The Guild 5-28-2004 World War II Memorial

The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause.

The first step in establishing the memorial was the selection of an appropriate site. Congress provided legislative authority for siting the memorial in the prime area of the national capital, known as Area I, which includes the National Mall. The National Park Service, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission approved selection of the Rainbow Pool site at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. President Clinton dedicated the memorial site during a formal ceremony on Veterans Day 1995.

ABMC engaged the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service to act as its agent to manage the memorial project. The design submitted by Friedrich St.Florian, an architect based in Providence, R.I., was selected as one of six semi-finalists in an open, national competition. Leo A Daly, an international architecture firm, assembled the winning team with St.Florian as the design architect. The team also includes George E. Hartman of Hartman-Cox Architects, Oehme van Sweden & Associates, and sculptor Ray Kaskey. St.Florian’s memorial design concept was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission in the summer of 1998. The commissions approved the preliminary design in 1999, the final architectural design and several ancillary elements in 2000, granite selections in 2001, and sculpture and inscriptions in 2002 and 2003.

The memorial is funded primarily by private contributions. The fund-raising campaign was led by National Chairman Senator Bob Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith.

Senator Dole, a World War II veteran seriously wounded on the battlefield and twice decorated with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, was the Republican nominee for president in 1996 and the longest-serving Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate.

Frederick W. Smith is chairman, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corporation, a $17 billion global transportation and logistics holding company. He is a graduate of Yale and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, and serves on the boards of various transport, industry and civic organizations.

The memorial received more than $195 million in cash and pledges. This total includes $16 million provided by the federal government.

Construction began in September 2001. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004. The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004 -- Memorial Day Weekend.

The American Battle Monuments Commission is an independent, executive branch agency with 11 commissioners and a secretary appointed by the president. The ABMC administers, operates and maintains 24 permanent U.S. military cemeteries and 25 memorial structures in 15 countries around the world. The commission is also responsible for the establishment of other memorials in the U.S. as directed by Congress.

Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Max Desfor poses with his September 2, 1945 photograph (R) of Japan's formal surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, at the Memories of World War II photography exhibition in Washington, May 24, 2004. The newly published documentary photography book 'Memories of World War II' is being released to coincide with the dedication of the National WWII Memorial in Washington on May 29. REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang

These photographs will be among of the images presented in AP's exhibit 'Memories of World War II''

American soldiers, riding camels while off duty, wave to a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in this March 1943 file photo, in Tunisia.

U.S. reinforcements wade through the surf as they land at Normandy in the days following the Allies' June 6,1944, D-Day invasion of occupied France.

U.S. troops in the Pacific islands continued to find enemy holdouts in this March 10, 1945 file photo long after the main Japanese forces had either surrendered or disappeared.

Looking north from 44th Street, New York's Times Square is packed Monday, May 7, 1945, with crowds celebrating the news of Germany's unconditional surrender in World War II.

U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945.

U.S. soldiers of Pennsylvania's 28th Infantry Division march along the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe in the background, on Aug. 29, 1944, four days after the liberation of Paris, France.

FYI

Thoughts for Week 24-04

Every new day presents a new set of challenges and problems, especially with changing technology. I need to remind myself that these challenges are learning opportunities. If I could just increase the size of my memory banks to retain all the new things I am learning, maybe I could work more efficiently. Computers are great at keeping me young and challenged!

Paranoia and uncertainty seems to know no bounds in the world we live in, and that is immediately reflected in the marketplace. After about 5 years of bottoming formations in the grains, most of us aren't quite sure how to handle the present volatility.

One of the benefits of instant online communications all over the world is that you don't need to have a news feed, as a technical trader, to know what's going on. All you need is the real-time chart to tell you the interpretation of the current news. The problem is, of course, when is the news really news, and when is it disinformation?

Good traders do not trade to be right, they trade to make money, and when you loose that perspective, as a trader, you are done, and it takes a long time to get back into the swing of the market place. That is why it is so important to walk away from the markets every few months, for a week, and clear your mind.

As a trader, you need to buy a market when everyone else wants to sell it, and vice-versa. This usually takes more emotional capital than real capital, but obviously, if you are wrong, it can absorb a lot of real capital also. As a producer, always sell it when everyone else wants to buy it.

Are you a producer or are you a trader? Very few of us can be both. You need to know that clearly in your mind as you use the marketplace to mitigate or enhance your risk.

One of my clients who is experiencing some health issues told me this past week, "The brevity of life is not something to take it for granted." These words of wisdom are worthy of being shared!

