On serving our country, a note to ALL vets today!

By John Kubicek

I am a veteran of the United States Air Force. I didn't win any medals of valor. I just did my job. So, being a veteran isn't a big deal, even though I was not on the front lines. Right? No. Wrong, absolutely dead wrong.

Whether you were a cook, or worked in the motor pool, or as a medic in the base hospital here in the States, your job was very important! But, I can tell you, there will be people out there that won't understand that in serving your country, if you weren't on the front lines, or a fighter pilot, or a ship Captain, you weren't important. Well, I beg to differ!

A friend of mine had put a post on her Facebook timeline, asking what branch of service and what conflict people served in. So much like social media, what I said had no impact. I wasn't a Marine. I didn't serve during a "conflict" listed and memorialized in D.C. So, nobody responded to what I had to say. I didn't save lives by taking 30 bullets, getting my arms and legs blown off, and didn't get any medals of valor. No, I just did my job, and I did it with pride. But, did I get any Likes for what I wrote? Of course not, there wasn't some kind of valiant sacrifice attached to my time in the service. Well, there was, but not the kind that landed me in Walter Reed or Arlington!

But fear not, Vets! I know that all of you that served did a job that was required, and everyone of you, that actually cared about you had to do, is deserving of the recognition that ALL Veterans deserve today!! There is a reason for honoring all veterans. It shouldn't take being flown into Andrews AFB with a flag over your casket.

I recently watched a very good film, "Twelve O'Clock High," made in 1949, with Gregory Peck as hard-as-nails World War II Gen. Frank Savage, who turns a discouraged group of American bomber pilots and crews into heroes. The once-alienated general comes to view the men in the bomber group he was commanding as family. Why? He succeeded in creating pride in the job they were doing. Every last man became dedicated, and proud of every accomplishment and believing they were succeeding in playing their roles in winning the war against the Nazis. And at the end of the film, General Savage had a slight mental breakdown, being that his leadership was going to lead to some of his men valiantly losing their lives in the big mission which would turn around the war for the Allies.

The main reason that I mentioned this film was because I think that people are forgetting why we won that war. The media makes it out to be that unless you are a grenade diver, willing to blow yourself to smithereens to save your unit, nobody thinks that you've sacrificed to be in our great military. But it doesn't take being in the flag draped casket (that the current President only salutes to look good), to be a hero for this country and preserving our hard-fought liberation from the British, to be free. None of us need to be Captain America, like the movie industry and comic books sells to us, to make a big difference.

Allow me to tell you a little story about my time I served in the USAF. This is NOT just something to brag on, but just to illustrate my point. It is just about the "tiny" things that many of us in the service do to make the whole thing work, and to defend our freedom. Like I wrote in the Facebook timeline I mentioned above, it was "no biggie." But then again, every little thing IS a biggie:

Julie, when I said, "No biggie...." it was tongue in cheek. Actually, what I did actually made a difference. I didn't want to elaborate, but I probably should. I was the PMEL (precision measurement equipment lab) manager for the 3246th Test Wing in Systems Command. I found a problem. Equipment was being used to test the laser guided missiles, and things were not working very well. Things like oscilloscopes and other electronic testing equipment were being used that were not being calibrated according to Air Force specs. Equipment was being taken from our building to test smart bombs, but wrong information was being fed back to the engineers due to equipment malfunctions. Like they say, garbage in, garbage out.

So, I solved the problem by making sure all equipment being used was being tested correctly. I made a list of the equipment, showing when they were due for calibration, that I could provide to the various shop managers in our building, so that they didn't allow test equipment to be used that weren't accurate. The information I provided to the managers also provided AWP (awaiting parts for repair) status of equipment taken to the labs, so that if they needed that equipment for a scheduled test, we could expedite repairs. Like I said, "no biggie," my life was not in danger, except for the fact that a misplaced smart bomb could kill or injure innocent civilians by hitting a school or hospital instead of a radar site.

I was just doing my job, Julie, just doing my job, knowing that even if I did it with everything I could provide could make even the smallest difference in defending our country. It was about Pride in my work.
...
Nobody's job in the military is not important. Whether a service member is a cook, working in the motor pool, keeping our aircraft maintained, or even working in Personnel or Finance admin, every single job is very important!!

