Beautiful Freedom

Photos taken at Cedine Bible Camp in Spring City, Tennessee.

Tribute and Thanks

I've been working on pictures from Alma, Georgia, lately. I received an email from a cousin telling me about a monument
I missed when I was in Georgia. Mark went back up to the hunting camp yesterday and took these pictures for me.

The people of Alma, and Bacon County, established this monument to honor the soldiers who fought in World War I, World War II,
the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and those who were prisoners of war - from the Bacon County area.

Honor and thanks to each person listed: those killed in action, those taken prisoner of war, and one medal of honor recipient.
The reverse side shows those who fought and returned home.

Those serving in the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, including my cousin, Danny Conrad, who was in Vietnam.
Thanks for your service, Danny. I didn't know you fought in Vietnam, I guess I was too young at the time.
I'm proud of you and thank you for your sacrifice.

The back side of the monument - where many of the names are listed. All from this one county.

With our busy lifestyles, we forget to stop and remember those who fought to allow us to maintain the freedoms we have here in the United States. Thanks, Danny, for telling me about this monument. It's proper that we remember and say thanks. And it's proper for us to pray for our soldiers out there fighting right now, and for their families, and for their safety. We should say "thank you" every chance we get - so, thanks, Danny! You made a difference!

Never Forget 9/11

Ten years ago today, these United States of America came under attack.

Thousands were killed. Senselessly. Violently. Lives were changed forever.

Homes and families were changed forever.

Our safety, our security, became challenged. We came together as a country, like never before.

Stronger. Sterner. Bolder. Empowered.

God became real to many who had never really seeked His face before.

God became tangible, and we became stronger.


Ten years. Looking forward. Today we look back and remember.

Never forget.

(I took this photo today, September 11, 2011, at Hope Baptist Church, in Theressa, Florida.)

American Soldier by Toby Keith

In honor of the 31 troops killed in Afghanistan this morning when their chopped was shot down during a rescue mission.
More than twenty of the troops were Navy Seals, from the same unit that carried out the raid that killed Bin Laden back in May.
Laying their lives on the the line every day - for you and for me - the American soldier should be heroes to us all.
Lift a prayer for them as you watch this video.

Thanks To Our American Heroes!

It's Memorial Day again. Every year at this time, I take a few minutes to think about the sacrifices so many are making, and have made, so that I can live my life the way I want to. Free to make my own decisions. Free to come and go as I please. Free to follow my God. Free to follow His will. Free to have the lifestyle we have, to have the 'things' we have, free to have the liberties we have. Free to be. I think about my dad and his buddies, my father-in-law and his buddies, and the fellows and ladies we know today that serve so I, my husband, and children can be FREE. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

American Soldier

Since September 11, 2001, my email signature has had an added line requesting prayer for our great military. I grew up in the military, my dad was career U. S. Navy. I know first-hand what it means to be the ones left-behind when my dad left for yet another sea-duty assignment. We were blessed to have had one wonderful tour of duty in Newfoundland, Canada, that lasted many years and we were able to live - together - as a family for quite some time.

That's not always the case when you are a military family. This morning as I checked my facebook page, I saw that a friend had posted the above video with a "happy Valentine's Day" message for her husband. No doubt Mike is overseas - again. I've watched this family for several years, as Mike goes, and comes home, and goes again. I can't even tell you how much time I've spent in prayer for this family. They are such a blessing to me. Not that we spend any real time together, for truly we mostly speak online, but I appreciate so much the sacrifice Celeste and her children have made, do make, on a daily basis so that my family and I can live, and excell, in freedom.

So. Today. Please lift a prayer for our service men and women overseas. Please lift a prayer for our civilian men and women who are overseas working alongside our military so that you and I can live where we do, and live as we do.

Please enjoy Toby Keith's American Soldier. (And if you're anything like me - get your tissues ready before you watch.) May God truly bless and protect our great military!

Former President Bush Welcomes Home Troops

Borrowed from YouTube, this video shows former President Bush and Laura Bush welcoming many of our troops back home at the Dallas, Texas airport. These troops were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan on August 11, 2010. It's really sad that President Obama is never seen in this type of role. There is so much he could learn from just watching President Bush and seeing the compassion and pride he has for the American soldiers and the American people.

