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Dan Williams

Sat, January 14, 2023, 1:32 PM CST

TEL AVIV (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in three major cities on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reform plans, with organisers accusing him of undermining democratic rule weeks after his reelection.

Bestriding a religious-nationalist coalition with a solid parliamentary majority, Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, wants to rein in the Supreme Court in what he has described as a restoration of the balance of the three branches of government.

Critics say the proposed reforms would cripple judicial independence, foster corruption, set back minority rights and deprive Israel’s courts system of credibility that helps fend off war-crimes allegations abroad. Among those opposed are the Supreme Court chief justice and the country’s attorney-general.

After President Isaac Herzog appealed to polarised politicians to “lower the temperatures” of the debates, organisers of the demonstrations – held under chilly winter rain – sought to strike a note of national unity.

“Take an Israeli flag in one hand, an umbrella in the other, and come out to protect democracy and law in the State of Israel,” said centrist ex-defence minister Benny Gantz, who attended the Tel Aviv rally but, like other opposition figures, was not due to address it.

“We Are Preserving Our Shared Home,” read one demonstrator’s placard. Netanyahu was guilty of a “legal putsch”, said another.

Israeli media put the number in attendance at some 80,000, with thousands more at protests in Jerusalem and Haifa.

Social media footage showed a small number of Palestinian flags on display, in defiance of Netanyahu’s far-right allies. One of these, National Security Ministry Itamar Ben-Gvir, told Kan TV he wanted such flags removed but was awaiting the opinion of the attorney-general before ordering any crackdown by police.

The 73-year-old Netanyahu on Friday signalled flexibility on the reform plan, saying it would be implemented “with careful consideration while hearing all of the positions”.

Polls have diverged on public views of the reforms. Channel 13 TV last week found 53% of Israelis were opposed to changing the court appointments’ structure while 35% were in support. But Channel 14 TV on Thursday found 61% in favour and 35% opposed.

Critics of the Supreme Court say it is overreaching and unrepresentative of the electorate. Its proponents call the court a means of bringing equilibrium to a fractious society.

“Tens of thousands of people were at tonight’s demonstrations. In the election held here two and a half months ago, millions turned out,” tweeted Miki Zohar a senior lawmaker in Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party.

“We promised the people change, we promised governance, we promised reforms – and we will make good on that.”

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H.Res.893 – Recognizing the memorials and monuments to the Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of approximately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph Stalin.
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 893
Recognizing the memorials and monuments to the Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of approximately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph Stalin.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2018
Mr. Sires (for himself and Ms. Kaptur) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the memorials and monuments to the Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of approximately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph Stalin.
Whereas nearly 10,000,000 Americans today claim Polish ancestry, providing unwavering support for close United States-Poland relations;
Whereas Poland is a valued ally in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and over 2,000 United States military personnel are deployed in various operations in Poland;
Whereas Poles have been an integral part of America’s history, settling in the United States before American independence, where Polish generals Taddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski bravely fought for independence and freedom for both the United States and Poland;
Whereas Poland was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II, and many Polish-Americans were refugees from the devastation of World War II and the persecution created by the dual occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia;
Whereas in 1940 in the Katyn Forest and NKVD headquarters in nearby Smolensk, Russia, 22,000 Polish prisoners of war were murdered on the orders of Joseph Stalin, including Chief Rabbi of the Polish Army Baruch Steinberg, and over 400 other Jewish servicemen of the Polish armed forces;
Whereas until the 1990s, the Soviet Union denied its implication in the crime and worked to cover up the atrocities committed during the Katyn Massacre;
Whereas in 1951, the House of Representatives established a Select Committee to Conduct an Investigation and Study of the Facts, Evidence, and Circumstances of the Katyn Forest Massacre;
Whereas the Committee determined unanimously that the Soviet Union was responsible for the executions, and recommended a trial before the International World Court of Justice;
Whereas memorials have been erected around the country to honor the tens of thousands of victims of the Katyn Massacre, including in Baltimore, Maryland, Niles, Illinois, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and Jersey City, New Jersey; and
Whereas these memorials stand as an irreplaceable reminder for not only Polish-Americans, but all Americans of the crimes committed by totalitarian regimes: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the memorials and monuments to the Katyn Massacre are important historical reminders of the heinous acts that took the lives of approximately 22,000 innocent Polish prisoners of war at the order of Joseph Stalin; and
(2) applauds the sacrifices and contributions of Polish-Americans to the prosperity, diversity, and strength of the United States.

