STOWE- Dedicates new 10TH Mountain Division Memorial 11/27/10

Great Day at Spruce Peak at Stowe Vermont
10th Mountain Memorial
11/27/10
http://www.stowe.com/mountain/photo_gallery.php

Thankgiving

Had some Turkey raised by Luke and Andrea!
GW prayed for the family and for matt and cyndi- we missed you
Jon and Abby were at her mom and dads.
The Sisters had free reign.

Psalm 16
5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Getting the Christmas tree

Missed you Matt and Cyndi but we did try to enjoy getting the tree.

Happy Thanksgiving- Pentagon Interview- PAO

Thanks for the excellent Interview Col Burleson.
Thanks Cpt Cynthia Holuta, PAO

Listen to 5:08 minute
http://www.dvidshub.net/video/101239/col-willard-burleson-part-4

http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4725


CAPT. JAMES: Bill, that ends our question period. And I'll turn it back over to you for any final comments that you want to make.

COL. BURLESON: Well, first of all, again, happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate all of you taking the time today to listen to me from here in northern Afghanistan.
It's incredibly important that you tell the story of what America's sons and daughters are doing over here. You know, I'm amazed every day by their commitment and sacrifices that they do, mostly for their buddies, but also for their families and for their country. And it makes me incredibly proud to see everything that they do. And all of you at home and those that are your listeners, your readers, your audience, ought to be tremendously proud.

And I -- and I'd like to thank everybody back in the States for their support. You know, there's community leaders, there's friends, there's clergy, there's teachers, there's coaches, and they're our military rear attachments back there. I mean, every day, all that all of them do back there makes it easier for us to focus on our job here. I think the commitment is deep. I mean, we know what happened to our country on 9/11, and it resonates very strongly with these young men over here who are giving it everything they've got every day.

So thank you to all the supporters back in the States. And thanks to all of you for taking time out of your day today to talk with me.

CAPT. JAMES: Well, thanks for participating, and happy Thanksgiving to you and your troops.

COL. BURLESON: Okay. Take care.

                        Cynthia (center)

See you soon! Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for serving!

Psalm 103:1
Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits,3 who forgives all your iniquity,who heals all your diseases,4 who redeems your life from the pit,who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Matt and Cyndi,
You are truly a blessing to us.
We never want to forget that you are a gift to us by God.
We also want you to know that our soul is refreshed when we think of you and spend our cherished times together.
So be encouraged this day and know, new and afresh, the new mercies and protection of our Lord.

“In order to our return of praises to God, there must be a grateful remembrance of the mercies we have received from him: Forget not all his benefits. If we do not give thanks for them, we do forget them; and that is unjust as well as unkind, since in all God’s favours there is so much that is memorable.”
(Matthew Henry Commentary)

We give thanks this day for you!

Love
Jayne, Joe, Jon , Abby, Rachel, and Emily Ann

Army Achievement Medal - Excellent job!

CPT Holuta, SPC Rocha, and SPC Whitmire

receive AAMs for treating an injured American on the battlefield .

 

VETERANS DAY 2010- 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

 

"On Veterans Day, we come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Americans across this land commemorate the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve the liberty of our Nation, the families who support them, and the heroes no longer with us.

It is not our weapons or our technology that make us the most advanced military in the world; it is the unparalleled spirit, skill, and devotion of our troops. As we honor our veterans with ceremonies on this day, let our actions strengthen the bond between a Nation and her warriors.
In an unbroken line of valor stretching across more than two centuries, our veterans have charged into harm's way, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, to protect the freedoms that have blessed America. Whether Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard, they are our Nation's finest citizens, and they have shown the heights to which Americans can rise when asked and inspired to do so.

Our courageous troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe have earned their place alongside previous generations of great Americans, serving selflessly, tour after tour, in conflicts spanning nearly a decade."
(Pres. Obama Veterans Day 2010)

History Channel
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymCa1eB_qLA&feature=player_embedded

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day:
A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.


"when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown — it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples." (Pres. Obama 2009)

John Piper- Thankful They Embraced the Risk
http://desiringgod.org/blog/posts/thankful-they-embraced-the-risk

The Magnitude of Grace

"My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness"

 (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Our weakness should be prized as making room for divine strength. We might never have known the power of grace if we had not felt the weakness of nature. Blessed be the LORD for the thorn in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan, when they drive us to the strength of God. This is a precious word from our LORD's own lip. It has made the writer laugh for joy. God's grace enough for me! I should think it is. Is not the sky enough for the bird and the ocean enough for the fish? The All-Sufficient is sufficient for my largest want. He who is sufficient for earth and heaven is certainly able to meet the case of one poor worm like me. Let us, then, fall back upon our God and His grace. If He does not remove our grief, He will enable us to bear it. His strength shall be poured into us till the worm shall thresh the mountains, and a nothing shall be victor over all the high and mighty ones. It is better for us to have God's strength than our own; for if we were a thousand times as strong as we are, it would amount to nothing in the face of the enemy; and if we could be weaker than we are, which is scarcely possible, yet we could do all things through Christ. (Faith's Checkbook- Nov 8- CHS)

Remembering the seasons and the Rescue--"He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved-Ps 18:19 -

Seneca Lake Vineyards in Fall

Great day to travel to Cloyne in Canada

Vincents's Bay at sunset in the North Country





Vincents's Bay in the North Country







Beaver Pond rescue 2009

 

Psalm 18:19
"He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." (ESV)

 
Psalm 18:19
"He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved--surprised to be loved! "(The Message)


Sergeant First Class Todd M. Harris
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."John 15:13:13
November 5, 2010
Fort Drum Public Affairs
10th Mountain Division Soldier killed in Afghanistan

Fort Drum, NY – A Soldier from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was killed in Badghis province, Afghanistan, on Wednesday November 3rd , from wounds sustained in a small arms attack.
Killed is Sergeant First Class Todd M. Harris, age 37, of Tucson, Arizona. He was an indirect fire infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 1st Brigade Combat Team in March 2010.

Harris joined the Army in February 1998. His previous duty assignments include Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg. He arrived at Fort Drum in August 2009. Harris previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, Iraq in 2003 and 2006 and Suriname in 2008.
Harris’s awards and decorations include five Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He also completed the basic Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, and again with the High Risk component, the Infantry Mortar Platoon Officer training, the Advance Leadership Course, the Warrior Leadership Course, the Airborne School, the Air Assault School and the Combat Lifesavers Course.

Harris is survived by his wife, two children, mother and father.