"Soon…16 warrior souls are seeing each other for the first time – with questioning eyes…whoa. What now? They see their physical bodies in the wreckage – but they are still here. Is this what death is? They are motionless, unsure, seeking answers. A light shines above them, and an angel comes down to them – beckoning them to come. The angel is dressed in a WWI style infantryman’s uniform. He tells them, without words, not to worry. Warriors take care of their own in Heaven, he says. They have been expected, and there is a big reception planned. He asks if they would like to visit their loved one’s before going to Heaven. They all say yes. The angel takes them instantly to their homes – where word of the tragedy has not yet reached. They see their wives and children sleeping, playing. They see their parents, friends, and teammates. They tell them not to worry, for they are going to a safe place. They pray that their loved ones will understand that life is fleeting, and that death is part of the warrior’s path. Do not grieve us they say…we died an honorable death. Honor our memory. Tell our story. Teach our children how to live with dignity and honor. Teach our teammates how to live well, and die honorably. Mourn us for a time, but then celebrate our lives."

God Bless them all.

And God Bless all of you on the 4th of July.

Mark Divine USN (Ret.)

This is the plane you've seen "mated" to fighter and bomber jets while transferring fuel to them.

Now, for the really fun part, I give you the real live crew of what was the busiest of these tankers at work in Afghanistan during the beginning of US operations there:

The crew, starting from the lower left and moving clockwise, is 1st Lieutenant Alison, navigator, Capt. Heather, pilot and aircraft commander, Capt. Waynetta, co-pilot, and Senior Airman Lyndi, boom operator. Between the four of them, they total almost 4,000 flying hours.

Next time you think we aren't doing much in that country as far as operations go, think of all the Afgan women who have seen these young women in action!

Makes me wanna dye my hair I tell you!

This organization is currently working to memorialize the names of all members of both US and Allied forces who lost their lives during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

The second link is also a memorial of that day and it's difficult to watch. It is graphic and it is heartbreaking...but what occured that day was graphic and heartbreaking wasn't it?

I owe it to my friends, especially the ones no longer here, to never forget, nor water down the horror they went through that day... because I would then deny their response to it.

All of them...on the planes, in the buildings and in the rubble of the aftermath met with the darkest hour our nation has ever seen. And they did so with the brightest light of all that is good and honorable in the human spirit.

I love them and I miss them and I'll be damned if I take that away from them now.

It hurts like hell, but I will remember.
And I will hug the friends I see today extra tight and maybe be a little more aware of how blessed I am to have them.

Can't Cry Hard Enough

"9/11 Tribute"
(graphic images)

Cut & Paste if link fails
http://home.comcast.net/~sept11/