The embers glowed softly, in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light,
Then he sighed and he said "It's really alright.
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That seperates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at "Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Grams always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house, and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life for my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for the time that this flag will not fall.
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be alright."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eyes welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget,
To fight for our rights back home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, May 22, 2008
the VETERAN
It is the VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN
who salutes the Flag.
It is the VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN
who salutes the Flag.
It is the VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
A Veteran's Definition
A Veteran
Whether active duty, retired, National Guard, or Reserve
A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life,
wrote a blank check made payable to
'The United States of America ',
for an amount of
up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people
in this country who no longer understand it.
Anonymous
Whether active duty, retired, National Guard, or Reserve
A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life,
wrote a blank check made payable to
'The United States of America ',
for an amount of
up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people
in this country who no longer understand it.
Anonymous
Friday, February 8, 2008
Gold Star Mom to Berkeley, CA
February 3, 2008
Mr. Tom Bates,
I was appalled at the decisions that your City Council made at your last meeting, telling the Marines they were not welcome in your city and then granting Code Pink a parking place in front of the Recruiting office free for six months along with a free noise permit. I called and left a message last week for you to call me, a Gold Star Mother whose son gave the ultimate sacrifice. It doesn't surprise me that you didn't return that phone call. Trust me I won't just go away!
My son Marc Alan Lee laid down his life 8-2-06 for American's to have all of the freedoms that we enjoy. He voluntarily went to his recruiter to find out what opportunities would be provided to him and what would be required for him to be a Navy SEAL. He was treated professionally and never once regretted his decision to become a Navy SEAL. He was honored to serve his country. He was stationed in California along with half of the SEAL community. I'm sure you've heard of the elite of the elite, as President Bush calls them.
Marc's was very pleased with his recruiter, and he was never lied to, tricked or deceived. His recruiter played the role of counselor or coach to Marc and helped him get the right schools, to be fit and prepared, and to understand what was ahead. Marc pursued his recruiter. Marc had a dream and a goal and he pursued the recruiter who showed him how to make his dream a reality!
My oldest son Kristofer went to a Marine recruiter's office in July 2000 and signed to be one of "The few, the Proud, The Marines." He also never regretted his choice and was also treated professionally and was proud to serve his country for 5 years. My son-in-law Christopher also visited an Army recruiter and proudly served his country for 3 years.
I wish that you served as a Mayor with the same pride and love for this country and those men and women who would defend you unconditionally! Our military defends your freedoms and has written a blank check to you and your city and every American and they have told you to fill in the cost of that freedom up to and including the cost of their lives and you are telling these people they are not welcome in your city? How dare you!
I'm sure you continue to enjoy those freedoms that every man or woman who has served in our military has fought for you. Who do you think would defend you if the terrorists attacked your city? Who do you think would come if an earthquake devastated your city? Who do you think would come if there were riots in your city? How dare you try to legislate and change the laws of the land. I am demanding that you publicly apologize to the Marines and to our troops, and to their families and that you resend the legislation that you passed last week giving special rights to Code Pink.
Demanding Respect for our Troops,
Debbie Lee
Proud Mother of Marc Alan Lee
First Navy SEAL killed in Iraq 8-2-06
Mr. Tom Bates,
I was appalled at the decisions that your City Council made at your last meeting, telling the Marines they were not welcome in your city and then granting Code Pink a parking place in front of the Recruiting office free for six months along with a free noise permit. I called and left a message last week for you to call me, a Gold Star Mother whose son gave the ultimate sacrifice. It doesn't surprise me that you didn't return that phone call. Trust me I won't just go away!
My son Marc Alan Lee laid down his life 8-2-06 for American's to have all of the freedoms that we enjoy. He voluntarily went to his recruiter to find out what opportunities would be provided to him and what would be required for him to be a Navy SEAL. He was treated professionally and never once regretted his decision to become a Navy SEAL. He was honored to serve his country. He was stationed in California along with half of the SEAL community. I'm sure you've heard of the elite of the elite, as President Bush calls them.
Marc's was very pleased with his recruiter, and he was never lied to, tricked or deceived. His recruiter played the role of counselor or coach to Marc and helped him get the right schools, to be fit and prepared, and to understand what was ahead. Marc pursued his recruiter. Marc had a dream and a goal and he pursued the recruiter who showed him how to make his dream a reality!
My oldest son Kristofer went to a Marine recruiter's office in July 2000 and signed to be one of "The few, the Proud, The Marines." He also never regretted his choice and was also treated professionally and was proud to serve his country for 5 years. My son-in-law Christopher also visited an Army recruiter and proudly served his country for 3 years.
I wish that you served as a Mayor with the same pride and love for this country and those men and women who would defend you unconditionally! Our military defends your freedoms and has written a blank check to you and your city and every American and they have told you to fill in the cost of that freedom up to and including the cost of their lives and you are telling these people they are not welcome in your city? How dare you!
I'm sure you continue to enjoy those freedoms that every man or woman who has served in our military has fought for you. Who do you think would defend you if the terrorists attacked your city? Who do you think would come if an earthquake devastated your city? Who do you think would come if there were riots in your city? How dare you try to legislate and change the laws of the land. I am demanding that you publicly apologize to the Marines and to our troops, and to their families and that you resend the legislation that you passed last week giving special rights to Code Pink.
Demanding Respect for our Troops,
Debbie Lee
Proud Mother of Marc Alan Lee
First Navy SEAL killed in Iraq 8-2-06
Berkeley, CA
as you may have heard, there's been a little excitement re our gallant Marines in Berkeley, CA. if i lived closer, i'd be paying this guy a little visit. but it sounds like someone is delivering the punches bigger and better.
Now check this out, here is a letter a businessman wrote to the Mayor of
Berkeley .
Is this a great country or what?
Dear Mayor Bates,
In that you and your city have chosen to gravely insult the brave men
and women, who have indeed bought you that right with their blood, I am
informing you that my company will no longer do business with any of our
current suppliers located in the Berkeley , California metro area.
In that my company is in international resort real estate development,
and do business with and am associated with, developers and investors
worldwide, I am informing all of my contacts, associates and patrons
that we will no longer do any business of any sort with anyone living in
the Berkeley area.
In that we/MDG Resorts are currently building a state of the art
mega-yacht marina, all of the suppliers of Marina equipment, all owners
of Yachts , all suppliers of Yacht ma teri als & supplies, all yacht
brokers and all tangential yacht business purveyors will likewise be
informed that we will not do any business whatsoever with anyone from
the Berkeley area.
Likewise all suppliers of building ma teri als, both in teri or and
ex teri or, currently associated with any of our several resort
developments (Brisamar 300+ villas and 200+ condos: Porto Hussong,
www.portohussong. com
slip mega-yacht marina) both of which I might add have international
recognition by virtue of glowing reports in Robb Report, Wall Street
Journal, Yacht World, Forbes.
I will likewise inform all of our investors, most of whom are very
wealthy yacht owners, casino owners, high net worth international
businessmen, of our decision to essentially boycott all products and
providers located in, or associated with in any way whatsoever, Berkeley ,
Ca.
Trust me when I say that having been in the real estate development
business for over 35 years, our list of contacts and associates is long
and very, very impressive. We, and I personally, are going to recomend
that they ALL along with us boycott your city, its purveyors, suppliers,
and businesses and CHARITIES of every kind.
You have every right to choose to take the obnoxious anti-military
stance you have taken, and as stated, that right was bought for you with
the blood of better men than you.
I too have every right to do all that I can to insure that your city
suffers consequences arising from that obnoxious, sickening stance.
Cordially,
Brian G Dennard
Principal Director
Meridian Development Group, LLC
619 807 2444
www.mdgresorts. com
www.portohussong. com
Now check this out, here is a letter a businessman wrote to the Mayor of
Berkeley .
Is this a great country or what?
Dear Mayor Bates,
In that you and your city have chosen to gravely insult the brave men
and women, who have indeed bought you that right with their blood, I am
informing you that my company will no longer do business with any of our
current suppliers located in the Berkeley , California metro area.
In that my company is in international resort real estate development,
and do business with and am associated with, developers and investors
worldwide, I am informing all of my contacts, associates and patrons
that we will no longer do any business of any sort with anyone living in
the Berkeley area.
In that we/MDG Resorts are currently building a state of the art
mega-yacht marina, all of the suppliers of Marina equipment, all owners
of Yachts , all suppliers of Yacht ma teri als & supplies, all yacht
brokers and all tangential yacht business purveyors will likewise be
informed that we will not do any business whatsoever with anyone from
the Berkeley area.
Likewise all suppliers of building ma teri als, both in teri or and
ex teri or, currently associated with any of our several resort
developments (Brisamar 300+ villas and 200+ condos: Porto Hussong,
www.portohussong. com
slip mega-yacht marina) both of which I might add have international
recognition by virtue of glowing reports in Robb Report, Wall Street
Journal, Yacht World, Forbes.
I will likewise inform all of our investors, most of whom are very
wealthy yacht owners, casino owners, high net worth international
businessmen, of our decision to essentially boycott all products and
providers located in, or associated with in any way whatsoever, Berkeley ,
Ca.
Trust me when I say that having been in the real estate development
business for over 35 years, our list of contacts and associates is long
and very, very impressive. We, and I personally, are going to recomend
that they ALL along with us boycott your city, its purveyors, suppliers,
and businesses and CHARITIES of every kind.
You have every right to choose to take the obnoxious anti-military
stance you have taken, and as stated, that right was bought for you with
the blood of better men than you.
I too have every right to do all that I can to insure that your city
suffers consequences arising from that obnoxious, sickening stance.
Cordially,
Brian G Dennard
Principal Director
Meridian Development Group, LLC
619 807 2444
www.mdgresorts. com
www.portohussong. com
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Company "C" Update/Major David Haney
Hello Friends of Peoria’s Marine Corps Combat Engineer Company “C”,
And greetings from cool and wet Iraq. Although we are certainly not dealing with the Illinois bitter cold and snow drifts, we have seen a marked change in the weather in the first month of this New Year. Rest assured, mission accomplishment continues despite wind, sand, rain and mud.
As always, the Peoria Marine Engineers continue to get a lot done and impress the supported units here with the quality of their hard work. One of the latest Camp Al-Taqaddum project completions has been the new Chapel at Engineer Village, here on board the base. The Battalion Chaplain is a very proud curator of that new structure and is most pleased with the diligent work that many of the Peoria Marines invested in its construction.
The Engineer Support Company Peoria Marines who are here aboard Camp Al-Taqaddum are also working very hard with more road repair tasking and heavy equipment operation both on and off the base. During this rainy part of the year, our Support Marines are tasked with a good deal of work aligned with drainage projects which includes road grading and the transport and spreading of gravel.
Our leadership in Camp Fallujah, just to the East of us between here and Baghdad, tell me that our Engineers working there are also doing well and are highly engaged with many projects that they are executing. They remain on-track to return about one month after we Camp Al-Taqaddum Marines.
We are all very happy to see the long month of January in our “rear view mirror” and are eagerly moving forward through February toward our long-anticipated return. As has been the case since August, your continued support makes all of the difference. Please be aware that the cut-off for incoming mail to arrive in TQ is 1 March, but please keep your support coming until then. Camp Fallujah Marines will be able to receive mail for a few weeks beyond that.
Finally, take note that the outgoing email and phone call capability (from TQ and Fallujah) has been temporarily reduced as of 31 January due to an undersea cable cut in the Mediterranean Sea. We are hoping for that to be repaired in mid-February--until then we are able to get very few emails or phone calls out, but can still receive email and of course snail mail.
Hang in there; the light at the end of the tunnel is swinging into view. Until next time--
Semper Fidelis,
Major David Haney Company Commander Engineer Company “C”
And greetings from cool and wet Iraq. Although we are certainly not dealing with the Illinois bitter cold and snow drifts, we have seen a marked change in the weather in the first month of this New Year. Rest assured, mission accomplishment continues despite wind, sand, rain and mud.
As always, the Peoria Marine Engineers continue to get a lot done and impress the supported units here with the quality of their hard work. One of the latest Camp Al-Taqaddum project completions has been the new Chapel at Engineer Village, here on board the base. The Battalion Chaplain is a very proud curator of that new structure and is most pleased with the diligent work that many of the Peoria Marines invested in its construction.
The Engineer Support Company Peoria Marines who are here aboard Camp Al-Taqaddum are also working very hard with more road repair tasking and heavy equipment operation both on and off the base. During this rainy part of the year, our Support Marines are tasked with a good deal of work aligned with drainage projects which includes road grading and the transport and spreading of gravel.
Our leadership in Camp Fallujah, just to the East of us between here and Baghdad, tell me that our Engineers working there are also doing well and are highly engaged with many projects that they are executing. They remain on-track to return about one month after we Camp Al-Taqaddum Marines.
We are all very happy to see the long month of January in our “rear view mirror” and are eagerly moving forward through February toward our long-anticipated return. As has been the case since August, your continued support makes all of the difference. Please be aware that the cut-off for incoming mail to arrive in TQ is 1 March, but please keep your support coming until then. Camp Fallujah Marines will be able to receive mail for a few weeks beyond that.
Finally, take note that the outgoing email and phone call capability (from TQ and Fallujah) has been temporarily reduced as of 31 January due to an undersea cable cut in the Mediterranean Sea. We are hoping for that to be repaired in mid-February--until then we are able to get very few emails or phone calls out, but can still receive email and of course snail mail.
Hang in there; the light at the end of the tunnel is swinging into view. Until next time--
Semper Fidelis,
Major David Haney Company Commander Engineer Company “C”
Extreme Makeover Home Edition 2.10.2008
This promises to be a great show! tune in this sunday night and spread the word.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Projects - ABC.com#t=0# t=0 ,
Just click on "next episodes" and see what they are doing next weekend, airs on Sunday evening .
Gilyeat family
Sun Feb 10 8/7c
Ty and the crew salute a Marine hero who served two tours in Iraq and lost his leg in combat. "Hannah Montana's" Miley Cyrus makes a surprise meeting and performs.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Projects - ABC.com#t=0# t=0 ,
Just click on "next episodes" and see what they are doing next weekend, airs on Sunday evening .
Gilyeat family
Sun Feb 10 8/7c
Ty and the crew salute a Marine hero who served two tours in Iraq and lost his leg in combat. "Hannah Montana's" Miley Cyrus makes a surprise meeting and performs.
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