Flight Pundit

And those who love them (or if you’re like me, get horny just hearing the word Ooh Rah!)….it’s July 4th weekend. Most of us will be out celebrating our Nation’s independence with cookouts and beer and time with family, friends. We’re taking a well deserved break from work to do this.

Check THIS BLOG out.

Since we’re all in the celebrating mood, let’s not forget those who gave so much so that others can be free. Wounded Marines need our help. It’s time to stand up, tall, and HELP. What better time of year to do this?

Inspired by the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund four motivated Marines have dedicated a run in honor of our Wounded Warriors who’ve faithfully served overseas. From 22-26 October 2008 we will embark on a 177.5 mile run to raise funds, awareness and support to these Warriors through the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Our run will begin on 22 October 08 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA and end at the Marine Corps Marathon finish line in Washington, DC on 26 October.

Remember what Semper Fi means.

No Comments »

Russ Vaughn points to his latest writing over at Old War Dogs.

Before you go there though, check out this web site, which introduces us to Chronic Marine Syndrome:

Symptoms to look for are:

1. Pride in oneself and the organization they represent.
2. A strong willingness to put in extra attention to detail to get the job done.
3. May wear articles of Marine clothing; T-shirts, jackets, watches, well into their 80’s.
4. Will not hesitate to stand up or put their hand over their heart, or even salute when the National Anthem is played.
5. Does not succumb easily to political correctness.
6. Is sure of who they are.
7. Is often either respected or hated by others, due to their abilities and talents.
8. May donate toys to needy kids at Christmas.
9. Some have been known to wear their hair in a high and tight well into their 90’s.
10. Will look you in the eye when talking to you.
11. Will give you a firm handshake.
12. Knows what honor, courage and commitment mean.
13. Can usually be found in some type of leadership position in whatever organization they work for.
14. Will often regard their drill instructors with the same respect as their parents.
15. Often found in either law enforcement or various professions.
16. Is extremely thorough at what they do.
17. Does not wear a bunch of patches to adorn their uniform. Their title of Marine is often sufficient.
18. Often arrives at work earlier than expected. If they wear a shirt and tie in their job, you might see the tie clip. between the third and fourth button centered.
19. Had spent time training at one of two places; Parris Island or San Diego.
20. May be able to field strip their rifle, up to 60 years after leaving active duty.
21. Can recite the nomenclature of the M1, M14 or M16.
22. May often have his pencils sharpened to a perfect precision point.
23. Will not back down from a fight.

…again, don’t ask me why Jarheads make me oh so horny.

XPosted @ ARS

Comments Off

The reincarnation of the Dream Act has ended. Once again, for now. Expect it to come back to haunt us soon enough.

Via Hot Air:

Quick and easy scan of Democrats voting against: Baucus, Byrd, Conrad, Dorgan, Landrieu, Pryor, Tester, and good ol’ McCaskill, whose objections to amnesty evidently don’t end at labor concerns. Republicans voting for: Bennett, Coleman, Collins, our friend Larry Craig, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Lott, Lugar, “Amnesty Mel” Martinez, Snowe, and Sam Brownback, who was free to show his true colors today sans 11th-hour switch.

Remember the RINOS.

From the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation to give some children of illegal immigrants a path toward legality failed a crucial Senate vote Wednesday, probably dooming any chance of major changes to the immigration system this year.

Supporters needed to 60 votes to advance the proposal, but the tally was 52-44. The measure would have allowed illegal immigrants who plan to attend college or join the military, and who came to the United States with their families before they turned 16, to move toward legality.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act - DREAM ACT for short - was a popular part of a broad immigration plan that would have legalized as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants and fortified the border.

That larger bill failed in the Senate in June. But proponents of the DREAM Act wanted to see if it would pass on its own.

“Children should not be penalized for the actions of their parents,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

“What crime did these children commit?” added Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat. “They committed the crime of obeying their parents and following their parents to this country. Do you think there was a vote in the household about their future? I don’t think so.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said by blocking the bill, “Senate Republicans prevented a critical first step to address our nation’s broken immigration system.”

