Thursday Thanks

True story of the recovery of 19 US Marines Killed in Action on Makin Island in WWII and their return home to Arlington National Cemetery 58 years later. Story: Pat Mendoza. Music arranged by Pat Mendoza Trumpet: Steve Wiest. Singers: the Islanders and Pat Mendoza
For information on the one hour video contact
patmendoza.com

May We Never Forget What Happened On This Date

09-11-01
Today, is this 8th Year since this World Changing Event occurred.

To honor all persons we could not present anything with any better meaning or tribute then what others have done. Please click on each of the following links.
We Thank All.
Thank You.

http://freeportflagladies.com/



http://www.sept11thmemorial.com/default.asp


http://www.mshepp.com/20010911.htm


http://www.national911memorial.org/site/PageServer?pagename=New_history_Page

A Beautiful Tribute To A Fallen Firefighter

In honor of James Fournier who suddenly passed away last summer, we honor him and his contributions to the Lisbon community on his anniversary date of joining YouTube, establishing this channel, ahrensfox, and for providing this community with insight into firefighting at the local level.

Thank You and God Bless.

American Hero

Ed Freeman

You're a 19-year-old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley , 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter and you look up to see an unarmed Huey, but it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.

He's coming anyway.

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.

Then he flies you up and out, through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.

And he kept coming back, 13 more times, and took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Freeman died on Wednesday, June 25th, 2009, at the age of 80, in Boise , ID. May God rest his soul.

Medal of Honor Winner

Ed Freeman!

Since the media didn't give him the coverage he deserves, send this to every red-blooded American you know.


THANKS AGAIN, ED, FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COUNTRY.
RIP

Here Reads His Medal of Honor Citation

CAPTAIN ED W. FREEMAN
UNITED STATES ARMY

Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, of Boise, Idaho, who distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The unit was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone because of intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water, and medical supplies to the besieged battalion. His flights, by providing the engaged units with supplies of ammunition critical to their survival, directly affected the battle's outcome. Without them the units would almost surely have gone down, with much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area because of intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing lifesaving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers-some of whom would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter, where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman's selfless acts of great valor and extraordinary perseverance were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain Freeman's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Continue following

These Are Your Flags Lisbon!

Honored To Do So

I AM HONORED TO DO THIS.
Update June 30, 2009
Editor's Note: It has been brought to our attention and just confirmed with Snopes that the following is not true.
Did you know that the ACLU has filed a suit to have all military cross-shaped headstones removed and another suit to end prayer for the military completely. They're making great progress. The Navy Chaplains can no longer mention Jesus' name in prayer thanks to the wretched ACLU and our new administration.

This was sent in and it could not be found on Snopes before it scheduled to publish. Now a reader has made us aware of the untruths, confirmed this morning and it was updated on June 23, 2009 on Snopes. We are truly sorry for this confusion. Please accept our apologies.

I'm not breaking this one. If I get it a 1000 times, I'll forward it a 1000 times!

We will keep this prayer on here as we continue to pray for our Troops.

Let us pray...







Prayer chain for our Military... Don't break it!
Please send this on after a short prayer.. Prayer for our soldiers Don't break it!
Prayer:
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.
There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR PASSING IT ON!

For All Those That Have Lost A Special Friend

How Could You

The author of this article, Mr Jim Willis of Grand Rapids, Michigan, took out a $7000 full page add in a newspaper. He advised that anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for non-commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.

A note from the Author.

If How Could You? brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because the composite story of millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters.

Please use the essay to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelters and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay and neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.
Thank you.

The instrumentals from the video, "Afterglow" and "In Another Life" can be downloaded for free. Just follow the links shown in the info section of my albatross videos. Please forward the link to this video to others. There is a profound message here that needs to be told.

Lisbon PWS 3rd Qtr Student Awards‏

Three Philip W. Sugg students were recently recognized as the first recipients of the Ashlee Stone Memorial Student of the Quarter Award. The announcement was made by PWS Guidance Counselor, Brenda Thompson, on behalf of Principal Richard Green. Pictured (l-r) Travis Caton, Thompson, Paula Caron, Ashlee’s mother, Mandy Stone, and Zachariah Cribbin. (Photo by Monica Millhime)

Lisbon – On Tuesday, May 26, Guidance Counselor, Brenda Thompson of Philip W. Sugg Middle School (PWS) in Lisbon announced the third quarter Student Achievement Awards. The award has been renamed in honor of the memory of Ashlee Stone. The third of four awards for the year, honors a sixth, seventh and eight grade student. Thompson congratulated the students along with Mandy Stone. “This award is given in the memory of Ashlee Stone, a seventh grade student, who was a positive role model in our school,” shared Thompson. “Ashlee was known for her willingness to learn, having a positive attitude, being respectful to adults and her peers, being a risk taker, persevering when the going got rough, handling conflict with grace, being a friend to everyone, being a leader, and especially for her smile. These students were chosen for this award because they demonstrate all or many of these qualities,” said Thompson.

“Travis Caton, a sixth grade student, is the son of Kendra Fletcher of Lisbon. He sets high standards for himself and works hard to achieve his goals,” shares Thompson. “He is polite and respectful to both his peers and his teachers. He always has a smile and is eager to learn something new and share his knowledge.”

“Seventh grade student, Paula Caron, is the daughter of Lisa and George Caron of Lisbon Falls. Paula is an absolute sweetheart of a student. She is a hard working, independent thinker who is not afraid to try new experiences,” according to Thompson. “Paula is polite, patient, humble, hard-working, helpful, a dedicated and dependable student who is a Lisbon Junior Volunteer, an art club member and is on the Academic Advocate student newspapers staff and she deserves to be recognized.”

“Zachariah Cribbin, an eighth grader, is the son of Lashawnda Merrill of Lisbon,” shares Thompson. “Zach possesses the characteristics of a student who takes great personal pride in his academic achievements and his service to the school. Zach is active in both student council and yearbook and is always willing to help out classmates. He is well liked by his peers and deserves to be recognized for his achievements and overall goodness.”

FYI on student programs and other projects at Philip W. Sugg Middle School, contact Community Resource Coordinator, Monica Millhime at 754-0021 or email mmillhime@union 30.org or visit www.union30.org.

At Least Someone Is Responsible For Their Malcontent

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

This is the URL for SNOPES regarding this Q & A. Please read it. This is a true story.



Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit. (IT DID, PLEASE READ THE APOLOGY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS EMAIL.)

The complaint:

Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15 , his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

How Canada Does It

Memorial Day Tribute 2009 Some Gave All

America Will Always Stand

Memorial Day Tribute - For more amazing video clips, click here

We Will Never Forget These Local Soldiers

Route 196 in Lisbon Maine

To Read more about these local men please click here.

For a list of Maine's Fallen Soldiers click here.

God Bless You All!

Don't Forget About Our Wounded Warriors Either

This Memorial Day is a time for all of us to give thanks, to those who sacrificed their lives and also to remember those that are healing from their wounds. All too often these 'soldiers' end up on the back side of main stream media reporting. At this time and always they are remembered in our hearts and minds. A sincere Thank You.

For more reading please click here.

Please Don't Forget Our History

1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne , France .

A total of 2289 of our military dead.

2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes , Belgium .
A total of 5329 of our dead.

3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France .
A total of 4410 of our military dead.

4. Brookwood , England American Cemetery.
A total of 468 of our dead.

5. Cambridge , England .
3812 of our military dead.

6. Epinal , France American Cemetery.
A total of 5525 of our Military dead.

7. Flanders Field , Belgium .
A total of 368 of our military.

8. Florence , Italy .

A total of 4402 of our military dead.

9. Henri-Chapelle , Belgium .
A total of 7992 of our military dead.

10. Lorraine , France .
A total of 10,489 of our military dead.

11. Luxembourg , Luxembourg .

A total of 5076 of our military dead.

12. Meuse-Argonne.
A total of 14246 of our military dead.

13. Netherlands , Netherlands .
A total of 8301 of our military dead.

14. Normandy , France .
A total of 9387 of our military dead.

15. Oise-Aisne , France .
A total of 6012 of our military dead.

16. Rhone , France .
A total of 861 of our military dead.

17. Sicily , Italy .
A total of 7861 of our military dead.

18. Somme , France .
A total of 1844 of our military dead.

19. St. Mihiel , France .
A total of 4153 of our military dead.

20. Suresnes , France .
A total of 1541 of our military dead.

IF I ADDED CORRECTLY
THE COUNT IS 104,366

A great reminder...

Memorial Weekend Tributes To Veterans

ROBERT MATHIAS MUELLERLEILE

China, Burma, India
Member of the Flying Tigers of the14th Air Force Association

6/6/1923 - 4/23/2004

ANNA MARIE MUELLERLEILE

S1, USN served 6/1943 - 10/1944

2/8/1923 - 2/13/2003

"both forever loved and missed"

STEVEN "BEAR" MILES
Vietnam Veteran
12/13/1947 - 3/9/2009

"A Void Impossible To Fill"

JAMES HENRY TUPPER, JR

served Occupied Germany 1946 - 1950

8/10/1928 - 9/26/1994

Submitted Names:

HANK KENT
SANDRA KENT
BRADFORD BRANDON
RAYMOND RICHER (Vietnam Veteran)

Thanks To All Veterans

We Would Like To Say Thank You To All Who Have Served Or Currently Serving. May God Bless Everyone And Have A Safe Holiday Weekend.

A True Story Worth Reading, Lest We Never Forget

Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is - one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up.. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the description of both pilots many years later.) Then realize that there is a German ME-109 fighter flying next to it. Now read the story below. I think you'll be surprised.....

Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England. His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After flying the B-17 over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere.

Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane.

B-17 pilot Charlie Brown.

BF-109 pilot Franz Stigler

Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to, and slightly over, the North Sea towards England. He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe. When Franz landed he told the CO that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.

They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.

(L-R) German Ace Franz Stigler, artist Ernie Boyett, and B-17 pilot Charlie Brown.

When asked why he didn’t shoot them down, Stigler later said, “I didn’t have the heart to finish those brave men. I flew beside them for a long time. They were trying desperately to get home and I was going to let them do that. I could not have shot at them. It would have been the same as shooting at a man in a parachute.”

Both men died in 2008.

This is a true story http://www.snopes.com/military/charliebrown.asp

THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN THERE WAS HONOR IN BEING A WARRIOR...THEY PROUDLY WORE UNIFORMS, AND THEY DIDN'T HIDE IN AMBUSH INSIDE A MOSQUE, OR BEHIND WOMEN AND CHILDREN, NOR DID THEY USE MENTALLY RETARDED WOMEN AS SUICIDE BOMBERS TO TARGET AND KILL INNOCENT CIVILIANS...HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED......