This has been for me - a very strange Memorial Day. Michelle and I spent it mostly by ourselves. Early I cooked and delivered a meal to a dear friend - but then we just did things around the house. No marching band, no picnic in the park or at the lake, no movie, no trip to the cemetary, no shopping - we just puttered! She was pretty put out with me but my heart was someplace else. Maybe it was at Arlington National Cemetary, or the Vietnam Wall, or Flander's Field, or who knows - I just did a lot of thinking about life and how it is speeding by!
Here is a story that perhaps conveys that feeling:
Will You give this to my Daddy?
As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support 'Red Fridays.'
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed One of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and Cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi...'
The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her...
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second... Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it..
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday - and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED.
The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is.....We need your support and your prayers.
Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example.
I am wearing RED this Friday - how about you?
Travis was talking tonight about telling someone much younger than him that when we grew up there was no Memorial Day holiday. I remembered that just today I read in the paper where Memorial Day was not an official holiday until May 30, 1971. Let's just pray that no one takes that away from us. IT is sad and scary to think that at the present time we have a president that refused to take part in the Memorial Day Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetary.
I do have a great recipe for you to try!
MEXICAN SQUASH
2 cups summer squash, cooked, drained and mashed
1 cup cooked rice
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
3 Tsp. cumin
1 lb. hamburger meat (make sure it is very lean), browned and drained
1/2 pkg. meat loaf seasoning.
Mix, put in casserole dish (make sure to spray it first). Cover with 1/2 cup crushed Frito chips. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly.
You have a meal!!!
But if that recipe doesn't satisfy you or suit your fancy, try:
TURKEY SAUSAGE TURNOVERS
1/2 lb. Turkey sausage
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon dry Sherry (cooking Sherry is fine)
1 - 15 oz. pkg. Pie crust
1 Egg yoke
1 Tablespoon water
Paprika
Sour Cream
(Now looking back at this recipe -- how bland could it be? Certainly would not complete with the wonderful pies you get in Louisiana.
Now let's add:
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Penzey's Fresh Ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. (at least) Cayenne pepper
2 cloves of garlic - minced or pressed
1/2 tsp. Mural of Flavoring (Penzey's) or 1 tsp. seasoning salt
Cook sausage and onion. (Go ahead and add the garlic too!) Stir until sausage crumbles. Stir in flour and sherry. (Don't forget the salt, pepper, Cayenne, Mural of Flavoring or seasoning salt)
Allow to cool.
Roll out pie crust until 1/8" thick. Cut 3 inch rounds. Place 1 tsp. sausage mix on each round. Fold over and press edges. (Invest in one of those wonderful little plastic wonders that does all of this for you!)
Place on a baking rack. Brush with mixture of beaten egg yoke and water. Cut 3 small slits on top of each. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove and dust with paprika. Yeilds 2-1/2 dozen.
Note: Pies make be frozen after baked and then heated at 350 degrees for 5 to 8 minutes!
Have a restful night - and thank God we still live in a free country - thanks to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us! Do something good for someone else tomorrow!!!
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