AMERICA - The Right Way!! (Day 703) [Remember the Trade Center!!]

Good morning!! Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington, nor the brave members of our Nation's military who have given their lives to protect our freedom, die in vain!!

Low pressure center is currently centered over extreme NE MS, near AL border, about 50 miles south of common border with TN. Movement is toward the NE.

Second LP center will develop off C. Lookout, NC, this afternoon, and strengthen rapidly. Conditions are favorable for this system to bomb out as there is a confluence of the southern and polar jets about 200 miles off Sandy Hook; however, warm air parked over too much of the eastern seaboard may mitigate this effect.

Nevertheless, much moisture is available to the system. QPF figures of 1.5 inches are showing up in extreme SW ME, extreme SE NH, the eastern half of MA, all of RI, and all but the NW corner of CT. In addition, a 1.5" QPF figure is also forecast for the southern Catskills of NY. Assuming melt ratio of 10:1 to 15:1 for this system. This means there are locations in the storm track that may see in excess of 20" of snow. Prepare accordingly.

Areas that have QPF figures of 1.0 inches that are north of the 850mb 0C line include NE PA, NY east of the Finger Lakes and south of the Adirondack shield, the southern halves of VT and NH, and SW ME (excepting those areas previously mentioned as bounded by a QPF isohyet of 1.5"). These areas may expect, on average, between 10 and 15" of snow.

The 850mb 0C line (the "rain/snow line") has been repositioned a little further to the north - Rockland and Westchester counties in NY will not see much snow.

Winter storm watches are in effect for virtually all of PA, NY, and New England, except the extreme north of ME. Winter storm watches are also in effect in NW NJ and eastern OH.

This system has the potential of becoming a dangerous winter storm, appropriation preparations should be made.

Rain moving into the Carolinas and Virginia (later). In Virginia, this precipitation may also be snow or sleet in higher elevations.

Rain changing to snow in northern Virginia as the system pulls out by early afternoon. Rain likely coastal areas DE/NJ, snow elsewhere in NJ as day moves on. Coastal areas of NY likely to see sleet or rain/snow mix. Interior areas of PA/NY and all of NE likely to see heavy snow Wednesday, tapering off in the small hours of Thursday. Accumulations well beyond 12" are possible - 20" are not out of the picture. Southern Catskills, and large portions of New England should prepare for the possibility of total storm drops exceeding two feet.

Advise monitoring local news and NOAA Weather Radio for updates in this serious weather event.

Secretary Rumsfeld warned North Korea yesterday that America has the forces to fight and win wars in two theaters at once.

United States experts still fear "catostrophic" attacks by Al Qa'eda, saying the groups ingenuity level is as high as ever.

kassie - Thank you.

All those who serve ever ask for is to be remembered. I found this poem written by a service member on a site called Sgt Moms which, if you all will indulge me, I want to share:

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

by: Michael Marks, December 7th, 2000

Thanks for the indulgence....I'll stop clogging the bandwidth now!!

For everyone traveling...safe journeys and Merry Christmas!

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