Flaglady's Blog

To the Bryant Family we are very sorry for you lost.   Everyone who spoke about Jamel said what a wonder person he was.   He made a difference and will not be forgotten for it.  Jamel gave his tomorrows for our todays. 

From the St. Louis Post Dispatch 09/30/08:

Pfc. Jamel A. Bryant, 22, died Saturday in Baghdad after the accident in Wahida, Iraq.

 

No details were released about the crash, including when it happened or what caused it.

He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

Bryant was one of eight siblings, said his younger brother, Terrance Smith.

Bryant, who attended Belleville West High School, had been serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and had been there for about a year, said Smith, 16.

Smith remembered Bryant as a good brother who had been excited to join the Army.

"He felt like he had to pay back the country," Smith said.

He said his family had thought of that when Bryant was deployed to Iraq and was proud of his decision.

"We weren't even thinking about the bad stuff," Smith said. "We were thinking about the positive stuff."

 

I received this from a Soldier (and dear friend) deployed in Iraq.  I sure don't want her coming back to kick my BOOGEDY so I am passing this along.

Dear Civilians,

 'We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation  has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military. For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand.  Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:

1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing  of the National Anthem – kick their BOOGEDY.

2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their BOOGEDY.

3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans.  If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second.  Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great.   Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their BOOGEDY.

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were.  Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old.  Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your BOOGEDY kicked.
 
5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?'  Not everyone in the
Air Force is a pilot.  Such ignorance deserves an BOOGEDY-kicking (children are exempt).
 
6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake – and kick their BOOGEDY.

7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart.  Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe BOOGEDY-kicking.

8. Don't  try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran.  We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation.  Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (CinC).  The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of political party.  We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet.  All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out.  If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your BOOGEDY kicked!

9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me - stop saying it!  If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore could kick your BOOGEDY!

10. Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!'  And stop asking us where he is!  Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military.  That reminds me- if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick their BOOGEDY!

11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other.  Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them.  Using them could get your BOOGEDY kicked.

12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families.  Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families.  Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day.  Without them, our country would get it's BOOGEDY kicked.'

'It's the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.'
 
'It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.'

'It's the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.'

'It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the
flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.'

One More:

13. If you ever see anyone either standing for or singing the national anthem in Spanish - KICK THEIR BOOGEDY.

ONE MORE:

If you got this email and didn't pass it on – guess what - you deserve to get your BOOGEDY kicked!
 
God Bless America

http://www.asoldierswishlist.org/events.php

A Soldiers Wish List has to plan now for Christmas for the Troops.  Artificial trees and decorations are needed.  Are you planning on replacing your old Christmas Tree with a new one?  Is your old one still have all of its parts and is still useable, why not donate it to A Soldiers Wish List.

Your work or school looking to do a charitiable project this year.  Why not do one for the troops to make their Christmas a little nicer?  Remember when you got socks for Christmas and hated it?  Our soldiers appreciate the gift of new socks.    Entertainment items make their time away from home go just a little bit faster.

Money donations are greatly appreciated.  To mail these gifts cost money and is just as important as the gift itself.  A Soldiers Wish List is a non-profit organization, no salaries, all volunteers.  There are based right here in St. Louis, founded by the mother of a soldier.

Please visit the website http://www.asoldierswishlist.org/

Please pass the word and thank you for all your help.

I received this in an email from a friend.  Before you think about posting any comments, Lt Col Mark Murphy lost his son, Shawn, in Iraq.  Please do not dishonor Shawn's Memory or the Murphey Family with any negative comments.  It is evident in the piece written how the Murphey Family feels about President Bush.

Thank you for respecting this request.  God Bless our Country and the Military who protects us everyday.

The Flaglady

The Value of Service

 

 

 

Lt. Col. Mark Murphy, 354th Maintenance Group deputy commander.

 

 

 

 

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Commentary by Lt. Col. Mark Murphy
354th Maintenance Group deputy commander

8/15/2008 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- I learned a big lesson on service Aug. 4, 2008, when Eielson had the rare honor of hosting President Bush on a refueling stop as he traveled to Asia.

