Pray For Our Military Every Day!!

You might remember a news story several months ago about a crotchety

old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down.

the flagpole on his property and the large U.S. flag that flew on it.

Now you can learn who, exactly, that old man was.

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg.

Probably didn't make much news back then.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy,

Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940, set out to

flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming

down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield,

took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.

If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed

three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.

That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war,

but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam,

a Congressional Medal of Honor.

What did make news was a neighborhood association's quibble with

how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly our American flag outside

his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be

flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such

as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable!

He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was

facing court action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made

national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position

and agreed to indulge this old war hero who dwells among them.

"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without

interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press. As well he should.

And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him,

they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation.

It indicates he's not real good at backing down.

Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor Citation.

This 1944 Medal of Honor Citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society,

is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45 Infantry.

If you got this email and didn't pass it on - guess what - you deserve

to get your butt kicked! I sent this to you, because I didn't want to get

MY butt kicked.

WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!

AND, BECAUSE OF OLD MEN LIKE VAN BARFOOT.

In God We Trust, Amen!

THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S.

This is really good and needs to be sent on.

THE UNITED STATES NAVY SALUTES OUR U.S. .. MARINE CORPS....
THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE

U.S. , Canada and The World.
Please don't delete this until you send it on,

Let's send it around the world.
FRIENDS ARE BORN, NOT MADE

This is a poem being sent from a Marine To his Dad.

For those who take the time

to read it, you'll see a letter

from him to his dad at the

bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the

Marines, but ALL of our troops.

THE MARINE

We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around..

Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U..S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate

you, With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've

won.

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's

done
By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert , US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

July 23
Hey Dad,

Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US and Canada and The World. I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway.

You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech. 'When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it.'

Well, now I know. And I do.. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.

Aaron

Please let this Marine (and all our military) know we care

by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't

usually take time to forward mail...do it this time!
Thanks,
Let's help Aaron's dad spread the word .......FREEDOM isn't FREE
Someone pays for you and me.

God bless you and America.

?Pray for our Troops

Former Navy SEAL, Benjamin Smith took an oath to defend our Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. That oath has no expiration date. As an author, speaker, political strategist and ardent Constitutionalist, Benjamin Smith continues to battle tyranny and defend the freedoms that enabled American exceptionalism. Benjamin is a regular contributor to multiple news outlets including Breitbart and Fox News.

Benjamin Smith will appear on Fox News Sunday night at 10 pm EST to further discuss this subject.

FORMER NAVY SEAL REBUKES OBAMA

By Benjamin Smith

President Barack Hussein Obama - STOP using the Navy SEALS as a campaign ploy. Because with all due respect, (what little I have for you), you do NOT speak for me.

You have a movie about SEALS within the past year trying to identify with me, with the navy SEALS, and with anything that might improve your polling numbers...and yet it is all a sham to hide a weak un-American man desperate to claim the victories of others for his own.

You Sir are trying to take the credit for what the American People have achieved in killing Bin Laden. Your use of the SEALs accomplishment as a campaign slogan is nothing less than despicable. I, as a former Navy SEAL do not accept your taking credit for Osama Bin Laden's death. The American Military accomplished that feat.

Yet now that it is useful, you Mr. President, continue to refer to the event as if it were YOU and you alone which accomplished the worthy task of slaying one of America's greatest enemies. You say "I directed", "I Continued", "My Intelligence Community", "My national security team", "I determined that I had enough....", "My direction..."

Yet reliable sources continue to report that not only did you attempt to stop or delay Bin Laden's demise, you did not even leave the golf course for the situation room until 20 minutes before SEAL Team 6 took out Osama Bin Laden. Even the clothes you wore in the situation room betray this fact. This is a Commander in Chief? A man who takes credit for actions largely taken while he was out golfing?

We men who have taken the oath, say ENOUGH. You do not speak for me, a former Navy SEAL, or any one of the league of men whom I have earned the right to be among. You are simply a man running for an office. Yet you behave as a glory-hoarding ruler. You campaign to be our leader, yet in reality you wish to be our Master.

