I hope you don't mind but I thought a funny story might be appropriate too!

An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, "Ah, you're an engineer -- you're in the wrong place."
So, the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is let in. Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After awhile, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy.
One day, God calls Satan up on the telephone and says with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in hell?"
Satan replies, "Hey, things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next."
God replies, "What??? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake -- he should never have gotten down there; send him up here."
Satan says, "No way." I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him."
God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue."
Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"

Standing for what you believe in,
Regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance,
...means courage

Keeping a smile on your face,
When inside you feel like dying,
For the sake of supporting others,
...means strength

Stopping at nothing,
And doing what's in your heart,
You know is right,
...means determination

Doing more than is expected,
To make another's life a little more bearable,
Without uttering a single complaint,
...means compassion

Helping a friend in need,
No matter the time or effort,
To the best of your ability,
...means loyalty

Giving more than you have,
And expecting nothing
But nothing in return,
...means selflessness

Holding your head high,
And being the best you know you can be
When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence
That time will bring you better tomorrow's,
And never giving up,
...means confidence.

That is an excellent thought!

A Soldier's Christmas



The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Michael Marks
December 7th, 2000
marksman@patriot.net


In loving appreciation of the countless Americans who have and continued to serve in the Armed Forces, and those who gave their life for their country. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. We look forward to the day you come home. God bless and keep you always, and God Bless America!

me

I can be sweet... Or Not...

1. Relax and take it easy. Don't get caught up in hollow conceits such as "doing something with your life." Such twaddle is outmoded and a sure formula for disappointment.

2. Whatever it is you pursue, try to do it just well enough to remain in the middle third of the field. Keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself and don't ask questions. Remember, the squeaky wheel is the first one to be replaced.

3. Size people up quickly, and develop rigid attitudes based on your first impression. If you try to delve deeper and get to "know" people, you're asking for trouble.

4. Don't fall for that superstitious nonsense about treating people the way you would like to be treated. It is a transparently narcissistic approach, and may be the sign of a weak mind.

5. Spend as much time as you can pleading and impressing others, even if it makes you unhappy. Pay special attention to shallow manipulators who can do you the most harm. Remember, in the overall scheme, you count for very little.

6. Surround yourself with inferiors and losers. Not only will you look good by comparison, but they will look up to you, and that will make you feel better.

7. Don't buy into the sentimental notion that everyone has shortcomings; it's the surest way of undermining yourself. Remember, the really best people have no defects. If you're not perfect, something is wrong.

8. If by some off chance you do detect a few faults, first, accept the fact that you are probably deeply flawed. Then make a list of your faults and dwell on them. Carry the list around and try to think of things to add. Blame yourself for everything.

9. Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable. Instead, develop preconceived notions and don't waver unless someone tells you to. Then change your mind and adopt their point of view. But only if they seem to know what they're talking about.

10. Never give up on an idea simply because it is bad and doesn't work. Cling to it even when it is hopeless. Anyone can cut and run, but it takes a very special person to stay with something that is stupid and harmful. (My personal favorite)

11. Always remember, today doesn't count. Trying to make something out of today only robs you of precious time that could be spent daydreaming or resting up.

12. Try to dwell on the past. Think of all the mistakes you've made, and how much better it would be if you hadn't made them. Think of what you should have done, and blame yourself for not doing so. And don't go easy. Be really hard on yourself.

13. If by chance you make a fresh mistake, especially a costly one, try to repeat it a few times so you become familiar with it and can do it easily in the future. Write it down. Put it with your list of faults.

14. Beware also of the dangerous trap of looking ahead; it will only get you in trouble. Instead, try to drift along from day to day in a meandering fashion. Don't get sidetracked with some foolish "plan."

15. Finally, enjoy yourself all the time, and do whatever you want. Don't be seduced by that mindless chatter going around about "responsibility." That's exactly the sort of thing that can ruin your life.

GEORGE CARLIN

JEFF DICKSON FOR GEORGE CARLIN

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; we have more food, but less appeasement; we build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology has brought this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference, or to just hit "Skip Ahead"...

