Reno VA Hospital Visit

[Eddies66]

I am just over the moon with all the generous donations that we have received for our VA Hospital Christmas visit. The travel kits are ordered and paid for. The Yerington and Smith Valley High Schools have donated 60 stockings each filled with goodies. The ladies of the Battle Mountain Quilting Guild have donated nine beautiful quilts for the Cancer Ward and more are on the way from local sources. This is all just great news. We are all blessed to know people that care about our Veterans. Please if you want to donate please contact me via private message. We are on our way to making those hospitalized Veteran's Christmas a little brighter.

[SStockDart]

That is awesome....thanks for all you do for vets.

Also, congratulations for getting a Marine as Secretary of Defense. I look forward to some Marine discipline to be applied......great appointment.

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by SStockDart

That is awesome....thanks for all you do for vets.

Also, congratulations for getting a Marine as Secretary of Defense. I look forward to some Marine discipline to be applied......great appointment.

It has been a busy year and people have really stepped up to support this program. God Bless them all.

I didn't know Mattis but knew of him, I look to him to do great things. One thing I would like to see is more coordination between services in joint operations. Every service has wants and needs, they always want the newest equipment. I left DoD in 2013 and I saw some of the most up to date equipment that can be bought in the Marine Corps and Navy SEALs. The M4 rifle with all the optics, the M777 light weight 155mm howitzer, the M1A2 with the 120 mm smooth-bore, the F-35 Marine version that brings supersonic advantage to a VSTOL aircraft. The SEALs have always had a limitless credit card to buy anything they needed, so they are in good shape and they will whine that they need more, that is just the nature of the beast. During my time with them we did increase the force from 1200 to 2500 so they are more capable to meet maritime needs but also worldwide commitments of JSOC.

Mattis is going to be great for all services, I look forward to seeing great things.

[Jim Wahl]

Good job Eddie! This is well deserved. Jim

.

[Eddies66]

Interesting happenings today, I went to the Yerington High School to pick up first batch of Christmas stockings for the American Legion Post #9 Christmas visit at the VA Hospital in Reno. The student body went over the top in their efforts. We are all too happy to have these young people thinking and doing for our Veterans. So I proceed to the gas station to full up and strike a conversation with a gentleman doing the same. He asked me why I was in a coat and tie and I explained what the American Legion Post #9 was going and my service to the community. I see him get into his truck and than he turns around and thanks the Legion and myself for the things we do and hands me a check for $500. People never cease to amaze me.

[Greg Reimer 7376]

I would like to commend Eddie on the outstanding volunteer service that he does for our Veterans. This is the kind of thing Eddie does that makes me extremely proud to know this man. His actions prove his integrity, and his generosity to others. He definitely puts his politics and differences aside to come through for others in a very big way. America is a great country because good people do great things for others like this. Have a great Christmas and New Years everybody, let's come back next year and make it great also. Eddie, hope to see you at Pomona in February!

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by Greg Reimer 7376

I would like to commend Eddie on the outstanding volunteer service that he does for our Veterans. This is the kind of thing Eddie does that makes me extremely proud to know this man. His actions prove his integrity, and his generosity to others. He definitely puts his politics and differences aside to come through for others in a very big way. America is a great country because good people do great things for others like this. Have a great Christmas and New Years everybody, let's come back next year and make it great also. Eddie, hope to see you at Pomona in February!

We, the American Legion Post #9, are going to play it back to the community and provide $500.00 scholarships to both High Schools in the area. Greg, weather plays a big factor in getting to Pomona, if Mammoth gets socked in, I am screwed. But I always have my tickets in advance. So right now it is a go!

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Eddies66

Interesting happenings today, I went to the Yerington High School to pick up first batch of Christmas stockings for the American Legion Post #9 Christmas visit at the VA Hospital in Reno. The student body went over the top in their efforts. We are all too happy to have these young people thinking and doing for our Veterans. So I proceed to the gas station to full up and strike a conversation with a gentleman doing the same. He asked me why I was in a coat and tie and I explained what the American Legion Post #9 was going and my service to the community. I see him get into his truck and than he turns around and thanks the Legion and myself for the things we do and hands me a check for $500. People never cease to amaze me.

Thank you, Eddie
I know I speak for all of us here.

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Thank you, Eddie
I know I speak for all of us here.

I know you do, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Some things come your way that just have to be shared.Here's one of them. I thought of guys like Eddie and so many more when I found this.


The embers glowed softly,and in their dim light,
I gazed around the room and cherished the sight,
My wife was asleep,her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me,angelic in rest


Outside the snowfall,a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve


My eyelids were heavy,my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
In perfect contentment,or so it would seem,
So I slumbered,peerhaps I started to dream


The sound wasn't loud and it wasn't to near
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear
Perhaps just a cough,I didn't quite know
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow


My soul gave a tremble,I struggled to hear
And I crept to the door just to see who was near,
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night
A lone figure stood,his face weary and tight


A soldier,I puzzled,some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine,huddled here in the cold
Alone in the dark,he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me,my wife and my child


"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment,its freezing out here!
Put down your pack,brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be home on a cold Christmas Eve!"


For barely a moment I saw his eye shift
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts
To the window that danced with a warm fires' light
Then he sighed and he said,"It's really all right


Im out here by choice,I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times
No one had to ask or beg or implore me
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me


My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December
Then he said,"Thats a Christmas "Gram always remembers
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now its my turn and so here I am!


I've not seen my son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures,he's sure got her smile
Then he bent and carefully pulled from his bag
The red,white,and blue,an American flag


I can live through the cold and the being alone
Away from my family,my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat


I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sister and brother
Who stand at the front against any and all
To ensure for all time that the flag will not fall


"So go back inside,"he said,"harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right".
"But,isn't there something I can do in the least ,
Give you some money or prepare you a feast?'
It seems too little for all you have done,
For being away from your wife and your son"


Then,his eye welled a tear that had no regret,
"Just tell us you love us and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone
To stand your own watch,no matter how long


For when we come home,either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
Is payment enough,and with that we trust,
that we mattered to you as you mattered to us".


"Real integrity is doing the right thing,knowing that nobody is
going to know whether you did it or not"


"Greater love has no man that he lay down his life for his friends".
Jesus Christ.