Thanks Giving

This year for Thanksgiving, not everyone will be home. Some of my family members will be with their in-laws, one brother will be in Afghanistan. We still pray for his safe return home. All sorts of people have asked me what my family and I will do this Thanksgiving with one brother in a war zone. "Not all of your family will be their!" My question is:

"What are we supposed to do?"

We cant change the circumstances; we will still have family, not all of us will be there. We are however, still going to calibrate how the Pilgrims survived starvation, and gave us the first building blocks of America. In Plymouth on December 22 1820 they have started a tradition called the "Five Kernels of Corn."I have also found a poem called the Five kernels of Corn

This year we are not going to do the bird. Turkey will still be on the menu. We are going to do something that my family loves. We are going to barbecue (sp?) turkey wrapped in bacon. Very good. I know it is November and we are going to barbecue. :)

Turkey breast
Smoked bacon
grill
kabob skewers

Method:
Cut the Turkey breast into bite size pieces. Cut the Bacon horizontally. Wrap the bacon around the turkey. Put through a Kabob skewer. Place on top of grill cook until done.

All month I have seen and herd people saying how they are thankful, and what they are thankful for. For some it is to sleep in, days off, family, friends, to have a job....still, to have a home to be living in, religion, and etc. Me I am thankful when I hear from my brother, it means of course that he is still alive. So this year this Thanksgiving to me means different then past years.

My rant!

I woke up this morning and for one brief moment, all was well, I had no worries, it was just another morning. I was in fact thinking about DWTS and who blew me way with their dancing, what to eat, you know stupid every day mundane stuff. Then reality hit me in the head after I had read an article. This article is very inspiring, it was very well written. Saving soldiers from suicide: The army seeks to stamp out stigma, by Kim Reischling. As I read this article I remembered what we as a country are facing. We are fighting what some would call a loosing war,*The war against terror.* As I see it there is no game plan, their never was a game plan. All it was, for our troops; as well for the troops around the world, to go in and fight, and all will be well. All is not well, it never was.

The military within the US is seeing a higher suicide rate then ever before. I am sorry, but I do not know about what other country's suicide rate are, but I assume that other countries have the same problems as the US. There is places to go to get help. Not only the military wants solders to be physically strong but mentally also. How can that be when military troops see more horrors then we at home can ever imagination? Oh sure Hollywood can somewhat recreate/simulate war movies. We watch movies like G.I. Joe, or John Wayne war movies; but we know that the actors who are "killed" will be standing up and walking around in the streets. Holly Wood, is and never was, the same as real life.

Our friends, brother, mothers, fathers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and etc, will always come back different, because of what they have seen, and had to do. My brother is a solider in Afghanistan, our *mighty* leader, refuse to send any more troops into Afghanistan with out a game plan. My question is why put them in their in the first place with out a "game plan"? What the heck was he thinking? We pray for my brothers safety, as well as the safety for other troops who are fighting this idiotic war.

May you all come home safe.

Veterans

The Army has finely considered my dad a Veteran. We got a letter by George W. Casey Jr. General, United States Army Chief of Staff and Pete Geren Secretary of the Army. The letter states:

Dear Glenn T. Robb

You have been submitted for a Freedom Team Salute Commendation by SPC Hyrum S. Robb for your service as a United States Army Veteran.

America has always called upon the Army to do the hard jobs. and its Soldiers have always answered the call. We are a free Nation, a Nation looked upon by millions of people around the world as the standard-bearer of freedoms-freedoms guaranteed by our outstanding Solders and by the Veterans who have served our great Country in the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

We are an Army of tradition. Our greatest tradition if service to our County, and in that service we ask our Soldiers to carry out tough mission all around the world. Today answering the Nation's call may take them into harm's way as we fight the Global War on Terrorism, a war that touches us all and on that we must win.

As today's soldiers serve, the the traditions and legacy passed on by the Army Veterans in precious conflicts sustain them so they can so what must be done to protect our freedoms. Our Army would not be the best in the world without the service of its Veterans who continue to provide support and exhibit patriotism. You make a difference to today's Army and to our Country.

There is more to this letter but all its states is about a pin and a thank you for his service within the army. There have been protest against the military for their service. People went so far as to spit on theses solders. That just tells me that these people don't enjoy the Freedom of our Nation (if that is the case move out). This Nation is free because countless of solders have dided to make us Free and keep us Free. To these people I say Thank You!!!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day, 1954

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

3071

Whereas it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and

Whereas in the intervening years the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; and

Whereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351), that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; and

Whereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose.

Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of October in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE

October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Eisenhower wanted the nation to remember the men and women who gave their lives to this county and the preservation thereof. I believe that Eisenhower new what he was doing when he appointed Veterans Day. A day set apart to remember and to reflect.

This Veterans day we not only remember the veterans in wars past but also the veterans of this war. We must remember that we belong to the great vast human race. Let us pray for the safety of our military, the end of this war, and the preservation of life.

Military Humor

I need to take this time and thank our service man and women for what they do. I know that their are many that don't appreciate our military and what they do to keep our lives safe and free. With out our military we would not have the life that we enjoy right now. We would not have freedom of religion and of speech. The right to Vote or even to defend. I have a great respect for our military, and thank heavens that our service men and women can keep a sense of humor, in spite the danger's they face.
Thank you for making my family's, my friends and my life possible!!!