OK, curiosity finally got the best of me as I couldn't figure out why out of all those pics Ray never got a pic with his dog's face in it. I emailed his neighbor Bruce and he snapped this one of Ray's dog. Now you know the rest of the story.
The Vet
They soar in jets above the land,
They sail beyond the seas.
They march across the desert,
They crawl between the trees.
No matter what the role they play
Each chooses to protect The lives of all Americans.
For this we owe a debt.
Today, and every single day
'Til each returns safe and sound,
Please say a little prayer with me
For the troops: air, sea, and ground.
God Please... Grant them courage,
When times seem bleak.
Grant them strength, When they feel weak.
Grant them comfort, When they feel all alone,
And most of all, God, Please bring them all home.
Author Unknown
Armed Forces Birthdays
Q: What are the official birthdays of the armed services?
A: U.S. Army - 14 June 1775
U.S. Navy- 13 Oct 1775
U.S. Marines- 10 Nov 1775
U.S. Coast Guard- 28 Jan 1915 (Its predecessor U.S. Revenue Cutter Service was established on 14 Aug 1790.)
U.S. Air Force- 18 Sept 1947
http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/FAQs.htm#Army_FAQs
The Soldier
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simply headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Author Unknown
WOW, those are some real oinkers!!! Fantastic job Mike & Congratulations on the win. That 15 pounder is still up there waiting for you so go get it. Thanks for the pics & report, nice one.