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Another ad against Moron.org video

From the Front Lines

Spread the Word

PRO-TROOP GROUP ASKS

FOR BLOGGERS' HELP!

 

This Thursday, June 26th is the huge "From the Front Lines" 8-hour telethon hosted by the nation's largest pro-troop organization Move America Forward - http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org

Our goal:  to send the largest single shipment of care packages in U.S. history.  We're hoping to collect sponsorships in excess of $500,000 for care packages by the end of the day Thursday.

* Today Rush Limbaugh promoted the effort on his nationally syndicated show:

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_062408/content/01125111.guest.html

 

* Also, The San Francisco Chronicle wrote about it:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=27546

 

* And the Sacramento Union has two stories about the broader effort:

Here: http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/9981/

And Here:  http://www.sacunion.com/pages/sacramento/articles/9974/

 

Now we're looking for help from the blogosphere.  We are asking for your help to get the blogosphere to explode with mentions of this effort - so that any American patriot who loves our military and is surfing the Net the next two days is sure to know about this effort. If nothing else, please ask your readers on June 26th to tune in to "From the Front Lines" via http://www.HotAir.com or http://www.ustream.tv/channel/from-the-frontlines

 

Supporters of our troops can sponsor care packages at: http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org

 

P.S. If you want some more inspiration, check out what Super Blogger Spree did.

First she blogged on Wake Up America: 

http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2008/06/protests-and-counter-protests-in.html

 

And then had this piece published at DigitalJournal.com

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/256477

 

Now please be sure to do your part to help!  :-)

s

This is for the soldiers

Pretty cool video to Drowning Pool's "This is for the Soldiers"

Gene Simmons with the troops

I always loved Kiss, especailly their older stuff with their makeup.  Gene Simmons is a genius at making money.   And he is also vary patriotic and went and played for our troops. 

H/T to Blue Star Chronicles

A great book give away

Trish at Email our Military are having a great book giveaway in honor of Memorial day.  The book is "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives" by Jim Sheeler.   It is about the toll on the family of our fallen heros.  Looks to be a great read.  You can go ove there and leave a comment and enter the contest .

Our good friend Becky of Deep Muck, Big Rake can't stop raving about the must read book "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives" by Jim Sheeler.

Jim Sheeler won a Pulitzer Prize for his Veterans Day special report on Nov. 11, 2005, in the Rocky Mountain News on which this book is based. This book is one that will be a permanent part of the eMail Our Military required reading library.

Paul Rieckhoff, executive director and founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and author of Chasing Ghosts say this about Final Salute:

"Jim Sheeler’s Final Salute should be required reading for all Americans and their elected leaders. It is not pro- or anti-war but instead a gripping account of combat’s price on the families of the fallen. Final Salute is also the inspirational and often heartbreaking story of the incredible, heroic efforts of a Marine officer to help ease the pain of these families. Jim Sheeler should be saluted for providing a heartfelt view inside the returns home from Iraq that too often pass unrecognized by the American public."

We agree that this book should be required reading. So much so that after a lenghtly discussion with Becky, we decided to team up for a Memorial Day book giveaway. That's right, we're giving away an autographed copy of Final Salute.

We may not be able to get the whole world reading this book but we can make sure that at least one other person gets the chance to do so.

To participate in the Final Salute ($25.95, hardcover) giveaway contest you'll need to:

1. Leave a comment to be entered into our drawing
2. If you're a blogger consider writing a post about our contest (feel free to use our words)

Final Salute is journalism at its finest. Sheeler writes about military families with honesty, honor and respect. He writes about things most ordinary Americans never have the chance to read about in the headlines let alone on the front page. His words are gentle and subtle, yet the stories are powerful.

You've got until Friday, May 30th at midnight est. to get your comments in. Then, we'll pick a winner over the weekend and make the announcement on Monday right here on our blog.

Memorial Day

When those who have given their lives for freedom of this country are honored, a poem is usually read.

“The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat

The soldier’s last tattoo;

No more on life’s parade shall meet

That brave and fallen few,

On Fame’s eternal camping ground

Their silent tents are spread;

And glory guards with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead.”

