Happy Fourth of July!

[WinnDixie]

I have a 4th of July story to share: I think it was 1991 when my daughter and her military family were visiting us in Laconia. We decided to take them and their older son, Scott,who was eight, to the 4th celebration at Alton Bay. Those of you who've been can attest to this: those were truly an example of an American celebration in all its splendor. Crowds...we parked over on Rte. 28 ,and it seemed like we walked back from half way to Wolfeboro. There was cotton candy, flags, those light sticks that glowed in the dark, popcorn, a band concert...and--of course--the fireworks! They were wonderful. We stood down on the bridge and you could see the Bay full of boats that had come for the show. After each display they'd all blow their horns...marvelous. The grand finale was huge, and included an American flag. Scott came up to me, took my hand and said "Thank you for bringing me, Nannie, this is the best day of my life"! That is a memory I will always cherish!

Well, time has passed and there have been a number of "best days of his (and my) life"...and another one has just happened. On June 25th, Captain Scott Warnke arrived back in the USA from his year in Afghanistan! We are so thankful and appreciate all the prayers from everyone, that have taken place for him. I had to share the good news, and hope all of you have as happy a 4th of July as our family will!

[Happy Gourmand]

Welcome back, Captain....and...THANKS !

[Jonas Pilot]

Great post WinnDixie. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your Fourth of July!

[IslandRadio]

Thanks for sharing, and PLEASE thank you son for his service. It it TRUELY appreciated. Those folks are doing a really hard job over there.

Regards,

Steve

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Winn,
What a great image you have painted with your words. I could almost hear the retorts.

Great news that your grandson is home. This truly is a time for celebration!

Happy 4th.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/DSC_0445.JPG
Photo from the Sunset Bob collection. (After Sunset in this case)

[jack1706]

I would be so proud also...

Thank you Scott.. and Happy Fourth..

and thanks to all who have served & continue to serve.. THANK YOU.

[Lakesrider]

A great big thanks for this post. Happy Independence Day to all and very special welcome home to Capt. Scott Warnke . Thank you for your service to this grand Country of ours. Your efforts to help free a country that is not ours from terrorism, and to keep ours from it as well, is above and beyond. Little did you know what that small flag you waved way back then, would have so much more meaning as you grew to be the man you are today...God Bless you and all the troops this weekend.

[eillac@dow]

What a great story. Happy to hear it, but more happy to hear that he is home...safe and sound. I hope you all enjoy your 4th. Please extend our thanks to Scott.

[Just Sold]

A wish for a Happy 4th to all. The weather is cooperating so get out there and enjoy!

Thank you Captain Warnke for your service to our Country and Welcome Home!

Remember to thank a all vets when ever you see one. They have helped preserve our freedom(s) and continue to do so today.

Remember The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States) and the republic of the United States of America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America), originally composed by Francis Bellamy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bellamy) in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words "under God (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God)" in 1954.

Red Skelton said it so well in 1969 about The Pledge of Allegiance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM&feature=related)

[Misty Blue]

Frm the bottom of my heart, thank you Captain Scott.

God bless our troops and God bless America.

Misty Blue

[robmac]

Captain, thank you very much for what you and all of our military has and is doing for us! Happy and safe 4th to all.

[MAXUM]

July 4th 1991, I was sitting on the flight deck of my ship in the middle of the Persian Gulf just wishing I could be home for a few hours to take in the festivities around the lake, and most of all have a real cheese burger and a couple dogs fresh off the grill with all the toppings, oh and some ice cold water melon.

To Captain Scott Warnke, I salute you sir for your service and to all those who are active duty or prior service. Most of all to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy all that we have today, a debt we can never repay, thank you!

Happy Independence Day everyone and we'll see you out on the lake!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQM1oLnMLNU

[Pineedles]

I have followed the recent service of the Captain, and he has my, my family's, as well as friends a big thank you for a "Job well done!" Welcome home Captain. You got a hellava great GM.

