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Officials in York have identified two firefighters killed in a structure collapse earlier today. Ivan Flanscha, 50, and Zachary Anthony, 29, and died from injuries sustained when the building collapsed just before 4 p.m. on the 100 block of North Broad Street in York. Both were later pronounced dead at York Hospital. Crews were at the scene of the the fire -- which broke out Wednesday evening at the former Weaver Organ and Piano -- trying to suppress parts of the fire that had reignited, York fire Chief David Michaels said at a news conference Thursday. Those remnants could have...

Should those of us who are watching sports events on television stand along with the people in the stadium and possibly join in the singing when someone performs our national anthem? How many of us make a quick trip to the kitchen when the tv sports event announcer asks everyone to stand for the national anthem? How many of us have come to think of the performing of the "Star Spangled Banner" as just a part of the show for us to watch, but not to participate in? I'm wondering if those of us who treat the playing of the...

This memorial of the USS Forrestal,CVA 59; on July 29-Th, North Vietnam; has actual pictures and the voice of Captain John K. Beling at the time of the fires. The Hymn played is, Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior, with mandolin and verse sung was covered by me, who served at that time.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." —Winston ChurchillAs we do on this day each year, we pause to remember the men and women who died fighting for our freedom. We stand by humbly, gratefully, silently, to honor their sacrifice.We remember…We mourn for those lost…And we mourn for those they’ve left behind…As we reflect again on the the steep price of freedom.By all means, enjoy your picnics, parades and celebrations today – it is a holiday after all. But do pause to remember and honor all the brave Americans across...

Lest we forget that this day started not as a “holiday” but as a day of somber remembrance, today’s Memorial Day post is dedicated to our country’s fallen heroes; the 1.4 million men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in wars waged across centuries in order to preserve the principles of freedom and liberty.So let us pause a moment and bow our heads in their memory as we reflect what a different world we would live in, were it not for their sacrifice.Flanders Fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe...

The FReeper Canteen Salutes theU.S. Marine CorpsOn Its 238th Birthday10NOV1775 – 10NOV2013 Semper Fidelis!(Always Faithful!) O ETERNAL FATHER, we commend to Thy protection and care the members of the Marine Corps. Guide and direct them in the defense of our country and in the maintenance of justice among nations. Protect them in the hour of danger. Grant that wherever they serve they may be loyal to their high traditions and that at all times they may put their trust in Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Marine Corps Prayer by Bishop SherrillFormer Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal ChurchAnd...

On September 11, 2001, we would never have believed 10 years later… … the U.S. government would refuse to call the enemy by name. … the president would be a far-left socialist, pro-Islamic Black man named Barack Hussein Obama. … the people of the Western world would be divided about making the bad guys pay. … some high-ranking politicians would question the ‘official story’ of the 9/11 attacks. … Christianity would be banned in our public schools while special allowances were made for Islamic students. … the president of the United States would ‘apologize’ to the enemy for being the...

The U.S. Army psychiatrist who slaughtered 13 people on a Texas military base could face the death penalty as officials wrangle over his fate, it has emerged. Major Nadal Hasan was said to have cried out 'Allahu akbar!' before he opened fire on troops and civilians, killing 13 and injuring 32 at Fort Hood in 2009. His fate now lies in the hands of brigade commander Col. Morgan Lamb, who is due to release a report in which he is expected to recommend a court martial.

... The personal effects of Sgt. Jeannette Lee Winters, a Gary native, are being held by a Northwest Indiana businessman who found himself at the center of a public firestorm this week when he told the Winters family that if they wanted the mementoes back, they'd have to pay for them. "I don't want to be in the position where I'm the bad guy. I may sell it, I may keep it, I may give it away," said Mark Perko, a used furniture salesman who purchased the contents of the Winters' family storage locker four years ago. ... Many of...

Fort Hood commemorates the first anniversary of the deadly post shooting rampage Friday by paying tribute to the 13 who died and honoring more than 50 who went beyond the call of duty in the chaos and confusion that followed. FORT HOOD (November 5, 2010)—Few physical reminders remain of the shooting rampage a year ago at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center that left 12 soldiers and a civilian dead and dozens of others injured, but separate ceremonies Friday on post will pay tribute to the victims and will honor 54 soldiers and civilians whose actions went beyond the call of...

9 city firefighters, paramedics to jog in N.Y. 5K honoring firefighter killed on 9-11 With the benefit of hindsight, it's not a fair question to ask if other firefighters would do what Stephen Siller did that awful day. We know it cost him his life, along with 342 other New York firefighters and paramedics at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Siller was off duty and on his way to play golf, but when he heard about planes hitting the towers he drove from Brooklyn toward Manhattan. When he found the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel shut down, he abandoned his...

The Department of Defense Friday released its final review of recommendations from an independent report ordered in the wake of the deadly Nov. 5, 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center that left 13 dead and more than 30 wounded. Read The Final Fort Hood Review [at link] The independent report was released in January and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said then it "raises serious questions" about the military's ability to cope with security threats within its ranks. Read The Full Report [at link] The Pentagon said Friday it will place a priority on implanting recommendations that...

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Firefighters from two nations took off Thursday on a round-the-clock run from Southern California to New York in remembrance of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Tour of Duty run officially began with a flag ceremony at 8:46 a.m. - the time when the first plane struck New York's twin towers in 2001. Several New York firefighters were running, including James Dowdell. His father, firefighter Kevin Dowdell, was among more than 400 emergency workers killed while responding to the attack. Firefighters feel "a special kinship" with firefighters who died, North Las Vegas fire Capt....

Early next month military attorneys will meet for a preliminary hearing into whether the 40-year-old Muslim who became an Army psychiatrist should be court-martialed and perhaps sentenced to die for the worst terrorist assault in this country since the Sept. 11, 2001, airplane attacks. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has taken the unusual step of issuing subpoenas demanding the records as part of its investigation into the Nov. 5 shooting spree. What they want to know, said committee chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), is "why was he not stopped before he took 13 American lives, and how can...

In the United States, We Patriots set aside one day a year to remember our Fallen Heroes. We owe them so very much,it is hard to put it into perspective as the numbers grow continuously and seemingly without end. We pray for them and their families and honor their memories every single day, even though only one day is marked on our calendars. Today, I would like to take a minute of your time to remember Israel's Fallen as well. In these dark days, when Israel seemingly stands alone in the world, one moment away from war every day of...

While others might not want to say it, I will. The Pentagon’s whitewashing of the Islamic factor in the Fort Hood shooting, was just pathetic, and their policy that some form “moderate” Islam is coming to the rescue is a failure. It is the same policy that the UK is pursuing, and it does not work there either. Thankfully over a dozen Republicans are challenging the Pentagon, and their relationship with their so called “moderate” Muslim advisors. This article shows us just how little research the Pentagon has actually done on their own on Islam. They just want to be...

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - The attorney for the man accused of going on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood wants to challenge the Army's plan to have three military health professionals determine whether his client is competent to stand trial. Attorney John Galligan said Monday he has requested a delay in Maj. Nidal Hasan's (nih-DAHL' mah-LEEK' hah-SAHNs') mental evaluation set to start next week.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2010 – The Army will conduct a review to determine if leaders were negligent in their supervision of accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, Defense Department officials announced yesterday. Army Secretary John McHugh has directed Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, “to conduct an accountability review to identify whether any personnel were responsible for failures or deficiencies in applying Army programs, policies, and procedures to the alleged assailant,” according to a Defense Department news release. McHugh also has tasked Ham to provide personal observations he may have developed as a senior...

As another Memorial Day weekend descends upon us, we are reminded of why we hold the day. As we hold barbecues and travel to other places for the first long weekend of the summer, tributes and memorials will be held all over America to honor those who never came home from all of the wars we have fought in. We are reminded of such heroes as Audie Murphy, Alvin York, Charles Lindberg, Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Ira Hayes, George S. Patton and many more. Politicians invoking memories of battles from long ago give their speeches. Flags are lowered to half-mast...

In February 2004, my son, Spc. Michael Carlson, arrived in the Diyala province of Iraq. During the next 11 months he and his team searched houses, hunted insurgents, and made a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people. I think about him today because I miss him very much. ... In America, we often think that this transformation happened solely by the work of our American heroes. But the Iraqi people have worked very hard to transform their country and to take back control. I remember meeting Brig. Gen. Ismael Alsodani, the Iraqi defense attaché, when he visited Arlington...