Ahh yes, let’s fix the very broken system by saying it’s all for the children. Pfft. While I do have some sympathy for the kids, I have none for their parents, who are criminals and who made choices that led to this status. They use their children as pawns in this issue, and to me, that is the worst thing a parent can do. Never mind this Act would have been the bloodline that feeds many future generations of parasite. The Republicans did the right thing, for once!

Comments Off

Reason 19,857 why I love the Marines:

Bad ass indeed.

From the 1st Marine Division:

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The Marine Corps activated a battalion Wednesday assigned to assist wounded and ill Marines and sailors and their families on the West Coast.

The Wounded Warriors Battalion-West will be part of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, which is headquartered in Quantico, Va., and was established to help service members transition from care by the Defense Department to the Veterans Administration.

Members of the battalion will remain in contact with wounded veterans to make sure they’re getting the care they need.

A ceremony marking the activation featured the 1st Marine Division band and comments from Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal, who was shot seven times and suffered 40 shrapnel wounds while trying to save a wounded Marine in a house in Fallujah, Iraq. Kasal received the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps’ second-highest award for valor.

“You can break your body, but you can never break your spirit,” Kasal told the assembled Marines.

Sgt. Kasal knows all about being wounded, and his story is one of heroism at it’s best. A bad ass he is, too.

2 Comments »

The month of May is designated by Congress as National Military Appreciation Month. Our service members need to know we appreciate their role in protecting and defending our nation’s freedom.

National Military Appreciation Month includes Loyalty Day (1st), VE Day(8th), Military Spouse Day (12th), Armed Forces Day (20th), and Memorial Day (28th). This very important month honors, remembers, recognizes and appreciates all military personnel; those men and women who have served throughout our history and all who now serve in uniform and their families, as well as those Americans who have given their lives defending our country.

Here is a list of tangible things people, organizations and others can do to show appreciation and gratitude of the service our soldiers and Marines provide. At the very least, thank a soldier and/or a Marine.

1 Comment »

We often hear stories about the heroes of this war and sometimes we even write about them here. The DoD maintains a web site that lists heroes from every state. I went through them all over the past couple days and there are SO many.

Karl Hannan:

Warrant Officer Hannan was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, from February 2004 to January 2005 to serve as a maintenance technician with a unit that supported heavy trucks. During his time there, Hannan designed and manufactured a clip-on armor plating kit to protect soldiers traveling in the trucks. The armor plating is the only type of its kind in Iraq, allowing it to be clipped on rather than bolted to the body of the vehicles, which prevents it from damaging the vehicles. At their peak, his team could up-armor 254 trucks a day. He also made engineering prints for other types of trucks and trained others how to weld, manufacture and read the blueprints for the armor. Hannan was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his work in January 2005.

Hannan is from New Hampshire.

More:

Cpl. Winegar and his platoon found themselves confronting numerous enemies who attacked by stealth and under the cover of darkness. On the nights of both August 15th and 16th, insurgents ambushed Winegar’s convoy as it traversed the rugged Pech River Road. In both attacks, enemy fighters fired RPGs from a nearby ridgeline, followed by a hail of machine-gun fire. Winegar not only commanded the lead vehicle, but he manned its machine gun. On both nights, while cut off from his Combat Anti Armor Team, he unleashed his weapon on the ridgeline, holding back the Taliban to give the rest of his convoy time to set up a defense and return fire.

In November 2005, Winegar again faced danger–again as part of an ambushed convoy. On the morning of the 17th, his platoon’s convoy came under heavy fire, and Winegar saw RPGs heading straight toward his vehicle. He ducked into the turret to avoid the inevitable; fortunately, the RPGs landed a few feet off target. Without pausing to consider his good fortune, he grabbed his machine gun and returned fire. Even though his convoy was cut off from other units, Winegar’s quick reactions and responsive fire allowed it to push through the ambush without backup. For his actions, Winegar was twice awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat “V” in August and September, 2006.

Winegar is from Colorado.

Damn heroes. They’re everywhere, and they would prefer it if we didn’t give them such titles. But we need to. And we need to remember the sacrifices and effort these soldiers and Marines give. Go here and find the heroes from your state. And thank them.

Comments Off

The Marine Corps have been planning for this since last summer. This falls into the tradition of the Marines- taking care of their own.

WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) — The U.S. Marines Wednesday announced the creation of a special regiment assigned to advocate for all Marine wounded through the military medical system.

The effort began months before the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal highlighted the problems of military wounded in navigating the confusing health care bureaucracies of the Defense Department and Veterans Administration.

I hope this doesn’t get BIG though…because that’s when we see the problems we saw with Walter Reed’s overall system.

Col. Gregory Boyle is the regiment’s first commander, responsible for accounting for, tracking and meeting the needs of wounded, ill and injured Marines, from medical care through benefits, and transitioning to civilian life if they can not return to active duty.

“This brings oversight to the whole process to eliminate possible seams or cracks where Marines may fall through the system,” Boyle said Wednesday.

So long as they maintain this mission this should work. I would like to see them eliminate much of the wasteful and often repeated paperwork requirements; the process of asking for a medical discharge should not take a year or longer to accomplish. And waiting months for tests, only to have them repeated because no one kept track of the original notes for said tests, is just uncalled for. Even in our biggest hospitals we don’t see bumbling errors such as this.

On any given day there are about 370 wounded Marines either at Landstuhl medical center in Germany, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton.

I wonder if this command will take over the entire oversight for the Marine Corps…or will the VA system still hold final say? It would be more efficient to keep it all under wraps through the Corps and no other group. Less government means less error and waste.

Boyle said the Marine Corps will also be in contact in an organized way with Marines wounded since 2001 who have left the service.

“My vision is to reach out to them on a monthly basis …,” he said.

“I want these Marines to feel, you know, that they’re the center of the universe and that we care about them and we’re concerned about them,” he said.

THIS is very important. Those who have “healed” and moved on need support and resources. Just because they’ve recovered from the initial war injuries does not mean they are 100% better. It doesn’t mean they are able to live their lives as normal people do. I’m sure we’ll hear lots more about this as time goes forward. Maybe the DoD is using this as a model for the other services. It would be a giant leap in the right direction. Personally I think the entire Military Medical/Veterans Administration should be abolished and smaller programs should be put in place. There are MORE than enough specialty hospitals and rehab centers in the US where excellent and truly state of the art therapies and programs are in existence. No one deserves access to these services more than our wounded soldiers and Marines.

3 Comments »

“We are here today, to do as we have done a number of times before — to jointly pay honor to those on both sides of the battle who made the supreme sacrifice on this island by giving their lives to their nations,” said retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lawrence F. Snowden during the ceremony. The United States lost 6,821 servicemen during the battles, mostly Marines, and it is believed as many as 20,000 Japanese soldiers died.

“Those of us who where fighting on this island 62 years ago were not here by choice but once we were here, each of us did what we had to do.”

Read this and remember history.

Video of the 62nd Anniversary of Iwo Jima.

2 Comments »

Americans want to WIN?? Since when? According to the Lemoncrats (TM) we want to lose..and lose big time. We want to run away screaming with white flags waving.

Public Opinion Strategies conducted a poll about Iraq and America’s involvement…asking people from both sides of the fence what they think.

The Report, with Poll results (PDF)

* 57% believe “The Iraq War is a key part of the global war on terrorism.”

* 57% “support finishing the job in Iraq, that is, keeping the troops there until the Iraqi government can maintain control and provide security for its people.

* 50% want our troops should stay and “do whatever it takes to restore order until the Iraqis can govern and provide security to their country” while only 17% favor immediate withdrawal

* 56% believe “Even if they have concerns about his war policies, Americans should stand behind the President in Iraq because we are at war.”

* 53% believe “The Democrats are going too far, too fast in pressing the President to withdraw the troops from Iraq.”

And:

* “The survey shows Americans want to win in Iraq, and that they understand Iraq is the central point in the war against terrorism and they can support a U.S. strategy aimed at achieving victory,” said Neil Newhouse, a partner in POS. “The idea of pulling back from Iraq is not where the majority of Americans are.”

* “How Americans view the war does not line up with the partisan messages or actions coming out of Washington,” said Davis Lundy, president of The Moriah Group [the Chattanooga PR firm which commissioned the survey]. “There are still a majority of Americans out there who want to support the President and a focused effort to define and achieve victory.”