The June High in CZ has been above the May High 14 times (45%) since 1973, 11 times by more than 5 cents, and 7 times by more than 10 cents.

The June High in SX has been above the May High 17 times (55%) since 1973, 13 times by more than 10 cents and 10 times by more than 20 cents.

There is an old saying in the grain trade, "If we can't buy it higher, we'll buy it lower." SN, the July Soybean Futures Contract, seems to be in tune with that axiom!

In 1973, USDA Central Illinois Cash Corn went from 260 on June 5, to 220 on July 6, to 290 on July 26, to 266 on July 30, and finally to 340 on August 14. So far in 2004, USDA Central Illinois Cash Corn has gone from 314 on April 8, to 279 on May 21, to 312 on June 1.

In 1973, USDA Central Illinois Cash Soybeans went from 1154 on June 1, to 613 on July 7, to 1140 on July 25, to 900 on July 30, and finally to 1125 on August 14. So far in 2004, USDA Central Illinois Cash Soybeans have gone from 1031 on April 2, to 927 on April 21, to 1034 on May 7, to 814 on June 3. As you can see, the swings were bigger in 1973 than they have been so far this year.

Out of the 12 months of a calendar year, the greenest most-lush month of the year is the month of June. That is one of the reasons it is so difficult to build or maintain price rallies in June. Until proven wrong, the trade usually assumes normal production patterns of growth and weather.

I find it unpalatable that Americans are looking for relief from expensive Crude Oil prices from the same country that was native to most of the September 11 terrorists!

Monty Guild of Guild Investment Management Inc, stated on June 1st, "In our opinion, there are three problematic issues in Saudi Arabia. First, it is well known that the majority of Saudis are unhappy with the current economic situation in Saudi Arabia. Secondly, it is also well known that within Saudi Arabia there is strong support for Wahabi fundamentalist Islam. Thirdly, within the Saudi Royal Family, there is a battle for control of the Kingdom." Therefore, given that the above statements are true, I won’t be surprised to see continued Al Qaeda attacks in and around the Saudi oil fields in the weeks and months ahead. They have already led attacks against Saudi interests on Saudi soil, 4 times in the last 5 weeks.

Will America end up being like Europe? We peaked out in the 1990's, from both a financial strength and esteem point of view in the World's eyes. If the US economy goes south, will Asia own us by default? The more volatile the times are, the more we need an anchor!

According to Peter Lavelle, an independent Moscow-based analyst and the author of an electronics newsletter on Russia, Untimely Thoughts, "Putin is on top of the world. He is in the process of creating a Kremlin Oil Cartel at home and he just might land himself the prize of sitting at the very center of international oil politics." Mr. Lavelle also reports that Russia is now the world's number one producer of crude oil at 9 million barrels a day. Production is up 48% since 1999.

Isn't it paradoxical that Russia, the country the U.S. defeated in the Cold War, is now winning the Energy War?

Once the cat is out of the bag, it hard to get it back in. Now that China and India's entrepreneurs have tasted Capitalism, it will be difficult to stop it when those two nations control almost 40% of the world's population.

Another one of my clients told me this past week in regards to China, "We aren't the drivers anymore because China is the driver! China is trying to control its growth like a baby needs to learn how to crawl before it walks, and to walk before it runs, so it won't get ahead of itself and fall down if it stumbles."

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday that it expects the surging economy to grow at an annual rate of 9.8% in the first half of this year. That is far above the 7% target set by officials who are trying to avert possible inflation and other problems. Pepper or Flyspecks?

The month of June is a wonderful time of year. When it's not raining, it's warm enough to enjoy the outdoors all day long and most of the night here in the Midwest as well. It's delightfully pleasant to enjoy our children or grandchildren's, or neighbor's children's ball games. It's inspiring to observe the lush growth of the Corn and Soybean fields, along with our gardens and yards. It's refreshing to experience the songbirds singing in the morning and eating at a birdfeeder. It's overwhelming to witness the vastness of the star lit heavens while in a hammock or on a nighttime stroll, especially now at Full Moon time. Elohim, the Triune God, The Creator, can and will be our anchor. The month of June is a perfect time to reflect on His faithfulness to all of us, and to the earth.

Enjoy! Bill

Los Angeles: Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez has married for a third time, tying the knot with Latin crooner Marc Anthony in a surprise ceremony, People magazine reported Sunday.

The magazine wrote that Lopez, who broke off her highly-publicized engagement with Hollywood heartthrob Ben Affleck just a few months ago, wed Marc Anthony late Saturday, in a casual ceremony at her Beverly Hills home.

