Today is Flag Day. How many people recognize it? Probably not many. I see my flag every morning when I turn on the lights to make my coffee. I just wish I had a bugler outside to play Reveille for me. Nothing, in this old Military-minded gal’s heart could shake me awake faster than that. Because I literally wished I could be a chest-puffer, for the pride that swelled within me, every morning of my military life. But, even so, the National Anthem and our Pledge could do the same before that…Does anyone know how it started?

Allow me…

On June 14^th 1777, Congress had adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official Flag of the US. It took years for a man and his recognition of Flag Day to be recognized. In 1885, he put his flag in a bottle on his desk and asked students to write about the meaning. On June 14^th, 1916 President Wilson finally signed a proclamation leading to nationwide observances of Flag Day.

But, alas, here it is. What kid today feels the same pride saying the Pledge of Allegiance that I, or some of my comrades do to this day? Do they even sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” anymore? Who knows the words to America the Beautiful?

Do you think I have gone off on a tangent? I promise you, not.

What sparks your thoughts when one mentions the Flag?. Is it attending a baseball game, removing a hat to show your respect. Or, perhaps it is the serene beauty of a fallen soldier’s casket draped with the this Nation’s symbol of all that is right and good? Maybe it is 9/11 and the rag of red, white and blue that sits in my car window that I bought minutes after I heard the first plane struck a tower and I, with military self, screamed, “f-ing terrorists!” That is no lie.

I cringe at the thought that people put limits on flying the Flag…Where I live, they are going to charge a local business for flying “too many” Flags. My Gram is flipping in her grave at this, for sure. Someone in my neighborhood puts them at all the mailboxes on Memorial Day. I fly mine until it fades. My tiger cub has already seen a Flag retirement ceremony…and was totally awed. He knows.

“Mommy, we never let the Flag touch the ground, ever!

We have to take it in when it rains or snows or gets too windy. We know that when a special person, like an ’ol President dies, we make it fly at half ‘stafft.’ We also got to display our Flag at the top of other Flags or at the right of other ones ‘cause we‘re the best, right? We’re ‘sposed to display it on holidays and at school.”

That is it! We are the Best! He said it. His own words. And, in my heart of hearts, I can never let that go.

My friend, who just returned from Iraq in May, knew how much I loved to see the cars and soldiers stop dead in their tracks at 1700 hours for Retreat. He drove me around Ft. Bragg on purpose until 1700 hours (5:00pm), because he knew how I would feel for a few moments, again a part of the best and the brightest, even if I already had my turn…Thanks, 1SG, we’ve come a long way…Love you bunches!

Walter Reed Fridays and Eagles Up!!!!!!
Prelude to GOE-2


First, let me say that the Gathering of Eagles has made the big time!! Woo-hoo! We have an Eagle who has had her story and photographs published in the American Legion Magazine. Kudos to Janet St. John for moving the mission forward!!!

More kudos to the Eagles who attended the USCG and West Point Graduations…the photos were phenomenal!! I am going to post a couple of links for those who may have missed some of the stuff I have seen.

Now, For GOE-2. I have to say having been sick for much of the week, I was almost too exhausted to go…until…Until I read a comment on the Gathering of Eagles forum.

That was all she wrote. I got on the NC Forum immediately and put out for a caravan or a hitchhiker! I was so incensed at the immaturity of those comments/actions. It is the GOE mission to Support the troops, the mission and the United States of America!!! Amen. Something I am only too happy to do if it means a smack-down of the unpatriotic in this Country.

That being said, I was on my way. Yakfisher and I agreed to meet up and follow each other to DC. The plan upon arrival was to get to Walter Reed and support fellow Eagles and Freepers against Code pinkos. As I was driving along, I searched for other Eagles or Rolling Thunder Riders. I wanted a mental tally in my head. Eagles Up, Eagles Up!!! The closer we rolled, the more pumped I got.

We arrived at about 1700 hours. I had already checked the metro times and the bus schedule for departures. We had to haul hiny if we were gonna get there at a decent time to be represented.

Walked to the metro, hopped the bus and Voila…Code Pink at it’s best. They saw The Yak and I and shouted something. I shouted back, loud as you please, ”Peace through Victory!” And the loser double birded me. Ah, the signs of peace, right?
We were immediately greeted with enthusiasm by Freepers were cookin’ out in honor of the “out- of -Towner” Eagles as a show of gratitude. I grabbed a sign and Yak grabbed a Flag, trading spaces with a supporter so he could eat. Since there was still a bit of rush-hour traffic, we were honked at quite a bit by troop supporters passing by. Laura, another supporter was awesome. She was undeterred by the, hmm, shall we say, seven or so pinkos that were loitering down the street from the four corners that became “ours.” She was so alive with shouts of “We love our Troops, God Bless America!!“ Very infectious! The Pinkos let their permit lapse( must have been too much on their brains) And I believe ConcreteBob was the one who secured it. Several supporters had parked their vehicles on the street with lovely, bright pink neon signs…Telling supporters to beware!
 
Can you believe the pinkos have their own charter bus? I think the phrase for that would be, “Pinkos, paid for by George Soros.” (or as my friend Guns likes to say Soreasss!!) It's where you see the words Impeach Bush.

Freepers....The regulars!

Several troops came by to take part in the cook-out and say Thanks to us. We did see several wounded troops and that was pretty special. One injured troop had a brother who came outside to say thanks and stand with us. Yak had the honor of being thanked by an injured soldier who waved his nub at him as he passed by in a car and said Thanks. I don’t think he can even mention it without getting all choked up.

It was noted that the night usually ended with the pinkos leaving first. I guess if it gets to be too much work, they have to go home and nap. Several more people came on even as we were almost ready to leave…USABob from the Bronx…who put it like this: “I was here for Go-E one and I put the wife, kid in the car and said I ain’t missing 2!!” He even brought his own flag. A guy named Monk who Yak knew came, too. Always great discussions going on as well.
Alas as we got on the bus and headed for the hotel…I encountered another crazy. He was trying to ask the bus driver if Bush was the Devil…oy! And then he proceeded to say that “Your race (he was black, I’m not) is ruining the Country because we’re letting all the immigrants in. I just shook my head and bid him good evening. Immigration is a sore spot for another day....Eagles Up! Stay tuned for part two...

As a child, driving to my Gram’s house on route 67, we used to pass a fishing boat. And, every single time we drove by this boat, I would say something about my great uncle, David S. Miles.

He had been a soldier during WW2 and what I knew of him was that he died “on the ship that went down with the four chaplains.” This was according to my Gram, his sister, Marion. And to me, that boat was HIS boat. I had no understanding that the ship my Gram talked about was the USS Dorchester, a far cry from this little 40 foot boat I just knew was the only thing left of my great Uncle. I was four at the time.

He was a war hero to me and that equaled famous. After all, they named the local American Legion Post #174 after him and I saw it every time I went to Gram’s house on the hill.

Every year, we attended the Memorial Day Parade in our town. One might expect it to be very short, as our town was quite small. This was not necessarily so. We had plenty of fife and drum corps‘, the American Legion’s marching Ladies’ Auxilliary, Boy scouts. There were school bands, floats, fire trucks and clowns throwing candy. Baby American flags were handed out for free. My Gram always decked my cousins, my siblings and I in red, white and blue coordinating outfits. We were always reminded by Gram of the privileges we were afforded because of what others sacrificed. Hands over hearts, standing tall, and knowing every word to the National Anthem and My Country tis of Thee. (oh, and Jesus Loves Me)

The first time I saw a Gold Star Mother on one of the floats in the parade, I wondered why a “girl” would be on a float. I expected that all war heroes then were men like my great Uncle. My Gram said to me,” That is a Gold Star Mother whose child was killed in the war like my brother.” I hadn’t heard the word “killed” like that and it stung me. I wondered how come that Mom was not crying uncontrollably because her child was gone. Instead, she held her militarily folded flag and her head high.

At four, the idea that 25 years or perhaps only seven years (with Vietnam, at the time) had passed escaped my comprehension. I was basing my thought on the fact that I could not ever imagine life without my mother. And, it also dawned on me that my Great Grandmother was a Gold Star Mother. I never knew Great Grandma Susannah Miles, an immigre from Wales and the mother of my great Aunts and Uncles: Eleanor, Harrison, Howard, Harriet, Donald, David, Rees, Marion, Richard, Francis, Edward, Robert, Franklin, Wilson

David S. Miles was 32 when he was drafted to serve. He was a construction engineer in the Army according to military documents. On February 2^nd, 1943 while moving through Torpedo Alley near Greenland, The USS Dorchester was slammed by a torpedo launched from a German (Nazi)U-boat that had tracked them through the night. There were 900 plus soldiers, sailors, crewmen aboard. They took a direct hit in the engine room and many died instantly. The Four Chaplains I had heard about growing up, were indeed heroes among men. It was apparent there was a shortage of life vests. The Four Chaplains gave up their vests “so others may live.” The ship sunk in 27 minutes despite efforts to be righted. 675 people died, the dead, the ship lost at sea.

Funny thing about sacrifice back then. The women took on the rolls of the men gone off to war. People were asked to conserve rubber, tin, power, gas, clothing, even food. They did whatever was necessary to support the war effort. Nobody questioned making such sacrifices. It was just what one did in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. One stood behind God, Country, and the President for victory.

I mention these sacrifices because I know that my great Uncle was never memorialized with a funeral service. True, his body was never recovered, but family never said goodbye. Imagine enduring the death of a son in the name of freedom and being so calmly practical as to not spend money on a soul that rested at the bottom of the sea. That is how my Gram explained it. You did what you had to do.

I heard from my Mom the other day. Great Uncle Dave finally had a memorial. A flag with 48 stars that had flown over the Capitol was raised at the Town Hall of Oxford in his honor and will be flown there until Memorial Day. It will then be given to his brother, my Uncle Bob, also a World War 2 veteran. Military traditions run deep in the Miles family. It is an honor to remember that there were others also. Great Uncles Edward, Frank and Reese on this day I remember you! Uncle Ed, I was always amazed at your calm nature, Uncle Frank, I remember your big bellied laugh, and Uncle Reese, It’s Aunt Mildred’s ginger cookies I think of first! …Last, but not least, Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob, every time I see a split change purse, I remember how many dimes and quarters you spit out just for me…And on the other side of the family, I remember Uncle Ben…This guy had the best Beer Can collection ever! May all of you Rest in Peace, having faithfully served. I will always remember you on Memorial Day. (I know, Uncle Bob, 85 and still kicking!)

Gold Star mothers don’t always cry, and hopefully, when they do it is because they are proud of their sons and daughters’ service and sacrifice. I cry with them, though I don’t know their pain. I only know the pride I feel to live in Country such as this. Having served, I sacrificed little in comparison to the fallen and those serving currently in Iraq. My job now is to continue to preserve the freedoms our founders fought for and which our military defends presently. It is a gift and a privilege. Remember those who go to sleep at night, wondering whether this could be their last day on earth and mind, if we aren’t careful, we too could wake up one day in a land we do not recognize.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Ronald Reagan

Insight of a Sergeant Major
J.D. Pendry, CSM, U.S.Army (retired)

Jimmy Carter, you're the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You're the Runner-in-Chief.

Bill Clinton, you played "ring around the Lewinsky" while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia, and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses embolden the killers. Each time you failed to respond adequately they grew bolder, until 9/11.

John Kerry, dishonesty is your most prominent attribute. You lied about American Soldiers in Vietnam. Your military service, like your life, is more fiction than fact. You've accused our Soldiers of terrorizing women and in Iraq. You called Iraq "the wrong war, wrong place, wrong time"... the same words you used to describe Vietnam. You're a fake. You want to run from Iraq and abandon the Iraqis to murderers just as you did the Vietnamese. Iraq, like Vietnam, is another war that you were for, before you were against it.

John Murtha, you said our military was broken. You said we can't win militarily in Iraq. You accused United States Marines of cold-blooded murder without proof. And said we should re-deploy to Okinawa. Okinawa, John? And the Democrats call you their military expert. Are you sure you didn't suffer a traumatic brain injury while you were off building your war hero resume? You're a sad, pitiable, corrupt and washed up politician. You're not a Marine sir. You wouldn't amount to a pimple on a real Marine's asss. You're a phony and a disgrace. Run away John.

Dick Durbin, you accused our Soldiers at Guantanamo of being Nazis, tenders of Soviet style gulags and as bad as the regime of Pol Pot who murdered two million of his own people after your party abandoned South East Asia to the Communists. Now you want to abandon the Iraqis to the same fate. History was not a good teacher for you, was it? See Dick run.

