teachers is ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-IqRCG7uxQ&hl=en

Breaking the News - Week 50, Year 2009

2010-04-13T11:00:00.001-07:00

Kathy Landin's "I'm an Idiot" Show breaking the news for week 50 of the year 2009. It's obvious I've already begun my holly jolly holidays, but that's no reason to leave the news unbroken. Happy happy to you and yours! kathysidiotshow.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqg5fP5dGLU&hl=en

The Other Side of Mother's Day

2010-03-30T20:00:00.001-07:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Mother's Day! The words conjure a picture of a loving mother surrounded by her children and loving family, receiving flowers, gifts, and mushy cards from her progeny, celebrating the sacrifice and love of motherhood.

This Mother's Day the above scenario will take place again, all over the country. It will be a wonderful day for so many, a chance to say Thank You Mom for always being there for me, for loving me even during times when I wasn't so lovable.

Mothers will be filled with pride and gratitude and all past transgressions will be forgotten, at least for the day. Tomorrow will bring everyone back to reality, but for this one day, it will be a time to unabashedly proclaim our love for the woman who gave us life.

As we go about our daily activities interacting with others, we'll hear the inevitable Happy Mother's Day greetings, from friends and even strangers, the cashier at the supermarket. This innocuous greeting, a kind pleasantry for many, is like a knife to the heart for the Other Mothers.

Who are the Other Mothers? We are the ones who won't be celebrating this Mother's Day in sync with the rest of the country. We are the ones who people tend to shy away from, especially on holidays and most especially on this one day set aside to celebrate us! Who are we? We are the mothers of a deceased child. To compound matters, we are not only the mothers of a deceased child, but we are the mothers of a child who is deceased from drugs! I can almost feel you recoil as you read these words. I know. I used to be of the same mindset until I became an Other Mother.

We may have other children, children whom we absolutely love and adore and would give our life for. That is a given. Because we mourn our deceased child, that does not diminish the love that we have for our other child or children. However, on Mother's Day the heartbreak of the loss of that child is more acutely felt, although we feel this heartbreak every day. From the time we lift our head off the pillow in the morning, until we lay it down again at night, no matter what activity is going on around us, our minds and hearts are consumed with thoughts of our child who is no longer with us. Our child who died from the disease of addiction.

There are 365 days in a year and each one of them has a special dedication, whether it be a nationally known holiday such as Mother's Day, Christmas, Hannukah, Veterans' Day or some obscure day such as National Blame It On Somebody Else Day. Whatever the day, there is a national something or other attached to it, quite often more than one. How about a National Mother's Day for Mothers Who Have Lost a Child to the Disease of Addiction? Why not? Is it any stranger than National Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day or any of a host of other national faux holidays?

I'm certainly not ashamed that my child died of addiction. I'm far too busy being heartbroken every day to worry about shame. I am deeply saddened and tortured by the loss of my beloved child but never ever ashamed. He had a disease.

Addiction is a brain disease. The addicted person has no more control over their disease than someone suffering from diabetes or cancer does. Their struggle is just as painful and difficult for them.

Most addicted people start down their destructive path when they are children. Children don't consider the consequences of their actions and they think they're invincible. Ultimately they discover that it is the drugs that are invincible.

So on this Mother's Day while everyone is celebrating the joys of motherhood, whether you're already a mother or about to become one, I hope you will take a moment to ponder the Other Mothers. The Other Mothers who will be smiling on the outside while trying to quell the raging volcano of grief that is erupting on the inside as we fight with all of our being to prevent it from spewing forth and demoralizing everyone around us. We don't want that. We don't want to deny other mothers their well-deserved day of recognition. We also do not want you to join our ranks. What we do want is to have our child acknowledged, and remembered. We want them remembered for the kind, caring, loving children that they were, not for the disease that ravaged their minds and bodies.

Our children lived and were loved and are still loved. They abound in our thoughts and hearts every moment of our lives. If we happen to meet on this Mother's Day, please don't be afraid to acknowledge the day. You don't even have to utter those words "Happy Mother's Day." If you will just acknowledge our child, say his or her name and if you have any remembrances of them, this would be a nice time to say so. You can't hurt us by talking about them. In fact, you can bet if you do talk about our child, you will see a genuine smile envelop our face and I know that will make us both feel good.

Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis is the author of the book "I Am Your Disease (The Many Faces of Addiction)" published by Outskirts Press. You can read about, and purchase the book at http://www.iamyourdisease.com

I am a retired medical transcriptionist and radio DJ who also did voiceovers for TV. Married, with one living son, having lost my youngest son Scott, who was a paramedic and an RN to the disease of addiction. Happily married for 40 years to Jack, 8th grade science teacher. My oldest son Dale is soon to be a graduate student in Ecology and Environmental Biology.

We live in Palm Bay, Florida. I am originally from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and am a citizen of both Australia and the US. We are owned by one dog and two cats!

New Treatments For PTSD - Natural Remedies May Help

2010-03-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious and often debilitating condition that affects many people. It is especially prevalent in the military. The current theory is that PTSD results from the effects of adrenaline that are released when one experiences a traumatic event. Adrenaline is a set of hormones released by the adrenal gland in the body. Adrenaline is one of the so called 'Fight or Flight' stress hormones the body releases to enable us to effectively survive the traumatic experience.

Adrenaline also affects our brain and how we remember the event. This was a good thing back in our natural environment. When we had a traumatic event, like being attacked by a predator such as a lion, the release of adrenaline imprinted that event very intensely in our minds. This meant we did not forget it. In fact, we now would have a vivid memory of the lion attack and in the future would strongly associate lions with danger. This enabled our ancestors to not only survive, but to vividly remember what bad things to avoid in the natural world.

In the modern world, the release of adrenaline means we will tend to remember events we would prefer to forget. This is what leads to PTSD. The drug propranolol can help as it inhibits the release of adrenaline following the event. But of course, timing is critical.

Fortunately there are other options. A more holistic approach can offer relief from PTSD. This would include several modalities to address the condition on different levels. Some form of therapy, such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can help us to rewire the brain. The brain does have plasticity in how it makes neural connections to areas such as memory, and NLP can help shift those connections.

A healthy diet and lifestyle including regular exercise can help shift brain chemistry favorably, allowing us to cope with life better. Dietary changes include shifting to whole foods and away from packaged and fast/convenient foods. Eliminating fried foods and instead consuming healthy fats like avocado, soft egg yolks, coconut and olive oil, flax and sesame seeds, raw almonds and walnuts can in the long term make subtle but significant improvements in brain function.

Try to eliminate soda and sweet drinks of any kind, as the sugar in these is very detrimental to brain health. Sugar in general is best kept to a minimum. Flour is also to be avoided - bread, pizza, pasta, cookies and cake are off the menu if you want to see improvements in how you look and feel.

For immediate relief, natural remedies may provide some help. Gabatrol for example, is a safe, all natural and non-addictive formula that can help in a wide variety of emotional conditions. It's mainly comprised of amino-acids, which are the same nutrients found in protein foods like chicken, fish and eggs. Users report the calming effects of Gabatrol are very noticeable within 15-30 minutes, and it can last for several hours.

It's all connected, and often an emotional trauma like PTSD can lead us to behaviors that destroy our health and well being. All it takes is a small step in the right direction and day by day the cumulative effects of your efforts can make big changes in your life. If you need immediate help to get you going, all natural Gabatrol may give you the edge to start changing your life in more positive ways.

Brian Cunningham, MS, Founder and President of Pure Life: Brian has a Master of Science in Epidemiology from New York Medical College, and is a writer for two magazines; CORE Performance and RxMuscle. Brian has over 20 years of experience as a personal trainer, health counselor and researcher in health, nutrition and fitness. Brian currently trains clients at Equinox. Pure Life has a special military discount for veterans and active duty for Gabatrol at http://ptsd.gabatrol.com

Opposition urging Musharraf to end emergency rule

2010-03-18T07:01:00.001-07:00

Hello on this Monday, the 12 day of November 2007. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Pakistan's opposition parties are calling on President Pervez Musharraf to end a state of emergency rule. They say upcoming parliamentary elections in January will be meaningless if held under emergency laws. Musharraf has said the rule will continue to ensure free and fair elections. Former prime minister Benazier Bhutto says such laws will make campaigning difficult. Bhutto is planning to lead a protest march tomorrow against the state of emergency. At least seven Palestinians are dead after Hamas security forces and Fatah gunman clashed today at a Gaza City rally. Another 55 are reportedly wounded. The rally was meant to commemorate the third anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death. It's unclear how the incident began and who's to blame for it. Vice President Dick Cheney paid tribute to Iraq veterans in Arlington cemetery over the weekend for Veterans Day. In a speech, Cheney praised troops in Iraq for doing quote a magnificent job. He added that soldiers from past wars and today's fight against terrorism have served their country valiantly and kept Americans free in the US Several hundred people watched as the vice president also placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unkowns. And former President George HW Bush celebrated the grand reopening of his presidential museum by skydiving. It was his first jump yesterday since he celebrated his 80 birthday with a jump ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okDqFAH3MBI&hl=en

Veterans Day Video from PatriotFlagStore.com

2010-03-06T01:00:00.001-08:00

Veterans Day Video featuring famous quotes from some of America's founding fathers, former Presidents and leaders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvXtetNbxZY&hl=en

President Obama Presents Medals in Arts and Humanities

2010-03-01T04:00:00.001-08:00

The President presents the National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal for 2009 in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. February 25, 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPmStlZ1HnY&hl=en

Respect the Military Like They Deserve

2010-01-28T04:00:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Throughout American history our military has been an integral part in our well being and the well being of the entire world. Many people tend to think that we have put our nose where it does not belong, or that we have started wars with countries for no apparent reason. However many of the wars that we have been involved in has either protected someone that could not protect themselves, or protect the future well being of our country.

No matter how you feel about a particular war, or the reason that we are fighting in that war, you should always show respect to our military that is fighting there. I can remember quite a few times in our history where respect was not shown to our military. The men and women of the military that go to fight in the war do not have a choice about whether they want to fight or not. They are fighting so you and I do not have to. They signed up to risk their life so that our country can remain free and prosperous.

After the Vietnam War was over our soldiers came back to disdain and disgust from the American people. I know that the way the war was handled by our government was not done very well. I also know that many people protested the war, which was their right, but they should not disrespect the men and women who fought because they were just following orders. When the soldiers came back from the war we should have had parades and showed gratitude to them. However the soldiers from the Vietnam War received none of this.

The reason I am bringing this up is that we are in a very unpopular war now in Iraq, and I do not want us to allow our dislike of a war to cause us to forget about the people who are actually fighting in it. Remember when this war is over and our soldiers come back from the fight to tell them thank you and show the military the respect that they deserve.

Show your respect for the military with a Ka-Bar 7 inch 100th Anniversary USMC Fighting Knife made by Kabar Knives, the official knife maker for the U.S. Marines!

The Origins of Military Dog Tags

2010-01-18T11:00:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Identification tags have been a part of the military for a very long time. The first unofficial (i.e. not issued by the government) identification tags were used in the Civil War. Many soldiers feared that if they were killed, they would be buried in an unknown soldier grave - a fate that happened to more than 40% of the Civil War casualties. These early identification tags were mostly paper and used to mark all a soldier's belongings. Some more skilled soldiers made tags out of wood and worn around the neck.

The value of these identification tags caught on like wildfire amongst the military rank and file but it wasn't until World War I that "dog tags" became an official part of a soldier's uniform.

The first dog tags were oval, of Monel metal, 1.25 inches wide and 1.5 inches long. Perforated at one end, a single tag was to be worn around the neck on Monel wire "encased in a cotton sleeve." One side of the tag bore an etched print of the right index finger. The other side was stamped "U.S.N." and etched with the individual's personal information. Officers' tags bore initials and surname; rank; and date of appointment, in numerals denoting month, day and year (e.g., 1.5.16). Enlisted tags bore initials and surname, with date of enlistment and date of birth, in numerals as on officers' tags.

After WWI, the requirement for dog tags fell out of favor and did not come back into mandatory use until the onset of World War II. The new tags continued to be made of Monel metal, 1.25 by 1.5 inches, but were now perforated at each end. The face of each tag was to bear the individual's name; officer rank or enlisted service number; blood type; if vaccinated for tetanus, the letter "T" with date in numerals (e.g., 8/40); and service (USN, USMC, USNR, USMCR). A right index fingerprint was etched on the reverse.

As World War II went on, the military prescribed the use of a second tag, individually suspended by a short length of chain so that one tag could be removed "on death or capture, leaving the other in place." Dimensions remained the same, but the tag was to be of "corrosion-resisting material" - 17 percent chromed steel, perforated at each end, and the etched fingerprint was omitted. Markings consisted of name; officer file number, or enlisted service number; blood type; date of tetanus inoculation; service; and religion, if desired by the service member: Catholic (C), Protestant (P), or "Hebrew" (H). When a service member was buried, ashore or at sea, one tag was to be left with the body and the other sent to BuPers "as soon as practicable under the circumstances."

Post-World War II tags were worn on a bead chain, with attached short loop for the second tag. They bore name (surname, followed by initials); service number; service; blood type; and religion, if desired by the individual.

The Historical Archive offers a large, robust library of DVD and CD based products covering a wide range of significant and interesting historical events and cultural moments through film, photos, audios, maps and other documents.

For more details on World War II, view our World at War Video Collection.

Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Flag Day: Patriotic Celebrations

2010-01-15T19:00:00.001-08:00

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From patriotic magnetic flags or yellow ribbons on cars, mailboxes, tied to trees in our yards, and Old Glory flying high and proud, patriotism is on the rise, and has become ever more important to us in our day to day lives. Annual Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of July, Memorial Day celebrations, Flag Day celebrations, Veteran’s Day celebrations, and even Thanksgiving Day celebrations, are opportunities to let our patriotism show in the colors we wear, and the traditions and institutions we honor. Independence Day celebrates the birthday of our America, July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. July 4th, 2006 was America’s 230th birthday.

Memorial Day, is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May, to honor men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began as a celebration to honor Union soldiers who died in the American Civil War, but after World War I, it was changed to include anyone who died in any military action.

In April of 1893 the first Flag Day was proposed and declared to be held in honor of the flag that represents America each year on June 14th.

Veteran’s Day began on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Originally called Armistice Day, November 11 officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

Thanksgiving, a harvest celebration long held in Europe, was established as a National holiday by President Andrew Johnson in 1867, and is observed the last Thursday in November.

Though these holidays all differ, and have separate traditions and elements specific to each holiday, they all hold our American traditions and beliefs dear. With patriotism running high, the holidays in which we honor our country, and those who fought, and are still fighting, for freedom across the globe, are especially dear to us all. Celebrations, in which families and friends gather to honor our country, our country’s soldiers, veterans, and loved ones both near and far, have increased into celebrations of patriotism. Families gathered together for these celebrations still celebrate in the traditional ways, but there is a sense of pride, a sense of honor, a sense of the recognition that the things we hold dear like freedom, like democracy, like the pursuit of happiness, are not a given, and we just seem to hold those intangible things that define life in America a little more dear.