[Janet]

Let's also not forget the sacrifices made by our military wives and families. If you know of a wife or family whose loved one is serving overseas invite them to your festivities. We did for Memorial Day and it made the day seem more meaningful.

[WinnDixie]

Thanks for your kind words! Scott and his wife will enjoy seeing this, and we all appreciate your sentiments. Thanks, especially ,for remembering the wives and families of those overseas, as well as the troops. Both Scott and his wife have repeatedly said how very much that support means; and we, his family, found that out,too. It definitely makes a difficult time more bearable. Again, Happy Fourth!

[trfour]

SAR, ( Sons of the American Revolution ).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_American_Revolution

Pictured below, my brother Bob receiving recognition for our family's being a part, from the president of SAR.

I am a veteran and served my country very proudly along with other family members including nieces and nephews. Freedom IS, a family affair and none of us could be here today, without the other.

Rant over, have a very Happy Fourth Everyone!!!!



BTW, we are keeping the horrable'caines south so as Y'all there in NH.
will enjoy a great weather Holiday! :)



Terry
____________________________________________

[Chickie]

Welcome home to Capt. Scott and all who served with him. They have earned our thanks and hope they have a grand and glorious Fourth - together with their families at last. Also, let us not forget a few prayers for the troops who are replacing them and are just beginning their long year of duty.

I have to say that his grandma certainly honed her skills in fudge making over the past months and grandpa was kept busy running it down to the P.O. Seems there was always a package wending its way to Afghanistan. Care packages received were always shared by all and I understand her famous peanut butter fudge was no exception. Needless to say it disappeared upon arrival - much enjoyed and appreciated.

God bless the troops, as well as the families who share the burden, worrying about their safety.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

And a special thanks to Thomas Jefferson of Virginia who at the direction of The Committee of Five, John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of Connecticut; two men from the Middle Colonies, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York, between June 11 and June 28, 1776, communicated separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections, drafted and presented to the Continental Congress a document that with minor revision began as follows:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Happy 4th everyone :patriot:

[trfour]

Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Gaffe Revealed; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38062085/?GT1=43001

[Airedale1]

Thank you Scott for your service and so glad that you came home safe and sound. I hope you all have wonderful 4th of July with many, many more to come.:patriot:

[Chickie]

I was just re-reading WinnDixie’s blog entry of 3/12/10 relative to the native foods and customs her grandson encountered while serving with the 5h Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan.

Nam Bread -- foot bread? I doubt that it would ever become a favorite on my dinner table no matter how tasty it turned out to be. The method used in its preparation arouses my curiosity, if not my taste buds. The fact that it is actually kneaded with the feet would certainly give me pause. I might be persuaded to partake, but the first time I found a toenail that would do it for me.

[WinnDixie]

I was just re-reading WinnDixie’s blog entry of 3/12/10 relative to the native foods and customs her grandson encountered while serving with the 5h Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan.

Nam Bread -- foot bread? I doubt that it would ever become a favorite on my dinner table no matter how tasty it turned out to be. The method used in its preparation arouses my curiosity, if not my taste buds. The fact that it is actually kneaded with the feet would certainly give me pause. I might be persuaded to partake, but the first time I found a toenail that would do it for me.

Yes, Scott's tales of eating and drinking the food in Afghanistan were interesting! He said (of the kneading with feet) "Once you get past that, Nam bread is very good"! Our troops are intrepid in lots of ways!!

[Lakesrider]

I used to live in the middle east and naan bread is not generally kneaded with the feet. Don't know how the Afghan's do it, but In Saudi Arabia it is kneaded and shaped by hand. I used to go to the bakery and get some pieces. it was very good. You could get butter spread on it and they reheat it and it gives it a sort of glaze. It actually is very good and you can get here in Indian food stores with basically the same recipe. The Saudis would use it to scoop up other things on the plate instead of using forks. The less water used to clean up, the better. One thing is for certain though, food hygiene is a little different over there. :eek::D