MY NEW YEARS WISH FOR YOU ALL!!!

All of this chat crap, that NEVER ends, seems to be of the utmost importance to some of you people BUT it really shouldn't be.
There ARE more important things in life and to prove this I offer the following
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't anymore.

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just a minute."
Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return, before we can say good-bye, or say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken, and heal it when it's sick.
This is true for marriage, and old cars, and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents.
We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Any one of us could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I am wondering if I have any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling, or three little words needing to be said.
Maybe all of you could take a minute and think about this too.

Just in case GOD calls you home soon, tell someone...
I LOVE YOU!!!
You would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real life is worth fighting for, worth dying for even, but all this internet shit is completely insignificant in the big picture that is our lives.
And if for some reason chat is so very important to you, I urge you to find another hobby.
One that will make you happy, because MANY of you appear to be very unhappy, or your only happy when you are making someone else online miserable.

I am not saying get off the net, because frankly I find some of you guys quite entertaining.
All I am asking is that you step back, take a deep breath, and realize that the internet is NOT real life and therefore means NOTHING!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
MAY THIS COMING YEAR BRING YOU SOMETHING MORE SUBTANTIAL THEN JUST THE INTERNET!!!
LOVE THE LOKI

P.S....Yes, I do realize that those who really need to take my advice will not, which is indeed very sad for them.
But at least I have said it.

P.P.S.....FUCK ISLAM AND ALL OF ITS FOLLOWERS!!!

Well Christmas is over for another year.
I had a great one!!!

How was everyone elses?

Get anything worth bragging about???
If so...do tell!


Any plans for new years eve???

It's great here in Vegas.
They close the strip down to traffic and we take over the whole street
It's a smaller version of new years eve in Times Square lol
They have a great fireworks show too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS

I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh, and looked across the table where the bills were piled too high. The laundry wasn’t finished and the car I had to fix, My stocks were down another point, the Dolphins just lost by six.

And so with only minutes till my son got home from school I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool. The burdens that I carried were about all I could take, and so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust, No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust. And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh, eight hummers ran a column right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank, not one much past his teens, Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean. They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight, their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind, To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again. There wasn’t much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease, They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.

They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see, They didn't need an ornament, they lacked a Christmas Tree. They didn’t have a present even though it was tradition, the only boxes I could see were labled "ammunition".

I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side, He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried. I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near and kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.

There’s nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight, our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right, to worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all, instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.

He looked at me as children do and said its always right, to thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write. And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note, to thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote.

God bless you all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you’re not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day.
You give the gift of liberty and that we can’t repay.
This picture IS Christmas in Iraq!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL, REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE AT HOME RIGHT NOW.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS!!!

A CHRISTMAS LETTER

I got a letter in the mail today
I read it while many tears I shed
sad and alone this Christmas day
And this is what the letter said

I'm sorry dear. I can't be there
To hug and kiss you Christmas day
Sometimes it seems just so unfair,
That I should be so far away.

But I am safe so don’t you cry
One day I will come back home to you
So please be strong; wont you try?
Love for each other will carry us through.

While I am here in this faraway place
It is so hard to have Christmas cheer
For how I long for your embrace
For it gets lonely over here.

When I return, we'll go away
Up in the mountains, just me and you.
How much I wish it were today;
For I love you dear, you know it's true

Soon I'll come home, you will see;
Then we can leave this war behind
And go somewhere, just you and me
For you are all that's on my mind.

I love you dear, I must go,
For I hear the sergeant, calling me.
I just wrote to let you know
Things will be fine, you will see.

I put down the letter and I cried
I just couldn’t stand to read any more.
For yesterday I wanted to hide
As I saw them coming to my door

On Christmas Eve he lost his life
With deepest regrets I heard them say
They broke the heart of a lonely wife
My soldier is headed home today

MILITARY DIRECTIVES FOR CHRISTMAS

1. An official visit by MG Santa (NMI) Claus is expected at this headquarters 25 December 2007. The following instructions will be in effect to govern the activities of all personnel during the visit.

a. Not a creature will stir without official permission. This will include indigenous mice.
Special stirring permits for necessary administrative actions will be obtained through the C1. Mice stirring permits will be processed through the C2 for proper clearances and obtained through Veterinary Services, ARCENT-KU.

b. Personnel will settle their brains for a long winter nap prior to 2200 hours, 24 December 2007.
See MAJ Dickenson for pre-napping medical requirements.
See MAJ Adams for napping demonstration.
Uniform for the nap will be: Pajamas, cotton, light, drowsing, with kerchief, general purpose, camouflage; and Cap, camouflage w/ear flaps.
Equipment should have been drawn from homestation CIF prior to deployment.

c. Personnel will utilize standard Sharq Market sugar plums for visions to dance through their heads.
Artificially sweetened plums are authorized for those in the unit weight control program. Specifications for this item will be provided by the servicing dining facility.

d. Stockings, wool, cushion sole, will be hung by the chimney with care. Necessary safety precautions will be taken to avoid fire hazards caused by carelessly hung stockings.
ARCENT-KU safety officer will submit stocking hanging plans to this headquarters prior to 0800 hours, 24 December 2007,
ATTN: MAJ Salada, for approval.

e. At the first sign of clatter from the lawn, all troops will spring from their beds to evaluate noise and cause. Immediate action will be taken to tear open the shutters and throw open the window sashes.
PMO Plan (Saint Nick), Reference LO No. 3, paragraph 6c, this headquarters, 2 February 1998, will be in effect to facilitate shutter tearing and sash throwing. Section OICs will familiarize all personnel with procedures and are responsible for ensuring that no shutters are torn open nor window sashes thrown open prior to start of official clatter.
See CPT Donley for hardcopy.

f. Prior to 2400, 24 December 2007, all personnel will be assigned "Wondering Eye" stations. After shutters are thrown open and sashes are torn, these stations will be manned.

g. SSG Bekono will assign one each Sleigh, miniature, M-66, and eight (8) deer, rein, tiny, for use of MG Claus' driver who, in accordance with current directives and other applicable regulations, must have a valid SF56 properly annotated by Driver Testing; be authorized rooftop parking and be able to shout "On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, up Comet, up Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen".


2. MG Claus will enter quarters through standard chimneys. All units without chimneys will draw Chimney Simulator, M-6, for use during ceremonies.
Chimney simulator units will be requested through SPC Oswalt on Job Order Request Form submitted to the Furniture Warehouse prior to 19 December 2007, and issued on DA Form 3161, Request for Issue or Turn-in.


3. Personnel will be rehearsed on shouting "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."
See LTC Pride for demonstration.
This shout will be given on termination of General Claus' visit.
Uniformity of shouting is the responsibility of section NCOICs.


/s/
CHRISTOPHER K. RINGLE
Colonel, USA
OIC, Special Services

Distribution:
Everybody Who Still Believes

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,
for 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 here 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 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 is my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.

You see he is a Marine
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 mothers 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.

BE AN ANGEL... ADOPT A SOLDIER

I would like to ask you all to adopt a soldier.

It doesn't take to much of your time or money and yet it means the world to these boys and girls to know that we, back here at home, love and support them.
Write them a letter once a week or so, and maybe send a little care package to them every now and then.

I ask that you make this your New Years resolution.....
Take care of someone who is risking his/her life to take care of you!!!

For information about how to adopt your special soldier go to

http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=adopt-a-soldier

The Process:
Basically you apply and wait for an email saying that your approved and then a soldier's name and addy will be given to you and that's it!!
Just start writing!!

I have more than one soldier myself and I have grown very close to every one of them and we write to each other often.
I send them what I can in care packages and they are so very appreciative to receive anything no matter how small.
I like to burn music CD's for them and send them homemade peanut butter cookies.
I bet I have sent enough to fill up a whole bakery by now lol

Anyway, I have been doing this for years and I can give you ideas on what to send if you need any.
But the best thing you can send them is your love and appreciation in letters. Hearing their names called at mail call really makes their day!!!

Some of my babies have gone home but we still exchange Christmas cards every year and an occasional letter.
When one of my babies go home I adopt a new one because I can't stand to sit here and do nothing. I support the troops and I really hope you will too!!!

This is a very good way to feel like your actually doing something to help the war effort.
Good for them and good for you too!!

So please I beg each and every person who reads this........
BE AN ANGEL AN ADOPT A SOLDIER.

Soldiers' Angels
"May No Soldier Go Unloved"

AFTER THE FIGHTING WAS OVER

The soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and Said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep,
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod,
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

" Step forward now you soldier,
you have borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on heaven's streets,
you have done your time in hell."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT THAN TO GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR ANOTHER.
AND IT IS THIS PATH OUR SOLDIERS TAKE EVERYDAY.

C.R.A.P. (COMMAND REDUCTION OF ARMY PERSONNEL)

As a result of DOD budget cutbacks, we are forced to reduce the size of the force. Under CRAP, older soldiers will go on early retirement, thus permitting the retention of lower paid soldiers who represent the Army's future.

A program to phase out older soldiers via retirement by the end of the current fiscal year will be placed in effect. The program will be known as Retire Active Personnel Early (RAPE).

Soldiers who are RAPEd will be given the opportunity to seek civilian employment within the Department of the Army. To that end, RAPEd soldiers will be required to fill out numerous DA Forms (currently in the development, test, and evaluation stage) detailing their education and experience.
This phase does not guarantee retired soldiers a civil service position; it does, however, guarantee that the soldier's unique capabilities will be considered before being bypassed in the hiring process. This phase of CRAP is known as Survey of Capabilities of Retired Warriors (SCREW).

Soldiers who have been RAPEd and SCREWed may request review of their situation by higher authority. This is the Study by Higher Authority Following Termination (SHAFT) phase.

CRAP policy dictates that a soldier may be RAPEd once, SCREWed twice, but may be SHAFTed as many times as the Army leadership deems appropriate.

If a soldier follows the above procedures, he or she will be entitled to get Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance (HERPES). As HERPES is considered a benefit payment, any soldier who gets HERPES will no longer be RAPEd or SCREWed by the Army.

The Army leadership wishes to assure younger soldiers who remain on active duty that the Army will continue its policy of ensuring that soldiers are well trained through our Special High Intensity Training (SHIT) program. The Army takes pride in the amount of SHIT our soldiers receive and can boast that it gives its soldiers more SHIT than any other service.

If a soldier feels he or she does not get enough SHIT, see your commander. Your commander is especially trained to make sure you receive all the SHIT you can stand.

MILITARY JOKES

An army Major visiting the sick soldiers, went to one private and asked, "What's your problem, Soldier?"
"Chronic syphilis, Sir."
"What treatment are you getting?"
"Five minutes with the wire brush each day."
"What's your ambition?"
"To get back to the front, Sir."
"Good man," said the Major.

He went to the next bed, "What's your problem, Soldier?"
"Chronic piles, Sir."
"What treatment are you getting?"
"Five minutes with the wire brush each day."
"What's your ambition?"
"To get back to the front, Sir."
"Good man," barked the Major.

He moved to the next bed, "What's your problem, Soldier?"
"Chronic gum disease, Sir"
"What treatment are you getting?"
"Five minutes with the wire brush each day."
"What's your ambition?"
"To get the wire brush before the other two, Sir!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUARD DUTY

It was a dark, stormy, night. The Marine was on his first assignment, and it was guard duty.
A General stepped out taking his dog for a walk. The nervous young Private snapped to attention, made a perfect salute, and snapped out "Sir, Good Evening, Sir!"

The General, out for some relaxation, returned the salute and said "Good evening Marine, nice night, isn't it?"

Well it wasn't a nice night, but the Private wasn't going to disagree with the General, so the he saluted again and replied "Sir, Yes Sir!".

The General continued, "You know there's something about a stormy night that I find soothing, it's really relaxing. Don't you agree?"

The Private didn't agree, but them the private was just a private, and responded "Sir, Yes Sir!"

The General, pointing at the dog, "This is a Golden Retriever, the best type of dog to train."
The Private glanced at the dog, saluted yet again and said "Sir, Yes Sir!"

