Diamond Posse - 5 Amazing Women Honoring Veterans

Ok...you have called me IPG...I'm here to say these women are more Patriotic then I can ever be! These are 5 amazing women!!!! Thank you so much for all you have done for our Vets!!!! Good Bless each of you!!!



Diamond Posse

Adopt a POW/MIA

Name: John Dewey Killen III
Rank/Branch: E3/USMC
Unit: A Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division
Date of Birth: 23 August 1948
Home City of Record: Des Moines IA
Date of Loss: 30 June 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 161349N 1074301E (YC896956)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Other Personnel In Incident: John House; Michael Judd; Merlin Allen; Glyn
Runnels (all still missing)

SYNOPSIS: Capt. John A. House was the pilot of an CH46A helicopter carrying
personnel assigned to Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine
Division near the city of Phu Bai, South Vietnam on June 30, 1967.

Among the passengers onboard the aircraft were members of Company A, LCpl.
Merlin R. Allen, LCpl. John D. Killen, and Cpl. Glyn L. Runnels. Also
onboard was the company's hospital corpsman, Petty Officer Third Class
Michael B. Judd.

The aircraft was hit by small arms fire, exploded and crashed. Although some
of the personnel aboard survived, House, Allen, Judd, and Killen were never
found, nor were remains recovered that could be identified as theirs. The
four men were listed as killed in action, body not recovered.

Nearly 2500 Americans did not return from Southeast Asia at the end of the
war. Some, like the pilot and passengers of the CH46, are probably dead and
will never come home. Since the end of the war, however, thousands of
refugee reports have been received that indicate hundreds of Americans are
still alive, held captive.

It is a matter of pride in the Marine Corps that one's comrades are never
left on the field of battle to fall into the hands of the enemy. One can
imagine that these men, had they survived, would willingly go one more
mission for the return of those who still await rescue. Although some of the
personnel aboard survived, House was never found, nor were remains recovered
that could be identified as his. He was listed as killed in action, body not
recovered.

If you are interested in adopting a POW/MIA go to this site: http://ojc.org/

A Motorcycle Ride to "Remember"

Rain showers were hit and miss over the weekend but Sunday ended up being the perfect day for a motorcycle ride to "Remember". Dan and I took off and headed west on Interstate 80 to Exit 86 and then south toward Greenfield on Highway 25. You can't miss the site of the Freedom Rock. It is located right next to the Highway and the amazing painted rock catches your eye right away.

There were a few other motorcyclists and non riders viewing the Freedom Rock. This is the 11th year that Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II has painted a new tribute on the Freedom Rock. He began his tradition in 1999 after watching the movie "Saving Private Ryan". Ray wanted to find a way to thank the Veterans for our Freedom. This rock is at the entrance to an old rock quarry and the teenagers from the area used to use the rock as a place for their graffiti. Ray said he will continue his tradition for as long as he is physically able. The first pix below is Ray painting what looked like the final touches on the Freedom Rock. It's an amazing tribute and it warmed my heart that this 29 year old guy started this tradition and has stuck with it each year.







After reflecting for a while about why we were there, Dan and I got back on the bike and headed south to Greenfield and then west to Winterset where we ate lunch. After lunch we headed back to Interstate 80 so that we could go to the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. It's a beautiful place out in the country near Van Meter. The Tribute to the War on Terror really hit me hard because a couple of years ago I did an art piece in remembrance of the Iowa Soldiers that had lost their lives since the US invasion of Iraq after 9/11. I recognized the names engraved on the stone and it made it all the more real to me. God Bless Them All!








To find out more on the Freedom Rock you can visit http://www.thefreedomrock.com/ .

If you are interested in information on the Iowa Veterans Cemetery you can visit https://www.iowava.org/vetcemetery/index.html .

If you are a Veteran and you have read this post! Thank you!!!

Happy 4th of July

I reflect a lot on how lucky I am to live in the United States. I'm able to walk, drive, and ride freely through the country. I'm able to vote without worrying about being tortured or killed. I'm able to write whatever I feel like on this blog without worrying that I'll be arrested. I know right now our country is going through some tough times but we are Americans and we always persevere. I really think right now is a time to reflect about what is really important in our lives. It's our families and friends. It's the more simple things in life like a nice long walk or a cup of coffee with a good friend.

