GI SONG

My deployment song (Our Family Needs Us Home) 

This song was written and sung by a soldier. 

Hope you enjoy it!

 This is a song I wrote a while back to honor of all the men and women serving our country all around the world. I know I'm not much of a singer but I hope you enjoy the words. Thanks to LT Jeramy McClellan for the music and harmony!

Click below for song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHV1G9_ANo&sns=fb

A POEM WORTH READING

Rec'd this from Past Dept. President Mary Williams, it is a definite read
This poem was written and published in 1987
by syndicated columnist A. Lawrence Vaincourt.

A Poem Worth Reading

 

 He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a  common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at  least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps  just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Pass On The Patriotism!

 

YOU can make a difference

HAND SIGNAL

Hand signal to thank the military

A little something we all need to remember to  say,
Thank You!

This is pretty neat.....(30 second video) ...

Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how or it felt awkward?

Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a movement to get the word out.

Please everybody take just a moment to watch.... The Gratitude Campaign; .......and then forward it to your friends! THEN START USING THE SIGN.

CLICK HERE
http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

NEW SCANNER

U.S. soon to use device that sees through walls

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, February 10, 2010

 

 Photo courtesy of TiaLinx, Inc.

A soldier shows how a new scanner can see motion of an individual behind a wall. The device is set to be fielded in Afghanistan this year.

U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be equipped sometime this year with hand-held devices that let them peer through concrete walls and scan for buried explosives and tunnels.

Called Eagle scanners, the book-sized instruments send out radio frequencies and measure the signals that bounce back, displaying an image on a screen of what is on the other side of the target, said Fred Mohamadi, chief executive officer of TiaLinx Inc., the California-based company that has developed the devices.

“The product is designed to detect motion behind a barrier, and that barrier could be a wall,” Mohamadi said. “The unit can be used to detect objects or a person or … scan the ground, like for a tunnel underground.”

The company so far has two versions: the portable Eagle 5P, and Eagle 5M, which can be mounted onto vehicles.

The scanners, being purchased through the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment program, will be fielded this year in Afghanistan through the Rapid Equipping Force, according to Army officials in the States and Afghanistan.

Details on how many will be used and when, and which troops can expect them, aren’t being provided. “We don’t comment on systems that are being fielded,” AEWE spokeswoman Brenda Donnell said.

The technology closely mirrors the ground-penetrating radar that troops in Afghanistan already are using to detect buried roadside bombs, Mohamadi said, but the Eagle scanners use a higher number of lower frequency radio signals, meaning the image they see is more detailed, and the scanners can detect motion.

Technology that would allow troops to scan through clothing for objects such as explosives or concealed weapons is being developed but could be fielded as early as next year, Mohamadi said.

The company had hoped to deploy the devices to help in search-and-rescue missions following the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti.

“It would have gone a long way to helping identify if people were trapped under the buildings,” Mohamadi said. “But logistically, they [rescuers] were so overwhelmed, we just couldn’t make it happen.”

HEADING TO IRAQ

Herkimer Evening Telegram (NY)
Heading to Iraq, soldier leaves flag

Friends and family watch as Lt. Kevin March donates an American flag to Larry Spencer, commander at the Ilion American Legion.

By Stephanie Sorrell-White
Evening Telegram
Mon Jan 25, 2010

As Lt. Kevin March prepared to ship out to Iraq, he took the time to leave a memento with his military comrades.

During a ceremony in front of the Ilion American Legion on Saturday, March presented an American flag to Commander Larry Spencer. He obtained the flag - which was flown over Camp Taji in Iraq on Veteran’s Day - from his battalion commander.

“I did it out of respect for the past guys, legion members and the soldiers that fought in all the wars,” said March, noting particularly those who served from Herkimer County.

March is an Army engineer with the 705th Military Police Battalion. He said he decided to join just over two years ago when he was inspired by his 21-year-old son Bryan - who is currently stationed in Afghanistan.

March said he was glad to have the opportunity to serve the whole nation now as part of his first overseas tour.

Since he will be gone for about a year, he will miss the graduation of his 17-year-old twin daughters - Shannon and Alexis - from Ilion Jr./Sr. High School.

“It’s a huge milestone for my daughters. Unfortunately, where I am in my life, I don’t have the possibility of seeing it,” he said.

March - a 1983 graduate from Ilion High School - said he is hoping the school will be able to transfer a live feed to his unit so he can watch his daughters graduate.

“We’re sad he’s leaving, but it’s for good intentions” said Shannon March.

On Sunday, March returned to where he is stationed in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His unit is due to ship out on Thursday.

Spencer said March has become a good friend over the 20 years he’s known him.

“I’m a two-time Vietnam vet and it always makes me proud,” he said. “Very proud to have people like him.”