Ted Kennedy, for days on end you held poster-sized pictures from Abu Grhaib in front of any available television camera. Al Jazeera quoted you saying that Iraq's torture chambers were open under new management. Did you see the news this week Teddy? The Islamic Nazis demonstrate real torture for you again. If you truly supported our troops, you'd show the world poster-sized pictures of that atrocity and demand the annihilation of it. Your legislation stripping support from the South Vietnamese which led to a communist victory there. You're a bloated fool bent on repeating the same historical blunder that turned freedom-seeking people over to homicidal, genocidal maniacs. To paraphrase John Murtha, all while sitting on your wide, gin-soaked rear-end in Washington.

Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Carl Levine, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Pat Leahy, Chuck Schumer et al ad nauseam. Every time you stand in front of television cameras and broadcast to the Islamic Nazis that we went to war because our President lied. That the war is wrong and our Soldiers are torturers. That we should leave Iraq, you give the Islamic butchers - the same ones that tortured and mutilated American Soldiers - cause to think that we will run away again and all they have to do is hang on a little longer.

American news media, the New YorkTimes particularly. Each time you publish stories about national defense secrets and our intelligence gathering methods, you become one with the sub-human pieces of camel dung that torture and mutilate the bodies of American Soldiers. You can't strike up the courage to publish cartoons, but you can help Al Qaeda destroy my country. Actually, you are more dangerous to us than Al Qaeda is. Think about that each time you face Mecca to admire your Pulitzer.

You are America's axis of idiots. Your collective stupidity will destroy us. Self-serving politics and terrorist abetting news scoops are more important to you than our national security or the lives of innocent civilians and Soldiers. It bothers you that defending ourselves gets in the way of your elitist sport of politics and your ignorant editorializing. There is as much blood on your hands as is on the hands of murdering terrorists. Don't ever doubt that. Your frolics will only serve to extend this war as they extended Vietnam. If you want our Soldiers home, as you claim, knock off the crap and try supporting your country ahead of supporting your silly political aims and aiding our enemies. Yes, I'm questioning your patriotism. Your loyalty ends with -self. I'm also questioning why you're stealing air that decent Americans could be breathing. You don't deserve the protection of our men and women in uniform. You need to run away from this war and this country. Leave the war to the people who have the will to see it through and the country to people who are willing to defend it.

No Commander in Chief, you don't get off the hook either. Our country has two enemies. Those who want to destroy us from the outside and those who attempt it from within. Your Soldiers are dealing with the outside force. It's your obligation to support them by confronting the axis of idiots.(ie, the enemy from within) America must hear it from you that these people are harming our country, abetting the enemy and endangering our safety. Well up a little anger please, and channel it toward the appropriate target. You must prosecute those who leak national security secrets to the media. You must prosecute those in the media who knowingly publish those secrets. Our Soldiers need you to confront the enemy that they cannot. They need you to do it now.

I could not have put it any better...start showing that you have the cajones,Mr. President! 

One of my favorite quotes found on discarded notebook reads “ Music: There has to be a message.” And in this song by the 70’s band, Styx, there is. Fields of the Brave, written in 2004. This is what the left wants to throw away…

If you close your eyes, can’t you picture what it must have been like to find Heaven on earth where one was FREE!!! Free to do, say or be anything!!! If one has read any of the writings of those who came before, It is plain to see that they were a humbled group of people.

I ask the question, “Why Humble?” My answer is because they knew oppression and had escaped it. Indeed, they experienced hard times, but the end result was Freedom. And we inherited that which they sacrificed for,

The United States of America!!

The cost of Freedom and the things given up to achieve such a land are immeasurable. As a Nation, we have taken have taken this for granted because we have not known the same strife and struggle of our Founders.

This song just gave me goose bumps the first time I heard it. My Gram was one who oozed history. She had 5 brothers who served during WW2. A staunch republican, she told me when I was ten, “It doesn’t matter if you voted for the President who wins the election, just that you vote. And no matter what you think, if there is ever another war, you must always support that President and his soldiers.”

They had to make many sacrifices. We have not had to make any sacrifices. And I would gladly do so, if asked. I have spoken to a friend serving. One of the things I always tell him is that I have not forgotten why I get to walk down the street, drive my car, shop. He always replies, “Then that means we are doing our job.“

More people need to respect the freedoms afforded us and start paying attention or it will be lost. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We have come too far and there is no going back. The soldiers are protecting this Country and all it stands for. They are the “Fields of the Brave.”


Think of your favorite patriotic song...any song,even Rock and Roll! Iwill post a compiled list.

Yesterday was a Gathering of Eagles “get together” in Chapel Hill, NC. We were invited by the Conservative Women’s Voice to attend a rally in support of the troops and The USA. It was a well- organized ,if not intimate event. There were several guest speakers, Stuck Mojo, the band.

The rally was in response to the anti-war walkout protest at UNC a month or so ago. Students who are against the war did a really brave thing. They walked out of class for the day.

It never ceases to amaze one at the lack of work it takes to be an anti-war protester, haha. That someone else funds the bigger events for them and all they do is show up and become sponges is grueling work, hey? Never mind that by word of mouth since Feb 1, The GOE has grown to have chapters in many states... and who will go on Memorial Day Saturday May 26th to stand with their brothers in arms, Rolling Thunder to rmember the fallen, those who fight today and to pay homage to the greatest Nation.

We have raised our own money with no help from Hollywood, no hand-outs, nothing. Just the blood sweat and tears of the patriots of this Country…62k!!! And, it cost 52k for the GOE-I to go off! (Head over to the forum and donate if you can! (Click the link on my blog roll)

Thanks to all who made it happen. I would not have missed it, even if only about a hundred people showed up and some from kinda faraway… a couple from Rock Hill, SC, Rick from Ohio, Ohio!!
We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem, and at times chanted USA,USA!!! And Dwain Cleveland sang an awesome song he wrote in '69 titled "Old Glory" (http://www.operationmom.org/oldglory.html)  Before he sang, he reminede us not to forget why they fight...alot of emotion there, folks...ouch!
We were in the heart of the most liberal campus in North Carolina. Surprisingly enough, since no one wanted to work and be a part of a counter-protest, I give credit to the two lefties that did show up…One of the guys in the band welcomed “Santa with the “impeach Bush” sign and even offered free beer (psyyche!!!). They left after maybe 20 minutes. The band sang nothing but great patriotic songs and talked a bit about traveling around Europe. They mentioned some of their experiences with socialized medicine (it sucks!, no surprise there) and the things they noticed people weren’t doing or allowed to do and that it always made them proud that they hailed from the US and got to come back home.

You will not believe what you read!!!

One of the things that really struck me (and I sincerely mean this…)is that it was very surreal there. I felt as if I had entered the Twilight Zone. Not because people were mean or nasty, but I swear that they really have forgotten there is a war on. I can’t even describe how it felt to  be there.  It is not even possible to describe the feeling in my gut at this moment.

Especially when the little Green Peace Pixies approached my friend Jeff and I with baked goods they were selling to SAVE THE WHALES!!! Jeff was ready…he asked them how they were going to save them. And although he bought a cookie, it was out of hunger!! He called me later on to tell me about the tag he took off the cookie bag. He had absent-mindedly stuck it in his pocket so as not to litter…It was the shape of a whale….one side said “Help me!” He turned it over as he was tossing it and saw the note: Call President Bush and his number.  I asked Jeff to send the JPEG, but I cannot figure out how to get the pix on the blog, yet. I may have to use a HL.

Anyway, Jeff is a funny guy and he sent this with the JPEG:

Green Peace voicemail to the President of the United States:

Everything such as food, clothing, durable goods (washing machines, for example) and the like had become scarce..

Does the left bother to ask themselves why? Absolutely not. Why? Because the people were tired of busting their asses day in and day out only to find at the end of the day, they had zilch to show for it. Did it make sense to farm a thousand acres of wheat, yet end up with no flour, or even bread to eat? Staples were mainly found on the black market. Suddenly, they realized, why bother to bust it when I cannot benefit?

What is the point of this? The point is that if the everyday average joe continues to stick his head in the sand, one day, this is where we will be.

Why does the left think like this? I will never understand because I am not them...it jsut blows my mind. I hear friends say they are liberal, yet many are more conservative than they know. If I ask them do they want to give their hard-earned pay to someone who sits around all day, they say no. If I ask them do they believe in waiting 2 years for a back surgery to alleviate chronic pain which is debilitating to have equal access for all, I hear no. If I ask them do they want more gov't, no. Do they enjoy freedom of speech-yes. Does PC get under your skin,yes. You see where I am headed with this....But God-forbid I say, George Bush is still president...

Here are a few more places for you to look…It is absolutely astounding!!