Today is a day to honor and remember those who have served and those who continue to serve our great country.  We owe so much to our Veterans and many businesses have come up with some great savings and free deals for our hero’s

Click on this link to find out more: http://networkedblogs.com/p17279201

I also wanted to give a special mention to my dad Gary McCormick who served in the United States Navy during the Korean War!!

Happy Veteran’s Day!!

WHAT IS A VET?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a aged scar, a certain look in the eye.

 Others may carry the evidence  inside them: a pin holding a bone together,a piece of shrapnel in the leg, or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can’t tell a vet just by looking.

What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating
two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run
out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She – or he – is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another – or didn’t come back AT ALL.

He is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat – but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.

He is the parade – riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket – palsied now and aggravatingly slow – who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the
nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You.

 That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.Two little words that mean a lot, “THANK YOU”.
Remember November 11th is Veterans Day.

Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, Lt. Col., USMC

THOUGHTS ON VETERANS DAY
General Douglas MacArthur

It is the SOLDIER, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the SOLDIER, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the SOLDIER, not the campus organizers, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the SOLDIER, who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag.  AMEN.

Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier must take a special kind of person. Question: How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? Answer: 21 steps.  It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. Question: How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why? Answer: 21 seconds alluding to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. Question: Why are the guard’s gloves wet? Answer: The gloves are moistened to prevent the guard losing his grip on the rifle. Question: Does the guard carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why not? Answer: The guard carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. Question: How often are the guards changed? Answer: Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Question: What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? Answer: For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5′10″ and 6′ 2″ tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.” Other requirements of the Guard: A guard must commit two (2) years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.  They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb.  There are only 400 presently worn.  The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet.  There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as the guards come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.  Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.  Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV.  All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.  A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred.  Among the notables are:  President Taft, Joe E. Lewis (the boxer) and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, (the most decorated soldier of WWII) of Hollywood fame. The military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Hurricane Isabel were given permission to suspend the assignment.  The guards respectfully declined the offer, “No way, Sir!” Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldeir was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24 hours a day 7 days a week since 1930.

For those of you interested in attending the Memorial Service at Fort Hood here are the details:

A Memorial Ceremony will be held at 13:00 on Tuesday, 10 Nov. The gates will open at 10am and attendees are encouraged to arrive early. The ceremony is open to the public and no RSVP is required. All attendees will go through airport like security and are asked to bring minimal personal items. Prohibited items include: bags, firearms, sharp objects, umbrellas, strollers, liquids, and signs. Cameras are allowed

Here is a link to the Fort Hood website:http://pao.hood.army.mil/

One of the hardest days ever for me on the Radio was this past Friday Morning.   I was so profoundly saddened by the events that had taken place on Thursday afternoon that I was almost unable to speak.  I didn’t have it in my heart to do our normal light-hearted material.  I was afraid to talk about the tragedy out of fear of breaking down in tears.

All this from a guy that broadcast live the events of 9/11.  That was different to me in the respect that I was telling all that I saw and heard as it was unfolding.  I felt a duty to keep people informed and if you can remember that morning, we didn’t know what was coming next.  

Last Friday Morning however, we did know what was coming next . . . incredible pain and suffering and the grieviously slow process of healing.   I was like everyone else, shocked and saddened by an incomprehensible event.  I know our Ft. Hood family could use our help.  Here are some of the ways I’ve found we can:

H-E-B will donate $50,000 to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and launch an in-store tear pad campaign benefiting the organization in response to the tragedy at Fort Hood.  

 All monies will benefit Fort Hood fund established to appropriately memorialize the recent tragedy, and care for the affected soldiers and their families. One hundred percent of all funds received will go to meet these needs.

 The campaign offers H-E-B customers an opportunity to join H-E-B’s aid by adding a donation in increments of $1, $3, or $5 to their total grocery bill.

The Blood Center of Central Texas said because of all the donations it has received, the center’s blood supply has been replenished. In its Special News Update, the center reports an adequate supply of blood, thanks to dedicated blood donors throughout the year and recently in response to the Fort Hood shooting.

Instead of giving blood, several agencies are looking for donations.

Donations can be made to the following local charities.

• Mail checks to the Fort Hood Chaplain’s Fund:

Chaplain’s Fund Office
Bldg 44, 761st Tank Battalion Avenue
Fort Hood, TX 76544-5000

Make checks payable to “CTOF” (Chapel’s Tithes and Offerings Fund) with a note on the memo line stating “Nov. 5 Tragedy.”

• Contributions on behalf of Fort Hood soldiers can also be made to the Fisher House:

Fisher House
Bldg 36015
Fisher Lane
Fort Hood, TX 76544

Fisher House phone numbers (254) 286-7927 or (254) 286-7929.

• Donations can be made to the local branch of the American Red Cross

Killeen Red Cross
208 W. Ave. A
Killeen, TX 76541

Phone (254) 200-4400

• Donations can be made to the USO:

USO Fort Hood
Building # 1871, 50th St.
Fort Hood, TX 76544

Call (254) 768-2771

I was sitting at the desk in my office here at the station when the first email alert of Thursday’s tragedy at Ft. Hood came across.

My initial reactions were the predictable ones: surprise, shock, and horror, not only because it was so close to home, but on a military base, a place I’m sure we all feel is as safe as it gets. Memories of questions about 9/11 also went through my mind. Why did this happen? What can we do to help?

The coming days and weeks will most likely answer the question of why, as the authorities piece all the information together. As to the second question… at times like these, many of us feel helpless as to what to do. But there are several things I believe we can do that truly will make a difference.

the Red Cross is facilitating what the recovery needs are. Our majic website will have more information on that, so check back often for those details on ways you can help.

I also discovered a website that is raising funds for the families of the victims. 100 percent of the proceeds go to helping in the recovery effort. The site is:
 http://www.forthoodausa.org

Finally, pray. I’ve always believed prayer heals not only our bodies, but our minds. We may never really understand why these tragedies happen, but God will see these families through, along with others at the base who were wounded or witnessed the shootings. I firmly believe that.

The Red Cross Blood Services stands ready to support local hospitals by providing blood products which may be necessary to treat the wounded. It has already supplied nearly 150 units of blood and blood products to Darnall Army Medical Center and Scott and White Hospital. The Red Cross strives to ensure that sufficient blood and blood products are available to meet routine and emergency needs at all times. Regular blood donations by healthy, eligible donors enable the Red Cross to be prepared for any situation that arises. Various Red Cross Donor Centers in Texas have extended hours. If you need details regarding the extended hours, want to make an appointment to donate, or have questions about donating, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543).

Click on this link for a list of locations to donate: http://srt.bloodisneeded.org/GiveBlood/WheretoGive.aspx

 

I love kids . . . that’s not saying that they don’t have some funny “accidents” and as long as no one gets hurt it’s ok to laugh.

Last night my 6 year-old boy Franke finally decided to pull out that dangling tooth he’s had for the past week.
He also tried to negotiate with the “tooth fairey”.
How much does a tooth go for these days?