A lost dog. A grandson off to war. And a Christmas that felt all wrong.
from Guidepost
www.guidepostmag.com
By Denny Distin, Greenbrier, Arkansas
December, 2009
Christmas Eve should have been a happy day.
Our house was decorated. Work was done at the small-town church where my wife, Ricki, and I are pastors. Our kids and their families were coming over the next morning. And best of all, Blake, my grandson, was coming with them.
Blake had just finished…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on November 23, 2009 at 7:11pm —
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A tradtion that we have in our house before we eat thanksgiving dinner is that we go around the table and share what we are thankful for.
I am hopeful that each of you share a thought, a prayer or just a wish. Anything that you are thankful for.
I am thankful for many things this holiday
one my son will soon be back (safe and sound) from a long deployment supporting our troups in the middle east.
Another one is that my middle son married a great gal and I am fortunate that they are now expec…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on November 15, 2009 at 9:28am —
4 Comments
Airport staff open door, hearts for goodbye
By BETH LAMONTAGNE HALL
New Hampshire Union Leader
MANCHESTER – Saying goodbye to a son or daughter deploying overseas can be one of life's most difficult moments, but Richard Jones of Amherst says the staff at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport recently made that moment a little easier for his family.
Jones and his wife, Beth, went to the airport about 5 a.m. Wednesday to see off their son, Dustin, who is on his way to Afghanistan. A sniper with t…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on November 14, 2009 at 6:33am —
6 Comments
Military Unit Gets Extra Support After Ambush
Soldier's Parents, Package Business Organize Effort
SALEM, N.H. -- The parents of a soldier who survived an ambush in Afghanistan last month have organized a campaign to ship supplies to his unit.
Spc. Keith Stickney deployed in May for a yearlong tour in remote outposts in Afghanistan.
"Pretty much as soon as my son Keith deployed, I started coming down here and sending packages to him two or three times a week," said his mother, Melissa Stickney…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on November 11, 2009 at 6:12am —
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Program Donates Heating Oil For Military Families
Thousands Of Gallons Of Oil Donated By Dealers
CONCORD, N.H. -- The Oil Heat Council of New Hampshire is continuing its program to help military families when their spouse is deployed overseas.
"Operation Helping Hand" works in conjunction with the New Hampshire National Guard.
Over the past five years, the council has donated 48,000 gallons of fuel from more than 100 dealers to 310 New Hampshire families.
Council President Bob Garside said t…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on November 11, 2009 at 6:10am —
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Dentist has sweet deal for kids, soldiers
By GRETYL MACALASTER
Union Leader Correspondent
Auburn dentist Raymond Bolduc remembers enjoying his children's Halloween candy months after the holiday.
He also remembers finding pieces stashed in their bedrooms.
With childhood obesity and tooth decay on the rise, Bolduc and his son, dentist Richard Bolduc, decided to find a way to help prevent area children from overindulging in sugar-laden treats that fill sacks and pillowcases after trick-or-treat…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on October 29, 2009 at 5:56am —
1 Comment
I am sorry that I have not been around much this summer but with the deployment of one sailor, the graduation, wedding and movecross coutry of the second and the graduation and move of number three, WOW have I been busy. Then of course the normal life things I appologize for not being around.
Ok now for the tatoos.
My oldest is now a shellback and was telling me that he wants a new tat ( a turtle and a rooster and a pig) so he thought he would enlighten me to the meanings of sailors tatoos so o…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on September 19, 2009 at 4:48pm —
7 Comments
I had recieved this from the ombudsman about the cost of the new uniforms and thought I would share it with those that may no have changed over yet like my son.
New Working uniform cost to expect:
What to expect to buy and the cost's.
2 uniforms with all the patches, boots, t-shirts, hats, winter jacket
Cost
Tops 37.20 x 2= 74.40
Pants 39.00 x 2= 78.00
Hat 6.60 x 2= 13.20
Pick one or the other
Leather boots 72.80
Suede boots 122.00
Name tapes 2.10 each 4.20
Hat device 1.45 x 2 =2.90
Collardevic…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on August 21, 2009 at 8:15am —
16 Comments
This is for all the new moms and sailors preparing to go sub. This explains the mail process in depth, and I am sure that most of this holds true for surface aslo with how they get the email etc. I know it is a little long but full of so much useful info
The Sailor Mail process ..... things you never knew
This page is dedicated to helping people understand what's happening when they receive an email saying a note they'd sent to someone onboard a submarine has been modified.
