I Freely Admit, I Am Part of the 25...24...23%

Partly Cloudy - Hi 64 Lo 44 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 67 Lo 38 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Cloudy - Hi 53 Lo 48 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: You're Gonna Miss Me, 13th Floor Elevators

Ramble:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God."

I have always likes George W. Bush and I am going to miss him when he leaves Washington in January. Older and with more gray hair than when he took the Office of President of the United States, he still holds the same convictions as the man I voted for 8 and 4 years ago.

He gave us tax cuts, he prevented federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Justice Sam Alito, Chief Justice John Roberts.. He has stressed the importance of faith based and community initiatives. He has provided more relief to Africa than any other previous president. I have not always agreed with him, in fact, I have found myself frustrated at his liberal leanings. Yes.. liberal leanings... the compassionate conservative. But again, this is the same man I voted for twice and it is his compassion that has defined him as a man, as our President.

I'm going to miss Dubya... I'm going to miss the cowboy. I loved it when he dropped his "g's" you know-- Goin', Doin', etc...

However, the most important thing George W. Bush has done has kept us safe on our soil. We were not prepared for the events of September 11, 2001. At the time, I believe George Bush was on a trajectory to really follow his compassionate conservative values and he would have spent even more money (our tax dollars) developing more welfare systems. However, the events of that awful day changed everything. He knew what he had to do. He became our protector. He kept us safe and has done so every single solitary day since. As our President he has been given details that none of us need to know or could handle-- close calls and situations defused before anyone is hurt. Those days after 9/11, we all watched a man age by 10 years-- instantly.No longer did we live in a safe world and like any father, George Bush wanted to take the pain away and keep us safe--- He did not want to see us hurting--- he told us to go back to our lives, spend money, and get on with it. (It is only now, that he is second guessed by the President Elect). It was the best thing for us. Get back to normal... get over our fears of boarding a plane, spend money, get the economy going, however stay vigilant.. pay attention.

I Can Hear You MP3

"At times, Bush has turned unusually personal, bordering on melancholy. "I would like to be a person remembered as a person who, first and foremost, did not sell his soul in order to accommodate the political process," Bush told his sister, Doro Bush Koch, in a recent interview for StoryCorps, a national oral history project. "I came to Washington with a set of values, and I'm leaving with the same set of values, and I darn sure wasn't going to sacrifice those values; that I was a president that had to make tough choices and was willing to make them." More from US News and World Report

He has been our President and he has been ridiculed and mocked like no other (do a Google search for images and see what you find). He has put his country first, he follows his faith and convictions and he wants what is best for this nation. He is a man-- and I can't imagine what that kind of ridicule does to a person. Quite often and much to my dismay, he has turned the other cheek on those that have thrown him under the bus-- even those in his own party. He is a better person than me.

In just a few short weeks, President Bush will hand the keys of the White House to President Elect Obama. As we have done since the beginning of this Great Nation, there will be a PEACEFUL transition from the current president to the next. I have no doubt, President Bush has an expectation of his staff to be helpful and cooperative with the incoming team. I have no doubt the White House will be left orderly and in tact with nothing missing and nothing destroyed, unlike how the Bush's found the White House when they arrived in January 2001.

For me, there is one image of President Bush that is burned in my memory. The burden he has carried shows in every crease in his face. I am so grateful that it was George W. Bush that was our President on that horrific day. He made the right decisions, he made the right choices. He was in Lebanon, Ohio-- just a skip and a jump up the road from here... the year was 2004.

In a moment largely unnoticed by the throngs of people in Lebanon waiting for autographs from the president of the United States, George W. Bush stopped to hold a teenager's head close to his heart.

Lynn Faulkner, his daughter, Ashley, and their neighbor, Linda Prince, eagerly waited to shake the president's hand Tuesday at the Golden Lamb Inn. He worked the line at a steady campaign pace, smiling, nodding and signing autographs until Prince spoke:

"This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11."

Bush stopped and turned back.

"He changed from being the leader of the free world to being a father, a husband and a man," Faulkner said. "He looked right at her and said, 'How are you doing?' He reached out with his hand and pulled her into his chest."

Faulkner snapped one frame with his camera.

"I could hear her say, 'I'm OK,' " he said. "That's more emotion than she has shown in 2 1/2 years. Then he said, 'I can see you have a father who loves you very much.' "
"And I said, 'I do, Mr. President, but I miss her mother every day.' It was a special moment."