Here is a link where you can say thank you to President Bush for always putting our troops first. http://action.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147497560

Wings of Dreams, Part Two

Now let's talk planes. Actually, let's talk planes that flew in World War II for the United States. These have been renovated and prettied up with shiny new paint - but they all flew in WWII.

The Stearman Bi-Plane. I've actually flown in one of these in Jacksonville at Herlong Field - a loooong time ago. We toured the parking lot, did a little loop-de-loop stuff and puked in a paper sack. Yeah, that was a load of fun! Well, I didn't actually puke in a paper sack, but I was as close as you could get without actually doing it - lol!

Beautiful detail work.



This particular aircraft is the Vanguard, a US Navy fighting chopper. I'm sure it has an official name, but there wasn't a display board with it. Sorry.

The Vanguard specialized in being big and scarey looking.

Powerful!

It could hold a lot of equipment and a lot of soldiers.

I guess this "Beware of Blast" has more to do with the "Jet Intake" stuff than it does actual guns and shooting.


This is a P-51C Mustang. I believe those are little guns sticking out along the nose-side.

The P-51C Mustang was built in 1940. Of all the ones used in WWII, the Betty Jane is the only one still in existence.

Dwight Eisenhower rode in one of these Mustangs over the beaches of Normandy after the invasion on D-Day. Notice the swastikas over the wing.

The B-24J Liberator.

The Witchcraft - notice the "bombs" painted on the side of the nose.

The Liberator was built in 1944. It carried a crew of ten soldiers and was armed with ten .50 cal. machine guns.


Here's a shot of the rear guns.

The B-17G, also known as the Flying Fortress, was built in 1945. This particular one was used to test the effects of three nuclear explosions.

Plenty of firepower on this craft!




There's another gunport.

I don't know anything about this plane, except it flew in while I was there and was on display. US Air Force.


No display board with this one either. It reminded me of M*A*S*H for some reason :).

That's a big gun!

I liked the way this shot turned out. Stilled blades on top and in the tail. Cool!

If you get the opportunity to check out the Wings of Dreams/Wings of Freedom Air Show - by all means go! You'll get a rich history lesson for WWII. Not only the aircraft and ground vehicles and soldiers, but there were also tents set up with displays from that time frame.

I am so thankful for all the military men and women that protect our country. And so thankful for their families that make the sacrifice to allow that to be. If you ever get an email from me you will notice my signature also carries a thank you salute to the military. I grew up a military-kid. Career Navy family. "God bless the USA" means something to me. Maybe more so than to others, but I was raised that way and it's what I still believe. The Wings of Freedom really brought that home to me.Please visit them if you get the chance!

Wings of Dreams/Wings of Freedom Tour, 2010

The Wings of Dreams/Wings of Freedom Tour, 2010, came to our community this weekend. World War II vintage planes and vehicles were on display, with pilots and personnel in uniform. It was quite spectacular!

These particular motorcycles were made by Harley Davidson in 1942, Model XA - Experimental Army. One thousand of these bikes were made. These are originals from that batch of 1,000.

Authentic radios, helmets, grenades and ammo.

Motorcycles with sidecars, guns, and ammo.

An ambulance, stocked and ready to roll.

Women played a big role, both overseas and here at home.

There was also a German re-enactment, so to speak. Complete with uniforms, guns, and tanks.

And here is the young man I showed a sneak peek of earlier. Total stealth photography.

I also took a bunch of photos of various World War II aircraft. I hope to post those tomorrow. If you live in this area, or if the tour comes to where you live, it's certainly worth the $5.00 admission to check out all the equipment and speak with some of the WWII pilots and some of the Womens Airforce Service Pilots. My dad fought in the United States Navy on an aircraft carrier. I'll show you some of those planes tomorrow.

Until They All Come Home (Dedicated to Michael Brown and his family - love you, Celeste!)

They Are Heroes

Recently we spent time with these friends celebrating the young man's birthday. They are a great family - they have a loving, devoted mom, and their dad is a hero in my eyes. He fought in the middle east war and currently goes back and forth to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor. If I remember right he does repairs and maintenance on the military aircraft. It seems to me he spends most of the year in Afghanistan, and part of the year here with his family. He is gone for months at a time. The dishes for the birthday party were red, white and blue, stars and stripes. This is one patriotic family. Thanks to your whole family - for the sacrifices you make to keep us safe. I know it isn't easy being left behind here while your dad and husband travels half way around the world. Thank you for being willing to make that sacrifice for me and my family. We love you - each of you :)