Stand up for America

Dear Terrorists,
I am a Navy Aviator. I was born and raised in a small town in New England. I come from a family of five. I was raised in a middle class home and taught my values by my mother and father.

My dad worked a series of jobs in finance and my mom took care of us kids. We were not an overly religious family but attended church most Sundays. It was a nice small Episcopal Church. I have a brother and sister and I am the youngest in my family. I was the first in many generations to attend college.

I have flown Naval aircraft for 16 years. For me the flying was never a lifelong dream or a "calling," it just happened. I needed a job and I liked the challenge. I continue to do it today because I feel it is important to give back to a nation which has given so much to me. I do it because, although I will never be rich, my family will be comfortable.

I do it because many of my friends have left for the airlines and someone has to do it.

My government has spent mill-ions to train me to fly these multi-million dollar aircraft. I make about 70,000 dollars a year and after 20 years will be offered a pension.

I like baseball but think the players make too much money. I am in awe of firemen and policemen and what they do each day for my community, and like teachers, they just don't get paid enough.

I respect my elders and always use sir or ma'am when addressing a stranger. I'm not sure about kids these days but I think that's normal for every generation.

I voted for George Bush because I like him. I think I made a pretty good choice.

I tell you all this because when I come for you, I want you to know me. I won't be hiding behind a woman or a child. I won't be disguised or pretending to be something I am not. I will be in a U.S. issue flight suit. I will be wearing standard US issue flight gear, and I will be flying a navy aircraft clearly marked as a US warplane. I wish we could meet up close in a small room where I could wrap my hands around your throat and slowly squeeze the life out of you, but unfortunately, you're hiding in a hole in the ground, so we will have to do this a different way.

I want you to know also that I am very good at what I do. I can put a 2,000 lb weapon through a window from 10,000 feet up. I generally only fly at night, so you may want to start sleeping during the day. I am not eager to die for my country but I am willing to sacrifice my life to protect it from animals like you.

I will do everything in my power to ensure no civilians are hurt as I take aim at you.

My countrymen are a forgiving bunch. Many are already forgetting what you did on Sept 11th. But I will not forget, and my President will not forget.

I am coming. I hope you know me a little bit better, see you soon...sleep tight.

Signed
A U.S. Navy Pilot

Our Soldiers are one
of our greatest assets!
God Bless, Caro

They call my President a cowboy

It used to tick me off when the Muslims in the Middle East, or the socialist detractors in Europe, Hollywood and others called our President a cowboy, but the more I think about it, the more glad I am that he is.

When I was a kid, cowboys were my heroes. There was

Tom Mix,
Buck Jones,
Johnny Mack Brown,
Hopalong Cassidy,
Red Ryder,
Gene Autry,
Roy Rogers, then later
Marshall Matt Dillon, and others.

Personally, I think Hoppy could beat 'em all up. He was my favorite.

What were common attributes of these legendary cowboys? Here are a few:

1. They were never looking for trouble.

2. But when it came, they faced it with courage.

3. They were always on the side of right.

4. They defended good people against bad people.

5. They had high morals.

6. They had good manners.

7. They were honest.

8. They spoke their minds and they spoke the truth, regardless of what people thought or "political correctness," which no one had ever heard of back then.

9. They were a beacon of integrity in the wild west.

10. They were respected. When they walked into a saloon (where they usually drank only sarsaparilla), the place became quiet, and the bad guys kept their distance.

11. If in a gunfight, they could outdraw anyone.
If in a fist fight, they could beat up anyone.

12. They always won. They always got their man. In victory, they rode off into the sunset.

Those were the days when there was such a thing as right and wrong, something blurred in our modern world, and denied by many.

Those were the days when women were respected and treated as ladies, because they acted like ladies.

Now as a senior citizen, I still like cowboys.

They represent something good -- something pure that America has been missing.

Ronald Reagan was a cowboy.

I like Ronald Reagan, who was brave, positive, and who gave us hope. He wore a white hat.

To the consternation of his liberal critics, he had the courage to call a spade a spade and call the former Soviet Union what it was -- the evil empire. Liberals hated Ronald Reagan.

They also hate President Bush because he distinguishes between good and evil.

He calls a spade a spade, and after 9-11 called evil "evil," without mincing any words, to the shock of the liberal establishment.

That's what cowboys do, you know.

He also told the French to "put their cards on the table" (old west talk), which they did, exposing their cowardice and greed.

The Iraqi government is wrong.

In the old West, might did not make right. Right made right.

Cowboys in white hats were always on the side of right, and that was their might.

I am glad my President is a cowboy. He will get his man.

