Kate Smith was born and grew up in Columbia, Missouri. In early 1940, Kate Smith, a
fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried
about her country.

She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would re-ignite the
spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had
written in 1917, but never used it.

He said she could have it. She sat at the piano & played it and realized
how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn’t take this
from him for nothing.

So, they agreed that any money that would be made off the song would be donated
to the Boy Scouts of America . Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the
Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties. This clip is from the
movie “You’re in the Army Now”. You will see a familiar face (near the very
end) in this one that we are all very proud of.

Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith, whom he considered the greatest singer
of his age, first sang this song on the radio, a million guys got ‘dust’ in
their eyes and had to wipe the tears the ‘dust’ caused. If you can watch and
listen without ‘dust’ getting in your eyes, you have no soul. Sit back and
enjoy a Real Star.

After 75 days battling to survive after the forced landing and fire during the Franklin Flying Circus wingwalking performance March 12, 2011 in Brownsville, Texas, God has taken her home.
Our prayers are with you.

After thirty years of shuttle flights, Atlantis (STS135) has undocked from the International Space Station for the last flight home. The end of the United States reusable space craft program and the era of building the space station is over.
We must not allow this to be the end of our dreams of space, but only the end of the beginning.

Jerry

Hachiko, the legendary Japanese akita, proves that there is nothing more loyal than mans best friend in this modern retelling of a cherished true story. It all begins when a college professor adopts an abandoned dog named Hachiko. The two form such a strong bond that Hachiko walks with the professor to the train station each morning and returns to the station each evening to walk the professor home again. The routine continues until one day the professor does not return to the train station. Hachiko, however, does not give up. He returns to the same train station at the same time, faithfully waiting for his owner to return. Hachiko does this for more than nine years, until his own death. This heartwarming tale that is already the stuff of legend in Japan is finally making its way to America by way of prominent director Lasse Hallström. With an equally capable cast, the experience of Hachikos unending loyalty is certain to stay with you. Hachikos story is one of love, unwavering devotion, and the resounding impact one dogs affection can make.

Picking up Sheep hunters in the Chugach. August 2009.

Read about this on their site. http://blueiceaviation.posterous.com/

We started the New Year’s Day by going to Stearman Field Bar and Grill (Benton, Kansas)  for dinner. We had the rib eye steak and it was Great! We went back Sunday morning for the breakfast and it was fantastic. We also enjoyed the  aviation decor and looking out on the landing strip. While we were sitting there eating our breakfast,  Dr. Lay and his wife flew in and parked their airplane  next to the Stearman Grill and came in to eat.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts…

To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said, “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq