http://www.milplace.com/blog/category/family-home/ Blog categories... http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/why-i-became-a-soldier-duty-sacrifice-and-honor/ Medals of America. This was originally posted here and thought it would be a good piece to share with...]]> Medals of America. This was originally posted here and thought it would be a good piece to share with the MilPlace community.

As far back as I can remember I always knew I was going to become a soldier. Why I was so certain I would become a soldier even before entering grade school remains a mystery to even me. All I know is what I wanted to be and nothing was going to change that. As I grew up in life I was asked many times throughout my childhood, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” and the answer always remained the same, simple and short, straight to the point “A Soldier”.

When some of the individuals asking the question replied with “A Soldier” I knew right then the question and comment I had grown to hate the most would soon follow which was, “Why do you want to be a Soldier?”, and my answer has always been the same… Still in the end it never mattered how the reality manifested into being, and how both men and women transformed into the Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines, whether it was active, guards, reserves, Coast Guard, or Border Patrol, one thing remained one and the same, it was the bond that brought us all together as one, that which unites us until that which made us different became the same, and what we thought made us uncommon come into alignment transforming our differences into strengths, tuning our different values and beliefs into common values and beliefs.

It never mattered how we came to be whether by way of draft, enlistment, or even court ordered but what it came to mean to us all was the belief in our Duty, and how that sense of duty mattered more than ourselves. Being taken in by the truths that our founding fathers found to be self evident as we had to learned those simple truths the hard way, but not only did we learn that all men were created equal but also the freedoms we came to love and enjoy was not free but instead came with a very high price. The cost was one that all who wore the uniforms paid, no matter the level of the payment it was paid in the form of Sacrifices. The sacrifices not only made by the men and women in uniforms but by our families, friends, and neighbors as well. Those sacrifices are forever felt and remembered, engraved on our conscience and subconscious thoughts. Sacrifices I mention not to draw sympathy or pity, but instead to paint a masterpiece of pride, and joy in knowing that those sacrifices in some way touched the life of the many, and the acts being forever entrenched in our way of being. Sacrifices that every man and woman, who ever had the pleasure of raising his or her right hand would tell you, if they had a chance to do it again they would.

Then there are those who paid the highest price of all by making the ultimate sacrifice. A Sacrifice so great they would never be able to see the effects of their selfless service. A sacrifice shown only by the beautiful colors that their loved ones received as receipt of their grand payment, that they so proudly display for all to see whether it’s on a flag pole outside of their homes or in a beautiful flag display case, displayed in their homes for all to see. When we join the different branches of service we all joined for many different reasons. It could have been because we had no choice such as our brethren of the World Wars, Korean War, and the Vietnam War as some enlisted while others were drafted, or like our brethren and sisters of the currents wars enlisted, for the GI Bills, the security, or even out of a sense of duty after 911.

No matter what was the initial reasoning behind joining the service, what was the greatest reason that we continued to serve? Some think it may be because of the opportunities but I say to them no one wakes up and hopes for the opportune time to die. Some may think it’s for the benefits but to be honest with you although they help they are not all that great. Some even think it’s for the money but I can assure you that the money certainly could be better.

The truth is all those reasons may have been good reasons but they certainly were not that which held us. We all stayed for one reason and one reason only, that which we came to live for, and at the same time being more than to proud to die for. That which would ensure we are forever remembered in the most sacred of documents in this world and the next, physical and spiritual, forever lasting, and indestructible. We all chose to stay the course for the because of Honor.

We at Medals of America live with a sense of duty each and every day as we continue the fight to ensure your deeds are never forgotten. We are proud to serve our great customers as we can’t help but to feel their sacrifices as we sit and listen to their stories while they place their orders. Being touched by their love, loyalty and devotion to their family members or friends as try to capture a piece of their love ones history for one reason or another. We feel so blessed to be a part of helping you to build your beautiful display cases, mounted medals and military ribbon racks, so you can proudly display your military awards and decorations that you so greatly and selflessly earned. For you all have served and continue to serve with great credit to your family, friends and community and most of all you all served with Honor; so for the sake of Honor, it’s our pleasure to serve you. Thank you all, and most of all thank you all for your service.

Life is only as long as we live… Death is only as long as our memories are remembered… but Honor… Honor lasts forever.