Monday we celebrate Memorial Day, and remember those who have their tents spread in the eternal camping ground-----

The 25,000 who died in the American Revolution,

The 562,000 who died in the War Between the States,

The 116,000 who died in the First World War

The 408,000 who died in the war to end all wars

The 54,000 who died in Korea in the forgotten war,

The 58,000 who died in the rice patties of Vietnam

The 363 who died in the first Gulf war,

And the 4,076, so far who have given their lives in the war on terror,

May every day be a Memorial Day in our lives.

Cross Pposted at Grizzly Groundswell and Reclaim Conservatism

Merlin’s Miracles,

This is truly an amazing and inspirational story.   Merlin German had been in IEDs before, but when he was hit with an IED he caught fire and had 97% his body burnt.   And he had prety much no chance of living, but with determination and much pain and depression he lived on.  Sadly though he died on April 22 and will be missed by his family and all of those he touched.

While recovering he formed Merlin’s Miracles, a charity to help out burnt children and families.  He is truly an inspritation to the fighting character of the US Marines,but to all of us.   If you think your life is bad or are depressed, you should think of what Merlin went through and overcame to make other people's lives better along with his own. 

As Amy Proctor says, "Every person who supports the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan should visit and revisit Merlin’s story. The war is not a political platform nor an ideological argument, but a sacrifice that millions of soldiers and their families make every day, some with excruciating consequences, in order to bring a taste of the freedom that we enjoy in America to less fortunate countries, to secure American interests and to defeat terrorists who want to kill innocent people in every country of the world."

It is truly a shame that the War has turned so political when our brave men and women have to got through things such as this.  For the War or Against it, you have to respect the Men and Women that fight to bring freedom to others and protect us and our freedoms.  They do this on thier own accord and do their duty with honor.      

God Bless Merlin German and his family.  And hopefuly some good will come if this through his charity and people's lives will be better for it.   

His story is truly amazing and inspirational.

Every Reporter covering the IRaq Wart should go thru this

This shold be a requirement for anyone that is covering the War on Terror, especially Iraq.   I have to give this lady some props, I do not think I could even go through the first run right now.  Basically soccer in high school has ruined my knees and ankles.   But this does remind me of triple sessions for soccer practice without the guns tough.  We never saw a soccer ball for the first month or so.   And the use of compasss was in my Diving Instructor or actually my Dive Master class, and it is harder than you would think, especially in the murky water of the so-called Crystal Lake in Florida.  But this is a great story and hopefully more people will see this and see that the soldiers are there on their own accord and have thought through their decision.   Maybe Murtha and the rest of the Defetocrats should watch this before spouting out their nonsense.

H/T to OPFOR

A great tribute

***Update

Happy Armed Forces Day a day late.

via email

I think this is the most moving tribute I have seem to The Greatest Generation.  Hope you agree.

Click at the end of letter for movie. 



The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood!

Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach, Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.

He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you."

Then the old soldier began to cry.

"That really got to me," Bierstock says.
**********************************************************
Cut to today.

Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them."

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren.
"It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss " the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston! for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.


GOD BLESS every EVERY veteran...
and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this !


CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:


Before You Go

Why we are fighting

via email

Cross posted at Grizzly Groundswell

Why doesn't someone like this run for president?

This is one of the most profound articles that I have ever read about this Presidency, this era, and this so-called war. No matter your politics, you owe it to yourself to read this.

An assessment of where the US stands in relation to the Middle East problems, this one is from the guy who had his finger on the nuclear trigger for three years as head of our defense and response complex buried under Cheyenne Mountain at Colorado Springs. He was the only person who could initiate a nuclear attack after advising the sitting president of a missile launch by our enemies and our need to respond. No political or civilian type in the US had more knowledge about day to day military actions around the world.

 

 

Everyone should find quiet time to read this. As far as I am concerned, it is exactly the direction we should go and the consequences of not doing so are well thought out.

 

 

-John R. ( Jack ) Farrington, Major General, USAF (Retired)

Middle East Imperative
by: James Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, Retired

 

 

 

 

 

I wrote recently about the war in Iraq and the larger war against radical Islam, eliciting a number of responses. Let me try and put this conflict in proper perspective.

