Valley military families ... 'A special homecoming'

Today's News Virginian has a story, A special homecoming, about a Valley soldier who returned from Afghanistan to see his six-month old daughter for the first time.

This is yet another way our military sacrifices for our freedom. Imagine not being able to stand with your wife as she gave birth to your first child because you were deployed with the Army halfway around the world. We can never thank our troops enough for what they do.

"For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."

Cross-posted at Facebook

"Be a man of principle ..."

"Be a man of principle. Fight for what you believe in. Keep your word. Live with integrity. Be brave. Believe in something bigger than yourself. Serve your country. Teach. Mentor. Give something back to society. Lead from the front. Conquer your fears. Be a good friend. Be humble and be self-confident. Appreciate your friends and family. Be a leader and not a follower. Be valorous on the field of battle. And take responsibility for your actions. Never forget those that were killed. And never let rest those that killed them." --Doug Zembiec (1973-2007)

Thanks, WZ.

"To Them That's Gone" ... run for the fallen -- UPDATED

"In the summer of 2008 a small group of civilians ran 4,000 miles across America." And so begins the story of those who ran for the fallen ... one mile for each American military member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom ... a journey that began at Fort Irwin, CA, and ended at Arlington National Cemetery.

They called their group "Run for the Fallen" ... and it has now been made into a documentary called "For Them That's Gone."

I was notified of this by Carol who let me know about the memorial run for local fallen Marine, Daniel Morris, who was killed Februry 14, 2007. Carol wrote:

"Since the flags were placed for the soldiers in the order killed, Daniel's flag was placed on Day 52 of the run, on August 5th, 2008. He was flag # 3134, about 13 miles outside of McMinnville, TN. That day, they started in Murfreesboro, TN & stopped in McMinnville, TN."

She also found the flag for local fallen Marine Jason Redifer:

He was honored with a flag and card on Day 24 of the run, on July 8th, between Weston, CO, to Route 160/389 Junction, CO. His was put 18 miles from the Junction."

I've been to that part of Colorado ... what a beautiful area of the country.

Daniel Bubb, a third young Marine from Augusta County, was killed in Iraq. Carol wrote:

Daniel Bubb was honored on Day 33 of the run, July 17, 2008. He was flag #1979, the 29th placed that day, about midway between Hopeton, OK, and Medford, OK, -- the route that day.

She also added something else that I wanted to share:

I think what the RFTF people and this run did, should be shared as much as possible. There is so much out there that's done in a negative way, and this was so obviously positive. This run was done with respect, integrity, compassion & honest emotion from the beginning of the idea to the end at Arlington National Cemetery ... and that sort of behavior should get more coverage then the "people" that yelled, "You suck, impeach Bush," at the Citizenship Ceremony at Monticello. We all have opinions but there's a time and place.

I don't know Carol. She is someone who reads my blog and who contacted me with this information. I am grateful to her for passing it along, and I certainly agree with her sentiments.

An additional note is a Texas member of the Run for the Fallen team will be doing a similar run across Texas in May to honor fallen Texans. If anyone is interested in that run, email and I will put you in touch.

God bless our military, our fallen heroes, our veterans, and our military families.

H/T to Carol

Courage

Thanks to Blackfive for this photo ... a message on the hospital door of a wounded Navy Seal:

ATTENTION TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE

If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received, I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that 20% further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.

THE MANAGEMENT

Godspeed for a full recovery to this Navy Seal.

H/T RedState

Remember American troops during the holidays

Move America Forward is reminding Americans, as the holidays approach, not to forget our troops who are around the world protecting the freedoms we enjoy.

Move America Forward reported:

As you know, hundreds of thousands of our best and brightest will be millions of miles from home this holiday season, and once the holidays are over, they face an uncertain future with a new commander in chief taking the reins for the first time since 9/11.

We're taking to the airwaves to remind people to support our troops and send them a gift and a note that you care at this critical time.

So in order to bring more Americans to this worthy cause and remind people of our troops at this emotional and busy time of year, we've again teamed up with KRLA 870AM in Los Angeles and KCBQ in San Diego.

KRLA will host an all-day fund drive for our thanksgiving packages today (Friday, November 21, 2008) and we encourage you to tune in anytime. If you're not in the LA area, you can listen live.

It is a good cause. Let's remember our men and women in uniform this holiday season.

AG says Fairfax County military ballots must be counted

They are our men and women in uniform, the ones who keep us safe from terrorism ... and they have been at risk of being disenfranchised in this election season.

With at least 100 military votes at stake in Fairfax County, Virginia's Attorney General Bob McDonnell today released a formal opinion saying federal military absentee ballots must be counted for the Presidential election.

In a press release today, the AG's office explained, "The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is most commonly used by members of the military who are stationed overseas and have not received a state absentee ballot. It is a means by which service members can be guaranteed a vote in federal elections."

The legal opinion read:

“It is…... my opinion that the applicable provision of Virginia law, § 24.2-702.1(B), interpreted to require an overseas military voter submitting only a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to include the printed name and address of the person who signs the witness statement is preempted by the provisions of the (federal) Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Finally, it is my opinion that general registrars may not reject a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot submitted by overseas military voters for the November 4, 2008 federal election that does not include a printed name and address for the person who signs the witness statement…...”

It is shaping up to be another legal wrangling season across the nation reminiscent of 2000 and 2004.

Easter ... remember our military....

Freedom is not free.

On this holiest of Christian holidays may we not forget out troops at home and around the world who volunteer to keep us safe and free. May God bless our American military.

Republican Roundup ... the soldier

His name is Jeff Farmer ... and he just returned home from his second deployment to Iraq. He attended Saturday's Republican Roundup to lead the Pledge of Allegiance ... and he thanked the crowd for their support of the military at this time of war.

I met him afterwards and thanked him for his service to our country ... and told him about our Support the Troops and Win the War rallies in the SWAC area. He gave me his business card and said to contact him ... and I will.

Our military ... keeping the peace. We are grateful ... thank you.

Photo by SWAC Girl
October 13, 2007

Real American heroes ... thank a Marine or soldier for your freedom

Our U.S. military heroes are working hard on the eve of the Fourth of July. A U.S. helicopter was shot down near Baghdad and the two pilots were rescued by crews from two other helicopters. One covered the other which was under fire from terrorists on the ground; the other went in for the rescue and was able to pluck both pilots out of the situation and fly them to safety.

All were heroes ... but one stands out even more. One of the pilots of the rescue helicopter gave up his seat for the injured pilot from the downed craft, and strapped himself, along with the other rescued pilot, on the outside of the rescue helicopter. Under ground fire from insurgents, they flew off to safety.

How many of us would give up our seats on the inside to an injured soldier and strap ourselves outside in the line of fire?

Our American military heroes ... God bless them all. We remember them and their families ... and we thank them for continuing to protect the freedom we enjoy in our great country.