* “The key group driving public opinion here are what we call the “nose-holders”, said Newhouse. “They don’t believe we should have gone to war or should still be there, but they believe we should stay and do whatever it takes to restore order until the Iraqis can govern and provide security for their own country.”

OK…I get it now. I have thought all along the Lemoncrats were over rating the public opinion on this war…and claiming a mandate to end our involvement in Iraq as a voice to the American people. Now we have some tangible proof.

What’s next? Will the limpy dicked weakling Democrats change their strategy? No. Probably not…but at least we know the truth now and they chose to ignore it. As always.

Rick Moran is spot on with this:

Perhaps if we all stopped treating the public as little children who need to be told what to think, what to believe about Iraq, we could get beyond the one dimensional critiques of the war on both sides and work together on a plan consistent with their wishes to get out of Iraq with the goal of leaving an Iraqi government in place that can handle its own security and not be a threat to us or her neighbors. If those goals are achieved, I think it’s pretty clear that the majority of Americans would see our efforts in Iraq as a success. Perhaps not a “victory” in any realistic sense – but far from a defeat and definitely something to build on in the years ahead as Iraq will continue to struggle with instituting democracy.

Americans have always been winners. Why now, the sudden popularity with being losers? Does it say something about the Lemoncrats (TM) who control the House??

Comments Off

I’m weeding through one of many emails I get about the Marines. Here’s another article about how those who really have determination are quite successful at getting what they want.

NORTH PORT — Heidi Lotthammer doesn’t want any of the credit.

The North Port woman worked recently to gather nearly $27,000 in donations from Wal-Mart for her son’s Marine unit currently serving in Iraq.

“I don’t want the glory,” Lotthammer said. “I give praise to God for Wal-Mart.”

She began her quest for donations several months ago. She was inspired by her son, Mark, a Marine corporal who graduated from Port Charlotte High School in 1996.

Mark is serving his second tour in Iraq with Lima Co., 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Marine Division out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. His unit is currently stationed at Camp Habbaniyah in the Al Anbar Province, about an hour west of Baghdad. It’s known as the Triangle of Death.

Don’t ever say Wal Mart doesn’t do good things.

Heidi went to all her family and friends for donations, as well as to Publix and Wal-Mart. Initially, the two companies each gave her a $50 gift card. She kept asking, but about six weeks passed and she heard nothing.

[…]
“Then the mom from Philadelphia called me while I was out shopping, and left a message saying Wal-Mart was trying to get in touch with me, but they only had my first name,” said Heidi.

She spoke with a Wal-Mart representative who said he understood she was looking for a large donation for the 3/2 Marines.

“He listened very carefully and didn’t interrupt once,” she said. “He told me, ‘I can really see you are a caring woman who wants to help.’ And he started to say ‘How about 14 or 15?’ I thought he was going to say $1,400 or $1,500, because I just wanted to buy some folding camp chairs for the boys so they wouldn’t have to sit on the ground — and then he said $14,000 to $15,000, and I just started crying.”

I would have cried too.

Although Heidi wasn’t able to go, more than 150 Marine moms got together in Philadelphia and packed boxes upon boxes with “stockings, Dr. Scholl’s items, hand-held video games” and baked goods for the 1,130 Marines in the unit.

They also sent numerous Christmas trees and ornaments, enough so every one of the unit’s outposts would have a tree to decorate.

Heidi is a great woman and we should thank her for all she has done with this. To care enough about ALL the Marines- not just her own son- in this unit- is typical of Marine Moms. They are also among the few and the proud.

Again: Semper Fi

3 Comments »

Last week I posted about the fund raising going on down in Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point- for the Wounded Warriors Barracks…they are reporting how great the response has been.

A Craven County fund-raising drive for Wounded Warrior holiday travel raised unexpected amounts, holiday spirit and maybe a roof for a disabled soldier.

“I have seen the best of America in the last week,” said Steve Tyson, the Craven County commissioner who helped the Military Order of Purple Heart campaign last week after hearing an appeal from state coordinator Jim Casti of Newport.