Yep, you guessed it. Not one person LIKED or commented on what I said. In social media, especially on Facebook, it takes a grenade dive.

But I am sure that readers of this blog will thoroughly understand what I was saying. No job, no matter how "unheroic" it may seem, is not important! The old joke I heard as a Supply Specialist in the Air Force, something like, "the only action I ever saw was when a box fell off a pallet and broke somebody's big toe," should not be how we look at what we did in the military, serving our country. Each and every one of you that believed in what you did, please believe me, it wasn't just about having a job. It was about pride in being part of the best of the best! Whether it was by cooking a hamburger right for the troops, or making sure an oscilloscope was working right, YOU ARE AWESOME! You don't have to be a former member of the SEALS or Delta Group to have been a hero. You all are, in my eyes! Every last one of our vets are important! I love you all, and thank you for your service!

Saluting Our Veterans, Past and Present

By John Kubicek

Just before Veteran's Day this year, there is a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas. Anger and frustration has built up in me as I followed this story from the day it occurred. The Obama administration hesitates to call it what it is, an act of terrorism. While the terrorist that did the shooting fits completely into the mold of the very people that we are fighting on two fronts, Iraq and Afghanistan, the administration tries to make it out to be somebody that just snapped.

And then, there was the way the President handled the initial press conference following the attack at Fort Hood, where he spends the first several moments of the press conference giving jovial shout-outs to his constituents.

But, my aggravation grew immensely, as over the next few days, I start learning how it was another case of the government dropping the ball. Once again, just like before 9/11, we find out that intelligence officials and law enforcement couldn't coordinate and connect the dots with all of the information that they already had. In just the FBI alone, those that knew that Nidal Hasan was being watched could not or did not communicate with those that did the background check when the murder weapons (guns) were being purchased.

My patience with the way the President is handling the War On Terror ran completely out this morning. It turns out that the President wants to go "back to the drawing board" to decide what to do with Afghanistan. That was just this morning. You can check it out for yourself.

There just isn't any problem in thinking at this time that President Barack Obama has no clue in how to run a war. In fact, after the way he has handled the act of terrorism at Fort Hood, he doesn't even have a clue in how to boost the morale of the troops. No, in fact, I really can't see any way our military would be encouraged by Obama's actions, and lack of action.

In order to keep my sanity, I decided to put together a few videos that I've put up on youtube.com over the last year, beginning with a tribute for Veterans Day a year ago. Our military needs to know that WE care about them. WE the People know and understand the veteran's courage, service and sacrifice.

The following videos may have been posted by me, but I want our current and past military service members to know that it took all of the people involved in the videos, and all of you, to make these clips possible. Thank God that we have patriots in the civilian population that believe in the patriots and heroes in the military. Putting this video montage together was my relatively meager attempt to say thanks to our Veterans and those now serving to protect our freedom.


November 12, 2008 - My Salute to Our Veterans 2008



October 02, 2009 - When They Come Back



November 08, 2009 - Something for Dad



November 11, 2009 - My Salute to Our Veterans 2009

Memorial Day: A Time to Remember

By John Kubicek

Memorial Day, it is a time to remember that freedom isn't free.

Freedom's Not Free - By The Rivoli Revue (Ron and Kay Rivoli)


It is a time to remember the many that have fallen for our freedom.

Memorial Day - Arlington (With music by Trace Adkins)


It is a time to honor all of the men and women that have fought and served in the military and those who have died for this great country, the United States of America.

Freedom Rocks at the Freedom Rock, by a Patriot In Iowa, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen


I am praying that Bubba Sorensen has had a chance to work on the FreedomRock 2009 version without too many weather delays. He's been doing this for every Memorial Day for the last 10 years. I am looking forward to the 2009 Freedom Rock!

