This Week’s Post Was Suggested And Written By Kathi

SSgt. Renee A. Deville
44 years old from Webster New York
401st Civil Affairs Battalion
September 1, 2008

SSGT Renee A. Deville was an Army Reservist who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion from Webster, N.Y. She arrived at Walter Reed August 10, 2006, after being injured in a mortar attack.

While at Walter Reed, Deville was assigned to Chosen Battery, Warrior Transition Brigade, and was among three graduates of the Army’s first Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course Stand Alone Common Core offered to Warriors in Transition.

Deville, who successfully completed every aspect of the course from a wheelchair, was lauded by SGT Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston as exemplifying the Army’s ‘Warrior Ethos’, at the graduation ceremony for the course on March 28, 2008.

Deville was also the impetus for a new playground being built behind the Mologne House at Walter Reed in 2007.

An October 2007 Washington Post article about the opening of the playground says that SSGT Deville’s mention of her children’s limited recreational options to Col. Bruce Haselden, the garrison commander, helped set in motion the playground project.

Staff Sgt. Renee Antoinette Deville died September 1, 2008 in her room at the Mologne House at Walter Reed. She was 44.

She is survived by her husband and 4 children, her mother, a brother, and two sisters.

SSGT Deville was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on September 19, 2008.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

Click Image For Full SizeYeoman 3rd Class Margret Ueberlauer

Yeoman 3rd Class Margret Ueberlauer hands out toys to HIV infected children during a community relations project at the Camillian Center in Pattaya, Thailand. The USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

– –
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

My good friend Katy often sends something funny or inspiring on Fridays, so,  I’m sending this video to her. I really should be getting ready for work…but first I took a little spin around my favorite sites. Not sure how I got to Ushanka but it was worth the detour and I’ll be going back. (Disclaimer…they do know the bikini picture is a photoshop…and it does fit the video.) (And I always did like Robert Palmer.)

Have a great weekend…I’ll be at work

CONSTITUTION DAY

Lt/Cpl. Jason Hanson
21 years old from Forks, Washington
3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
July 29, 2006

Lt/Cpl. Jason Hanson died when a gasoline truck near a building he was in exploded, causing the building to collapse in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Three other Marines were also killed in the blast. Lance Cpl. Anthony E. Butterfield, 19 yrs. old, of Clovis, California; Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28 yrs. old, of Wolf Creek, Montana; Sgt. Christian B. Williams, 27 yrs. old, of Winter Haven, Florida.

Hanson graduated in 2003 and joined the Marines in 2005. He married his wife just before shipping out.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

–
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

SSgt. Andy Pena

Staff Sgt. Andy Pena performs in-flight calibrations on a HH-60 Pave Low while flying Sept. 3 over Ellington Field, Texas. He and members of the 55th Rescue Squadron deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to Ellington Field in response to Hurricane Gustav with less than 24 hours after notification. Sergeant Pena is an aerial gunner.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

–
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

DH and I headed out this morning in the rain that kept falling…until we got to Eastlake…right behind a group of bikes headed for the ceremony.  It was sponsored by Western Reserve Harley-Davidson.

Eastlake’s Boulevard of 500 Flags honoring…everyday…the veterans from the Eastlake area.  (I can’t describe the rush of emotion that came over me at the sight of all those flags.)

The ceremony began with Rev. Rich Bartley, Blue Knights Chaplain giving the invocation.  Jim Mantel of WGAR and Monica Robins of WKYC were there.  Monica sang the National Anthem…goosebumps!  Speakers were Robbie Senatore from the New York City Fire Department who lost 343 of his fellow firefighters on 9/11,  Detective Andy Ezzo of the Cleveland Police Department and Bob Smith whose son, Colin was seriously injured in Iraq.  Sadly, the sound system left a lot to be desired and it was difficult to hear most of the speakers.  The ceremony concluded with a 21 gun salute to all of our fallen heroes.  Amazing Grace was played by the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums.

While standing at the memorial… part of which is two beams from the Trade Center… I overheard this Mom explaining to her three little boys the meaning of the twisted pieces of metal they were looking at, and why they had come to this place full of motorcycles this morning.  It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of the man explaining to his little girl at the WWII Memorial what the field of stars represented.

One thing I did hear clearly from the stage was a reminder that while many of us will stop and thank someone in military service…we seldom thank those on the frontlines here at home…our Police Officers and Firefighters.  They too serve, are volunteers and leave home not knowing what awaits them in the course of their duty.  We need to remember them and thank them.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

It’s hard to believe it’s been 7 years.   And…I think there are those that have forgotten..or at least…who have not given much thought to that terrible day and what it represents.  It is much easier not to think about it…not to look at the photographs and the videos.  But we need to.  Because as cliche as it may be, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Thank You…all who serve…military and civilian.

*With a little luck, there may be video to come…we’ll see!

Lance Cpl. Ryan T. McCaughn
19 years old from Manchester, New Hampshire
1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
November 7, 2006

“I just can’t believe it,” said Nicole Cote, mother of L/Cpl. McCoughn. “It’s not supposed to happen this way. Your kids aren’t supposed to leave you.” McCoughn joined the USMC during his Senior year of High School. “He said he needed to do this. He said if he could keep one dad from going to Iraq and he could take his place instead, then he’ll feel like he’s accomplished something.”

Lance Cpl. Ryan T. McCaughn was killed on November 7, 2006 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He leaves behind his mother, father, step-father and two brothers.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

–
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It