 

 

Understand; the current battle we are engaged in is much bigger than just Iraq. What happens in the next year will affect this country and how our kids and grand kids live throughout their lifetime, and beyond. Radical Islam has been attacking the West since the seventh century. They have been defeated in the past and decimated to the point of taking hundreds of years to recover. But they can never be totally defeated. Their birth rates are so far beyond civilized world rates, that in time they recover and attempt to dominate again.

 

 

There are eight terror-sponsoring countries that make up the grand threat to the West. Two, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, just need firm pressure from the West to make major reforms. They need to decide who they are really going to support and commit to that support. That answer is simple. They both will support who they think will hang in there until the end, and win.

 

 

We are not sending very good signals in that direction right now, thanks to the Democrats.

 

 

The other six, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Libya will require regime change or a major policy shift. Now, let's look more closely.

 

 

Afghanistan and Iraq have both had regime changes, but are being fueled by outsiders from Syria and Iran . We have scared Gaddafi's pants off, and he has given up his quest for nuclear weapons, so I don't think Libya is now a threat. North Korea (the non-Islamic threat) can be handled diplomatically by buying them off. They are starving. That leaves Syria and Iran. Syria is like a frightened puppy. Without the support of Iran they will join the stronger side.

 

 

 

 

 

So where does that leave us? Sooner, or later, we are going to be forced to confront Iran, and it better be before they gain nuclear capability.

 

 

In 1989 I served as a Command Director inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex located in Colorado Springs, Colorado for almost three years. My job there was to observe (through classified means) every missile shot anywhere in the world and assess if it was a threat to the US or Canada. If any shot was threatening to either nation I had only minutes to advise the President, as he had only minutes to respond.

 

 

I watched Iran and Iraq shoot missiles at each other every day, and all day long, for months. They killed hundreds of thousands of their people. Know why? They were fighting for control of the Middle East and that enormous oil supply. At that time, they were preoccupied with their internal problems and could care less about toppling the west. Oil prices were fairly stable and we could not see an immediate threat.

 

 

Well, the worst part of what we have done as a nation in Iraq is to do away with the military capability of one of those nations. Now, Iran has a clear field to dominate the Middle East, since Iraq is no longer a threat to them. They have turned their attention to the only other threat to their dominance, they are convinced they will win, because the US is so divided, and the Democrats (who now control Congress and, unfortunately, may control the Presidency in 2008) have openly said we are pulling out.

 

 

Do you have any idea what will happen if the entire Middle East turns their support to Iran, which they will obviously do if we pull out? It is not the price of oil we will have to worry about. Oil WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE to this country at any price. I personally would vote for any presidential candidate who did what JFK did with the space program---declare a goal to bring this country to total energy independence in a decade.

 

 

Yes, it is about oil. The economy in this country will totally die if that Middle East supply is cut off right now. It will not be a recession. It will be a depression that will make1929 look like the "good-old-days".

 

 

 

 

 

The bottom line here is simple. If Iran is forced to fall in line, the fighting in Iraq will end over night, and the nightmare will be over. One way or another, Iran must be forced to join modern times and the global community. It may mean a real war---if so, now is the time, before we face a nuclear Iran with the capacity to destroy Israel and begin a new ice age.

 

 

I urge you to read the book "END GAME" by two of our best Middle East experts, true American patriots and retired military generals, Paul Vallely and Tom McInerney. They are our finest, and totally honest in their assessment of why victory in the Middle East is so important, and how it can be won. Proceeds for the book go directly to memorial fund for our fallen soldiers who served the country during the war on terror. You can find that book by going to the Internet through Stand-up America at http://www.ospreyradio.us/,  http://www.ospreyradio.us/ or http://www.rightalk.com/, http://www.rightalk.com/.

 

 

On the other hand, we have several very angry retired generals today, who evidently have not achieved their lofty goals, and insist on ranting and raving about the war. They are wrong, and doing the country great harm by giving a certain political party reason to use them as experts to back their anti-war claims.

 

 

You may be one of those who believe nothing could ever be terrible enough to support our going to war. If that is the case I should stop here, as that level of thinking approaches mental disability in this day and age. It is right up there with alien abductions and high altitude seeding through government aircraft contrails. I helped produced those contrails for almost 30 years, and I can assure you we were not seeding the atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

The human race is a war-like population, and if a country is not willing to protect itself, it deserves the consequences. 'Enough - said!'

