[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Another great read PING

bkwells : Thanks Chief

[patton]

"Everyone back home is celebrating the Fourth," said Lorek, a 19-year-old from Mentor, Ohio, near Cleveland. "Our fireworks will be whatever we see when we are on patrol tonight."

And yet, in every state in the union except LA, this man cannot legally buy a beer.

That makes me furious.

I was on an airplane recently, with a bunch of GI's.

"Where are y'all headed?"

"Iraq"

"Stewardess, set 'em up. Drinks are on me 'till we land."

"Sir, they are not twenty-one..."

"They are headed to Iraq. They are all 21 today."

Now that cost me a few hundred...LOL.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Lady Jag]

[ride the whirlwind]

Thanks for the ping.

"People ask me if it's worth being out here, and it is," said Pfc. Andrew Manzi, 19, from Waterford, Conn. "We are out here so our family can enjoy the Fourth of July the way it should be. That's really the only thing that keeps me going."

These very young heroes get it. Too bad many much older Americans don't.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[DocRock]

Thanks for the ping. Yesterday at church, a recent high school grad told me he had just signed up and was going to boot camp in November. Some guy that rarely comes to church overheard him and said, "I don't think that is such a good idea." We both just stared at him with a smile, trying not to laugh in his face. It was an extremely awkward moment for him and he left. No words had to be spoken to let this guy know how we felt. I thank God for these brave men and women every day.

[windchime]

Bump!