Lisa’s Neighborhood

Go forth and fill your libraries with media.

Seriously, thanks to everyone for being so amazing and patient. You are the reason I love Vox.

~daisy

I was just told that the Amazon Conduit will be fixed by tomorrow. I will post here as soon as I get word that it's back up and running.

I know this has been frustrating and I am sorry there wasn't more I could do to make it less so. I really appreciate your patience though.

Cheers,

daisy

RUN FOR THE WARRIORS™

 

 

Sunday, November 8, 2009 - 9:30am

REGISTER TODAY!

New Location: Town Hall
Town of Babylon
200 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Please join us on November 8th at 9:30 a.m. for the 2nd Annual Long Island Run for the Warriors™ sponsored by Local 338. The 1st annual run was such a success that this year it has been expanded, shutting down streets and doubling the distance. With the help of the Town of Babylon, there are three race venues this year: 10k, 5k, and 1 mi fun run/walk. Come run through the street of Babylon (literally!) and support your wounded service members, their families, and the families of the fallen!

Another new feature this year is the First Responders Challenge!

FIRST RESPONDERS CHALLENGE:
We are calling on all fire, police, and other first responders to compete. Prizes will be given to the team that has raised the most donations and also, the team that recruits the highest number of participants. Start your team today… receive a $5 race registration discount for participating as part of a team.
First Responders! Race to support the cause!

TEAM CHALLENGE:
Team Challenge: Friends, co-workers, family members—want to start a competition to see who can get the most participants and raise the most money for Hope For The Warriors™  Sign up and create a team here

If you would to learn about sponsorship opportunities or need more information about this year's event, please contact: Jack Caffey, Jr. - (516) 852-2955

The mission of Hope for the Warriors™ is to enhance quality of life for US Service Members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Hope for the Warriors™ actively seeks to ensure that the sacrifices of wounded and fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten nor their needs unmet, particularly with regard to the short and long-term care of the severely injured.

On their own, our service members and their families are awe inspiring in the face of their disabilities and hardships - courageous and resolute. However, it is with the support of a grateful nation that they remain unfaltering in their determination and find hope and purpose beyond recovery. As a united support network, all individuals, whether of great or small means, can find an opportunity to honor those who have willingly sacrificed to defend and protect our freedom. We invite you to take part in the inspirational lives of these young men and women and make it known that they never stand alone.

Project Valour-IT

It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
–Major Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, on using a voice-controlled laptop

You can make a donation to Valour-IT through Paypal here.

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.  Technology supplied includes:

January 18th, 2006

Dear Mrs. Smith,

It was brought to my attention that your organization, Soldier's Angels, did something very special for the Marines of our Injured Support Battalion. I want to take this time and thank you so much for your contribution to make special memories for those who sacrifice so much.

Your contribution of laptops is quite above and beyond. I am grateful that you have taken time to honor our injured heroes.

[Partial funding for this project was provided by the Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. For more than 40 years, the San Antonio Area Foundation, a publicly supported philanthropic institution, has been administering donors’ funds and granting gifts from those funds to worthy charitable causes that significantly enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve.] 

Bad news. As many of you have probably noticed, the Amazon Conduit was not fixed in the last week's release. Unfortunately, there was an undetected bug that is preventing the conduit from working.

We are working on this bug fix and hope to have the Conduit back up and running this week.

I will keep you posted.

Thank you for being so patient.

~daisy

 Please open the youtube link in a seperate window and listen to the song as you read about Sgt John Penich~Forever Young, Always Missed, Never Forgotten.....

One Blood

In the far away fires

Where the hills forever burn
At the feet of our heroes
We try hard to learn
But the lesson is lost there
In the smoke and the mud
That we are one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

I stood by the river
That ran red with shame
I stood in the killing fields
Where death had no name
I stood with my brothers
And away it flood
And we were one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

Then I fell to the ground
Tasted ashes on my tongue
Thinking that only the dead
Are forever young

There was peace in the twilight
And for a moment among
It was a world without danger
A world without war
And I will take all your suffering
It will do any good
Cause we are one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sgt. John M Penich, U.S. Army, was killed on October 16, 2008 while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Sgt. Penich was assigned to Viper Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, as a light infantry rifleman. John had enlisted in the Army in March 2006 and was promoted to Sergeant in March 2008.

