kittycelt's blog: "Patriotic Stuff"

If you read this, you WILL forward it on. You won't be able to stop yourself. The Military The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. he sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian , draw half the pay a nd still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom . Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it. Please send this on after a short prayer. Prayer Wheel "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." Prayer : When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq . There is nothing attached.. This can be very powerful....... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one. I can't break this one, sorry This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq . Pass it on to everyone and pray.

Dear American Soldier: You don't know me, but I know you. I know that you are a husband, a father, a wife, a mother, a son and a daughter. I know that you are far away from home. I know that you are putting your life on the line every day. I know about your sacrifices, your terrible working conditions, your dedication and your honor. I know you; I know when you are involved in skirmishes and when you are blown up and when you are wounded and when you die. I wake up with you every morning. You are the last thing I hear about when I go to bed at night. I am in awe of you. I am in awe that you stormed the beaches at Normandy; I am in awe that you fought in the jungles of Vietnam, I in awe that you fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am in awe of you because you are an American Soldier. The American Soldier is to be respected and honored; the debt that I owe you can never be repaid. If I could, I would send you more armor. If I could, I would send your children to college. If I could, I would buy you a new car when you come home. But I cannot do any of these things. If I could, I would deliver this letter in person. But all I can do is to send you my deepest regards and eternal gratitude for what you do. You protect me and my country Because of you; I can live my life without fear. Because of you, protests are allowed in our streets. Because of you, I can say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. Because of you, I am free. The concept of Soldiers actually dying for these rights is one that is hard to grasp. Why would anyone put their life on the line for someone they do not even know? Why would anyone leave their loved ones and head off to a foreign land to suffer extreme hardships? Because that is the definition of an American Soldier; someone that protects the rights of their country and its citizens. I don't hear you complaining. I don't hear you running down your country. What I do hear is the pride in your voice when you talk about your mission, your fellow soldiers and your commitment to the job at hand. I don't know what you hear about the war. I don't know what you hear about the American people. But I can tell you one thing for damn sure, and that is there are millions of people just like me; people who are entirely grateful for what you do. Sometimes it is hard for the "average Joe" to be heard. But we are here and we know you and we pray for you and we are behind you 110 percent. Because you are an American Soldier. THIS WAS WRITIN BY AMERICAN SOLDIER .....LET US NOT FORGET WHAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR .....I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS .......

I got this bulletin today and it made me sad to think that people care so little about our soldiers and their sacred places. TalkIsCheap, daughter of Sgt. Major Leonard Alexander, who gave his whole life in service to this country. US VETS. HAD ASK FOR HELP FOR REPOST BUT ONLY GOT 15/290 TO REPOST. SO I MITE BE DELETEING SOME OF MY FRIEND. WHEN IT COMES TO THE WALL IN WASHINGTON DC. IT MAINS ALOT TO ME. I WAS A POW IN VIET NAM. ALL I ASK FOR IS TO REPOST BUT I SEE I ONLY GOT 15/290 TO REPOST. IT JUST MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHEN I WAS BEING HELD AS A POW AND TO KNOW HOW IT WAS BACK HOME WHEN I WAS BEING HELD. WITH ALL THE PROTESTER BACK HOME AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS BEING HELD. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT IT IS GOOD TO PROTEST BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO ARE TROOPS. WHEN THEY SEE HOW THE PEOPLE BACK AT HOME IS ACTING. I JUST HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WILL STAND BEHIND US WHEN IT COMES TO MARCH THE 17 AT THE WALL VIET NAM VETS. GOLDENEAGLE This was the original bulletin I HEAR HOW YOU ARE BEHIND US VETERANS PLEASE REPOST THIS. IT WILL TELL ALOT IF YOU ARE OR NOT. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW. AND SHOW THAT YOU HAVE A BACK BONE. SO THESE PROTESTER WILL NO THAT WE ARE BEHIND ARE VETERANS. WHEN IT COME TO THE WALL. From: Support Our Vietnam Veterans! Date: Feb 28, 2007 8:50 PM From: Eddie V. Sr. Date: Feb 28, 2007 2:20 PM WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vietnam veterans will be gathering in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 17, 2007, to protect the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) and other war memorials from desecration by protesters attending a so-called antiwar rally being held that day adjacent to The Wall. The veterans intend to prevent a recurrence of what happened at a similar event on January 27, 2007, when protesters spray-painted the Capitol and spat on a disabled Iraq vet. "A Gathering of Eagles," as the veterans are calling their effort, is being joined by other patriotic groups including Rolling Thunder, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Move America Forward and FreeRepublic.com. Those organizations are encouraging their members and supporters to protect The Wall and to stand up for their brothers and sisters in arms in Iraq. The announcement by International ANSWER, the communist Workers World Party front group organizing the antiwar rally on March 17, that their rally would be held "...at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Constitution Gardens)" has provoked a visceral reaction from U.S. veterans who are vowing not to let the anti-American left do to this generation of military men and women what was done to the Vietnam War generation. Vietnam veterans COL Harry Riley, USA (Ret.), and CAPT Larry Bailey, USN (Ret.), are heading up "A Gathering of Eagles." They have set a standard of lawful, non-violent, non-confrontational behavior for veterans gathering to protect The Wall. Away from The Wall, veterans and other patriotic Americans will gather in permitted areas on Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue to voice their support for our troops and for victory in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terror.

