Bella-Haven is Live

[nbirnes]

With it being Memorial Day weekend, I thought I would post a couple of pictures from my Dad's funeral from May 2015. 

Per his wishes he was buried at sea by the United States Navy.  Dad joined the Navy right after Pearl Harbor and served on Destroyers in the Atlantic, Pacific and the Mediterranean.   His burial occurred from the Destroyer USS Bainbridge off the coast of Sicily where he was involved with the invasion of Sicily in 1943. 
It was a gorgeous day, the pictures turned out wonderful and it is nice the Navy still allows this and takes it seriously.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful tribute, Walks_. My Uncle Nicky was honored by Navy vets at his funeral, too, but just locally in New Jersey.

[WildCard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ej46Mhshg

[starrmtn001]

In honor of our lost loved ones, and those we never met.

[starrmtn001]

With it being Memorial Day weekend, I thought I would post a couple of pictures from my Dad's funeral from May 2015. 

Per his wishes he was buried at sea by the United States Navy.  Dad joined the Navy right after Pearl Harbor and served on Destroyers in the Atlantic, Pacific and the Mediterranean.   His burial occurred from the Destroyer USS Bainbridge off the coast of Sicily where he was involved with the invasion of Sicily in 1943. 
It was a gorgeous day, the pictures turned out wonderful and it is nice the Navy still allows this and takes it seriously.

Thank you so much, Sir, for sharing this with us.  Thank you.

[21st Century Man]

Very touching posts made by all in this thread.  My Dad served in the Navy during the Korean War but he never went to Korea.  He was stationed in Hawaii as a chauffeur to numerous bigwigs and such. Nice job if you can get it.  My family has been lucky in this past century.  No direct ancestors of mine have been involved in any of the wars that have occurred since the Civil War.  They did serve in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.  My ancestors were simply too young or too old to be called up or they got lucky my Dad.

I want to thank and remember all who sacrificed their lives for those of us who never served.God bless them and rest in peace.  Mom and Dad are buried at a military cemetery near me-Georgia National Cemetery outside if Canton, Georgia.  I plan on going there during the next few days.

[aldousburbank]

This week's Studio 360 features a well rounded discussion of The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.

https://www.wnyc.org/radio/#/ondemand/621155

[serenity]

Hey all, don't forget End of Days Radio at 9:30pm Central (10:30 eastern7:30 Pacific) on http://endofdaysradio.com or http://aliendreams.ddns.net
And if thats not your cup of tea
Spooky South Coast at http://wbsm.com at 9:00PM Central Can't miss either way

[starrmtn001]

Hey all, don't forget End of Days Radio at 9:30pm Central (10:30 eastern7:30 Pacific) on http://endofdaysradio.com or http://aliendreams.ddns.net
And if thats not your cup of tea
Spooky South Coast at http://wbsm.com at 9:00PM Central Can't miss either way

Hmmpf!  I see you left out mountin' time!     :   

[WhiteCrow]

It's a terrible pit of misery, and I thank you for writing this, WhiteCrow. For women like your mom, it must have been unbearable, and you are a victim of love. If it were in my power, I would have done the same thing.

There is talk that only a universal draft for all people of a certain age, with the option of doing home service instead of combat, is the only way out of the morass. Otherwise, we have red/blue politics as a displacement.

Thanks Nancy. But really I  haven't a clue... back then or now.

Just know ..
Honor "them" 

Love ALL

https://youtu.be/sg6xaFZStEI

[serenity]

Hmmpf!  I see you left out mountin' time!     :   

Oops 




8:30...........

[gabrielle]

to my American friends, Happy Memorial Day and THANK YOU to all those who have served and who still serve.

Freedom is so precious.   

[starrmtn001]

Oops 




8:30...........

Thank you, Serenity. 

[GravitySucks]

to my American friends, Happy Memorial Day and THANK YOU to all those who have served and who still serve.

Freedom is so precious.

Thank you Gabrielle. Yes, it is.

[starrmtn001]

The big thing to remember is that from our founding to today, we all had a role to play to protect and preserve our freedom. Some lobbied on Capitol Hill while others protested in the streets . Others went over seas, while some served in hospitals. There are heroes in all walks of life and some gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I know that Memorial day is supposed to be for the fallen heroes in our military, but I have learned in the past few years that some of those fallen are not only from our military, but in the streets, in tall sky-scrapers or on airplanes. Still others lost their lives in protest or making a traffic stop or going back into a burning building to rescue a small child. In WWII there were women pilots that flew aircraft overseas to get them to our combat pilots. Some died in combat. It was just this past week that Congress finally allowed them to be buried in Arlington and have Veterans benefits. They were not military, While Memorial day was begun to remember our fallen Military, let us this year remember those unsung heroes of all walks of life that died trying to do the right thing for our country and our people. Yes I am a tad bit biased towards our military and like them all I say" I was just doing my job, trying to do what I believed in"  Well, so were they, and this year I will think of them as well.

Thank you for letting me rant a bit


So say we all

So say we all!

