George Jones Sings

[Guest Wayne77590]

If you don't have the time, save it till you do. Even if you don't like George Jones, he will make you like it anyway. Scroll down the page after you click on the link, and follow the words as he sings. This is outstanding.

Turn on the sound!

Click below:

50,000 Names (Carved in The Wall)

[seajaycecil@yahoo.com]

Wayne, I went to DC two years ago and visited all the memorials to our brave service people there. We visited the WW2 memorial and the Korean war memorial . We went to the ''WALL'' and touched the names of the brave men and women that gave all for this country when so many decided to ''go north'' in protest. I stood there with tears in my eyes as as I touched the names. We went to Arlington for the ''CHANGING OF THE GUARD''. I watched a World War Two vet lay a wreath and held back tears of pride again.

God bless our service personnel and bring them home safe......

God bless our great nation .....

Your Friend Seajay........

[pdhardin@gmail.com]

Wayne, Great song. I've listened to it many times. I ride with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and we place a wreath every Saturday before Memorial Day at the Wall. It's an emotional experience riding over the bridge 100+ motorcycles strong approaching the Wall. Most of us Combat Vets personally knew someone whose name is carved there. In my billfold I carry the names of three of my class mates, one of them my best friend, who were KIA in Vietnam.

We're in Santa Fe now and this week I'm taking my DW to visit Angel Fire, the memorial a doctor built for his son KIA in Vietnam. I've been there before and it's a must-see for any Vietnam veteran.

Freedom isn't free.

Road Dog

[Guest Wayne77590]

In 2005 I picked up the RFTW (Run For The Wall) in Weatherford, TX. If you are a motorcycle rider and have never been on that ride - do go. It was so heartwarming to see the many patriotic americans that would stand on the side of the road, or the overpass, waving American flags. The RFTW starts in California and it is a yearly event.

There are many, many stops along the way. A days ride can be 50 miles or 250 miles. It takes about 10 days to go from CA to WDC. Some memorable events for me, other than th ride itself, were:

We stopped at many VA hospitals, American Legions, VFW's, and just about anywhere you can imagine a veteran may be.

As we got to the Mississippi state line, the freeway was closed to traffic and we were escorted by about 12 motorcycle policemen. They closed the exits ahead of us, and closed up the rear so no one could pass. What a wonderful ride. As we crossed the Mississippi River into Vicksburg, there was a Cobra and Police helicopter hovering "point" over the Vicksburg bridge. It was breathtaking. Meridian, MS opened it's arms to us and they had a presentation of the what we called 'Trail of Tears' depicting wars from the early revolution through Vietnam. At the end of the trail were small (cigar small) boxes. Each had the name, written in marking pen, of Michael Moore, Dixie Chicks, and Jane Fonda. It was a shock to see those names in such a place. When asked, the hosts at the end of the walk said, "That's in case anyone wants to spit on them." One person asked if they could do more and were told to come back after all the children had left.

Also in Meridian were army Golden Knights who parachuted in shortly after we arrived. A Huey helicopter, and I did catch a ride on it for 15 minutes sitting in the gunners door, and other paraphernalia and memorabilia. There were speeches and presentations and I'm not sure of the exact number, but there were something like 5 medal of honor recipients there from many services and wars, and a whole slew of other highly decorated veterans. To be in the presence of such men was an honor.

There was one school that we visited in Virgina that I remember, although the name eludes me right now. You have to remember that by this time we were 300+ motorcycles and many had 2-up riders. As we circled into the school yard (bus entrance) mothers and small toddlers were standing on the walkways welcoming us with waving American and POW flags. We all dismounted our bikes and proceeded into the auditorium. (I'm tearing up writing this) As the first veteran walked through the door a chant from inside could be heard. "U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A." over and over and over until every last veteran walked through the door. The school children the presented an American medley of songs, skits, and the likes of which I have never seen before or since.

When all the hoopla was over, those veterans that wanted to were invited to go to a classroom and eat lunch with the children. I went, and myself and another, being the last ones out the door, were assigned to the either Kindergarten or 1st grade. Don't remember exactly, but they were very you and definitely not past 1st graders. We had a lunch bag provided to us that was the same as what the children were eating. I think it was bologna, an apple, and a BIG cookie. We chatted with the children as we ate. They asked simple questions, mostly on the motorcycles, and we answered them.

As lunch was nearing an end I stated that the sandwich had filed me up and that I didn't want the cookie, who would want it. Oops! So, to be fair, I said that I would auction it off to the highest bidder, and of course I would never collect anything. The bidding got under way with maybe 5 of the more out-going children participating. I had it up to a quarter, pandemonium is a good way to describe it, when I heard $100 from a child. When I looked, my associate had put him up to it. At that time the yelling and screaming was so intense that all of a sudden there was a policeman's whistle sound, and the children immediately quieted down. It was the teach getting things under control. I told the children that since the cookie wasn't mine to begin with that it wouldn't be right for me to collect money for it and I split it up between the bidders.

Ah! You thought the story ended there. NOT.

We were told that when we departed the classroom to take notice of the walls,l and the base of the walls. Ha! How could we miss it. On the Walls were large posters, and on the posters were the names of every one of us who had made the ride in that day. We were asked if we would autograph near our names, which I did. Along the base of the walls were home made memorials that the children had made. Some were paper plates, simple with simple prayers, praises and condolences for the veterans who have sacrifice all. We were asked to pick up what we could and place the on The Wall.

We did.

Once we were in DC, the Memorial day ride to The Wall, started in the Pentagon parking lot. We arrived around 0800 hours (8 a.m. for you civilian types), and knew that we would not depart until noon. At 0800 I was in the 8th or 9th row of several hundred motorcycles. I think those in the first row had been sleeping there for a week!!!! When noon came, the first in line started out and up to and down Constitution Ave, and believe me, not at what I considered a reasonable speed. I hit 70 mph at a couple of times trying to keep the gap down as requested. Oh, did I mention that when the first bike when out of the parking lot, it was 45 minutes before the line I was in started to move. There were over 1 half million motorcycle participating in the "parade."

All of this is in remembrance of those who have all, the POW's and MIA's

Semper Fi!