The Star Spangled Banner!

I love the words to this song. We all know them, but take a minute and really read them. Especially verse two.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Francis Scott Key


Rampart: 1.a) a mound of earth, rubble, or similar material raised around a place as a fortification. b) such a fortification together with a stone or earth parapet capping it. 2. anything serving as a bulwark or defense. Webster's College Dictionary 1992

Now folks, turn off that there computer and go hug your family and thank God that someone sat behind a rampart with bombs exploding around them so that YOU MAY BE FREE.

God Bless Our Soldiers, past, present and future.

God Bless America.

God Bless You.

Gold Star Mothers

Do you know a Gold Star Mother?

Take a moment this weekend to pray for the families of all those brave men and women who have given the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Freedom.

September 11.

There were a total of 2,996 deaths, including the 19 hijackers and 2,977 victims.[39] The victims were distributed as follows: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,606 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.[40][41] All the deaths in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.[42]

God Bless America!!

God Bless America!!

December 7th.

this is a repost from 12/7/08....it will continue to be reposted every year....

If you happen to meet a WWII vet this week, thank him or her. I too will be going out of my way to say thank you.

TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER.

"The attack at Pearl Harbor sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded." Wikipedia



The wrecked destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) and USS Cassin (DD-372) in Drydock One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, soon after the end of the Japanese air attack. Cassin has capsized against Downes.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is astern, occupying the rest of the drydock. The torpedo-damaged cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) is in the right distance, beyond the crane. Visible in the center distance is the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37), with USS Maryland (BB-46) alongside. Smoke is from the sunken and burning USS Arizona (BB-39), out of view behind Pennsylvania. USS California (BB-44) is partially visible at the extreme left.
This image has been attributed to Navy Photographer's Mate Harold Fawcett.




Destroyer USS Shaw exploding after her forward magazine was detonated



USS California sinking


USS West Virginia took two aerial bombs (one dud) and seven torpedo hits; of the seven at least five were from aircraft and one from a midget submarine






As I am writing this it is the Saturday before Labor Day. September first. We are trying to spread the word to get everyone to fly their American Flag on September eleventh in memory of the tragedy that took place 9/11/01.

However, you won't be seeing this post until December. December seventh to be exact.

Because 9/11/01 reminds me of 12/7/41.

The day that the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed by the Japanese.

My Grandaddy fought in WWII, he lost his only brother in that war then was sent home as the last surviving male member of the family. He flew cargo planes for the US Army Air Corp....perhaps my love of flying and desire to be a (fighter) pilot is genetic.

I remember the sadness and frustration he expressed when we kids couldn't tell him what day Pearl Harbor had been bombed, or the names of the ships lost, or even how many ships, or what impact it had on WWII (The BIG 'un). I remember him saying that the world stopped that day...and when it started moving it was never the same again. I remember wondering what on earth he meant by that. I remember his anger when he went to the VA, that is Veteran's Affairs, hospital for a doctor's visit and found out that his assigned doctor was "a damn Jap!!" This wasn't a man given to fits of anger, but boy he got hot telling me about THAT! I remember wondering what the big deal was.

Then came 9/11/01 and I understood.

I understood the sadness and frustration when the people around me forgot to take note of that day. I remember how the world stopped, how my husband kept saying over and over that nothing will ever be the same again and I understood exactly what he meant. I understood the anger at any member of a specific group of people who were responsible for so much unprovoked bloodshed. I understood exactly what the big deal was.

In light of this understanding, I will never again forget 12/7/41. What it cost our countrymen and how it changed the world.

Do you have an American Flag?

Do you fly it at half-mast on Pearl Harbor Day?

YOU SHOULD!









The USS Arizona. ".... and as you can see from the picture, she still mourns her dead...." Cookie

For more information about the effects of the attack on Pearl Harbor.






After posting what you see above I got curious.

I started reading everything I could find on the attack at Pearl Harbor. That's when I went back and added all the pics. I read and read and cried and cried that night. Well into morning. I don't know (or care) if you believe such things, but I felt like this room was full of soldiers urging me to learn...then to teach. So that they should not be forgotten as another generation comes of age.

Here's what I learned.

1) The United States of America is the BEST damn country in the world.
2) You may knock us down, but you'd better watch out when we get back up.
3) We ALWAYS get back up.


We had 12 ships "sunk or beached" and 9 "damaged" in that attack.
Not to menton all the planes and buildings.

Now, to this city girl, "sunk" means dead. Sitting on the bottom rusting. But "All U.S. Ships except Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma were salvaged and later saw action."
Most of those ships were saved and sent back to war within the year. And the cleanup was dirty, oily work.

Follow the links folks, look at the pictures. This is an AMAZING story that you won't soon forget! And remember that no matter how bleak the scenery looks, there's always a way to rebuild, and strike back.

10 years ago today.

There were a total of 2,996 deaths, including the 19 hijackers and 2,977 victims.[39] The victims were distributed as follows: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,606 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.[40][41] All the deaths in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.[42]







*the playlist has been temporarily removed, please take a moment or two of silence to REMEMBER*

Snippets of my Life over the last 10 days....

So, I had to make a bunch of visors for a church group of ladies this week.......Had some stuff left over.....and......well.......





Look at what hubby brought home yesterday!





So how cool is it that I had my highest number of hits in one day EVER on July 4th?? I just think of all the people who enjoyed the words to our National Anthem that day!!!!



"Momma! I know how Jesus died on the cross! You have to take a picture!!!" says Gator this morning.



I Made cook n serve chocolate pudding for the first time in a long time.....
I'll stick to instant from now on!!!!!!

Whip cream snowmen on chocolate pudding=a big hit!!!!!


About our recent Holiday....

The 4th of July is a date on a calendar. America's independence Day is a reason for celebration and gratitude!!! Call it what it IS people! Happy Independence Day!!!

Well THAT'S new!! There's a professional fireworks display just started.....less than 1/2 mile from my house......hoping it doesn't wake the kids. Next year maybe we'll let em watch.....

It's 97 degrees outside on a bright sunny day and I'm looking at a complete RAINBOW right over my house!!! Matches my mood after a great dinner with great family!!


Eating my 3rd steak dinner in 4 days.....a girl could get used to THIS!!!






Daughter: momma! I found a spiderweb!! Right there!! On your head!!!

Me: no dear, that's just my white hair

What a way to be woken up!



OK, all you Catholics out there, do I have to go to Confession for telling my 6 yr old that if he doesn't quit playing with his wiener (THROUGH his shorts regardless of location) it's going to fall off?????



Daddy took her for a haircut.



Is very sad that I have TWO awesome cousins who are massage therapists.....and they both live out of state. :-(((


Watching classic Tom & Jerry with my kids and reading all the signs to them. I haven't laughed this hard in WEEKS!!!!!




Well, on my way to work at the hospital, it's 103 degrees and I'm broken down on the side of the road.....if I put my dinner on the dash think it'll cook before AAA gets here???
Amazingly it only took them 45 min to get to me! But he got 4 calls while he was driving me the 10 miles home!! Sure am glad I was first on the list!!
It's "just" the A/C. No it won't get fixed anytime soon......





You know ya really can't complain about a job where you can take Kitty Snuggle Breaks hourly.......
(I LOVE my new job!!)

The Star Spangled Banner

I love the words to this song. We all know them, but take a minute and really read them. Especially verse two.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Francis Scott Key


Rampart: 1.a) a mound of earth, rubble, or similar material raised around a place as a fortification. b) such a fortification together with a stone or earth parapet capping it. 2. anything serving as a bulwark or defense. Webster's College Dictionary 1992

Now folks, turn off that there computer and go hug your family and thank God that someone sat behind a rampart with bombs exploding around them so that YOU MAY BE FREE.

God Bless Our Soldiers, past, present and future.

God Bless America.

God Bless You.

A Hero

Look at this man.


Look into his eyes. Look closely. Notice the expression on his face. Note the way he wears his uniform.

Look again. Can you imagine what he may have been thinking when this picture was taken?

What do you think his plans for his life are?

Look at him again. Look at the set of his jaw, the shape of his ears.

Would you like to shake his hand?

What do you imagine you would say to him?

What would he say to you?

Look at this man.


This painting is of Clint Gertson, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and to help insure the freedom of the Iraqi people. This painting is done by Kaziah Hancock, a well known artist who paints these works of art of our true American hero's who have given all.....for free.



If you, or someone you know has lost a son or daughter in combat, you can contact Kaziah at Project Compassion



Look again at this man.

Can you tell him thank you? For all the things he saw....and all the things he didn't live to see?

Every week a list comes out of the names and ages of our soldiers that have fallen.

It's a list of names.....every name has a face, just like Clint.

Look at this man. This man died for you.

What have you done today to honor him?

Again, look at this man, remember him, honor his sacrifice.




I am reposting this in honor of Independence Day Weekend. Mr and Mrs Gertson, again, I thank you for the sacrifice of your son. God Bless.

Did you know this???

Just a little something we need to relearn.......



And he didn't even talk about how the first Continental Congress was a mess until they broke for 3 days of FASTING AND PRAYER before returning to draft and sign that little piece of paper we're gonna be celebrating on Sunday.....

Happy Flag Day America!!!

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.





American Flag Etiquette
Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

When decorating be sure to display and handle the United States flag properly.

When being displayed, the flag should always be allowed to fall free. It should not be drawn back or up, in folds. Also, it should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, floor, water or other items. This is important to remember when display flags along sidewalks and in yards. If it does touch anything beneath it, correct this mistake quickly. If the flag is soiled from touching the ground or dirt, the flag should be cleaned with a mild soap solution and dried before being displayed again.





The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding or drapery. The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture or drawing of any nature placed upon it. Also, the flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner.

For patriotic decorations bunting of blue, white and red, always arrange with white in the middle and blue above the white and red below the white. Bunting should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of a platform and for decoration in general.





When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the United States flag should be on the flag's own right. Its staff should be in front of the staff of any other flag. When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from a window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.





When the flag is not flown from a staff, it can be displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall. The union or blue field should be uppermost and to the flag's own right or the observer's left. When displayed in a window of a home or a place of business, the flag should be displayed in the same way -- with the union to the left of the observer in the street. The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of distress, such as extreme danger to life or property.

When the flag is used on a speaker’s platform or in the front of a room, the flag when on a staff, should hold the position of superior prominence. It should be in position to the speaker’s right as they face the audience. Any other flag or banner should be placed on the left of the speaker or to the right of the audience.



It is a universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day, if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. A light needs to specifically illuminate the flag so it is recognizable by a casual observer.

The United States flag can be flown every day of the year, but should especially be flown:

■New Year's Day
■Inauguration Day
■Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
■Lincoln's Birthday
■Washington's Birthday
■Armed Forces Day
■Memorial Day
■Flag Day
■Independence Day
■Labor Day
■Columbus Day
■Veteran's Day
■Thanksgiving Day
■Christmas Day
■state holidays and other days as may be proclaimed by the United States President.

The United States flag should never be flown if it is faded or frayed. Give frayed and faded flags to organizations, such as The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Boy Scouts, in order to be ceremonially burned. Local posts and chapters of these organizations can be contacted for this type of disposal.



It is important to remember to give the flag proper respect during ceremonies of hoisting and lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, everyone should stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those in uniform should salute. When not in uniform men should remove their hats or caps with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.