Question Of The Week, 9/24/06

Good morning. Check this out, I got logged in for the first time since Tuesday September 19. I'm still thinking about moving, I'd like to stay here if there are no more problems. I guess mine are small compared to the problems some people face. Think of the problems John Bolton (the subject of this weeks question) could be facing if he gets turned down, having to find a new job. This weeks Question Of The Week is. Do you support or oppose John Bolton becoming the permanent United States Ambassador to the United Nations? I'll post my answer (if I can log in) in the Comment Section Monday night.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Who Should Know And Use Firearms?

It's not Sunday but you can answer the question ask in the title if you'd like. When I first saw the column by Alexandra Perloe titled "Girls with guns" (I thought it would be about younger girls than the ones mentioned in the column.) it got my attention because I have a Grand Daughter that is a Freshman in High School this year. She signed up to take JROTC. Today she ask me to go with her (give her a ride) to get a new pair of pants for school. On the way to the shopping center she told me that she would be going to the rifle range for JROTC some time soon. I was happy to hear about this, she will be getting some firearms training. Any time I mentioned taking any of the Grand Kids to the rifle range their Mother and my Wife were opposed to the idea. That coming from my Wife surprised me since she does some shooting herself. I feel that everyone, boys and girls should get some firearms training at an early age. It is not all about making marksmen, expert hunters or champion skeet or trap shooters out of all of them. That's not going to happen, some of them won't be that interested in hunting or shooting sports. I feel they should spend some time at the range too. The first few trips out shouldn't be all about perfecting your shooting skills anyway. Like Nell Vaughn says in the column, "I thought it would be a good idea to learn how to make a gun safe". The first few trips out should be more about safety than the perfect shot. Before learning to shoot everyone should know how the weapon works and how to take care of it. They should know how to safely load and unload their weapon. My Father fell while carrying a loaded 410 shotgun and shot his finger off when he was in his teens. Before teaching me to shoot he taught me that all firearms are loaded. I was taught to know what is behind my target before taking that shot. Where is that round going to go if you miss, and we all do from time to time no matter what some people try to tell you. Hunting and shooting sports can be fun for the entire family, but remember SAFETY FIRST.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic

Question Of The Week, 9/17/06

Good Morning and Happy Constitution Day. In his Constitution Day Proclamation President Bush said, "America is grateful to those who have worked to defend the Constitution and promote its ideals. During this observance, we also recognize the profound impact our Constitution has on the everyday lives of our citizens, and we call upon all Americans to help uphold its values of a free and just society". So, this weeks Question Of The Week is. How can we (all of us) uphold the values of our free and just society? I'll post my answer in the Comment Section Monday night.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Presidential Proclamation!

I see President Bush has issued his Presidential Proclamation, officially making September 15, 2006 National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I was wondering when he was going to get around to doing this when I posted my message Wednesday.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

September, 15, 2006, POW/MIA Recognition Day

Many of you already know I wear a stainless steel bracelet that has "GYSGT GALEN F. HUMPHREY USMC 02-01-66 NVN/OW" engraved on it. When I first decided I wanted to wear a POW/MIA bracelet (several years ago) I ask for one with the name of someone from the Saint Joseph, Missouri (my home) area on it. I was told that GYSGT Humphrey was the only person from the area that had served in Vietnam that was still unaccounted for. Since that time I've had the privilege of meeting several of his family members. That makes my bracelet mean even more to me. It will stay on my wrist until the United States Government provides his family (and the rest of us that care) with undeniable proof that he is no longer alive. In my opinion this proof has not been provided as of yet. As you can see here the United States has left many behind after a conflict/war ends. Staff Sergeant Keith "Matt" Maupin has been promoted three times since April 9, 2004. That was the day he went missing near Baghdad, Iraq. Lets hope and pray that he gets the chance to come home and wear the new stripes that he has no doubt earned many times over since he was taken prisoner. National POW/MIA Recognition Day (the third Friday of September) falls on September 15th this year. It is a day that has been set aside to remember all of the POW's/MIA's that the United States has left behind. I think that the POW/MIA Flag that I fly and my bracelet show that I choose to remember them every day. This 9/13/06 St. Joseph News-Press article tells about a section of Interstate 35 that will help others do that.

"9/13/2006
Section of I-35 to honor POW/MIA
Former prisoners to speak

St. Joseph News-Press

Kearney, Mo.- The public is invited to participate in the first of two ceremonies that will dedicate a portion of Interstate 35 as "POW/MIA Memorial Highway."

The first ceremony will be at the Kearney High School auditorium ay 1 p.m. Saturday. Retired Lt. Col. Barry Bridger, U.S. Air Force, will speak at the Kearney dedication. He was Capt. Bridger in 1967 when his F-4 Phantom jet was shot down over North Vietnam, remaining a prisoner in Hanoi until 1973. Mr. Bridger will speak about surviving captivity and torture in addition to finding courage, discipline and success in the face of adversity.

The second dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 7, at the Missouri Veterans Home located in Cameron, Mo., with Frank Mattivi as guest speaker. Mr. Mattivi was one of the original "Darby's Rangers," trained by British Commandos during World War II. He and his fellow Commandos were captured behind enemy lines during the Allied landing at Anzio Beach. Their mission was to parachute behind enemy lines and cut off a supply route. Although their mission was successful, they ran out of ammunition and threw rocks at the enemy until they were captured. Mr. Mattivi spent almost a year and a half in three different German stalags before he was released by Allied forces.

The "POW/MIA Memorial Highway" section is located half a mile south of Bethany to half a mile north of Kearney in Missouri encompassing Harrison, Daviess, DeKalb, Clinton and Clay counties. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is Friday."

This Friday, September 15, 2006 I hope you will take a little time to think about the one's that answered the call to serve their country and were left behind when the war/conflict ended, those that are "Gone But Not Forgotten". Say a prayer for them and their families. Visit some of the sites that keep us up to date on POW/MIA issues. While your there be sure to click on their Links to get even more information.

The P.O.W. NETWORK

The National Alliance Of Families

THE U.S. VETERAN DISPATCH

AII POW-MIA InterNetwork

Who knows, maybe you'll find something interesting enough to get you to keep coming back to those sites. I hope it will give you a reason to start flying a POW/MIA Flag or wearing a POW/MIA bracelet. Better yet, maybe it will get you to contact your elected officials and demand that they tell the POW/MIA families the truth about their loved ones. Urge them to make an honest effort to bring ALL of our POW's/MIA's or their remains home. God bless each and every one of the missing.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Remember September 11, 2001

I thought you might be interested in seeing some links that will help you remember the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Lets say a prayer for and never forget those that lost their lives on the day that many say changed life as we knew it in the United States.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Question Of The Week, 9/10/06

Good morning. Since tomorrow is September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center I'm going to cheat a little and use my September 11, 2005 Question Of The Week for this weeks question. So this weeks Question Of The Week is. What were you doing and what were some of your first thoughts and feelings when you heard that the World Trade Center had been attacked. I'll post my answer in the Comment Section Monday night.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Attention Veterans

I found this in my incoming e-mail this morning and thought that there might be some Veterans or current members of the United States Military that feel that they are not represented by either of the two major political party's that might be interested. I think you will find it is worth the time it takes to read it.

I want to thank all Veterans and current members of the United States Military for what you have done or for what you will do for our country. God Bless each of you that has ever served.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Question Of The Week, 9/3/06

Good morning. If I'm not mistaken someone e-mailed me this Tom Fitton column. It starts out by asking, "What kind of President will Hillary Clinton make?" That would have made a pretty good Question Of The Week and you can answer it if you'd like but I'm going to change it just a little. This weeks Question Of The Week is. Will we see a lot of gun control legislation passed and signed if Hillary Clinton becomes our next President? I'll post my answer in the Comment Section Monday night.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.