Links
Links to Tributes to Our Troops
Give a warm snugglie to the children of our service men serving abroad.
Operation
Snuggles
Operation Snuggles too
Silver Star Families of America
Recognizing
and remembering our wounded by providing them or their families a
Silver Star Banner or Flag.
"For the children of our fallen warriors… Reaching out now and far into the future." - Michael Kerr
Links
to The Truth of what is
happening in Iraq
This
is a compiliation of the "good news" stories from Iraq.
Retire
your flag with respect!
Retirement of YOUR American Flag
When you place a link on your web site, we will reciprocate with a link here.
To any member of retired member of an branch of military service or first responder service who sustained an injury while in the service of our country. If you own or purchase a motorcycle and need or would benefit from a conversion to a trike BadBoyCustoms will complete the conversion on any trike kit we offer with NO CHARGE.
I
pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.
Guidelines
for Displaying the Flag
1. The flag of the United States should be flown daily from sunrise to
sunset in good weather from public buildings, schools, permanent
staffs, and in or near polling places on election days. The flag
may be displayed 24 hours a day on patriotic holidays or if properly
illuminated.
2.
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is bad,
except when an all-weather flag is used.
3.
The flag should always be flown on national and state holidays
and
on those occasions proclaimed by the President. On Memorial Day,
the flag should be half staffed until noon.
4.
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It
should never be dipped to any person nor should it ever be displayed
with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress.
5.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it, nor should it
ever
be carried flat or horizontally.
6.
It should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, drapery, or
decoration, nor for carrying or holding anything.
7.
The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored
in such a manner as to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged. It should
never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
8.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back
of
a vehicle. When a flag is displayed on a car, the flag's staff
should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right
fender.
9.
The flag or its staff should never be used for advertising purposes
in any manner whatsoever. Nor should any picture, drawing, insignia
or other decoration be placed on or attached to the flag, its staff,
or halyard.
10.
The flag should not be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs,
or
other personal items nor printed on anything designed for temporary
use and discarded. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the
uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, or members of
other patriotic organizations.
11.
When the flag is so worn or soiled that it is no longer suitable
for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner,
preferably by burning.
Flag Flying Holidays
New
Year's Day Lincoln's Birthday Washington's Birthday
Armed Forces Day Memorial Day Flag Day
Independence Day V-J Day Labor Day
Thanksgiving Veterans' Day Pearl Harbor Day
Christmas State Admission Day
Retirement of YOUR American Flag
You can retire your tattered, worn out and frayed American flags without any cost to you. Send your flags to the Kitchen Table Gang Trust, 42922 Avenue 12, Madera, CA 93638-8866 and we will dispose of your flags in a proper and dignified manner with full honors pursuant to the United States Flag Code Section 8K. We have been providing this free service for the past seven years. Our flag retirement ceremonies are held on Flag Day, June 14th each year and are conducted by a volunteer military honor guard.
http://www.kitchentablegang.org
but still I am One.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
I will not refuse to do the
Something I can do.
--Helen Keller
FOR YOU
A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM
The
embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the light.
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
spa rkling 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.
WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR
MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The
soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
" Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
" Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
~Author Unknown~