Special for Lynn Faulkner because the Golden Lamb was the place he and his wife, Wendy Faulkner, celebrated their anniversary every year until she died in the south tower of the World Trade Center, where she had traveled for business.
The rest can be read at The Cincinnati Enquirer


President Bush, I am going to miss you.

other resources:

Whitehouse.gov
DC Pages

Remember Pearl Harbor

There was a time when we as a nation were not so divided. Remember Pearl Harbor for those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Amish Country And Remembering Nick Erdy

Sunny - Hi 73 Lo 54 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 66 Lo 39 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Flurries - Hi 39 Lo 34 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Ghost in this House, Allison Krauss and Union Station

Ramble:

Michael made our annual trek up to Amish country this past Friday. He and I were absolutely giddy about the trip--- definitely an "old people moment". Really, you would have thought we were on our way to Cancun... Holmes County, Ohio is about 3 1/2 hours northeast of us. We had perfect weather and it was simply a beautiful day. It was the first time we had ever visited on a Friday and this late in the year---We typically make the drive to see the fall colors. That wasn't in the cards this year, but seriously, it was so much more enjoyable... far less people.. We quickly realized Friday is wash day in Amish country--- We saw clothing out drying everywhere. It was pleasant to see-- reminded me of being a kid and my grandma hanging the laundry outside to dry. I remember the clothes line posts that she would secure under the clothes line to hike the line up high so the clothing wouldn't drag. I remember the sheets billowing in the breeze and running in between them, making believe it was a curtain to a stage where I would perform some brilliant song for all to hear. I still remember how wonderful the sheets would smell when she would pull them off the line...

Now, the food in Amish country is... Oh my gosh... incredible... homemade pies and bread. We had dinner at a place called Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant. It was cozy--- home cooked food. Served by lovely young Mennonite and Amish girls, the service was impeccable, the portions- huge... It was at this point we decided that someone should invent a gravy that could also be used as a dip. OMG...
We went to some of the shops but only found a couple of places that interested us--a bulk food store... which was pretty cool for Michael and an incredible antique store. In fact, I have never seen it's equal anywhere. Run by another member of the Amish community- I could not believe how many pieces I found that I instantly fell in love with. I have quite literally been looking for a china closet for 10 years. I found at least a dozen there I could have taken home at that moment. The rest of the shops we visited were of the "cute variety". The choxkie--- the overly cute painted signs that say things like, "friendship" and "love" with teddy bears and cute snowmen painted on wood or tin all of which is made in China or India... you know, the stuff you find in the Tenderhearts mail order catalog. The trip was rejuvenating for the mind and soul. Next time, hopefully we will leave with a beautiful piece of furniture hand crafted by someone over a century ago- or possibly a beautifully handmade quilt... or one of those way cool Amish made wicker baskets. Our focus was on the scenery and those areas not inundated by tourism, but rather the freshly plowed fields and the laundry and the big skies, rolling hills and gorgeous valleys, and the young Amish children selling their wares and tending their chores... very nice...very nice indeed.

On Saturday, November 22, the Fourth Annual Dinner and Auction benefiting the Nick Erdy Foundation will take place. I never knew Nick, but like so many in this community, I felt I did. I have written about him and others we lost from Lima Company. He is still remembered. He is not forgotten. A memorial for those lost from the 3/25 in 2005 has arrived in Cincinnati it has been on display in Ohio's State Capital since Memorial Day. In the coming days, I will make the trip to Union Terminal to remember those fine young men. I expect it to be highly emotional.
Nick Erdy and Dustin Derga were best friends. Dustin was killed on May 8. Nick was killed on May 11. They had plans together... to become firemen... or to open a bar in Florida... to live their lives... to get married to their girls back home, who also had become close friends. May 2005 changed everything for those in Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment. Remember them. Keep them in your hearts, pray for their families and loved ones. Pray for those still in harms way. Thank them when given the opportunity.

Watch this:


I found this heartbreaking note from Kristen, Dustin's girlfriend.

for all of you from the 3/25 who gave the ultimate sacrafice, we salute you. There are not enough men out there who would pick up a gun and go fight for their country. It is a shame that more people could not be like you... You served and lived for a purpose and that is more than most can say... you fought for freedom, your families, friends and the future of America...You had an honorable job and you held up your end of the bargin... It is like that Toby Keith song.. "American Soldier." "And I dont want to die for you but if dyings asked of me, I'll bare that cross with honor cause freedom don't come free!" You all are the true definition of HERO and that will never be taken from you. I regret not being able to meet all of you.... but the ones I did know... CPL Dustin Derga and LCPL Nick Erdy, were among the greatest people I have ever met. Fun loving, carefree, and full of commitment to the United States Marine Corps and their fellow Americans. You boys will forever be in our hearts! And the only thing we ask of you now is to watch over you fellow soldiers and bring them home to us! To the rest of the 3/25... You are in our thoughts and prayers! Just remember those men who lost their lives will now be fighting next to you for the rest of their lives... and in return just live your life with them in mind... never forget!! Fight hard... Come home safe!!! We will all be waiting for your return....
SEMPER FI... Kristin (Derga's girlfriend)

For more information on the dinner and auction for The Nick Erdy Foundation click here

Have a great week everyone!

