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Oct 3 marks my 5th "Anniversary" in the Coast Guard Auxiliary I have reported for "duty" to Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Station Coos Bay OR at least one day, every single week, often times more, since Oct 3 2001 To: hedgetrimmer I just wanted to let you know I met with the Flotilla Commander today and it turns out that I have a few skills that they need and can utilize. I'm just glad that this old rusty tin can sailor can help protect our country again. 44 posted on 10/03/2001 3:21:13 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/528854/posts?page=44#44 I've volunteered...

    A GREAT MARINE Several years ago as the H & S Battalion Chaplain at MCB, Camp Lejeune, I visited the people in the different work spaces, including the rather large main post office. One day a little conversation took place with young Marine Lance Corporal. This unplanned encounter has remained with me, and it seems worth passing on... The Lance Corporal was standing by a very large sack of mail. His job, every day, six days a week for many hours was to sort the mail from that large sack and place the letters into smaller sacks,...

    A HUMBLE SPIRIT It's always surprising to me when someone, in an honest and unguarded moment, confides that God could never use THEM. They may keep up appearances most of the time, but, down deep, they just don't feel worthy. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you're in luck; God places a high value on humility! In fact, your sincere recognition of your own need may just be the key that opens the door to a deeper, more genuine and rewarding spirituality. Isaiah wrote, "For thus says the High and Holy One Who inhabits eternity,...

    Back to school A child came home from his first day of school. His mother asked, “What did you learn today?” He said, “Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow.” Going back to school is always difficult for both teachers and students. It also means more traffic with school buses back on the road, probably the only ones delighted about schools reopening are the parents. Going back to school can be a milestone. Kindergarten, sixth grade, high school and college are all significant marks of progress and change (especially when the kid finally gets a job!)....

    Pentagon Chaplain’s Corner The Following Testimony is from Mr. Paul Brady: He is one of our 9-11 Survivors! I would be honored to bear witness to God's Mercy and Love as an entry on the Pentagon Chaplain's Web Site per your offer. Respectfully, Paul I feel like the "Ancient Mariner" in Coleridge's poem but I want to share my account of God's mercy, love and providence on that second "Day of Infamy" in our country's history. I have been describing the situation surrounding my escape from death from 9-11-01 and believe that my witness of Faith in...

    AN ODD WAY TO PRAY Over the years I have heard a multitude of spoken prayers. Some flowed poetically from the speaker's tongue, some had the overtones of a sermon, and others resembled conversation. I have also heard another type of prayer, though never in a church or chapel. Its usage is universal in the English language, even being used on occasion by atheists. The prayer is most often spoken during times of anger, frustration, or used to display extreme displeasure with a given situation or individual. The vast majority of the English-speaking population would not recognize...

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims has announced a landmark decision in the case of Haas v. Nicholson. This ruling could directly affect thousands of disabled Vietnam-era Navy veterans. The Court's ruling states that Veterans Affairs requirement for “boots on the ground” as the definition of “service in the Republic of Vietnam” is unreasonable, and does not align with Congress's intent. In addition the law does not limit application of the presumption of service connection for herbicide exposure to those who set foot on the soil of the Republic of Vietnam. The Court cited that the law defines...

    Jumping to Conclusions A newspaper article told of a man who was walking toward an open New York subway car when he felt a body brush by him. Instinctively, he reached for his pocket and discovered he didn't have his wallet. Shouting and running, he grabbed the person who had bumped against him. He tugged wildly at the stranger's sleeve, trying to stop him from escaping into the departing subway. The subway door slammed shut, but not before he had ripped off the suspected pick-pocket's coat sleeve. Later that night at home the man discovered his "stolen"...

    ARE YOU TOO BUSY FOR GOD? We know sea service life can be a continuous stream of movement and activity. Sometimes it seems as if it will never slow down long enough for us to catch our breath. Although we think that all of our activities are crucial, we need to honestly ask ourselves, "Are these things really important?" A prophetic messenger said, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." (Isaiah 32:17). This means we must commit ourselves to hearing the Lord's voice. How else can we...

TWO COAST GUARD MEMBERS PERISH IN DIVE OPERATION COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, Calif. - Two Coast Guard divers assigned to the Seattle-based Coast Guard Cutter Healy died Thursday afternoon during a routine dive operation in the Arctic Ocean approximately 500 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. Deceased are Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, 26, of Miami. The victim's next of kin have been notified and additional support services are being provided to each family, as well as Healy crewmembers. "I felt a deep sense of loss when I received the initial...

