VETERANS DAY

Today is Self Portrait Friday and Veterans Day, and Erik is in charge of the theme for today, and I would like to start out by wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND YOUR LOVELY WIFE. My SPF will be just a little different, it will actually represent all 2000+ soldiers that have been killed since 9/11/01. Go on over and visit Erik and see who else is playing today and wish Erik a Happy Birthday and Anniversary, but most importantly, THANK YOU ERIK. Thanks Melinda for telling me about Healing Fields. It was so worth it.

Picture of Michael on his latest mission.

Healing Field

Healing Field is a field of over 2,000+ flags assembled by volunteers for a Fallen Coalition Soldier's Field. These flags represent soldiers from 16 countries that have lost their lives in the global war on terrorism since 9/11/01.

I will try my best to describe this day the best I can, but keep in mind, you would almost have to be there yourself to understand and appreciate what all these volunteers have done for our VET's and our SOLDIERS.

I met one vet in particular on the first day that I visited the fields, and as we both stood there in silence, I could not help but noticed the tears streaming down his face. He introduced himself as best he could through the tears as a Vietnam War Veteran, and then said to me, you must have a soldier in Iraq. As I tried to hold back tears myself, I proudly said you bet I do, and I am so proud of him. He then proceeded to tell me what I should expect when our soldiers come home, and told me to please be patient and very understanding. We continued to talk as we walked through the flags, until again we were both speechless as we approach the flags of all the different countries that were represented. Each flag in this field had the country the soldier was from written on the flag pole, and a yellow ribbon was attached to each pole with the soldier’s name, rank, age, unit and location and date of death.

Some of the pictures were taken from a cherry picker, which carried me 50 feet in the air. I am terrified of heights. Once my feet were safely back on the ground (after only 6 shots), the gentleman informed me that I was the first person that he had ever taken up in that cherry picker. Good thing he waited until my feet were on the ground.

THANK A VET OR SOLDIER TODAY IF YOU GET THE CHANCE.

THANKS TO ALL THE VETERANS AND SOLDIERS OF

YESTERDAY TODAY AND TOMORROW.