Old Posts being added

I am going to be continuously adding some posts from past dates as I had written them but either didn't have time to add photo's or I had other info to add so keep watching.

TOBY, TOBY, TOBY!

Tonite is Toby Keith concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre.....I'm there! So excited!! More info to follow.

What Not To Say To A Military Mom (or Dad)

When you see me wearing a yellow ribbon on my shirt,

please don't remind me of how bad it is "over there"

instead offer to pray for my son

When you see my car pull up with a yellow ribbon

and bumper sticker that says until they all come home

please don't remind me of "another three months"

ask me his name

and offer a prayer of protection for him and

all the other son's, daughter's, mother's, father's,

husband's and wives in the military

When you want to talk to me about the war

please don't tell me it is

unnecessary for them to be over there

and that the government made them go;

I am proud of my son and everyone else that is fighting

so we can have the freedoms that we do...

And may I remind people that there is no draft

in this great country

all the soldiers in the military made the choice to join,

knowing that we are in a time of war

When you see a tear running down my cheek

please don't tell me you know how hard this must be,

instead offer a hug and a prayer

For those of you who have a loved one in the military,

then you probably know what I am talking about

and for those of you who do not,

now you know what it is that a military family needs...

PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!

This weekend brought 3 of our Heroes home but I was unable to attend this third one...I still felt it an important one to share. She is a chief warrant officer with the Army Reserves who shipped out with a unit from Southern California & just returned home after a 15-month Army tour in Iraq AND Afghanistan. During her deployment she missed her oldest son's high school graduation. The Patriot Guard Riders (approx. 40 bikes with 50+ riders) arrived in Santa Rosa to escort her to a surprise welcome home party at the Veteran’s Memorial Building she was greeted by a smiling, flag-waving crowd of nearly 100 friends, family and supporters. On display there were many tables displaying pictures and mementos of Terry’s 25+ year career with the United States Army, and Army Reserves. She was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service during her recent deployment.

It is because of people like the 3 that we welcomed home this weekend that we all enjoy the freedoms we have and they all volunteered to do what they do. Next time you see a man or woman in uniform as well as any other of our Veterans please take the time to thank them for all they do for our families & our Country! Here are a few photo's from her homecoming.







More photo's & a video from one of our Patriot Guard Riders for you to look at.

THE SGT RETURNS

About 2:00 pm I received an email about another homecoming...VERY SHORT NOTICE. An Army Sgt., a Medic, was returning from 15 months in Iraq. The staging will be at 6:30 pm in Oakland with KSU at 7:20pm. Her flight will arrive about 7:40 pm & then escort home. We realize that we can't make that as we are working on a project at home but will able to just go straight out to the final destination...her parents house.

When we drove up we found the house easily......all decked out....


and people everywhere with flags...a good group for such short notice.


About 8:25pm we hear the rumble of the bikes. I don't usually see them coming in as we usually follow the escort. Hard to photograph them as they come at me but it sure is impressive....




Spike & Sloopdog bring up the rear...




Saluting the flag...





Welcome home Sgt!!





Hugs....



The Vice Mayor of Pleasanton, CA


Tom, the Ride Captain of this mission talking to the Sgt.


The Sgt & Debbi


When we left the party was going strong....


As I've said before....these are the best.

WELCOME HOME MARINE

I have been asked to share some of the homecomings that we have been a part of so I will start now & possibly go back to a few of the others. We do these homecomings as members of the Patriot Guard Riders. If you ever have the opportunity to welcome any of our Heroes home I strongly suggest you do it. It really is the best thing ever. Supporting Our Troops is more than sticking a magnet or bumper sticker on your car. Welcome Home's are the best ever...something I could do 24/7 if I had the chance.

We arrived at the staging area about 6:15 pm....we left the house early as the traffic was supposed to be horrible....the Marine was expected abut 7:30 pm or so. When we got there there was already a good group in attendance.


"The Chaplain" wanted his picture taken.


More riders coming in...

This was a group shot we took tho more riders showed up afterwards....

Getting ready to ride.....

Waiting.....

They finally arrived at 9:15pm. They had driven up from Camp Pendleton & took longer than anticipated due to traffic.... Mom was really ready to burst waiting at home.

The LCpl was seriously surprised...


Welcome Home, Marine!! We love you......

"Hey! Can I check out the bikes?"

