[tomkow6]

WHAT???

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning,
twice because I love this song for our troops USO Canteen,
and A Prayer of Protection
said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style,
including our troops, our veterans,
their families and our allies.

Welcome to all who come to honor our troops and veterans, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well!

Wherever you are, Godand all is well!

[Fawnn]

tomkow6!!! (You're only getting this so I can show you Kathy in Alaska's favorite from the wOOhOO!!! "coloring" project's new Fall 2003 line.) ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

THE ROAD TO REBUILDING— U.S. soldiers with the Provincial Reconstruction Team set out on a mission in Gardez, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2003. The team brings together civil affairs, psychological operations and security elements to help rebuild Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A. Alisan

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Marine Corps Spc. David Becker, a medical technician, shows trainees at Krtsanisi Training Camp in the Republic of Georgia how to properly treat a wound, using Georgian Cpl. Mukhmadi Tsimtsalashvili as his assistant, on Sept. 15, 2003. The training is part of the Georgia Train and Equip Program, in which U.S. forces are helping to mold selected units into a professional fighting force capable of providing security and stability in the region. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dominic Tino, an instructor for the Georgia Training Equipment Program, teaches a Georgian trainee tactical formations at Krtsanisi Training Camp in Republic of Georgia, on Sept. 15, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dominic Tino helps Georgian trainees sign equipment issue paperwork on Sept. 10, 2003, at Krtsanisi Training Camp, Republic of Georgia. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

[Kathy in Alaska]

Two Georgian trainees practice self-defense maneuvers while being instructed by U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Chad Roark at Krtsanisi Training Camp, Republic of Georgia, as part of the Georgia Training and Equipment Program, Sept.12, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Chad Roark teaches Georgian trainees how to fall properly during martial arts training at Krtsanisi Training Camp, Republic of Georgia, on Sept. 15, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Viki Apineru and Georgian Lieutenant Tengo Orjonkidze look over trainees doing pushups during a physical fitness test on Sept. 9, 2003 at Krtsanisi Training Camp, Republic of Georgia. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Chad Roark, an instructor for the Georgia Train and Equip Program, marches with a company of Georgian trainees on Sept. 9th, 2003, at Krtsanisi Training Camp, Republic of Georgia. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dallas D. Edwards

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Monti Zimmerman (left), Coalition Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, Danish Golum Ail, an interpreter, and Maj. Nigel Gattsche, a New Zealand Army engineer officer, ride through Bamian's bazaar to show a U.S. and coalition presence. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephanie Hall

Bamian Civil Affairs Team Not Horsing Around

By U.S. Army Sgt. Stephanie Hall
4th Public Affairs Detachment

BAMIAN, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2003 — Shouts of joy from the townsfolk rise as the four mounted “cowboys” ride through the small, desert town they help keep safe from a gang of ruthless “renegades.”

No, this isn’t a scene from an old western movie; it’s as real as it gets. The cowboys are the U.S. and coalition forces in the Bamian Province, the renegades are the Taliban, and the townsfolk are the people of Bamian City.

At least once a week, the Bamian Provincial Reconstruction Team Civil Affairs Team rides horse back through the bazaar, the central point of the city, to show the people that they are and will remain safe from the Taliban.

“The purpose of the rides is to show (U.S. and coalition) presence to the people of Afghanistan that we have come (and) that we’re not like the Taliban,” said Lt. Col. Monti G. Zimmerman, Coalition Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force.

The sense of security is emphasized because “there was an edict written and prepared by the Taliban that said it was against the law to ride a horse in and through a bazaar, and therefore we demonstrate that you can safely ride a horse in and through a bazaar,” said Zimmerman.

Ever since the Taliban were driven out of town by the U.S. and coalition forces, the townsfolk do feel a sense of security, said Zimmerman. The fact that businesses, school attendance and the overall town’s activities have increased shows that the people do feel safe, he said.

The rest of the story

[Kathy in Alaska]

Lettuce prey: A praying mantis rests near a fallen rose petal somewhere in the circulation area of southern New Jersey's Courier-Post.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Kite checking: Digging in his heels, Brad Allen struggles to avoid an afternoon swim in Surf City, N.C.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Big stream: A firefighter trains his hose on one of 10 buildings burned by a wind-whipped, six-alarm fire in Oakland. The blaze started in an unfinished apartment building and quickly jumped to other structures.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Roughin' the storm

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Flood waters from Hurricane Isabel rendered one of Langley's main streets virtually impassable Sept. 18. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Night Blessing for the Troops

Blessings on you this evening 
May the stars in heaven
light your way into the
Milky Way of dreams 

May your day tomorrow 
be filled with love 
laughter and joy... 

Taking away all heart ache 
left stinging... 
and unclouding your vision 
for clear sailing... 

bentfeather 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting US. Sleep well and safe. May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi CPT kj!! Hi Star!! Thank you for serving this great nation of ours. Prayers for your success and safety, kj.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi MSgt Dan! Hi M0sby! Good Saturday to y'all. Thank you for serving this great nation of ours. Prayers for your success and safety.

Hi Matthew!! Hi Andrew!!