    DOING WELL WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT SEE In the New Testament scriptures, the Apostle Paul talks about the importance of striving for excellence. He writes, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) Allow me to share with you a story about striving for excellence. On one of the arches of a magnificent cathedral in Europe is sculptured a face of great beauty. Yet it can be seen only...

    A GREAT MARINE Several years ago as the H & S Battalion Chaplain at MCB, Camp Lejeune, I visited the people in the different work spaces, including the rather large main post office. One day a little conversation took place with young Marine Lance Corporal. This unplanned encounter has remained with me, and it seems worth passing on... The Lance Corporal was standing by a very large sack of mail. His job, every day, six days a week for many hours was to sort the mail from that large sack and place the letters into smaller sacks,...

    Persons of influence I would like you to reflect for a few moments upon the following five people. They are:Mordecai Fowler Ham; Sir Alexander Fleming;Arthur Fry; Grace Bedell; and Mike Jones. What do you think they all share in common with one another? It’s not race. It’s not age. It’s not gender, for one is a female. It’s not their educational backgrounds. Some were born decades and thousands of miles apart from each other. So, what could it be that these persons share in common? Have you guessed it yet? If you noticed that they are all...

    Why God Blesses And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. 1 Chronicles 14:2 King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God's continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him. It wasn't because he deserved it, though he was a man who sought God with his whole heart. It wasn't because of his great skill, though he was a great military strategist. It wasn't because he was perfect, for...

    Office of the Pentagon Chaplain Support The Office of the Pentagon Chaplain supports the spiritual well-being of Pentagon Military and civilian personnel through worship services, religious education opportunities, and pastoral care programs and activities including:    Programs for the spiritual, moral, and ethical needs of the Pentagon  personnel   Pastoral Care during times of crisis, grief, stress, or anxiety   Spiritual relationships to all personnel of the Pentagon for worship, religious   education, and pastoral care support sustaining spiritual well-being   Providing invocations, benedictions, blessings, and prayers at military ceremonies, social events, and other activities related to the...

    Your Mental Attitude - Cornerstone Waste of time is one of the most costly ex­penses on life’s ledger . . . it can never be reimbursed. Thousands of people would never have expe­rienced the bitterness and helplessness of want if they had not first been guilty of WASTE. There is a constant dissipation of thought and feeling, just as there is of physical energies. Each in turn exacts its heavy toll from us. Dissipation of thought and feeling proves wasteful and ruinous to the mind and heart the same process is equally as destructive to health and...

    How should I pray? Here are some thoughts on how we should pray. A story is told about George Washington and how he prayed. In the early days of our republic, a stranger once asked at Congress how he could distinguish President Washington. Kneeling is a sign of respect. It reminds us that there is someone bigger and greater than ourselves who cares for us. Psalm 95 tells us, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,...

    A HUMBLE SPIRIT It's always surprising to me when someone, in an honest and unguarded moment, confides that God could never use THEM. They may keep up appearances most of the time, but, down deep, they just don't feel worthy. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you're in luck; God places a high value on humility! In fact, your sincere recognition of your own need may just be the key that opens the door to a deeper, more genuine and rewarding spirituality. Isaiah wrote, "For thus says the High and Holy One Who inhabits eternity,...

To: ALAUX Frm: CHDIRAUX Subj: SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY -022/06 1. FYI: R 221533Z JUN 06 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-C// TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N16790// ALCOAST 347/06 COMDTNOTE 16790 SUBJ: SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY 1. JUNE 23, 2006, IS A SIGNIFICANT DATE FOR TEAM COAST GUARD. IT WILL MARK OUR AUXILIARYS SIXTY-SEVENTH YEAR OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NATION. 2. WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN CALLING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUXILIARY OUR SHIPMATES. AS I INDICATED IN MY COMMANDANT'S INTENT MESSAGE TO ALL AUXILIARIST SHORTLY AFTER ASSUMING...

    Father's Day, 2006 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America By offering guidance, support, and unconditional love, a father is one of the most important influences in a child's life. On Father's Day, we honor our fathers and celebrate the special bond between a father and a child. Fathers play a significant role in shaping the character of their children and the future of our country. By spending time with their sons and daughters and listening to their experiences, fathers can have a profound impact on their children's lives. As advisors, role models,...