As we all know by now, former 5 term state senator Don Benton has been nominated by President Trump to head the Selective Service, aka the Draft to those of us old enough to remember that era.
I see no need to delve into the history of the draft, but also realize there is little chance it will be reactivated to induct young men and possibly young women into the Military.
That being said, I have been largely indifferent to the nomination of Don Benton or that he never served in the Military himself in any capacity. Although if approved he would be the first ever to head the department without Military Service, it really made no difference to me in large part due to the unlikelihood our youth would once again be conscripted.
Bill Morehouse, well known Buffalo Soldier and World War II Veteran passed away this morning at the age of 94. Even though getting up in years, Bill was often seen in his Buffalo Soldier uniform sitting on his horse in Veteran’s Day parades, Memorial Day events and honoring Veterans. We have lost a remarkable man.
Bill Morehouse (Left)
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Columbia River Veteran’s Organization Helping Military Veterans at the Ground Level
December 12, 2016
New Military Veteran’s Therapeutic Camp Planned for SW Washington
Funding Needed to Make it a Reality
A new non-profit corporation, the Columbia River Veteran’s Organization (CRVO), has been formed to assist U.S. military veterans with assistance and a special place for healing.
I was pleased to read of the dedication this past Saturday of the POW/MIA Memorial at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Fourth Plain. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend.
I was able to not only attend the POW/MIA recognition ceremonies in 2011, but to tape the speaker as well, former WWII POW Dale Bowlin, who also spoke this past Saturday, video below.
Sorry about background noise, but he was speaking very close to the freeway that day.
Patty Murray, Democrat Senator from Washington State has long touted herself as the “best friend” Veterans have. And she has successfully thrown some money towards veterans and enjoyed many a photo-op with Veterans and cutting ribbon ceremonies.
In light of the revelations of “waiting lists” for Veterans to receive much needed healthcare, some dying while waiting, she now demands “decisive actions” at a hearing by the Senate Veterans Affair Committee she has sat on since 1995 and chaired between 2011 and 2013
Sadly, the calls sound like little more than recorded rhetoric we heard from her in 2007 when it was discovered that one building at Walter Reed Hospital was in deplorable condition as she and other Democrats politicized it, demanding then President Bush’ head on a platter.
This May will see the 50th Anniversary of the Hazel Dell Parade of Bands as school bands, businesses and community groups converge to march through the middle of Hazel Dell, Washington.
This “Golden Jubilee” celebrates the founding of the Parade in 1964, a time of a troubled America ripped apart by a Presidential Assassination, Civil Rights struggle, the Cold War and in need of such a spirit-lifting event.
Nineteen sixty-four also saw a growing involvement 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean in the small Asian country of Vietnam that would further divide the American public, with returning Troops met with scorn and derision by a misunderstanding population.
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December 7, 1941, the “date that will live in infamy” marked America’s entrance into World War II, what was to become the bloodiest conflict in recorded history that saw over 16 Million Americans putting on the uniform of one of the various branches making up our Armed Services.
When the world needed them the most, these men & women answered the call to fight a tyrannical enemy on the battlefields, in the air and on the open seas, prevailing four years later after over 400,000 of their number lay dead with another 670,000 wounded.
Five years later, 1950, many answered the call again to stand against another enemy to freedom in the small country of Korea, joining the younger men & women until a cease fire was signed 3 years later.
Due to the weather, the local December 7 Observance had to be cancelled today. So here are excerpts of memories from survivors of the attack they shared with us on the 70th Anniversary in 2011.
Some of these heroes are no longer with us and it is only a matter of time before the others join them. We must not let their experiences fade away and be unknown to younger generations
Thanksgiving Day will soon be upon us and we will likely sit down with family and friends, overeat, watch a ball game and of course, somewhere in the course of the day we will give thanks for living in such a great country.
Most of us do not know hunger; fear of being dragged from our homes in the middle of the night to be interrogated or targeted by despots merely because we disagree with them and wish to lobby for changes.
We have fields of grain unlike many other countries and such bountiful farmlands that even the poorest among us are fed regularly.
We will give credit to many for such riches, but who really deserves credit?
It should be remembered that while aging 80 and 90 year old WW2 Veterans, many in wheelchairs, were Barrycaded from entering their memorial, threatened with arrests and harassed by government employees, Illegal Aliens were permitted to hold a rally in Washington D.C. during the shut down within closed areas and Democrat officials attended, many speaking
In today’s modern society, filled with time-consuming activity and daily distractions we all deserve a time out simply to enjoy ourselves, be entertained, escape from daily woes that face us all and if we can do that while helping someone in need, all that much better.
We live in increasingly partisan times. It seems more and more we are divided as we bicker among ourselves on issues of the day. Be it taxes, civil rights, infrastructure projects or any number of issues facing us, we remain divided and apparently unable to find a compatible middle ground.
But when it comes to supporting veterans, we are united. Even though our bickering extends into partisan rancor over sending them off into harm’s way, we remain united in appreciating their willingness to stand between us and our enemies, having learned decades ago that those that we send to war are not the designers of war and THEY deserve our support.
A great gift to give to veterans with stress this Christmas or for the new year is information about or sponsorship in the unique “Join-Up”® equine therapy program of Monty Roberts, the internationally famous horseman, horse trainer, and humanitarian known as the “Horse Whisperer.”
Roberts’ “Horse Sense & Soldiers” workshops, through his International Join-Up® Organization, are being credited with transforming the lives of veterans wounded by service-related post traumatic stress injury by teaching them to use his unique method of working with, and ultimately “joining up” with, untrained horses without the use of any violence whatsoever.
UPDATE: Lindsey Stone resigned from her job, November 21, 2012. Both her and Jamie Schuh are no longer are employed by LIFE.
By now just about everybody know of the reprehensible photo taken of 30 year-old Lindsey Stone mocking the ‘Silence and Respect’ sign next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. If somehow you missed it, you can read about it here
The photo has gone viral in the last 24 hours and elicited hundreds of thousands of comments throughout the internet, most condemning the act in strong terms and several others either agreeing with her, saying she has freedom of speech (she also has freedom to be held accountable) and some not understanding why so many are outraged.
For those who do not understand our outrage, please view the Canadian video below produced and performed by Terry Kelly addressing a man who showed disrespect during their two minute time of Remembrance of their fallen heroes.
Latest Update: Lindsey Stone resigned from her job, November 21, 2012. Both her and Jamie Schuh are no longer are employed by LIFE. The employer issued the following on their facebook page,
Vandalization of our Veterans Memorials has been a problem for some time. If it wasn’t vandals then it was the ACLU, atheists, anti-war ilk and more and each has been met head on, in one way or another informing them that our Memorials are sacred and sit on hallowed ground. But, as the photo below shows, some take their disrespect too far.
