I have been very fortunate in having
grown up in a very patriotic family.
My parents love and support this country.
Voting is an honor and a duty.
I feel very strongly about those who
serve in our military.
I remember seeing my daddy in his uniform
and I know what serving this country cost him.
My dad served in World War II and the Korean
conflict. He was a navigator flying on
on a B-52. He missed a mission
that cost the rest of his crew their lives.

This is the World WarII Memorial

I have a son
that served in the Marines in special forces.
Charles spent 6 months on the Tarawa
and was among those that rescued Americans
out of Africa in the summer of 1998.

This is the Tarawa, also called
"The Eagle of the Sea"

I have another son,Ben, that served a brief
time in the Air Force.

This is a photo of Ben in his ROTC uniform.

So when I see the Flag, I still stand proud.
When the national anthem plays, I still get a
lump in my throat
and goose bumps on my arm.

I have a real problem with people wanting to
burn our flag but also realize that
because of the freedom it stands for, they
are allowed to do this without retaliation.

There are tragic moments in our history
Pause to remember Pearl Harbor and what
took place on a pleasant, sunny day
that would change Americans forever!
2,403--2,588 Americans and 185 Japanese
died in the attack.
Can someone make sense out of this
pattern called a war?
Who really wins? Tell that to a
dead son's mother.

Please take the time to be aware that our
service men and women do keep a watch
over what we so often take for granted.
Some have given their lives that we might
remain free. Some never came home and were
listed as POWs or Missing in Action.

Among those I count as friends,
fellow classmates and family,
were those serving in Vietnam
It is a disgrace that they were treated
so terribly. To this day, I still do not watch
Jane Fonda. If you don't know the story, rent the
movie Hanoi Hilton. It happened and she was the
reporter kissing the communist and wanting our
soldiers to apologize for being in Vietnam.
Finally, after how many years, they get a memorial.
Friends of mine that did come home
could actually be called "the walking wounded",
Vietnam left it's mark permanently on them.

May we never forget the precious price of freedom!

Home

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

World War II Memorial

United States Air Force Musemum

I discovered the following site back in 1998 and loved his
graphics then. He has a wonderful site and is dedicated to the Vietnam
Pow's and trying to find out what happened to these unfound. Please visit
his site and pass it on to others. I also thank him for the graphics
I have used here and hope he will be pleased with my work. God Bless you
Dennis in all that you do.
Raptor's Nest