Merry Christmas wishes to those serving so far away, and the families that are missing them

Lucky Me, dedicated to those who serve “He is the brave, I am the free. Lucky me.”

UPDATE: From a Veteran on Veterans Day

reposted from 2008

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Then we realized that Game 7 of the World Series* was being played that evening, as well. As hair raising as the flyover was to us in our car, I can only imagine what it was like for everyone in that stadium (many of them New Yorkers and other Yankee fans) after hearing the National Anthem.

If you can watch our military execute a flyover, while you are in the stands about to enjoy any one of America’s favorite sports and not feel the pride swelling in your chest, you are dead inside.

(Hat Tip Moonbattery)

* Yes, I do realize the video was about NFL flyovers. I don’t have a story about an NFL flyover – I have a story about an MLB flyover.

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today. Thanks, Kelley, what a great song and a great reminder.

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Cox & Forkum
Go see the image at their site

I was asleep when the first plane hit. When I woke up I went to my computer and logged on – it’s just what I do. No radio or TV turned on yet, so I am still completely in the dark.

Then I get an IM from Daniel who says “It is a sad sick world”
“What????”
“Someone just flew a plane into the World Trade Center”
“NO – on purpose?”
“yeah, I think so”
“talk to you later”

So I turned on the TV and stared at it for what seems like days, flipping channels, willing the newscasters to tell me a different story. Seeing the second plane had hit, the news about the Pentagon, the crash in PA, the towers collapsing – it all was just a blur of shock and sorrow and rage. I sobbed for hours thinking of the people who might be trapped in the rubble, hurting for the families and friends who were waiting for news of their loved ones.

I talked to my ex for a couple of minutes. He is an Air Force pilot and I wanted to know he was OK, was going to be OK, didn’t know any of those lost at the Pentagon – as if he would already know those things. Mostly I just needed to hear his voice. We were married just before Desert Storm and I sat many sleepless nights then. I knew the US was going back there, I knew he would be going back there. I knew he would be able to say something to make me feel better…but he was at a loss as well. And then, obviously, he had to go – there was work to be done.

And now it has been three nine years and the anger and the sorrow and the shock and the disbelief are just as strong. Now they are directed not only at the events of that day, but also at the reaction of so many in this country and around the world. The idea that we deserved it, that we should just try to appease the murdering bastards, that fighting to free Afghanistan and Iraq won’t make the world a better, safer place. Humans have a short attention span – perhaps the anniversary will remind a few of them just what we lost that day – and what we are fighting for now.

* See also my tribute to one of the fallen, Major/Colonel Kip Taylor

* And Jeff Jarvis’ post as he visits the site. He visits each 9/11 (and throughout the year), thankful to be alive, having been there that day three years ago. He is the very definition of politically centrist – but he got pushed a bit to the right on that day, on that issue. (ignore the spam links that have found their way in to his post)

Photo by Joe Copalman

The story of these two is here on the Flickr page

(I thought this snapshot of history might appeal to a few of my readers)

More pictures of the ship & crew in this video, but the music they chose is all wrong for the subject.

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(HT Andy’s Place)

The Conscientious Objector

D has a great talent for finding small movies, indie gems and documentary gold. This week he found the compellingly told story of a Medal of Honor winner that NetFlix was streaming. When he put it on, I didn’t expect to be sucked in to the narrative. Boy was I wrong.

If Hollywood were to make a feature based on the heroics of Desmond Doss during World War II, most viewers would dismiss it as far-fetched nonsense. Terry L. Benedict’s documentary about Doss, “The Conscientious Objector”, illustrates how truth can often outdo fiction.

It’s hard to imagine a greater combination of morality, religious faith and courage than that which emerges in this story of an aging Virginian who received a Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman.

I found myself exclaiming “Wow” out loud, more than once. Truly a story that sounds like the stuff of a dime-store WWII paperback novel, told here by the men that actually lived through it.

If you want to know the specifics of the CMH citation, you can read it here, but I would recommend watching the film. So much more compelling to make the full journey with Doss from childhood through “outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty”.

A rare 5 of 5 on the Word of Mouth scale because I can’t imagine anyone in my circle who would not appreciate this well made flick.

No Rotten Tomatoes ratings available.