A Sailor's Prayer, Chief Petty Officer, Greg Billiter

Sunny - Hi 104 Lo 75 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 71 Lo 46 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Driver 8, R.E.M.

I always seem to find myself listening to R.E.M. on rainy days-- usually when I'm feeling a little blue. Older R.E.M. always seems to have a feel of yearning... a sadness that can not quite be identified... but it's there...just below the surface. Well, it wasn't raining when I selected this song, but I realized I neglected to post about one of our hometown heroes...

Ramble:

This past month we lost another local hero. He was a career sailor (or so it seemed spending 15 years with the United States Navy). I did not attend but thankfully, my friend Kyle went. And I didn't know this until recently but my Mother In Law also attended the service. This 36 year old man, husband, father, son, grandson... was part of the life of a dear friend of my mother in law. Both of Kyle and Patricia paid their respect and said a prayer for this hero that gave the ultimate sacrifice.

"During his first two tours of duty, Billiter dived for mines off the coast of Iraq. This (third) time he was the tactical commander in a convoy conducting patrols in Iraq when the vehicle he was in was struck by a rocket, Beck said. Billiter was severely injured and evacuated by a medical helicopter. He was later pronounced killed in action."

The rest of the article can be found here.

The thing is, Greg was doing what he wanted to do," Barry Billiter said. It was his life's work. He believed he was making a difference doing what he was doing.

How can you argue with that?

The rest of the article can be found here.

Greg, who his father said, saw himself as a peacemaker, would often talk about the positive things our troops are doing for the Iraqi people.

"There were roads being built," said Barry Billiter. "Schools built or refurbished, things of that nature."

Pat Billiter says Greg recently told her," I'm not making war. I'm making peace. By neutralizing bombs, I'm giving some people peace that might not know it otherwise."

The rest can be read here.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God."

Washington Post.

"On behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to this Country and a grateful Navy."

Here is a link to photos from the Patriot Guard Riders in attendance at Chief Petty Officer Billiter's funeral service.

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

If you visit one link... visit this one. It is Beliefnet. There you will find prayer circles for our men and women in uniform--- those in harms way. Say a prayer... put faces with those names. Click on each name--- take a good close look at that young man or woman that is keeping watch for us. Go... please... go now.

You Tube ~ R.E.M. Channel



Driver 8, R.E.M.

The walls are built up, stone by stone,
the fields divided one by one.
And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We've been on this shift too long"

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"

I saw a tree house on the outskirts of the farm.
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged.
Bells are ringing through the town again,
Children look up, all they hear is sky-blue, bells ringing

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"

Way to shield the hated heat.
Way to put myself to sleep.
Way to shield the hated heat.
Way to put myself, my children to sleep.

He piloted this song in a plane like that one.
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade.
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again.
Field to weed is lookin' thin

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We've been on this shift too long."
And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"


Have a great week everyone!