The General continued "I got this dog for my wife."
The Private simply said "Good trade Sir!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DIGGING A HOLE

Two privates stationed at Fort Campbell were handed shovels and told to bury a large, dead animal. While digging they got into an argument about what they were burying.

"This here's a big mule!"

"This ain't no mule, this here's a donkey."

"Mule!"

"Donkey!"

Well, this went on for a while until the camp chaplain came by. "What are you boys doing?"

"We're diggin' a grave for this mule."

"Donkey, dammit!"

The chaplain cut in, "Boys, this isn't either one, it's an ass."

An hour later, the camp commander came up and said, "What are you men doing, digging a foxhole?"

"No sir. We're diggin' an asshole."

A DAY TO REMEMBER

In the early morning hours of Dec 7 1941, as American sailors and airmen slept in their bunks, Japanese bombers and submarines attacked pearl harbor.
6 battleships, 3 destroyers, and 7 other ships were sunk or severely damaged.
Nearby military and navel airfields were also attacked and almost 200 American aircrafts were destroyed.
2,400 American lives were lost that day and another 1,200 were wounded.
But it went beyond just Pearl Harbor that day.....
The Japanese also torpedoed US ships on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu, they attacked Guam, Hong Kong, the phillipine Islands, and more.

Before that day we had supplied the allies with military equipment and for 2 years President Roosevelt had been progressively pushing for an active military alliance with Britian, but as of that day the US had practiced an isolationist policy and took a strictly defensive role in the war.

After that day our men went off to war, fought, died, and witnessed more death and destruction then any of us could ever imagine.
Women left their homes to take over the jobs that the men had left behind. They hit the assembly lines and built the instruments of war needed by the men.
It was truely a joint effort!!

In Reims, France, on May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Johl signed the unconditional surrender of all German forces on all fronts.
On September 2, 1945, aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, the Japanese officially surendered and World War II officially ended.

Although the exact numbers can never be truely known, it is estimated that between 60 & 72 million people died in the war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
At least 40 million of the dead were civilians caught in the cross fire, or done in by famine and disease.
What many do not realize is that 85% of all the deaths in World War 2 were allied deaths. Enemy deaths accounted for only about 15% of all the casualties.
But we still won that war and that is really saying something!!!

As for America, our time on the WW2 battlefield lasted less than 4 years, and in that time we lost 418,500 souls (416,800 military, 1,700 civilains).
418,500 fathers, sons, brothers, went to war, fought for their country, and died for their brothers who stood toe to toe beside them in the trenches.
A 4 year war that left almost a half a million of our own dead.

Please take a minute today to remember and honor those men, both past and present, who because of our enemies are no longer with us!!!

When a nation stands behind their troops there is nothing they can not do!!

COUNTRY FOLK IN THE ARMY

Mr. and Mrs. Braithwaite Backus,
Bald Buzzard Ridge
Mountainville, KY

Dear Ma and Pa:

Am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Army beats working for old man Minch. Tell them to join up quick before all the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m.( but am getting so I like to sleep late). All you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things -- no hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing. You got to shave, but it is not bad in warm water.

Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, beef, ham steak, fried eggplant, pie and regular food, but you can always sit between two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon, when you get fed again.

It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches," which, the Sgt. says, are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it is not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys all get sore feet and we ride back in trucks. The country is nice, but awful flat.

The Sgt. is like a schoolteacher. He nags some. The Capt. is like the school board. Cols. and Gens. just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why, the bull's-eye is near big as a chipmonk and don't move and it ain't shooting at you, like the Higsett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it, you don't even load your own cartridges they come in boxes.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellows get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving son,
Zeb

P.S. Speaking of shooting, enclosed is $200 for barn roof and ma's teeth. The city boys shoot craps, but not very good.

THE CHRISTMAS WISH

"There’s no such thing as Santa," jeered the group of older boys "There isn’t any reindeer, any elves or magic toys."
"Oh yes there is." I cried aloud, my little fists curled tight,
"He’s on his way with loaded sleigh to visit us tonight."