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Najwyższe uznanie dla obrońcy dobrego imienia POLSKI i POLAKÓW

Wspaniała Żydówka Wielkiej Polski

Jestem Żydówką Wielkiej Polski – tak siebie określiła 20 XI 2002 r., kilka miesięcy przed śmiercią, prof. Dora Kacnelson w czasie ostatniej swojej prelekcji w Klubie Inteligencji Katolickiej w Lublinie.

 

Wygłaszała odczyt „Księża polscy na syberyjskiej katordze”. Mówiła: „Urodziłam się w Wielkiej Polsce, wielkiej kultury, wielu religii, w niej pragnę zakończyć życie”.

 

Wyjaśniała, że terytorialnie Wielka Polska była przed rozbiorami. Pozostała nią duchowo i intelektualnie w czasie rozbiorów, wzbogacała cywilizacyjnie narody Rosji i podbite przez nią plemiona Azji, także przez swych zesłańców na syberyjskiej katordze. Zakończyła prelekcję słowami: „Przed Wielką Polską chylę czoło! Kocham ją, pozostanę jej wierną do końca życia, ja, polska Żydówka”.

 

W pewne zakłopotanie natomiast wprawiła słuchaczy lubelskiego KIK wcześniej, 4 IV 2002 r., w czasie odczytu „Kresy polskie współcześnie: Lwów, Krzemieniec, Wilno. Martyrologia narodu polskiego trwa”. Zwróciła się wówczas do obecnych księży z pytaniem: „Dlaczego ja, córka niedoszłego rabina, na polskich Kresach muszę ustawicznie domagać się od polskich duchownych, by w kościołach nie zamierały polskie modlitwy i śpiewy?”.

 

U Michnika

 

Dora Kacnelson zaskakiwała słuchaczy nie tylko w Lublinie. Z doniesień prasowych wiemy, że na początku lat 90., jak relacjonowała jej przyjaciółka, poszły obie na odczyt Adama Michnika. W dyskusji postulowała większą troskę o Polaków pozostałych po wojnie na obszarze polskim zagarniętym przez Związek Sowiecki. Po swej wypowiedzi usłyszała, że jest antysemitką. Oznajmiła wówczas: „Jestem Dora Kacnelson z Drohobycza. Mój ojciec był w Bundzie, a mój stryj był twórcą państwa Izrael. Co za idiota, nie widzi moich semickich rysów?”.

 

Dora Kacnelson pragnęła osiąść w Lublinie ze względu na Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski. Marzyła o współpracy z uczelnią. Władze miasta prosiła o mieszkanie mogące pomieścić jej pokaźne archiwa. Po śmierci pragnęła przekazać je miastu. Uzyskała przydział na mieszkanie o powierzchni 40 m2. Archiwum nie zdołała sprowadzić do Lublina ani z Drohobycza, ani z Bochni, gdzie miasto ofiarowało jej równie małe pomieszczenie, ani z Berlina, gdzie pod koniec życia przebywała.

 

Dom – oaza wolności

 

Dora Kacnelson urodziła się 19 IV 1921 r. w Białymstoku. Jej ojciec, Beri Kacnelson, porzucił w 1905 r. odbywane w Mińsku studia rabinackie, aby bronić swoich rodaków przed rosyjskimi pogromami. On i koledzy mieli otrzymać rewolwery do samoobrony bezpośrednio od Józefa Piłsudskiego. Matka, Basewa Kacnelson z domu Dojno, rozczytywała się w twórczości Stefana Żeromskiego i wzorem jego Siłaczki uczyła po wsiach biedne dzieci żydowskie i białoruskie.

 

Przedwojenny Białystok pozostał w pamięci Dory Kacnelson jako oaza wolności – także dla Żydów. W mieście rozwijało się swobodnie życie religijne zarówno Żydów, jak i Polaków. Obok chrześcijańskich kościołów istniały cztery synagogi. Funkcjonowały hebrajskie szkoły i gimnazja z językiem jidysz. Działały różne żydowskie organizacje – zarówno socjalistyczne, jak i syjonistyczne.

