Memorial Day 2011!

I'm in the middle of watching the mini-series, Band of Brothers by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. It is the story of Easy Company of the US Army 101st Airborne division and their mission in WWII Europe from Operation Overlord through V-J Day.


I was also excited when I saw that Ridley Scott was making a movie on Gettysburg to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It aired today and I am looking forward to watching it. Scott did an incredible job on Black Hawk Down and he also works on The Good Wife which is one of my favorite shows right now.

A friend recently compiled a list of all the war movies he had seen into different categories. I am working on my list too, which I will post here in the near future. I often think that after being an historian on the Presidents, I would like to be a war historian as well.

These movies are great ways to remember the great men and women who have sacrificed so much so that we could be free!!

My Visit to the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum!

My Mom was in town this week, so her and I and a friend visited the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. My Mom and I watched the movie Amelia the night before we went. Louise Foudray, Caretaker of the Museum had this to say about the movie:

Considering the difficulty in making a movie about Amelia Earhart, I think it was nicely done as far as it went. It showed her determination to defy convention and the emotion of the importance and danger of her flights. The affair with Eugene Vidal is in question. It did not show her depth of character, her skills and ability to the extent which she deserves.

A lot of aspects of her life, her family influence, her intelligence, her business skills, her teaching ability were not shown.

It did introduce us to a beautiful person of whom we need to know more.

The museum was wonderful and we were able to get a lot of questions answered by the woman who was there. She especially pointed out that there really was no evidence of the affair with Eugene Vidal.

Of course, as always, I have a weakness for museum gift shops. So I bought the above book and other items.

More on Osama Bin Laden...

The man who once called the United States “a paper tiger” and issued a fatwa to “kill all Americans” believed that our nation would not strike back if provoked. Today that man, responsible for the deaths of 3,000 Americans on September 11th, Osama bin Laden, is dead. It is an achievement of which our country can be proud.

Credit belongs to the courageous special operators who executed the mission. As America awoke to celebration this morning, these professionals quietly went about their work, for they know as well as any that this fight is not over.

Recognition should also go to the intelligence professionals who have worked tirelessly over the past decade to collect information on al Qaeda. Initial reports indicate that intelligence efforts at Guantanamo Bay may have played an essential role in this success.

All of this was made possible by the relentless, sustained pressure on al Qaeda that the Bush administration initiated after 9/11 and that the Obama administration has wisely chosen to continue.

This is an important victory in the fight against Islamist terrorism, but the struggle will go on. We must not have any illusions that it ends today or that America can afford to let down its guard tomorrow.--Donald Rumsfeld

Rudy Giuliani weighs in with his thoughts while at Ground Zero, an excerpt is below:

"This is a very significant victory," Giuliani said as he stood outside St. Paul's Chapel across the street from where the Twin Towers once stood. "I feel a deep sense of relief and satisfaction."

Meanwhile, supporters gather outside Bush's home to leave patriotic symbols and a sign that said, "President Obama forgot to say, Thank you President Bush."

Osama Bin Laden Killed by U.S. Special Forces!

Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.--President George W. Bush

The demise of Osama Bin Laden is a tremendous victory for the American
people. Justice has been done and we are all indebted to the American
military and intelligence community for their skill and dedication. Nothing can bring back Bin Laden's innocent victims, but perhaps this can help salve the wounds of their loved ones.

I am overwhelmed with pride in America and in those who protect us.
We are all united tonight in gratitude and love for our country.

God Bless America.--Condi Rice

It was an amazing night in history to witness, the death of Osama Bin Laden by the hands of U.S. Special Forces.

A friend of mine was on an airplane when she heard the news and tweeted this, "9/11 widow on my flight. In tears. Comforted by entire cabin. Life altering event to see."

Americans tonight are united in celebration and gratitude. God bless all the brave men and women in our military and our intelligence services who contributed to carrying out the successful mission to bring bin Laden to justice and who laid the groundwork over the years to make this victory possible. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of these brave Americans who relentlessly hunted down our enemy.

This is a victory for the American people, for the victims who were heartlessly murdered on September 11 and in Al Qaeda’s other numerous attacks, and for all the peace-loving people of the world.

May God bless our troops and our intelligence services, and God bless America!
- Sarah Palin

Michelle Malkin reminds us of all the innocent men, women and children that Osama was responsible for killing.

Congressman Paul Ryan's statement on the death of Bin Laden!

Bringing Ashley Home!

I watched a movie on Lifetime last night entitled, Bringing Ashley Home! It was based on the true life story of Libba Phillips. Libba searched for her sister Ashley who was a bi-polar drug addict. Since, Ashley was an addict, Libba ran into many obstacles, first and foremost, the police refusing to file her as a missing person.