"I made the most imprtant wish a boy could ever make and I’ve been good for oh so long, been good for goodness sake."
And though the tears burned in my eyes, I swore I wouldn’t cry,
I didn’t want to be a man, but promised dad I’d try.

That night was spent, just mom and me, like many nights before;
the house was never quite the same since dad went off to war.
We had our Chistmas dinner and we sang O Holy Night,
We read about that meany Grinch and cheered when he did right.

But sadness showed within Mom’s eyes as she stood there by my bed, and tucked the covers to my chin and kissed me on the head.
"Don’t worry mom," I whispered "Things are gonna be all right."
"We’re sure to get our Christmas Wish when Santa comes tonight."

I tried my best to stay awake and listen to the roof, for telltale ring of jingle bells or clop of reindeer hoof.
But snug and warm it wasn’t long before I gave a yawn, and would have gone to sleep but for the noise out on the lawn.

Then came the clump of heavy boots across the hardwood floor,
the tread somehow familiar like I’d heard it once before.
As quiet as a mouse I crept, my eyes flew wide to see the silhouette that stood alone before the Christmas tree.

His frame was lean and fit, he had no belly big and round,
the heavy sack a duffle that he placed upon the ground.
He didn’t wear a stitch of red, the uniform was green, and not a single jingle bell, just medals could be seen.

And then the strongest arms on earth wrapped ‘round and held me tight, and I knew then that Santa really rode on Christmas night, and Christmas Wishes did come true, just like I knew they had,
For Santa came on Christmas night and brought me home my dad.

SO MANY CHILDREN WILL NOT GET THEIR CHRISTMAS WISH THIS YEAR.

GOD WAS BUSY

A college professor, an avowed Atheist, was teaching his class.
He shocked several of his students when he flatly stated he was going to prove there was no God.

Addressing the ceiling he shouted: "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!"
The lecture room fell silent. You could have heard a pin fall.

Ten minutes went by. Again he taunted God, saying, "Here I am, God. I'm still waiting."
His count-down got down to the last couple of minutes when a Marine - just released from active duty and newly registered in the class - walked up to the professor, hit him full force in the face, and sent him tumbling from his lofty platform.

The professor was out cold! At first, the students were shocked and babbled in confusion. The young Marine took a seat in the front row and sat silent.
The class fell silent...waiting.

Eventually, the professor came to, shaken he looked at the young Marine in the front row. When the professor regained his senses and could speak he asked: "What's the matter with you? Why did you do that?"

"God was busy so he sent the Marines."

THE IMPORTANT THINGS

The Iraq war is into it's 5th year.
As of now almost 4,000 US troops have been killed. 4000 families will never be whole again.

Almost 28,000 of our troops have been injured. 28,000 of our bravest who will never be the same again.
Approx. 1/3 of those injured in Iraq suffer from truamatic brain injuries & thousands of limbs have been sacrificed.

When you sit down to your lovely Christmas dinners and your stockings hung by the fire, remember our boys and girls who will spend Christmas day in the trenches, lonely and homesick and under enemy fire.
Also remember the families left behind to wait, for they too suffer greatly.
Remember them all throughout this holiday season and pray for their safe return to us.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day
It fluttered in the breeze
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of "Taps" one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That "Taps" had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom is not free.

DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF HOOAH!!!

hooah (hoo ah) adj., adv., n., v., conj., interj., excla. (Orig. unknown) Slang.

1. Referring to or meaning anything and everything except "no".

2. What to say when at a loss for words.

3.a. Good copy. b. Roger. c. Solid copy. d. Good. e. Great. f. Message received. g. Understood. h. Acknowledged.

4.a. Glad to meet you. b. Welcome.

5. "All right!"

6.a. I don't know the answer, but I'll check on it. b. I haven't the foggiest idea.

7. I am not listening.

8. "That is enough of your drivel; sit down!"

9. Yes.

10. "You've got to be kidding me!"

11. Thank you.

12. Go to the next slide.

13. You've taken the correct action.

14. I don't know what that means, but I'm too embarassed to ask for clarification.

15. Squared away (He's pretty hooah.)

16. Amen!