Happy Birthday

to the United States Marine Corp. 234 years young.

Project Valour-IT

It's that time of the year. Time to bring out your inner geek, crack open your wallet and send some of that hard earned money to Soldiers Angels for Project Valour-IT. Valour-IT gets voice controlled laptops to wounded warriors so they can communicate while they recover. The 'competition' starts today and ends on Veterans Day. If you can afford it, even $5.00, please donate.

http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=project-valour-it

This is just the Marines

From the comments posted here:

I don't get it. I mean where's the news here? Marines are outnumbered and attacked. Marines attack in response. Enemy die in large numbers. Enemy abandon weapons and run away bravely. Marines hand out candy. That's it? This is not news people. This is just the Marines.

I forgot my first name

From the Price is Right this morning:

A new contestant was being called down. It took the announcer four tries to get the guy to notice he was being called. When host Drew Carey asked what the contestant what he does, he said he's a Marine. Drew (a former Marine Corp Reservist) comes back with "That's why you didn't respond. When you're in the Marines, you completely forget your first name."

VMFA-224 flyover at CMA Fest

We were treated to this every night to start the show.



It was much louder in person.

No contest

Code Pink vs the United States Marine Corp

Christmas Cards

When filling yours out please consider adding a couple of more:

A Recovering Sailor or Marine
National Naval Medical Center
Marine Corps Liaison Center
8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20889-560T

or

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

The word via Blackfive is that there is a need of Christmas cheer at both hospitals.

No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corp!

Sadly - Google choose not to create a special logo for today. I wonder if they will do anything for Veterans Day.

One more week

to donate to Project Valour-IT during the Veterans Day challenge. (Team Marines please) Don't wait till the last minute.

For a little extra incentive go check out Badger6's blog.

Project Valour-IT 2007

I had been wondering when this was going to start as Veterans Day was fast approaching. A visit to Blackfive confirmed it was time.

Time to give.

Project Valour-IT is simply a way for the average American to give something back to the brave men and women who, while in service of our great country, have lost the ability to communicate. Valour-IT provides voice driven laptops and software to those in need to help them stay in contact with their loved ones. As a geek I think this is a awesome idea and one worth funding. It is run by Soldiers Angels and, as before, the fund raising is a competition between the services. This year my money to the Team USMC in memory of my dad.

All Of The Above!

German’s survival is a story of numbers:

Burned over 97 percent of his body.

Nearly 17 months in the hospital.

More than 40 surgeries, and counting.

Practically everyone who has met the Marine describes him with one word: Miracle.

Sitting in the therapy gym, sucking on a “fentanyl pop” — a plastic stick tipped with a morphine-like painkiller — he pulls a T-shirt of his own design from his gym bag.

On the front, it says: “Got 3 percent chance of surviving; What ya gonna do?” The back lists four options: “a. Fight Through. b. Stay Strong. c. Overcome Because I Am A Warrior. d. All Of The Above!” The last one is circled.

Read the rest

Happy 4th

Today we remember the birth of our nation - the greatest on planet Earth. A few brave men started an experiment called America. We have our problems but we also have people capable of solving them and eventually we will. We are also blessed with freedom. Freedom to live our lives as we see fit. It's a wonderful thing!

So today, when you barbecue, swim, shop, go to the movies, gather with families and friends, and enjoy this wonderful day - please take a moment to remember those who put their lives on the line for us every day. They can be far from home, friends, and family doing the job the volunteered to do - keeping America safe. Please keep our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors in your prayers.

And if you have a spare moment today - how about sending an email to a Marine? They love 'em.

USMC Silent Drill Team

Live at a Denver Nuggets game

The Flag on Mt. Suribachi

Blackfive has a post up on the flag raising that occurred 62 years ago today.

Dad was a Marine during WWII. He never talked about what he did or saw. When I was young his Marine buddies would drop by and talk for a bit - usually in the garage. If I wandered out there to see what was going on they would get quiet as soon as I entered and start back up after I left. I guess it was something that only those who experienced it could share.

For all that you have done and all that you do -
Semper Gratus Marines