It’s getting down to the wire for charitable donations for the 2012 tax year. Today, we made good on a promise to help out Soldiers Angels. In particular, we donated to the team Project Valour-IT to honor our Friend and fellow blogger Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, whom we met at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous a few years back.
Click on the animation to go to the Soldiers Angels home page.
Click on THIS LINK to go to the Valour-IT donation page.
I would like to call your attention to a current activity regarding the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11/2001. A group of California firefighters have launched their “Ride for 9-11” cross country cycling event.
The riders are trying to raise money for both the Leary Firefighters Foundation and the Wounded Warriors Project. Check out their website to read more.
RIDE FOR 9-11
We are a team of firefighters that will be cycling across the United States to honor those whose lives were lost 10 years ago on September 11, 2001 and those who continue to fight for our freedom and safety.
The Ride For 9-11 will commence July 24, 2011 in Hollywood CA and end in New York City at the FDNY Firefighters Memorial on September 9, 2011.
By the way, the Never Forget Tribute counter (seen in the right sidebar) is on schedule to surpass 75 million hits by 9-11.
Sixty-six years ago, the invasion of Normandy began. My Dad was an electricians mate aboard the USS Brooklyn light cruiser, whose 5 and 6 inch guns softened targets in France so the Allies could do their thing. Dad came back from the War, but many did not. Take a moment today to remember those selfless, brave men that chiseled out our victory in Europe.
This will be the centerpiece on today’s holiday table. God bless those brave souls that paved the way to our freedom with their blood. Have a great holiday, everyone. Click image to enlarge.
After 68 years on the job, 88 year old Jerry Huben is calling it quits. During his career in aircraft engineering, Jerry contributed to the effort in every war since WW2. In doing so, he is just as heroic as many that were on the front lines.
Just like “Rosie the Riveter,” folks like Jerry got us through some pretty tough times and kept us safe and free. God bless him in retirement.
Image: Jerry Huben.
From the Daily Breeze:
Huben’s career at Northrop gave him an intimate view of the aerospace industry from the days when it was dominated by propeller-driven aircraft to the current age of stealthy flying wings.
After receiving a one-year certificate in engineering, Huben took a riveting job with what was then called Northrop Aircraft Co. in Hawthorne. That was Nov. 10, 1941, two years after Jack Northrop founded the business.
Huben was 20 years old.
He had wanted to work as an engineer, but Northrop didn’t have many engineering openings, he recalled.
About three weeks later, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor changed America and the direction of Huben’s career.
He transferred to Northrop’s engineering department as the nation’s aerospace industry kicked into high gear.
“After that, things really took off,” Huben said. “The company was running round the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In engineering, we worked 10 hours a day, six days a week.”
Huben said a hearing impairment kept him out of the war.
America’s involvement in World War II also motivated Huben in his job.
“I felt compelled very much to give it (my) all and follow my imagination and dedication to helping the war (effort),” he said.
Among the planes Huben worked on were the P-61 Black Widow, T-38 Talon, F/A-18 Hornet and B-2 Spirit, which is a flying wing virtually invisible to radar.
Damsel’s Dad passed from us last week and today he was sent off with full military honors. He was a veteran of the US NAVY in the late 1940s through the early 1950s. The Cold War was fully in progress, and Dad’s Squadron was right in the thick of it all. He was a flight crew member and flew missions on the Navy version of the old B24 – the PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer.’ He flew missions all over the Mediterranean, Europe, the North Atlantic Ocean and back to the US for logistics and repairs.
The sailors who performed the honors were squared away and precise in their execution. We stood and saluted as one sailor sounded taps. The other sailor and the officer carefully and precisely folded the flag with crisp movements and presented the flag to Damsel’s Mom.
We will miss Dad, who was a wonderful family man and a really great guy.
Many in the USA celebrate this holiday as the beginning of the summer season and our household is no exception. We are in the midst of a barbecue weekend and are enjoying it all. But we are also thinking about our fallen heroes in all disciplines of public service, be it first responders, law enforcement and most importantly, our men and women who gave their all in military service. God bless them all.
Our centerpiece this weekend is this patriotic bouquet. Click image to enlarge.