Here's another excellent video I found at Bubba's Blog where he is being interviewed by Mike Huckabee:



While Ray - I mean Bubba - has been bringing us the memories of our veterans on Memorial Day through his very gifted artwork, there is somebody else that used her gifts for the same purpose. Patrice Lewis brought us a story this weekend called, "Forever Young," an account of her husband's uncle who valiantly fell in battle during WWII at the young age of 19. It will help you comprehend just how much it means when somebody makes the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

I hope you have enjoyed the Memorial Day tributes above, from the various perspectives in the forms of music, art and text. It really IS a time to remember those that have paid the ultimate price in defending our freedom. I only wanted to raise the awareness that their courage and patriotic duty is remembered during the long holiday weekend. This needs to be a time when we have to think about the reason that some of us have a long weekend to enjoy with our loved ones. It truly must be a time to remember.

The Meaning of Memorial Day

By John Kubicek (and others)

What does Memorial Day mean? In short, it is to honor our fallen military heroes, those that gave their lives to defend the Constitution of the United States and our freedom.

That may be the actual original meaning of Memorial Day, but what does it actually mean to people? That is the question I asked of people a few days ago, and I received several replies, which I want to share with you.

Memorial Day is not about commercialism, and Memorial Day sales, and it's not about the 3 day weekend getaway. It's a time to honor our deceased, veteran or non-veteran. Families drive out to the cemetery to remember loved ones. They place flowers upon the graves. Each veterans grave is graced with an American Flag, and we honor the service and sacrifices they gave. Following these services, it is traditional for families to gather and have a B-B-Q. This is not a time for joyous celebration.

Monday I will be attending memorial services at 4 local cemeteries. I will fight the Memorial Day traffic, and on going road construction to attend a re-dedication ceremony at the our local Veterans' Memorial.

Jackie Gordon - Oregon (ladyjusa)

At first, what Jackie said about honoring our deceased, veteran or non-veteran, I hesitated. But then I realized, that while the original intent was to honor the veterans, I have no problem with extending the honor to others that may not have been military veterans. This country has seen many heroes that haven't been involved in the military. There are the emergency service workers - our police, fire fighters, paramedics, border patrol... You get the idea. For many have died in the line of service, to protect our freedoms, to protect our neighbors. And then, there were folks like our parents, that just went out and worked hard, and made this the highest producing nation on the planet! They sacrificed much to work hard and keep things running. They produced the various commodities that kept us fed, warm and able to travel for work and pleasure.

Darn right, Jackie, non-vets ARE included in honoring the fallen today! Thank you for reminding me!

And now, T. L. Farlow expounds on a further dimension of honoring those of us that SERVE us!

Memorial Day Approaches! (Editor's note: No, actually, now it is here!)

As generous as our very own ancestors were to stuggle daily in providing for their families' existence and to ensure a future for generations of them to come, the very reason that WE are here today, we should venerate them for the great familial love that they have shared with us. Even though we did not personally know them and of course, they not personally knowing of us, we cannot but help to express our love for their great toil, their many sacrifices, their long suffering and their love during their existence in this life.

Likewise, should we venerate those who have served in the military, having sacrificed their time, their blood, their tears, their fears and their very lives if necessary. We may not have known them personally, but because of their love for freedom, for country and yes for US, they have given selflessly. Yes, we should acknowlege, we should admire, we should give great esteem to all those who have chosen to serve their fellow man in times of war and peace. Countless soldiers have fallen in the line of duty, providing the ultimate sacrifice for their country, families and fellow citizens.

Many more have also served that suffered injuries large and small that caused great burdens for them throughout the remainder of their lives. These, too, should be honored for their forfeitures of time, livelihoods and health, in the service of US, those who are enjoying the benefits of freedom, the results of their labors.

This Memorial Day, let us all celebrate the lives of so many, even those who shall remain nameless, for without them, we may not have been. Let us treat them, our brothers and sisters in uniform, just as we would family, to honor their works so that others may live in peace and prosperity.

T. L. Farlow - Pennsylvania (citizentlf)

This just keeps on getting more moving as we go. Is the point of today, Memorial Day, starting to sink in yet?

Well, let's try another quote from my volunteer army of writers:

I recall several years ago sitting down with my great uncle to interview him about his experiences in World War II. They were amazing -- he saw firsthand the brutality of the enemy as he made his way from Sicily to Germany and ended up liberating the death camp at Dachau. He was young, barely out of his teens at the time, from a small town in the middle of nowhere, and saw things that no man, young or old, should ever have to see.

