IN!
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Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God
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Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.
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God Bless Our Republic
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Prayers going up
However, there might be a pizza sighting in about 5 minutes . . . .
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Evening Kathy, all!
Several days after a devastating earthquake in the San Francisco area, a young boy was seen rocking and swaying on the school playground. His principal asked him if he was okay, and the boy nodded yes and said, “I am moving like the earth, so if there’s another earthquake I won’t feel it.” He wanted to prepare himself for another shaking of the ground.
Sometimes after a trauma, we brace ourselves for what might be coming next. If we’ve had a phone call that brought bad news, every time the phone rings we feel panicky and wonder, What has happened now?
The “ground was shaking” for the psalmist David after King Saul tried to kill him (1 Sam. 19:10). He ran and hid. He thought death was next and told his friend Jonathan, “There is but a step between me and death” (20:3). He wrote, “The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid” (Ps. 18:4).
David cried to the Lord in his distress (v.6) and found that He was a stabilizer, One he could trust would always be with him. He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; . . . my stronghold” (v.2). The Lord will be that for us also when the ground shakes under us.
Lt. Murphy BUMP!
Have a great weekend, Kathy.
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Thanks, unique, for the perfect woohoo.
We’re hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell “Shifty” Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WW II and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you’ve seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn’t know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the “Screaming Eagle”, the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he’d been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said “Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . “ at which point my heart skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said “I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . .. . do you know where Normandy is?” At this point my heart stopped.
I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said “I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem.” I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said “Yes. And it’s real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can’t make the trip.” My heart was in my throat and I didn’t know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I’d take his in coach.
He said “No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy.” His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17, 2009 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center.
No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that’s not right.
Let’s give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
“A nation without heroes is nothing.”
Roberto Clemente
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND A PICTURES OF “SHIFTY” SEE BELOW...
Darrell Powers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darrell “Shifty”
13 March 1923 – 17 June 2009 (aged 86)
Nickname Shifty Place of birth Clinchco, Virginia
Place of death Dickenson County Virginia, 17 June 2009 (aged 86)
Years of service 1942-1945
Rank Staff Sergeant Unit E Company, 506th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States), 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States), 101st Airborne Division
Award-Presidential Unit Citation _(US)-European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal -World War II Victory Medal
Darrell “Shifty” Powers (March 13, 1923–June 17, 2009) was a former U.S. Army NCO during World War II who served with the famed E Co/2/506 of the 101st Airborne Division (the Band of Brothers TV_miniseries). Shifty was an original member of Easy Company, training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Shifty’s hometown was Clinchco, Virginia, in Dickenson County.
Powers was born in Clinchco, Dickenson County, Virginia and volunteered for the paratroopers with his good friend, “Popeye” Wynn. Shifty spent a great deal of time in the outdoors hunting game prior to joining the service. This would later prove useful as many of the skills he obtained helped him as a soldier.
Powers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, missing his drop zone. He eventually came in contact with Floyd Talbert and the two made their way to Easy Company. He participated in the assault of Carentan and every major battle Easy Company was involved with until the end of the war. He was considered by many to be the best shot in the company.
After the War Because many men serving in the 101st lacked the minimum points required to return home, a lottery was put in place. Shifty Powers won this lottery after the rest of the company rigged it in his favor by removing their own names, and was set to return stateside. During the trip to the airfield, the vehicle Shifty was in was involved in an accident and Shifty was badly injured. He spent many months recuperating in hospitals overseas while his comrades in arms arrived home long before he did.
Honorably discharged from the Army in the postwar demobilization, he became a machinist for the Clinchfield Coal Corporation.
He is listed as one of 20 men from Easy Company who contributed to the 2009 book We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers, published by Penguin Books, Berkley -Caliber.
Present I mean hear
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Evening Kathy, Hugs.
Now that my computer is up and running and I’m actually home instead of at the hospital, I can actually visit for a bit.
Back to work tomorrow with no internet.. We are still viral and the thangs are functioning at bare minimum.
Evening, Kathy.
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WELCOME TO THE CANTEEN
First I must apologize if I've left any one off my ping list. And, for a sloppy morning post. I left the thumb drive at home that had all my FR stuff. A fitting end to a crappy week, I suppose.
Next
Next, the DC Metroland weather report
Today.... Partly cloudy with an afternoon shower or thunderstorm. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Tonight...Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. A few storms may be severe early. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Next....thanks Ma for posting today's thread.
Remember the Canteen is
so come on in and have fun.
And in closing, always remember to Thank a Vet.