A Life Remembered: Toshiya Kuge

For three years, D.C. Roe has hosted an annual remembrance of those lost on September 11, 2001. Please click on the logo to the left for a link to other remembrances this year.
*** *** *** *** ***

Long ago there lived in Japan an old man whose name was Hamaguchi. His farmhouse stood on the edge of a plateau, a flat, open space on the side of a mountain. Behind, the mountain rose in lofty wooded peaks. In front, it sloped gently down to the sea. At the foot of the mountain along the shore was the little village, made up of a hundred or more thatched houses and a great temple.

One afternoon in late summer Hamaguchi sat on the balcony of his house and watched the people in the village below. With him was his grandson, a lad of ten. The rice crop had been very fine, and the villagers were holding their harvest festival. All the shops were closed, and the streets were gayly decorated with ropes of straw and paper lanterns. The villagers in bright-colored clothing were about to join in the harvest dance.

Beyond the village Hamaguchi could see the vast blue sea, wrinkling under the bright after noon sun. Suddenly there came a slight shock. The house rocked three or four times and then stood still. Hamaguchi had felt many earth quakes in his time, and he was not at all frightened until he looked toward the sea.

The water had become dark green and very rough. The tide had suddenly changed --- the sea was running swiftly away from the land! The villagers stopped their dancing, and ran to the shore to watch. None of them knew what this strange thing meant. But the old man on the mountain had seen one such sight as a little child. He knew what the sea would do. There was no time to send a message to the village, nor to ring the big bell in the temple, and yet the people must be warned.

"Yone!" he called to his little grandson. "Light a torch! Quick!"

The boy was puzzled, but he asked no questions. He kindled the torch at once. The old man ran to the fields, where hundreds of rice stacks stood awaiting sale. It was all his wealth. He ran from one stack to another, applying the torch to each. The dry stalks caught fire quickly, and soon the red flames were shooting upward, and the smoke was rising in great columns to join the wind clouds in the sky.

Yone ran after his grandfather, shouting and crying, "Grandfather! Grandfather! Why? Why are you setting fire to the rice?"

The old man had no time to answer, but ran on, firing stack after stack. The high wind caught the sparks and loose brands and carried them farther, until the fields were all ablaze.

The watcher in the temple saw the fire, and set the big bell booming, and the people turned from the sea to look. In Japan every one in the village must give help in time of fire. No sooner did the people see that Hamaguchi's rice stacks were on fire than they began to run. Like a swarm of ants they climbed the mountain --- young men and boys, women and girls, old folk, mothers with babies on their backs, even little children joined in the race to put out the fire.

But when they reached the plateau, it was too late. The flames had already eaten the stacks of beautiful rice.

"It is too bad," the people exclaimed. "How did it happen?"

"Grandfather did it," cried Yone. "With a torch he set fire to the rice. He is mad."

In amazement the people stared at Hamaguchi. "You did this thing !" they cried. "You set fire to the rice fields! "

"Look toward the sea," said the old man, "and know my purpose."

The people turned and looked. Far out they saw a great wall of water sweeping toward them more swiftly than a bird flies. It was the returning sea!

The people shrieked, but their voices were lost in a great sound, deeper than thunder, as the wall of water struck the side of the mountain. The hills shook, and were drenched in a great burst of foam.

When the cloud of spray had disappeared, the people saw a wild sea raving over their village. Great angry waves seethed and tumbled above the house-tops. They rolled away roaring, tearing out houses and trees and great rocks, and bearing them off. Again the wall of water struck, and again and again, with less force each time. At last it fell back once more in its former bed.

The people stood speechless on the side of the mountain. The village was gone; the temple was gone; the fields had been torn away. Nothing was left of their homes but a few straw roofs that floated on the water. But every man and woman and child was safe on the mountain side.

Then the people knew why old Hamaguchi had set fire to the rice. There he stood among them, as poor as any. And they fell on their knees to thank him.

As a little girl-- maybe 3 or 4 years old, I recall my mother telling me Japanese fables and folk stories-- This one and a story about the Little Peachboy are the two I remember the most. I thought this story of sacrifice fitting to share what little I have been able to learn about a young man named Toshiya Kuge.

Toshiya Kuge-san was born in 1981. His parents, Hajime and Yachiyo Kuge must have been proud of their son. He graduated in 1999 from Kitano High School. While in high school he was a good student and was the goalie for his high school soccer team. However, his preference was American football and was a linebacker his freshman year at Waseda University wearing a maroon jersey with number ninety-five. He loved the National Football League and would watch football via satellite in the middle of the night in Japan. He had a poster of the San Francisco 49ers on his bedroom wall, but his favorite team was the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He was in his sophomore year at the prestigious Waseda University studying design and creation of materials at the School of Science and Engineering. In the spring of 2001 he attended an intensive 4 week class at the University of Utah to improve his English speaking and writing skills. In an essay for this class he wrote, "he wanted to be friends with people and to study in America."

After his time at the University of Utah, Toshiya went home to Toyonaka City to spend the summer with family and friends before coming back in August 2001 to the United States and Canada- part vacation - part preparation-- Vacation was to go to whale watching, horseback riding and rafting at Jasper National Park-- Preparation was for his goal to scout out a university for his graduate degree. Among the items he took on this trip was his Pittsburgh Steelers jersey.

"He longed to come to America, " said Toshiya's mother,Yachiyo Kuge. "Perhaps he liked the freedom. He loved the language and the music. And sports. He wanted to play sports there."

From the few accounts I have been able to locate, he was friendly and outgoing with all he encountered. He wanted to visit Niagara Falls from both the Canadian and American sides. He had a passion for the big outdoors. On his rafting trip to Jasper he befriended and shared a lunch with two women from Chicago- Kristine White and Debbie Schiies.

On that fateful day, September 11, 2001 Kuge-san was on his way home to go back to school at Waseda. Instead, he and the other brave souls aboard United Flight 93 lost their lives in an attempt to take back their hijacked plane. This young man- his entire life ahead of him stolen and gone in an instant by haters of freedom and liberty. We will never have the good fortune of knowing what this young man could have contributed to our lives---.

In April 2004, Toshiya Kuge was recognized by Professor Shirai, President of Waseda University and was awarded the status of Alumna.

It is important to remember that Americans were not the only souls lost on that dreadful day- 234 people from other countries are counted in the numbers... from those 234 foreigners, 24 were from Japan.

So, I share this fable about the burning rice fields with you--- Although profoundly sad, it is a story of sacrifice and a keen understanding of a greater good. I want to believe--- I need to believe that the men and women who lost their lives that awful day were not in vain, but stand over us as guardian angels to remind us to stay vigilant and to never forget and never ever allow this to happen again.

A Life Remembered,

Toshiya Kuge
1981 - 2001







My Other Tributes:

2006 - Marion Britton
2007 - Tom Burnett
2007 - Deora Bodley

Resources:

Japan Times
Ongoing Tales
Among the Heroes - United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back, by Jere Longman
Legacy.com
Waseda University article
Daylife.com
Post-Gazette
Find a Grave

Never Forget

Partly Cloudy - Hi 113 Lo 89 for Baghdad, Iraq
Mostly Sunny - Hi 91 Lo 67 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Cloudy - Hi 78 Lo 58 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes, Beck

This song was originally done by a group called the Korgis. I remember hating it-- they were part of the New Wave of music that came over from the UK in the late 70's and early 80's in retaliation of disco music. Quite frankly, I thought this group-- this song was crap. Every song they had sounded the same... Then a few years ago, Beck did a cover of this song and changed the tapestry of the song and it became something completely different. To hear the Korgis version go here.

Ramble:

We are fast approaching an anniversary -- not a day of celebration, but one of remembrance- a time of reflection, a time of prayer for those who lost loved ones on a perfect crystal clear morning in September-- 7 years ago... My gosh- 7 years. I have a niece and a nephew that never experienced a world without 9/11.

Unlike Keith Olbermann, I believe it is our responsibility to remember and see pictures and video-- the horrid images of what happened that terrible morning when we were attacked and murdered. It is important to remember George Santayana's words, "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it." We must remain vigilant. We must remain a beacon for all the world.

Since I have been blogging, the post that generates the most traffic every single day for me is the Timeline for Islamic Terrorist Attacks. I find it strangely comforting to know that people worldwide are still looking for answers and information on this subject.

But more importantly, I take a great deal of comfort in the hits I receive from folks looking for news or remembrances of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines we have lost to our war on terror.