In the midst of Independence Day picnics and fireworks, Thanksgiving Dinners with family gathered around, Veteran’s Days, Memorial Day’s, and Flag Days, there are increasing moments of quiet reflection–time to give thanks for the bounty that is America. Consider adding to these elements, quietly orchestrated opportunities, to reflect on our good fortune to be able to live in this country where we are free, while the cost of freedom is, was, and continues to be high. You can watch movies like 4th of July, The Patriot, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor, The North and The South, and other movies that illustrate so well the high cost of freedom, are good ways to provoke discussion and promote patriotism on these patriotic holidays.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Holiday Party Decorations (Holiday-Party-Decorations.com), free games, menus, recipes, coloring sheets, theme ideas, and activities to help complete your event.

9MM Gun Vs .45 Colt

2010-01-11T04:00:00.001-08:00

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Pretty much a simple little survey of sorts. We currently have the M9 (Beretta 92FS 9mm) as the standard issue side arm for most military MOS's. There's no substitute for the old Colt 45, but if you happen to find a 9mm Luger and the extractor and the ejector don't break, well there's just something about the Luger that is magnificent! I guess I'm just one of those people that think, if you're using a side arm, someone is too close and you need to knock them down. Ill takes stopping power over velocity any day.

You can hit target on the earlobe with a .45cal and knock it flat. If the police had .45s instead of 9mm in the Hollywood shootout, they would not have had to get rifles from a gun store. It might not have gone thru the armor but would have knocked them flat and let them close. Just ask the FBI about their tragic 1986 Miami shootout. On the linked chart note the weapons of agents Grogan and Dove, the two agents who lost their lives in the gun battle. The agents had to shoot the two suspects several times to bring them down--none of the FBI agents involved were armed with .45 caliber weapons.

As I understand it we converted to 9mm in order to conform to NATO. In my opinion it was a ridiculous compromise. The purpose of a side arm is to defend yourself in close quarters. A 9mm will injure an adversary, but leave him active enough to possibly still do you harm. 45cal. on the other hand will disable the individual most entirely. Made by Colt or whoever the 45. Is superior for flat out stopping power and NATO should have conformed to us. . 45 bring 'them back alive. Beretta is mucho regretted.

I've also heard that the model 92 Beretta has a problem with not chambering the final round in its magazine. Don't know if it's been worked out, but it could be a major problem. I have both 9mary ammo and a 45cal. prefer the 45 over the 9mary ammo. Have concealed weapon permit, I carry the 45cal. My 45 is over 33 years old and still shoot like it was brand new. I go through a box of ammo for each every month. .45 calibers. The premiere mans-stopping round, proven over and over as an excellent heavy pistol round since 1911.

I think the .40 cal was a compromise, going up to the 10mm, but the .45 was designed to drop a drug-crazed terrorist (also known as a Moro tribesman in the Muslim influenced areas of the Philippines'). I say bring them back. I have witnessed what the 9mm doesn't do. .45 any day. While the venerable 45 was, in fact, designed to knock down the original uppity Muslims and almost 100 years later is still relevant. On a personal note, I could never qualify above Sharpshooter with it. With the M9, I got Expert the first time out and every shoot afterwards.

The Beretta 92F was brought in because the US needed to maintain the bases in Italy. It was very simply a "Quid Pro Quo." No studies were done, no one's opinion was asked, the change was simply done. No military member I have asked would take a 9mm over a .45. Many people I talked to owe their lives to the .45.

I've also heard that .45s are like gold over in Iraq, as soldiers there are trying to get their hands on one because the 92F doesn't do the job. The only way a 9mm can stack up to the .45 in stopping power is if you're using Black Talon or Gold Dot hollow-point ammo. However I have heard these two brands of ammo are now restricted.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.WarGear.info. WarGear.info carries the best selection of military clothing [http://www.wargear.info/categories/adventure-clothing-foot-head-handwear-rain-gear-logo-apparel.html], war gear, and combat accessories on the market.

6/8/09: White House Press Briefing

2010-01-04T10:00:00.001-08:00

House, as it is to the critics? Mr. Gibbs: I think if you -- as we have said here many times, the overall theme of her comments were that her experiences matter, just as they did for and just as they have for, in the quotes of Judge Sandra Day O'Connor -- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Alito. I think Judge Sotomayor has said in her visits that the speech that you're referring to was a poor choice of words. But that -- The Press: He's actually referring to five or ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nER5JntnDTw&hl=en

President Obama Launches Post-9/11 GI Bill

2009-12-27T11:00:00.001-08:00

winning this war for us." That is precisely what the American people did. The GI Bill was approved just weeks after D-Day, and carried with it a simple promise to all who had served: You pick the school, we'll help pick up the bill. And what followed was not simply an opportunity for our veterans -- it was a transformation for our country. By 1947, half of all Americans enrolled in college were veterans. Ultimately, this would lead to three Presidents, three Supreme Court justices, 14 ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuO-mHfbpRk&hl=en

Ditching Planes in Long Island Sound

2009-12-23T11:00:00.001-08:00

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Early summer through late fall of 1946, occasionally photographs were in the New York's daily newspapers of Navy fighter aircraft having to ditch in the water off the south shore of Long Island due to engine trouble. The pilot always escaped unharmed by swimming or wading ashore to small crowds of well-to-do and very sympathetic greeters who owned palatial estates. These empathic observers would treat the dear hero pilot as if he had won WWII single-handedly. They housed the pilot in their home for the weekend, feeding him and providing him clothes. They even hosted parties to honor this hero; then on Monday, furnished him transportation back to Floyd Bennett NAS in a limousine.

In early spring of that year, I had enlisted in the naval fighter group based at Floyd Bennett NAS to get more fighter air time. Our skipper was a decorated Pacific fleet four year veteran. Since this was a reserve Navy program, we all had regular jobs elsewhere. Our skipper's job was being a butcher in Brooklyn.

My first day after enlistment, the skipper called me to his office, "Does your flight testing take you south of Long Island?" When he learned it did, he ordered, "I want you to keep me informed as to the location of the best looking, largest estates on the south shore of Long Island. And, you being a test pilot, I want you to check all the older fighter planes assigned to our group and give me a list identifying the worst ones."

Thereafter, I thought I occasionally saw a cadre of the skipper's old WWII buddies in a corner drawing straws.

Wayne Harding, author of his fiction book His Edge, was a civilian test pilot after being a naval pilot in WWII. He tested F4U Corsairs, flying production and experimental. His novel, His Edge, traces a young talented pilot who must deal with life and death dangers while struggling with issues of faith, love, integrity, and good versus evil. Visit http://www.hisedgethebook.com/

An Inside Look at the Longwood Student Veteran's Group

2009-12-21T17:08:00.001-08:00

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Did you know that Longwood University is one of the only schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia that has a Student Veterans group? In the next couple of years, the number of student veterans on college campuses is going to increase immensely and every university should have a group like this on campus to better help these student veterans transition to their civilian life. Longwood University has had this organization for a year now and it is all thanks to one brave gentlemen, Greg Serwo. As a student veteran himself, Greg Serwo attends Longwood University and plans to graduate in May 2010. As a former active duty Marine and current Air Reserves man, Greg wanted to get involved with student veteran issues.

