Keep a fire burning in your eye
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
I don’t remember losing track of you
You were always dancing in and out of view
I must have thought you’d always be around
Always keeping things real by playing the clown
Now you’re nowhere to be found.

--For a Dancer by Jackson Browne

Today we remember Pfc. Daniel A.C. McGuire, 19, of Mashpee, MA who died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Bereavement in their death to feel
Whom We have never seen –
A Vital Kinsmanship import
Our Soul and theirs – between –

--Emily Dickinson

Note: This is a sister to the diary posted earlier by IGTNT diarist SisTwo.  Please go here to view.

                                   DoD Identifies Army Casualties

           The Department of Defense announced the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 1 in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device:

Please join me below the fold to honor these unseen young men with whom we most certainly share a kinship.

I work in the financial industry where my co-workers freely admit they "vote with their wallets".  I have always been in the minority at election time...and just about every other time too.  I'm used to it and I fight the good fight, I think, by arming myself with talking points and facts about my world view.  Today, I had help from Barack Obama himself.

God Willing

So as you walk out the door
Take care, and always be sure
That the ones in your life
Know that you love them tonight
Fate has one guarantee
And we all must agree
That the best laid plans
May all change by tomorrow

God willing, It's the last time I'll say goodbye
God willing, I'll see you on the other side
It's the last time I'll put my arms around you
The last time I'll look into your eyes
I've come here to put my arms around you
And say one final goodbye
Yeah, I'll see you on the other side

by Dropkick Murphys from The Meanest of Times (2007)

Tonight we remember three young men who died far from their homes while serving their country:  Marine 1st Lt. Jason D. Mann, Navy Aviation Boatswain Mate Third Class Petty Officer Daniel R. Verbeke and Army Pfc. Willington M. Rhoads.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.  ~From a headstone in Ireland

                                                       

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Estell L. Turner, 43, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died July 2 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered on June 28 in Malikheyl, Afghanistan, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY.

Today we remember Army Spc. Estell "Lee" Turner:

Please also visit twilight falling's diary, IGTNT: Footprints on the Sands of Time. Thanks to all who bear witness with us so faithfully!

From King Henry V by William Shakespeare:

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother..."

Brothers for eternity, then:

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.**

We have lost five more of our precious servicemen:

I inadvertently attended a Memorial Day ceremony today.  

I was at the cemetery for an entirely other, personal reason and found myself caught up in a massive traffic jam: People arriving for the annual Memorial Day ceremony held at this particular southern California location.  

"Shall we stay?" I inquired of my companion and we agreed it was something we were probably meant to do.  My oldest nephew is with the Special Forces and arrived for an eighteen-month tour in Iraq about two weeks ago.  For him and for all who have served, we felt it was a meaningful way to spend the morning.

I began this election cycle as an Edwards supporter but have become a strong Obama convert resulting from the inspiration I have felt watching him conduct himself through the ups and downs of the last few months.  Be that as it may however, I have found myself thinking quite a bit recently about how much the Democratic Party seems to be imploding from the very distinct divisions between Obama and Clinton supporters.  I work with a group of people who are primarily right-wingers and they can barely conceal their glee at the in-fighting currently being exhibited by Democrats.  

And the hits just keep on coming:

Just noticed a story on CNN.com about a new ad the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is currently running.  It's a video entitled "America Needs a New Direction" and shows footage of flag-draped coffins and a makeshift grave of a fallen soldier.  The link is being sent via email to potential Democratic contributors.  

Naturally, a spokesman for the party who has made wrapping itself in the flag a new art form, is sharply denouncing the video.

I am not a fan of country music.  In fact, my taste veers strongly into the area of punk, heavy metal and rock and roll.  Today after work, however, I am making a beeline to the nearest music store to pick up the Dixie Chicks newest release.  I probably won't listen to it much, but I'm not buying it for the music anyway.  I am buying it to show support for the Chicks and the position they have taken against the current administration.  As you know, many country music stations have banned the Chicks as a result of their political position, specifically for a remark they made from stage about a year and a half ago: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."  The fallout from that statement has been immense, so though my punk sensibilities are tingling, I will buy their new CD as a small salute to their honesty and courage.

This is the letter I've sent to the Los Angeles Times today:

"Where does the buck stop today?

In Truman's day, responsibility for good or ill, began and ended at the President's desk.  Whether you agreed with him or not, Truman's sense of obligation and commitment to his role as the country's leader is not often argued.