I also take comfort in those searching for information on those we lost on September 11, 2001. To date, I have completed three tributes for victims from 9/11 and this year will be no exception. This year I continue my remembrance of those first citizen soldiers on United Flight 93. As I explore the lives of each of these souls, I am moved at how different the backgrounds of everyone were- they realized they were facing evil and took action. They fought back.

I can usually guess when it is someone's birthday or anniversary... the number of "hits" will always spike on that day. I then have an opportunity to say a little prayer and ask God to provide comfort. What I treasure more than anything is the mail I have received over the years from from family and friends of those we have lost. I am forever humbled by the strength and courage these people possess. They are the very fabric of this land. It is our responsibility to remember those we have lost--- That their sacrifice was not in vain.

** photos
- never forget- WTC site, NYC, May 2005 by Cathy,
- Justin Sims funeral procession
- Yachiyo Suge, mother of Toshiya Kuge being comforted by Karen Castel in Shanksville, PA

Update: 9/8/08 D.C.Roe is hosting 2996 again. If you have a time, write a tribute and remember a soul.

Death Penalty for Suspect in the USS Cole Attack?

"American military prosecutors Monday asked a senior official to approve charges against a Guantanamo detainee for his alleged role in the attack on the USS Colein Yemen in 2000. That and a variety of other terrorism charges against the man could carry the death penalty."

"The prosecutors have requested the charges against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi citizen of Yemeni descent, who is among 14 men the U.S. government considers "high value detainees." The men were held by the Central Intelligence Agency in secret prisons before being transferred to the military-run detention center on the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba two years ago."

Ah.... Guantanamo... you know!! The place where we house all kinds of innocent people just because we are mean nasty Americans!

Read the rest of the article at Voice of America News.

Make no mistake... the war on terror is not over... it ain't done.... We are still chasing and catching the bad guys... and by God despite the liberal lefties among us...

USS Cole Homepage

Remember our sailors lost on the USS Cole. --- NEVER FORGET

Sunday Song, God Is In the Roses

Sunny - Hi 104 Lo 82 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 98 Lo 64 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Mostly Sunny - Hi 78 Lo 62 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: God Is In the Roses, Rosanne Cash

God Is In The Roses (Live) by Rosanne Cash

or

You Tube, God is in the Roses

I really wanted to share this song with you and I could not find it anywhere... I hope you check out one of the links above. This song was on Rosanne's LP, Black Cadillac released in 2006. This album is lovely, thoughtful, haunting, poetic, melancholy-- this song, one of my favorites.

Since this is Memorial Day Weekend and it is a time to remember those we have lost in service to our nation I couldn't help but think about the mothers of some of our local fallen heroes. I can think of no better song-- a song about loss and yearning and remembering and searching and asking for comfort.

To the servicemen that made the ultimate sacrifice - Thank you and I will not forget you.

God is in the roses
The petals and the thorns
Storms out on the oceans
The souls who will be born
And every drop of rain that falls
Falls for those who mourn
God is in the roses and the thorns

The sun is on the cemetery
Leaves are on the stones
There never was a place on earth
That felt so much like home
We're falling like the velvet petals
We're bleeding and we're torn
But God is in the roses and the thorns

I love you like a brother
A father and a son
It may not last forever and ever
But it never will be done
My whole world fits inside the moment
I saw you be reborn
God is in the roses
And that day was filled with roses
God is in the roses and the thorns

Have a great week everyone!

To Everything There Is A Season

Partly Cloudy - Hi 100 Lo 79 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 95 Lo 63 for Qandahar, Afghanistan Mostly
Sunny - Hi 68 Lo 45 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds

Was this the last song of an innocent time? I'm serious... I was only a few months old at the time of it's release... Let me know... President Kennedy had been assassinated 2 years prior... we were in Vietnam-- however soldier morale was still high because the American people were supporting the effort and the troops... Seriously, was this the last song of innocence for our country?

Ramble:

This month has been on God's time. And once again I am reminded about how fleeting time can be. One moment has brought sheer joy and pride--- the next absolute sorrow and inconsolable grief. In the joy, I have seen struggle and hard work. In the sorrow, I have witnessed strength through courage and the support of family and community.

** My grandfather's best friend was finally given his medals for his service to our great nation during World War II thanks to a Vietnam Veteran. Vern was a medic... he saved lives and brought aid and comfort to soldiers in 3 major campaigns... including the Battle of the Bulge. He was NEVER issued a winter coat. After the war, he came home like the rest of his generation and got on with his life. I'm so pleased my grandparents invited me to attend. I'm so proud of my grandfather... I'm so proud of Vern. Thank these men... sadly, we are losing them every day...