Sgt. Penich's awards include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Bronze Star (Posthumous), Purple Heart Medal (Posthumous), the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (third award), Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the NATO-ISAF Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Sgt. Penich was also awarded the Brigade Soldier of the Year award in 2007.

He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he enriched!! He was a devoted son, brother, uncle, friend, and soldier.

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 Richard Engel visits Sgt John Penich's mother on Dec 16 2008-

Report after Viper Co returns home, and the Memorial Poker Run to honor Sgt John M. Penich-

 

After witnessing the 2001 terror attacks, John M. Penich told his family he wanted to serve his country. But his career took a detour managing a hotel, a banquet hall and then a nightclub before enlisting.

"He kind of ignored his calling and bounced around," said his older brother Jeff Penich. "But he had no regrets of joining the Army. It was a calling to him in 2001, and it didn't catch up with him until later."

Penich, 25, of Beach Park, Ill., died Oct. 16 in Karangol Village of wounds suffered from indirect fire. He was a 2001 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

Penich enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, mountain biking, riding four-wheelers and Harleys, and playing paintball.

When sending care packages to him in Afghanistan, Jeff said his brother used to ask for things for his fellow soldiers.

"It was never 'I would like this.' Never, 'I want this.' It was always, 'What can I get for my guys?' He always put everyone before himself, including his country," Jeff said.

By Amanda Kim Stairrett Nov. 14, 2008
Killeen Daily Herald

FORT HOOD – Kathleen Garross spoke to her son, John, several times over one week in mid-October.

"Did you get any new medals?" she asked once.

"Yeah," her son answered. "There should be a big one coming."

"What did you do to earn it?" Garross asked.

"You don't want to know," was the response. "Let me just tell you, I took care of business."

Garross never got to hear from her son just what he did to earn a Silver Star, the third-highest honor given to service members for valor. Sgt. John Penich died Oct. 16 in Karangol Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from indirect fire, according to information from the Defense Department.

It wasn't until after his death that Garross learned of her son's heroics. They were heroics that earned him a Silver Star and a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. They were heroics that, on multiple occasions, led Penich to save the lives of his brothers in arms.

Garross and Penich's father, James, received their son's Silver Star on Thursday following a memorial ceremony in his and three others' honor.

Text From the Congressional Record

Mr. John Boozman [R-AR]:  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a brave American soldier who sacrificed his life for freedom, Sergeant John Penich. Sergeant Penich, by all accounts, was an extraordinary solider whose hard work and determination earned him the title of Soldier of the Year in 2007 for his brigade. His bravery was evident in combat on several occasions. Brigadier General Perry Wiggins has said he knows of three separate instances when Sergeant Penich saved the lives of his comrades. According to newspaper reports, one of his final acts of bravery came on September 6, 2008, when his patrol was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. He showed his courage under fire, taking charge and reestablishing security and saving the lives of his platoon members. His heroics on that day earned him a Silver Star, the third highest honor given to members of the armed services for valor. Five and a half weeks after he earned the Silver Star, he gave the ultimate sacrifice. Sergeant Penich put himself in harm's way to make the world a better place. His commitment to this country is second to none. He wanted to be an officer, and there's no doubt we would have benefited from this young man's tremendous leadership abilities. Sergeant John Penich is a true American hero. I ask that my colleagues keep his family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. END   Penich funeral   Penich funeral   The Fallen Soldier

Blog Action Day is every October 15th, when blogger are asked to post something about a single issue to show our strength and conviction as an online community. It's a great way to feel connected to the greater good, and the participation of so many bloggers to support the world's leading non-profit organizations is something you can do to help, right now. By blogging today, you're supporting some of the world's leading non-profits and sharing your voice for change.

This year's topic is climate change, and we'd love to read your thoughts on the topic. If you participate, leave us a link to your post in the comments, so we know to check out your post!

Go to www.blogactionday.org to learn more, get a badge for your blog showing your participation, and see some ideas for your post on climate change.

Can't wait to read your posts!

~ daisy