Saturday, February 26, 2005

Day 49 - Status Quo

Well, not much to report on the "Al Front" - I heard from him yesterday morning and this morning - he called around 0600 both days - he is doing good and trucking along. He said that he will get to teach classes on nursing to some other soldiers who are interested in going into the medical field when they get home - he's going to have them do computer based nursing courses - so he's excited about that.

We didn't get to talk very long this morning because he was meeting his friend to go work out. I think that they have a pretty decent exercise facility for them - it helps to break up the monotony, I'm sure. He said that their chaplain will be back today - and that Al will going to go to church tomorrow morning. It's 0200 there right now - so his morning will be happening soon.

Em and I got a neat surprise when we came home this morning - a big box full of goodies from our Homefront Hugs family. Teddy bears, videos, a ball, airplanes for the kids - bath stuff and scrapbooking stuff for me --- it was just nice to know that somebody was thinking about us - and any mail that's not a bill is always good mail!! ;-)

Cindy also included this note which I would like to share with y'all:

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

4 comments:

Schroeder said...

I honor your husband's service to our country. I mean no disrespect, but I hope you are open-minded enough to question these assumptions. True, patriots of the American Revolution secured these freedoms once, and they have had to be re-won periodically--most notably WWII. Nevertheless, there has not been a war fought in the last fifty years where U.S. freedoms were threatened. Those who believe that have been brainwashed by government jingoism.

I'm sad to say that U.S. troops are in Iraq for reasons other than securing those precious freedoms for Americans.

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with these sentiments. Everyday we are fighting terrorists outside the U.S. we are further securing our own liberties. Make no mistake, Al Quaeda or their surrogates are here in Iraq. As long as they gravitate here they are expending resources that could be used in planning and executing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Over here we have the opportunity to defeat them without endangering our own populace. Makes sense to fight them here instead of at home.

Also, to be blunt, we remain in this area (Navy's been here for 50 years) to preserve the economic freedoms of our allies and ourselves. Without econmomic security, you have no political or social freedoms. All of the wars since 1945 have been fought with a similar goal; to preempt the massive loss of life seen in both world wars. Once again, it makes sense to fight a smaller war to preclude the larger one that looms.

For the hostess, I enjoyed your site. Thank you very much.
Thanks
A salty, old Naval Officer marooned in the dirt

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with these sentiments. Everyday we are fighting terrorists outside the U.S. we are further securing our own liberties. Make no mistake, Al Quaeda or their surrogates are here in Iraq. As long as they gravitate here they are expending resources that could be used in planning and executing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Over here we have the opportunity to defeat them without endangering our own populace. Makes sense to fight them here instead of at home.

Also, to be blunt, we remain in this area (Navy's been here for 50 years) to preserve the economic freedoms of our allies and ourselves. Without econmomic security, you have no political or social freedoms. All of the wars since 1945 have been fought with a similar goal; to preempt the massive loss of life seen in both world wars. Once again, it makes sense to fight a smaller war to preclude the larger one that looms.

For the hostess, I enjoyed your site. Thank you very much.
Thanks
A salty, old Naval Officer marooned in the dirt

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with these sentiments. Everyday we are fighting terrorists outside the U.S. we are further securing our own liberties. Make no mistake, Al Quaeda or their surrogates are here in Iraq. As long as they gravitate here they are expending resources that could be used in planning and executing another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Over here we have the opportunity to defeat them without endangering our own populace. Makes sense to fight them here instead of at home.

Also, to be blunt, we remain in this area (Navy's been here for 50 years) to preserve the economic freedoms of our allies and ourselves. Without econmomic security, you have no political or social freedoms. All of the wars since 1945 have been fought with a similar goal; to preempt the massive loss of life seen in both world wars. Once again, it makes sense to fight a smaller war to preclude the larger one that looms.

For the hostess, I enjoyed your site. Thank you very much.
Thanks
A salty, old Naval Officer marooned in the dirt