Just like John Walsh and others, Libba used her experience as a platform to help others. She started the organization, Outpost for Hope. Outpost provides resources for those who are looking for the "missing, missing", those that are missing but go unreported.

I am always inspired by those that take a tragic situation, and turn it into something good. Libba Phillips is one of those people!

150th Anniversary of the Civil War!

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War! It is an amazing part of U.S. history. I have become a Civil War buff over this past year, as I did a Unit Study on it with my son for school. I especially was fascinated by the large number of women actively involved in the war, many disguising themselves as men so they could engage in the fighting.

Recently, I started watching additional movies and documentaries and started reading yet another book, The Blue and The Gray by Thomas B. Allen.


I found this older movie with the same title, The Blue and The Gray. It was filmed in 1982 and I'm sure many wouldn't like the quality, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was done in the same time period as Little House on the Prairie and Roots and had some of the same actors star in it. I was also amazed at how accurate a lot of it was, despite the fact that it wasn't a documentary.

After watching Ken Burns' wonderful Civil War documentary, I ended up purchasing it and plan on watching it again.

Previously:
~Women in the Civil War
~Studying the Civil War

5k Run For Orphans!

My son and I, and a friend of mine and her sons are all running a 5k this Saturday, April 9th! It is for an awesome cause, orphans in the Dominican Republic.

Saying Goodbye to World War I's Last Doughboy!

Photo Credits: KC Star

He didn't seek the spotlight, but when Frank Buckles outlived every other American who'd served in World War I, he became what his biographer called "the humble patriot" and final torchbearer for the memory of that fading conflict.

Frank Buckles enlisted in World War I at the age of 16 and died on February 27th at the age of 110. He was born here in Missouri, but was raised in Oklahoma and died in West Virginia. He went to numerous recruiting stations until he convinced the right person he was old enough to enlist.

There are two other World War I veterans still alive from outside America. The survivors are Florence Green in Britain and Claude Choules in Australia.

Buckles was remembered at a ceremony at Liberty Memorial here in Kansas City this past Saturday, March 12th. Richard Myers, a former Air Force general and the onetime chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said,

"Frank Buckles passing means that there are no more living memories of World War I. So it is important for all of us to keep this memory alive."

President Barack Obama ordered that the day Buckles is buried that all U.S. flags on official buildings be lowered to half-staff. A burial is planned at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kansas City is honored to have the only World War I museum and it was an honor to have a ceremony for him here.

The Donald Rumsfeld Interviews about His Memoirs--Known and Unknown!

If you're not being criticized, you may not be doing much.

The Path you didn't take is always smoother.

Well, you know, I've listened to him (Vice President Joe Biden) for so many years. There's not much he hasn't said from time to time.--Donald Rumsfeld

I will be updating and adding to this post as Rumsfeld does more interviews. He is going to be on Hannity's show tonight, so I will definitely be adding that. I have always had a special place in my heart for Rummy, and I am so glad to see him come out with his memoirs.

The Rumsfeld Papers

Rush's Interview

Rumsfeld Foundation


Diane Sawyer's interview with Donald Rumsfeld

Previously:
Conservative Profile #6--Why I Love Donald Rumsfeld

Remembering Ronald Reagan's 100th Birthday!

Don't You Miss the Authentic and Heartfelt Humor of Ronald Reagan? YES!!

Ronald Reagan holds a special place in so many Americans' hearts. He is also beloved internationally as well. Just recently, I talked to someone who lived in Germany when the Berlin wall came down, and I asked what the German people thought of Reagan. They, of course, had a favorable view of him.

Also, the more time goes by, the kinder history is treating his presidency and legacy. Contrast that to say, Jimmy Carter, where, the more time goes by, the more damage we see he has done.

Mike has been having a Reagan Centennial Celebration celebrating Reagan's 100th birthday. It reminds me of how Mike and I first connected in the blog realm. He was writing about Reagan and linking to everyone else who wanted to as well. That is when I wrote my 3 part series on what Ronald Reagan meant to me.

I was young when Reagan was president and unfortunately I didn't pay much attention at the time. I came to love Reagan much later. Yet, I was amazed at how distraught I was when I learned of his death.

Speechwriter Peter Robinson's book, How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life speaks for a lot of people. He inspired and changed generations of Conservatives and gave them hope.

Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin both spoke at the Reagan Ranch Center in honor of Reagan's birthday! I could not think of two more fitting people to honor Reagan.  Mike recalls the awesome partnership that Thatcher and Reagan had together.

Related Links:
Americans Recall Reagan Legacy on his 100th Birthday
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 1
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 2
Why I Love Ronald Reagan--Part 3