Walking For Our Troops- Earlier This Week

Al "Iron Grandpa" Slusser, a 72-year-old Arizona native, is walking from Key West, Fla., to
the Canadian border north of Maine to honor U.S veterans and troops.


PHOTO  Linda Cicoira

He stopped at Melfa Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co. for a short rest Tuesday. Slusser said he’s gone about 4,200 miles since April 5, 2011, when his eastern coastline walk began.

A friend drove him over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel earlier this week.

A Navy veteran who served in Europe during the Vietnam Era, Slusser already has walked "from sea to shining sea." He went from San Diego to Annapolis last year while pulling his cart of belongings, which includes a cell phone, a  satellite locator, flags from all branches of the service and pins in his hat from all but the Air Force.

He dedicated that journey to seniors and disabled Americans, including veterans.

Slusser said hehopes to walk the western coastline next year,completing 7,300 miles by age 73. "I don’t mind the heat but the humidity" is a different story, he said

 I’m losing weight by the gallons." Slusser said everyone has been really nice to him. He is collecting

 names of loved ones who were POW, MIA or KIA for a memorial service at the border.

To follow his travels or offer a name, go to www.c2cw.com

Source;  easternshorepost.com

                                                                              

Al Slusser - AKA "IronMan Grandpa" Keeps On Walking

This man is incredible not to mention patriotic!  You can follow his travels on his website www.C2CW.com or on facebook - The Great America Walk With "IronMan Grandpa Al Slusser"

Al Slusser is known as the Ironman Grandpa. Slusser decided in the summer of 2009 at the ripe old age of 71 to walk across America to honor those who sacrifice part or all of their lives to serve in the military protecting our country. On October 1, 2009 ,Slusser walked out of the waters of the Pacific Ocean and headed East. Several months later after a three month hiatus to tend to a family emergency, Slusser stepped into the foam at Ocean City after walking 3188 miles.

But that wasn't the end of Slusser's journey.Slusser, now 72 decided to add to his legacy by walking up the East Coast of the United States from South Florida to Maine. Slusser stopped by WESR Wed morning and talked about his journey on the air with Felicity Stokes.

Slusser hopes to get to the Canadian Border in Maine by October where he will conduct a memorial service for those who gave their lives to protect our country.


After a trip across America and then one up the East Coast you'd think that Slusser might want to retire and take it easy. Next year at 73 Al Slusser plans another chapter in his travels. He plans to walk the West Coast from San Diego to the Canadian Border in Washington State.

Source; shoredailynews.com

Protesters From Westboro Baptist Church FINALLY Learn About Karma and Patriotism!!

McALESTER - Members of a Kansas church that protests at military funerals may have found themselves in the wrong town Saturday.

Shortly after finishing their protest at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey of McAlester, a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to their minivan, only to discover that its front and rear passenger-side tires had been slashed.

To make matters worse, as their minivan slowly hobbled away on two flat tires, with a McAlester police car following behind, the protesters were unable to find anyone in town who would repair their vehicle, according to police.

The minivan finally pulled over several blocks away in a shopping center parking lot, where AAA was called. A flatbed service truck arrived and loaded up the minivan. Assistant Police Chief Darrell Miller said the minivan was taken to Walmart for repairs.

Even before the protesters discovered their damaged tires, they faced off with a massive crowd of jeering and taunting counterprotesters at Third Street and Washington Avenue, two blocks from the First Baptist Church, where the soldier's funeral was held.
Miller estimated that crowd to number nearly 1,000 people, and they not only drowned out the Westboro protesters with jeers, but with raucous chants of "USA, USA."

A few motorcyclists interspersed among the crowd also revved up their engines to muffle the protests.

More than two dozen law-enforcement officers - state troopers, sheriff's deputies and city police - formed a security cordon around the Westboro protesters.

"We're here to protect everyone," Miller said.

