We need to show more sympathy for these people.

* They travel miles in the heat.
* They risk their lives crossing a border.
* They don't get paid enough wages.
* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
* They rarely see their families and they face adversity all day every day...

I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans, I'm talking about our troops!

Doesn't it seem strange that so many politicians are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegals, but don't support our troops and are now threatening to cut funding for them?

Remember Our Troops and Bless Them All
 

In Tennessee we really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until the last car has gone by.
What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq  ): 

 However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on
the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Tennessee
police handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession,
pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some
put their hands over their hearts.

When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large
American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .. for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside,shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers,
staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence, at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him . was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing
thing I've ever been privileged to witness
Here are some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like.
These photos are awesome !!                                                                                               

By Rush Limbaugh  (Whether You Like Him Or Not)
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11.Well, I can't let thenumbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000.The range is a minimum guar! antee of $250,000 all the way up to $4.7 million. 

If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable. 

Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry.And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt. 

Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enoughTheir deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers. 

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City  bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well. 

You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing. Make sense? 

However, our own  US Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month. 

I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.

' When do we finally do something about this? 

Missi and I are very proud of all the young men and women in the military. We have a son a nephew and four young friends in the service. One Marine, Two in the Army and Three, counting our son in the Navy. Last month, on his second deployment, in as many years he tapped out a few thoughts and I felt compelled to reprint them here for all to ponder. Dayne, I did enjoy the read. It must be very tough with all the diffrent feelings one goes through in a day. Be safe and God Bless. DAD

 Dad I was bored on watch and thought I would write something about the navy and the military in general because you don't always hear a lot of good things on the news about us. I hope you like it. Dayne

                                            A Sailors Point Of View

The sea is a dangerous place and it takes honor, and commitment to sail it for a unknown number of days at a time. The men and women who sail these seas protect the ones that we love and keep nearest to us. We know this andwe do it anyway. Some may call us stupid and some may call us dumb, but when they are sleeping at night and going to work in the morning or to school they take it for granted. When they buy a house and own it or they buy a vehicle they don't realize what it takes to do that. People in this country take freedom for granted. Why? I can't answer that question but I know one thing I'm proud to be fighting for these people who protest the war and the sailors, soldiers and airmen and womenwho are fighting for them to pick up that picket sign or march in the protest. Am I willing to give my life for these people that call themselves patriots? Absolutely, I have met a lot of people in my time in the service and I know that they feel the same way as me. Are we scared of dying? Yes, it's everyone's human nature to fear death. I just don't understand how these people can argue and protest these young men and women going out and fighting whether they believe in it or not and losing limbs or worse their lives. The military has a lot more to offer than a college education and honor. It has friendships that last forever. I have met alot of people in my day growing up and I considered them my friends.A true friend will look you in the eye SOBER and tellyou that he will give his life for you if it means he will able to see his family again. It is a big decision and responsibility for these young men and women to be able to do that but we do. We do this so we can have freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom to vote, freedom to do almost anything you want, and do we ever get thanks? The protestors only see what they want to see. They only see the carage of war. They don't see all the good we do. Noone ever said a war was fun, easy or pretty. Its the young men and women of this nation that make this country what it is, and if you ask me I'm very proud to be living in this country and fighting for this country. Am I a patriot? You bet I am! Am I willing to give my life for my loved ones back home, my friends and shipmates on board and my country? YES YES YES I am willing to do what it takes to keep this country a democracy and free and to defend all enemies foriegn and domestic to make sure that my kids someday will be able to grow up in the country that I did and have the rights and freedoms hat I did. In conclusion I'm not asking for sympathy. I'm asking you to take a moment and sit and think and pray and try to understand the hardships and efforts that the young men and women of America today have to go through, and the hardships that the veterans had to go through  when they were in the military, and the hardships that all military members are still going through. God Bless America.

    IT3 DS