Wearing my heart on my sleeve these days. As always, Johnny Cash says it best:
My mama always taught me that good things come from adversity if we put our faith in the Lord.
We couldn’t see much good in the flood waters when they
were causing us to have to leave home,
But when the water went down,
We found that it had washed a load of rich black bottom dirt across our land.
The following year we had the best cotton crop we’d ever had.
Well, it’s five feet high and risin’
I remember hearing:
How high’s the water, mama?
Two feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Two feet high and risin’
We can make it to the road in a homemade boat
That’s the only thing we got left that’ll float
It’s already over all the wheat and the oats,
Two feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, mama?
Three feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Three feet high and risin’
Well, the hives are gone,
I’ve lost my bees
The chickens are sleepin’
In the willow trees
Cow’s in water up past her knees,
Three feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, mama?
Four feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Four feet high and risin’
Hey, come look through the window pane,
The bus is comin’, gonna take us to the train
Looks like we’ll be blessed with a little more rain,
4 feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Five feet high and risin’
Well, the rails are washed out north of town
We gotta head for higher ground
We can’t come back till the water comes down,
Five feet high and risin’
The little ones left with the pain and suffering of losing a parent in such a horrific way are the ones whose suffering will not be talked about. Thank you for remembering them.
Happy Veterans Day…Happy Rememberance Day to our Canadian and British allies.
God bless them, one and all… the veterans, the families, and those left behind to make the journey alone. This time, folks are either with us, or against us. In this fight, there are no other options. Friend or foe. People need to make a choice.
Happy Veterans’ Day to all who served, and to the families of those who paid the ultimate price, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I shall never be worthy, but through Soldiers’ Angels am trying to pay back.
Yesterday I celebrated Veterans Day and had the outstanding opportunity to talk to an elementary school where my youngest son once attended. They had brought in Veterans from the local nursing home as well and had coffee (of course I supplied) and breakfast for us in the cafeteria. There was a full presentation in the gymnasium and I told a few stories about my time in the Corps.
I think the kids liked the story about the Marine Corps Recruiter coming to my house one cold dark morning in October before the sun was up. To this day my mother and sister still reflect on that day and say they both cried and cried and that our little dog Shakespeare was so upset that he went and pooped in my bed. Mothers in the audience identified with the story.
I’ll probably post some of my words over on KDH for posterity. Thanks for being my brother Damon and keeping us all in your heart.
Semper Fi, Hank
You honor me Hank. Oor- uhm, I mean, Hooah!
Damon,
I found that the dead and wounded at Fort Hood may not qualify for the Purple Heart Medal. I hope I’m wrong. But if I’m not, I’m starting a Facebook page, an Internet site and sending out press releases over the next week to try to build momentum to get these Soldiers the recognition they most obviously deserve.
The Facebook page can be found by searching ‘Purple Heart Petition.’ If we can get the momentum, we can ask the President, Congress, the Army and our elected leaders to override the regulations in this situation and do what needs to be done. This effort is just now organizing, so we need all the help we can get. Thanks again, Damon. You may not anymore wear the uniform, but you are still a good Soldier.
Here’s the mission statement:
__________________
This Facebook account was created on Friday, 13 NOV 09. The purpose of this site is to see that the Soldiers killed and wounded at Fort Hood by enemy action on 05 NOV 09 receive the Purple Heart and the Soldiers in the area of the enemy attack receive the Combat Action Badge.
That’s fantastic! I’ll do what I can.