WELCOME to the
Land of the Free Because of the Brave Blog Hop! I'm delighted that I was able to join Karel again for a blog hop. Today, we will be paying tribute to our men and women who served and continue to serve bravely to protect this country and our freedom. This is a
long post so please read all the way to the end to see what's in store for you. If you need directions, I have the list of blog hop participants at the bottom of this post. You should have marched your way here from If It's Groovy. I bet her project was WAY groovy! Ya dig? After seeing my completed post, you'll make your way over to Queen B's Musings. If you're lost, march right on over to
Karel's blog to start at the beginning.
Both my father and father-in-love were Army strong. My mom recalled two stories that my Daddy shared with her about his experiences in the military. Knowing my daddy, these were probably hilariously true and he enjoyed every minute of it. Here are his stories as told by my mother.
My Dear Daddy - Walter L. Young, Sr.
1st Story: He was a part of the Transportation Corps. for the Army and was also trained as a chef. It seems the chefs tried to outdo each other from time to time. One day your father, told another chef who was his chief competitor that he could "Fry" ice cream. Of course, all the other chefs betted against your father since the idea of putting ice cream in hot grease seemed ludicrous.
Your father got all of his utensils, the pot, the hot grease, and the ice cream ready. He readied the ice cream by coating with some ingredient that I have forgotten (I think it was coconut and maybe a light egg batter or coconuts and nuts-I just don't remember). He shaped the ice cream into balls with an ice cream scoop, dipped the balls into the batter, put these into a strainer which he then placed in the hot grease. Quickly, he pulled the strainer full of ice cream balls back up out of the grease. TA DA! Fried ice cream balls.
2nd Story: This was another cooking experience that your father had while in the Army. He noticed that one of the chefs made the best potato salad that he had ever tasted. Though the other cooks, your Father included, made potato salad that was satisfactory, this particular chef's potato salad was the absolute best. The chef had a secret recipe and he always prepared the salad when the others weren't nearby. They had asked him for his recipe and he had refused to share it with anyone. One day when that chef thought all the other guys were busy with the dishes assigned to them, your father had managed to hide in the area where the chef would make his potato salad. Quietly, he watched him and noticed all the ingredients that he was adding. The next time that your father made the potato salad, the other chef let your father have it! He had a few choice words for him because he knew from the taste of the salad that somehow, your Dad had discovered his secret recipe. And that explains why your Potato Salad is soooo goood! You learned the secret recipe from your Daddy, the "Spying Chef". And it's gooooooood ya'll.
3rd Recently Added Story: Your Father was involved in the Battle of Pusan. He was a member of the Army's 24th. Infantry division. According to Wikepedia, this group was the first USA unit sent to Korea with the mission to take the initial "shock" of North Korean advances into South Korea. The Wikepedia article goes on to say that the 24th. was understrength and most of its equipment was antiquated due to reductions in military spending. From the story that your Dad told me, they fought bravely in spite of being outnumbered and outgunned. The thing that I remember about his story that I want to share here is that he said despite their crying and blowing snot (have to say this because this is how I could best understand and picture that time in the battle), they kept encouraging each other by saying we must dig in and fight to live or we die here. He said the North Koreans were coming at them over the hills in droves pushing their backs into the sea, but they fought hard and began to push them back. They stood their ground. There was great lost of life for the US forces, but eventually reinforcements arrived and the North Koreans retreated. To read about this battle, google Battle of Pusan. The article gives a very good overview of what a long battle(It lasted for some months.) like this involves. It shows why we should be grateful for the committment and sacrifice of the members of our military who with their own blood, sweat and tears truly exhibit why "Freedom is not Free".
Now...I also chose to feature my in-loves on my blog today as my father is no longer with us. Though I was not around when either my Daddy or FIL were in the military, I am very thankful for what they did in their service to our country. I also would like to bring special attention to the families of soldiers. They are sometimes overlooked and need our support too as you will see in my interview.
Stephanie Bonner, MIL and mother of 4 children was connected to the military because of her marriage to my FIL. The main thing that impacted her life was that she was able to see the world. During the tour of duty, they lived in Kentucky, Virginia, Germany, Alaska, and Alabama. The hardest part was the long separations. My faith in God, friends and family were the three things that helped me make it through and stay strong. To the the question, "Do you think Veterans and Service personnel get the respect they deserve," I answer a resounding, "NO"! Support of Veterans and Military can be improved by hosting Community Spouse/family appreciation events. Artists and crafters can support the Military by sending care packages to families. (
I must insert this blurb here. In speaking with another veteran today, the importance of sending care packages and just mail in general was communicated. She stated that there are some soldiers who don't receive ANY mail at all while deployed.) Lastly, soldiers and their families deserve respect and continued support!!!!
Nathaniel Bonner, my FIL, served in the Army with the rank of SFC/E-7. I decided to join the Army because I could travel and it was a guaranteed job. The best thing about being in the military was the unity. The early rises and late evenings were the hardest thing. Overall, Veterans and Active service Personnel get the respect they deserve especially since the pay and benefits are a lot better. Crafters and artists can support the military by sending your gifts regularly. It was an honor and privilege to serve my country!!!!!!!!! Last but not least, Hats off to "Military Hospitals"; three of our four children were birth in them thanks to the efforts doctors and nurses that make up these priceless organizations. Thanks again, and again, and again!!!!!!!!!!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: How can you help support our Troops? May I suggest supporting Operation Write Home? This group, which has members all over the world, sends hand-crafted cards to bases all over the world, for soldiers to send back to thier families and friends. Click HERE to go directly to them--please check them out. Next time you get a bunch of cards from a swap...or make too many Birthday cards...or just want to help, consider sending some in. (They also accept monetary donations, to help pay for postage).MY PROJECT:
This a squash book (mini-album). I have provided a recipe for your enjoyment but the tutorial can be found at Splitcoaststampers. I left the album blank inside because I wanted whoever received the album to have the liberty to add to it whatever he or she chooses. The final album is 4"x4" when folder and stretching out to approximately 21" long so, there's plenty of space for pictures and journaling. I am thinking of making these for active duty personnel to keep pictures of loved ones near during times when a 12"x"12 album is too much to handle.
Ingredients
Two 4"x4" pieces of chipboard
Four 4"x4" pieces of coordinating patterned paper
Three 7.5" x 7.5" pieces of cardstock
Coordinating cardstock and paper for embellishing
Mod Podge
Click HERE for the recipe.
BLOG CANDY ALERT: "Our amazing Blog Candy (2—count ‘em! TWO Chances to win!!) is brought to you through the generosity of Marlo, who created the marvelous Scrap’NTote and Anne, from Paper Patch Crafts.
The rules for entering are the same for both prizes: Hop along our path and leave a comment AND a way to contact you on each and every stop. Please leave contact information in a safe manner ( ie, written out, rather than a direct link). On Friday, November 12, KarelJ will use random.org to first select a blog number (1-20) and then a comment number from that blog for each prize. She will post the winner’s name on her blog and notify the bloggers, so they can also post the winner. KarelJ will contact the winner, using the information left in the comment. If there is no information available, she will choose another winner from the same blog. It is up to the winner to contact KarelJ at
ksjennings(at)gmail(dot)com. If she has not been contacted by Monday, November 15, another winner will be chosen.
Now, on to the good stuff! Our first prize is a wonderful Pink Scrap’Ntote to store your Cricut Cartridges in! It comes to us from Marlo, at ContainYaCrafts. You can see the wonderful way this binder system keeps all your carts together, and ready to go in a flash on this link:
http://www.cricutcartridgestorage.com/index.htm. Need more than one? Put it on the Christmas Wish List and have the DH order NOW, as they are simply flying out of stock! We got one of the final donations for the year and are so grateful to Marlo!
Our second terrific prize is a set of Spellbinders Nesties in the Crown Circle Shape. It comes to us via the generosity of Anne, whose family has an incredibly strong military heritage. You can read more about Anne and her husband on Linda and Gina’s Blogs. You can also check out paper Patch Crafts
here, to see what other incredible things Anne has to sell.
Now...for my prize, I am giving away five single files of your choice (cutting or digi) from the selection at Page-Kits.com not to exceed $10 total. Melin is a phenomenal designer and she has donated the prize from her website. Please stop by her blog and so her some love. Leave a comment at the end of this post AND add your link to the Mr. Linky. IF YOU STOPPED BY ALREADY, I WILL TRY TO ADD YOU OR YOU CAN YOURSELF. I'm going to use Mr. Linky to compile the names for the drawing. You are not required to become a follower friend but I would enjoy the company . I don't want anyone to ever follow hang out with me just because they want blog candy. I'd love to have you over. We can even chat and enjoy the scenery. So, please follow if you'd like to do so. I promise I'll stop by and show you some love. I will select a winner on tomorrow Nov. 12th and you will have one week to claim your prize. Please be sure to check back tomorrow evening to see if you won.
I am, by the way, over due for a blog candy giveaway so...after my next hop this weekend, blog candy will probably be the next thing on my agenda. Be sure to check back frequently. Let's see how this goes.
Happy Scrappin'!