It was an event Eielson will never forget -- a hangar full of Airmen and Soldiers getting to see the Commander in Chief up close, and perhaps even shaking his hand. An incredible amount of effort goes into presidential travel because of all of the logistics, security, protocol, etc ... so it was remarkable to see Air Force One land at Eielson on time at precisely 4:30 p.m.--however, when he left less than two hours later, the President was 15 minutes behind schedule.

That's a big slip for something so tightly choreographed, but very few people know why it happened. Here's why.

On Dec. 10, 2006, our son, Shawn, was a paratrooper deployed on the outskirts of Baghdad. He was supposed to spend the night in camp, but when a fellow soldier became ill Shawn volunteered to take his place on a nighttime patrol--in the convoy's most exposed position as turret gunner in the lead Humvee. He was killed instantly with two other soldiers when an IED ripped through their vehicle.

I was thinking about that as my family and I sat in the audience listening to the President's speech, looking at the turret on the up-armored Humvee the explosive ordnance disposal flight had put at the edge of the stage as a static display.

When the speech was over and the President was working the crowd line, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a White House staff member. She asked me and my wife to come with her, because the President wanted to meet us.

Stunned, we grabbed our two sons that were with us and followed her back into a conference room. It was a shock to go from a crowded, noisy hangar, past all of those security people, to find ourselves suddenly alone in a quiet room.

The only thing we could hear was a cell phone vibrating, and noticed that it was coming from the jacket Senator Stevens left on a chair. We didn't answer.

A short time later, the Secret Service opened the door and President Bush walked in. I thought we might get to shake his hand as he went through. But instead, he walked up to my wife with his arms wide, pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, and said, "I wish I could heal the hole in your heart." He then grabbed me for a hug, as well as each of our sons. Then he turned and said, "Everybody out."

A few seconds later, the four of us were completely alone behind closed doors with the President of the United States and not a Secret Service agent in sight.

He said, "Come on, let's sit down and talk." He pulled up a chair at the side of the room, and we sat down next to him. He looked a little tired from his trip, and he noticed that his shoes were scuffed up from leaning over concrete barriers to shake hands and pose for photos. He slumped down the chair, completely relaxed, smiled, and suddenly was no longer the President - he was just a guy with a job, sitting around talking with us like a family member at a barbeque.

For the next 15 or 20 minutes, he talked with us about our son, Iraq, his family, faith, convictions, and shared his feelings about nearing the end of his presidency. He asked each of our teenaged sons what they wanted to do in life and counseled them to set goals, stick to their convictions, and not worry about being the "cool" guy.

He said that he'd taken a lot of heat during his tenure and was under a lot of pressure to do what's politically expedient, but was proud to say that he never sold his soul. Sometimes he laughed, and at others he teared up. He said that what he'll miss most after leaving office will be his role as Commander in Chief.

One of the somber moments was when he thanked us for the opportunity to meet, because he feels a heavy responsibility knowing that our son died because of a decision he made. He was incredibly humble, full of warmth, and completely without pretense. We were seeing the man his family sees.

We couldn't believe how long he was talking to us, but he seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever. In the end, he thanked us again for the visit and for the opportunity to get off his feet for a few minutes. He then said, "Let's get some pictures." The doors flew open, Secret Service and the White House photographer came in, and suddenly he was the President again We posed for individual pictures as he gave each of us one of his coins, and then he posed for family pictures. A few more thank yous, a few more hugs, and he was gone.

The remarkable thing about the whole event was that he didn't have to see us at all. If he wanted to do more, he could've just given a quick handshake and said, "Thanks for your sacrifice." But he didn't - he put everything and everyone in his life on hold to meet privately with the family of a Private First Class who gave his life in the service of his country.

What an incredible lesson on service. If the President of the United States is willing to drop everything on his plate to visit with a family, surely the rest of us can do it. No one is above serving another person, and no one is so lofty that he or she can't treat others with dignity and respect.

We often think of service in terms of sacrificing ourselves for someone in a position above us, but how often do we remember that serving someone below us can be much more important? If you're in a leadership capacity, take a good look at how you're treating your people, and remember that your role involves serving the people you rely on every day.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

A Soldier gives his opinion on Iraq and who he will vote for in November.