 

Dzieci z rodzin inteligenckich kształcono często w polskich gimnazjach, do jednego z nich uczęszczała Dora Kacnelson. Polskie i żydowskie uczennice były jej najbliższymi przyjaciółkami. Przejawów antysemityzmu w gimnazjum, jej zdaniem, po prostu nie było.

 

W gimnazjum zainteresowała się twórczością Adama Mickiewicza i Starym Testamentem, którego lekturze oddawała się codziennie wraz z ojcem. Wtedy, w Białymstoku, ślubowała, że odnajdzie grób Mojżesza i napisze książkę o Adamie Mickiewiczu oraz o polskiej poezji powstańczej. Grobu Mojżesza nie odnalazła, ale książek o Mickiewiczu, o polskich powstańcach z XIX wieku i ich poezji, opublikowała kilka.

 

Studia w Leningradzie

 

Szokiem dla rodziców i ich dorastającej już córki stała się okupacja we wrześniu 1939 r. Białegostoku przez – według jej słów – „hordy bolszewickie”. Codziennie z pobliskich domów aresztowano ludzi, wywożono całe polskie rodziny.

 

Ograniczeniu uległo życie religijne ludności żydowskiej. Dora Kacnelson wraz z rodzicami opuściła Białystok pod koniec 1939 r. i przeniosła się do krewnych w Leningradzie. Podjąwszy studia filologiczne na tamtejszym uniwersytecie, była świadkiem presji ideologicznej wywieranej na uczelni zarówno na studentach, jak i wykładowcach. Dostrzegała opór, niestety tylko małej części rosyjskich i żydowskich profesorów, wobec stalinizmu.

 

Już w Leningradzie doszły ją „pogłoski o wymordowaniu polskich oficerów w Katyniu”. Nie dawała więc wiary późniejszym tłumaczeniom wielu obywateli sowieckich, że o zbrodni katyńskiej nic nie wiedzieli.

 

W latach 1946-1949 Dora Kacnelson odbyła w Leningradzie aspiranturę naukową. Jej uwieńczeniem stała się obroniona w 1952 r. dysertacja kandydata nauk (doktorska) „Mickiewicz a poezja ludowa”. Była ona owocem także rozległej kwerendy źródłowej, którą prowadziła, przebywając w latach 1946-1949 w Wilnie. Zbierała wówczas materiały dotyczące zarówno Mickiewicza, jak i losów polskich powstańców z 1863 r. na Litwie, m.in. księży: Antoniego Mackiewicza, Stanisława Iszory oraz – dziś bohatera Białorusi – Konstantego Kalinowskiego.

 

Antysemityzm, z którym Dora Kacnelson zetknęła się – jak stale i publicznie oświadczała – dopiero w Związku Sowieckim, a nie w przedwojennej Polsce, spowodował, że przez wiele lat, mimo żmudnych poszukiwań, nie mogła uzyskać pracy. Otrzymała ją w końcu w Wyższej Szkole Pedagogicznej w Połocku. Represjonowana, niebawem musiała odejść z tej uczelni. Przeniosła się w 1961 r. aż na wschód Syberii, do Ułan Ude, stolicy Buriacji, a w 1962 r. – do Czyty na wschód od Bajkału.

 

Badała tam dzieje polskich zesłańców, którzy byli przez cały XIX wiek zsyłani przez Rosjan na Syberię. Z uniwersytetu w Czycie usunął ją rektor Mikołaj Babin – wykładowca marksizmu-leninizmu.

 

W Drohobyczu

 

W 1966 r. przeniosła się do Drohobycza, z którym już się na stałe, jako docent, związała. Ze względu na jej erudycję zwracano się do niej „pani profesor”. Ona korygowała, oświadczając: „Jestem doktorem filozofii. Wykładałam literaturę i historię Polski w uczelniach sowieckich jako docent. Za umiłowanie Polski ze wszystkich mnie wyrzucono”.

