Precious Poets Remember Our Troops; Back a Play

There was a young gentleman who read Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words by Larry Smith. After reading this book, he felt compelled to write a play about these men and tell their stories in words. It opened in 2004 "on the edge of Arlington Cemetery, at a small theater inside the Women in Military Service Memorial." Eight of these men were chosen of the twenty-four available to represent the men to be honored. There was an apolitical play, meaning this was not about politics. It is about our Heroes.

So how did it Mr. Lang, the performer, come to travel the world performing his play for our men and women in the Middle East, on the DMZ (dividing line between North and South Korea), Europe, and many other places? This is where our precious poets step up to the plate to support our Troops.

Mr. Peede had been asked to direct a new NEA [National Endowment for the Arts] program called Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience. Its intention was to help soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, or their families, to put their experiences into writing--fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The idea was suggested to NEA Chairman Dana Gioia, a poet, by Connecticut poet Marilyn Nelson, who'd recently served as a visiting writer at West Point. Good for the poets.

Reluctant to wait years for Congressional funding or to divert money from other NEA programs, Chairman Gioia sought private funding for Operation Homecoming. Quietly, the Boeing Company stepped up, ultimately giving $1.2 million. The soldiers' tutors at NEA's workshops included writers such as Barry Hannah, Tobias Wolff, Mark Bowden, Victor Davis Hanson and Tom Clancy. The result is a book, "Operation Homecoming" (Random House), which--again some understatement--is breathtakingly good. [Continue reading Mr. Henninger's article.]

It is a wonderful thing that has been done, finally, by the NEA and the Opinion Journal's article. You may purchase Operation Homecoming at Amazon.com. I thought you might like to know. Have a wonderful day! :)

Editor's Note: There will be another open trackback today. If you have an article you've written and would like to share it with others, please feel free to link it here. Just remember to add me to the list of others you've linked. LinkFest is a wonderful new 'station' where we can go to find out who, what, where and how everyone is posting. Well, the people that belong to the open trackbacks! Join up! It's lots of fun. Thank you.



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Perri Nelson's Website: Thursday Open Trackback.

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Blue Star Chronicles: Mitt Romney: Peace in Our Nation.

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Conservative Cat: Adventures with Bruce - In Which I Deny Some Vicious Rumors.

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Adeline and Hazel: Celebrity Plasic Surgery Video.

The Yankee Sailor: Thursday Open Post.

Thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

The Caliphate or the United States?

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

I have been banning all Iranian products into my house since 1979. Here is a group now that is asking you to do the same. Actually, they are asking for a little more.

Ask President Bush, today, to impose strict economic sanctions against Iran’s import of refined petroleum products. Iran, one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, lacks the facilities to produce a refined product. As a result, Iran is one of the largest importers of gasoline – nearly half of all gasoline used by Iranians. Now, the Iranians are feeling the pinch of raised prices and gasoline rationing imposed by the government.

A bipartisan group in the U.S. House is seeking economic sanctions against Iran in an attempt to reduce the amount of gasoline imported by Tehran.

The legislation calls for companies that provide Iran with gasoline or assists with the import of gasoline would not be allowed to sell gasoline to U.S. customers. Iran imports most of its gasoline from Persian Gulf states and India.

According to Rep. Mark S. Kirk, R-IL: "This is becoming the critical weakness of the Iranian government, meaning its dependence on gasoline. Riots [in Iran] show the gasoline shortage is a growing danger to the Iranian regime and a diplomatic opportunity for Western countries to force Iran to adhere to international nuclear rules."

The legislation would provide President Bush with several options, as well as several penalties. Included among these are: denial of loans and credits from the Export-Import bank and loans or licenses for exports to the U.S. [Um...I thought we already had this?] The House Foreign Affairs Committee has already approved “legislation designed to strike at investments in Iran.” State Department spokesman Tom Casey said, "We need to do everything that we can to continue to raise the stakes in Iran in terms of its nuclear program."

Another supporter of the bill, Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., said, “Our goal must be zero foreign investment.” To reach that end, the U.S. is also working with European allies to try to increase penalties against Tehran. Of course, the countries that do a lucrative business with Iran don’t want to do anything to upset the powers that be.

Vote Your Opinion NOW!

Just as we have defeated big business here in America (NO illegal aliens!), we must bring to the light our European 'friends'. We must explain to them, in a calm way, that there are higher ideals in this life than how much money you can grab. This is one of them.

Unless you want all of your women living under the Caliphate, which means clothed from head to toe with no skin showing, you must be with us on this. There truly is a war against us. It is to elimate everyone who does not believe as they do, Sharia Law, their idea of what a Muslim should be, and many more horrific things.

If you want to understand more, you may be interested in this book:

The Final Move Beyond Iraq.

Thank you.

Amputee Blazes New Trails On, Off the Battlefield

May 25, 2007
By Terry J. Goodman
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Public Affairs Office.

WASHINGTON - Maj. David Rozelle learned early the importance of leading from the front and setting the example for his fellow Soldiers. But his ability to lead was tested June 21, 2003, when a landmine struck his vehicle a few miles west of Baghdad and he lost his right foot.

For most, this would have been a devastating, life-changing event. For this native Texan, it was only a speed bump. "Growing up, I was taught that I can accomplish anything if I wanted it," he said. "I wanted to continue to lead Soldiers and serve my country."

Maj. Rozelle's chain of command told him he could return to duty with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment if he recovered from his injury. The chance to return to his unit in Iraq was all he needed to prove his physical ability - despite an amputation and the concern of Families and friends.

After eight months of rehabilitation at Fort Carson, Colo., Maj. Rozelle was ready to show he was combat-ready. "When the Army puts an officer in charge of troops, it wants to make sure that the individual can get it done - lead them into battle and be successful," said Maj. Rozelle, who is now administrator for the Amputee Care Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"When I took my Oath of Office, it never mentioned giving up if I was injured. It was my responsibility as a leader to lead from the front and return to duty," he said. In March 2005, almost 20 months after being injured, Maj. Rozelle found himself in familiar territory - in Iraq and serving as commander of a cavalry troop. He was the first troop commander to redeploy to the same battlefield as an amputee in recent military history.

Today the major finds himself at Walter Reed doing the same thing he's always done - leading from the front and setting the example. This time, it's fellow amputees benefiting from Maj. Rozelle's counsel, experiences and motivational techniques. "I've been there," said Maj. Rozelle, who spends the bulk of his duty day establishing programs and systems for the new Military Advanced Training Center, which is scheduled to open this fall. "I want to help them realize there is life after this kind of injury. If they work hard and have the right mind set, anything is possible."

When he's not inspiring Walter Reed patients and helping complete a state-of-the-art facility that will improve Walter Reed's capacity to care for amputee patients, Maj. Rozelle competes in marathons and triathlons, and also snow skis. "I'm 34 years old with a beautiful wife and two great kids," he said. "I have started a whole new life, and only hope to be a good example for my boys."

Maj. Rozelle was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for actions in combat. He is also author of the New York Times Best Seller "Back in Action: An American Soldier's Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude."

Photo - Maj. David Rozelle is shown here as a captain in command of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Maj. Rozelle returned to Iraq after losing his lower right foot during the first phase of Operation Iraq Freedom. He is now administrator for the Amputee Care Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Pfc. Matthew Clifton.