I also reflect on the true heroes of our country. What would our country be like without our military, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and teachers? I thank them from the bottom of my heart for what they do.

Please take some time to reflect on how lucky you are to live in this great land of ours. Always be proud of being an American! We are the greatest country in the world! Please also take a moment to say a prayer for our brave military. Without them sitting on their post and guarding us from terror, we would not be able to enjoy this celebration of our country in peace. God Bless America!

Sunday Morning Thoughts...

Good Morning America How are Ya? Not sure why that song just popped into my head but it did. It looks like a beautiful Sunday morning here in lovely Johnston, IA. I'm sitting here listening to some Soft Rock and drinking my coffee. The thoughts are just swimming around my head so wow...this could all be kind of random so bare with me.

Brittney Spears...why the heck do we keep pushing this nut case to the top of the spotlight. I find it very sad that she had kids with K-Fed just so she could say that she had them and now she has turned into psycho nut job mom of the century. Seriously her handlers or parent's need to guide this girl down the right path and maybe get her some help because I think she might have a major case of Post Pardom Depression or something. And once again we reward someone for their fame even though they are not emotionally stable and parade them on a stage at the VMA awards. Sad...it's very sad how this beautiful girl went so out of control. She seriously could have been a role model but now she's just a headcase.

Michael Vick...I think this jerks sentence should be getting duck taped and setting pit bulls loose to attack him. What right minded person participates in dog fighting. SICK! And to all the parent's in this country who continue to let their teenage kids sport his football attire...what the hell...do you even pay attention to your kids and what they are doing? Do you actually condone dog fighting? Burn the shirt for godsake!

Ok...off the celebrities. I seriously try not to pay attention to them but those two kinda have gotten under my skin. And please boycott the MTV VMA awards with me. These people are not our Heroes!

Last night I was at Border's chilling and looking at magazines. This couple comes in an sits down and about 20 minutes later the woman's cell phone rings. Instead of getting up and going outside to talk, it was a nice night out, she blabs for 15 minutes so we all could hear. What ever happened to the days of letting people leave messages and calling them back later? This whole cellphone thing is out of control. Has society forgotten how to be cordial to their fellow man/woman? Is your life so important that you need to share your 1/2 of the conversation with all of us? Please...when you are in public turn your phone on mute. Let the call go to voice mail. Worry about the call when you get home and if you can't go to a place where you are not broadcasting the conversation to everyone else!!!!

On a lighter non-bitching note. My bestest biker girl friend Kristen and her business partner Monica, celebrated their 2nd year of business at Blondie's Beauty Parlor. Yea Girlies! I went out with Kristen and the girls of Blondie's to celebrate on Thursday and we had so much fun. Those chicks are a hoot. And I found my Pretty Woman Movie quoting soulmate, Betsy....she and I were standing at the bar ordering and she started quoting Pretty Woman and I was like...OMG, I thought I was the only one that did that. LMAO...too cool! "Gimme a name...a name? The pressure of a name...Cinderfuckingrella! OMG...too funny.


Wow...this song brings back memories. Bon Jovi...Never Say Goodbye. I think that might have been my Senior Prom theme. LMAO. I can't remember though, but I think it was.

Need more Java...

So I haven't blogged at all about Billy Lane because I pretty much wrote him off my list of favorites. I was wondering the other day though what was up with him. Looks like he'll be in court the 21st of Sept and could face up to 15 yrs in prison. That's all I have to say about that...

Because of my new blogger bud KT DID I've found some truly cool new blogs. One being Rippin Kitten. She's a cool biker chick and has a very cool site. I've added it to my list of blogs I visit so you'll have to check it out.

I'm pouting...I wanted to go riding today but it looks like it's going to rain. Rain Clouds BE GONE! Didn't work! Well...Have a great Sunday and a great week! Ride Safe...Ride Free...Ride it like you stole it! LOL I sound like a t-shirt.

Have a good one and Support Our Troops and Vets!!! Remember the Fallen Heroes and boycott the MTV Video Music Awards with me!!!

:)