Westboro members picket military funerals across the country, spreading their message that "God hates America" because it tolerates homosexuality.
www.tulsaworld.com

COALITION TO HONOR GROUND ZERO

MEDIA ALERT

COALITION TO HONOR GROUND ZERO http://stop911mosque.com


Contact: Coalition to Honor Ground Zero at stop911mosque@gmail.com or (212) 726-1124


STOP THE GROUND ZERO MOSQUE

AMERICA WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM SEEKING THE TRUTH AND SPEAKING OUR VOICES OF CONSCIENCE

MAJOR PROTEST AND PRESS CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY AT THE PROPOSED MOSQUE SITE


DATE: Sunday morning, August 22


BACKGROUND: On August 19-22, 2010, America’s 9/11 Foundation, an organization that first coalesced eight weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, will conduct its ninth trek for motorcyclists to the three 9/11 crash sites, at Shanksville, PA, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center site in New York City. (http://www.americas911ride.org).


SUNDAY MORNING EVENTS AT GROUND ZERO: On Sunday morning, at 8:30 a.m. a flag line and memorial at Ground Zero will gather at Ground Zero to greet the arriving Memorial Ride.


Following the flag line, which will be joined by members of the Coalition to Honor Ground Zero, the Coalition will invite all patriots to move to the site of the controversial proposed mosque for a major rally to begin at approximately 10:30a.m.


WHO: Motorcyclists from across America; the Coalition to Honor Ground Zero; Blue Collar Corner; The Bravest; 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America; Women United International (http:womenunitedcodered.org); ACT Manhattan; and many other organizations and leaders to be announced, as well as local residents living in the Ground Zero area. The Coalition to Honor Ground Zero is calling upon all patriots to show support for the missions of America’s 9/11 Foundation and of the Patriot Guard Riders, by joining the flag-line at Ground Zero in the morning. Further information about participating organizations and speakers will be released later this week.


Many of the participants in the Memorial Ride are members of the Patriot Guard Riders (http://www.pgrny1.org/) and other military and first responder support groups, who will be forming the flag line starting at Ground Zero at 8:30AM for the Ride’s concluding ceremonies. The Patriot Guard Riders (nearly 200,000 strong nation-wide) ride escort and stand flag lines in honor and respect of those who have given their all in service to America.

"We are inviting all to join us in actively honoring our active and veteran servicemen and women and our first responders including firemen, police and EMT workers on Sunday." says Dave Kern, NY State Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders.

PLEASE VISIT
Coalition to Honor Ground Zero
http://stop911mosque.com

www.resistnet.com

Bikers Honor 9/11 Victims With Annual Ride

SHANKSVILLE — Bikers wearing red, white and blue bandanas and with American flags flying from their motorcycles gathered outside this tiny town Thursday on their way to visit hallowed ground. Their three destinations: The nearby site of the crash of Flight 93, the Pentagon and, eventually, ground zero in New York City.

More than 700 bikers and police officers are participating in the 10th annual ride, sponsored by the America’s 911 Foundation.

Many said they want the focus to be on reminding people what happened on Sept. 11, 2001 – not the current controversy over a proposed Islamic center and mosque near where the twin towers once stood.

“It’s a remembrance ride. A lot of the general public have become complacent with the events of Sept. 11. That can’t be,” said Rick Flick, 50, who lives in western Pennsylvania and has been participating in the ride for nine years.

A volunteer firefighter, Flick was on the scene after Flight 93 crashed and said the ride is personal for him.

Bill and Mary Byers, of Washington, Pa., are participating in their first ride with the group. A longtime biker, 51-year-old Bill Byers has never been to ground zero and has mixed feelings about the proposed mosque.

“Muslims are like any other religion. The people who are putting this mosque up are just regular people,” said Byers, wearing a black leather vest with a pentagonal patch that is the ride’s logo. At the same time, he said, “You don’t want to have the families feel they are disrespected.”

Pete Burgoon, 65, a member of the Red Knights, a motorcycle club for firefighters, greeted bikers arriving in town. Wearing a red T-shirt and black leather vest, the Altoona resident said the ride is a chance for people to pause and think about the lives that were lost that day.

The America’s 911 Foundation was started by Ted Sjurseth and his wife, Lisa, just weeks after the attacks, and the group had its first ride to New York City that fall.

The group was started with the goal of bringing back tourists and money to businesses hard hit by the attacks; it later evolved to a group dedicated to honoring first responders, as well as promoting volunteerism, said Roger Flick, of Damascus, Md., the group’s promotion’s manager.

Bikes started lining up Thursday outside a hotel in Somerset where the ride is to start early today. Riders will be escorted by dozens of police on motorcycles, and participants are expected from as far away as California.(Photo taken from previous ride) The participants visited a temporary memorial set up at the Flight 93 crash site about 10 miles away. Construction is under way on a permanent memorial there, and the first phase of it is expected to be completed in time for the 10th anniversary of the attacks next year.

Ride organizers hope to also have their biggest turnout ever next year, with a bike for each of the more than 2,000 people who died in the attacks.

“This will be my ninth ride,” Flick said, “and I’ve done it every year with a knot in my throat when I think about why we’re doing this.”
www.tribune-democrat.com

A Veteran's Nightly Tribute to the Fallen

Watch CBS News Videos OnlineOn a strip of sand at the southern tip of New Jersey, there's a flagpole where 89-year-old Marvin Hume gathers a group each night.

"Every day I do the service, it's just as important to me as the day before and right on back," Marvin tells CBS News national correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Every veteran's casket is draped in a flag. Each night, here on Sunset Beach, one of those casket flags is raised in honor of a different service member.

Marvin's flag ceremony draws a big audience.

"I get hundreds," he says. "There's so many people there you can't see the ocean. God Bless America"

He's booked every night -- through this summer and next summer as well -- by families wanting to honor their heroes.

This all started when Marvin bought the property from a man who'd been raising and lowering the flag each night. He asked Marvin to continue. Marvin, a Navy vet, said sure, thinking about some buddies he lost in World War II

"I just happen to be in the right place - simple as that," Marvin says.

Hume kept his promise - and then some. He's been conducting this sunset ceremony on this beach seven days a week - from Memorial Day until mid-October - for the last 38 years.

That adds up to nearly 6,000 ceremonies.

On this night, June McKenna's father-in-law George McKenna, another WWII Navy vet, was being remembered.

June was there. No surprise; she's there every night - even when she doesn't know the vet.

"It's always emotional," June says. "Sometimes the flags have bullet holes in them. By the grace of God we're all here because of their sacrifice."

As for Marvin, he says it never gets routine for him.

"You go out there and there's no two alike," he says.

How long will he continue to do this?

"Til I drop, sure," Marvin says. "That's what keeps me alive."

And that's what keeps alive the memory of those who served - reminding us all that the Fourth of July is more than just a long summer's weekend.

VIA: CBSeveningnews

Great Weekend At The Mar-Va Theater!!

Entertainment for the whole family!

The Smyrna Fire Company Band

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Time: 4:00 PM

Admission: $10.00

Just to mention a few of their performances, this award winning band has performed for 3 presidents, marched in major cities all of the U.S. and in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

This bands great perfomance will also include the Pocomoke High School Chorus and area fire company color guards.

Music will include patriotic music, show tunes, familiar marches, tributes to our servicemen, and veterens, plus SING-A-LONGS!!

This is going to be great! Don't miss it.

Veteran Wins His Battle Over Flag

The same homeowners association that threatened to take legal action against Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, of Richmond, VA., has dropped its request for him to remove a 21 foot flag pole displaying the American flag. The association told Barfoot that his 21 foot flagpole violated the neighborhood's "aesthetic guidelines".

The 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner was backed by the Democratic Senators from Virginia Mark Warner and Jim Webb. In a letter last week, to the homeowners association, Senator Jim Webb urged the association to "consider the exceptional nature of Col. Barefoots service when considering his pride and determination in honoring out flag."

Not only has Army Col. Van T. Barefoot had the two Virginia senators supporting him but has been backed by veteran's organizations, blog sites, and most television stations across America and some parts of the world. Facebook even had a link titled "Let Col. Barefoot Fly the American Flag." FOX News reported 97% in favor of KEEPING the American flag.

Good for Army Col. Barefoot, who won the Medal of Honor in 1944, the Purple Heart along with other decorations since his retirement from the military in 1974.

A true American Hero! Ninety years old and still winning battles!!!