The American people are the ones who got Bin Laden... You did Not! We have fought wars and slugged it with Vast Terror Organizations to get to the man you say YOU killed. The United Sates of America has won you a title sir and you have spent the last three years trying to beg, borrow and bow as you GIVE IT ALL AWAY. You just happened to be president of the USA when WE THE PEOPLE got Osama Bin Laden. We do not see you as heroic or stoic, we see you as the guy who let America Go. We got fat and weak and you gave it all away. That is your credit - you bow to foreign leaders and pander to the press. You do not represent me as a Military Man. You do not represent me as a SEAL. You do not represent me as an AMERICAN!

You do not speak for me or any American military man because though you may now be Commander in Chief, you are not the man to whom we can point our sons and say "This is the American dream, this is American exceptionalism, this is what I wish for your future", because you Sir are NONE of these things. You Sir, are the antithesis of American Exceptionalism. Your idols are Saul Alinksi and Karl Marx and your revolutionary dreams and anti-American ideals poison your every policy. Your every action betrays the fact that in your soul you do not understand what it is to be an American, not what America truly is. Your agenda from the beginning has been to get rid of and kill everything that is and ever was American. You who so easily dismisses America's greatness and bows to foreigners... YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE NAVY SEALS. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE MILITARY MAN AND you SHALL NOT claim as your prize that which you have not earned. The Navy SEALS are NOT a campaign slogan to be bantered about for play. Nor are our accomplishments, including the demise of Osama Bin Laden, yours to claim.

So you DO NOT speak for me. And I will not stand for your use and abuse of my brethren the SEALS.

For Liberty,

Benjamin Smith

-----

A thoughtful message for Memorial Day

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him.

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying: 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went I inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' He said that he served with the First Marine Division at Guadalcanal Pelieliu, and Okinawa .

He had hit three of the worst ones, and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it, and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time.

The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over.

I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence.

Remember, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him gave all of us, Freedom for America. But, Freedom isn't Free.

Thousands have paid the price, so we can enjoy what we have today.
Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them.

LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS:

GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY; AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. IN JESUS' NAME AMEN

A REMINDER IN HISTORY

General Vo Nguyen Giap

General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader

of the North Vietnam military. The following quote

is from his memoirs currently found in the

Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi :

'What we still don't understand is why you Americans

stopped the bombing of Hanoi . You had us on the

ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder,

just for another day or two, we were ready

to surrender! It was the same at the

battle of TET. You defeated us!

We knew it, and we thought

you knew it.

But we were elated to notice your media was

helping us. They were causing more disruption in

America than we could in the battlefields. We

were ready to surrender. You had won!'

General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed

what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not

lost in Vietnam — it was lost at home. The

same slippery slope, sponsored by the U.S. media,

is currently underway. It exposes the

enormous power of a Biased Media to

cut out the heart and will of

the American public.

A truism worthy of note: . . . Do not fear the enemy,
for they can take only your life.
Fear the media,
for they will distort your grasp of reality and destroy your honor.

Here SHE is! As you scroll down, notice the two twin towers on top.

Here SHE is, the USS New
York, made from the
World
Trade
Center !

USS
New York

It was built with 24 tons of
scrap steel from the
World
Trade
Center .
I t
is the fifth in a new class of warship -
designed for missions that include special
operations against terrorists. It will carry a
crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines
to be delivered ashore by helicopters and
assault craft.

Steel
from the
World
Trade
Center was melted
down in a foundry in
Amite , LA to
cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured
into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough
steelworkers treated it with total reverence,'
recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was
there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody
there.'

Junior
Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that
when the trade center steel first arrived, he
touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my
neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for
all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They
can't keep us down. We're going to be
back.'

The
ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

Please keep
this going so everyone can see what we are made
of in this country!

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Memorial day Tribute from Thomas More Law Center on Vimeo.

I close this Memorial Day message with a favorite poem by Marine Chaplain Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, which pays tribute to our courageous soldiers for their service in protecting the fundamental liberties guaranteed by our Constitution: