Memorial Day means more than cookouts marking the start of summer to my neighbor Wilfredo Perez Sr. For Will, the holiday includes a visit to his son's grave in New York City. U.S. Army Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr. was killed in Iraq in a grenade attack on July 26, 2003, while guarding a children's hospital in Baquouba, Iraq.
Perez has established a scholarship in his son's name for students at Norwalk High School, the fallen soldier's alma mater.
After last year's golf tournament, the fund contains enough money to award a $5,000 scholarship annually for the next 10 to 15 years ". . . so at least he'll be remembered at Norwalk High for that long," his father said.
The Perez family is learning about fund raising works and looking to establish a nonprofit organization that would help them seek money from corporations for the scholarship fund:
"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it, and I think there are so many kids in Norwalk that need these scholarships," Vicki Perez said.
The second annual Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr. Golf Classic, is scheduled for June 6 at Oak Hills Golf Course. The tournament, which raises money for the scholarship fund, had 80 committed players last week but needs at least 20 more. For more information about the second annual Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr. Golf Classic, call Wilfredo Perez Sr. at 515-0666.
Nathan Hale Middle School, the middle school my children attended, is seeking donations for its "Operation
Adopt-A-Platoon" for troops stationed in Iraq.
Items requested for donation
include:
cash donations to cover shipping costs of goods to the troops;
writing
paper, pens, pencils and envelopes;
travel size board games; crossword puzzle
and paperback books;
music CDs, movie DVDs, X-Box and PS2 games;
candy canes;
instant coffee and coffee creamer, tea bags, sugar packets;
Gatorade mix in
powder form, powder fruit drink mix and ice tea mix;
canned fruit and canned
spaghetti or ravioli with pop tops; and
Girl Scout cookies, granola bars, gum in
chicklet form only.
According to The
Hour Items may be dropped off at the school front
office. For information on needed items on the list, space in the office for
large delivery, or to help with the project, call Kathy Gamcsik in the main
office at (203) 899-2910, ext. 1419.
On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in service to our Nation. When the stakes were highest, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen answered the call of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for the security of our country and the peace of the world.
Throughout our Nation's history, members of the Armed Forces have taken great risks to keep America strong and free. These proud patriots have defended the innocent, freed the oppressed, and helped spread the promise of liberty to all corners of the earth. In serving our Nation, they have been unrelenting in battle, unwavering in loyalty, and unmatched in decency. Because of their selfless courage, millions of people who once lived under tyranny now are free, and America is more secure.
On Memorial Day, we remember that this history of great achievement has been accompanied by great sacrifice. To secure our freedom, many heroic service members have given their lives. This year we mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, and we remember the Americans who died on distant shores defending our Nation in that war. On Memorial Day and all year long, we pray for the families of the fallen and show our respect for the contributions these men and women have made to the story of freedom. Our grateful Nation honors their selfless service, and we acknowledge a debt that is beyond our power to repay.
In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950, as amended (64 Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106 579, has also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 30, 2005, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. I urge the media to participate in these observances.
I also request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States, and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Please take the time today to remember all those that sacrificed so that we are able to live in freedom.
The RNC has prepared this video honoring the patriots who defended and currently defend America. The video runs three minutes and I found it well worth the time.
The image above is from the National Cemetery in the Presidio in San Francisco. The image to the left is an arial view of the World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which is situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel in Colleville-sur Mer, France.
President Abraham Lincoln found the most appropriate words:
The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Reuters reports that pollsters' projections showed France overwhelmingly rejected the European Union's constitution:
Projections by three polling groups based on partial results from the referendum suggested around 55 percent of voters had opposed the EU's first constitution, designed to simplify decision-making following the Union's enlargement last year.
The conventional wisdom is that voters said no to punish Chirac over unemployment and other economic problems.
Yahoo has been sued for $3 million because it allegedly failed to remove nude pictures from the Web.
According to the Associated Press Cecilia Barnes, filed the lawsuit claiming her ex-boyfriend posted unauthorized personal profiles of her containing nude photos, her e-mail address and work phone number.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the Associated Press reports former boyfriend also posed as Barnes in Yahoo chat rooms and directed men to the profiles.
"Due to these profiles and online chats, unknown men would arrive without warning at plaintiff's work expecting to engage in sexual relations with her," the lawsuit claims.
And they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. What a dick!
Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound blue catfish in the Mississippi River
According to the Associated Press, Pruitt's fish, measured 58 inches long and 44 inches around. The fish was caught was below the Melvin Price Lock and Dam on the Mississippi River at Alton on Saturday night.
