Why I Love America!

Peace Out,
~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Patriotic Moment - Local Man Returns From War

A local man came home from Afghanistan this week.

He arrived draped in an American flag.

Spc. Kevin J. Graham was 27-years-old.

While I've tried to protect my anonymity here, I believe I owe him this much. Here is the article in its entirety. American Hero

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky., died Sept. 26 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.


In annother article, Kentucky Solder Killed in Afghanistan, his minister says that Kevin felt he was doing his life's work. He was married and had a step-son.

If his parents and wife choose to bring him home for burial, I will be pulling all of my children from school to stand by the side of the road as he is brought home to be laid to rest. As far as I'm concerned, school should be closed and every business should shut down as we bring our young man home. He is a true hero, as all military personnel are, but he will never gets to hear us say "Thank-you." It will be our one chance to do so and to let his family know how much we appreciate his service and how much we are supporting them in their time of loss. Please remember them in your prayers.

Thank-you, Kevin.

LST-325 Navy Ship

I was out having lunch with a friend when we happened to notice that the LST-325 Naval ship was docked at River Front. I'd never been on a Naval ship, and since my Bear had served on the USS Iowa, I had to go see it.

It was soooooo incredible. I don't have time to tell all I saw (but I'll have a pictorial post Sunday after I take the tribe), so I'll give a few highlights:

* I spit off the side of the ship like my husband said he had done so many times.
* I used the head.
* When standing by the bunks (four stacked on top of each other) where wounded had been transported from Normandy on D-Day (TWENTY TRIPS!), I was overwhelmed by emotion. Where I stood, the bunk I had my hand resting on, men had died defending this nation. I felt such great pride and respect for our military.

The ship is being restored. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make a donation to save one of only two LST's remaining.

US LST Ship Memorial

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~