Ronald Reagan's Veterans Day Prayer

Thank you, Veterans--past, present, and future--for your selfless sacrifices to this country.  And, thank you, families of these men and women--sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts--for the interruptions in your lives as your loved ones serve our great nation.  May the Lord richly bless you all!  --LKR

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you to all our Veterans for keeping us, our freedoms, and liberties all safe! May God richly bless you all, and your families!  --LKR

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze;

A young Marine saluted it,
... And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform,
So young, so tall, so proud;
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought... how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves
No, Freedom is not Free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still;
I listened to the bugler play,
And felt a sudden chill;

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend;

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands.
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No. Freedom Is Not Free!!!!!!

--Kelly Strong, 1981

Written as a tribute to his dad who served two terms in Vietnam and is a career Marine 

This Lame Man Now Walks!

Enjoy this awesomely inspiring video of Arthur Boorman, an injured Gulf War Veteran, as he overcomes the disability his doctors told him he'd never be able to overcome!

Years ago, I had a friend who was in a car accident who was told she'd never be able to walk or use her arms. She wouldn't take that as an answer, so worked very hard. Within a year, she was walking and hugging, again!

Moral of these two (of many) stories? To quote a line from Galaxy Quest, "Never give up! Never surrender!" --LKR

Happy Veteran's Day!!!

Thanks to all who have served, are serving, and will serve our great country, protecting our freedoms and liberties, and thanks to your families as well! Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed!!!

"... in our hearts you will always be young, full of the love that is youth, love of life, love of joy, love of country - you fought for your country and for its safety and for the freedom of others with strength and courage. We love you for it. We honor you. And we have faith that, as He does all His sacred children, the Lord will bless you and keep you, the Lord will make His face to shine upon you and give you peace, now and forevermore."

President Ronald Reagan

1988 Veteran's Day address

Thanks To All Our Veterans

A very special thank you to all our Veterans!!! --LKR

Honoring Our Veterans

Thanks to all of our men and women in the military--past, present, and future--and their families. It is a great sacrifice that is very much appreciated and should never be neglected in remembering who they were and what they fought for. Freedom is not free and must be protected. Those that were injured or died serving their country must never have died in vain. Value your freedom, and thank a veteran for what they did for you! We must not take our freedom for granted! --LKR

Sing it, Krista!

Freedom For All

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone! And many thanks to those of you who have served to defend the freedoms of our country!

Every Memorial Day, my Mom would bring my sister and me up town for the Memorial Day service held on the corner lot of the public library in Chatham, NJ. Both of my parents were immigrants from Hungary, and so appreciated the freedoms they now enjoyed in the states. Mom came over at the age of seven with her mother; Dad in his late twenties after serving in WWII.

There were many memories both my parents shared of how life was in Hungary. One phrase my Dad repeated often describing society in his native country was: "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine also," adding, "You don't know how fortunate you are to be living in a country like this. Never forget that." Dad would also relay how the poor stayed poor while the rich stayed rich. And if the authorities didn't like you, for whatever the reason, false accusations could be charged against you without further questioning in your defense made.

Though Dad apprenticed as a tailor, he miraculously passed a virtually impassable test to work for the Hungarian National Railroad the third time he took it. This meant he also moved up a notch in the social realm, something that was seldom accomplished. Jealousy and hatred by a couple commanders clashed with admiration and praise from many others.

This, I fear, is what we are heading for with the change sought after by this new administration. Our veterans have sacrificed their lives for the original, authentic American dream held so dear by our Founding Fathers and the many individuals that sought, and are still seeking, to escape dictating, controlling societies.

After being injured and finding himself in Paris, Dad never saw his parents, family, or homeland again. Tearfully, through letters, his parents urged their only child never to attempt to return home. They all feared for his life if he ever set foot into the country since he had been employed by the government, and the political climate had changed.

Again I will express gratitude to those who have--and will--continue to defend the authentic American dream! May God bless America! --LKR

Memorial Poppy

This beautiful poem was written in 1915 by Major John McCrae who served in the Canadian Army as a surgeon. It is a tribute to all who sacrificed their lives in war for peace.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

A woman named Moina Belle Michael later replied with her own poem, We Shall Keep the Faith. Moina was also responsible for the conception of the Memorial Poppy. Through her hard work and diligence, red poppies became the national emblem of remembrance for those who had not returned home from war.

We Shall Keep the Faith

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

Thanks to all of our veterans for serving our country, enabling liberty and freedom for all!

--LKR

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This is the newest circle located at the south side of Eau Claire. Click to enlarge the picture, and you will see little flags placed here for Memorial Day.

(The tire tracks you see are evidence of drunk drivers who either tried to drive over the circle or didn't see the circle--they get stuck and have to call for help. Honestly.)

Happy Independence Day!

Growing up in a little colonial town was really exciting as a child, especially around the 4^th of July. My sister and I would eagerly watch as our neighbor, a seasoned fireman, backed out the treasured antique fire truck he had safely stored in his garage. To us, it was a very special part of the highly anticipated parade held up on Main Street in Chatham, NJ. It was then cleaned and tuned up, making it ready for the big day… .

Way too early in the morning on Independence Day, we’d be awakened by what sounded like bombs being set off throughout town, which would rattle our windows and get us out of bed! Trees lining the curbs of many roads were posted with the usual black and white signs reading: “Emergency No Parking in Street”, although now the bold lettering is in red and more wordy, from what I’ve been told.

Throngs of neighbors lugging aluminum folding chairs would begin climbing streets leading to the center of town, while those who had left their chairs the afternoon before to reserve their spots would leave later for the parade.

Our Mom had always stressed the importance of honoring the many military veterans, volunteer fire and rescue workers, and of course the American flag, as they passed by. We’d do this by standing, saluting, and cheering them on, encouraging those younger than us to do so, as well. A highlight of the parade, herolding it’s end, was a clown setting fire to a small cardboard house. Triumphantly, a fire truck would come to the rescue, extinguishing the smoke while the crowds cheered.

At the park in the afternoon, firefighters would hand out bags of peanuts to long lines of children, tossing any extra bags to the crowds from their trucks. Fireworks were later held at what was then the Boro’s high school. I remember a lot of blue and gold fireworks, which were Chatham High’s school colors. Every year it was displayed: an illuminated “burning” house and fire truck rushing to the scene which thrilled young and old alike. Sirens were provided by one of the fire engines stationed nearby where the pyrotechnics were set up. Silvery white sparklers were the “water” that put the “fire” out.

Villa Park, IL, also had a real sense of close community with a lot of character. My children fondly remember the long parades filled with friends and neighbors they knew, and the interactive, playful water gun—and soaker!—“fights” between certain marchers and viewers that were quite comical to witness. In the evening, we’d head on over to Oak Brook Mall’s west side parking lot, joining the masses already lined along Highway 83 to watch the forthcoming impressive fireworks display.

We found our special niche for watching the displays in Eau Claire, WI, last year. Stumbling upon the beautiful new Phoenix Park over by the RCU building, we were rewarded with impressive views as well as displays without all the crowds that are usually jam-packed in Carson Park.

We all have our special memories of the 4^th of July when we were growing up. What are yours? And, how will you be spending America’s birthday, today? --LKR