Veterans Park Dedication 11-11-11

We walk through our lives, we carry on with daily things. Life happens, and the days go by. We elect people to run our country and make the important decisions for us. We as citizen try to make the best decision on whom those people are.
There are many says through out the year when we stop and remember. We remember those who fought for us to have the right to vote and choose those people who represent us.
Once and a while someone stand up and makes a plan, and takes it to the next level. From a dream, a simple thought, comes forth a place. A place for you to walk, reflect and remember. All of those who came before and who today are out there. Out there making sure that we have the right to plan and dream. To vote and makes those choices. A place that was fought for, dreamed of and remembered on nights under foreign skies. When the only thing that keeps them going is the dream of coming home and walking with their loved ones. Some come home. We are blessed that they are here to share with us our daily lives. Some gave everything for their loved ones and home. Those are who we remember as we reflect and we build and we dream. Dedication Photos 11-11-11

Welcome Home 920th Engineers

Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall

Amid flying flags and the thunder of motorcycles "The Wall that Heals" The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall arrives in Carlsbad.  This much anticipated event pulled into town on May 3, 2006.  Thanks to a lot of people who want to honor those who did not make it home.  Different groups gathered early on the morning of May 3 to travel to Roswell and escort The Wall to Carlsbad. When they pulled into the rendezvous area in Roswell, they were met with several more groups as well as independent riders in Roswell.  After leaving Roswell the procession picked up more riders in Artesia.  During the escort to Carlsbad the riders were honored by a woman and a small boy, parked on a farm road and waved a small flag as they went by. The riders in return started honking and waving back.  They then came upon a man standing by an oil field truck about 1-2 miles north of 7 Rivers, Standing at attention with his hat over his heart. No body else around.  These are the images that make all of this worth doing.

During the same time back in Carlsbad others were at the set up area by the beach making sure all was in order for the arrival.  Each and every one working for something close to their hearts.  To honor the memories of family members and friends.

The truck and their escort of police and motorcycles pulled into the beach at 10:00 a.m. and the set up of the wall began.

Through out the day and well into the night there are people watching over this wall and honoring those who are not here to share it with
us.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund - The Wall That Heals

See The Viet Nam Traveling Wall Memorial

PHOTOS
Arriving in Carlsbad
Opening Day
Nighttime Photos
Saturday
Closing Ceremony Photos

(video files are very large, you may want to right click and save as)

VIDEOS
Arriving
Video 2
Mayor Bob Forest
Video 4
Sunday Taps
Steve Pearce
Viet Nam Veteran's Poem
Flag Lowering
Final Closing

To the veterans of Viet Nam, We thank you.
Chris Rodriguez's Homecoming

TO HONOR OUR VETERANS
Operation Wounded Warrior
Wounded Warrior Photos | Jimbob's Pics | Pirate Stu's Pics

 Select Snapdragon Pics | Wishbone's Pics

Photos By American Legion displayed here as a courtesy
The Reason for Memorial Day
All POW-MIA
Defense POW/Missing Personnel
POW/MIA Freedom Fighters
National League of POW/MIA Families
POW - MIA SEARCH
P.O.W.
Network
The VietNam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page

For Veterans who need help with Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Center

Asbestos.com
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are currently 25 million living individuals who have served in the United States' armed forces. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of these living veterans were exposed to toxic asbestos-containing materials during military service.  According to a revealing statistic, more than 30 percent of Americans beset with a terrible disease called mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos during military service. What is mesothelioma?  It is a rapacious cancer that attacks the internal
lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart.
Widely used by every military branch, asbestos was highly regarded for its heat resistance and fireproofing capabilities. In fact, asbestos was so valued that the military even mandated widespread usage before eventually phasing out the material in the 1970s.
Most military divisions utilized the caustic substance mainly for insulation purposes, but more than 300 products containing asbestos were used by the military, primarily by the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s. Every ship and shipyard built by the Navy before the mid-70s was fitted with numerous asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos.com offers information on mesothelioma & veterans, as well as a complete list of occupations, ships, and shipyards that could have put our Veterans at risk for developing a mesothelioma disease.  Additionally their Veterans Assistance Department offers extensive experience in filing VA claims and can help any veteran coping with mesothelioma receive benefits from the VA system.

 Carl Jewett

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Two things to preface the tale -- Navy SEALS are always taught:
1) Keep your priorities in order and
2) Know when to act without hesitation.

A Navy SEAL was attending college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.
One day he shocked the class when he came in, looked to the ceiling, and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes."
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting."
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the SEAL got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform.
The professor was out cold. The SEAL went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the SEAL and asked, "What the world is the matter with you? Why did you do that?"
The SEAL replied, "God was busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an wanker. So He sent me."...