Memorial Day Thoughts

I know that every one of you readers are patriots who love this nation and understand the sacrifices that help make it great.

Here at the No One house, we remember all the fallen on Memorial Day.  Yet, there is one we remember and miss every day.  I keep personal stuff under wraps most of the time, but Robert was an extraordinary fellow and worth sharing.  We were so blessed to have him in our lives for a time.

The Marine Corps was his true calling; above all else he wanted to serve his country.  A few years before 9/11 (back when we were young and gonna live forever), he introduced both my husband:

Robert giving Mr. No One his first salute

And me to military life:

“Welcome to the Navy, Mrs. No One.”

The military life has been a good one.  I just wish Robert were still part of it.  Semper Fi, buddy.

I hope everyone has a blessed day, and maybe some comfort from sorrow, should you need it.

cross-posted at No One Of Any Import

 

The Work Has Just Begun

Much has been said about the GOP co-opting the Tea Party and the Grassroot candidates once they get to Washington. It would seem to me that the establishment GOP has forgotten their own Creed. Compare the Republican Creed with the Principles of the Richmond Tea Party in VA. It would seem that the ideals are too similar to ignore. The GOP would be better served to return to their own roots and recall the reason the party was established in the first place.

 

The Republican Creed

Five Principals of the Richmond Tea Party

 

We Believe:

 

That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice;

Free Market

 

That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society;

Limited Government

 

That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government;

Fiscal Responsibility

 

That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing constitutional limitations;

Constitutional Adherence

 

That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense;

 

That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.

Virtue and Accountability

 

Remember The Cole on The 10th Anniversary

On this day in the year 2000, the guided missile destroyer USS Cole was attacked by Islamic terrorists associated with Osama bin Laden's al-Quaeda group. Today is the tenth anniversary of that attack. Seventeen American sailors were killed and thirty-eight injured in the attack which severely damaged the ship.

Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Luis Gunn, Rex, Georgia.

Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Norfolk, Virginia.

Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer, San Diego, California.

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Ringgold, Virginia.

Ensign Andrew Triplett, Macon, Mississippi.

Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan Wibberley, Williamsport, Maryland.

Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Woodleaf, North Carolina.

Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Rice, Texas

Engineman 2nd Class Mark Ian Nieto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Scott Owens, Vero Beach, Florida.

Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Churchville, Maryland.

Fireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy, Cornwall on Hudson, New York.

Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Portland, North Dakota.

Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Mananga Santiago, Kingsville, Texas

Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., Rockport, Texas

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

According to Politico

U.S.S. Cole attack survivors angry at Obama

The tenth anniversary of the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole on Tuesday conjured up painful memories for the families of the 17 Navy sailors who died in the terrorist attack, but it also revealed simmering anger at the Obama administration over the lack of concrete progress in bringing the alleged perpetrator to justice.

“At the time, we felt the president was being real positive about it,” John Clodfelter, who attended last February’s White House meeting, told POLITICO Tuesday. His son, Kenneth, 21, was among the sailors killed in the Cole attack a decade ago. “The president told us he wanted to figure out what was supposed to be done versus what was actually being done.”

In the months since, the elder Clodfelter’s good feeling towards Obama and his team has evaporated.

“I don’t know what the problem is,” said Clodfelter, who complained he has had difficulty getting the White House or Justice Department to update him on the case. “Things have not happened the way they gave the impression they’d happen…They were supposedly going to have an open door policy. I don’t know if that was a lot of B.S. or what.”

 

Let Us Honor Those to Whom Honor is Due

Obama to address the nation about withdrawing American combat troops from Iraq.

President Obama has scheduled his second oval office address to let the American people know that he can now officially check off another campaign promise. In February Barack’s right hand man Joe Biden prepared us for this day; “I am very optimistic about — about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You’re going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer. You’re going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government.”

On Saturday Obama said this, ” As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war.  As President, that is what I am doing.  We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office.  We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases.  In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security.”

Let me be clear about this, this is a great achievement but I disagree with the attribution.

Nearly every morning I begin my day with a brisk walk through our neighborhood.It is a fairly large and there are multiple routes I could take but and everyday I follow the same trek. About three-quarters of the way through I pass the home of Maris and Vera Adcock which puts things in perspective for my day.

You see Maris and Vera Adcock are the Gold Star Parents of Captain Shane Timothy Adcock. Captain Adcock made the ultimate sacrifice on October 11, 2006 in Hawijah, Iraq. Captain Adcock and his sister grew up in my neighborhood, they went to school with my kids. 

Like many Americans, none of my immediate family members serve in the armed forces. During this war, unlike the second World War, most of us have not had make any serious sacrifices. To keep things in the proper perspective I make sure that  I pass by the Adcock’s home everyday.  As I pass I view the small flag in the window with a  gold star and it reminds me that there are men and women in our armed forces are laying there lives on the line for us everyday, it reminds me that parents, spouses, children are left behind so their loved ones may serve us and allow us to live our lives. It is to those that have served and their family members that I attribute this great achievement. It is to those we are forever indebted to.

Let us not forget those to whom honor is due.

A caison carrying the remains of Army Captain Shane Adcock of Mechanicville, Virignia, 
makes its way through Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, October 27, 2006

Photo by Tom Gugiluzza-Smith