[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning Troops, families, veterans, Israeli, British, Australian, Polish, and Italian allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 4:30am
Sunset 11:36pm

Hi 64°F
Lo 48°F

Mostly coudy; a shower

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 65°F
Lo 43°F

State Hi 80°F Eagle
State Lo 39°F Barrow

[tomkow6]

BRATT!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

HOUSE TO HOUSE — U.S. Army Lt. Robert King, from the 115th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit from Cranston, R.I., attached to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), leads a squad during a house-to-house search for weapons, outside of Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 29, 2003. One of the 115th's major missions in post-war Iraq is the search for illegal weapons in the Fallujah area. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

[Kathy in Alaska]

Marine band wows Iowa once again

Submitted by: MCLB Albany
Story Identification Number: 20037374621
Story by Cpl. Denyelle D. Spillane

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (June 28, 2003) -- Every year the small, quaint town of Cedar Falls, Iowa, holds the Sturgis Falls Celebration to celebrate music with the sounds of more than 20 bands playing a variety of musical styles, including jazz, country, rock and roll, and the blues. It all begins with a 1 and 1/2 mile parade showcasing various bands and entertainers, including the Albany Marine Band from Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Ga.

The band arrived Friday at the Cedar Falls airport where they were greeted with smiles and cookies. Every year the Marines are given hundreds of homemade cookies upon their arrival. This year members of the Satori Hospital Auxilary made the cookies.

"We can't go anywhere and get the response from a community like we do in Iowa," said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Hufford, Albany Marine Band drum major. "The people in Cedar Falls go out of their way to take care of the Marines and make them feel welcome."

The band then went to the University of Northern Iowa's dormitories where they stayed for the length of their trip. The rest of the night was spent preparing for the next day's parade and concert and enjoying some of the sights in the local area.

For their fourth consecutive year of performing there, the Marine Band awed the crowds of people who lined the streets Cedar Falls for Saturday's parade.

"It's an honor to have the band perform for us every year," said Jay Stoddard, director of the Sturgis Falls Celebration. "When the band performs the crowd is astounded."

As the band made its way through the streets, people stood and cheered. Spectators demonstrated their admiration with cheers of delight and remarks about the band's talent and appearance throughout the parade.

As the Marines passed the reviewing area, many officials, including Maj. Bryan F. Lucas, former Headquarters Battalion commander, and his wife Minnie were on hand to watch the band perform.

After the parade the Marines began preparing for a concert set to begin at 7 p.m. at Overman Park. The park was packed with fans who came to see the band perform.

"This is the highlight of the festival," Stoddard said. "These people come out just to see the Marine Band perform."

The audience responded to almost every Marine band selection with a standing ovation during the concert.

The highlight of the concert was the performances by the party band and Cpl. Tyrone Hamlette when he played buckets like drums.

The band took the opportunity to meet and talk with their fans after all of the encores had been played.

Cedar Falls citizens praised band members for serving their country and for entertaining in their small town another year.

The next morning the band departed for Albany, knowing that they had pleased more than 10,000 people, young and old alike.

"We always have fun when we come to Iowa," Hufford said. "We can?t wait to perform here again next year."

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Foster and Sgt. Green man the hose as Pvt. Robinson controls the flow to fill a family's water barrel at a water distribution point. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

A young Iraqi boy gazes at the water in his bucket after U.S. Army Spc. Romello-Blake Hill, of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, helped him fill it at a water distribution point in Kandari, Iraq, a village near Fallujah, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Sgt. Nick Browning, from the 346th Psychological Operations Company, is mobbed by children as he hands out newspapers in Kandari, Iraq, a village near Fallujah, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

U.S. Army Sgt. Green, of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, takes a minute to share pictures of his family with some young men he is talking to at a water distribution point in Kandari, Iraq, a village near Fallujah, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

[Kathy in Alaska]

"......put a link to Saturday's Patriotic Music Thread so that people can begin practicing how to sing America's beloved songs. And to ensure that MoJo will be standing next to people who know how to properly sing the National Anthem.

MoJo, a thousand pardons. I forgot.

Sing it Loud! Sing it Proud!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Lily launch pads: Hot-air balloons are reflected on the surface of Sonoma Lake, Battle Creek, Mich., during the Field of Flight Air Show.