Godspeed Smitty!

Smitty over at The Other McCain is taking some much deserved time off from blogging to go to Afghanistan courtesy of the US Navy:

I hold orders to activate in mid-November and report to Kabul, Afghanistan in time for Christmas. Bandwidth, and latitude for skylarking online will not exist until the end of 2011.

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If I’ve done you any favors, I’d ask that you make this the single most linked post in this blog’s history. I do have one other project that I want to get out, and something for Pearl Harbor day, but the regular features I’ve been doing are in a hangfire for the nonce.

Yes, there is a ‘Dread Post’ positioned in Draft, backdated to November 2009. Pray that Stacy lacks occasion to publish it.

Thanks for all the Rule 5 links (mostly to pictures of the lovely Dana Loesch). Keep your head down over there, but do enjoy the food. Kadu Bouranee and Qabili Pilau are my favorite two Afghani dishes. Of course, we'll be praying for your safe return so you can link to my blog some more enjoy many more Veterans Days to come.

Thanks for your service!

Highlights from St Louis Veterans Observance

Highlights from Saturday's Veterans Observance at Soldier's Memorial in downtown St. Louis. The video includes the presenting of the colors, national anthem, and excerpts from Mayor Francis Slay's remarks.

Faces of Freedom Rally

Missouri families came together at the Macon County Fairgrounds for the Faces of Freedom Rally to recognize and honor America's Veterans and Fallen Heroes. There were a few speeches, some great music, and delicious pulled pork. I'll have video in a future post.

Freedom isn't Free

On Veterans Day 2009 I drove over to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. While shooting video of the rows of headstones, I heard bagpipes in the distance. I searched them out and found the funeral of one of our fallen heroes.

Video of the St Louis Veteran's Parade

Video highlights from Saturday's Veteran's Parade in downtown St Louis. The Gold Star Moms video that I put up earlier is in the playlist above.

St Louis Veterans Parade

Gold Star Moms

I thought this was the most poignant moment during yesterday's St Louis Veterans Parade. I'll be posting additional videos from the parade as time permits.