Marc Anthony, an old flame of Lopez's, was granted a divorce in the Dominican Republic just last week from beauty queen Dayanara Torres, according to news reports.

Eyewitnesses reported that J.Lo's home was bedecked with balloons, and musicians there were heard playing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" on her lawn.

A source said that Lopez had invited everyone to her house for a "beautiful afternoon party," but none of them knew she planned on getting married.

"It was a surprise," the source told People.

People reported that Lopez promenaded across her yard hoisting a white umbrella while the guests clapped and cheered.

"She looked beautiful," a source told the magazine.

Rumors of a wedding between the two performers, who share a Puerto Rican heritage, had swirled for several days, the weekly reported.

Lopez's marriage to backup dancer Cris Judd floundered just a few months after their September 2001 nuptials. Her first marriage, to Ojani Noa, ended in 1998.

In addition to those marriage, the Hollywood headliner is also veteran of at least a couple of high-profile relationships with powerful men in the entertainment industry.

J.Lo's 18-month-long on-again, off-again courtship with Affleck finally ended in January, after a cancelled September 2003 wedding and a movie together, "Gigli," which proved to be a critical and commercial bomb.

She also had an earlier, longterm relationship with rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, who now goes by the moniker P.Diddy.

Richard Clark back for one last gasp:

After his blistering book and congressional testimony alleging Bush administration failures to heed the threat of al Qaeda, former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke takes another shot in the July issue of Vanity Fair.

"I'm not sure everybody has grasped this," he says, pointing out that CIA Director George Tenet mentioned al Qaeda to the president "on 40 occasions" in morning briefings before Sept. 11, 2001. "Forty times, many of them in a very alarmed way, about a pending attack," Clarke declares. (The emphasis appears in the article.) "And, as far as I can tell from what has been said at the [9/11] commission, on one of these occasions, one out of 40, the president must have said something like, 'Well, what are we going to do about it?' "

CIA spokesman Bill Harlow was quick to blast back: "Richard Clarke was not present during those daily briefings and therefore could not know what was said," he told us. "While we never discuss what we say to a president or what a president's reaction is, the notion that President Bush was not concerned or engaged on counterterrorism is ridiculous."

But just where did that magic "40 times" come from? Turns out Clarke's old pal Condi Rice used it in her testimony April 8 defending the administration: "At these meetings, the president received up-to-date intelligence and asked questions of his most senior intelligence officials. From January 20th through September 10th [2001], the president received at these daily meetings more than 40 briefing items on al Qaeda, and 13 of those were in response to questions he or his top advisers posed."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19314-2004Jun6.html

Michael Reagan to NewsMax Readers: Dad Is Home Now
Phil Brennan Monday, June 7, 2004

Michael Reagan, President Reagan's oldest son, a nationally syndicated radio host and columnist for NewsMax Magazine, made the following statement to NewsMax.com Sunday afternoon.

I can think about the times that we spent together as a father and son, sometimes just literally talking about nothing, but just being there and being in awe of him.

I think about those days when he was governor of California and how wonderful a job he did for the state. I can think about the times that he allowed me to be in his presence when tough decisions were ready to be made.

For example, on the evening that he chose George W. Bush’s father to be his running mate as the candidate for the vice presidency, Dad invited me to be in his inner circle as those decisions were made.

I remember the night in 1976 when I asked him what he missed most about not winning his party’s nomination as its presidential candidate. He said to me: "Michael, what I miss most is not being able to sit down with the Russians and saying to them "nyet" because it’s been so long that we’ve been giving up too much to get along with them. It’s time for the Russians to get along with us."

But what I remember most about my dad, and what puts me at peace with where he is today, is a conversation I had with him as he was flying back on Air Force One and he allowed me to accompany him back to Point Mugu [Air Base, Calif.]

It was Easter Week in the last year of his presidency, and he looked at me and he counted out 'nine' on his fingers. I asked what that meant, and he said: "Michael, it will be nine more months when I will be able to feel the freedom once again to go to church each and every Sunday. You know, Michael, ever since I was shot I have worried about putting other people in harm’s way by being among them, so I haven’t been to church on a regular basis and even though I have offered my presidency up to God I haven’t been with God on Sundays. That’s what I’m looking forward to."

And as I look back over Dad’s 93 years, what puts me truly at peace is knowing that my father was fully aware of who his God is. Not only did he offer up his presidency but he offered up his life a long time ago to serve his God.

And so now the peace I feel is knowing that my father has gone home to be with his God and his Lord, and that is the greatest gift that he ever gave me.
***
Good news from Michael Reagan.

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