 

 

Now, my last comments will get to the nerve. They will be on politics. I am not a Republican. And, George Bush has made enough

 

 

mistakes as President to insure my feelings about that for the rest of my life. However, the Democratic Party has moved so far left, they have made me support those farther to the right.

 

 

I am a conservative who totally supports the Constitution of this country. The only difference between the United States and the South American, third world, dictator infested and ever-changing South American governments, is our U.S. Constitution.

 

 

This Republic (note I did not say Democracy) is the longest standing the world has ever known, but it is vulnerable. It would take so little to change it through economic upheaval. There was a time when politicians could disagree, but still work together. We are past that time, and that is the initial step toward the downfall of our form of government.

 

 

I think that many view Bush-hating as payback time. The Republicans hated the Clinton's and now the Democrats hate Bush. So, both parties are putting their hate toward willingness to do anything for political dominance to include lying and always taking the opposite stand just for the sake of being opposed. JUST HOW GOOD IS THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY?

 

 

In my lifetime, after serving in uniform for President's Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, I have a pretty good feel for which party supported our military, and what military life was like under each of their terms. And, let me assure you that times were best under the Republicans.

 

 

 

 

 

Service under Jimmy Carter was devastating for all branches of the military. And, Ronald Regan was truly a salvation.

 

 

You can choose to listen to enriched newscasters, and foolish people like John Murtha (he is no war hero!), Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Harry Reid, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, and on-and-on to include the true fools in Hollywood if you like. If you do, your conclusions will be totally wrong!

 

 

The reason that I write, appear on radio talk shows, and do everything I can to denounce those people is simple. THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR THIRST FOR POLITICAL POWER AND QUEST FOR VICTORY IN 2008 ABOVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY! I cannot abide by that.

 

 

Pelosi clearly defied the Logan Act by going to Syria, which should have lead to imprisonment of three years and a heavy fine. Jane Fonda did more to prolong the Vietnam War than any other human being (as acknowledged by Ho Chi Minh in his writing before he died). She truly should have been indicted for treason, along with her radical husband, Tom Hayden, and forced to pay the consequences.

 

 

This country has started to soften by not enforcing its laws, which is another indication of a Republic about to fall.

 

 

All Democrats, along with the Hollywood elite, are sending us headlong into a total defeat in the Middle East, which will finally give Iran total dominance in the region. A lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic.

 

 

However, if we refuse to let this happen and really get serious about an energy self-sufficiency program, this can be avoided. I am afraid, however, that we are going in the opposite direction.

 

 

If we elect Hillary Clinton and a Democrat controlled congress, and they carry through with allowing Iran to take control of the Middle East, continue to refuse development of nuclear energy, refuse to allow drilling for new oil, and continue to do nothing but oppose everything Bush, it will be over in terms of what we view as the good life in the USA.

 

 

Now, do I think that all who do not support the war are un-American? Of course not. They just do not understand the importance of total victory in that region.

 

 

Another failure of George Bush is his inability to explain to the American people why we are there, and why we MUST win. By the way, it is not a war. The war was won five years ago. It is martial law that is under attack by Iranian and Syrian outside influences, and there is a difference.

 

 

So, what do I believe? What is the bottom line? I will simply say that the Democratic Party has fielded the foulest, power hungry, anti-country, self absorbed group of individuals that I have observed in my lifetime. Our educational system is partially to blame for allowing the mass of America to be taken in by this group. George Bush has done the best he can with the disabilities that he possesses.

 

 

A President must communicate with the people. And, I would tell you that Desert Storm spoiled the people. Bush Senior's 100-hour war convinced the people that technology has progressed to the point that wars could be fought with no casualties and won in very short periods of time. I remember feeling at the time, that this was a tragedy for the US military. To win wars, you must put boots on the ground. When you put boots on the ground, soldiers are going to die. A President must make the war decision wisely, and insure that the cause is right before using his last political option.

 

 

HOWEVER, CONTROLLING IRAN AND DEMOCRATIZING THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ONLY CHOICE IF WE ARE HELL BENT ON DEPENDING ON THEM FOR OUR FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.

