Our Break Room

Presentation at the Memorial Day Service in Lyons, WI  – 5/29/2017

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending the Homecoming Parade at Mitchell International Airport for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.  This moved me to write something for today and share with all of you.

While it was a joyous occasion unlike our gathering today, the feelings of remembering those who had died and the sacrifices they made surfaced in my heart.  I pondered the future of our Memorial Day Service.  What will it look like in another five years, or even ten years?

The Honor Flight homecoming was a very heartwarming, moving, and awesome experience to say the least!  Recalling the lives lost in battle, gratitude to our Almighty Father for sparing these soldiers another day and the chance to return home to their families, tugged at my emotions.

The expression of support for our country and our veterans was awe-inspiring.

100’s, maybe 1000’s of family and friends came out in full force, displaying the Red, White and Blue, to welcome our Veteran’s home from their day spent touring the memorials in Washington DC.  For most veterans, this was just one of the many surprises for them throughout the day.

There were 90 veterans and their guardians on the flight that left at 5:30 am from Mitchell International.

• 13 of them were World War II veterans, 1 woman-12 men.
• 76 were Korean Veterans all men.
• They ranged in age from 74 years to 98 years old.
• Coming from 17 Counties across 3 states
• and from all branches of the Service.

These veterans have played a large part in the freedom’s we enjoy today.

The opportunity to welcome them home and thank them for their service is truly a great privilege and open to anyone.

The opportunity to support this project, through volunteering or donations, is also available to anyone. I would encourage you to participate in some manner.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is now accepting applications for Vietnam Veterans in addition to the World War II and Korean veterans for the Fall trips.  If you know a veteran please encourage them to apply.  They will not be disappointed.

 So, what will our Memorial Day Service Look Like in the Future. 

Unless you are closely connected to a service person, Memorial Day often times depicts remembering those from past wars: Civil Wars, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam etc.  The current conflicts going on today and in more recent years often times aren’t recalled as readily.

While the fatalities have declined considerably and are no-where near the numbers from past wars, today’s military is not exempt from losing those that continue to fight for our freedom.

According to iCasulaties.org this year alone, 11 US lives have been lost as a result of war.

31 lives have been lost since we last gathered a year ago.

And…since October 2001 – U.S. Department of Defense reports approximately 6900 US lives have been lost in war.

This does not include those that suffer from PTSD and other war related trauma and illnesses.

I feel it is our duty as a citizen of the United States of America to continue to remember these brave men and women for years to come.

Thank you to our Local American Legion Post 327 for their participation today.  As you can see their numbers are dwindling.

Today our World War II veterans are few and far between and the number of Korean Veterans is declining as well.

Again, I ask…What will our Memorial Day Service look like in another 5-10 years?

If you know a veteran that has served our country in any military capacity I would ask you to encourage them to join their local Veteran’s Post to help carry on the Memorial Day traditions across the nation.

I would encourage you to teach your children about the importance of remembering those that died fighting for our freedom.

As a child part of this Memorial Day Service, here in Lyons, included all of us jumping on the back of pickup trucks after the service and going to the cemeteries to place flags on the graves of veterans.  We would comb through the cemetery and search out the metal grave markers depicting the branch of service, respectfully placing a flag at their final resting spot.  A somber reminder of what this day is all about.

While today is not Veteran’s Day it is a good day to thank all of our Veteran’s for their service to this great country!  We thank their families for their commitment to stand behind their soldier.

It is a day, specific, to remember those who served our country and gave freely the ultimate sacrifice of death.  We thank those who served and are no longer with us.

In closing, please bow your heads and remember the following who have died since last Memorial Day.

*bold print identifies those that have died since January 1, 2017. 

Please remember their families who mourn their loss this first Memorial Day without them.

God Bless America

With respect and love,
Linda

As a child and teen growing up I loved little children!    When I was thirteen my mom, dad and three other siblings welcomed a baby sister to our family. Many families in the community knew I was capable of taking care of an infant so they would request my babysitting services. With many requests I was nicknamed the “town babysitter”.  I wore that title proudly and today enjoy running into some of the toddlers I helped take care of.

At age eighteen I welcomed my first son into this world.  Newly married, being the mom was a whole lot different than being the babysitter.  24/7 this child was my responsibility.

Mothering is an extremely important job! I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

A year later I welcomed son #2 and seven years later #3 arrived.  All unique blessings.

Each one had their own idiosyncrasies as well as many similarities.  We faced accomplishments together, we faced challenges together.  Tried and true we stuck by each others side.

Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day I can proudly say that together WE HAVE MADE IT!  We have made it through the trials and tribulations of childhood, the teen years, and into adulthood.  Each one of them becoming responsible young men that I love deeply.

If you are a mother, grandmother, step-mother, surrogate mother or a person that someone simply calls you mother CONGRATULATIONS you have been BLESSED with the most greatest accomplishment of all times. Wear your title proudly, you’ve earned it!

AND…. Don’t forget to LOVE deeply!

Happy Mother’s Day to All!

Linda

This quote brings back memories of days with my Grandmas.

My mom’s mom of German decent, lived with us periodically.  While she didn’t have much financially she was always able to share wise advice.  At that time however I was somewhat of a rebel child and I wasn’t very receptive to it.

She had innate intelligence and “eyes in the back of her head”.  Some days were difficult as we had two women, mom and grandma, telling us what to do, when to do it and correcting us if we were doing something we really shouldn’t have been.

If only I knew then what I know now!