Pruitt considered releasing the fish in the river but decided to donate it to Cabela's Outfitter store in Kansas City where it will be kept alive and will be on display in a tank.
Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic Party, said on national television Sunday that it is "false" that Osama bin Laden had something to do with supporting terrorists that attacked the United States:
MR. RUSSERT: Well, you said there were weapons of mass destruction.
DR. DEAN: I said I wasn't sure, but I said I thought there probably were. But the thing that really bothered me the most, which the 9-11 Commission said also wasn't true, is the insinuation that the president continues to make to this day that Osama bin Laden had something to do with supporting terrorists that attacked the United States. That is false. The 9-11 Commission, chaired by a Republican, said it was false. [From NBC's "Meet The Press," May 22,2005]
Chairman Dean is, of course, wrong. Contrary to the Yowler's assertion, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States actually supports the fact that Osama bin Laden "had something to do with supporting terrorists that attacked the United States." From the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States' Monograph on Terrorist Financing [PDF file], at page 27:
Once in Afghanistan, Bin Laden focused on building al Qaeda into a fully operating organization. Al Qaeda spent money on military training and support, including salaries for jihadists, training camps, and related expenses. Reportedly there were also propaganda and proselytizing-related expenses and costs to support al Qaeda outside Afghanistan.
Before 9/11 al Qaeda was reportedly highly organized, with a committee structure that included the Finance Committee. Credible evidence indicates that Bin Ladin played a significant role in planning each operation and was very attentive to financial matters. Other than Bin Ladin, the person with the most important role in al Qaeda financing was reportedly Sheikh Qari Sa’id. Sa’id, a trained accountant, had worked with Bin Ladin in the late 1980s when they fought together in Afghanistan and then for one of Bin Ladin’s companies in Sudan in the early to mid-1990s. Sa’id was apparently notoriously tightfisted with al Qaeda’s money.18 Operational leaders may have occasionally bypassed Sa’id and the Finance Committee and requested funds directly from Bin Ladin. Al Qaeda members apparently financed themselves for day-to-day expenses and relied on the central organization only for operational expenses.
Al Qaeda funded a number of terrorist operations, including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa (which cost approximately $10,000), the 9/11 attacks (approximately $400,000–500,000), the October 18, 2002, Bali bombings.
The scary thing is that Chairman Dean and many of his followers may actually believe Dean's vile ranting, even though it is demonstrably false. To avoid the charge that I took dean's quote out of context, I've provided a longer passage from the Meet The Press transcript in the extended post. It is worth reading, if for no other reason than to see more evidence of the uncivil tone used by Chairman Dean when talking about Republicans:
Senators reached a compromise on judicial nominees. According to the Associated Press, the compromise clears the way for confirmation votes on many of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, leaves others in limbo and preserves Senate filibuster rules.
New York's Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, has decided not to seek a fourth term, according to the Journal News.
Pirro is reportedly considering running for state attorney general or the U.S. Senate in 2006. The attorney general position is being vacated by Elliot Spitzer, who is running for governor. Former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo is eyeing the attorney general position on the Democratic side. If Pirro runs for the Senate she will be challenging Senator Hillary Clinton.
Either race would be interesting with Pirro running. Unfortunately, Pirro's decision not to seek re-elction as attorney general might not be because she will be running for statewide office. It may have more to do with her husband's bad publicity.
According to the Washington Times, a report written by investigators for the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus urges the deployment of troops on the border with Mexico:
The deployment of 36,000 National Guard troops or state militia on the U.S.-Mexico border would stop the illegal flow of foreigners into America, says a congressional report that credits the Minuteman Project with proving that additional manpower could "dramatically reduce if not virtually eliminate" illegal immigration.
[. . .]
"The tide of illegal crossings on the borders of the United States is beyond unsatisfactory; it is catastrophic. It does not ebb and flow -- it only grows. It is rising without measure and eroding the very fiber of our safety, life and culture," the report said.
"As we wage the war on terror in foreign lands, we have all our doors and windows open at home. ... The insanity of such a policy, or silent toleration of such a policy is almost criminal in itself," it said. "The Minuteman Project demonstrated that illegal immigration on America's southern border can be dramatically reduced to manageable levels."
The report, to be released today, blasts the Border Patrol's leadership, saying the agency's uniformed leadership should be pointed in a "new direction" as it is in "total denial of the magnitude of the disaster" and -- as currently organized, staffed and supported -- "cannot be relied upon" to remedy the situation soon.
The Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, is a group of 71 legislators intent on tightening border security and reducing the number of illegal aliens entering the U.S.
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