Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Veteran’s Day

Tags

Airman, Country, Dedication, Discipline, loyalty, Marine, Sacrifice, Sailor, Service, Soldier, Veteran, Veteran's Day

All, I’m foregoing my normal post of Funny Friday videos and other content to celebrate Veteran’s Day. The below video says it all.

I will treasure the 20 years I spent in the Army. My experiences abroad in war, humanitarian service missions, and living among those who asked us to protect them from harm will always be a part of me. If you have any veterans in your family, take some time to give them a call, send them a text, or an email. If they are local, invite them over for dinner or take them out. It’s these small things that make all the difference.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Memorial Day

Tags

Dedication, Memorial Day, poppy, rememberance, Reverance, Sacrifice, Service, The Fallen

All, in the United States, today is Memorial Day. It is a day we honor those that have given their lives in the service of our country. I’ve attached a Wikipedia link if you’d like to learn a little about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

I also found the above video for you. This captures what this day is all about.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Mother Teresa

Tags

@joannaoftheforest, Angels, Charity, God, Helpers, Holy Spirit, Love, Mother Teresa, Sacrifice, Selflessness, Service

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.

Mother Teresa

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Mother Teresa

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

Mother Teresa

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Mother Teresa

The whole situation in Ukraine prompted me to borrow Mother Teresa’s quotes today. She, like many others, helped those who could not help themselves and suffered right along with the people they were helping. There was a story shared by one of the blogs I follow about a grand niece who experienced a visit from a relative who passed. The niece was calmed by this family member’s presence, even though she had passed many years earlier.

These “helpers” or angels are all part of the spiritual hierarchy in my religious path. They aid those who cannot aid themselves. This is one way the Holy Spirit helps each of us in times of trouble. So, like Mother Teresa, these Souls continue to serve, even after they have passed. They return to help those in this current life when they most need it. Like my friend’s story, they do not do anything, other than smile, listen, or provide some other type of comfort. For many, these experiences will be something that never leaves them.

If you’d like to learn more about Mother Teresa, here’s her Wikipedia Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa

I hope all of you have a terrific Wednesday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Thank You For Your Service

Tags

Brothers, family, Friends, Mothers, Sacrifice, Separation, Service, Thank you, Veteran, War

Today is Veteran’s Day in the United States. Today, we celebrate the sacrifices and service provided by so many throughout my country’s history. So today, I’ll keep it short.

To all who have served this country in our Armed Forces. To those families who have shared that burden.

Thank you for your service. Your sacrifices and service will never be forgotten. Happy Veteran’s Day!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Anne Frank

Tags

Anne Frank, Courage, Holocaust, inspiration, Love, Sacrifice, Tragedy, wisdom

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.

Anne Frank

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.

Anne Frank

I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.

Anne Frank

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!

Anne Frank

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

Anne Frank

Here’s a Wikipedia link to see what a wonderful and impactful life this young lady had: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Frank

Have a great Wednesday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Memorial Day

Tags

Airman, Honor, Marine, Memorial Day, Remember, Sacrifice, Sailor, Soldier, Tribute

Today is Memorial Day. It is a day in the United States that we honor the fallen—those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We also honor those families who lost someone serving the country.

So today, I thank all veterans and their families for their sacrifices to America—you will never be forgotten.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Memorial Day – Remember

Tags

America, Freedom, Heroes, Memorial Day, Remember, Sacrifice, The Fallen

Decoration Day

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
  On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
  Nor sentry’s shot alarms! 

Ye have slept on the ground before,
  And started to your feet
At the cannon’s sudden roar,
  Or the drum’s redoubling beat. 

But in this camp of Death
  No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
  No wound that bleeds and aches. 

All is repose and peace,
  Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
  It is the Truce of God! 

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
  The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
  Your rest from danger free. 

Your silent tents of green
  We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
  The memory shall be ours. 

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry said it better than I could have. Today, we remember the fallen—those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Take a few moments and remember the brave souls, who gave their all so we could be free.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – The American Spirit.

Tags

American Spirit, Can do, Resilient, Sacrifice, Scared, Serve others, Suffering, Tough, Volunteer, Win, Worried

The entire globe is being impacted by the coronavirus. It’s hard to be cheerful when you imagine the loss, suffering, and overwhelm many are feeling. How do you cope?

I cope with these types of situations by keeping my head, following guidelines from trusted resources, and doing all I can to maintain a sense of normalcy in these insane times.

The American spirt is something hard to quantify, particularly if you are not from here. It is facing hardship and finding your way through. It is doing for others who are worse off than you. It is fighting through whatever comes our way, and learning that if we all work together, we will succeed. Since our declaration of independence from the British Empire 243 years ago, we have survived wars, depression, political strife, including Presidential assassinations, impeachments, and all the rest. Each time this country goes through something, we always come out stronger than we were before.

When times get tough, we naturally get tougher. I’m thankful to be an American and proud of all the people who are putting themselves at risk for the sick, the people and companies who are contributing to the effort to curtail the effects of this virus, and just going out of their way to help and contribute to the well-being of others.

Do we have our share of knuckleheads? Sure. Hoarding, ignoring guidance, and all the rest. The majority of us are, however, doing all we can to help our neighbor and do our part. This is the American spirit that wins over diversity, strife, and disaster, over and over and over. I am grateful for that.

Today, I send good thoughts to all who are suffering, afraid, and feeling helpless and stressed. We will overcome this thing, like we have everything else.

Stay safe. Stay informed. Follow credible guidance from trusted channels.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – A Soldier’s Christmas

Tags

Christmas, Gratitude, Holidays, Sacrifice, Separation, Service, Serving Abroad, Soldiers, Thanks

Too all my brothers and sisters serving during the holidays:

A Soldier’s Christmas

Submitted By: Happytoscrapitall

The Night Before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone in a one bedroom house, made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see: no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand; on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary. I found the home of a soldier, at once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping; silent, alone, curled up on the floor, in this one bedroom home. Not how I pictured a US soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read, curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon ’round the world, the children would play and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month of the year, because of the soldiers like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye; I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, “Santa, don’t cry. This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more; my life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep; I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, and we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night, this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right, “Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.”

Author: A peace keeping soldier stationed overseas

Scrapbook.com I do not know who the original author of this is, but wanted to cite the website I found it on. If you, or someone knows who the original author is, please reply in the comments, I will edit this and replace it with the original copyright owner. I had to share this. It warms my heart every time I read it.

Daily Ramblings – Happy Veteran’s Day!

Tags

Air Force, Army, Coastguard, Freedom, Grateful, Marines, Navy, Sacrifice, Thankful, Veteran's Day

I’m posting Monday’s posting early because I’m going to be enjoying my day tomorrow and will be doing another “Do Nothing Day” to celebrate. There are quite a few restaurants serving free meals and other goodies and I always try to take advantage of that. Subsequently, this posting will be my Monday Motivation post instead.

I wanted to express my thanks to all veterans, past and present, for their service. As a veteran, it’s great to see all the messages posted to social media. It makes you feel good about what you did for your country and I wanted to pass those good feelings along.

Our servicemen and women are everywhere providing security and support to the nations they are assigned to. They are enduring separation from their families, fear, stress, and in some situations, performing the impossible. Thank you for all you do. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten.

I’d also like to say Happy Birthday to all the Marines out there. Your 244 years of service has spanned every major war this country has seen. Your service has been exemplary. When the job is impossible, the Marines are called. I salute you.

I would also like to thank the families of our veterans. You share their burden. You worry. You miss our husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, or sister. The one thing that got me through my deployments were the letters you sent. We also enjoyed the care packages sent by random K-12 schools. We also enjoyed the USO shows when they came.

I will never forget my 20 years in the U.S. Army. I know those of you who are still serving will also never forget your experiences while you serve. I hope each of you a safe return.

For those that have lost a loved one, I thank you and your loved one’s for their sacrifice. Without the veterans of our armed services, none of us would be able to enjoy the freedoms, many of us take for granted from time-to-time.

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Until next time…

Dave