She truly loved us through all of that and only wanted what was best for us.

My dad’s mom on the other hand watched from afar, she lived just a few blocks away, but really didn’t get involved in telling us what to do on a daily basis. She guided us by her actions of soft and kind words, serving us warm baked cookies, going to church regularly and having a deep faith in God.  A loving kind gentle soul.

Both of my Grandma’s have given me some of what it takes to be a good mom and grandma myself.  I hope I’m living up to their standards.

I adore my three grandchildren, a thirteen year old grandson, and eleven year old boy and girl twins. Although  they live only a few blocks away their lives are so busy with baseball, basketball, football, theatre, horseback riding, and their friends that I feel I don’t really get enough time with them. Time passes by so fast.

When I can I do try to share with them what I think to be good advice. I wonder if they too are rolling their eyes like I once did and how they might feel about it a few years down the road.

They are all kind, caring individuals. Their parents have raised them well. I just hope I had a little bit of an influence in that area too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Grandma’s everywhere!

Linda

Video Here:

09/18/2016

Lisa Barnett

Enjoy!

Lisa B

Changing the World seems like an inundated task for one person.  But if everyone works together to make small changes synergy kicks in and great strides can be made.

I recently lost a high school friend to domestic violence and alcohol abuse.

Coming from a very small community these things just don’t happen in our lives.  The reality has struck however that YES domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse is a very real thing in our world and even right here in our own backyards.

My friend and I had drifted apart through the years, but I always remembered the “spunk and fire” personality she had in high school.

After graduating I settled down to have a family she went off to the Navy. She returned from the Navy to the small town I live in and along with her was her son who was my youngest son’s age.  They grew up together and became great friends and remain great friends today.

Even though we had drifted apart her death has left a huge hole in my heart that possibly I could have done something different along the way to help her choose a different path.

In searching for some music for a prayer vigil for her I came across this song, “Try to Change the World“, and I find it very fitting to apply to my life in general.  It is up to us to “Try to Change the World”!

With drug abuse at it’s highest levels ever we are losing our children left and right.  Many of these cases are directly related to the common use of prescription drugs.   Chiropractic has always said NO to Drugs.  We need to continue to preach that crusade.

The time is now to “Try to Change the World”!

Will you do your part?

Audio: Try to Change the World by Johnny Reid

Linda

“Happy New-year! happy New-year!” It is the day of hope and a fresh beginning. Old debts shall be forgiven; old feuds forgotten; old friendships revived. To?day shall be better than yesterday. The good vows shall be kept. A blessing shall be wrung from the fleet angel Opportunity. There shall be more patience, more courage, more faith; the dream shall become life; to?day shall wear the glamour of to?morrow. Ring out the old, ring in the new! ~George William Curtis (1824–1892),

Social networking has become one of my favorite ways to find information quick and easy.  I don’t always have the time to research motivational and inspirational articles and often times my friends on facebook, twitter, linked in, etc.  with common interests come up with some pretty good information they have shared.

Today, a friend suggestion looking at Marc and Angel Hack Life!  While I’ve only read today’s article, I have subscribed and thought I’d share with all of you.

Visit: Marc and Angel for practical tips on productive living.

You’re life might never be the same again!

Linda

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood.. I remember the polished old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was “Information Please” and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone’s number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.  “Information, please” I said into the  mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.  “Information.”

“I hurt my finger..” I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

“Isn’t your mother home?” came the question.

“Nobody’s home but me,” I blubbered.

“Are you bleeding?” the voice asked.

“No,”  I replied. “I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.””Can you open the icebox?” she asked.

I said I could.

“Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger,” said the voice..

After that, I called “Information Please” for everything.. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called  Information Please,” and told her the sad story.. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, “Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?”She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, ” Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in.”

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, “Information Please.”

“Information,” said in the now familiar voice.

“How do I spell fix?”  I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much.

“Information Please” belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me..

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, “Information Please.”

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.?

“Information.” I hadn’t planned this, but I heard myself saying,”Could you please tell me how to spell fix?”

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, “I guess your finger must have healed by now.”I laughed, “So it’s really you,” I said. “I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?”

I wonder,” she said, “if you know how much your call meant to me.  I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls.”?I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

“Please do”, she said. “Just ask for Sally.”Three months later I was back in Seattle .. A different voice answered,  “Information.”

I asked for Sally. “Are you a friend?” she said.”Yes, a very old friend,” I answered.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this,”She said. “Sally had been working part time   the last few years  because she was sick.  She died five weeks ago.”
Before I could hang up, she said, ” Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?” ”

Yes.” I answered.

“Well, Sally left a message for you.  She wrote it down in case you called.  Let me read it to you.”
The note said  “Tell him there are other worlds to sing in.  He’ll know what I mean.”I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.?

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others..  Whose life have you touched today?

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

‘Don’t forget your sisters,’ she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. ‘They’ll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.’

‘Remember that ‘sisters’ means ALL the women. your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. ‘You’ll need other women. Women always do.’ What a funny piece of advice!’ the young woman thought. Haven’t I just gotten married? Haven’t I just joined the couple-world? I’m now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!’

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mother really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I’ve learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

• Time passes.
• Life happens.
• Distance separates.
• Children grow up.
• Jobs come and go.
• Love waxes and wanes.
• Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.
• Hearts break.
• Parents die.
• Colleagues forget favors.
• Careers end.

BUT………

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.  When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.  Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you….Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family: all bless our life!  The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

Author Unknown