Boris I. Jones
Medals of America


Be sure to visit the Medals of America website for a large selection of Air Force Caps, Marine Corp Medals, Army T-Shirts and tons of other Military Items for Sale. Visit today.]]> http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/why-i-became-a-soldier-duty-sacrifice-and-honor/ Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:36:10 +0000 Medals of America http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-immigration-issue/ Immigration. Aside from the political issues surrounding immigration, I will try to explain why allowing the immigration bills to pass would be a bad ... Just as many Islamic radicals have infiltrated our sovereignty by entering our country under false pretenses such as the 9-11 bombers did, The Mexican illegals have learned from that and attempting the same techniques. If you saw an Iranian Islamic radical terrorist entering the U.S. hidden in the undercarriage of a car would you be shocked and scared? Why not a Mexican National with evil intentions who could cause serious mayhem in the U.S. Yes, I know a dirty bomb would be more dramatic than getting our children hooked on drugs and killing a few rivals on our streets would, but only because cases like that don't make the headlines like a bomb would. I think that's only because we have become somewhat desensitized to drug dealers being killed in the streets as opposed to an Islamic terrorist planting a bomb in New York Square. If you don't think that will ever affect you, it will only be a matter of time if you succumb to political correctness and acceptance of outsiders. To address the human side of immigration, Yes. I believe that there are honest hard working Mexican nationals seeking U.S. citizenship that want to contribute to our society because I know a few. But, we cannot continue to fall for the same old sob story and be blinded by self righteousness and political correctness that endanger our American way of life to ease our conscience in the name of acceptance of other cultures and their ways of life.
OK folks before you start calling me a racist or prejudiced against Mexicans, I must state that I am of Mexican decent and 2nd generation American citizen sworn to defend the American way of life. I have chosen to defend the country I have integrated into as my parents have because the USA has provided us with a prosperous life as the U.S. Constitution states. I am just asking that you rethink the issue of politics and "acceptance" and "understanding" over national security and our way of life as our Constitution states it. Our Constitution has made us the most powerful and most desirable country on Earth. Now is no time time to compromise our principles for the sake of false principles of political correctness or politics.]]> http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-immigration-issue/ Tue, 08 Mar 2011 04:13:30 +0000 txsgrunt http://www.milplace.com/GillyGirl/blog/the-men-of-pike/
They came from near and far away

The men of Pike to work that day

The afternoon shift way down deep

Beneath the mountains oh so st...]]>
They came from near and far away

The men of Pike to work that day

The afternoon shift way down deep

Beneath the mountains oh so steep

A long way in but further out

The afternoon shift sets about

A job not flash but hard and trying

A job that holds the risk of dying



From seventeen to sixty two

They start their shift to see it through

For one his first, for all their last

How could they know there’d be a blast?

For all at once no siren whining

Suddenly the worst in mining

Dust and rubble fill the air

A loader driver thrown clear

Just one other finds the light

The rest are hidden from our sight



And so we learn as news is spread

The news that mining families dread

It’s up at Pike there’s an explosion

Faces drop and hearts are frozen

Who, how many, where and why ----

Will they make it ---- will they die



Fathers, husbands, brothers, sons

Coasters, Kiwis, Aussies, Poms

Mates and friends who we are seeking

Methane gas from coal seams leaking

Vents exploded, phones unheeded

Level heads and strength are needed

The world above unites as one

To bring the missing to the sun



Rescue teams are standing by

As holes are drilled and experts try

To find a way that’s safe and sound

To rescue those beneath the ground

Could robots work where men are mortal

To pierce the dangers of that portal

But alas all effort fails

The darkness of the mine prevails



A second blast of rock and thunder

Hope and prayers are rent asunder

A nation weeps and Coasters mourn

Pike falls silent, dark, forlorn

A hole remains within the ground

Devoid of joy, of life, of sound



Another hole within the heart

Of those forever set apart

From those they loved who went to toil

Digging coal beneath the soil

Those who gave their lives that day

To work a shift for honest pay

They wait at rest within their mine

The men of Pike, the Twenty Nine



Sean Plunket]]> http://www.milplace.com/GillyGirl/blog/the-men-of-pike/ Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:00:29 +0000 GillyGirl http://www.milplace.com/GillyGirl/blog/important-message/
My thighs were stolen from me ...]]>
My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine?
I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs.
Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans.
And then the thieves struck again……

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to Me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and Me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted',
Look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX - This is happening to women everywhere every night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.. S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone!
But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

I thought this was too 'important' not to pass on. Have a wonderful day - with a joy filled heart.
Always remember to Laugh!!
Helps the heart AND the wrinkles!!

P.P.S. Those same thieves just came into my closet and shrank my clothes!

How do they do that????]]> http://www.milplace.com/GillyGirl/blog/important-message/ Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:08:33 +0000 GillyGirl