|
In regard to the above
flag:
Between the field where the flag is planted there are 9+ miles of flower
fields that go all the way to the ocean. The flowers are grown by seed
companies. It's a beautiful place close to Vandenberg AFB. Checkout the
dimensions of the flag.
The 2002 Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains the
proper Flag dimensions as described in Executive Order #10834. This Flag
is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with 5 pointed
Stars comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in diameter; Each
Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain more than
400,000 Larkspur plants with 4-5 flower stems each for a total of more
than 2 million flowers. You can drive by this flag on V Street south of
Ocean Ave. in Lompoc, CA.
Aerial photo courtesy of Bill Morson
Letter from Navy pilot
to Dixie Chicks
Letter from radio station website in Lubbock, home of the Dixie Chick that
spewed forth about our president:
Name: LT Layne McDowell
Date: 03/15/03
Time: 01:54:49 PM
Comment
An open letter to the Dixie Chicks: Earlier this week, while performing in
London, you stated that you were ashamed that our President is from your
home state. I wonder if you realized how many Americans would be
listening.
This American was
listening. This Texan is ashamed that you come from my state. I serve my
country as an officer in the United States Navy.
Specifically, I fly F-14
Tomcats off carriers around the world, executing the missions that
preserve the very freedom you claim to exercise.
I have proudly fought for my country in the skies over Kosovo, Iraq and
Afghanistan without regret. Though I may disagree wholeheartedly with your
comments, I will defend to the death your right to say them, in America.
But for you to travel to a
foreign land and publicly criticize our Commander in Chief is cowardice
behavior. Would you have so willingly made those comments while performing
for a patriotic, flag-waving crowd of Texans in Lubbock. I would imagine
not. How dare you pocket profits off songs about soldiers, their deaths
and patriotism while criticizing their Commander in Chief abroad, even
while they prepare to give their lives to ensure your own freedom of
speech. Please ask yourself, what have you done to deserve that sacrifice?
Do not try to justify your
comments by claiming that you made them only because you care about
innocent lives. Never once in our history have we committed troops to war
for the purpose of taking innocent lives. We do it to protect innocent
lives, even yours.
If the world leaders of the
late 1930's had the vision and courage of our present Commander in Chief,
perhaps the evil men who caused the death of millions in WWII would have
never had the opportunity to harm a soul. The potential loss of
millions of lives in the future at the hands of today's evil men
necessitate action.
In a separate
correspondence, I am returning to you each and every Dixie Chicks CD and
cassette that I have ever purchased. Never again will I allow my funds to
support your behavior. All you have done is to add your name to a
growing list of American "Celebrities" who have failed to realize that
they have obtained their successes on the backs of the American
blue-collar workers such as our servicemen and women.
To Natalie Maines: This
Texan? This American will continue to risk his life to guarantee your
freedoms. What will you do to deserve it?
Subject: Some Thoughts
on Our President
Whether you actually like
George W. or not.... This has some interesting thoughts...
First, an observation. Have you noticed a difference in the salute given
by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would
not notice anything, but those of us who have served in the military see
it right away.
Next time, Watch: When
President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards
salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as
he passes by. They continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind
of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years, though it is
customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't
required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not
required to salute his back. They are only required to salute. They can
remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during the
previous administration. Our soldiers were forced to obey his orders, but
they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise
that they did not.
Why is such respect
afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to bite his lower lip
and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!
The following incident from
Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight. Gen. Antwerp is
president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly all his
staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His executive officer LTC
Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush
visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was
getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He
held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm,
ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief almost never initiates a
salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The
injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of
respect to his President ...- a Soldiers' President.
Congressman JC Watts (R.
Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right thing when nobody is
looking," (My favorite quote of all time.) The nation and world learned
some of what our last President did when nobody was looking. That
President has been disbarred. The worst disgrace (other than imprisonment)
to a lawyer. CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his wife's
tarnished images.
In this time of war and
danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom the soldiers salute --
fully.
On Special Report with Brit
Hume, at the close of the show when they normally have some funny video
clip, they showed President Bush and the First Lady on their way to Maine
to leave for Camp David for the weekend. As the video starts, the First
Lady is leading the way into the helicopter with the spaniel dog on the
leash, and the president is right behind her with the Scotty on the leash.
As the First Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at the gangway saluted
and held his salute. The Scottie the president was walking decided it
wanted to sit right when he got to the steps. The president pulled on its
leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in sitting. The president bent
down and scooped up the pooch and entered Marine One. After he entered,
the Marine cut his salute and returned to the position of attention.
Moments later the President re-emerged from the helicopter and out onto
the steps. The Marine was standing at attention, head and eyes straight
ahead. The President leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The
startled Marine turned his body toward the President and received his
returned salute!
I was so impressed by this
true act of respect for our military people by our President! He really
does get it. Most any other person of his stature would have just
continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return salute. Not
George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military community, not
expecting it -- as most have and would.
President George W. Bush.
The man who admitted to having a drinking problem in younger years, and
whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre grades in college and
an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled syntax, and whose speaking
miss-steps became known as "Bushisms." He came within a hair's breadth of
losing the election in November.
Bush named Jesus Christ as
Lord of his life on public TV. Not an Oblique reference to being
"born-again" or having a "life change." He actually said the un-PC-like
phrase, "Jesus Christ!"
On September 11, he was
thrust into a position only known by the likes of Roosevelt, Churchill,
Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was on his shoulders, and
the responsibility of a generation was on his soul. So President George W.
Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National Cathedral just three
days after two of the most impressive symbols of American capitalism and
prosperity virtually evaporated.
When the history of this
time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that
President George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation
off its knees. In what was one of the most impressive exhibitions of
self-control in presidential history, President George W. Bush was able to
deliver his remarks without losing his resolve, focus, or confidence.
God's hand, which guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested
fully on him. As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was
appropriate. He was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive
place with God, just him and the Lord.
Back at his seat, George H.
Bush reached over and took his son's hand. In that gesture his father
seemed to say, "I wish I could do this for you, son, but I can't. You have
to do this on your own."
President George W. Bush
squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that said, "I don't have to do
it alone, Dad. I've got Help."
What a blessing to have a
professing Christian as President.
Please take a moment after
you read this to "pray for him." He truly does have the weight of the
world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain him and give him wisdom
and discernment in his decisions.
Pray for his protection and
that of his family.
And after you have prayed,
send this to everyone on your e-mail list. Our President needs Christians,
Democrats and Republicans alike, to be praying for him. As this makes the
e-mail rounds, eventually there could literally be millions of people
praying for him, and for our Great Country....
 |