While transitioning to campus, Greg realized that there was no veteran-specific support available at Longwood University. It all started in the Summer of 2008 because of an assignment for Ms. Mary Caroll-Hackett's English 400 class, Greg wrote a proposal to start a program on campus for student veterans. After having experienced the struggle of transitioning back into student and civilian life himself, he wanted to help student vets make a smoother transition back to their studies. He then took it one step farther and worked to pitch the idea to Longwood University's President, Dr. Cormier. Dr. Cormier then assisted in introducing Greg to Mr. Tom DeWitt, who sits on the Board of Directors for The Aurora Foundation, which was created in October 2008 to help student veterans receive the support they need on campus.

Greg knew what it was going to take to get a Student Veteran Association created on campus. His initial goal is to hit close to home and then slowly broaden and expand as he reached out to more veterans. He intends to start small on campus and eventually expand the efforts to Walter Reed and the D.C. Metro hospitals where he will continue to support veterans. He wants to help other vets realize what opportunities lie ahead for them--starting with the G.I. Bill and going to college.

At Longwood, there are currently 12 people in the Longwood Student Veterans group (LSV). Because most students are unaware of the existence of the LSV on campus, they held their first Veterans Day Event in 2008 to help get the word out. This event was held in hope of establishing campus-wide support for the student veterans at Longwood University.

During this summer's Orientation, Susan Stinson, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran herself, hosted a table advertising the group, which made both students and their parents more aware of what support is now available for student veterans. Since the beginning, Greg Serwo has received a lot of support in creating the Longwood Student Veterans group. In the future, Greg hopes that the Longwood Student Veterans will continue to expand on Longwood's campus. These are the goals for the future:

• Veteran Housing: located within the university's off-campus housing community.

• Student Veteran Center: a place for all student-vets to hang out, a meeting place for the LSV, a computer lab, and the main office would be located here.

• Main Office/Point of Contact: a Main Point of Contact needs to be identified so that all student veterans are being directed to the same location time after time. This person will be located on campus at all times and their position would deal primarily with student veterans and their needs.

• A VA Representative: Student Veterans need someone from the VA on campus at least once a semester. They want a trained person coming in to answer questions and lend support, etc.

• Crisis Counseling: A much needed resource for all veterans and their family members on campus. This will put someone on campus/in town for students to turn to when necessary and eventually, the LSV students would like to have group counseling available.

• Boots to Books: Longwood University requires that all students take a Seminar Class (LSEM) as a first year student. Susan Stinson has been certified to teach a Boots to Books LSEM Course. It is going to be veteran-related but anyone can take the course. It will discuss transitioning to campus and making other students more aware of veterans. She hopes to offer the course in the Fall of 2010.

As you can see, the Longwood Student Veterans have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time and they are hoping to continue to excel in years to come. I would like to give a well-deserved pat on the back to Greg Serwo for all of his hard work with the Student Veteran Association. Be sure to read the next article to learn about how you can create an SVA on campus just like Greg Serwo did at Longwood University.

In 2008, SNVC created The Aurora Foundation to help address the needs of veterans as they take advantage of the new GI Bill and return to college. SNVC's Founder and current President/CEO is a veteran himself, and he attributes his own success to his academic and military career. Today, The Aurora Foundation is led by an experienced Board of Directors which is focused on the mission to "enable veterans to successfully graduate from college and enter the workforce."

We are focused on serving those who serve others...
Be sure to follow Aurora on Twitter @VetNetUSA.
Become a Fan of The Aurora Foundation on Facebook here http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aurora-Foundation/116474360109
http://www.aurora4vets.org is currently under construction.

Why is New Jersey Called the Garden State?

2009-12-18T02:00:00.001-08:00

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Why is New Jersey called the Garden State? In 1926, Alfred Heston published an historical account of New Jersey citing a moment in 1876 when Abraham Browning compared New Jersey to "an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and the New Yorkers from the other. He called New Jersey the Garden State, and the name has clung to it ever since." Although, New Jersey has historical roots tied to gardening, its modern ties to its nickname might be even more extensive. This is despite the famous 1954 incident where the Governor refused to sign a bill that would add this nickname to the state license plates. Although true that New Jersey is also strong in many other areas of manufacturing, mining, and construction its historical and modern ties are very extensive.

New Jersey has nearly a dozen garden clubs and several state associations with two large community gardens, Denville Community Garden and the Greater Newark Conservancy. Look around and you will find bird sanctuaries, garden museums, arboretums, and many historical garden sites. In addition, New Jersey has almost 10.000 individual farms spanning nearly 800,000 acres of farmland and among those leading the nation in many forms of agricultural production. New Jersey is a large supplier of tomatoes, corn, blueberries, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers, peaches, lettuce, apples, strawberries, potatoes, hay, and soybeans. Additionally, New Jersey is also famous for their wines and fruit wines with nearly three dozen wineries spanning the state.

New Jersey is extensively covered in parks and tress with more than 50% of the state still wooded. In fact, New Jersey strongly pushes for land conservation and protection of its natural trees, resources, and wildlife. The push for modern "greenways" by many of the local organizations is one example of the modern way the New Jersey citizens define themselves by their state nickname. The New Jersey greenway vision is a push for "interconnecting systems of parks, trails, and protected natural areas, farmland, and historical places" according to Ed McMahon, director of the American Greenways Program. With a future vision of keeping in touch with its traditional roots its clear that many modern citizens continue to identify with the state nickname.

Gardening is an extremely popular hobby in New Jersey. New Jersey is also famous for its master gardener programs at Rutgers where from 1984 to 2008 the program has accumulated over 1.2 million volunteer hours by the locals willing to learn and help out, according to a report by the university. This program has been extremely beneficial for getting people more excited and interested in gardening and landscaping in the area. The push for gardening even extends into the Northern New Jersey suburban housing where container gardening and window box gardening have become increasingly popular trends. The nickname not only defines New Jersey from a historical point of view it remains today an important symbol that represents what the average person from New Jersey relates to as well.

Matt Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, a window box company that specializes in affordable no rot window boxes. He has seen an increasing trend in the gardening and window box industry in the New Jersey area.

11.11 Veterans day

2009-12-12T21:00:00.001-08:00

Freedom is never free. Author Unknown Quotes The most persistent sound which reverberates through men's history is the beating of war drums. Arthur Koestler Quotes We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. Cynthia Ozick Quotes When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. Chinese Proverb Quotes It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. Dick Cheney Quotes This nation will remain the land of the free ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbXAk3zRdD8&hl=en

World War II Facts

2009-12-12T07:00:00.001-08:00

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There are many theories about what started World War II. The most popular belief is that Hitler wanted more land to expand Germany. Looking for a reason to start a war and invade Poland, but not wanting it to appear that he instigated it, Hitler staged a polish attack on Germany. This would justify Germany's counter-attack and invasion of Poland.

On August 31, 1939, under Hitler's command and Himmler's ingenuity, a small group of German Nazis dressed in Polish uniforms invaded a German radio station. They left behind a dead prisoner from a concentration camp also dressed in a Polish uniform, making it appear like he died in an attack on the radio station. On September 1, Germany declared war on Poland. Ignoring warnings from Great Britain and France to withdraw their troops from Poland, Germany continued their invasion.

Two days later on September 3, both Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. This series of events started World War II. Later, the war would serve as a mask for Hitler's holocaust and genocide of Nazi's truest enemy, the Jews.

The United States entered the war when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The very next day, the United States declared war on Japan and on December 11, declared war on Germany.

