Memorial Day – Take a moment to remember

The Memorial Day holiday is tomorrow, May 26, 2008. As most of our thoughts are concentrated on the coming election, the economy in general, and the price of gasoline (touching $4/gal in Florida), and how it affected our holiday plans, let us not forget the fine men and women that have served the rest of us…

I’ve had the privilege to meet many extraordinary men and women serving as airmen, sailors, and soldiers. Some serve because it’s the best job they can get, some serve because family members served, some serve because they love our country and what it represents, some serve simply because they feel it’s the right thing to do. But whatever the reason they serve… they serve so that we can go about our daily lives, praising the good things that happen to us, and complaining about the bad things that happen to us.

Take a moment to remember those men and women that are serving, or have served for all the rest of us.

I’d like to finish with a quote from the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, General Chandler, as posted on the Air Force News website (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123099997).

Memorial Day: Remembering our heroes

Commentary by Gen. Howie Chandler
Commander, Pacific Air Forces

5/24/2008 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) – On this Memorial Day, we take time to remember the men and women who have selflessly given their lives – some more than 200 years ago, some just last week in the Middle East  – defending freedom.

When called upon to defend the rights and liberties of this nation, American Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines have responded courageously. For more than 233 years our military has protected our nation. Our world and our armed forces have changed over time, but certain elements of our armed forces remain constant; the selflessness, sacrifice and dedication to duty displayed by men and women in a United States military uniform.

From Bunker Hill to the Solomon Islands Campaign and Linebacker II to Iraqi Freedom, the can-do spirit of American servicemembers has been a part of our nation’s history. That spirit is alive today as Airmen defend our nation with courage, honor and dignity around the world.

In the past year, more than 1,200 brave Americans and hundreds of coalition military members have given their lives to foster freedom. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten and their achievements will forever be woven into the history of the United States.

Daniel Webster said, “Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, their remembrance will be as lasting as the land they honored.”

Our thoughts go out to all our great Americans standing freedom’s watch, as well as their families.

Florida Power and Light… Isn’t!!

That’s it! Florida Power and Light did it again – We had another 1/2 second power outage. This happens once or twice, every one to three days! And it’s been going on for the three years that I’ve lived in Florida! I can’t imagine the degree of incompetence that must exist within their management, and that of the Florida politicians and/or agencies that regulate such an important part of Florida’s infrastructure. Everyone one of them should be voted out of office, or fired.

I can’t imagine any other state in this country that tolerates the frequent power outages that occur in the state of Florida. I don’t even see any references to it in local news media. Have the residents of this state become so accustomed to it that they expect it is part of normal life?

I encourage every reader of this blog to contact their local city, county, and state representatives and demand that these costly power outages end.

UPDATE – June 12, 2008 (Rave!)

After getting the governor’s office, and the Florida Utilities Commission involved, the problem hasn’t recurred!  Now, neither of the agencies I attempted to contact did anything for me.  In fact, they threw up so many roadblocks, that I was ready to go to a “consumer help” TV show.  However, since they were contacted, there have been NO problems with power!  There have been two short events that occurred since, but they were obviously a result of really nasty thunderstorms with plenty of lightening.  Kudos to whatever brought about the improvement.  I’ve even been impressed (in a positive way) with the reliability of power during some really nasty thunderstorms.  Good job, FPL!

Catherine Zeta-Jones

What can I say…?

Need I say more?