And there were thousands others like him, many of whom did not come home from those foreign shores. I have another uncle who fought in WWII, and another in Korea. They would never say much about what they went through, but I've always thought that their experiences left scars that linger to this day. Going back even farther, I recall standing on the very spot on the battlefield at Vicksburg where my great-great-great-grandfather stood against the invading federal army -- not for any political cause, for he knew nothing of such things; not to defend slavery, certainly, for he owned none; but merely because his home was invaded and his family and property and liberty were threatened, did he take up arms in their defense.

It is to these men, and others like them, that we owe the freedom to read and write these words. Because a few were willing to fight and to die to defend that liberty, we are free to say what we want, worship how we like, and disagree with the government all we like, without fear of reprisal. That is a precious gift, and was not given cheaply. We bear a great heritage of freedom given to us by the blood and sweat of great men.

We must honor that by using it responsibly, by using that free choice we have been given to choose the right, and not to abuse it. That is what Memorial Day is to me -- a reminder of the solemn duty laid upon us by those who came before and sacrificed so much to give us that heritage of liberty.

drachemorder - Madison, MS (drachemorder)

That is some very powerful stuff right there, my fellow patriots. What are you and I willing to give up? My friend DL tells us here that we must NOT EVER GIVE UP OUR FREEDOM!

It is impossible to ascertain the price of freedom. Words or tokens cannot express the depth of my soul’s gratitude for those who paid that price; but Memorial Day provides an opportunity for personal contemplation and a chance to give tribute to those who lived and died so that I can have the privilege to say, “I am an American."

I am an American. I cannot say those words without caressing them. Somehow, American freedom is embedded deep inside me — perhaps this freedom can be traced through my bloodline, perhaps it stems from the many years I have spent away from my homeland — viewing America’s precious liberties from “outside the box.”

My genealogy is filled with patriots. On one branch of my family tree, I can prove myself a daughter of the American Revolution — with connection through marriage to George Washington himself. My Virginian ancestors fought for America in every war she has faced — including the War for Independence. But another genealogical branch teems with suffering immigrant ancestors straggling to America the “Savior”, to escape the Holocaust in Europe. Some of my relatives died to build America, and others gratefully lived because of their sacrifice. The words explain who preceded
me — I am an American.

For various reasons, I have spent many years living overseas — far from my America. This global lifestyle has deepened my love for our Founders’ wisdom and America’s core values and has sharpened my awareness of her generosity and unique culture. The Star Spangled Banner is a symbol that brings tears to my eyes. I have seen freedom-lovers in many countries wistfully sigh at my introduction — the words explain the ideals I represent, “I am an American.”

I pray today that Americans will continue to value their freedoms; that patriots will rise up to guard our unique liberties as they are threatened; that mothers and fathers will kindle patriotism in their own children by telling them the stories of noble men and women who sacrificed everything to build their country — the “Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.” As we kneel today to place a wreathe on a soldier’s grave, and offer our gratitude by flying the flag for which they died, may we
also find strength to make America better by taking pride in the work ahead, by silencing those who show contempt for freedom, and by humbly reveling in those
sacred words, “I am an American.”

DL - (camelseye)

Amen, DL, and let me add, I thank God I am an American!

Before the video presentation to wrap all of this up, let me allow what Barbara Simpson wrote this morning to tie this whole piece together:

"We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights." – Felix Frankfurter

So even though you may think it's corny, take a bit of time today to reflect on the blessings of freedom that we so take for granted. Give thanks to the military who served honorably and bravely with special prayers for troops in harm's way today.
Ultimately, they're keeping all of us and our loved ones safe and free. Don't risk losing freedom because you don't recognize or value the price that others paid for you.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." – Elmer Davis.

Barbara Simpson, May 26, 2008, in "Remember our patriots"

And now, may I present Ray "Bubba" Sorenson, another patriot from Iowa. I was going to try to put a video together today to commemorate Memorial Day, but it would have been reinventing the wheel. I put the following video up last year, about Freedom Rock. This says it all about the good old patriotic Americans that value what we have. Let's just say it like this: Freedom Rocks!

I thank all of the contributors to this post for their selfless efforts to make this a day to honor not just our fallen heroes, but America. Thank you! God bless America, and God bless you!