I have moved the video to a separate entry- above. My apologies for the end of the video... first time using my camera--- and I haven't figured out how to edit yet... That is Ohio Congresswoman, Jean Schmidt presenting Vern with his medals... I've seen her a lot in the past 3 weeks...

** About two weeks ago, a coworker of mine unexpectedly lost her 15 year old son to a brain aneurysm... How does a mother recover from the loss of her oldest child? I don't know... I don't imagine a parent ever recovers from the loss of a child.. it's not the natural order... a parent is supposed to outlive the child...

** Friday morning, I witnessed a friend, 1 of 69 people from 34 countries become naturalized citizens of the United States. If you have never seen this ceremony or been witness to the oath... This is powerful stuff. By choice, they come here...they decide that this is a better place. Federal Court Judge Bunning (yes... son of Senator Bunning) asked that each person stand and give their name, the country of origin and where they reside currently... Safe to tell you... I started crying immediately... First person was from Canada (3 total), the next Russia--- many many Bosnians, 1 Iraqi, 1 Iranian, Filipinos, 3 Mexicans, 1 from Holland, 1 from France, a handful from the UK, China, India.... now... proudly are all Americans... Becoming a legal United States citizen by design is not an easy process and it takes a long time... years... I forget who it was, but one of the women stood and stated her name, where she was from and loudly and enthusiastically proclaimed in her glorious accent that she lived in INDEPENDENCE, Kentucky.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

** That same Friday afternoon, I learned from my sis in law that Susan lost her long hard fought battle with cancer. She was only 47. My prayers are with Susan's family-- her husband... her mother... her brother and sisters... her son.... only 47....

** This weekend Matt Maupin finally came home. He was escorted by his younger brother Micah. Carolyn Maupin and Keith Maupin continue to be beacons of strength and dignity and compassion and hope during a time of inconceivable grief and sorrow. On April 9 at a scholarship fundraiser in his brother's name, Micah reenlisted in the Marine Corp in front of a packed house-- including his father and mother. Although Carolyn stood by her son's decision.... You could see the pain and fear in her eyes. Matt is home and the community is welcoming this young man home. Yesterday morning I stood along the highway with my grandfather and a bunch of crusty old Marines waiting for Matt. Kyle--- as usual did something extraordinary to welcome him home and to offer comfort and support to the family... He had a sign(s) made... pictures below... Michael rode in the escort as a member of Patriot Guard Riders from Lunken Airport to the Civic Center. I was very proud of him... he was the only sportie among the Harleys... We all met at the visitation. My grandfather is 85 and in failing health... He wanted to go pay his respect, but the weather was not cooperative. The police officers on duty especially Officer Combs and volunteers saw to it that we would get my grandfather through. He told us to come back in 45 minutes, he would get us a wheelchair and would get us to the front of the long line. Kindness... respect... appreciation...

** Kyle spoke to a very distinguished looking man-- Kyle what was his last name? ... As this man with an umbrella, a stylish suit and an English accent spoke about his time in the service and the artillery he used and the brotherhood he shared with Kyle, the conversation turned to his appreciation of the outpouring of support he was witness to. Shortly after, he shared with Kyle as I eavesdropped that he was asked by President Bush to paint a portrait of Matt Maupin. He described the painting... it will be Matt and his brother Micah... the portrait will be called Brothers.

** Today--- will be Matt's funeral... again the Maupin's are concerned about the entire community... they want us to be able to mourn his loss and celebrate this young man's life. Michael again will participate with Patriot Guard... I will wander down to the ball park... and pay my respect.

Kyle the dreamer, Ray the installer, Tom the guy who made the sign a reality... Michael

Read the oath above again... really... read it out loud. Say the words... Hear the words. Understand the words.

Everything is done in HIS time-- now read the following words...

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
1: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3: A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6: A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7: A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8: A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9: What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10: I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12: I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13: And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14: I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15: That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16: And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18: I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19: For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20: All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21: Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22: Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Yes... I have learned a great deal this month...

Have a great week everyone!

Love Never Loses It's Way Home

It was a beautiful Sunday. Michael and I were asked to help with some preparations for Matt Maupin's homecoming. Some last minute changes and we were off helping prepare for the Maupin Scholarship Fund Raiser and Dinner. It is held on April 9... the 4th anniversay of the day Matt was captured. Below are a few of the photos I took today. Pretty breathtaking... It was an honor for us to participate. It is my understanding that Keith and Carolyn don't know about this.

Let us never forget. Let us always be thankful for the fine men and women who serve our country.

click on the photos for larger view

In Memory, Matt Maupin

We know he isn't in pain, he isn't being tortured anymore. He no longer has to be afraid. Matt has done his duty... he has paid the ultimate price. He has served his country and we must not forget him.

The sad news came yesterday that Matt's remains were found. My prayers and thoughts go to Keith and Caroloyn Maupin and all the friends and family that loved and knew Matt.

He will be home soon.



On April 9, 2008 there will be a scholarship fund raiser-- Let us never forget. For more information please visit the Yellow Ribbon Support Center.

Associated Press article

A Life Remembered: Tom Burnett

Tom Burnett's name is probably one of the most recognized names of those that perished on September 11. Tom Burnett was a born leader and up until his last moments in this life, he continued to work the problem and never saw failure as an option that fateful day. There is little I can add to these accounts. His heroic actions have been documented in the 9/11 Commission Report, in movies, in documentaries, on countless websites and books. His wife, Deena keeps Tom's memory alive through the Tom Burnett Family Foundation. Tom often said that one of the most-noble pursuits in life is raising our children to be “good citizens.” The Tom Burnett Family Foundation is dedicated to helping young people in this country to become good citizens and future leaders, so his legacy will go continue.

On a personal note, everything I have read, everything that I have learned about this man, I would have liked him very much. He would have had my profound respect. I could see myself flying his flag at work and following his lead. He was a man of conviction, integrity and strong moral character. I would have loved working for a man of this caliber.

Born and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota, Tom attended public schools Ridgeview Elementary, Olson Middle School, and graduated with honors from Thomas Jefferson High School. Wearing number 11 in high school, Tom played quarterback for the Jefferson Jaguars and was recruited to play football by several universities and chose Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He enjoyed the conversations and discourse with the Benedictine monks who lived there, and often said his experience provided incredible depth to his faith in God. After two years, an injury shortened his football career and he transferred to the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He was named President of the Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, then later graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance. Working with Thoratec, a medical device company, he climbed the ladder to corporate success quickly. He received an M.B.A. degree from Pepperdine University and was making plans to work on his doctorate.

By 1989, he'd met Deena in Atlanta, where she'd just completed flight-attendant training for Delta Airlines. Their first date was at an Applebee's where they spent six hours talking. She knew she would marry him after he unscrewed the light bulb above the table and tossed it over his shoulder, shattering it on the floor. "I'm trying to create a mood here," he told her, "and this light's not helping." They married in April 1992 after a "romance in the air." Since Burnett traveled all week, the couple would meet in airports, or Deena would leave notes for him on planes. They agreed they were as comfortable in planes as they were in cars. But in 1995, when Deena was expecting, she stopped flying.

Years later, as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Thoratec Corp., known nationally for its creation of heart assist pumps, he was successful beyond his earlier dreams. Burnett would tell his wife, Deena, that he couldn't believe his achievements.

Articulate and competitive, a motivator who could talk a person into almost anything, Burnett was a born salesman. While he couldn't talk his mother into letting him fish from the edge of a dock as a 3-year-old, he did persuade her to let him sit in the middle of it and drop his line through the cracks.

Burnett entered fatherhood on his own terms. He liked pushing their three girls around the neighborhood in the stroller, but only while smoking a cigar. Diapers, baths and feeding were on an as-needed basis.

For all his traveling, Burnett was cautious. Long wanting to parachute, he backed out when the chance came, worrying about his family. And when the two of them left for a vacation, he insisted they take separate planes so an accident wouldn't leave the children parentless.

By Deena’s own telling, her husband of nine years thought of himself as anything but a hero. He was a man who, at thirty-eight, held a senior executive position at a respected medical device company headquartered in Pleasanton, California. He was a loving husband and father who adored his three young girls. He worked hard, was respected by his colleagues, and, on a daily basis, practiced quiet acts of integrity, honesty, respect, and kindness toward those with whom he came in contact.

“He was a man of heartfelt compassion, deep convictions, love, and had a keen sense of right and wrong, and he believed that morals and values were not debatable. To have died with such honor and valor is befitting of my husband.

“His actions, and those of his fellow passengers, are a call to each of us to stand for our beliefs and convictions,” Deena continued. “If he were here tonight, he would ask you to go one step further and to honor him by living a life worthy of those who have died for our freedom, and to remember that heroes can give their lives all at one time, or they can give a little each day.”

