Remembrance Day, With A Little Help From My Friends!

Remembrance Day is a great day to honour our troops, but we need to remember and care about our troops everyday. My first friend, my husband, talked about a commercial from Walmart he had just seen, a Christmas wish, I found it for him.



Then we have my friend, Jen, who gave me the link to "A Pittance of Time". You need to read the singers explanation about how the song was created. The guy paying no attention to the two minutes was a real person, make sure you aren't that guy this year.



Another friend and frequent poster, MaryT sent me this:

A lesson that should be taught in all schools . . And colleges

Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms.. Cothren, where're our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) War Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall... By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned..

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story.

We need more teachers like that one to instill in our children the pride and honour for our troops that they deserve.

Thanks for all the help from my friends!

Finally, I want to thank everyone who comes out, no matter the weather, to the 50 bridges covering 170 kilometers, to send our heroes home in style on the "Highway of Heroes". I am sure it comforts the families of the fallen to know that Canadians care. Understand that for every single person standing on those bridges there are another 1000 from around the country who wish they could be there to send our troops home, with respect for their sacrifice. Even Prince Charles mentioned our "Highway of Heroes". Get your Kleenex out.



May we have no more people who have to gather on the bridges to welcome our heroes home. May we gather next time to welcome them home, with a job well done, and all troops having their hearts, minds and souls, intact.

Tomorrow, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, take two minutes of your time to remember, ALL of the men and women who fought and died for our freedom. It's the least we can do to honour our troops.

Honourable Return For Fallen American Soldiers!

Returning American fallen will now be repatriated in public if the family wishes for it to be public. This is a positive step for families who would like to see their loved ones honoured in this way.

Media Coverage of Returning War Dead Allowed
After receiving permission from family members, the military opened Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to the media for the return of the body of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Media witnessed a Sunday night ceremony for the arrival of a Virginia airman killed in Afghanistan, marking the end of an 18-year ban on news coverage of returning U.S. war dead.

After receiving permission from family members, the military opened Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to the media for the return of the body of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers of Hopewell, Va.

....

Under the new policy, families of fallen servicemen will decide whether to allow media coverage of their return. If several bodies arrive on the same flight, news coverage will be allowed only for those whose families have given permission.

It sounds like the American military has been paying attention to what happens in Canada. Here is a new video of our last four fallen heroes arriving home. May they be the last.



Watch for the hands waving from the cars. I am sure that the families feel some measure of relief seeing all the people out on every bridge, thank you Ontario!



It is nice to know that the Americans will now be able to respect their fallen like Canada is able to. May it give the families a small bit of peace and comfort.

Conservative Squabbles

This week was not a stellar week for righties. For some reason, some conservatives were upset with PM Harper's speech to a conservative audience, I'm not sure why. You would think that the one time PM Harper could feel like he was among friends would have been at this event. Turns out he's not even safe in a conservative crowd. Shame.

This led me to spend some time thinking about Canada's greatest asset, our military. So, Ontario, I salute you, for your support of our fallen troops. Fight us Conservatives might, but any petty disagreements pale when compared to our troops and their dedication to keeping Canada safe.



When you watch this next video, look for the hands of the families waving to the people on the bridge. If you had any doubt that the families do not notice you standing there on the bridges, that alone should make you realize how much your support means to them. I salute you, and wish I was close enough to be able to be there with you, showing my support.



When it comes right down to it, whether you are a libertarian, a fiscal conservative, social conservative or just a regular conservative, one thing we can all agree on is that our troops have earned our respect and we can stop our squabbles long enough to pause and really think about what we hope to achieve for our country.

They put their lives on the line everyday. A speech by our Prime Minister, that I have listened to, upset some libertarians, I am not sure why. I have read the blog posts, but fail to see what the fuss is about, maybe some libertarian can fill me in. Looking at the big picture, and everything that PM Harper has to put up with, don't you think you can cut the guy some slack?

I am sick and tired of some group or other wanting to pick up their ball and go home. That worked real well last provincial election in Ontario now didn't it? There is no such thing as a sometime, if I am happy, and everything I want is granted to me, Conservative. That is a liberal dressed up as a Conservative. It's easy to be a victim, but it is very very hard to be a Conservative in a lefty world.

Our troops do not care what political party sends them where, they go because they understand that someone has to keep Canada safe. We should honour them, and pray for them daily.

Squabble if you want, but think about what it really means in the grand scheme of life. Think about what it means to Canada. That is the message I got from our Prime Minister.

My Pick Of The Year!

My salute goes out to the people who line the Highway of Heroes to show their support for our troops! You represent all Canadians by honouring our fallen heroes. I will never be able to be there, so those of you who can be, have my thanks for going out in all kinds of weather to represent me and all Canadians.

Silent, sad salute for fallen

PORT HOPE — The sound of the three revving engines of the hearses was all that broke the mournful quiet cast along the Highway of Heroes yesterday.

None of the more than 400 men, women and children huddled in the cold across the Ontario St. overpass broke the salute of silence as the convoy of hearses bearing the flag-draped caskets of Sgt. Gregory Kruse, Pte. Michael Freeman and Warrant Officer Gaetan Roberge headed to Toronto.

Please click on the link and watch the video. I can not be there in person, but I am standing there in spirit with you!

I salute our brave troops for upholding Canada's flag with honour and valour. May 2009 be a kinder year for all people involved in conflicts.