[serenity]

The big thing to remember is that from our founding to today, we all had a role to play to protect and preserve our freedom. Some lobbied on Capitol Hill while others protested in the streets . Others went over seas, while some served in hospitals. There are heroes in all walks of life and some gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I know that Memorial day is supposed to be for the fallen heroes in our military, but I have learned in the past few years that some of those fallen are not only from our military, but in the streets, in tall sky-scrapers or on airplanes. Still others lost their lives in protest or making a traffic stop or going back into a burning building to rescue a small child. In WWII there were women pilots that flew aircraft overseas to get them to our combat pilots. Some died in combat. It was just this past week that Congress finally allowed them to be buried in Arlington and have Veterans benefits. They were not military, While Memorial day was begun to remember our fallen Military, let us this year remember those unsung heroes of all walks of life that died trying to do the right thing for our country and our people. Yes I am a tad bit biased towards our military and like them all I say" I was just doing my job, trying to do what I believed in"  Well, so were they, and this year I will think of them as well.

Thank you for letting me rant a bit


So say we all

Sry, hit the wrong key and deleted my own post lol.

[gabrielle]

I am currently digging this one....

https://youtu.be/IlPE1rEdAdI

[GravitySucks]

I often wonder if we still had the draft if there would be so much complacency about our never ending wars

I do believe that an all encompassing draft would have several positive effects. The administration of a program which required a 2 year service commitment may out weigh some of the benefits, but this is one way to instill a sense of ownership in our country's future and remind us that liberty is not free.

1. I believe many more people would actually vote in general elections.
2. I believe that military service is very useful in developing character and basic technical, communications, and social skills.
3. I believe that there should be a non-military option for conscientious objectors, but that everyone should have a mandatory 2 year service commitment, with a 4 year inactive reserve commitment (which would equal the current 6 year service commitment that currently exists for both active duty and reserves).

(Don't argue with me, I said I believe it, I don't really care what anyone else believes - so there - 😎)

The problem would be to implement this for EVERYONE (except those declared permanently disabled by the time they turn 18).

I know how I would implement a program such as this, but I don't ever see a candidate getting elected on a platform that says "Let's Bring Back the Draft". If someone should decide to make this a part of their platform, I would volunteer to work on helping draft the specifics to implement a comprehensive program.

I believe in the volunteer military for the professional soldier. But there are support roles currently being handled by career civil servants (and volunteer soldiers) which could be done by draftees during their 2 year active duty commitment.

[GravitySucks]

Found this on Facebook.

[BelgianCarbonFibre]

Found this on Facebook.

Not to be a smartass, but it kind looks like he/ she is holding a pistol to their head. Veteran suicides are ridiculous, so I've keep hearing.

[GravitySucks]

Not to be a smartass, but it kind looks like he/ she is holding a pistol to their head. Veteran suicides are ridiculous, so I've keep hearing.

Veteran suicides are averaging 22 a day, so that is a serious problem. It is supposed to portray a soldier saluting the flag, viewing from behind the soldier as the soldier is facing the flag.

[serenity]

Veteran suicides are averaging 22 a day, so that is a serious problem. It is supposed to portray a soldier saluting the flag, viewing from behind the soldier as the soldier is facing the flag.

The picture is wonderful! Suicide rates are alarming but what isn't in the press as much is the suicide rate of military spouses and family members. Here is an article with a bit more about it. http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/the-toll-of-war-milwives-and-suicide.html
Nancy wrote a book some years back about what she went through when her first spouse was deployed. I have it in the downloads at Alien Dreams and it's available on her website as well. It's short but a good read and adds enlightenment about the trauma of "those left behind".  A lot of military, myself included, don't realize what our families went through while we were deployed. The Army wasn't just me, but my wife and children as well.

In my area, we have good VA care. It used to be better but with the destruction of the VA Hospital in New Orleans it has gone down a bit. Hopefully, we will get a new hospital soon to augment the clinic here in town.

Coffee is on and breakfast is on the way (I hope  )

[TigerLily]

Sunday Brunch ... with extra bacon 

[serenity]

Sunday Brunch ... with extra bacon 

You are a lifesaver!

[gabrielle]

saw these little beauties on my walk today.  I love spring.  (and summer, and fall, and winter...LOL)

Good afternoon everyone.

[GravitySucks]

Sunday Brunch ... with extra bacon 

Excellent!!! Thank you TigerLily.
Sorry that the first pic is upside down.
These yellow flowers are in my front yard. I think they are a variety of esperanza.

[gabrielle]

Hey, Gravity, your yellow flowers look like little bells too!!!!  Cool.

[serenity]

Hey, Gravity, your yellow flowers look like little bells too!!!!  Cool.

I'd post some pics but all I have is weeds. Looked at my cucumbers today and found some other weird plant growing. Cant wait till it buds so I can see what it is lol

[gabrielle]

the other day I heard something beautiful, spoken by a child.  She said, "yesterday my lawn was full of dandelions and today it is full of wishes."

Weeds are cool too.!!!

[serenity]

the other day I heard something beautiful, spoken by a child.  She said, "yesterday my lawn was full of dandelions and today it is full of wishes."

Weeds are cool too.!!!

Yes they can be Gabrielle. mine will be really full in a day or two. Had a helpful child (37) try to help by mowing the lawn. Ill be able to do it myself when the parts arrive to fix the lawnmower late week. lol ( dont ask)

[aldousburbank]

I guess this is the appropriate place for inserting a few pics if some of the Burbank Compound landscaping.