Luis Padilla ... proud to be an American

Luis Padilla smiled Friday as I took a photo of his America-loving truck and the memorial on the rear window to Lt. Col. Jeff White.

His truck is big ... his love for America bigger. Luis Padilla is a reminder of our respect and admiration for America ... and he is not ashamed to show it.

In the midst of his truck's red, white, and blue American flags, the American eagle, and stars and stripes, he has penned a memorial on the rear window:

"Lt. Col. Jeff White
An American Hero
RIP."

Jeff White, he told me, was a friend and he was as devastated as the rest of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area when Lt. Col. White unexpectedly passed away six weeks ago of a heart attack while singing in the church choir. He had just returned form a tour of duty in Iraq ... had survived war ... only to return home and die.

God works in mysterious ways....

Some may remember Luis as the man who was unfairly fired from his job in 2006 from Cargill Foods in Harrisonburg for having a message painted on the rear window of his vehicle supporting the Marriage Amendment. After outrage from many throughout the nation, Mr. Padilla was reinstated at Cargill.

My hat is tipped to you, Luis. May God bless America!

Past SWAC Girl posts about Luis Padilla's firing in 2006:

--- "So did you hear the one about the guy who got fired for supporting the Marriage Amendment?"
--- Valley man fired for supporting marriage
--- Intolerance from the Left?
--- "You're fired"

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
May 1, 2009

A son feels duty to country....

Alec Thomas, 18, with his dad, Mike Thomas

A very strong sense of duty to country ... and a desire to serve ... were inspirational in Alec Thomas' decision to join the National Guard Reserve. A 2007 home educated high school graduate from Chesterfield County, he completed his basic training on July 31, 2008, with a specialty in Military Police and will enter college for the fall semester studying Criminal Justice.

Although service could be put off until after his schooling is completed, he is considering going active duty after this semester ... again, out of a sense of duty to country and a desire to serve.

Where do we find these young people? They are special ... they are the ones who feel led to protect us even at this time of war. Much goes to their parents who lay the foundation from an early age. We are grateful and thankful.

We wish Alec the best as he pursues college and military service, and we thank his parents for their part in raising a son with a patriotic pride in our country.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell