Sloshy Winter Day

It was a beautiful day. Early on, the sun was out gleaming on the snow at Arlington. The snow had turned to solid sheets of ice shrouding everything, making marching a bit treacherous early on. It warmed up as the day moved on creating huge pits of mud that had to be navigated around. I felt for one of our body bearers (casket team) who stepped ankle deep into the mud and lost a shoe on approach to a grave. But minus the mud, it was a gorgeous day here.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Snowy Winter Day

Cold. Ice. Snow. What a change from a few days before.

I found that my normal drive to work of 20 minutes took 90 minutes. People in DC do not know how to drive in snow. My favorite observation was of the lady driving along about 5 miles an hour on a cleared road while talking on her cell phone.

But the world changed completely upon entering the gate at Arlington. The hectic frustrating DC traffic gave way to the quiet solemnity of Arlington. The Air Force Memorial rose majestically through the snow fogged air, standing watch over sleeping warriors shrouded in the snow.


Resting under its blanket of snow, Arlington was a place for quiet meditation - honor - memory.





Rising over the silent resting place of so many who sacrificed so much for our nation - the steeple of a chapel - proclaiming the hope that many take comfort in

THESE ARE THE ONES COMING
OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
THEY HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES AND
MADE THEM WHITE
IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
--REV 7:14

But my brothers in arms do not slumber. Through this solemn air, marched a band of navy brothers, bearing a fellow sailor on his last journey, to wish him fair winds and following seas and commend him into the hands of the mighty God who created him, to bear up a family and honor a life of service.





Below, in the blowing snow stood an army band of brothers, frozen in tribute to honor a fallen comrad, to honor military service, to care for family, to inscribe another faithful veteran into our nation's memory.

A solemn day - as are all the days at Arlington.







Standing watch over those who sleep, a memorial gate upon which are inscribed these words

REST ON EMBALMED AND SAINTED DEAD, DEAR AS THE BLOOD YE GAVE,
NO IMPIOUS FOOTSTEPS HERE SHALL TREAD ON THE HERBAGE OF YOUR GRAVE.

Indeed.

Sunny Winter Days

There is beauty in the world all around us, even in the midst of a cold day. One only has to know where to look for it.


This is from the walking park a few days ago when the lows were down in the upper teens.






Today, a quiet sunny afternoon at the amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, were the tomb of the unknown soldier lies.

This is the chapel at Fort Meyer that we use for most of our chapel services in connection with Arlington.

The angel of January teaches us to look within, to take stock of ourselves and our lives.

The January angel keeps us company as we ponder over those long, cold winter nights, helping us to be honest with ourselves and to be patient at the same time. Conveying the wisdom of an elder, the January angel takes our hand as we seek to glean understanding from our lessons from the past year. With support such as this, we can give ourselves both recognition and admonition in their turn. With this help, we are able to chart a new course or alter our present one.

We seek and receive the companionship of the angel of January to warm us through the winter of our introspection.

--Unknown

The Big 3

Today, 22 January, on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, I am thinking of another key date in American history: July 4, 1776. On this day was adopted the United States Declaration of Independence with this key statement.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are
life,
liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.

These words are thought to have been strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights which was adopted June 12, 1776 which itself stated:

That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

I hope to someday see American society become a place where these rights are truly enjoyed by all and to their fullest regardless of gender, race, or age for all our people -- including those who are yet in the womb. May God bless our nation with a deep appreciation that happiness flows from liberty, and liberty flourishes where the value of life is paramount.

Thank you President Bush

As I listened to the words of my former Commander in Chief upon his arrival in Midland yesterday, I was moved by his words, but especially by the following. Once again I would like to say thank you to our 43rd President. It was an honor to have some small role in these events during the last four years of my military service.

___________________________

And after our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, a day that changed me forever, we took the fight to the terrorists around the world. We removed threatening regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, and liberated 50 million people from the clutches of terrorism.

We worked to extend freedom and human liberty as the alternatives to tyranny and terror. No matter whether or not you agree with my decisions or not, one thing you have to agree with is that we have not been attacked in the last seven years.

This is a tribute to all who toil day and night to keep us safe, especially the men and women who wear our nation's uniform.

I can't tell you how great it has been to stand before our troops an meet their families, or to go to Walter Reed and have a soldier look you in the face and say "Mr. President, I would do it all over again. Let me get healed so I can go back and defend the United States of America."

There is nothing I will miss more than being the commander in chief of such an unbelievable group of men and women.

--George W. Bush 20 January 2009 Midland Texas

_________________________________

I'm not the only one who wanted to say thank you. This is a description of his send off at Andrews by my fellow airmen. You can read the full story here.

The crowd roared as the former president and vice president made their dramatic entrance into the hangar. The rousing sounds of the "Air Force One" movie theme rung out as the huge hangar slowly opened, revealing the huge blue-and-white presidential aircraft glistening in the sunlight.

Inauguration Day

Today, we bid farewell to President Bush, a man I am thankful for the privilege of having as my Commander in Chief. It has been a true honor to present flags on his behalf at Arlington to the families of veterans recognizing their faithful service for our nation during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and our current conflict. In part, I believe my decision to rejoin the military was seeded when I saw his strong compassionate response and his resolve to defend our nation on 9/11.

A little insider's info regarding the inauguration. I just watched the motorcade make its way from the White House through the capitol with the streets lined by men and women who serve in uniform, wearing their service best in what now 22 degree weather. They were there all last night, as their report times depending on the branch of service from 2am to 3am. Hats that don't keep out the cold. Gloves designed for appearance more than effect. These young men and women are cold, but they won't show it. They won't flinch or move. They render honor. They are true professionals in every form. A year from now they may be wearing a different uniform and be standing on a mountain in Afghanistan or in a town in Iraq defending the security of our nation - and they won't flinch. They are true professionals. It is honor to serve among them. I thank God for the leadership of President Bush, as a new leadership team assumes its place, I pray that God grant them wisdom to know the right course and the courage to pursue it that our nation and or world may know peace and prosperity.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
...
When out over the lawn there arose such a clatter

While you and I enjoyed Christmas Eve, these airmen were flying through the skies to provide cover for our forces defending life and liberty on the ground.

Air Power on December 24th

104

What is 104?

The number of presents I (we) received? The amount of money we spent? The number of dinner guests we had? The combined number of pounds we all gained? Nope... none of the above.

Try my wife's temperature. My entire family is sick. My spouse is camped out in bed with the stomach flu. My youngest daughter has occupied the downstairs couch and has strep throat and pink eye (that was 2 trips to the ER, one on Christmas Eve and the other today). My oldest is floating around but still recovering from walking pneumonia.

I am thankful that it didn't all kick in until after we made candlelight services last night. We visited the local congregation in Alexandria last night, which has turned out to be the highlight of the Christmas holiday for us. This is the first time I've fed my kids McDonalds on Christmas and partaken myself of a protein bar. I looked at the ingredients in the fridge, but didn't have a clue how my wife was planning to assemble them, and didn't have a great deal of confidence in my ability to follow up on her plan anyway...so I'm thankful McD's was open until 2pm today.

The biggest impact for us is likely that our trip to Tennessee to visit my mother and then to Dollywood is likely off. We'll see how the weekend progresses.

Angels We Have Heard (of) on High

"Fear not," then said the Angel, "let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him From Satan's power and might." O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. -- O Tidings of Comfort and Joy vs 4

Angels from the realm of glory -- here is a great feel good story for Christmas. I was thinking as I read this story, it would be a good response to some advertisements I've seen on metro busses in the DC area asking why would any one believe in God sponsored by some group of so called progressives that are against religious faith. Hmm... I'm glad God continues to believe in what He is doing on our behalf even when His own children won't acknowledge His grace and glory.

Encounter

When I drove down to Alabama I made a stop to take some pictures on Roan Mountain Tennessee. At the foot of the trail that ascended the peak from where this photo was taken from, I met a family resting having just hiked that section of the Appalachian trail. There was a tall middle aged bearded man, very thin, almost gaunt with what looked to be years of experience already lining his face. With him was a young boy, maybe eight years old looking quiet tired and solemn. His wife was somewhat more rounded out with long brown hair. All were dressed in well worn trail clothing with several layers as it was quiet chilly that day. I stopped to speak with him. He had quite a story to tell.

He is a former Marine who served as an explosive ordinance technician. He shared that during a training evolution he had to jump off a bridge to avoid the concussion of an ill timed explosion and injured his back. He was told he would never walk again, but his spirit undaunted, he began a long road back that was now seeing him walking the AT. However, his spinal column is damaged and leaking fluid which he said will claim his life within the next few years. When he shared the news with his family, they asked what he wanted to do, and he said he would like to hike the entire AT before he died. His family joined him. He had completed the hike shortly before I saw him. They were redoing the TN/NC section as it was his favorite section.

There are those people you meet and forget. And then there are those you will remember forever.

Back Where I Come From

This past year I enjoyed several trips to East Tennessee. The last one, was passing through on my way to Montgomery for SOS. As I stood overlooking one of the numerous mountain ridges, it dawned on me that this was the first fall I have spent any portion of in East Tennessee since 1995. I pulled out my camera and took as many photos as possible. Some are captured in this video along with some others from the last year of my trips back home.

I love the Air Force and I love my job -- but there are times I really miss my mountains.

Merry Christmas friends and family in East Tennessee

Graduation

0700 tomorrow - one last walk for SOS - this time across the stage for graduation. Then a long drive to Mom's for some celebration! She is cancer free! Saturday I should be back home with my wife and kids.

The picture is of a helicopter parked on the ramp here at Maxwell near the flickerball fields. When I attended the dedication of the 9/11 memorial for the Pentagon this past fall, it was mentioned that the last Army troop to board a helicopter in Vietnam during the evacuation from Saigon was killed sitting at his desk at the Pentagon. It was this helicopter that he boarded. It truly is a small world.

It will be good to be home; to see my family. I'm especially looking forward to Tuesday when my oldest daughter has her band concert. She makes me so proud in so many ways.

Light at End of the Tunnel

Whew! It has been a busy last six weeks. Climbing over Project X obstacles, writing papers, doing briefings, and taking the hardest test I have ever taken in my entire academic career but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Had one major bump in the road. Got injured but after some good medication from the doc here and some rest on the physical side of things I am on the mend and think I'll be back up enough to resume my duties at Arlington without any hitch, but I probably won't be running for a few weeks yet.

One of the most meaningful events for me was when I was asked to provide an invocation for the class during a POW remembrance ceremony following our last flickerball game (operation).

Friday I should be on the way back toward home and family in time for the holidays.

It was tough but definitely worth the time and effort. I learned a great deal that I think will help make me more productive as an Air Force officer.