| America the Beautiful |
| Dewey served two tours on swift boats in Vietnam on river and coastal patrols. Check out his page to see his boats and read about his Swift Boat Sailors Assn. reunion in May, 2007. |
| Judy's brother Jim died, probably as a result of Agent Orange in Vietnam. |
| We will always remember not only the many who have given life and limb for our country, but especially those from our own BHS Class who have served: |
Bill D
Bill St
Bill Su
Charles McQ
David M
Bill St
Bill Su
Charles McQ
David M
Ken W.
Morris
Ray
Rob
Ronnie
Morris
Ray
Rob
Ronnie
| Know of anyone else in our class who served, or brothers/sisters of class members? |
| Jimmie's brother Harold was killed. |
| Judy's brother Howard was badly wounded. |
| We are so sorry, and greatly appreciate their sacrifice. |
| 5/28/07 America: Why I Love Her slide show narrated by John Wayne (sent by Dewey) |
| 6/8/07 Elvis sings "America the Beautiful" with Tribute to Our Flag (thanks to Dewey) |
| 7/6/07 Our National Anthem Isaac Asimov illuminates "The Star-Spangled Banner"; links re Fort McHenry and Our Flag (courtesy of Dewey) |
| Music is by the U.S. Army Band. |
| "If I Die Before You Wake" Song and Excellent Slide Show about Our Soldiers at War from Dewey 8/14/07 http://www.flashdemo.net/galler y/wake/index.htm |
| 8/26/07 You can help! The Yellow Ribbon Fund was created in early 2005 to assist injured service members and families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. YRF's mission began when the father of an injured Marine introduced two of YRF's volunteers to staff at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval and the Marine reported what needs were not met by other donors. http://yellowribbonfund.org/ |
| My Beautiful America is a slideshow of our vast and glorious country. Just sit and watch it as a meditation. Guaranteed to calm your blood pressure. |
Dewey
Dick
Gladys
John E.
John W.
Dick
Gladys
John E.
John W.
Brooks Army Medical Center in San
Antonio, Texas (BAMC)is where
soldiers who have been evacuated
from Germany---especially burn vic-
tims---come to be hospitalized in the
US. Buildings there called Fisher
Houses are hotels where soldiers'
families can stay, for little or no
charge, while their soldier is in the
Hospital. Although BAMC has quite a
few of these houses on base, they are
almost filled most of the time.
When Denzel Washington and his
famiy visited the troops at BAMC, they
toured one of the Fisher Houses.
When told the cost of building such a
house, Denzel wrote a check for the
full amount right there on the spot.
The soldiers overseas were amazed to
hear this story and want to get the
word out to the American public, be-
cause it warmed their hearts to hear it.
It's sad that the Hollywood fluff make
front page news with their antics and
Denzel Washington's patriotism
doesn't even make page 3 in the
Metro section of any newspaper
except the local newspaper in San
Antonio.
Antonio, Texas (BAMC)is where
soldiers who have been evacuated
from Germany---especially burn vic-
tims---come to be hospitalized in the
US. Buildings there called Fisher
Houses are hotels where soldiers'
families can stay, for little or no
charge, while their soldier is in the
Hospital. Although BAMC has quite a
few of these houses on base, they are
almost filled most of the time.
When Denzel Washington and his
famiy visited the troops at BAMC, they
toured one of the Fisher Houses.
When told the cost of building such a
house, Denzel wrote a check for the
full amount right there on the spot.
The soldiers overseas were amazed to
hear this story and want to get the
word out to the American public, be-
cause it warmed their hearts to hear it.
It's sad that the Hollywood fluff make
front page news with their antics and
Denzel Washington's patriotism
doesn't even make page 3 in the
Metro section of any newspaper
except the local newspaper in San
Antonio.
| Denzel Washington Visits Brooks Army Medical Center |
| Right: Denzel puts his money where his heart is. |
| Right: Denzel chats with a patient at BAMC. |
| Right: Denzel with the staff at Brooks Army Med. Ctr. |
| Some really great guys |
| New Nov. 26, 2007 |
| The Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, although it has never been officially named) is a monument in Arlington National Cemetery dedicated to the American servicemen who have died without their remains being identified. On March 4, 1921, the United States Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater. The design of the white marble tomb was selected in a competition won by architect Lorimer Rich. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since July 2, 1937.The guard at the Tomb follows a meticulous ritual, called "walking the mat," when watching over the graves: First, the guard walks 21 steps across the Tomb, symbolizing the 21-gun salute--- the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary. The guard's weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual). On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds, then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his or her weapon to the outside shoulder. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated. This ritual is repeated until the guard is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard. The guards have metal plates built into the soles and inner parts of their shoes to allow for a more rugged sole and to give the signature click of the heel during maneuvers. The guards are issued sunglasses, which are formed to their faces, due to the bright reflection from the marble surrounding the Tomb and the Memorial Amphitheater. During the day in summer, the guard is changed every half hour, and in winter, every hour. After the cemetery closes to the public (7 pm to 8 am in summer, and 5 pm to 8 am in winter), the guard is changed every two hours until the cemetery reopens. Inclement weather does not cause the watch to cease. The guards are extremely disciplined—even beyond what one might expect in soldiers—and will not show the effect the weather may have on them. The Tomb Guards, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), make personal sacrifices to have the honor of serving. They work on a team rotation of 24 hours on, 24 hours off, for five days, taking the following four days off. A guard takes an average of 6 hours to prepare his uniform (which is solid wool regardless of the time of year) for the next day's work. In addition to preparing the uniform, guards also complete physical training, Tomb Guard training, cut their hair before the next work day, and shave twice per day. Tomb Guards are required to memorize 16 pages of information about Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, including the locations of over 100 graves and who is buried in each one. After serving honorably for a period of nine months, and having passed a sequence of tests, a Tomb Guard is permanently awarded a special Army decoration, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard ID Badge. Since 1959, many men and three women have completed training and been awarded this Badge. The Badge is the rarest award currently issued in the United States Army. The Army Astronaut Badge, which is rarer, is no longer awarded. The Regimental Commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment has the authority to revoke a Badge from any Guard (past or present) for any act that would bring discredit upon the Tomb of the Unknowns. The badge was designed in 1956 and first issued to members of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on February 7, 1958. |
| Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington, Virginia |
| On May 22, 2008, at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco, retired Marine General Tony Zinni related a story about being asked by a young lad how he thought that Viet Nam Veterans want to be remembered. His response: We answered the call to duty. We won the battles we were asked to fight. We never lost respect for our country, our flag, and for each other. We will never forget our brothers who died in our arms or fighting by our side. We have a bond of brotherhood that is strong and that is ours alone. We are proud of our service and would do it again. We fought, when all other reasons were stripped away, for our unit, our honor, and for each other. We will let others judge the politics of the war, but only we can pass judgment on our proud service on the battlefield. We returned home, like all Veterans, older, wiser, and less innocent; but we returned as proud patriots and warriors. |
| General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.) |
| Scroll to bottom for Gen. Zinni's testimonial to Viet Nam vets. |
| July 22, '08 from Dewey |
Video Tribute to Veterans (Both funny and touching) |
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.
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."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
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."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
| Dec. '08/Walt |
| "Lucky to Be An American," beautiful video by Baxter Black, veterinarian and cowboy poet. |
| Dec. '08/Linda B |
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