On June 6, 1944, nearly 150,000 soldiers invaded the beaches of Normandy. D-Day, as it came to be known, was the western Allies largest amphibious invasion in world history. Before the month of June was over, more than 850,000 American, British and Canadian troops would occupy Normandy. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the invasion on Normandy "The Great Crusade".

On April 30, 1945, Hitler, along with his long time mistress, committed suicide and approximately one week later; Germany surrendered, putting an end to World War II. The end of World War II was the beginning of an era known as the Cold War which would continue for the next fifty years.
Over 100 million military personnel participated in the war making it the most widespread war in history. Around 72 million people lost their lives including 47 million civilians and 25 million military personnel.

20 million deaths were from war related famine and disease and 4 million prisoners of war died in POW camps. This astronomical death toll would make World War II the deadliest war in history. It was not only profound with the large number of casualties. It was also known as the most costly war, costing approximately one trillion dollars.

Jay Villaverde is the owner of http://www.WorldWarCollectibles.net A site dedicated to preserving history from the great wars. The site offers original items from World War II and is a must see for historians as well as collectors.

Donate to Veterans

2009-11-27T06:00:00.001-08:00

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The U.S. government does not go the extra mile to support veterans who have made sacrifices for this country, that's why we should donate to veterans. Why should veterans not receive the benefits they were promised when they took vows to fight for American freedom? Many disabled veterans have been waiting to receive benefits years after they were injured, and that seems very unfair and almost criminal. America can afford to spend billions of dollars on the war in Iraq but cannot support the ones who have been injured in previous wars?

George Bush does not care about anyone but himself, and he has proven this fact repeatedly. The very least he can do is make sure every veteran is taken care of when they come home. Since this will never be a reality, we as Americans should willingly do our part to help those who protect us. The same people who complain about their budget being tight are the same ones who buy meaningless items on a daily basis. They can afford to go out and buy a fifty thousand dollar car to make themselves feel good, but don't realize that without our veterans they wouldn't be able to buy a stick of gum!

We need to start thinking about what is important. 20 or 25 bucks a month is not too much too ask of anyone for an important cause. If you have a home, car and a phone you can afford to donate to veterans! The only question we need to ask ourselves is how much we can afford.

To make a donation to disabled veterans please visit http://www.disabledvetsinc.org

All Costs of the War in Iraq for the USA

2009-11-26T02:00:00.001-08:00

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So far the war in Iraq cost America more than 2 trln. dollars and that sum keeps growing every day. Separate discussion is needed in order to comprehend just how big that amount is. In this article, however, we'll try to break down those costs by their nature and origin:

Human costs.

The reason to start from these costs is pretty straight forward. Human losses are unrecoverable and they can never be monetized. To the date the article was written, Iraq war cost the lives of 4,323 U.S. troops. Number of those wounded in action or injured in combat-zone accidents reached 31,368. Given the frequency of battles that US troops are currently exposed this figure is obviously not the final. Furthermore the toll data have been taken from official statistics provided by Pentagon which is widely criticized by public for understatement real casualties. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs - a government department autonomous from the Pentagon - the number of wounded has exceeded 50,000.

Combat operations costs.

To the date, $686 billion dollars have been allocated to the war in Iraq since its start in March 2003 to cover daily cash costs of running the combat operations, feeding, housing, transporting and equipping U.S. troops, paying for reconstruction costs, repairs and replacement parts and training Iraqi forces. The amount keeps growing by 200,000,000$! every day, so by the time you will finish reading this article it will increase by about half million of dollars! Such trend won't be affected by major changes at least till the end of 2009 as the whole spending have been approved in 2009 budget. Considering that Obama has already announced the withdrawal and eventual pullout of troops from Iraq, we can estimate around 130 bln. more to be spend provided that all troops will be withdrawn in a 1.5-2 years. That gives us in total 816 bln. dollars of direct costs spent on Iraq war. This also includes the payment of $500,000 in "death gratuity payment" and life insurance to the families of the fatalities in Iraq.

Health care costs.

These include all costs for the treatment of health problems of troops, such as blast injuries to arms and legs from improvised explosive devices, the historically high instances of traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder. A group of noted physicians predicted that healthcare for Iraq veterans could top $650 billion. We may also rely on available figures for veterans' disability payments. For example, a veteran without a spouse or dependents who is 100 percent disabled receives about $2,400 per month from the government. Over 50 years, that could total more than $1.4 million. Multiplying that by the number of totally disabled veterans would add up 10-15 billion dollars more. Furthermore an increasing number of soldiers are not seeking the care that they need, which affects their ability to get and maintain jobs what eventually leads to greater unseen costs.

Military replenishment costs.

War in Iraq has stretched the US military dangerously thin. The high level of casualties over half of decade has undermined the "human capital" of armed forces. Dealing with current difficulties in recruitment America will have to invest heavily in troops to restore their prewar levels of strength, fitness and readiness. Furthermore it may take more than decade to fully replenish and refurbish the military whose equipment and materiel have been greatly depleted by the war. Estimations show that over the period of fifteen years the military will require 250$-375$ bln to rebuild entire armed services.

Economic costs.

There are plenty of economic costs surrounding the war in Iraq. First it's a cost of deployment in Iraq of 40% of National Guard and Reserve forces. Quantifiable economic costs of it comprises of the difference between the civilian wages that these individuals would earn in their regular occupations and the lower wages they are usually paid in the Reserves. Another economic cost is the cost of military fatalities. It equals to the individual's earnings and contributions to the economy foregone due to their death. Here also comes the economic costs of those seriously injured, that comprises of additional healthcare expenditures that parties spend themselves apart from what government pays and the loss of economic services. Taking Stiglitz's calculations made by him in 2006 and extrapolating his figures to present day we'll get around 200 bln dollars of economic costs that US incurred due to the war in Iraq.

Uncounted costs.

Now let's try to list those costs that are obvious but not quantifiable. Consider the issue of security. War in Iraq and incidentally the overall instability in Middle East had aggravated the hatred of the United States throughout the world. That in its turn exacerbated the domestic threat of terror and made Americans obviously less safe and confident. There are of course many negative consequences of the war all of which cannot be comprehended. Below is just a shortlist of the costs omitted from above estimations:

* All costs borne by other countries, including Iraq.

* Costs of planning war.

* Costs of oil price volatility.

* Consequences of loss of credibility

* Reduced demands as a result of anti-American sentiment (e.g. loss of tourists)

Read Dawood Mamedoff's blog here: http://www.myhowtoos.com

Security And Privacy Requirements To Support Exchange of Health Information

2009-11-23T19:37:00.001-08:00

. OK, A WHOLE BUNCH OF HANDS WENT DOWN, RIGHT? WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TOLERANCES FOR RISKS, AND WE MANAGE THE RISKS IN HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS EVERY DAY. PROBABLY MOST OF YOU HAVE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, I WOULD IMAGINE, IF YOU OWN A HOME, RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE AUTO INSURANCE, BUT YOU PROBABLY HAVE DIFFERENT DEDUCTIBLES, RIGHT? WE ALL MAKE THESE DECISIONS EVERY DAY. AS A CIO OF A FEDERAL AGENCY, I HAVE SOME LENIENCY IN THE DECISIONS THAT I MAKE, BUT OTHER PLACES, OMB AND NIST TELL ME I DON'T ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7KuVnD646E&hl=en

A Soldier's Final Farewell

2009-11-17T03:00:00.001-08:00

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Josh spent Christmas Eve with his mother at the local mall looking at Christmas decorations and drinking hot chocolate.

After a long day, Josh was worn out from the day's activities. Before going to bed, he prayed for the health and safety of his beloved parents, David and Gail.

Josh eventually dozed off to the peaceful sounds of "O Christmas Tree."

After falling into a peaceful night of slumber, Josh felt the presence of someone in his bedroom. He opened his sleepy eyes to see his father sitting on his bed dressed in his military uniform.

David took Josh's tiny hand and held it tightly.

"Dad, what are you doing home? I thought you were in Iraq."

"I am still in Iraq, but I was granted a leave to see my little soldier for Christmas."

David told Josh how much he missed him and his mother. He also told Josh about his responsibilities as a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers. He commanded a group of loyal men and it was his job to keep them safe from harm and lead them into combat.

"Josh, I have an important message. I want you to tell your mother how much I love her and that I will always be in her heart."

Josh agreed to tell his mother.

David gave Josh a kiss on the forehead and told him to go back to sleep.

David stood up, took one last look at his son and gave him a military salute, then left.

Josh woke up looking for his father...he was nowhere to be found.

He then rushed to the stairway to deliver his father's message.

At the top of the stairway, Josh could hear his mother crying.

He saw two uniformed soldiers talking to his mother next to the Christmas tree. He couldn't hear what the soldiers were saying.

After the soldiers left, Josh went down the stairs to be greeted with a big hug from his mother. She told Josh that David had been killed a week ago in a firefight. He died while trying to save the lives of his men during an ambush.

Josh was stunned. His dad couldn't be dead. They had just spoken a few hours ago.

He didn't tell his mother about his father's visit. After all, his dad couldn't have visited last night if he died a week ago. Josh decided that his father's visit must have been a dream.

Friends and family came over to console him and his mother. Gail encouraged Josh to open his gifts but he was too sad to think about opening gifts.

Josh went back upstairs to think about his dream...it seemed so real.

He sat on his bed and began to cry as he thought about his father's memory. Josh always idolized his father for his courage and strength as a soldier.

Suddenly, Josh suddenly felt a cold breeze move throughout his room.

He got up to retrieve his robe.

After putting on his robe, he felt something in the right pocket.

It was a six inch Action figure in Army Ranger gear. The uniform matched the one worn by his father. It even had a rifle and a captain's insignia, just like his father's.

There was also a tag on the back of the action figure. It said "Merry Christmas to my little soldier, Love dad."

At that moment, Josh realized his father's visit was real.

Josh looked out the window to watch the falling snow. He remembered how much his dad loved the snow and their snowball fights.

Josh looked out the window and said "Merry Christmas, dad."

William Greene has a B.S. degree from I.W.U. and has made a career of working with the public. He has over 10 years experience in social services, including casework. William works with people of different nationalities and education levels. He operates a social dating website titled http://www.socialhearts.com He also posts his thoughts on dating, relationships and social issues on his blog at http://www.socialhearts.blogspot.com

WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE: CESAR CHAVEZ 1971/2008

2009-11-15T07:06:00.001-08:00

Public reenactment of a speech given by Chicano labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez at a Vietnam veterans memorial rally at Exposition Park in Los Angeles on May 2, 1971. Chavez speaks about organizing migrant farm workers, the importance of sacrifice for justice, and offering youth an alternative to violence and war. Ricardo Dominguez, artist and co-founder of The Electronic Disturbance Theater, delivered the speech on location on July 19, 2008. This five-minute video is ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4FP4JVoKMo&hl=en

Military Uniforms Then and Now

2009-11-15T07:05:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Around the world, organized military forces of governments have many different types of military uniforms that they wear. Clearly being one of the founding fathers of the uniform, the militaries of countries have contributed greatly towards what constitutes a good uniform today.

In addition to offering protective features from the elements or even enemy fire military uniforms are also worn to signify a specific job role within the military. After the early 1900's, uniforms stopped being supplied in bright colors and instead, were supplied in more drab colors. Partially to aid in combat, these colors would often blend in with the surrounding areas on the battlefields. The dress uniforms, however, would continue to remain colorful and elaborate.

Uniforms have been designed to serve many purposes. Among these purposes are distinction, camouflage, logistics and psychological warfare. A brief description of each purpose follows:

Distinction:

One main reason for having uniforms is so that combatants can distinguish individuals protected by the laws of war and those who are allowed to carry weapons. Some individuals in war who carry weapons and fight back are often not protected by these laws. One other reason was to prevent army deserters from being able to modify their clothing to reflect more ordinary civilian clothing. The uniforms themselves were so distinct in design and style that these deserters could be easily identified.

Visibility & Camouflage:

The evolution of military uniforms from bright colors (to help in identification on a battle field) to more camouflaged ones (where they become virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape) is a clear indication of the purpose of a uniform. While previously important to find units in battle, the evolution of warfare has necessitated the more stealthier aspects of armies and hence more attention to camouflage.

Logistics:

During large wars, it is significantly easier to produce and equip armies with standard sized uniforms. This becomes a more economical way to outfit thousands of soldiers quickly and efficiently during a war.

Psychological Warfare:

In the past, uniforms were also used as a sort of psychological warfare. Form enhancing gear that make the soldiers appear larger and more formidable often strike fear into the opposing sides. Large caps, capes, specific colors all add to the psychological warfare of the military uniforms.

Modern day military uniforms are much more simpler. The US Army soldiers wear standard camouflage utilities for practically all purposes unless there is a dress parade or formal occasion where they will wear their full dress uniforms. Today, the tradition and reasons for wearing military uniforms still remain. It is unlikely that this tradition will change drastically in the future.

Uniforms - Best Buy Uniforms offers the lowest prices and highest quality wholesale uniforms in corporate U.S.A.

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A Tour of the Navy SEAL Museum

2009-11-13T08:11:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Located at the northern part of the Hutchinson Island in Florida, the U.S. Navy SEAL Museum is nestled at the original place where the Frogmen underwent their training back in the early 1940s. The Navy SEAL Museum is dedicated to the elite group of the Naval Special Warfare, the only one in the whole world.

How It Started

The U.S. Navy Frogmen, the original name given to the Navy SEALs, were born and came to existence at Fort Pierce, Florida, where the National Navy SEAL Museum now stands. The U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and the U.S. Naval Combat Demolition Units were composed primarily of brave volunteers for the Second World War.

It was in November 1985 when the Navy SEAL Museum was formally dedicated to the elite group of the U.S. Special Operations Forces. Thereafter, an endless number of artifacts have continuously been sent to Fort Pierce.

What You Will Find

The Navy SEAL Museum provides a good venue for people to learn more about the history of the Naval Special Warfare. Inside the Navy SEAL Museum, one will be able to discover the beginnings of the Underwater Demolition Team, learn about their exploits in the Second World War, and understand more about the Navy SEALs by way of the artifacts and the many photographs displayed in the museum.

Outside, one will feel nostalgic seeing various modes of transportations that have been used by the Navy SEALs. A helicopter, two-man submarines, and patrol boats are artfully displayed outside the museum. The vehicle's story can be read on a statue that stands on each of them.

Inside, one will be greeted by a volunteer, who could be a retired SEAL, a retired Frogman, or a spouse of a Frogman or a SEAL. The volunteer will serve as your guide in your tour of the museum and will explain every memorabilia on display.

