Warrenpoint: Never forget

(video found here)

Plus a post about that day over at Assoluta Tranquillita here

Always remembered and honoured. They matter.

Brat

Darrell "Shifty" Powers: Hero

Airborne Icon and Hero Passes On - Godspeed, Darrell "Shifty" Powers

Posted By Blackfive

"I could hear bullets and shrapnel hitting the plane. As I jumped out the door, I could see that the left motor was on fire." - Darrell Shifty Powers talking about jumping over Normandy, France, on D-Day.

Read all about this hero at BlackFive here.
" Shifty" passed away recently, with very little media attention or public fanfare.

Rest in Peace, "Shifty." Always remembered and honoured.

Music and Me: If you're reading this

Kory and Cooper (picture courtesy of BlackFive)

Eddie

Patrick


Joseph

Nichola





Just a few of MY heroes, "standing up for the innocent and the weak...."

Always Remembered and Honoured.

*And other Memorial Day posts at Assoluta Tranquillita*

Brothers At War movie in New York

The award-winning documentary "Brothers at War" gives audiences a rare view into life on the frontlines of war.

The movie opens in New York City this weekend, at a series of screenings co-sponsored by Sony at the AMC Loews Village 7. Sony is also inviting New York City police officers, firefighters, and service men and women to attend the weekend screenings.

"Brothers at War," released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, follows Rademacher as he journeys to Iraq to embed with American combat units in an effort to better understand the mission of his two brothers, Capt. Isaac Rademacher, a decorated West Point graduate serving his third tour, and Sgt. Joe Rademacher, a Ranger, combat vet, and army sniper in the 82nd Airborne.

The movie, which has received standing ovations and praise from military families across the country, also offers a close-up glimpse of war's personal impact on the American family, from a brother's point of view.

Given unprecedented access to U.S. and Iraqi combat units, Rademacher takes the audience on reconnaissance patrols on the Syrian border, into sniper "hide sites" in the Sunni Triangle, and through raging machine gun battles with the Iraqi Army.

"Brothers at War" has already opened in more than 41 cities this year, with a number of special screenings on military bases. The movie is produced by Norman S. Powell ("24") and Jake Rademacher, and executive produced by Gary Sinise and David Scantling. It will open at additional locations in coming weeks, including Los Angeles, White Plains, N.Y. and Springfield, Ill., near the Rademacher family home in Decatur, Ill.

For more information on show times and theater locations of "Brothers at War" visit http://www.brothersatwar.com/.

You can see a trailer for Brothers At War at brothersatwarmovie.com.[brat note: A must see!]

FOX & FRIENDS Easter Sunday special on BROTHERS at WAR

H/T FSM

Please VOTE TODAY! UPDATE!!!

UPDATE: The contest closed at noon PST and Roselle WON the vacation for her returning soldier and his family.

Thanks to all who voted.

I received two emails today about a project that will only take a couple of minutes of your time. I found the info posted at Miss Ladybug (here) so am just copying hers since she set it out so clearly:

Monday, April 13, 2009

Help a Soldiers' Angel give the gift of time to her returning soldier

Forwarded to me via email:

A Soldiers' Angel has planned a special gift for her Soldiers homecoming. She needs help in voting for him. See below:

My name is Roselle Portin and I am a friend of Lorraine Blacklock.

I have a favor to ask of you. Your consideration of this would be greatly appreciated.

I am a member of Soldiers Angels. My family and I have been blessed to receive Kxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as our adopted soldier. Through the program we write to him, send care packages and keep him in our thoughts and prayers every day. He has a family in NY that he will be returning home to soon.

I wanted to do something very special for Xxxxx upon his return. In order to do this I entered a contest to win a family dude ranch vacation in Idaho. The kids went door to door, we asked our church family for help, we asked everyone at school, everyone we came into contact with throughout the day and all our friends and family for help. We were winning.

Now we are not. My family will cover air fare for the Family but we cannot afford the ranch if we don't win it.

I was wondering if you had a network of people that would be willing to help me out in this. It is VERY easy to vote. No personal info is required and it only takes a minute.

Here's how it works.
1. go to www.redhorsemountainranch.com
2. click on 'win a family dude ranch vacation' under Guest Story Contest
3. click on Roselle Portin and VOTE.
The contest ends April 15th.

I know it's a big favor. I just wanted a really special way to send a very big 'thank you' to Xxxx and his family (he is not aware of this). If you could help I would be so thankful.

Please let me know what you decide.

Thanks for your time and all you do,
Roselle Portin

I've voted. Currently, Roselle is 313 votes behind the story with the most votes (currently in the lead with 827 votes). [bratnote: I voted and we seem to be gaining..] Please help. It will, indeed, only take a minute...

Updated:



The code was supposed to embed the poll, but it's doing the results, instead:
Time is really critical here, but I know we can get 'er done - for this hero.

GO! NOW! And vote...And then pass this on to everybody you know..Thank you..

Brat

Remembering Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr.

Don was a wonderful father and husband. Anyone who met Don remembered him because of his smile and his ability to make everyone laugh. He was the guy with the big smile. Don, you will be in our hearts forever........

On the back of Don's memorial cards I had printed:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
in the hollow of His hand.

Semper Fidelis


Wife Deborah May (here)

Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr. 31, of Richmond, Virginia.
Killed during convoy operations when his tank plunged off a cliff into the Euphrates River. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. Died on March 25, 2003.

Always remembered and honoured, today and every day.

Semper Fi.

For our Canadians

(thanks to Dena of Take a Soldier Fishing for the picture)


You will know it weighs heavy on my heart as our heroes are returned home to Canada. Since I heard of the latest news, this song has come back to me. Written and performed by a BC boy, (thank YOU, Shawn!) this one IS my heart. I want to share it - again - with all of you. My thoughts and prayers - and THANKS - go out to all our troops and their precious families.

Rest in Peace, faithful warriors.

*For earlier posts on our heroes - arriving home today - go to Assoluta Tranquillita here*