“I saw Americans with that ‘What can I do to help. Let’s get it done’ attitude,” Tyson said. “It’s been really quite phenomenal. People around here love their Marines.”

[…]
A hat was passed specifically to help Army Sgt. Eric Edmundson, for whom Homes for Our Troops broke ground for a home in Fairfield Harbor last week.

Tyson said he has commitments from area businesses to continue raising money for the Edmundson home.

Mailed donations and funds raised through the reception totaled $40,707, which will go toward getting 57 Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune wounded veterans home for Christmas.

Tyson said a lot of the donors were local, but checks came from places such as Oklahoma, New York and Boston.

Heh…from Boston?? They got several checks from New Hampshire as well!! Americans love their Marines, and when we know help is needed, we will do whatever we can to assist. This effort started out locally but it was posted on a couple blogs which I know helped bring in national attention. I wrote to Mr. Tyson and Mr. Casti telling them to send email alerts to people who could help them spread the word here.

Speaking of Maxwell Barracks, another little article about how giving people can be when they know of needs:

Only days after returning from deployment, members of BLT 1/8 met at Spanky’s Sports Bar and Grill. But the biggest presence in the room was the memory of Cpl. Gary Koehler, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Haditha on Nov. 1. He was 21 years old and left behind a wife, Hillary.

The members of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, came to Spanky’s on Dec. 7 to witness the dedication of an electric wheelchair, donated in Koehler’s memory to the Wounded Warriors barracks on Camp Lejeune. The wheelchair has Koehler’s name and date of death embroidered on the back of the headrest.

“This means as long as a wounded warrior needs and uses this chair, then Cpl. Koehler will always be with us, and supporting his brothers,” said J.C. Hardee, a retired Marine colonel.

He and retired Marines Mark Schallow and Spanky Feest have been behind several fund-raisers to benefit the Wounded Warriors program; other gifts include a poker table.

But this state-of-the-art wheelchair, dressed with camouflage rims, is a personal tribute, too.

[…]
Marines and sailors from the Wounded Warriors barracks, which now houses more than 60 on Lejeune, were grateful for the gesture.

“This shows how much the American public cares,” said Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell, OIC of the barracks. “We’re America’s team right now.”

And that team takes care of their own.

I’ve been to Maxwell Barracks, met Tim Maxwell and over 45 of the Marines who reside here. They’re all heroes. They got their wounds fighting in Iraq- and they deserve a lot of respect. And support. A similar barracks will be opening on the West Coast soon at Camp Pendleton-based on the successful model of this project. I wish them all nothing but the best with these efforts.

Semper Fi

Comments Off

Looking out for each other. Taking care of their own. That’s the Marine Corps way. At Camp Lejeune one man is on a mission that deserves some attention here. Currently there are almost 60 young injured and recovering Marines living at the Wounded Warrior Barracks (aka Maxwell Barracks). An effort is underway to raise enough money to send these guys home for the holidays.

Retired Marine Capt. Jim Casti thinks it makes simple sense for those who traveled across the globe and were injured fighting for their country to be able to travel home for Christmas.

But holiday travel money isn’t a military perk, and many of the 57 military personnel from Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune at the Wounded Warriors Barracks aboard Camp Lejeune base can’t afford the trip.

A member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart himself, Casti, a Vietnam War veteran from Newport, is heading the national group’s North Carolina effort to raise money to make sure that those injured in the service of their country get home for the holidays.

It isn’t a holiday when you’re holed up in some rehab center. It’s quite depressing to be at one of these places on such an important holiday as Christmas.

Money is coming in quickly from far away and close to home, said Tyson, who started an e-mail campaign for the fund-raising reception.

He said the quick response from people has left him awed.

A $5,000 check from the New York City Police Benevolent Association is among the contributions Casti has received thus far.

Tyson said he received two checks for $1,000 each, several for $500, and a $1,000 pledge for help with the reception, leading him to estimate as much as $20,000 will be raised for the effort.

He said 20 more checks came in Friday, and 135 people have committed so far to attend tonight’s event, which costs $50 per person.

When people know there’s a need they will help when they can. It’s the American way. If you want to help, here’s the info:

Send checks to:
Mr.Tyson or Mr. Casti at

Wounded Warriors Leave Fund
P.O. Box 636,
Newport, N.C. 28570.

2 Comments »

So where is Michael anyway??

He’s OK…I’ve talked to him a couple times and he survived his trek to Colorado and then to Cali, and then back. It took him a little longer than he anticipated cause the rental truck wouldn’t go faster than 70mph. He’s getting settled down at the new job and all that. I would be NUMB from all that riding, thats for sure!

What else is new?? Our guy, Tom Tancredo has caused yet another uproar…this time he called Miami a “third world country”. It’s true- because of the high numbers of illegal immigrants there. I respect Tom for daring to speak the truth for what it is, without regard to being politically sensitive to those who would be offended.

KUSA - Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo made waves by comparing Miami, Florida to a “Third World country,” causing Florida politicians to lash back.

He initially made the remarks at a “Restoration Weekend” event over the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida.

The four-day Florida event focused in part on immigration and brought guests like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter together.

In an interview with a conservative online news site, Tancredo commented on Florida’s largest city saying, “Look at what has happened to Miami. It has become a Third World country. You just pick it up and take it and move it someplace. You would never know you’re in the United States of America. You would certainly say you’re in a Third World country.”

Tancredo reinforced his position to 9NEWS on Tuesday citing Miami’s poverty and crime rates.

“I don’t think the analogy is that far off,” he said.

“It’s important to Coloradans, and everybody else who believes themselves to be Americans - who are comfortable with the idea of being an American. As opposed to the people in Miami, who feel comfortable with the fact they don’t have to be,” said Tancredo.

He said Miami is not the only city in America facing these issues.

“What we see today in Miami, Los Angeles, Nuevo Laredo, we will eventually see throughout the United States,” said Tancredo.

Florida politicians have expressed anger in the wake of Tancredo’s comments.

Yes, Jeb Bush called Tom a “nut” for making these statements. Why is Tom a nut, for pointing out the truth? It’s no secret Bush and company are pro-illegal immigrant.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, who has perfected the art of stirring up political storms, is reveling in controversy again. And, like a pig rolling in mud, he’s loving every minute of it.

Not that we’re calling him a pig, of course. But Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had another name for the Littleton Republican: “What a nut,” the president’s brother told reporters. “I’m just disappointed \[that\] he’s a Republican. He doesn’t represent my views.”

Of course Tom doesn’t represent Jeb’s views. Jeb doesn’t live in CO and he didn’t vote for Tom. And it’s sad that Tom has to speak for so many in Miami who no longer recognize their city, Jeb.

The political ramifications are continuing for Tom:

Violence erupted at a Michigan law school Thursday when protestors tried to block a speech by Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.

Police were called after protestors pulled a fire alarm prior to the speech on immigration policies. There were at least three violent incidents with protestors targeting student backers of the event, Tancredo, R-Littleton, said today.

“One was spit on, one was kicked, and one was punched,” Tancredo said in an e-mail. “Tires were also slashed.”

So much for peaceful protest from those who call themselves Lemoncrats (TM)…Tom is speaking to the facts and Lemoncrats AND Illegals cannot handle it.

We need more people like Tancredo- he’s no nut. He’s smart and tells it like it is. Not too many polcats have the NUTS to do this.

2 Comments »

Coming soon to Jacksonville: The Warrior House

Inspired by Camp Lejeune’s “Wounded Warrior” Barracks, Warrior House will be a place where wounded service members and their families can live while they find accessible housing in town.

Many childrens hospitals have Ronald McDonald houses located nearby. These homes take in the families of hospitalized children who face extended stays…now, in an effort to take care of Marines families facing the same situation, Warrior House will open. Along with families, this project intends to house wounded soldiers as well, who are in the process of looking for a place to live.

That’s one of the missions of Hope for the Warriors, a nonprofit group co-formed this month by Robin Kelleher and Shannon Maxwell.

Maxwell is the wife of Lt. Col Tim Maxwell, a Marine who fought back from a debilitating head wound to form the most innovative care for the wounded in the military at Camp Lejeune, where wounded Marines live and deal with their wounds together. By the same token, Shannon Maxwell formed the Wounded Warriors Spouses’ Support Group to help the spouses-turned-caregivers cope with their new role in life.

The Warrior House will take that inspiration and serve a different need.

“It’s following in the footsteps of the Wounded Warrior Barracks,” Maxwell said. “It’s the same concept. Whether married or single, they need that camaraderie. They need to share their experiences with those who understand.

“The concept is to have it out in town, something the whole community can partake in.”

Maxwell said a large number of wounded service members are settling in the area after they are discharged. Many are having a difficult time finding housing that meets the demands of their disabilities.

The goal is to provide temporary, accessible housing for wounded service members and their families until they can find a home or fit their home with the appropriate adaptations.

This is a great idea!

The Warrior House will offer rooms for families coming into town to visit a wounded loved one. It will also have a resource center, which can act as a clearinghouse of information on benefits, programs and organizations that can assist the war wounded.

The group is currently in search of land; they want to open the Warrior House “as soon as possible,” hopefully sometime in early 2007, Maxwell said.

Hope for the Warriors grew out of May’s “Run for the Warriors,” a charity race that drew more than 2,000 participants and raised more than $70,000 for charities to help wounded service members.

They need money! Everyone needs money and it seems that there are many good charities to donate our cash to. THIS is a little different. I just gave some money for this project because it will have a DIRECT impact on Marines- who have a special place in my heart…a wounded Marine in the process of healing needs as much support as possible. With that in mind, please consider
donating some money for this.

Your tax deductible donation can be made payable to:
Hope For The Warriors
PMB 48
1335, Suite E, Western Blvd.
Jacksonville, NC 28546
910-938-0596
info@hopeforthewarriors.org

1 Comment »

“Is good management and lack of corruption too much to ask for?”

John Bolton wants to know the answer to this question. So do I. So do many of us. Bolton is the first man in recent history who has the nerve to ask this, and other tough questions of the UN.

We all know how the UN is. A large organization managed by people who have been in the system for so long now they cannot see beyond their own noses. Too much burearcratic tape and pomp and circumstance has become the norm. Effective world leadership is not something the UN is capable of anymore.

Bolton made his comments in response to a question after addressing a symposium on the future of the United Nations sponsored by the conservative Hudson Institute.

The United States, one of 192 member-nations, now pays about a quarter of the U.N. budget. Conservative members of Congress have threatened spending cuts for the past two years.

Bolton said Washington had set a goal of “complete concentration on the reform process” through the end of 2006.

America has a lot at stake here, with the UN. We give A LOT of money to this dinosaur. I think it is money being wasted right now- because the UN is so full of red tape and is being mis-managed. I respect John Bolton and think he is the man who can bring about change there.

If it weren’t for the UN’s current (lack of) management, perhaps Saddam would not have been allowed to take advantage of his oil and mess over his own people.

If it weren’t for the UN’s current state of condition, maybe Iran would take any resolutions seriously. Maybe North Korea would as well. Let’s face it: Anything the UN produces - resolution wise- is the subject of laughing matter for so many.

Many in the US Senate are afraid of Bolton’s in-your-face style. They are trying to block his nomination for the permanent job of US Ambassador to the UN. Senators from both sides of the aisle are being wimps. It’s time to take some action.

In collaboration with the blogosphere, the Majority Leader wants to utilize this model to help accomplish another major priority – the confirmation of John Bolton as our Ambassador to the United Nations.

Accordingly, we’ve created www.BloggingforBolton.com, a phone bank designed to flood the offices of Democratic Senators with calls in support of Ambassador Bolton. On the site, we’ve listed the numbers of all the Democratic Senators, encouraged participants to make as many calls as possible and then record their calls so everyone can track the growing tally. Participants will have the ability to email friends and family with a customizable email linking to the phone bank, which we hope will encourage viral growth. We’ve also included three “Blogging for Bolton” web banners, so bloggers can show their support … and we’ve created a “Blogroll for Bolton” for those bloggers who participate.

–from an email.

Join the Bolton Bloggers. Make a few calls. Write a post or two each week about Mr. Bolton- until we see this through!

Crossposted @ ARS

Comments Off