Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Christmas Poem

A Different Christmas Poem

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 eyes 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."

"It's 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 sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure 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."


PLEASE...
Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can?
Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women
for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes,
living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.


LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq


This was sent to us by Gerry Schmuck.
Pray for our troops
and be thankful for all they do all year through.


God bless.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Agent Orange Review

If you have registered with the VA on the "Agent Orange Registery" you should be getting this newsletter. If you aren't getting this letter you either are not registered or they have lost your name and address.

This publication has some important information for veteran's that were exposed to Agent Orange.

If you need information on registering with the Veteran's Affairs you can contact them directly or contact your local American Legion, VFW or Veteran's Commission representative.



(left click to enlarge)

Disability Benefits - Veteran's Affairs

This is a new list of "Presumptive" Disability Benefits for Certain Groups of Veterans. The 1011th personnel would definately fall under the "Exposed to Agent Orange" category.

The VA is reviewing and adding to this list periodically so you need to stay in contact with your local VA or Veteran's Commission office to see if you may qualify for compensation under any of these categories.

Veteran's Affairs personnel are suggesting that if you think you may be entitled to a pension or compensation based on the list below, that you contact your local American Legion, VFW or Veteran's Commission to start the paperwork for determination.


(left click to enlarge)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Article in the Emporia Gazette featuring the Emporia unit of the 1011th

The following five posts here are from the feature supplement section of the Emporia Gazette which was published on November 5th, during Veteran's Week. The Gazette contacted four of the Emporia unit members and interviewed them for this article. The week long celebration and recognition of veteran's in the Emporia area, is largely because of the founding of the actual National observance of Veteran's Day being here.



(The quality of the following post is not the best but you can enlarge the print by left clicking on the post)




Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tomb of the Medal of Honor winner Grant Timmerman

Posted by Picasa

Emporia the Founding City of Veteran's Day

One of the two new signs that will be on I-35 on
the East side and West side of Emporia.




Posted by Picasa

Alll Veteran's Memorial

Newest addition to the All Veteran's Memorial in Emporia
is this limestone monument that was given by Kent and
Natalie Schnakenberg in honor of Norman E. (Bud) Schnakenberg.


(To enlarge photo, double click on the photo)
(Pictured in this photo, from
left to right: Natalie, Paige and
Kent Schnakenberg).
Posted by Picasa

All Veteran's Memorial

Lt. Gov. Findley

Veteran's Day Service


Posted by Picasa

All Veteran's Memorial Service

Posted by Picasa

All Veteran's Memorial Emporia

Veteran's memorial service following the parade in Emporia.




Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Local chapter of the Patriot Guard


Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

There were many service clubs with floats supporting our Vets
Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade



No Iraq volunteers - truck was empty
Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

There were several local classics in the parade.


Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Post 5 American Legion of Emporia

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Parade

One of the Vietnam Veteran color guards

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Mothers who have lost son's or daughter's in recent wars.


Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa

Emporia Veteran's Day Parade

Posted by Picasa