The Home of the Brave

This is little-known story from the Pentagon on 09/11/2001:

During a visit with a fellow chaplain, who happened to be assigned to the Pentagon, I had a chance to hear a first-hand account of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. The chaplain told me what happened at a daycare center near where the impact occurred. This daycare had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs. The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do. There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the  cribs.

There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers. Just then a young Marine came running into the center and asked what they needed. After hearing what the center director was trying to do, he ran back out into the hallway and disappeared. The director thought, 'well, there we are-on our own.'

About 2 minutes later, that Marine returned with 40 other Marines in tow. Each of them grabbed a crib with a child, and the rest started gathering up toddlers. The director and her staff then helped them take all the children out of the center and down toward the park near the Potomac and the Pentagon. Once they got about 3/4 of a  mile  outside the building, the Marines stopped in the park, and then did a fabulous thing - they formed a circle with the cribs, which were quite sturdy and heavy, like the covered wagons in the Old West. Inside this circle of cribs, they put the toddlers, to keep them from wandering off. Outside this circle were the 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children and waiting for instructions. There they remained until the parents could be notified and come get their children.

The chaplain then said, "I don't think any of us saw nor heard of this on any of the news stories of the day. It was an incredible story of our men there. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The thought of those Marines and what they did and how fast they reacted; could we expect any less from them? It was one of the most touching stories from the Pentagon.

"Most of us wonder if our lives made any difference. Marines don't have that problem." (Ronald Reagan)

It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.

It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.

It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the military, please pass this on and pray for our men and women who have served and are currently serving our country and pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

They Will Never Forget--Nor Should We

NATIONAL NEWS MEDIA SOMEHOW MISSED THIS GATHERING.      Stop the Mosque at Ground Zero Part II June 16, 2010, New York , N.Y. ,     by El Marco    Americans Stand Up Against Radical Islam in New York  We Will Not Submit!    Not one major network sent a satellite truck or camera crew to this event. Without bloggers, this newsworthy event would have remained unknown to the public and history    On Sunday, June 6th, a multi-ethnic, multi-racial coalition of Americans opposed to Islamic violence and intolerance rallied at the site of the World Trade  Center in New York City . 9/11 families were joined by immigrants from India, Russia, Egypt, Israel, Africa, Iran and Europe to show opposition to the construction of a mega-mosque at Ground Zero. Others flew in from overseas to speak or just to share their particular ethnic communities experiences at the hands of Muslims. These are parents and spouses of firefighters killed on 9/11. The rally took place just a minutes walk from Ladder 10 Firehouse, where their loved ones were stationed for duty that terrible day. Ladder 10 lost seven firefighters. Crowd estimates ranged from 5,000 (NYPD) to 10,000. The crowd overflowed the police barrier enclosures that ran the full length of two city blocks. This photo shows the enclosure in front of the stage at the intersection of Liberty and Church Streets. The second enclosure ran the length of the next block and can be seen on the other side of the traffic lights. Thousands of additional participants filled the treed area of Zuccotti Park . Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller are the founders of STOP ISLAMIZATION OF AMERICA, which sponsored the rally. Ms. Geller is a citizen journalist and blogger who runs the human rights web site Atlas Shrugs. Mr. Spencer is the author of several books on Islam and head of the influential web site Jihad watch. Pamela Geller: Ground Zero is a war memorial, Ground Zero is a burial ground. We are asking for sensitivityIt is unconscionable to build a shrine to the very ideology that inspired the jihadist attacks at Ground Zero, right there. We are asking the imam Rauf and Daisy Khan to be sensitive. For mutual respect and mutual understanding that is demanded of us every day. Theres a hair-trigger sensitivity in the Muslim world, you cant run the cartoons, you cant say Mohammed, this is offensive. This is an offensive mosque. To build a shrine, an Islamic flag of conquest on the sacred ground the cherished site, of a conquered land. This is historic, this is Islamic history. Its what they do. The St. Sofia in Turkey , the al-Quds, at the holiest Jewish site in Israel . Not here. This is where we take a stand. We must take a stand. We must say no. I do not believe that the landmarks commission controlled by Mayor Bloomberg, is going to stop this mosque. Its not going to happen. Heres Omar Muhamedi, on his human rights council, a CAIR lawyer, who sued the airlines and the Jane and John Does that saw something and said something on those airplanes, if you remember. That's whos on his human rights commission. It aint gonna happen with Bloomberg. We have to make it happen. You have to get involved. (Pamela Geller) Police enclosure on left, with crowd flowing out of park on right. The new Tower 7 and World Trade Center site are in the background. The green tent, center, is located immediately behind the stage. Port Authority and NYPD officers kept watch over the rally and were well aware of the need for heightened security at this event. One of their own Port Authority officers, WTC Sergeant Alan T. De Vona was on duty at the World Trade Center on 9/11, 2001, and was one of the first to help victims of the terrorist attack. He spoke these words to the SIOA rally: Its almost nine years. Im hoping that America is watching. Im hoping that America is remembering. Because, make no mistake. September 11 was an act of war. And thank the military that has lost almost 5,000 troops from that day, defending us. I dont know what to say to jar America s memory. I want America to remember. Port Authority Police and FDNY firefighters are seen here gathered beneath this banner. The issues at stake will certainly affect the heart of American freedom, democracy, cultural values and tolerance. America is a tolerant country that allows for the free worship of all its citizens. But our tolerance has limits. Do we have to tolerate intolerant Islamic ideology and Muslims who preach intolerant Islam? Hindu human rights activists Narain Kataria, Prasad Yalamanchi and unidentified friend came from Mississippi and Chicago with banners and flyers highlighting the radical statements of imam Rauf and his jihadist roots. Stephen Dyer and Gary Jules journalism students at York College, with Pamela Geller. Not one major network sent a satellite truck or camera crew to this event. Without bloggers this newsworthy event would have remained unknown to the public and history. Pamela Geller is greeted by Hindu human rights activists Prasad Yalamanchi and Narain Kataria. Bhupinder Singh Bhurji, Pamela Geller, and Robert Spencer. Singh Bhurji is the president of the  NAMDHARI SIKH FOUNDATION. The foundation is a member of the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam (HRCARI). HRCARI is a coalition of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians from Sudan, Egypt and Iraq, moderate Muslims and Jews who are victims and targets of radical Islam around the globe. He said, at another rally: Radical Islamists are killing people in India , trying to dominate that nation. And here too they come with violence against infidels. We are infidels united, standing together, brown, black and white, against this epochs fascist movement. Radical Islam wants to dominate entire world. They want everyone to surrender. Islam radical or otherwise. They want to put the Islamic flag on White House. Because of Islamic terrorism, America and the world have seen massive new security measures become a way of life. Anyone openly critical of Islam, or terrorist ideology, must surround themselves with security, or live in hiding. Those courageous enough to confront Islamism are criticized by the cowards and appeasers of the left who seek safety by supporting the enemy. Moderate Muslims were silent when Theo van Gogh was brutally murdered in Amsterdam , just as moderate Muslims in the United States are generally reluctant to speak out against violent Islam. Moderate Muslims also face great danger in speaking out. Geller and Spencer will press on despite the danger. They hope to inspire Americans to stand up and say enough of political correctness and work to stem the galloping islamization of America and Europe .      Have you seen anything about this story on the evening news? Of course you haven't! So please forward this email to all those you know who feel the way you and I do about this country . . .    Thank you,

