Dec'11
Just Some Bits and Pieces
Remembering Our Fallen - Bill and Evonne Williams have created a traveling photo exhibit of fallen Nebraskans and western Iowans in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
"Wreaths Across America"
For more information on dates and Iowa and Nebraska locations, click here.
The Eagles of Pottawattamie County: A video by Donna Peters of the Western Iowa Development Association.
The video is a salute to the communities of Pottawattamie County Iowa, working together to honor all the armed forces and their families, and the sacrifices they have made in the service of protecting our country.
Each bronze monument, by artist Russell Christensen, is unique and will have a place of honor in every community in Pottawattamie County.
Completed eagles can be seen in Neola, Minden, Underwood, Hancock, Carson, Carter Lake, Crescent, Oakland and Treynor, McClelland, Walnut, Avoca and coming soon Macedonia and Council Bluffs.
Learn more about the project and its inception at The Eagles of Honor Project.
and Iowa's Freedom Rock.................
A blue attraction sign has been added on I-80 (exit 86 near Menlo) for the Freedom Rock.
Since 1999, each Memorial Day, Ray "Bubba" Sorenson repaints the rock as a tribute to
those who defend our freedom. The 2011 painting is shown at left.
The gallery of photos of the Rock can be found at the Freedom Rock website and several YouTube videos - the history to 2008, painting the 2009 rock and 2010.
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992.
This year’s National Remembrance Ceremony at Arlington will take place on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The parade of trucks, friends, and escorts from Maine to Arlington began Sunday, December 6, 2011.
Learn more about Wreaths Across America, an effort to place memorial wreathes at more than 230 State and National Cemeteries and Veterans Monuments across the United States.
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Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...
In our world of internet, email, social networking, etc., there is still something special about a letter, card or note! From a Marine's recent thank you note written on blue line:
"We all joke about how tough we are, but there is nothing more humbling than receiving mail from people you don’t know that show us how strong America is behind us."
And this - our most unusual thank you:
The following was sent to Abbie and actually delivered by the Post Office. If you think this is just a brown envelope - it's not. It's actually written on cardboard!
The message is written on the cardboard from a MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) package from Marine, Lt David Share.
Message reads:
Dear Ms. Crawford, My unit did receive everything that you sent. We are very grateful as we are
very far away from any amenities. We are at a very remote outpost in Afghanistan. It is our honor to be here. Thank you for the respect and love from home.
Respectfuly
LT David Share, Trauma Nurse
Video of "A Different Christmas Poem" as well as a "A Soldier's Silent Night".
HONOR THE FALLEN - Military Times link/database honoring those who fought and died in Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom
Military Humor - Photos