FW: The three errors the Japanese made at Pearl Harbor

 



Three Mistakes Japanese Made at Pearl Harbor
From a book: "Reflections on Pearl Harbor" by Admiral Chester Nimitz.

Sunday, December 7th, 1941 Admiral Chester Nimitz was attending a concert inWashington D.C. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him. When he answered the phone, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the phone. He told Admiral Nimitz that he (Nimitz) would now be the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Nimitz flew to Hawaii to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. He landed atPearl Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1941. There was such a spirit of despair, dejection and defeat you would have thought the Japanese had already won the war.

On Christmas Day, 1941 Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters every where you looked. As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked, "Well, Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?" Admiral Nimitz's reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice. Admiral Nimitz said, "The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make - or God was taking care of America. Which do you think it was?"

 

Shocked and  surprised, the young helmsman asked, "What do mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made?" Nimitz explained. "Mistake number one: the Japanese attacked on Sunday morning. Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave. If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

"Mistake number two: when the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships. If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow everyone of those ships to America to be repaired. As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised. One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America. And I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

"Mistake number three: every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in top of the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill. One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply. That's why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make - or God was taking care of America." Anyway you look at it - Admiral Nimitz was able to see a silver lining in a situation and circumstance where everyone else saw only despair and defeat. President Roosevelt had chosen the right man for the right job.

We desperately needed a leader that could see silver linings in the midst of the clouds of dejection, despair and defeat. And we need one NOW! There is a reason that our national motto is IN GOD WE TRUST.

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FW: Fwd: Five sentences

 

 

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read. I think that No.5 is the best. 1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. 3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. 4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. 5. When half of the people get the idea that they  do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of  them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation. Can you think of a reason for not sharing this?  Neither could I......

 

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FW: The Green Thing

 

 

The Green Thing

 

 

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. 

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.  Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.  So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind.  We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.  Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. 

 

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. 

 

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. 

 

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.  We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

 

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. 

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. 

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.  And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

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FW: IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

 

 

 

 

 

IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME 

A few weeks ago a woman was killed in an auto 
accident. She was very well liked, so the office shut 
down for her funeral and it was on the news and so on.

On the day the workers came back to work, they found 
this poem in their e-mail that the deceased woman had 
sent on Friday before she left for home.   

 

If tomorrow starts without me, 
And I'm not there to see, 
If the sun should rise and find your eyes 
All filled with tears for me; 
I wish so much you wouldn't cry 
The way you did today, 
While thinking of the many things, 
We didn't get to say.   

I know how much you love me, 
As much as I love you, 
And each time that you think of me, 
I know you'll miss me too;   

But when tomorrow starts without me, 

Please try to understand, 
That an angel came and called my name, 
And took me by the hand,  

And said my place was ready, 
In heaven far above, 
And that I'd have to leave behind 
All those I dearly love.   

But as I turned to walk away, 
A tear fell from my eye, 
For all my life, I'd always thought, 
I didn't want to die.   

I had so much to live for, 
So much left yet to do, 
It seemed almost impossible, 
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, 
The good ones and the bad, 
I thought of all that we shared, 
And all the fun we had.   

If I could relive yesterday, 
Just even for a while, 
I'd say good-bye and hug you 
And maybe see you smile.   

But then I fully realized, 
That this could never be, 
For emptiness and memories, 
Would take the place of me.   

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss some tomorrow, 
I thought of you, and when I did, 
My heart was filled with sorrow.   

But when I walked through heaven's gates, 
I felt so much at home. 
When God looked down and smiled at me, 
From His great golden throne, 

He said, "This is eternity, 
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past, 
But here life starts anew.   

I promise no tomorrow, 
But today will always last, 
And since each day is the same way, 
There's no longing for the past. " 

So when tomorrow starts without me, 
Don't think we're far apart, 
For every time you think of me, 
I'm right there, in your heart.  

Send this to all those you care about...

because you never know

what's going to happen tomorrow...

Show them how you care,

before it's too late...

May God watch over you and your family

now and always.

There is no right time to do the wrong thing....     

    There is no wrong time to tell someone you care.....

 

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FW: King Arthur and the Witch CM

 

 

 

King Arthur and the Witch: Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life. Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do? What Lancelot chose is below.   BUT....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below.   OKAY?     Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life. Now....what is the moral to this story? The moral is..... If you don't let a woman have her own way.... Things are going to get ugly

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FW: Daddy's poem..............................(JH)

  : Daddy's Poem

                Her hair was up in a pony tail, 

                her favorite dress tied with a bow.

                Today was Daddy's Day at school, 

                and she couldn't wait to go. 

                But her mommy tried to tell her, 

                that she probably should stay home 

                Why the kids might not understand, 

                if she went to school alone. 

                But she was not afraid; 

                she knew just what to say. 

                What to tell her classmates 

                of why he wasn't there today. 

                But still her mother worried, 

                for her to face this day alone. 

                And that was why once again, 

                she tried to keep her daughter home. 

                But the little girl went to school 

                eager to tell them all. 

                About a dad she never sees a dad 

                who never calls. 

                There were daddies along the wall in 

                back, for everyone to meet. 

                Children squirming impatiently, 

                anxious in their seats. 

                One by one the teacher called 

                a student from the class. 

                To introduce their daddy, 

                as seconds slowly passed. 

                At last the teacher called her name, 

                every child turned to stare. 

                Each of them was searching, 

                a man who wasn't there. 

                "Where's her daddy at?" 

                She heard a boy call out. 

                "She probably doesn't have one," 

                another student dared to shout. 

                And from somewhere near the back, 

                she heard a daddy say, 

                "Looks like another deadbeat dad, 

                too busy to waste his day." 

                The words did not offend her, 

                as she smiled up at her Mom. 

                And looked back at her teacher, who 

                told her to go on. 

                And with hands behind her back, 

                slowly she began to speak. 

                And out from the mouth of a child, 

                came words incredibly unique. 

                "My Daddy couldn't be here, 

                because he lives so far away. 

                But I know he wishes he could be, 

                since this is such a special day. 

                And though you cannot meet him, 

                I wanted you to know. 

                All about my daddy, 

                and how much he loves me so. 

                He loved to tell me stories 

                he taught me to ride my bike. 

                He surprised me with pink roses, 

                and taught me to fly a kite. 

                We used to share fudge sundaes, 

                and ice cream in a cone. 

                And though you cannot see him. 

                I'm not standing here alone. 

                "Cause my daddy's always with me, 

                even though we are apart 

                I know because he told me, 

                he'll forever be in my heart" 

                With that, her little hand reached up, 

                and lay across her chest. 

                Feeling her own heartbeat, 

                beneath her favorite dress. 

                And from somewhere there in the crowd 

                of dads, her mother stood in tears. 

                Proudly watching her daughter, 

                who was wise beyond her years. 

                For she stood up for the love 

                of a man not in her life. 

                Doing what was best for her, 

                doing what was a right. 

                And when she dropped her hand back 

                down, staring straight into the crowd. 

                She finished with a voice so soft, 

                but its message clear and loud. 

                "I love my daddy very much, 

                he's my shining star. 

                And if he could, he'd be here, 

                but heaven's just too far. 

                You see he is an American Soldier

                and died just this past year 

                When a roadside bomb hit his convoy 

                and taught Americans to fear. 

                But sometimes when I close my eyes, 

                it's like he never went away." 

                And then she closed her eyes, 

                and saw him there that day. 

                And to her mother's amazement, 

                she witnessed with surprise. 

                A room full of daddies and children, 

                all starting to close their eyes. 

                Who knows what they saw before them, 

                who knows what they felt inside. 

                Perhaps for merely a second, 

                they saw him at her side. 

                "I know you're with me Daddy," 

                to the silence she called out. 

                And what happened next made believers, 

                of those once filled with doubt. 

                Not one in that room could explain it, 

                for each of their eyes had been closed. 

                But there on the desk beside her, 

                was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. 

                And a child was blessed, if only for 

                a moment, by the love of her shining star. 

                And given the gift of believing, 

                that heaven is never too far. 

                They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. 

                Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. 

                If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends. 

                Take the time...to live and love. 

                Until eternity.. 

                God Bless 

                There must be many children in the same boat as this little girl, thanks to our servicemen and their families for the sacrifice they are making to keep our country Free. 

                The ULTIMATE sacrifice is being left behind. 

                Don't forget them.

=

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doughnuts

Good morning everyone.  And it is indeed a good morning.  Second day in a row that I haven’t had vertigo when I opened my eyes.  YAY and THANK YOU LORD!!  I know it will probably be back, but as least it’s gone for now.

 

As I was getting ready to come to work this morning, I heard a segment on the radio station that wakes me up about doughnuts.  I didn’t catch all of the conversation, but it was about making homemade doughnuts out of canned biscuits.  And boy, did that bring back some memories!   I remember my Mama making them and they were a real treat. I don’t know if we couldn’t buy “Krispy Kreme” or any other brand of doughnuts – you know it was back in the dark ages!!  I don’t know if it was because we didn’t live in a large town and I know they weren’t sold in the little stores in my community.  I just really don’t know why we didn’t buy store-bought doughnuts; we just didn’t.  Mama would take a can of biscuits, cut a hole in middle of each one and drop it in a sauce pan of very, very, very hot oil and it only took a few seconds for the doughnut to cook.  Then she would lay it on a paper towel for just a few seconds, then drop it into a bag with powdered sugar in it, shake it and….there was your fried, homemade doughnuts!  It would almost melt in your mouth and tasted a little like the funnel cakes you could get at the fair.

 

I remember, after the boys and I moved to Manns Harbor, they wanted some doughnuts one night.  White’s was already closed and back then, the stores in Manteo had already closed.  They didn’t stay open late like they do now and there were no Food Lion’s or Harris Teeter’s on the beach and even if there had been, there was no way I was going to drive to the beach for doughnuts.  So, I told them we could make some.  They looked at me like I had lost my mind because even then they already knew I wasn’t a great cook.  Mom make doughnuts?  No way…it wasn’t going to happen.  I took a can of biscuits out of the refrigerator, opened them and spread them out on wax paper.  I was trying to decide what to use to make the doughnut hole (I couldn’t remember what Mama used).  I looked through the utensil drawer and nothing in there would work.  Then…on the counter I saw my Tylenol bottle—one of the small ones—and it only had 2 pills left in it.  I took them out and washed the bottle.  I know the boys, at this point, thought I had lost my mind.  I took the Tylenol bottle and made a perfect little hole in the center of each biscuit with the small top of the bottle.  By this time, the oil was perfect and I dropped the first doughnuts in it.  It only takes a few seconds for the doughnuts to cook.  I laid them on a paper towel and cooked the rest.  I cooked 3 doughnuts at the time and I put the doughnut holes in with the last batch.  As soon as they were done, I dropped them in a small paper bag with powdered sugar in it and let the boys shake the bag until the doughnuts were covered.  I hardly ever got to eat a doughnut, unless the can of biscuits happened to have an odd number.  Then I would get the extra doughnut along with a few of the doughnut holes.  My boys thought this was the greatest treat ever!! We cooked them sometimes when they had friends over and “Mom’s canned biscuit doughnuts” were always a hit!

 

What simple pleasures!!  What great memories!!

 

Have a great day everyone.  Stay cool.

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com

 

 

Patriotism

Good morning everyone.  It’s really quiet here…no one stirring but me, Haley, Piper (dog) and Bodie (ferret).  It’s foggy outside but the temperature is very nice.  I am heading back home today.  I’m ready to go, but I hate to leave too.  I’m sure all of you have been there at one time or another.  I hope the travel angel rides with us all the way, especially around Raleigh.  That is the only portion of the trip I dread.  Coming out here, about 40 miles east of Raleigh I started getting queasy in my stomach and I’m sure my blood pressure was sky high.  As soon as I’m past that beautiful city, my stomach just calms right down and my heart rate drops back to normal.  I don’t know why I dread it so much but I do. 

 

I think of myself as a very patriotic person; in fact, I know I am.  There is nothing more beautiful that one of those really big American flags just blowing in the wind.  I remember when Hardee’s was in  Manteo (where TL’s) is now.  There had one of those huge flags and it was such an awesome sight.  I saw  it every morning on my way to work from Nags Head to Manteo.  Then, I remember one morning when I came by and it wasn’t there.  Shortly after getting to work, I heard on the radio that it had been stolen.  How sad.  Hardee’s replaced it before the week was out and then about two weeks later, that flag was stolen.  Pretty common people in my opinion.  Hardee’s management decided to not put one back up and I really missed it.  It always bring a lump to my throat when I see my country’s flag waving or hear the National Anthem sung – sung correctly, not like Roseann ( and many others) sang it.  I realize it’s only a song, but it’s an important part of our patriotic heritage and should be respected as such.  Just my opinion. 

 

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the Republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the national pledge in 1942.  It has been modified four times since its composition, with the most recent change adding the words “under God” in 1954.  Congressional sessions open with the recital of the Pledge, as do government meetings at local levels; meetings held by the Knights of Columbus, Royal Rangers, Boy and Girl Scouts, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Freemason, Lions
club, Rotary Club, as well as many other organizations. (I also read that Bellamy originally wrote this “pledge” as a way to make money selling flags…whatever the reason, I’m glad it became what it is today.)

 

According to the US Flag Code, the Pledge of Allegiance reads:  “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.  Also according to the Flag Code, the Pledge “should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.  Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present and not in uniform may render the military salute.  Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute.”

 

The original Pledge read as follows: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. In 1923 the National Flag Conference called for the words “my Flag” to be changed to “the Flag of the United States” so that new immigrants would not confuse loyalties between their birth countries and the United States.  The words  “of America” were added a year later.  The United States Congress officially recognized the Pledge as the official national pledge on 6/22/42.

 

Swearing of the Pledge is accompanied by a salute.  An early version of the salute, adopted in 1892, was known as the Bellamy salute.  It started with the hand outstretched toward the flag, palm down and ended with the palm up.  Because of the similarity between this salute and the Nazi salute developed later, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted the hand-over-the-heart gesture as the salute to be rendered by civilians during the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem in the United States.

 

Beginning in 1948, there were several attempts made to incorporate the words “under God” into the Pledge.  Prior to February 1954, none of these attempts were successful.  The final successful push came from George M. Docherty.  Some American presidents honored Lincoln’s birthday by attending services at the church he attended and by sitting in Lincoln’s pew on the Sunday nearest his birthday.  On February 7, 1954, with President Eisenhower sitting in Lincoln’s pew, Pastor Docherty delivered a sermon based on the Gettysburg Address titled “A New Birth of Freedom”.  He argued that the nation’s might lay not in arms but its spirit and higher purpose.  He noted that the Pledge’s sentiments could be those of any nation, that “there was something missing in the pledge, and that which was missing was the characteristic and definitive factor in the American way of life”.  He cited Lincoln’s words “under God” as defining words that set the United States apart from other nations.  President Eisenhower responded enthusiastically to Docherty in a conversation following the service.  Eisenhower acted on his suggestion the next day and on February 8, 1954 a bill was introduced.  Congress passed the necessary legislation and Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.

 

We always say the Pledges to the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Bible in my Church on Sunday morning.  Often times it is said without much emotion and quickly. Often times there are people, our own members, that do not recite it.  Several years ago, our Sunday School superintendent led the reciting of the Pledges and we had said all three in less than 30 seconds.  I raised my hand and asked that we please repeat them, with meaning, taking time between each pledge to turn to the item.  I think it kinda ticked the superintendent off; but I really don’t care.  If you aren’t going to give the Pledges the respect they deserve, then don’t say them at all.  If you are just mumbling words, then don’t say them at all. Again, just my opinion.

 

I guess I will go for now.  Getting ready for breakfast. Thank all of you for the birthday calls and emails.  You have started my morning off right.

 

 

 

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com

 

 

A little history lesson

Hi friends.  I hope all of you have had a great day.  Mine has been terrific.  We went up to the clinic so Hannah and her Daddy could go horse-back riding this morning.  I decided I wasn’t going to try it today.  I worked in TJ’s garden some yesterday afternoon and again this morning – about 6:30.  And, my back is sorta paying the price tonight.  I took pictures while they rode, which is what I usually do anyway.  I spent the rest of the day working on TJ’s business books and fixed supper tonight.  TJ and Hannah are putting the finishing touches on a small storage shed they have been trying to get done all day.  The rain has run them off the job 3 different times and it’s thundering and lightening again.  But, they only have a few more minutes and maybe they can get it done.

 

I mentioned the other day that I had wanted to post some information on different things relating to July 4^th, our flag, Great Seal, etc.   I just kinda got caught up in the research over the weekend.  This particular email covers a little military history and some information about the 4^th.

 

The military history of the United States spans a period of over two centuries.  During the course of those years, the United Stated evolved from a new nation fighting the British Empire for independence without a professional military (1775-1783), through a monumental American Civil War (1861-1865) to the world’s sole remaining superpower of the late 20^th. century and the early 21^st. century.

 

Here are what I thought was some interesting statistics regarding the wars:

American Revolutionary War – 1775-1783…..deaths 4435….wounded 6188

First Barbary War – 1801-1805….deaths 2….wounded 3

War of 1812 – 1812-1815….deaths 20,000….wounded 4505

Mexican American War – 1846-1848…deaths 13,271…wounded 4152

American Civil War – 1861-1865…Union: deaths 110,000…wounded 275,200; Confederacy: deaths 93,000…wounded 137,000+

Spanish American War – 4/25/1898-8/12/1898…deaths 332

World War I – 1914-1918…deaths 53,402…wounded 204,002

World War II – 1941-1945…deaths 407,300…wounded 670,846

Korean War – 1950-1953…deaths 54,246…MIA 8142

Gulf War – 1990-1991…deaths 378…wounded less than 1000

Vietnam War – 1959-1975…deaths 58,193…wounded 153,303, MIA 1948

Iraq War – 2003-2010…deaths 4,404…wounded 31,827

Afghanistan War – 2001-present…deaths 1098, wounded 2379.

 

I am so sorry so many lives have been lost in fighting wars but I think the thing that bothers me most is the Missing In Action.  They should have never been left behind.

 

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the US commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the kingdom of Great Britain.  During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.  After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a committee of five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author.  Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. 

On July 3, John Adams had written to his wife this letter:  “Abigail – The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

 

Adams prediction was a little off.  From the outset Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

 

Early Observances:

Ø  In 1777, 13 gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island.  Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayer, music, parade, troop reviews and fireworks.  Ships were decked with red, white and blue bunting.

Ø  In 178, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute.  Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.

Ø  In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday.  The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.

Ø  In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.

Ø  In 1783, Moravians in Salem, NC, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter.  The work was titled “The Psalm of Joy”.

Ø  In 1792, the first recorded use of the name Independence Day occurred.

Ø  In 1820, the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.

Ø  In 1870, the US Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.

Ø  In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

 

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

 

       We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness….

 

There is also a line in there that refers to the King of England…”a prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people…”.

 

 

I know I studied all this in grade school, but it was never clearer to me that this weekend.  I could have spent hours on the computer doing research and I did probably spend over 6 hours.  I am so proud to be an American.  But I am concerned for my country.  My main concerns can be found in these 6 words: “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”.  Life – if someone people had their way, the older generation would be euthanized with they had served their usefulness and were becoming a burden.  Life – the killing of millions of unborn babies.  Liberty – our liberties are more and more restricted every day.  Pursuit of happiness…harder and harder to come by.  So many people are just barely managing to get by.  Their paychecks hardly stretch from payday to payday. 

 

I know there is the other side of the coin. I could make a lot of good points too.

 

I think this will do it for tonight.  My head is getting more stuffy by the minute and it’s hard to breathe.

 

If you remember, please pray for Hannah and me as we travel back home tomorrow.  I think we will be leaving about lunch time.

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com

 

 

FW: Scars and Stripes

 

 

 

Hey friends.  I bet you think I misspelled a word in the subject line, but I didn’t.  One of the ladies at my Church, Marie, is always very gracious to bless us with a song.  She has had some pretty extensive dental work done lately and when I asked her to sing a certain song today, she replied she hoped she could do it and was afraid it might give her some trouble.  Well, if that song gave her any trouble this morning, you would never know it.  She just belted it out.  There are two parts in the song that are really powerful and she sang with all kinds of power and glory this morning.  She told me after Church, “it was God”. Well, whatever it was….it was AWESOME.  Thank you so much for the blessing.

 

I want to share the words with you and I believe you will agree that we have found another independence day song!  The title is “Scars and Stripes”:

 

Dawn is breaking the stormy night,

The battle is raging in ruthless plight,

Soldiers giving their life for a life,

Defenders of freedom and right.

Bravely they watch as the blazing skies

Give proof through the first gleam of morning bright,

For yonder, still waving, their symbol of right,

Old Glory, the Stars and the Stripes.

 

Old Glory still stands for a county free,

It’s beauty held high for the world to see,

To freedom, justice and liberty,

It’s the Stars and Stripes forever,.

 

From the halls of Pilot they loudly cried,

We find Him guilty, crucify, crucify.

They mock Him, crown Him, pierce His precious side,

Love carries what should have been mine.

 

The sun was darkened, Heaven cries,

The nails have been driven, the Savior has died.

Jesus has given His life for my life,

I am free by His Scars and His Stripes.

 

All Glory and Praise, I have been set free,

By the blood of the Lamb on Calvary.

There’s mercy, freedom and victory

In the Scars and the Stripes forever.

 

Oh, there’s mercy, freedom and victory

In the Scars and the Stripes forever.

 

 

I almost shouted when she finished singing.  The words give me goose-bumps.  What a great gift!!!

 

I got to Church a little earlier than usual this morning to practice the songs we would be singing.  I am not a very talented organist anyway but I can usually do okay with My Country ‘Tis of Thee, America the Beautiful, and the Battle Hymn of Republic.  But I also knew we would sing the Star Spangled Banner today.  It’s hard to play and very hard for most people to reach the high notes in it.  Our Pastor often says he needs a step ladder to reach some of the notes in our hymns.  Arvin sang My County ‘Tis of Thee as a special and we sang the other 3 as congregational songs.  I played the Old Rugged Cross for the offering…’cause without the cause I wouldn’t have any freedom.

 

Shortly after I got to Church and had run through the songs (with poor eyesight and fingers that were sticking to the keys, I knew it was going to be a bad day-music wise) Candi and Charlie came in.  The last time Charlie was here I played Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano with him.  I held his finger and he played the notes.  This morning we played that once and he wanted to play Old McDonald.  I told him I didn’t know how to play that but he said he did.  So I told him to go for it.  Of course, he can’t really play…but he played…if you get my drift.  And he sang along as he was playing.  Then he played the Wheels on the Bus and then I asked him to play Jesus Loves Me.  I asked him if it was okay if I got my camera and he agreed so I was able to videotape this.  Then I had nursery this morning and Daniel is a such a joy.  He will be 2 in August and just beginning to talk.  Well, he talks a lot; I just don’t understand all of it.  We always sing Jesus Loves Me as our opening song for Sunday School and I started humming it.  Daniel heard me and started singing it.  So, then we sang it together and I videotaped it too.  He doesn’t say very many words plainly, but you know he knows what he is singing.  My batteries died just before we sang the last three words of the song.  And of course, I missed it when he clapped his hands and said “Yaaay!”.  I am working on teaching him two new words – glory, which he picked up right away and hallelujah.  He tries to say that one too and then just looks at me and laughs. 

 

Our message was great this morning.  Our attendance was kinda slim, but some of our own people are out of town and we have a few visitors.  Tonight we are having an ice-cream social, with all the toppings, after Church.

 

I hope all of you spent some part of today in the Lord’s house.  God bless.

 

 

 

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com

 

 

Independence Day thoughts

I decided sometime this week I wanted to prepare a special July 4^th. post for my blogspot.  As I started researching yesterday, I just found so much “stuff” I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it all in one post.  It would take me days to prepare it and almost as long to read it.  I discovered information I didn’t know, which come to think of it, isn’t too surprising.  I was going to start with a post about July 4^th. itself.  Then in Pastor’s message this morning, he mentioned Patrick Henry and his famous speech.  After coming home and researching that, I decided to make that my first post. Until today I’ve never read Patrick Henry’s speech or if I did, I don’t remember it.  But like everyone else, I can quote the last 11 words…”but as for me, give me liberty or give me death”. I thought about putting the entire speech in this post but decided it was too long and most people probably wouldn’t read it.  If you are interested in doing so, just Google it. But I am going to include a portion. So here goes…

 

PATRICK HENRY – 3/23/1775

 

On March 20, 1775, the second Virginia Convention met in St. John’s church in Richmond, Va instead of the Capital in Williamsburg.  This was done to avoid conflict with the Royal Marines.  Delegate Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense.  His opponents urged caution and patience until the Crown replied to Congress’ latest petition for reconciliation.  On the 23^rd. Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company of calvary or infantry in every Virginia county.

 

“If we wish to be free….we must fight! I repeat sir, we must fight.  An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left to us.  They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary.  But when shall we be stronger?  Will it be next week or next year?  Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?  Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?  Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?  Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power,.  Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.  There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.  The battle, sir, it not be the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.  Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest.  There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!  Our chains are forged!  Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is  inevitable and let it come!  I repeat it, sir, let it come.  It is in vain, sir to extenuate the matter.  Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace.  The war is actually begun!  The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!  Our brethren are already in the field!   Why stand we here idle?  What is it that gentlemen wish?  What would they have?  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”.

 

United States history was one of my favorite subjects in school.  But after all the research and reading I’ve done this weekend, I wish I had paid more attention.

 

I live in the greatest country in the world. But it breaks my heart at what is happening in the United States.  Are we become too arrogant, so sure of ourselves that we believe nothing can harm us?  We need to make 2 Chronicles 7:14 our constant reminder of what we need to do and what the consequences will be if we just obey…”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

 

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com