As the United States slides ever quicker into the abyss of moral decay thank God there are still folks out there like these people. Men and women who understand that life is bigger than themselves and act in a selfless manner. Stories like this make me think there is still hope for this country yet.
A naval officer who died while serving in Afghanistan is being remembered for his bravery by those who never met him thanks to a note left at a bar. On March 28, Bennigan's waitress Hannah Hobbs posted a photograph of a beer with a note that read, "In Memory of Lt. j.g. Francis Toner USN. Killed in action 27 March 2009, Baikh Province, Afghanistan. Non Sibi Sed Patriae. Not forgotten."
Toner and another soldier were killed when an Afghan soldier opened fire on four officers who were jogging along the perimeter of Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e Sharif. According to reports, the unarmed Toner verbally challenged the shooter and was gunned down. Toner's act of bravery distracted the shooter, which allowed another officer to seek help for the wounded. He was later posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest military decoration for valor. He was 26-years-old at the time of his death.
Hobbs said a man had come into the restaurant and asked to leave the beer and note at the bar for the rest of the day. However, Hobbs took the tribute to the fallen soldier to another level by taking a picture of the memorial and posting it to her Facebook account. She wrote, "I'm posting this pic so it can stay forever. So can I get some likes, people?" That is exactly what happened.
By Memorial Day, Hobbs's photo had received more than 1.2 million "likes" and had been shared more than 117,000 times! The gesture seems to be a growing trend over the past few years, with other bar patrons toasting America's soldiers in the same fashion.
Hobbs said it wasn't her intention for her personal gesture to go viral, but she wanted to keep the memorial tribute alive by posting it to Facebook. Hobbs said, "Several family and friends have served in the military, and I feel we don't do enough as a country to show our appreciation to those that put their lives on the line to keep us safe."
In response, Hobbs's employer started Bennigan's Wall of Heroes for customers to buy a beer and write a note to any former or current member of the United States military. The company also encourages Facebook posts to honor these heroes.
Through Memorial Day, the restaurant pledged to donate $1 for every photo to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of U.S. service members.
Bennigan's is taking the kind gesture toward America's veterans one step further by offering a $10,000 discount to veterans who want to start their own Bennigan's franchise.
Showing posts with label Troops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Troops. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veteran's Day
To be honest I went back to read my past Veteran's Day post and I can say that in my heart this is still how I feel and hopefully always will. We owe these men and women so much we must try to the little things, at the very least, for them. So I give you my last two Veteran's Day posts.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day
Yes it is their day, not yours and mine, it is a day to thank those that lived to tell the tales of the heroes left on battlefields far away and some from long ago. It is our duty to thank these men and women that have put their lives on the line for Liberty, Freedom, America or so we are told. We know they do it for each other, and that is enough for it is in each other they can trust and it is with each other they can survive. From Lexington and Concord to the Heat of Iraq and the cold mountains of Afghanistan young men and women left the comforts of home for the frightening hell of combat. Where do we find such people, is what some ask. Very simple in the big cities and small towns all across this great country. After all this is The United States of America and we have had the finest humanity has had to offer for the last 232 years. I salute you all and send out a heartfelt thank you.
I ask you, the reader, to please donate to any and all veteran assisting organizations out there. Many of the military blogs to the right will tell you more about these organizations. Those who serve deserve our support even after their tour of duty is over.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veterans Day
I know many people who have served in our armed forces in both peacetime and war. World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Gulf War and Iraq and Afghanistan and action less Cold Warriors. Some are friends of mine that I would trust with my life, some are guys I grew up with and have not seen in years. Some were strangers that have become friends, some were friends of my parents and some were friends of friends. They all have one thing in common. They are all better than me. When I say that I mean it and I am someone who thinks very highly of myself. When you look at a veteran you have to look at them differently you have to understand that these are people who have seen things that for some reason we have been spared the sight of. The life for war veterans should be like King said in Platoon "the rest of your life is gravy." In recent years I have made myself more aware of veterans and always ask if someone has served and thanking them if they did, maybe buying coffee if in an airport or near a coffee house. It is not enough, I know, but what else can we do. People always say it is the little things in life that make it great. I hope so, but we should do all we can for our vets. Without them there would be no little things.
These days the main debate of our politicians is government paid health care for everybody. Clearly this is a communist idea and against American principles. But I do solemnly believe that those that have served and were honorably discharged have earned the right, nay the entitlement of free health care forever. I am not talking about some government plan either I am talking top of the line and getting to the front of the line. Are you telling me that some WWII vet with medals out the ass should have to suffer at a government run VA facility while some 4F gets to see world renown doctors because he didn't serve and got rich? Yes it is a tough issue, I know but something must be done for them, all of them, from PTSD patients to Agent Orange cancer sufferers, to those too old to care for themselves. Forget the millions of useless welfare mooches there are people out there that have earned the right to get free health care and a pension. Enough of how the welfare system screws the vets in favor of lazy shiftless turds.
Armistice Day came along to signal the end of "The Great War" or as we call it now World War I, the "war to end all wars." How naive. There is just too much evil lurking in men with power soul's. Every day I respect our veterans more and more. Putting their lives on the line doing their duty. The wars we are fighting today and the constant rotation back to combat is hard on the men and women and families to whom we owe so much. It was the same for Vietnam vets and their 365 and a wake-up and the World War II vets and the points system. Any war any time all veterans and their families deserve our respect, admiration and thanks. Find out what you can do for them and do it; when we needed them they were there, it is the least we can do. So much will go left unsaid in this post so I will end with this: Thank you Veterans, for keeping our enemies at bay, and the sacrifices you have made. Peace to all of you for the rest of your days you have earned it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day
Yes it is their day, not yours and mine, it is a day to thank those that lived to tell the tales of the heroes left on battlefields far away and some from long ago. It is our duty to thank these men and women that have put their lives on the line for Liberty, Freedom, America or so we are told. We know they do it for each other, and that is enough for it is in each other they can trust and it is with each other they can survive. From Lexington and Concord to the Heat of Iraq and the cold mountains of Afghanistan young men and women left the comforts of home for the frightening hell of combat. Where do we find such people, is what some ask. Very simple in the big cities and small towns all across this great country. After all this is The United States of America and we have had the finest humanity has had to offer for the last 232 years. I salute you all and send out a heartfelt thank you.
I ask you, the reader, to please donate to any and all veteran assisting organizations out there. Many of the military blogs to the right will tell you more about these organizations. Those who serve deserve our support even after their tour of duty is over.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veterans Day
I know many people who have served in our armed forces in both peacetime and war. World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Gulf War and Iraq and Afghanistan and action less Cold Warriors. Some are friends of mine that I would trust with my life, some are guys I grew up with and have not seen in years. Some were strangers that have become friends, some were friends of my parents and some were friends of friends. They all have one thing in common. They are all better than me. When I say that I mean it and I am someone who thinks very highly of myself. When you look at a veteran you have to look at them differently you have to understand that these are people who have seen things that for some reason we have been spared the sight of. The life for war veterans should be like King said in Platoon "the rest of your life is gravy." In recent years I have made myself more aware of veterans and always ask if someone has served and thanking them if they did, maybe buying coffee if in an airport or near a coffee house. It is not enough, I know, but what else can we do. People always say it is the little things in life that make it great. I hope so, but we should do all we can for our vets. Without them there would be no little things.
These days the main debate of our politicians is government paid health care for everybody. Clearly this is a communist idea and against American principles. But I do solemnly believe that those that have served and were honorably discharged have earned the right, nay the entitlement of free health care forever. I am not talking about some government plan either I am talking top of the line and getting to the front of the line. Are you telling me that some WWII vet with medals out the ass should have to suffer at a government run VA facility while some 4F gets to see world renown doctors because he didn't serve and got rich? Yes it is a tough issue, I know but something must be done for them, all of them, from PTSD patients to Agent Orange cancer sufferers, to those too old to care for themselves. Forget the millions of useless welfare mooches there are people out there that have earned the right to get free health care and a pension. Enough of how the welfare system screws the vets in favor of lazy shiftless turds.
Armistice Day came along to signal the end of "The Great War" or as we call it now World War I, the "war to end all wars." How naive. There is just too much evil lurking in men with power soul's. Every day I respect our veterans more and more. Putting their lives on the line doing their duty. The wars we are fighting today and the constant rotation back to combat is hard on the men and women and families to whom we owe so much. It was the same for Vietnam vets and their 365 and a wake-up and the World War II vets and the points system. Any war any time all veterans and their families deserve our respect, admiration and thanks. Find out what you can do for them and do it; when we needed them they were there, it is the least we can do. So much will go left unsaid in this post so I will end with this: Thank you Veterans, for keeping our enemies at bay, and the sacrifices you have made. Peace to all of you for the rest of your days you have earned it.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Great Plans From Obama
Obama is sending 17,000 soldiers and marines to Afghanistan. On the surface great idea NATO is getting kicked around that whole fuckin hellhole. So I guess all of a sudden America's might is going to make right over there. For the last two years all we hear from Obama is how bad America is; pushing around little countries. Another thing we heard was how bad Bush's plan was for our troops, no enter or exit strategy. Guess what he has done here same friggin thing. He is using troops like he uses taxpayer's money he going to throw them at the problem and hopes it fixes it. As always he just picks a figure out of the air and runs with it. Hey, asshole, this time you are dealing with brave men's and women's lives to just send them there with no plan, though typical of you, is just a bad idea. Are they going to be under NATO rule and let it be someone else's problem like Bill Clinton did in Bosnia and promised everyone would be home by Christmas. American troops, American commanders, American support and let them take back that country that has claimed too many brave Americans to this point. To be honest I do not think I have ever heard him say "the troops" in the last two years let alone put a "support" in front of it.
His next idea is to cut the defense budget by 10%. Why 10% Barack and not 9.786789% or 10.2534987446% because as usual he has no plan, just a number. Oh sorry he does have a plan, stop production of the F-22, the most sophisticated fighter ever nothing the enemy, all of them, have can compare. We know that missile tech research is being cut, that was a campaign promise. He will not arm space, funny that is how we won the cold war, even if we could not really do it because we did not have the technology then, the soviet socialists knew a space weapons race would bankrupt them financially, morally we know socialism is bankrupt. They signed whatever SALT treaty that put in front of them, in the end their system could not be saved. But here we stand a mere 20 years later, the old USSR sits awash in cash because after some tough times they realized capitalism was going to save them. What did they do you ask? They drilled for oil, that evil black liquid that is outlawed here. It has made them rich and money is power as the old KGB guard in charge over there is demonstrating. We on the other hand have decided to try socialism in full and now we have financial obligations of $78.8 TRILLION, of which $55 TRILLION is for social security and socialized medicare. This before the new "stimulus plan" was passed.
So this great planner the genius liberal morons here in America voted into office is truly proving himself to be a soviet style central planner that will burden our children's children with an immoral amount of debt. Even worse than that is that he might not leave them a country to live in. By returning the U.S. to a pre-9/11 mentality they may not have a country to pay for. It is a sad thought but we had better start getting to preventing it before it is too late. You say you want a revolution... well you know...
His next idea is to cut the defense budget by 10%. Why 10% Barack and not 9.786789% or 10.2534987446% because as usual he has no plan, just a number. Oh sorry he does have a plan, stop production of the F-22, the most sophisticated fighter ever nothing the enemy, all of them, have can compare. We know that missile tech research is being cut, that was a campaign promise. He will not arm space, funny that is how we won the cold war, even if we could not really do it because we did not have the technology then, the soviet socialists knew a space weapons race would bankrupt them financially, morally we know socialism is bankrupt. They signed whatever SALT treaty that put in front of them, in the end their system could not be saved. But here we stand a mere 20 years later, the old USSR sits awash in cash because after some tough times they realized capitalism was going to save them. What did they do you ask? They drilled for oil, that evil black liquid that is outlawed here. It has made them rich and money is power as the old KGB guard in charge over there is demonstrating. We on the other hand have decided to try socialism in full and now we have financial obligations of $78.8 TRILLION, of which $55 TRILLION is for social security and socialized medicare. This before the new "stimulus plan" was passed.
So this great planner the genius liberal morons here in America voted into office is truly proving himself to be a soviet style central planner that will burden our children's children with an immoral amount of debt. Even worse than that is that he might not leave them a country to live in. By returning the U.S. to a pre-9/11 mentality they may not have a country to pay for. It is a sad thought but we had better start getting to preventing it before it is too late. You say you want a revolution... well you know...
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