 

 

-Jimmy L. Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, Retired

Private Matt Maupin

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS



God Bless our soldiers and our country…

 

We all know someone that is there, about to go there or has someone there…

This one is for Private Matt Maupin, a local soldier captured 4 yrs ago and listed as missing in action. His remains were finally discovered
this past weekend March 29-30, 2008). He would have been 24 this July.
The insurgants put him on video after they captured him and televised
it. Shortly thereafter another video was seen of a soldier as he was
beheaded. But his family firmly believed it wasnt him. All
we know is that his remains have been found, whether or not he was
actually beheaded, we dont know (and they complain about how we treat
our captives). But his family now has closure. President Bush called
and offered his condolences. Matt's family has been to the White House
several times at the request of the President. His family is not mad
that he went and sacraficed his life. They are extremely proud of him.
His family and many of their friends even marched in our local annual
Baseball Opening Day Parade on Monday, proudly carrying Flags in honor
of their son.
I think President John F. Kennedy expressed it rather well when he said,
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your
country." God Bless Matt Maupin, and all of our soldiers, Veterans,
past, present, future, living and deceased. Long Live Freedon.

I'M not breaking this one. If I get it a 1000
times,I'll forward it a 1000 times!

Let us pray...

Prayer chain for our Military.... Don't break it!
Please send this on after a short prayer. Prayer for
our soldiers Don't break it!

Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect
them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless
acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'

Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for
a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. There is
nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not
let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier,
Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best
one.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR PASSING IT ON!

See no progress, Hear no Progress, Speak no Progress

Joe Lieberman saidot best yesterday,"hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, and most of all, speak of no progress in Iraq."  The Defeatocrats in the Senate are using the hearings with General Petreuas and Ambassador Ryan Crocker as a poitical show.  They do not listen or do not want to hear of the successes the Iraqi government has made.  They are playing petty political games with our military to the Left Wing base in their party. They should be ashamed of themselves.

'See No Progress'
April 9, 2008

A useful measure of General David Petraeus's achievement is the turn in the political mood, even in the U.S. Congress. In September, Senators felt entitled to lecture, even berate, the Iraq commander. This time he was accorded more respect, no doubt because the surge is showing results even Democrats can no longer deny. Instead, they ignored them.

At yesterday's Senate double-header, General Petraeus was sober and candid in characterizing the security progress made since last spring, calling it "significant but uneven" and ultimately "fragile and reversible." He noted important advances: Both high-profile terror attacks and civilian deaths, including those due to ethno-sectarian violence, are in decline. Half of Iraq's 18 provinces are under Iraqi control, and Anbar and Qadisiyah are expected to transition over the coming months. Al Qaeda in Iraq has been greatly diminished because of "relentless pressure" and better counterinsurgency intelligence.--WSJ

Petition for General Patreaus

I got this from a RedState email.

Dear RedState Reader,

All the best,

I'm sorry to have filled your inbox this week, but there are so many pressing matters this week.

First up, please consider signing Congressman Mike Conaway's petition in support of General Petraeus, who keeps getting attacked by the Democrats to undermine his credibility.

Second, The Democrats and the media are at it again.  This week is very instructive for how the media and Democrats coordinate their activities together.  It also shows just how ignorant Democrats and the media are about the military, both equating a military presence with actually being at war.  Do we want a President who shows such a profound misunderstanding?

Barack Obama has said repeatedly in the past several weeks, things like this:  "[McCain] wants to continue this war in Iraq maybe for another 100 years."

Then Obama's campaign strategist would say, as he did Monday morning on MSNBC, "Senator Obama hasn't said that Senator McCain said we would be at war for 100 years."

The media would then report on the Presidential campaign using quotes from Barack Obama like this one in the Chicago Tribune:  “Meanwhile, Sen. McCain has been saying I don’t understand national security, but he’s the one who wants to keep tens of thousands of United States Troops in Iraq for as long as 100 years,’ Obama said.”

No where would they point out that major nonpartisan fact checking organizations have called that statement a "gross distortion."