We understand you…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on August 5, 2009 at 8:09pm —
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This is what one of my sailors wrote to me in an email about life on a sub, I had a good chuckle and thought that you all may enjoy the analogy of life on a sub.
I heard an analogy that sounds pretty apt though: to simulate life on a submarine, sleep in a closet in the basement with the TV turned on to something you don't want to watch. Wake up 4 hours after you fall asleep, eat something that isn't filling or tasty at all, then stare at a pile of thermometers for 6 hours. Every hour, write…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on August 1, 2009 at 5:57pm —
14 Comments
Robert Flannery Helped Build Bases, Airstrips In WWII
http://www.wmur.com/news/20195729/detail.html
BROOKLINE, N.H. -- A man who may be the oldest living Seabee was recently honored for his service.
The Navy's Seabees were charged with the task of building bases and airstrips during World War II, and since that time, they have played a key role in the country's battles.
Robert Flannery was only 17 when he joined the Army in 1926.
"It was a different way of living, a different line of work,"…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on July 27, 2009 at 8:25pm —
1 Comment
"Ragged Old Flag"
By Jounny Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.
I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down,
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town".
I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it".
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down,
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on July 4, 2009 at 10:00am —
4 Comments
Just to let you all know that although my heart is with you all my mind and soul is with my extended family at this time.
Last night at 7 pm in the city of Manchester NH there was a devistating fire and there was a loss of life, a sweet young, innocent 13 month old child who had so many milestones that he and his mom and dad will never get to witness.
The young child was the nephew of my friend who had taken care of this child from the time that he was 6 months of age until last month when his…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on June 25, 2009 at 8:56pm —
14 Comments
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a DADDY!
Happy Father's Day to all the Daddys in the World!!
Fathers are Wonderful People
By Helen Steiner Rice
Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should...
For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills...
And Father struggles daily
To live up to "HIS IMAGE"
As protector and provi…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on June 21, 2009 at 7:13am —
3 Comments
What a proud moment for the Marine and his family !! Just thought I would share this with you all
17-Year-Old Marine Returns For H.S. Graduation
Graduate Just Completed Boot Camp
POSTED: 11:21 pm EDT June 17, 2009
UPDATED: 12:40 am EDT June 18, 2009
http://www.wmur.com/news…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on June 18, 2009 at 6:30am —
6 Comments
As a young girl I would participte in a memorial day service each yr and this was read at that. As a young person I did not understand the full meaning of this poem but .... well as a mom of sailors it touches my heart
The poppies blow
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and wer…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on May 25, 2009 at 9:11am —
3 Comments
26 Crewmembers Drowned As Sub Flooded, Sank During Test Dive
POSTED: 2:21 pm EDT May 23, 2009
http://www.wmur.com/news/19548234/detail.html
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- It was 70 years ago this weekend that the submarine USS Squalus sank off New Hampshire, prompting a daring undersea rescue of many of its crew.
On May 23, 1939, 26 crewmembers drowned as the sub flooded and sank during a test dive off the Isles of Shoals.
The remaining 33 crewmembers huddled in the forward torpedo compartment and waite…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on May 23, 2009 at 4:03pm —
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From back left to right USS Dallas sailors Juan Andrade, Everette Whitlow, Adam Koziol, and John Fletcher, and about 45 sailors from the USS Dallas and the Submarine NR1, both vessels docked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, repaint the North Hampton Town Hall on Thursday afternoon, May 2…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on May 22, 2009 at 4:10pm —
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yesterday I was at work and I got a notice on my cell phone that someone was texting me from a computer and ask if I wanted to accept? I knew the screen name and said YES!! It was my son he was in England they had made it in and he was in a bar of some type that had coputers it was so cool to get to chat with him on there. Next thing I know He called !! He had purchased an international cell phone and he called me to talk what a great thing! He is having fun enjoying his first port of call, How…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on May 13, 2009 at 8:13pm —
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Early Mom's Day for lucky duck
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Early+Mom%27s+Day+for+lucky+duck&articleId=7a7787fe-31a9-4bae-a23b-9cc63aca6c94
By SHAWNE K. WICKHAM
New Hampshire Sunday News Staff
6 hours, 30 minutes ago
MANCHESTER – A mother duck was reunited with two of her little ones after they were rescued from a storm drain, thanks to the quick reaction of some folks who work in the Millyard.
Joni Castrogiovanni, owner of Not So Plain Janes on Dow Street, said the d…
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Added by Karen Gallagher on May 10, 2009 at 7:24am —
2 Comments
