Happy Veterans' Day!

And thanks.  That's all -- just THANK YOU, and reward yourselves in some selfish, personal way because you've earned it!!!

Memorial Day

Lest we forget.

Change I Can't Believe In

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I'm pretty darn pissed off that the President of the United States has chosen to spend Memorial Day in Chicago instead of staying in Washington to honor our fallen in Arlington Cemetery, as every president in memory has done. That's just one of those traditions that doesn't need "hopey-change."

He tinkered with Memorial Day tradition last year when he dispatched a federal van and folks in uniform to place a wreath at the African American Civil War Memorial for the very first time. As had other presidents, he also sent a wreath to the Confederate veterans' memorial at Arlington, despite objections from his entourage. I guess after that magnanimous gesture he felt entitled to give special recognition to one particular race of American soldiers. Or did he send a wreath to a Caucasian Civil War Memorial somewhere that I don't know about?

It doesn't comfort me that, this year, he'll place a wreath at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. Elmwood, Illinois, isn't the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington Cemetery, symbolic of all America's fallen.

No. The solemn ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown will be delegated to Vice President Biden. Good ol' Joe Biden who, a few weeks ago, offhandedly suggested that the United States is no longer the "capitol of the free world" -- bestowing that title on Brussels and elevating NATO's importance in the process:

"As you probably know, some American politicians and American
journalists refer to Washington, D.C. as the 'capital of the free world,'" Biden
said. "But it seems to me that in this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of
history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European
Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to
that title."

I'm a little tired of our leaders trashing us and elevating the concept of a world order.
So, good ol' Joe will do the honors at Arlington and host the White House luncheon for families of our fallen.
This isn't exactly the "change" anyone should believe in.
Hey, America's military! Are you feelin' pretty good about the attitude this administration has toward you?

Holiday Hurryings

More rain. House is still a disaster, but why clean it when there will be FIVE dogs to track in mud?

Still raining. Spoke to the Board of Volunteers of America and got a Statement of Support signed with Larry Jones, Louisiana's Veteran of the Year for 2009 (and I wrote part of his nomination!)!

It's raining. The kids are still 7 hours away, so I have a little more time to shovel out the top layer of junk before they get here, after the two functions tonight.

Rain. But I don't have to cook or clean up the kitchen tonight!

Ahhhh. I'm so easy.

To All Our U.S. Vets -- Thank You! Love, Moogie

This morning a grateful France rang and donated a beautiful, precisely measured replica of the Liberty Bell, cast in Normandy, to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The bell sang in E Flat to commemorate the liberation of France and Europe from the Nazi yoke by the Allied Forces. Such a lovely ceremony -- 5 American WWII Vets were also awarded the French Legion of Honor medal, 2 posthumously, by French diplomats and military brass.

Happy Veterans Day.

Happenings in NOLA

1. We welcomed a new addition to the Audubon Zoo three months ago and she made her debut last week to rave reviews!!

Menari is a pudgy, orange little orangutan baby -- one of only two born in the United States this year. We may have to go to Swampfest this year to check out all the doings at the zoo -- it seems that good things are happening there!

2. The first of three Honor Air flights took 88 Louisiana WWII vets to D.C. yesterday for a "thank you" tour. It rained on them, but their spirits weren't dampened! I had to miss the welcome home at the airport last night, but I'll be there on October 10th!

3. Geaux Saints, whoop up on the Bills!

World War II Veterans Honor Flights

Our Military Officers' Wives' Club Board of Directors met today. It looks like we're off to a great start.

My favorite of the projects we're set to tackle is to support three Honor Flights, in which WWII vets will be flown out of New Orleans, fed, and honored at the World War II Monument in Washington, D.C., at no expense to the vets. We'll enlist family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone else who appreciates our Veterans, to decorate the airport and provide a "welcome home" for each of the Flights like no one has ever seen!

I can't wait! You can help, too -- check out the HonorFlight.org link above.