Cowboys do, you know.
~ unknown author

Thought you would enjoy this! It is a Great photo of an Air Force training squadron flying in a never-done-before "USA" formation over the control tower "Taj Mahal" (HQ building) of Randolph Air Force Base in
San Antonio, Texas.

Pray for all our young men and women serving our country and going into danger that we might preserve our Freedom. And pray for wisdom for our leaders.

I am sure that all of you heard about the sandstorm in Iraq the first week of the war, (the worst in 100 years some say) and the drenching rain that followed the next day. Our troops were bogged down and couldn't move effectively. The media was already wondering if the troops were in a "quagmire" and dire predictions of gloom and doom came from the left wing media.

What they didn't report was that yesterday, after the weather had cleared, the Marine group that was mired the worst looked out at the plain they were just about to cross. What did they see? Hundreds if not thousands of antitank and antipersonnel mines had been uncovered by the wind and then washed off by the rain. If they had proceeded as planned, many lives would have undoubtedly been lost. As it was, they simply drove around them and let the demolition teams destroy them.

Praises be to His mighty name! Thank you God, for protecting our young men!

One person once asked George Washington if he thought God was on his side. His reply is reported to be, "It is not that God should be on our side, but that we be on His."

P.S. In God we trust!

Fri 18 Apr 2003

Scots soldiers win support from States

By SAM HALSTEAD

A SMALL United States community has rallied behind Scots troops in Iraq by dispatching messages of solidarity to Edinburgh.

The Royal British Legion Scotland headquarters in the city yesterday received more than 100 unexpected notes of support from residents of Shelby in Michigan, 25 miles north of Detroit.

The short letters have amazed the RBLS, which now hopes to send them to the 2000 Scottish troops based around the southern city of Basra. The messages were sent after a Shelby woman launched a campaign to boost support for the Scots.

Neil Griffiths, spokesman for the RBLS, said he was delighted with the notes, which he said showed the level of respect for Scottish troops.

“The British forces, especially the Scots, are famous in the US. The Black Watch, who have been heavily involved in the action in Iraq, have a very high profile in America.

“Pipers from the regiment played at the funeral of John F Kennedy in 1963 and President Johnson practically begged Prime Minister Harold Wilson to send Scottish troops to fight in Vietnam, which of course he wouldn’t do.”

“They have had extraordinary support. The letters say how proud they are of the British forces and, in particular, the Scots for fighting alongside the United States. The letters accurately reflect the respect and affection for Scottish troops.” The messages of support were organised by Shelby resident Christine Dearlove, a retired dental office worker, who was touched by the courage of the Scottish troops.

The 59-year-old said she fell in love with Scotland while visiting the country in the 1980s when she also struck up a friendship with a retired RAF pilot in Musselburgh, corresponding with him regularly until his death in 2000.

Speaking from Shelby, Mrs Dearlove paid tribute to the Scottish troops serving in war-torn Iraq. “We have been so impressed. Everyone has embraced the Scots and want to know what’s going on. Everyone wanted to write something.”

Mrs Dearlove said plans were already under way to send another raft of letters to the Royal British Legion Scotland: “I collected more than 100 messages in less than a week. I have a great fondness for Scotland. The hospitality is wonderful and you can’t help but fall in love with the country. It is glorious in every season.”

She said she sent the letters to the Royal British Legion Scotland as she believed the organisation would know where to send them to in Iraq. The short notes which feature the US Stars and Stripes flag, were written by a range of Shelby residents.

One letter from Roy Figureski, 55, said: “I am a Vietnam veteran and I believe in what you are doing for your country and the entire world. Return safely.”

Another letter came from Rachel Lauderdale, a high school student, who wrote: “Thank you so much for what you are doing for our country. Everyone here really respects what you are doing. You are always on our minds, always. Your courage amazes me, I don’t know if I could ever do what you do everyday. Most of all, Godspeed.”

And a six-year-old boy called Joey, wrote simply: “God bless you, thank you.”

A spokeswoman for the Army said: “We are delighted the support for the Scottish soldiers has extended across the Atlantic. “It is a real morale-booster and I am sure all the lads will be grateful for the letters. It is good to know that the people realise how important is the work they are doing.

“They are doing a great job and we hope they’re home soon safe and well.”

She said there were around 2000 Scottish troops in Iraq at the moment made up of 800 soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, and a similar number from The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

The remainder were from the Scottish Territorial Army, she added.

A spokeswoman for the US Consulate General in Edinburgh said: “It sounds terrific and shows how the UK and US have worked closely together in this conflict.”

I Am Coming!