Tom lived his last minutes of life they way he had lived all the previous minutes. He knew what he and his fellow passengers were facing. Tom took the lead and organized the effort aboard United Flight 93. Allowing the terrorists to succeed was not an option. He and the passengers of Flight 93 died heroically. They thwarted the efforts of the bad guys. Yes, Tom Burnett was a citizen soldier.

6:27 a.m.( pacific time) First cell phone call from Tom to Deena

Deena: Hello
Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, are you O.K.?
Tom: No, I’m not. I’m on an airplane that has been hijacked.
Deena: hijacked?
Tom: Yes, They just knifed a guy.
Deena: A passenger?
Tom: Yes.
Deena: Where are you? Are you in the air?
Tom: Yes, yes, just listen. Our airplane has been hijacked. It’s United Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco. We are in the air. The hijackers have already knifed a guy, one of them has a gun, they are telling us there is a bomb on board, please call the authorities. He hung up.

6:31 Deena calls 911

6:34 The phone rang in on call waiting, Tom’s second cell phone call.

Deena: Hello
Tom: They’re in the cockpit. The guy they knifed is dead.
Deena: He’s dead?
Tom: Yes. I tried to help him, but I couldn’t get a pulse.
Deena: Tom, they are hijacking planes all up and down the east coast. They are taking them and hitting designated targets. They’ve already hit both towers of the World Trade Center.
Tom: They’re talking about crashing this plane. (a pause) Oh my God. It’s a suicide mission…(he then tells people sitting around him)
Deena: Who are you talking to?
Tom: My seatmate. Do you know which airline is involved?
Deena: No, they don’t know if they’re commercial airlines or not. The news reporters are speculating cargo planes, private planes and commercial. No one knows.
Tom: How many planes are there?
Deena: They’re not sure, at least three. Maybe more.
Tom: O.K….O.K….Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No.
Tom: We’re turning back toward New York. We’re going back to the World Trade Center. No, wait, we’re turning back the other way. We’re going south.
Deena: What do you see?
Tom: Just a minute, I’m looking. I don’t see anything, we’re over a rural area. It’s just fields. I’ve gotta go.
He hung up.

6:45 a.m. Third cell phone call from Tom to Deena

Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, you’re O.K. (I thought at this point he had just survived the Pentagon plane crash).
Tom: No, I’m not.
Deena: They just hit the Pentagon.
Tom: (tells people sitting around him “They just hit the Pentagon.”)
Tom: O.K….O.K. What else can you tell me?
Deena: They think five airplanes have been hijacked. One is still on the ground. They believe all of them are commercial planes. I haven’t heard them say which airline, but all of them have originated on the east coast.
Tom: Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No
Tom: What is the probability of their having a bomb on board? I don’t think they have one. I think they’re just telling us that for crowd control.
Deena: A plane can survive a bomb if it’s in the right place.
Tom: Did you call the authorities?
Deena: Yes, they didn’t know anything about your plane.
Tom: They’re talking about crashing this plane into the ground. We have to do something. I’m putting a plan together.
Deena: Who’s helping you?
Tom: Different people. Several people. There’s a group of us. Don’t worry. I’ll call you back.

6:54 a.m. Fourth cell phone call to Tom to Deena

Deena: Tom?
Tom: Hi. Anything new?
Deena: No
Tom: Where are the kids?
Deena: They’re fine. They’re sitting at the table having breakfast. They’re asking to talk to you.
Tom: Tell them I’ll talk to them later
Deena: I called your parents. They know your plane has been hijacked.
Tom: Oh…you shouldn’t have worried them. How are they doing?
Deena: They’re O.K.. Mary and Martha are with them.
Tom: Good. (a long quiet pause) We’re waiting until we’re over a rural area. We’re going to take back the airplane.
Deena: No! Sit down, be still, be quiet, and don’t draw attention to yourself! (The exact words taught to me by Delta Airlines Flight Attendant Training).
Tom: Deena! If they’re going to crash this plane into the ground, we’re going to have do something!
Deena: What about the authorities?
Tom: We can’t wait for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway.
It’s up to us. I think we can do it.
Deena: What do you want me to do?
Tom: Pray, Deena, just pray.
Deena: (after a long pause) I love you.
Tom: Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.
He hung up

"Don't worry, we're going to do something."- Tom Burnett












Thomas Edward Burnett Jr.
May 29, 1963 - September 11, 2001

Sources:
Tom Burnett Family Foundation
Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back, by Jere Longman
Post Gazette
September 11 Victims
Legacy.com
Pepperdine University Press Release


Also for Project 2996:

from 2006 A Life Remembered: Marion Britton
from 2007 A Life Remembered: Deora Bodley