The Captain passed away earlier today.

To the Yllescas family: Thank you for the service of your husband, son, brother, father – he is a man among men, and he will be missed. Please accept the condolences of a grateful nation.

…to one and all. A special THANK YOU to the people willing to serve this country who enable us to sit around and give thanks in the safety of our own home.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863, Washington, D.C.

Interesting side note: Lincoln dated this proclamation as “Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.” (emphasis mine)

Yes, you read that right – Victory In Iraq Day! Zombie Time has the original post – here is the text:

We won. The Iraq War is over.

I declare November 22, 2008 to be “Victory in Iraq Day.” (Hereafter known as “VI Day.”)

By every measure, The United States and coalition forces have conclusively defeated all enemies in Iraq, pacified the country, deposed the previous regime, successfully helped to establish a new functioning democratic government, and suppressed any lingering insurgencies. The war has come to an end. And we won.

What more indication do you need? An announcement from the outgoing Bush administration? It’s not gonna happen. An announcement from the incoming Obama administration? That’s really not gonna happen. A declaration of victory by the media? Please. Don’t make me laugh. A concession of surrender by what few remaining insurgents remain in hiding? Forget about it.

All I can do is help spread the word – and ask you to do the same!

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, listen to The O Word on BlogTalkRadio, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

To all the veterans who stop by – thank you for your service.

To all my blogging buddies (I’m not going to list you, because I will invariably forget someone who served) who are veterans – thank you for your service.

Please take a moment and visit the blog of Captain Rob Yllescas, who happens to be one of the most recent recipients of the Purple Heart. President Bush awarded this medal to this hero. CPT Yllescas’ wife, Dena, described the event as “a completely bittersweet moment.” She is very proud of her husband, and his service, but still, she said “Although this award is an honor, it’s one I wish my husband NEVER had to receive.” President Bush was truly moved, and if you read the entry for November 10, 2008 you will see how this President showed his class.

I had a good weekend – drove cab both nights, and with the Coyotes playing, NASCAR in town for the weekend, and various concerts and whatnot going on, there were a lot of responsible people calling cabs instead of trying to drive themselves. Saturday evening I had the honor of picking up three of NASCAR’s special armed forces guests – three Sergeant Majors of the Army – and taking them to Westgate for some local color. Of course, they received a military discount, and my heartfelt thanks for their service.

Saturday morning, I had breakfast with Gawfer (a Navy vet, by the way) at Wild Horse Pass – he was in town for a vendor weekend and was forced to stay at a resort and play two rounds of golf on the Wild Horse courses. Poor guy. Good seeing you, Gawfer. If my conversation was a little spotty, remember that I had just come off a twelve hour cab shift…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, listen to The O Word on BlogTalkRadio, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

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Secret Message to Cimarron: Happy Birthday, Scooterbutt. I love you.

Two hundred and thirty three years ago, the United States Marines Corps was founded in Tun Tavern. From the initial mission of guarding the sailing ships of the fledgling United States Navy to the current mission of being an elite, multi-environment superior fighting force, the United States Marine Corps has proven time and again that they are the best.

To all Marines everywhere: Happy Birthday. If you are away, come home safely and victoriously. If you are home, Welcome Home.

Bob Parsons, the founder and CEO of GoDaddy.com, shares a birthday card with all of us. Happy Birthday back, Bob. Thank you for your service, and welcome home.

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, listen to The O Word on BlogTalkRadio, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

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