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.

Good Week

It has been a busy fast paced but good week. Team is currently second place in the entire SOS 09A class. The program is really starting to come together. We had job briefs this week and several other tasks. The brief was my favorite, because in 6-8 minutes I learned a great deal about what each one of my flight mates does in their day to day job. Some of them do some pretty awesome things. We've got a F-15 driver, a CROW, and a flight nurse who has flown wounded into Andrews, where I used to meet the wounded and take them into the ASF at the hospital there. Small worlds.

Played my first real game (sorry, operation) of flickerball today. We won.

Earlier in the week we tackled Project X. I found myself climbing a 4X4, hauling bodies over water obstacles on rather interesting weight bearing contraptations that we assembled, balancing on some pipes a good distance of the ground and so forth. Not for the timid. (Esp. at 43.) The ole joints are getting a workout.

If you are coming to SOS I will give one piece of advice. Be in physical condition. You will need it. You don't want to try to be doing it here.

And know your knots!

And stay calm. Be ready to adapt and perform under pressure.

Sunrise - Sunset

Up at the crack of dawn or before -- to bed way after sunset. That is part of what SOS is about. But it is way more than hard work or long hours.

First and foremost it is about teams and leadership -- with the emphasis being on leading oneself before leading others. Just a week in and it has already been a great learning experience.

The picture from the right is taken after a flickerball practice. I can't say much about how we are doing or what we are going to do in the flickerball events as that is classified. :)

We have been conducting a couple of simulations that are designed to test leadership and teamwork. First time around we were the highest in the entire SOS class. Today I don't think we did as well, but we improved our score -- but others still outscored us. But we learned a great deal about each other and working together. Tomorrow is our 3rd and final exercise with this particular instrument and I'm on point. So I guess I'll learn a bit about what I do when I've got the ball and the pressure is on. As they say, "winners always want the ball".

The weather has been great for November. Perfect time to be in Montgomery. Been doing lots of course preparation and research, even some collateral research into systems dynamics that compliment the curriculum here. Mostly reviewing what I've covered before, but I have discovered some new ideas out there too that help expand one's knowledge base of how people work when you put them together.

A typical day for me thus far goes as such. Up no later than 6am. Class between 0700 and 0800. Classes or experiential learning events until lunch, hour for lunch, then more of same until 1700. Then quick dinner, PT, and back to room to work on academic stuff. Then throw in team meeting to prepare for team events and so forth and it get quite busy.

I can't say too much about SOS as the curriculum is designed to test you with some stuff coming out of the blue so I shouldn't say to much about what is done how. Just there is a combination of instruction then some experiential learning event that will allow you to put it into play but also will test you. The bar is high. The school sets the bar high and the competitive nature of the flights (team versus team) pushes it higher. I feel good about our flight's potential. We aren't there yet as a great team -but we can get there. We have the talent, intelligence, experience, and so forth. We'll see if we get it all together before the end.

One word of advice if you are coming to SOS. Actually 2. First, do it in corrospondance. That will take some of the academic stress off if you know stuff already. Second - be in physical condition. Don't come here to get in physical condition. Come here to put your body to work for you. SOS won't kill you, but it is no walk in the park either.