This last memorial day I took part in a Memorial Day parade and memorial ceremony in a little town called Millbrook, NY. I along with Stefan Ralph (who is another contributor to The Sandbox book), both were invited here by the VFW and the owner of Merritt’s Bookstore to participate in the parade and conduct a book-signing of The Sandbox. Millbrook is small town that embodies everything I think Norman Rockwell would think of when he was painting. The main street is shrouded in huge trees on both sides that provide a ceiling for the street. Small shops and businesses flank both sides of the street. At the end of the street is a huge park built on soft, rolling hills that has several memorials in it for the Veteran’s of this country. The park, called Tribute Garden is the centerpiece of the town as well it should be. It is truly something to be proud of. It was built after WWI as a tribute to all that fell in that war and the monument to WWI veterans is the centerpiece of the park.

The parade was nice as Stefan and I walked in the lead with the local VFW members. At the end of the parade, we marched up into the park where an entire high school band was seated. There the band played the National Anthem, God Bless America and other songs. They had a local High School student sing the National Anthem and the Valedictorian read the poem “In Flanders Field”. The local NY Assemblymen spoke who was an amazingly young looking guy. Of course I found out why when they read his bio and it was explained that he was elected to his first office at the age of 18 and at the age of 19 became the youngest mayor ever. He was a sharp guy who gave a very good speech about what this Memorial Day meant to him and all in this country. I wish I had some time to talk to him one on one as he was very impressive. The VFW also did a 3 gun salute while Taps was played by a trumpet player from the High School band. It was all of these things that made the ceremony so pleasant and made me glad that we did the six hour drive across the state to take part in this.

As I stood there during all of the ceremony at the park, looking out at hundreds of perfect strangers, but patriotic Americans I just kind of imagined how many ceremonies were happening like this all over the country at about the same time. There were probably more happening than I could even imagine or guess. For those few moments I felt like I was in the heart of America. To me, this is what America is all about and even more importantly this is what Memorial Day is all about. Hundreds of people took time out of their day, got the kids ready, brought them to the main street and then walked them up to the park to stand in reverence as they watched a ceremony in remembrance. Some probably had family present or past that were in the military, some probably didn’t know anyone in the military. However they all came out, and they didn’t come for a raffle, or rides, or fireworks. They came to watch some old vets, some new vets, and their political leaders pay tribute to all the great Americans who gave up their life in defense and honor of this country. I was glad to see so many people be willing to give up their time, their busy schedules, etc. to honor those that gave up so much more.

After the ceremony was over, Stefan and I walked down the bookstore and conducted the book-signing. There was not a huge turnout, but the people we met were really nice and truly appreciative of us being there. We spent a lot of time talking to them, answering questions and of course signing books. David then introduced both Stefan and I. We said a few words about blogging or about our deployment and then we both read a story from the book. Since Owen (Roy Batty) could not make it, David read one of his entries and then David asked me to read one of Ben’s as Ben also had to cancel at the last minute. Since Ben and I were on the same team together I was honored to read one of my favorite stories of his called Decency and Honor.

It was a long weekend, but something I was glad I did and worth every minute of it. I was able to see many old friends and meet many new ones. My wife and I both agreed that we could easily move to the Millbrook/Amenia area and really enjoy it. It is too bad there is not a nice sized airport close by, as that would be all that I need in order to do my work. The trip was outside of our norm, but that is ok because sometimes that is what you just need to do…get outside of the norm.

Lifetime’s smash hit, “Army Wives,” will return for a 2^nd season next Sunday, June 8^th at 10pm et/pt. The critically acclaimed drama series details the lives of five women trying to stay connected to their military husbands while adapting to turbulent life on a strict US Army post. The “Army Wives” characters, who were lauded as the “top 10 TV characters of 2007” by People magazine, saw their fair share of infidelity and steamy romance, family drama, vicious rivalries and heartbreaking deployments last season. Be sure to tune in to Lifetime on Sunday, June 8^th at 10pm for a whole new season of drama and excitement!

For more information about the show, including exclusive interviews with the cast and a recap of Season 1, head right here: http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/army-wives

Watch the season 2 trailer right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hObynGPvhCo

Dunkin Donuts is doing a campaign for our troops. You submit a military person’s name and each month they draw 50 names and send them a case of DD coffee! Here is the link to the site where you can submit the names:

https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/contact/Feedback.aspx?type=4

MSgt Rusty Barfield sits down with Tiger Woods to discuss his upcoming tournament and his Army veteran dad, Earl Woods, who served two combat tours in Vietnam.

In 2006, the Republicans lost control of Congress under promises by the Democratic congressional candidates to end the war in Iraq. Moveon.org and other groups lobbied hard and spent a lot of money to get anti-war candidates into office. Those candidates informed us of how rotten and terrible the war was going and that they would fix things. Interestingly, I fought every step of the way in trying to inform you, my esteemed audience, of the successes we were having. Patriot and Marcus did so as well. Now we find out that not only were they misleading us - they were downright lying to us just to get elected.

You know, I’m getting a little fed up with 9/11 being used as an excuse for idiotic policies and behavior. Not long ago, when I was stationed in the DC area, I took my father in law to the Pentagon with me. I wanted to show him where the plane hit the building and the memorial they had inside. My FIL is a retired Army Sergeant First Class and an outstanding patriot in the true sense of the word. He served his country with honor and allowed me to marry his daughter – the most beautiful woman in the world, by the way! (okay, maybe that counts against him) What does he get for that sacrifice? They wouldn’t let him into the Pentagon!! The reason? 9/11!! Since 9/11, they don’t allow retirees - with military identification by the way - into the Pentagon. Now tell me: what part did an honorably retired SFC play in the 9/11 attacks? I’m sure there are some trolls lurking on the site that probably think he knew all along what was going to happen and didn’t prevent it so he shouldn’t be allowed in the Pentagon, but that’s just crazy talk. Straighten out your tinfoil hat and go here.