60 years

What a difference 60 years makes!!!

 I know everyone has a different opinion on the war and our current President.  But, this article makes a lot of sense, and I hope you will take 2 minutes and read it and give it some thought.  I have never seen the "situation" expressed any better in words!  Recently I was talking to a friend about the upcoming election and the candidates.  As we ended our discussion he said "the only decision you have to make is who you want sitting in that seat in the White House when - not if - when we get hit again and millions of American lives are put at risk!"

This is from : "You ain't gonna like losing." Author unknown.

President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq .   Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WWII. .....  It is not.

 Back then,  they had just come out of a vicious depression.  The country was steeled  by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country.  They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders.

 Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not.

 And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today.   Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we have had in the entire Iraq war.  But that did not matter.  The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty.   Americans put aside their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.

 Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in.  Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort.   Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort.

Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military.  Women doubled their work to keep things going at home.  Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was  imposed, yet there was very little complaining.

 You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President.   Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President.  Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted.

 And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!

 Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage.  No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies.

 A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's  underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.

There were a  lot of things different back then.  We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio.   We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.

No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism.  He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers.  He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.

 It is not the same country.  It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorra and the land of Oz.   We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices.

We are in great danger.  The terrorists are fanatic Muslims.  They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam.  It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits.  So... We  either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing.

  America is not at war.  The military is  at war.   America is at the  mall

Iraq

Subject: Fwd: IRAQ - DID YOU KNOW

I think we are in a death-grip struggle between the forces of evil...the Left, the Media,  the Terrorists, and all who want to accomodate them....and the forces that value freedom, i.e., the people of this country who still honor the values of individual freedom, initiative, self-sufficiency,  love of country and are willing to make sacrifices for America.  I have given up on the media....and that includes public broadcast, which is a liberal-left-leaning sham .  No wonder we don't know what is really going on in Iraq.  I talked with a neighbor's son who has had 3 tours over there (USMC Lt. Col.) and he says the media doesn't tell us anything other than the bad news.  I found the attached interesting but discouraging. 

 

Jim Hartsel

 

Sent: 6/18/2008 9:53:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Re: IRAQ - DID YOU KNOW

 

IRAQ - DID YOU KNOW

Did you know? I didn't know! How could we?

Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in
Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million
Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under
rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction; and 38 new
schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20
Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all
currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in
January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 -
100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational
squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport
aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night,
and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando
Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained
and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over
3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq
? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad
stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical
facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received
the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary
school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and
phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio
stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a
televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? BECAUSE OUR MEDIA WON'T
TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag
burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the
presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two
purposes:

It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States
thus minimizing consequent support; and it is intended to discourage
American citizens.


Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website

Afghanistan

Subject: FW: From our friend who is serving in Afghanistan

Let us all consider who we are voting for in November. 

BT

>> Subject: From our friend who is serving in Afghanistan
>>
>>
>> Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 9:05 AM
>>
>> I don't know each of your personal political convictions, and
>> appologize if anyone finds this offensive. I thought it was important enough to
>> share.  This is Jeff's first hand view of Senator Obama.
>>
>> Tiffany
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
>> Hello everyone,
>> As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass
>> along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on
>> his visit to 'The War Zone'. I wanted to share with you what happened.
>> He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the
>> area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at
>> Bagram.
>>
>> As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off
>> and didn't say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the
>> General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a
>> big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with
>> weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball.
>> He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for
>> their service.
>>
>> So really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back
>> home that he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are
>> going to make an effort to come all the way over here you would thank those
>> that are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.
>>
>> I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the
>> Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be
>> the President of the United States. I just don't understand how anyone
>> would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was
>> scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great
>> country.
>>
>> If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to
>> know what kind of caliber of person he really is.
>> What you see in the news is all fake.
>>
>>>> American Soldier