"American Patriots"?

See the story HERE.

The Marine Corps motto means "always faithful," but the union says some reservists working out of a base on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit have been decidedly unfaithful to their fellow Americans by driving import cars and trucks. So the UAW International will no longer allow members of the 1st Battalion 24th Marines to park at Solidarity House if they are driving foreign cars or displaying pro-President Bush bumper stickers. "While reservists certainly have the right to drive nonunion made vehicles and display bumper stickers touting the most anti-worker, anti-union president since the 1920s, that doesn't mean they have the right to park in a lot owned by the members of the UAW," the union said in a statement released Friday. Shocked and disappointed, the Marines are pulling out. "You either support the Marines or you don't," said Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge

I go with Col. Rutledge.

These Marine Reservists are "citizen soldiers" - and when you call, they come.

They don't care if you drive a "union" car. They don't care if you're from Detroit, or Michigan, California, or Georgia.

If you call for help, they drop what they're doing in the civilian world, and they come.

The United States Marine Corps Reserve doesn't care if you are Republican or Democrat. The USMCR doesn't care if you're male or female. The Marines don't care if you're straight, bent, or mutilated. The "jarheads" don't care if you're "pro-union" or "anti-union".

"Semper Fidelis" means that they are always there.

The United States Marine Corps Reserve has sworn to protect YOU - even if you are a no account loser like the UAW.

Even if you are a miserable little "union" pissant.

I go with Col. Rutledge - you can take your stinkin' little parking lot and put it where the sun don't shine.

Note: I'm not "management". I'm not "rich". I'm not "union". I'm just an American who's "been there", and "done that" - USN 1969-1973, and a proud son-in-law to a "China Marine". And yes, the UAW has once again managed to really get me grumpy.

Grrrr.....

Wreaths at Arlington

Back around 1995, Worcester Wreath Company started laying Christmas Wreaths on the headstones of graves at Arlington National Cemetary. Now, that project has been picked up by Wreaths Across America.

A worthy endeavor, indeed!

Merry Christmas, boys. We're thinking of you....

(Image shamelessly lifted from BlackFive )

More on Veteran's Day

For those that have defended it, freedom has a taste that the protected will never know...

Veteran's Day

This is the 11th Day of the 11th Month, the day that guns fell silent in 1918.



The 11th of November was originally called "Armistice Day". In America, it later became "Veteran's Day", in England and the Commonwealth, "Remembrance Day".



Like a lot of Vets, I have a bit of a difficult time with Veteran's Day. I didn't do much, just floated around on a couple of US Navy ships, worked hard most of the time, and partied when I could. So, when the politicians say all these nice things about Vets, I have a hard time believing that they could possibly be referring to me.



They're talking about the guy two doors down the street. He's a Navy CPO, a submariner ("bubblehead" to those in the know), who's currently in Afghanistan of all places, making sure that some SpecOps folks get the gear they need to operate.



They're talking about Butch and Dan, who spent twenty-plus years running around in various submarines, doing whatever they were told to the very best of their ability. Since they're pretty bright and determined guys, there's no doubt in my mind they did it well.



They're talking about my Father-In-Law, one of the last of the China Marines. He served in China from 1946 right up to the time the last Marine was pulled out.



They're talking about John, who did two tours in Viet Nam in the US Army. He was, according to him, "Dinged a couple of times".



And my Dad, of course. US Army (Infantry) 1941-1946, France and Germany. Dad never talked much about his war. But he always knew that we were proud of him. Dad isn't around this year, as he passed away in July, aged 85.



Thanks, Guys.