Well, I’m back in the DC area for a few days on TDY and again heard the most absurd thing being blamed on 9/11. While on the Charlotte/Baltimore leg of a US Airways flight, I overheard a stewardess flight attendant talking to another passenger. Keep in mind that this passenger most likely paid a few hundred dollars for the square foot of personal space called her seat next to the window. The lady in seat 13F was asking the flight attendant her name. She gave the passenger her first name and the passenger asked for her last name as well. Apparently, something happened before I got on the plane that I was missing.

A few people were upset because they had packed their kitchen sinks in their baggage and all the overhead bins were full. The bags didn’t fit under the seats in front of them and had to be checked under the plane. One guy wasn’t having it. He wouldn’t deplane and wouldn’t allow them to check his bags. Instead he complained that he “didn’t trust these people” with his bags. I contemplated violently shoving his nose into his brain, but thought better about it as I had a mission to complete that didn’t involve a trial. They gave him a choice to deplane or check his bag. He didn’t want to do either. A huge US Airways employee convinced the man to choose one of the two. Needless to say, he didn’t leave the plane. There was a lot of murmuring as people were generally irritated because they should have to the right to carry their kitchen sink with them if they want. Damn anyone else’s right to share the limited space available in the plane for personal items.!!

Anyway, the flight attendant told the lady she couldn’t give her last name. “Why not?” asked the passenger. “We’re just not allowed to give it out since 9/11.” WHAT?!?! Are you freaking kidding me? This reminds me of an issue I recently had with one of my Soldiers. He is having trouble with the military’s payroll deductions to pay his child support through the state of Alabama. I won’t get into details, but the lady at the Alabama child support services (or whatever socialist name it has) was very rude because he “wasn’t paying his child support” when in fact he was but the state was all jacked up.

You see, the military pays its employees either once a month or twice on the first and fifteenth. However, on holidays or when the first and fifteenth fall on a Sunday, paychecks are sent out the preceding Friday. So, if the first falls on a weekend, that Soldier will be paid on the 30th or earlier depending on the holiday. So, May’s child support payment was paid on the 1st since it fell on a Thursday, but June’s payment will go out on May 30th since June 1st falls on a Sunday. Well the state of Alabama doesn’t look at that second payment as June’s payment. They look at it as an extra payment for May since it was in the same month!! So, instead of applying it to his monthly required payment, they apply it to back child support and charge interest for a missed payment. INSANE!! Well, instead of working this through, the Alabama rep is rude and when my Soldier asked for her last name she refused to give it. Don’t worry, I took care of that problem and hopefully that lady is responsible for jobless claims going up last month.

Exactly where is the threat with last names being used on a flight? If it’s such a risk, why do I have to wear a uniform with my last name plastered all over it? When I wear my PC hat, my last name is on that as well. Does that make me a target? Maybe I should get a new nametag made that just says CJ and tell people that I can’t give them my last name because of 9/11. While I’m at it, because of 9/11 I don’t even want them to look at me. I may get scared and think they’re about to plow a plane into my grill!

Rest assured, I’ll be making a phone call to US Airways to inquire about this “policy” they seem to have on their flights. How exactly do I complain when I don’t know the individuals name? I mean, at least have a policy where the flight attendants have alias names so they don’t sound so pathetic about why they can’t give their real last names. They can use that cool Star Wars name generator to come up with unique and personal names!! It’s bad enough that these morons are taking my tax money in the form of subsidies because they can’t manage themselves adequately, charge me $25 for a second bag ($15 for the FIRST bag if you’re on American Airlines), charge me for meals, won’t give me a full can of Diet Coke, and stick me in these claustrophobic seats between the heaviest, smelliest people possible (actually, this flight wasn’t so bad; I got a middle seat and they were decent people). Now they won’t tell me their last names?!

There are two G.I. Bills that have been snaking their ways through Congress. This is actually a good thing as we’re finally working to fix something created decades ago. Since I’m on the email lists of veterans organizations from Vets For Freedom to Iraq Veterans Against the War, I’ve heard all sides of the story as they fight to get one or the other passed. I’d like to educate you all about what these competing bills provide since they will be used as political capital on both sides of the aisle.
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I came across this news blip today and felt a little vindicated. I have been saying since the first of the year that 2008 would continue the trend and the violence would continue to rise. Even though I hate to be right on this subject, I am glad to see the senior leadership starting to admit this. This is the cold hard fact, and regardless of how many mid-level people want to take credit for something that is not a reality, it is what it is.

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8352375&nav=0Ra7DqYl

I’m gonna bash some of my fellow Soldiers for a minute. Not the ones who are refusing to deploy and should be tried and punished as treasonous subversives. Not the ones who speak out against this war. Not the idiots who couldn’t hack it so they got out and started badmouthing the military because they were kicked out and won’t get their education benefits. I’m talking about the ones that deployed and returned with honor and think that because of that service they are entitled to act like pricks!
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When I joined the Army in 1995, I joined as an enlisted Soldier. My father retired at the top of the enlisted ladder, hanging up his cap as a Command Master Chief in the Navy. As long as I’ve been in, I’ve been pushed, shoved, prodded, and encouraged to go either the Warrant Officer or Commissioned Officer route. I could have done so - and succeeded. But, I didn’t. And I don’t think that’s so bad.

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