Just so you have the facts, here is what John McCain said in response to a question about leaving troops in Iraq for 50 or 100 years:

"We've been in Japan for 60 years, we've been in South Korea for 50 years, that'd be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed.  That's fine with me and I hope it would be fine with you if we maintained a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Qaeda is training and recruiting and equipping people."

Clearly McCain was talking about a peace time standing presence.  The "not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed" line kind of gave that away.

Notwithstanding that, the DNC is now out with an email blast begging for money, saying again that John McCain wants to fight another 100 years.  No doubt the media will keep repeating it, never pointing out the gross distortion of what McCain said.  It is important, however, that we all have the facts to point out the Democrats and media are working together to push this lie.

Of course, it could just be that the Democrats are clueless about the military.  Someone should ask the Democrats if they think we're still at war with the confederacy, the Germans, and the Japanese given all the standing American armies in the South, Germany, and Japan.

Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com

Liberal Values does not agree

   

This is cool

Got this in my email today.

Can't believe this was done by a teenager!! 
There is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa.
For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times. A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed.

It's quite an impressive sight. Be sure to scroll down and check out the multiple photos.  (all angles) of the rock.

I thought the flag was draped over the rock, but it's not. It's actually painted on the rock too.

Here's the artist

Ray 'Bubba' Sorensen.

AWESOME Work, RAY...
Thank you!
' God Bless America '
and
'OUR SOLDIERS AND VETS'


Pass it on.

You may be only one person in the world, but 

you may also be the world to one person.

 

Grizzly Groundswell Slaute

This salute goes out to Karla Comfort and her Marine Mobile.  Her songave his life for our freedoms and the freedoms of all the Iraqis. This is a greattributeto our fightingmena and women.

A Memorial 

KEEP THIS HUMMER MOVING ....

What a difference in attitude to that other mother who lost her son.
       CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. ( March 2, 2006)

Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even some salutes from people when she drove from Benton, Ark., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in her newly-painted, custom Hummer H3 March 2. The vehicle is adorned with the likeness of her son, 20-year-old Lance Cpl. John M. Holmason, and nine other Marines with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7 th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division who where all killed by the same improvised explosive device blast in Fallujah, Iraq, in December.

For Karla Comfort, having the vehicle air brushed with the image of the 10 Marines was a way to pay homage to her hero and his fellow comrades who fell on Iraq's urban battlefield

"I wanted to let people know (Marines) are doing their jobs honorably, and some of them die," said the 39-year-old from Portland, OR "I don't want people to forget the sacrifices that my son and the other Marines made."  

Leading up to her son's death, Karla Comfort had received several letters from him prior to his return. He had been deployed for five months, and Comfort "worried everyday he was gone until she got the letters and found out the date he was coming home," she said.

Marines knocked on the front door of her home in Farmington , Mich., at 3 am with the dreadful news.

"I let my guard down when I found out he was coming home," she said. "There are times that I still cannot believe it happened . It's very hard to deal with."

Karla Comfort came up with the idea for the rolling memorial when she and her two other sons attended John's funeral in Portland, Ore.

"I saw a Vietnam (War) memorial on a car, and I said to my son Josh, 'we should do something like that for John,' she recalled. "He loved Hummers."

She purchased the vehicle in January and immediately took it to AirbrushGuy & Co. in Benton , Ark. , where artist Robert Powell went to work on changing the plain, black vehicle into a decorative, mobile, art piece.

"I only had the vehicle for two days before we took it in," she joked.

Two hundred and fifty man-hours later, Powell had completed the vehicle. The custom job would have cost $25,000 Out of respect for Karla Comfort's loss and the sacrifices the Marines made, AirbrushGuy & Co. did it for free. Comfort only had to purchase the paint, which cost $3,000.

"I love it," she said. "I'm really impressed with it, and I think John would be happy with the vehicle He would have a big smile on his face because he loved Hummers."

Karla Comfort gave Powell basic instructions on what to include in the paint job. But in addition to the image of her son in Dress Blues and the faces of the nine other Marines, there were several surprises. "He put a lot more on than I expected," she said "I think my favorite part is the heaven scene."

On the left side of the vehicle, a detail of Marines are depicted carrying their fallen comrades through the clouds to their final resting place. The American flag drapes across the hood, the words, "Semper Fi" crown the front windshield and the spare tire cover carries the