Gerald I appologize to you and everyone here for that thoughtless post. I never meant to cause harm to anyone.

I have asked AD to remove it.

I'm so very sorry.

me

great stuff folks. linda, i like the poem and if you and GHG want it gone, ok ....... I hope I made the right call here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alpha Dog

The most destructive habit..........................Worry

The greatest Joy.........................................Giving

The greatest loss.......................................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work............................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait..........................Selfishness

The most endangered species......................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource.......................Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm".......................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome...............Fear

The most effective sleeping pill.....................Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease.................Excuses

The most powerful force in life.....................Love

The most dangerous pariah..........................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer..........The brain

The worst thing to be without......................Hope

The deadliest weapon................................The tongue

The two most power-filled words................. "I Can"

The greatest asset........................................Faith

The most worthless emotion.........................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire...............................SMILE!

The most prized possession.......................Integrity

The most powerful communication channel....Prayer

The most contagious spirit.........................Enthusiasm

To the WORLD, YOU may be ONE person; but to ONE person,
YOU may be the WORLD...

Sent to me by a friend,
Cherry

Thanks Cherry
Rick

Be careful out there

No kidding about the tongue....lol

The only two things that I know for certian are-

#1 - Honey is sweet

#2 - Crap stinks

Have a good one folks.

By GHG

This isn't affliated with the military but I thought it was an excellent article that should be shared:

SHARING AND THE FIRE FAMILY
by Monsignor John Sammon, CSFA Chaplain

quote:

---

Recently I read a quotation attributed to the great St. Augustine and the more I thought about it the more I thought it would be a good article for some good thinking or meditating: "Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others." If any agency is based on sharing it has to be our Fire Family, due to the manner in which the work is done (i.e. broken into small groups called "stations" on "shifts/watches", etc. So let's see how it can apply to ourselves in the performance of a regular shift. Certainly one of the best protective factors in such a situation is "sharing". So much is demanded by the united group actions. One "hold out" in so many occasions can cause a problem and problems can cause unhappy results. Over the years one basic element that can be seriously damaged by a "cutting back" or a "cutting down" is the married life of the Fire Family member. A great help that existed for years was "The Ladies Auxiliary" or some such name for the Association of Wives. To cut down on sharing communications with ones partner/spouse, is a very unwise judgment. Another area of not sharing, deals with the family members. Now I am not saying this about the demanding duties but only the sharing when the fire duties were not involved. Time for brother firefighters but not for "Little League", "Pop Warner", or high school programs. Lost elementary school activities are extreemely visible in a teen whose father is trying to claim the bond that was passed up. At graduations I find a basic opinion proved over and over. When a family member becomes a Fire Family member, it usually follows the structure the father, the Fire Family member was : 1. Husband 2. Father 3. Firefighter. The opposite seldom produces a son/daughter following the father: 1. Firefighter 2. Husband 3. Father. Sharing begins before high school. Consider the many non-fire fighting activities that occure during the hours of shift/watch: Active interest in the community is really a must. Sharing individual time relates a solid result of good cooperation of the Fire Service. Due to a particular reality some things are hard to share. Since living outside the territorial jurisdiction of the department, the Fire Family member only is there when on duty which means the further away the residence the fewer responses. Even departmental activities suffer as well. It might be safe to say that given each fire member a period of five years, each has experienced an activity of non-sharing that caused a demanding serious situation in the company life and peace. This occurs because our Fire Family is such a unique service and family examples would be based on particular and not general structures. (Each department does things differently) Certainly the private life of a Fire Family company or station is a world of its own. The strength of unity and sharing are the basic and strong ground that can allow fun activities and humor. Without a sharing element such a relationship could never be reality. You can do some more thinking on your own and we can all thank God for the great blessing of our Fire Family.

---

\

Of course, this is directed to the fire service. However, I think the point can be applied to any circumstance and it best sums up how I feel about things. I have seen, first hand, what happens when you hold something back. And, quite frankly, I NEVER WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN!!!!

quote:

---

One "hold out" in so many occasions can cause a problem and problems can cause unhappy results.

---

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." Eleanor Roosevelt

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. GHG

Message from England

No matter what your views on President Bush's statement of upcoming
war, this, from an English journalist, is very interesting. Just for
background, for those of you not familiar with the UK's Daily Mirror.
This is a notoriously left-wing daily that is normally not supportive
of us "Colonials " across the Atlantic. It is very well written.


London Daily Mirror

Tony Parsons
September 11, 2002

One year ago, the world witnessed a unique kind of broadcasting---the
mass murder of thousands, live on television.
As a lesson in the pitiless cruelty of the human race, September 11
was up there with Pol Pot's Mountain of Skulls in Cambodia, or the
skeletal bodies stacked like garbage in the Nazi concentration camps.
An unspeakable act so cruel, so calculated and so utterly merciless
that surely the world could agree on one thing - nobody deserves this
fate.
Surely there could be consensus: The victims were truly innocent, the
perpetrators truly evil.

But to the world's eternal shame, 9/11 is increasingly seen as
America's comeuppance. Incredibly, anti-Americanism
has increased over the last year.
There has always been a simmering resentment to the USA in this
country; too loud, too rich, too full of themselves, and so much
happier than Europeans but it has become an epidemic. And it seems
incredible to me.
More than that, it turns my stomach. America is this country's
greatest friend and our staunchest ally. We are bonded to the US by
culture, language and blood. A little over half a century ago, around
half a million Americans died for our freedoms, as well as their own.
Have we forgotten so soon? And exactly a year ago, thousands of
ordinary men, women and children - not just Americans, but from
dozens of countries, were butchered by a small group of religious
fanatics. Are we so quick to betray them?
What touched the heart about those who died in the Twin Towers and on
the planes, was that we recognized them. Young fathers and mothers,
somebody's son and somebody's daughter, husbands, wives, and
children, some unborn.
And these people brought it on themselves? Their nation is to blame
for their meticulously planned slaughter?
These days you don't have to be some dust-encrusted nut job in Kabul
or Karachi or Finsbury Park to see America as the
Great Satan. The anti-American alliance is made up of self-loathing
liberals who blame the Americans for every ill in the Third World,
and conservatives suffering from power-envy, bitter that the world's
only superpower can do what it likes without having to ask
permission.
The truth is that America has behaved with enormous restraint since
September 11.
Remember, remember -
Remember the gut-wrenching tapes of weeping men phoning their wives
to say, "I love you," before they were burned alive.
Remember those people leaping to their deaths from the top of burning
skyscrapers.
Remember the hundreds of firemen buried alive.
Remember the smiling face of that beautiful little girl who was
on one of the planes with her mum.
Remember, remember - And realize that America has never
retaliated for 9/11 and anything like the way it could have.
So a few al-Qaeda tourists got locked without a trial in Camp X-ray?
Pass the Kleenex...
So some Afghan wedding receptions were shot up after they merrily
fired their semi-automatics in a sky full of American planes? A
shame, but maybe next time they should stick to confetti.
AMERICA could have turned a large chunk of the world into a parking
lot.
That it didn't is a sign of strength. American voices are already
being raised against attacking Iraq - that's what a
democracy is for. How many in the Islamic world will have a minute's
Silence for the slaughtered innocents of 9/11? How many Islamic
leaders will have the guts to say that the mass murder of 9/11 was an
abomination?
When the news of 9/11 broke on the West Bank,
those freedom-loving Palestinians were dancing in the street. America
watched all of that - and didn't push the button. We should thank the
stars that America is
the most powerful nation in the world. I still find it
incredible that 9/11 did not provoke all-out war. Not a "war on
terrorism." A real war.
The fundamentalist dudes are talking about
"opening the gates of hell," if America attacks Iraq. Well, America
could have opened the gates of hell like you wouldn't believe.
The US is the most militarily powerful nation that ever strode the
face of the earth. The campaign in Afghanistan may have been less
than perfect and the planned war on Iraq may be misconceived.
But don't blame America for not bringing peace and light to these
wretched countries. How many democracies are there in the Middle
East, or in the Muslim world? You can count them on the fingers of
one hand - assuming you haven't had any chopped off for minor
shoplifting.
They should love America, yet America is hated. I guess that makes me
Bush's poodle. But I would rather be a dog in New York City than a
Prince in Riyadh. Above all, America is hated because it is what
Every country wants to be - rich, free, strong, open, optimistic. Not
ground down by the past, or religion, or some caste system. America
is the best friend this country ever had and we should start
remembering that. Or do you really think the USA is the root of all
evil? Tell it to the loved ones of the men and women who leaped to
their death from the burning towers.
Tell it to the nursing mothers whose husbands died on one of the
hijacked planes, or were ripped apart in a collapsing skyscraper.
And tell it to the hundreds of young widows whose husbands worked for
the New York Fire Department.
To our shame, George Bush gets a worse press than Saddam Hussein.
Once we were told that Saddam gassed the Kurds, tortured his own
people and set up rape-camps in Kuwait. Now we are told he likes
Quality Street Candies. Save me the orange center, Oh Mighty One!
Remember, remember, September 11 -One of the greatest atrocities in
human history was committed against America. No, do more than
remember. Never forget.

Sent to me the way it is by a friend,
Cherry

Thanks guys for the laughs.

Cherry, great post.

Thanks all.

Ray, One die hard true blue American Military supporter. Member of Troll Hunter Squadron.....Aerial Gunner

You might have PTSD if:

1. Discussing medications a little too loud in a restaurant seems normal

2. You believe in aerial spraying of Prozac

3. You believe that coming from a shallow gene pool is pre-requisite for being a grunt.

4. You beleive that most people should need a permit to reproduce

5. You believe that C-Rats is a food group

6. You believe that the unspeakable will occur if anyone says, "It sure is quiet around here"

7. You believe that "Too stupid to live" describes your gunny sergeant

8. You believe that the waiting room at the VA Clinic should have a valium salt lick

9. You believe that Dr. Kevorkian is a VA specialist

10. You believe that your Corpsman/medic lost your shot record just before your hitch was up.

Copied from the Web,
Cherry

The Boys Of War

As boys they sent us off to fight,
We did as we were told.
On our return as men we found,
A nation bleak and cold.

As boys we went, so full of pride,
We'd be heros on our return.
As men, we left our childhood there,
And quickly had to learn.

No heros we, the boys of war,
That fought and died as men.
For honor and a hero's welcome,
Your battles you must win.

It wasn't enough to suffer and bleed,
For a country so full of pride.
It had no use for a losing cause,
So they cast us all aside.

There was no honor in saying I served,
If I couldn't say I had won.
So we kept to ourselves and spoke not a word,
Of what we had seen and done.

We all went our way and built a shell,
Then quietly crawled inside.
The world we knew had ceased to exist,
We were stripped of all our pride.

We told no one of the pain we felt,
For who was there to tell.
When America turned her back on us,
She doomed each to a private hell.

Gone forever the days of youth,
Left somewhere far behind.
No thanks were offered for blood we shed,
No rest for a troubled mind.

For years we wandered, alone and lost,
Left to deal with the hurt and shame.
By a country wanting only the glory,
Without accepting the blame.

Today the hurt is still inside,
Though the war was a lifetime ago.
At last we're learning, it's not a sin,
To let your feelings show.

Today we gather in veterans groups,
And friends that will lend an ear.
That understand how we feel inside,
As we talk of the pain and fear.

At last I'm learning to live with myself,
Not so strong the urge to roam.
As I had when a boy went away to war,
And a bitter old man came home.

Served With Honor--Walk With Pride
Semper Fi

Wow, Roger! That was truly awesome!!! Made me cry!

Welcome home, hero!

I'm so sorry it's almost 40 years coming, but you are most definitely a hero in my eyes, war won or not! Welcome home!

Thank you! Now you can understand when I say I write the pain out!

Served With Honor--Walk With Pride
Semper Fi