Re: Mile for Mile Matching ...

Mrs. G writes about the Operation Hero Miles [Frequent Flier] Mile for Mile Matching by the airlines this Memorial Day weekend.

Most people do not realize that even in the direst of circumstances, the military will only pay certain expenses for certain people to travel where a wounded Soldier, Marine, Airmen or Sailor is recovering. When we received the call telling us that Noah had been wounded in Iraq, one of the first questions we asked after the bare bones of the conversation of how he had been wounded and a very brief description of his injuries, was whether we should make arrangements to travel to him. Getting to our son and being there for him consumed us until we were re-united with him. The thought of how much that would cost did not enter our minds because, frankly, you know that you will "sell the farm" to get to your soldier. And the families of the wounded should not have to incur debt or worry how they will pay to be at their loved one's side under those circumstances. And recovering wounded should not have to worry about the effect on their familiy's finances either: they [should] have more important things on their minds. Programs like Operation Hero Miles (and spectacular organizations like Fisher House) are necessary programs that provide incredible and invaluable aid for military families. And just for Memorial Day Weekend, you can double the miles you donate through the airlines' matching "Mile for Mile" program.

Although we did not need to avail ourselves of this program, I hope a parent's perspective of what a program like this means will encourage those of you who might be debating whether to contribute some of those hard-earned miles to make the leap and donate them.

As family of sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and spouses now serving, we have lots to worry about. How to get to them there when you are here should not be one of them.

So drop down and follow the links in Mrs. G's post and donate some miles.

Bang the Drum Slowly

For our fallen...

I meant to ask you how to fix that car
I always meant to ask you about the war
And what you saw across a bridge too far
Did it leave a scar

Or how you navigated wings of fire and steel
Up where heaven had no more secrets to conceal
And still you found the ground beneath your wheels
How did it feel

Bang the drum slowly play the pipe lowly
To dust be returning from dust we begin
Bang the drum slowly I'll speak of things holy
Above and below me world without end

I meant to ask you how when everything seemed lost
And your fate was in a game of dice they tossed
There was still that line that you would never cross
At any cost

I meant to ask you how you lived what you believed
With nothing but your heart up your sleeve
And if you ever really were deceived
By the likes of me

Gone now is the day and gone the sun
There is peace tonight all over Arlington
But the songs of my life will still be sung
By the light of the moon you hung

I meant to ask you how to plow that field
I meant to bring you water from the well
And be the one beside you when you fell
Could you tell

- Bang the Drum Slowly, Guy Clark/Emmylou Harris

Prison Break in Diyala

via AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US forces raided an Al-Qaeda prison camp north of Baghdad on Sunday and rescued 41 Iraqi captives showing signs of having been tortured or mistreated, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Donnelly said.

But what about those 'invincable' AlQueda 'Holy' Warriors...where were they?

As we came upon this thing, we had the captors or whoever was holding them flee the scene

Ahhh...they abandoned their post...didn't even put up a fight....somehow I think the Court Martial will not go well for them.

Mile for Mile Matching ...

I just heard about this, but there is still time.

This weekend, the participating airlines will match your donation mile-for-mile, from 6 AM, Friday, May 25th through 11:59 pm, Monday, May 28th. Now is the time to donate those unused miles in your frequent flyer accounts!

Through a partnership with the Fisher House Foundation and individual airlines, airline tickets are available for service men and women wounded or injured in Iraq or Afghanistan or for their families to visit them in the hospital.

At this time, Airtran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways accept donations from their passengers.

More info on donating to Operation Hero Miles