The Museum Store

Like the usual museum, the Navy SEAL Museum also has a shop for us navy seals visitors where they can purchase their choice of SEAL souvenirs such as a pin, a cap, or a book. Tactical gear like backpacks, gloves, bags, and holsters can likewise be bought at the Navy SEAL Museum store.

U.S. Navy SEAL shirts, polos, cammies, and other tactical apparel (ideally for souvenir purposes) are available at the museum shop. Items are moderately priced, and the museum also accepts donations for it maintenance. Also, for a $100 donation, one can make his name part of the great Navy SEAL history with his own memorial brick being used nowhere else but within the grounds of the museum.

About the Author:

This Article is written by James Kara Murat from USNavySealStore, the contributor of Navy Seal Store. More information on the subject is at A Tour of the Navy SEAL Museum, and related resources can be found at navy seal workout.

Cameron interviews McCain: CNN 10/16/08

2009-11-12T23:43:00.001-08:00

about that and says its a real smear . . . JOHN MCCAIN: Thats the most you know, probably of all the things thatve been said, thats really one of the really low blows. Look, thousands and thousands of people come, theyre veterans, I was thrilled the other day to see a group of young women there with a sign that said military wives for McCain. I see the guys with their hats on from every war. I see young people there. Theres a, theres always a few people that are going to show up at a ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-s1yRj0q-s&hl=en

Brain-Injured Newsman Speaks Out For Returning Iraq War Veterans

2009-11-12T23:42:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Bob Woodruff’s report on ABC called “To Iraq and Back” brought to the public eye the problem of Traumatic Brain Injury (referred to as “TBI”) suffered by many of our veterans returning from the Iraq War. Through his own experience and miraculous recovery, he is now exposing this tragedy to the general public, and also providing a voice to our veterans, many of whom have served their country and are now left with a life-changing disability. Mr Woodruff’s 13-month recovery is not only amazing, but it is a purpose-driven event that will make changes in how the Veterans Administration provides long-term care for our returning veterans with TBI.

Last year, Woodruff, a co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight, went to Iraq to cover the war for ABC News. On January 29, 2006, he and his cameraman Bob Vogt were injured in a bomb blast that hit their vehicle. Mr. Woodruff came back to ABC on February 27, 2007 to tell his story. A special broadcast “To Iraq and Back” aired on ABC the same night. But Woodruff didn’t only tell his own story. He spoke for the many veterans who have returned from the Middle East war zone with traumatic injuries to their brains.

The story of Mr. Woodruff’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle. He considers himself lucky to have received incredible care. Not only did he have to go through surgery and grafts to repair the physical damage to his face and head, but needed rehabilitation for the unseen damage to his memory, thought processes and speech. In addition to his initial treatment upon return from Iraq, he needed constant follow-up therapy to recuperate his cognitive abilities. Coming out of a coma after more than a month, he looked at his wife who was sitting by his bed the whole time and said “Where have you been?” At first, he recognized his two older children but not his younger set of twins. Therapists and his family showed him flashcards of normal everyday objects, many of which he could not name. Thirteen months after the bombing, he has made an amazing comeback. But he still has work to do. He received first-class treatment, having been injured on the job as a reporter and being treated in major metropolitan rehabilitation facilities.

More importantly, Bob Woodruff is now giving a voice to many of our returning war veterans who are coming home with traumatic brain injuries and not receiving the level of care available to him. During “To Iraq and Back”, Mr. Woodruff introduced us to Sgt. Michael Boothby, who was injured by an IED blast in Iraq last September. Boothby got wonderful care when he first returned from Iraq. But when he transferred to his home in Texas, the VA did not have available the level of care he needed to fully recover. There seems to be a large disparity between VA services in large cities and those in smaller towns. And, surprisingly, there are veterans returning from the war with undiagnosed TBI. Not all explosions cause visible injury. There are service people coming back with impaired cognitive ability and no visible damage to their bodies. These veterans need extensive care for months and years after their injuries, some for the rest of their lives. And many of them will never be able to live normal lives again, nor support themselves and their families.

The tragedy of Bob Woodruff’s experience in Iraq has become an opportunity to call attention to the lack of VA services for many veterans returning from war with traumatic brain injuries. Returning vets need services not only when they return to the United States, but constant follow-up when they re-join their families in their hometowns. Furthermore, Bob Woodruff’s account has called attention to unseen injuries. We can see the amputees, blind, and otherwise obviously injured service people. But what about the veterans who come back and realize that their brains aren’t functioning as they should, despite no apparent bodily damage? Not all traumatic brain injuries are overt. Bob Woodruff has committed to advocating for better care for returning war veterans with traumatic brain injury. Now that he has gone through his own personal struggle, and can relate to the challenges, he can use his valuable clout as a journalist to make changes that are so desperately needed for the men and women who have served our country.

Fern Cohen is a freelance writer living in New York City. Diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease in January, 2004, she was forced to retire early from her career of teaching foreign language and ESL in the inner-city. Fern also enjoyed a 20-year career in the travel and tourism industry and holds an MS in Tourism and Travel Management from New York University. She also has a BA in French and Spanish from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and has studied collage and mixed media at the Parsons School of Design in NYC. She is active in rabbit rescue, and shares an apartment with Chelsea, a gray chinchilla bunny, who is also her muse. She has a blog at http://www.ferncohen.blogspot.com

I Am a War Dog That is Faithfully Serving My Country in Iraq

2009-11-11T09:08:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Getting strapped onto your back is a heavy protective military vest. You're flown or shipped across endless skies and seas. Feeling anxious and restless not sure where you're going or if you will return, you miss your family, your loved ones already but you must do your duty to your country and serve them to the best of your tail wagging ability can!

What are you? You're a service dog deployed to Iraq and to serve one of the most important missions of your life. To provide comfort and love to those in service. Relieving stress and anxiety with your abundant loving, joyful kisses and playful attitude. You give comfort, soothing tranquility, and solace to so many where without you there is no comfort but fear, constant stress and anxiety.

But your life is no walk in the park either, you live the same often traumatic life these brave men and women do in war, you're in the same danger zones as they're and risk your life everyday!

Service dogs in Iraq are one of the most important animals used and benefited from, some are used as therapy, while others are trained hard in doggy militaristic boot camp, going through the same drills your human counterparts go through. But you're trained different on four legs not two, to sniff out enemies, underground bombs or mines and are used as security and task force deployment. Your easy life back home is no longer yours, your life is no longer your own, you live your life to serve your country and your companions, and you can die any day in the line of duty.

More dogs are being trained and sent to Iraq for therapy of the troops, post traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental disease, where one can be haunted day and night with the images and horrible things they've seen and experienced. It can cause insanity, paranoia, delusions, nightmares, fear and anxiety attacks with physical symptoms so fierce you feel as if you're dying. To combat this disorder and prevent the affects therapy dogs are flown in to Iraq and are given to the men and woman as playful distractions, to heal and give comfort and most important love and affection. A therapy dog has been known to relieve 90% of the stress at that moment for servicemen or women based in Iraq.

So please don't just salute and praise our brave men and women that risk their lives everyday so that we can live in freedom, hope and peace, but give a salute also to our brave and ever faithful service dogs whom also risk their lives so that our beloved soldiers can find some peace and love in the hell which is war. Bookmark and Share.

http://www.yeepet.com/blogs/I-am-a-war-dog-that-is-faithfully-serving-my-country-in-Iraq-581

11Nov09-Happy Veterans Day, quotes, DAP and fundraising for Safe Access...

2009-11-11T09:06:00.001-08:00

Today we have a warm Veterans Day greeting, the quotes from George S. Patton, the DAP about the Oaksterdam University final exam, and then some dosage about fundraising and SAFE ACCESS NOW!!! ALSO, stay tuned for Thursday for an explanation of Fridays' MCCNV Med Fest where licensed patients will have the opportunity to try different methods of medicating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IXLbjFgwys&hl=en

Decline of Patriotism - A 1964 Editorial

2009-11-11T09:05:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Is America losing its sense of patriotism?

It seems so.

Veterans Day parades were scarce and skimpy, but more disturbing was the almost universal indifference of spectators to our national flag.

As a new national holiday, Veterans Day conflicts with the more established national anniversaries.

Memorial Day honors our war dead, and Independence Day recognizes our dramatic beginning.

November 11 originally marked the armistice of what was supposed to be "the war to end wars." It will be sometime -- undoubtedly before Veterans Day achieves much meaning.

There is no excuse, though, for the monumental discourtesies accorded our flag these days whenever shown or paraded - Fourth of July or National Pickle Week.

In the Veterans Day parade I attended, only myself and two others within sight took off our hats and placed our hands over our hearts. Not only that, but the people standing nearby looked at me as if I were some kind of show off.

I have never been able to warm up to Astronaut John Glenn since he made a point of telling Congress how patriotic he was. Then, hero worshippers gushed at how wonderful it was that a celebrity would declare -- right out in public -- how proud he was of our country.

What a left-handed admission of the decline in patriotism by the public at large! In my opinion, a political or military leader's patriotism should be taken for granted. If patriotism is so unusual that we should have to take special note of it when discovered, then the nation at large suffers from a serious lack of noble emotion.

* * *

Patriotism ebbs and flows in response to the influence of national emergencies. Obviously, we tend to feel a stirring in our breasts when our homeland is threatened. However, the decline in patriotism appears to be a long-term trend.

The New York Daily News recently made a study of American history books and found a definite diminution of patriotic information in texts written after 1920.

For example, Nathan Hale's historic words-"I regret that I have but one life to give my country"-were found in 11 of the 14 pre-1920 books reviewed and in only two of the 45 new ones.

I can appreciate that our American history has been purged of myths - such as that of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree - but why have the true and famous words of our heroes been censored?

No wonder our youngsters find American history dull and uninteresting. No wonder some of our educators are suspected of being incompetent - if not communist oriented.

Our rich heritage of inspiration is not being passed on to our children. They are not receiving either the knowledge or motivation to understand and appreciate our nation.

* * *

One of the reasons I still salute the flag in the citizens' manner, I am sure, is that I remember so well my history lessons. The chronology of all American events is fixed in my mind by the great words our patriots have uttered in times of crisis.

Patrick Henry's challenge to the Virginia Assembly debating revolution was, "Give me liberty or give me death." It gave me goose pimples when I declaimed it at a high school speech contest, and it still does.

"We must hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately," warned Benjamin Franklin to the men who hesitated to break with England. And then he concluded, "God helps them that help themselves."

James Otis of Massachusetts wrapped up the sentiment of the colonies when he declared, "Taxation without representation is tyranny."

When British troops marched out of Boston in 1775, to seize the weapons stored at Concord, they were met on the road at Lexington by Captain John Parker's "minute men." His famous instructions were, "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon; but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," Col. William Prescott told his outnumbered American soldiers at Bunker and Breed Hills.

Naval Commander John Paul Jones proudly rejected the British demand that he surrender his damaged ship with a curt message, "I have not yet begun to fight."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident," wrote Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute," shouted Congressman Robert Harper of South Carolina when the French demanded bribes before receiving our new minister.

The War of 1812 is remembered for Capt. James Lawrence's dying words to his crew after a fight with a British man of war - "Don't give up the ship."

"Our country, right or wrong," was the oft-repeated toast of naval hero Stephen Decatur after a punitive expedition against the Barbary pirates in 1816.

"Remember the Alamo," "Remember the Maine," and "Remember Pearl Harbor" are similar admonitions but memorable each in its own right.

Admiral David Farragut will be remembered forever for his angry order at Mobile Bay during the Civil War, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead."

Abraham Lincoln called for a new determination that "government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

In my day, we have had fewer rousing slogans, but some are worthy of history.

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself," said Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition," was the practical advice given by Lt. Cdr. Howell Forgy on a cruiser at Pearl Harbor.

"I shall return," said General Douglas MacArthur as he retreated from the Philippines. And he did.

And what GI in World War II will ever forget General Anthony McAuliffe's terse reply to a German demand he surrender - "Nuts!"

* * *

I cannot help but wonder if the relegation of our old rallying cries to the ash heap of history might not explain why the latest selective service figures list 21,000 men as conscientious objectors. Even during the fighting years of World War II there were only 13,000 conscientious objectors.

www.lindseywilliams.org/Editorial_Archives/1964_11-_Patriotism.htm

Lindsey Williams is a retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist who can be contacted LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org with over 1,500 of Lin's Editorial & At Large articles written over 40 years.

Also featured in its entirety is Lin's groundbreaking book "Boldly Onward," that critically analyzes and develops theories about the original Spanish explorers of America. (fully indexed/searchable)

History of Veterans Day

2009-11-11T09:03:00.001-08:00

Image : http://www.flickr.com

A veteran is a man or woman who worked in the American military. They are honored on Veterans Day each year on November 11th with national and local meetings, parades, and other programs to recognize their contributions.

World War I was known at the time as "The Great War." The ending of World War I fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany was celebrated at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). November 11, 1918 is also generally known as "The End of the War to End All Wars." The day originally became known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was dedicated to the cause of world peace. An armistice is an official agreement to stop fighting. After World War II and the Korean War, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed in 1954 proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the holiday was moved to the last Monday in October, basically to allow 3 day weekends for federal employees. Many people did not agree with this decision due to the historic and patriotic significance of the day and continued to celebrate the holiday on November 11th. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law returning the official celebration to its original date of November 11th beginning in 1978.

In August, 2001, US Senate Resolution 143 designated the week of November 11th-17th as "National Veterans Awareness Week". The resolution is directed toward educating students about the sacrifices and contributions of our military men and women.

Many people still confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day. This special day honors all military men and women who served our country. The primary purpose of the holiday is mainly to thank them for their service to our country. Those killed in wars are honored specially on Memorial Day in May.

Governmental offices usually close on the holiday. State and local governments make the decision to close offices and schools, or not. Banks and other businesses may close. Retail stores are usually open.

It often feels like a sad holiday, but there are many surviving veterans to salute. This is their very special day. They should be honored and thanked for their love of country, the brave service they gave, and for being willing to put their lives on the line for the well being of all the citizens of the United States of America.

Please check here for more information: http://veteransdaystory.blogspot.com/.

Judy Mercer, RN, BSN has been the host of SeniorLife Solutions, The Radio Show about Anything and Everything for over 5 years. SeniorLife Solutions is streaming live on WNDB, 1150am every Tuesday morning at 9:30am EST. WNDB is the talk/news/NASCAR station in Daytona Beach, FL. Judy discusses many fun and interesting topics with a diverse group of guests from the Daytona Beach area and from around the country.

Working in nursing administration for nearly 30 years, Judy specialized in acute care, home health care, wound care and quality assurance. She taught healthcare related classes at Daytona Beach Community College and is also a licensed insurance agent.

She currently works in the ever evolving field of internet marketing. She maintains many websites on educational topics and frequently publishes informational articles and e-books.

http://www.seniorlifesolutions.com.