LCpl checking out the bikes. Poor Mom & Dad waiting at home....

KSU (Kick Stands Up) & ready to roll...

Escorting the LCpl home....

A whole lot of people waiting....

Bryan Weldon of Lafayette Flag Brigade & Sgt Major of PGR shaking LCpl's hand...

Sloopdog & Spike of PGR with LCpl....

Steve, LCpl & Debbi....

Was an absolutely awesome nite tho a very long one. Watch for more postings....

2 SF Troops Awarded Silver Stars

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - Two Soldiers at Fort Lewis were awarded the Silver Star on July 16 for combat actions in Diwaniyah, Iraq, last year.

The presentation ceremony was held at 1st Special Forces Group headquarters for Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite of Elkton, Va., and Staff. Sgt. Chris Federmann of Cincinnati.

"While under intense enemy fire and without regard for their safety, (the two Green Berets) prevented anti-Iraqi forces from overwhelming friendly positions, protecting the lives of coalition and Iraqi Security Forces," a 1st Special Forces Group statement said.

A 1st Special Forces Group statement said Kite and Federmann earned theirs on June 3, 2007, as part of a primary team of 17 U.S., coalition and Iraqi soldiers whose mission was to capture a suspected terrorist leader in Diwaniyah. A second assault force of nearly 30 U.S. and coalition soldiers was staged to respond quickly.

Kite and Federmann "heroically distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous conduct amidst the bravery exhibited by all the soldiers participating in this battle," the 1st Special Forces statement read.

"Using a hallmark trait of the Special Forces," the statement said, Kite, Federmann and the first team used a civilian car or truck to infiltrate the area to avoid detection and get close to their target.

When they moved in on the building to capture the suspected terrorist leader, however, they came under heavy fire.

Kite and Federmann suppressed it with gunfire and grenades, and the second force was called in. As it arrived, enemy fire became heavier, with increasing sniper fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

Unable to pick off the enemy snipers and grenade launchers on top of a building, Kite and Federmann worked their way toward the building under withering fire.

As the Green Berets fought their way closer, Kite covered Federmann, who launched high explosive rounds from his M-79 grenade launcher. Once within range, Federmann fired a smoke grenade onto the rooftop, marking it for a helicopter's machine guns to subdue the threat.

But it wasn't over. (READ MORE)

Soldier Gets Silver for Killing Bomber

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - It took Sgt. Michael Espejo Jr. a moment to realize that the injured Afghan policeman he was dragging away from a burning truck was no policeman at all.

He had one of the man's arms draped over his shoulder and felt an odd bulk under his Afghan National Police shirt. Some new body armor, maybe?

And then he noticed the wire coming out of the sleeve and the switch device in the man's hand.

A suicide bomber -- in his arms.

"I threw him off of me, and started backing away from him," Espejo recalled Monday.
He and another Soldier took turns falling back and covering each other, yelling at the man in English and in Pashto to put his hands up.

There were four other U.S. Soldiers, a couple of State Department agents and a number of Afghan policemen all within range of the ball bearings, nails or whatever else might come flying out of the bomber's vest.

Espejo kept moving back. The man didn't seem to be all there. And when he started moving his hands together to work the switch, Espejo shot him dead from about 30 yards away.
"It all happened in a matter of seconds," he said.

On Monday, the Army presented the 26-year-old Fort Lewis military policeman with the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for combat valor. (READ MORE)

Patriotism in Perspective: 1776 vs. 2008

How does today’s patriotism compare with the first patriots?

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Independence Day celebrations are among the most tangible expressions of American pride. They take an invisible quality —patriotism— and make it visible and audible through fireworks, parades and concerts. But how does today’s patriotism compare with the first patriots?

Our founders also showed their patriotism through public displays. At times, they couldn’t contain their enthusiasm.

"People I am told, recognize the Resolution [of independence] as though it were a decree promulgated from Heaven," Samuel Adams wrote, adding, "Monarchy seems to be generally exploded."

Indeed, it was — literally. Before the ink dried on his gigantic signature, John Hancock sent a copy of the Declaration of Independence to George Washington, who ordered a public reading for his army camped in Manhattan. Inspired, many pulled down a statue of King George III, ignited a fire, melted his likeness and molded 42,000 musket balls. Their zeal thundered up the Hudson River and lit high heaven. (READ MORE)