Three men are sitting stiffly side by side on a long commercial flight. After they're airborne and the plane has leveled off, the man in the window seat abruptly says, distinctly and confidently,: in a loud voice, "Admiral, United States Navy, retired. Married, two sons, both surgeons." After a few minutes the man in the aisle seat states through a tight lipped smile, "Admiral, United States Coast Guard, retired. Married, two sons, both Judges." After some thought, the fellow in the center seat decides to introduce himself. With a twinkle in his eye he proclaims, "Master Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marines, retired Never married, two sons, both Admirals. ----------------------------------------------------- ------- ---- During training exercises, the lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. "Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside. "Nope," replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, "Yours is." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Having just moved into his new office, a pompous, new colonel was sitt ing at his desk when an airman knocked on the door. Conscious of his new position, the colonel quickly picked up the phone, told the airman to enter, then said into the phone, "Yes, General, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir." Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?" "Nothing important, sir," the airman replied, "I'm just here to hook up your telephone." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Officer: "Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?" Soldier: "Sure, buddy." Officer: "That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again! Do you have change for a dollar?" Soldier: "No, SIR!" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Q: How do you know if there is a fighter pilot at your party? A: He'll tell you. Q: What's the difference between God and fighter pilots? A: God doesn't think he's a fighter pilot. ---------------------------------------------------------------- An Air Fo rce chief master sergeant and a general were sitting in the barbershop. They were both just getting finished with their shaves, when the barbers reached for some after-shave to slap on their faces The general shouted, "Hey, don't put that stuff on me! My wife will think I've been in a whorehouse!" The sergeant turned to his barber and said, "Go ahead and put it on me. My wife doesn't know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like." ------------------------------------------------------------- --- "Well," snarled the tough old Navy chief to the bewildered seaman, "I suppose after you get discharged from the Navy, you'll just be waiting for me to die so you can come and pee on my grave." "Not me, Chief!" the seaman replied. "Once I get out of the Navy, I'm never going to stand in line again!" --------------------------------------------- -------------------

It is time to change from REDNECK humor to TRUE AMERICAN Humor! Only it isn't seen as HUMOR, but the correct way to LIVE YOUR LIFE! If you feel the same, pass this on to your True American friends. Y'all know who they are... You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God." You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival." You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned an American flag. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same. You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend. If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough TRUE AMERICAN in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email. God Bless the U S A ! Amen AND PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN ENGLISH. Git'er done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please send this on after a short prayer. Prayer wheel for our soldiers...please don't break it Prayer Wheel "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen." Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all your friends. Do not stop the wheel, please... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &others deployed in harm's way, Prayer is the very best one.

This one will really stir your patriotic blood. God bless our troops. BSP Subject: Fw: RED on Friday's I will wear RED on Friday's... A Simple Thank You Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. No, he responded. Heading out I asked? No. I'm escorting a soldier home. Going to pick him up? No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq . I'm taking him home to his family. The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do. Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign." Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do. signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington , D.C. Also, here are two very touching photos honored at this years International Picture of the Year. First Place First Place Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should." Second Place Second Place Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted." PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING! "No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." -- Ronald Reagan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Red Fridays. Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday. IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON. IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON. IT IS YOUR CHOICE. WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!

just think each & every day a soldier is killed... it's reality...I'm proud of our soldiers, and so sad at the same time... Try not to cry... Body: BUT IF YOU FIND YOU CANNOT STOP UNTIL YOU REACH THE END THEN YOU MUST HAVE A VERY BIG HEART... Dear Sergeant, An Iraqi brought a gun to kill He told his friends that it was cool, And when he pulled the trigger back, It shot with a great crack. Sergeant, I was a good soldier, I did What I was told, I went to school, I got straight A's, I even got promoted fast But Sergeant, when I went on patrol today, I never said See u later, I'm sorry Sergeant, I had to go, But Sergeant, please don't cry. When the Iraqi shot the gun, He hit me and another, And all because the Iraqi Got the gun from his leader. Sergeant, please tell my parents; That I love them very much, And please tell my lady ; my girlfriend; That it wasn't just a crush. And tell my twin brother; That he is the only one now, And tell my dear sweet grandmother; I'll be waiting for her now, And tell my boys; That they always were the best; Sergeant, I'm not the first, I'm no better than the rest. Sergeant, tell my mom; I won't show up for leave And never to forget this, And please don't let this pass. Sergeant, why'd it have to be me? No one deserves this, Sergeant, warn the others, Sergeant I left without my cross And Sergeant tell the medics; I know they really did try, I think I even saw a medic Trying not to cry. Sergeant, I'm slowly dying, With a bullet in my chest, But Sergeant please remember, I'm in heaven with the best, I died like the rest Sergeant I ran as fast as I could, When I heard that crack, Sergeant, listen to me if you would, I wanted to go to college, I wanted to try things that were new, I guess I'm not going with my boys to Brazil, I wanted to get married, I wanted to have a kid, I wanted to be an dad, Sergeant I wanted to live. But Sergeant I must go now, The time is getting late, Sergeant, tell my lady, I'm sorry but I had to cancel the date. I respect you all, I always have, I know; you know it's true, And Sergeant all I wanted to say is " DUTY FIRST " No mission to difficult, no sacrifice to great There are only 2 forces that have every been willing to give there life for you an American Soldier and Jesus. Jesus save's your soul and the American soldier gives you freedom. ****In Memory of All the Fallen Soldiers in Iraq **** Please if you would, Pass this around, I'd be happy if you could, Don't smash this on the ground. If you pass this on, Maybe people will cry, Just keep this in your heart, For the people who didn't get to say "Good-bye". Now you have 2 choices, 1) Pass this on, and show people you care, repost as "Try Not To Cry" 2) Dont send it, and you have just proven how cold-hearted you really are