SINCE 1984, THE ARMED FORCES HAVE SET ASIDE A SPECIAL DAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HEROES. AT THIS YEAR, FRIDAY, 09 MAY 2008, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY. THE LIFE OF A MILITARY FAMILY IS ONE OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES. DURING THIS PERIOD OF HIGH OPERATIONAL TEMPO, MARINE CORPS SPOUSES CONTINUE TO MEET THESE DAILY CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND STRENGTH. THEIR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION ALLOW MARINES TO FOCUS ON AND MAINTAIN MISSION READINESS. AS WE CELEBRATE MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY, ANNETTE AND I CONGRATULATE ALL MARINE CORPS SPOUSES, AND EXPRESS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND…
Category: Military Life
Honoring a Fallen Marine
Posted in Military Life
On Monday, April 21, 2008, 1st Lt. Matthew Vandegrift, USMC, 28, was killed during combat operations in Basra. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Matthew Vandegrift grew up in Austin, Texas, and graduated with honors in 2005 from Texas A&M University with a degree in international business. His family, of Littleton, said he loved hanging out with friends, playing video games and watching movies. He also had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh… …His family is relying on their Christian faith…
Beautiful Version of the National Athem
Posted in Military Life, and Thoughts
Merry Christmas, My Friend
Posted in Holidays, and Military Life
Merry Christmas, My Friend by Corporal James M. Schmidt, former U.S. MarineFirst published in “Leatherneck Magazine”, December 1991‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.I had come down the chimney, with presents to giveand to see just who in this home did live. As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land. With medals and badges, awards of all kind,a sobering thought soon came…
In Honor of Veterans Day
Posted in Holidays, and Military Life
This has been passed along many times, but I wanted to share it one more time… A WIFE’S REQUESTI was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country.You know the type–a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long neck beers and sizzling platters.Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass.My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service,…