The American Flag

John A. Dix in a telegram from Washington, 1/29/1861:
If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.

Three flag related items have come up this week, 2 in the news and 1 with me personally.

The first item was on Monday at work. On most days I wear an American flag pin. In the elevator a woman was staring at me and said out loud - "you know, after 9/11 we all wore flags on our shirts, you don't see that anymore". I said I wear my flag just about everyday. She asked me if I had anyone in Iraq. I said I didn't. She said, good for you. I think that's great that you wear a flag. I agreed with her.

The second item is the guy in Nevada that cut a Mexican flag down that was flying on top on the American flag. Great American and he should be proud of himself. What the hell is wrong with being proud of your country?

The third item came out today - liberal running for President, Obama. He says that wearing a flag isn't as important as what is in your heart.

To me the American flag IS my heart. I love my country and respect what the flag stands for, our freedom, our countrymen and women that have died for us to earn that freedom. Oprah's boy toy will not be President but besides that, show some pride in your Country - be proud of it, respect it.

USO

While I am not able to volunteer with the USO anymore due to where I live and Select Soccer - I still support them and know first hand the value of the work they do. They are not run by the government and rely on donations from the American people. KIRO 710 has chosen them as their Charity of the Month:

Charity of the Month News Talk 710 KIRO is proud to announce the USO as October's featured "Charity of the Month!" Operating in more then 130 centers worldwide, the USO has been the bridge between American people and our troops for over 66 years. For information on volunteering or making a donation to the USO, click here and visit 710 KIRO's "Charity of the Month" web page.

Nothing is more important then our Military and the support they receive should be the best in the world. Dispite what many Liberals believe - we are at war and it will be a long battle against islamic terrorists and their religion of peace.

It's very humbling for a Soldier to give you a heart felt thank you.

9/11/01

Remember the victims. All they did that day was catch a plane or go to work, they just happened to live in the USA. Remember? It could be you the next time. I don't have to live with the pain of losing a loved one on that day but I do feel the pain of my country being attacked. This is no bumper sticker slogan - this is real.

http://www.xmas-i-am.com/Imagine.htm

"Let's roll. "--Todd Beamer, before he and others apparently thwarted the fourth set of terrorists.

"All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying."--Michael Walters, a free-lance photo journalist in Manhattan.

"The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues. "--President George W. Bush, 10/13/2001.

"This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of WAR "-- President George W. Bush.

.... You ask, What is our policy? I will say; "It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy." You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), 1940, in his first address as the newly appointed Prime Minister.

The return of Junior...

Ken Griffey Jr. AKA The Kid... okay so he told Seattle long ago not to call him that anymore but it brings back such good baseball memories for me.
He's coming back to Seattle! My heart was broken when he left - I never thought he would leave and was shocked. He is coming to Seattle for three games, June 22-24.
Where will I be for this monumental event? Front and center at Safeco Field of course right??? Wrong (insert crying and bitching here). I will be in glorious Bellingham, WA for a soccer tournament. Ugh... the pain. I have tickets for Friday nights game and I am willing to suffer to attend the game. The kid's soccer game ends at 4:00 - so we will be on the road from 4:00 until however long it takes to get to Safeco Field on a Friday night. It's roughly 80-90 miles and I will be drinking a tall, cold frosty one (10) when I get there. Will be rough, but worth it to see my much loved and missed Ken Griffey.
Oh yeah... will be good seeing the kid play soccer too.

Play ball...Today is Opening Day!!!!!!!!

Today is always the best day of my life - Opening Day. This morning I awoke to something new that I've never had on Opening Day - no, not that..... snow. We had less than an inch and the streets were only wet but still - kind of a shocker on April 2nd.

I am so hoping that the Mariners have a decent year - yes, I'll settle for decent. I hope we don't lose Ichiro but it may be unavoidable. King Felix is starting today - first pitch, 3:35

Proud to be an American...

Click on this link to watch the video of this amazing American. I dare you not to cry.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=2845247&page=1

Feb. 2, 2007 — Just about every morning for the past year, Bert Brady has been getting up, having a cup of coffee and heading over to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. But this ritual has nothing to do with travel. He's at the terminal to welcome home American troops as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I went 300 days last year," Brady said. "They are glad to see us, and we are tickled to death to see them because they are our heroes."
Brady, a 69-year-old veteran, is a member of the Welcome Home a Hero program at his local airport. He makes sure every soldier that comes through Dallas gets a special homecoming.
When asked why he is so dedicated to this effort, Brady pointed to a moment he shared with one soldier.
"He said, 'Mister, I will never forget you,' and my heart was almost pounding like it was going to burst out of my chest," Brady said. "He said, 'It's the greatest thing that ever happened to me.'"

MY OH MY...

It's warm-up time
Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez loosens up during a brief throwing session today at Safeco Field. The team is preparing to head for spring training in Arizona. The Mariners open the regular season at home April 2 against Oakland.

It's almost time for my favorite thing to do. Keeping score at Safeco Field. Pitchers and Catchers report in just 4 short days. Yes, the Mariners will not do well this year but I don't care. It's baseball.