Aww Monday
My first dog 1954. His name was Muggs and yes he was a Cocker Spaniel.
My current dog Lucy, and yes, she is a Cocker Spaniel.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
A while back our fearless leader, Curious as a Cathy contacted me about co-hosting a month of 4M. I have never hosted nor co-hosted a blog hop, so I am not sure how this is going to go. I consider it an honor to join the others who participate in this endeavor. The best things about this blog hop is that I get to hear music that is new to me and I also get to revisit music from my past that I have forgotten about over the years. So with your patience and understanding, here we go.
This week is supposed to be a freedom of choice week but since Independence day is just around the corner, I am going to get an early start on my Songs of Independence theme. I don’t know about you but I am forever grateful that I was born, raised and live in the USA. When you look at the world around us and consider all of the places where you could have entered this world and all of the trials and tribulations that might have been a part of your everyday life, it is easier to see just how blessed we are to be born and bred U. S. citizens. Few nations offer their citizens the the freedoms and opportunities found in this great country. I am doubly thankful for having been born and raised in the the great state of Oklahoma. Although we now call Arkansas home, Oklahoma will always have my heart. I love the honesty, friendliness, and independent nature of people in this part of the world. I love that I have always lived in smaller cities and communities and that the countryside has always been just a few minutes drive from my residence. We lived in Dallas for a couple of years and while I love the people of Texas, Dallas was just more people that I wanted to deal with on a daily basis. But, like I said, I am forever grateful that I was “Born in the USA”!
I am truly thankful that our country has come to realize the sacrifices that those in the military make in order for the rest of the citizens to enjoy living the American Dream. It hasn’t always been that way. I was drafted into the military in 1966 and deployed to Vietnam in 1967. The Vietnam war caused some of the worst civil unrest in history of this country and a portion of the anger was directed at those soldiers returning home. One needs to keep in mind that a soldier does not pick the cause nor his adversary. He does not select the battle nor debate the validity of the conflict. A soldier goes where he is ordered, engages the enemy of his day and if necessary gives his life for a cause chosen for him by his government. War takes its toll on everyone who serves and it is impossible to explain the personal impact that combat has on those who survive. For those of us fortunate enough to return from the war, we were the Fortunate Sons.
On September 11, 2001 our world was turned upside down when two hijacked airliners were flown into the World Trade Center Towers and killed more Americans than we lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus we were thrust into the war on terrorism and it continues to this day. Americans saw live, what an act of terrorism looks like and the brutal reality of war. It left a hole in the ground and another one in the heart of this nation.
Today the war on terrorism continues. But just in case you were wondering, this is what freedom looks and sounds like.
Our nation is divided on a number of issues and the two sides don’t always seem to be truly interested in solving the problems set before them. Still, this is the land of the free and the home of the brave and for all of it’s scars, bumps, bruises, and imperfections, it is still America the Beautiful. Have a blessed week.
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Driller's Place 
You did a great job on this, my friend. Cathy will be most pleased.
I love both your pups, past and present.
Love all your patriotic songs and photographs. Excellent.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. 🙂
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Somehow this comment wound up in the Spam folder. I just found it and approved it, so you’re not as forgetful as you thought. Have a blessed day.
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You need not worry about performing your duties as honorary conductor – this post was so heartfelt. Several years ago I visited the Medal of Honor museum at Patriots’ Point at the USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, an experience I hope every American is able to do at some point (I believe there are several of these museums). I grew up in the Vietnam era. Both of the boys of my next door neighbor served in Vietnam. A man I came to work for in later years served two tours there (when he volunteered, his family was beside themselves). It was a hard time for our country but we came through it. Your music selections are excellent. It is humbling to think that the children born on September 11, 2001 will turn 18 on this year’s anniversary. They have known nothing but the world that 9/11 created. You gave us a lot to think about today, Driller – thank you.
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My wife and I have visited the Yorktown as well. It was a sister ship to the carrier that my father served on in WWII.
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Thank you for this beautiful post.
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Thank you for the kind words.
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What a great post, the music is great but the video of the Sargents’s Medal of Honor ceremony steals the show. What a great honor he receives and when it is time for his address he talks about everybody but himself. What a hero he is.
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The Sargent’s speech give us a glimpse into the heartbeat of the military, serving with pride, the team is everything, and brothers in arms will always be brothers in arms.
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If you love a certain breed why switch. Olivia is Mom’s fourth GBGV. She has had three other dogs but loves us hounds.
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Old habits die hard, and Cocker Spaniels are my habit.
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John,
Welcome aboard as July’s honorary co-host, my furriend! Your first theme for the month is a solid one with our country’s birthday a few days away. Let me say a big thank you for serving our great country. I have three uncles who fought in the Vietnam war. I was a little girl when they were deployed. It might as well been Mars to me because it felt like they were that far, far away. It’s sad how the American soldier is treated by her citizens and the government. It shouldn’t be this way ever. Our Vets should always be respected. The speech shared by Army Staff Sergeant Bellavia stirred my emotions sending goosies across my skin while I listened to his words. I’m deeply humbled by this man’s selfless dedication and peace of mind that our brave men/women give me. If it weren’t for these fine people fighting to preserve our freedoms then the American we know today would not be. I pray we’ll always have individuals ready to step up to accept the call to serve this land.
You’re off to a great start for a co-host newbie but I had no doubt that you wouldn’t do anything other than bringing together some great mewsic along with your signature purrsonality to your post. This was a great theme for this week. Again, thank you for your service and may God’s grace continue to shine on the USA! Have a boogietastic week, my furriend!
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I am honored to host. Thank you for the opportunity.
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Very nice and beautiful post. Thanks for your service. We were in different branches of the service and different wars. I was in the Navy and in Persian Gulf I. I see you picked as I did Ray Charles and America the Beautiful, what a great song.
You are off to a great start for July. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
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I think the Ray Charles arrangement of America the Beautiful is timeless.
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This is a great set and yes, this is a great country.
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Thank you and yes we are blessed to live in this great nation.
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I could have sworn I commented yesterday. Oh well. I’m getting old and forgetful.
I’m not surprised with your breed of pups. We love what we love.
I enjoyed the pictures of you in your youth. Thank you for your service.
Great tunes as well. You did a fine job hosting.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday. 🙂
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I do love my Cocker Spaniels. The old photos remind me that war is a young man’s profession.
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Beautiful post, thank you for your service. Cockers are awesome!
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Yes, Cockers are AWESOME!!!
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Let me begin by thanking you for your service. My friend Carol has a blog and FB group dedicated to Cocker Spaniels. Her blog is Fidos of Reality.
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Driller, in the 1980’s there was (finally) a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes for the Vietnam vets. In my office, all work stopped that day, and instead, we stood on the sidewalk to honor the vets. Thank you for your service.
Your choice of music is wonderful.
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Saw your American Eagle Icon, on a comment in a blog. Had to come over and find you, and say, how happy I am, to see Patriotism displayed!!!!!!!!
Another Proud American…
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