 

W 1983 r. „za polskość” – jak jej powiedziano – Dora Kacnelson została jednak wyrzucona i z uniwersytetu w Drohobyczu.

 

Polsce, Polakom, mieszkańcom tego miasta i tej ziemi poświęciła się bez reszty.

 

Na uniwersytecie wykładała literaturę i historię polską. Organizowała koła nauki języka polskiego i wieczory poezji polskiej. Jednocześnie, dojeżdżając do Lwowa, prowadziła tam prace badawcze w archiwach i dawnym Ossolineum. Współpracowała wówczas ze znakomitymi Polakami pozostałymi we Lwowie: Mieczysławem Gębarowiczem, Ludwikiem Grajewskim, Kazimierzem Giebułtowskim, Wacławem Olszewiczem i bibliotekarzem, „mądrym polskim Żydem” – Bogdanem Gordonem.

 

Kiedy poszukiwania w Ossolineum uniemożliwiła jej „stalinówka” – jak ją określała – Taisa Kozaczuk, całą swoją niespożytą energię skupiła na działalności oświatowej i charytatywnej w Drohobyczu. To ona ożywiła działalność Towarzystwa Kultury Polskiej Ziemi Drohobyckiej. Słowo polskie i wiedzę o dawnej i współczesnej Polsce niosła do odwiedzanych wsi.

 

Przekazywała też pomoc materialną biednej ludności polskiej, o którą zabiegała w kraju. Wielkie nadzieje wiązała ze zrywem „Solidarności” w Polsce. Bolała, że rządy solidarnościowe mogły otoczyć większą opieką Polaków na obszarze byłego Związku Sowieckiego, a tego w pełni nie uczyniły.

 

Emerytury dla weteranów

 

Dora Kacnelson publikowała w Polsce liczne artykuły, drukowała książki: „Z dziejów polskiej pieśni powstańczej XIX wieku. Folklor Powstania Styczniowego”, Wrocław , Ossolineum, 1974 r.; „Poezja Mickiewicza wśród powstańców. Wiek XIX. Z archiwów Wilna, Lwowa, Czyty”, Kraków, Universitas, 1999 r.; „Rok 1863 na Polesiu Kijowskim. Pamiętnik Józefa Sobkowicza” (opracowanie Dora Kacnelson, Krzysztof Gębura), Siedlce, Akademia Podlaska, 2000 r.; „Skazani za lekturę Mickiewicza. Z archiwów Lwowa i Wilna”, Lublin , Norbertinum, 2001 r.

 

W Paryżu w „Kulturze” ogłosiła cenną rozprawę „Polscy naukowcy Wilna i Lwowa pod okupacją sowiecką”. Dla weteranów polskich wojny 1939 r. i podziemia niepodległościowego w Związku Sowieckim z AK, BCh, również NSZ, co dobitnie podkreślała, dobijała się u władz polskich o emerytury.

 

Narzekała na opieszałość polskiego MSZ i podległych mu placówek konsularnych na terytorium b. ZSRS w niesieniu pomocy rodakom. Stwierdzała, że tę pomoc uzyskiwała łatwiej od różnych polskich organizacji społecznych i kościelnych niż państwowych.

 

Demaskowała kłamstwa

 

Dora Kacnelson nie zapomniała o swoich związkach z narodem żydowskim. W Drohobyczu najsilniej zabiegała o zachowanie dorobku malarskiego Brunona Schulza. Najmocniej protestowała, gdy z polecenia Yad Vashem w Izraelu skradziono z Drohobycza freski Schulza.

 

Za martyrologię Żydów, za holokaust w latach II wojny światowej wyłączną odpowiedzialnością obarczała narodowosocjalistyczne Niemcy. Mówiła o holokauście dwu narodów dokonanym przez Niemców: żydowskiego i polskiego. Obarczała odpowiedzialnością Żydów amerykańskich, że nie reagowali, gdy w czasie II wojny światowej trwał holokaust.

 

Krytykowała Amerykański Kongres Żydów za brak chęci niesienia pomocy cierpiącym biedę rodakom w dawnym Związku Sowieckim. Przyznawała rację Normanowi Finkelsteinowi, że Żydzi amerykańscy z martyrologii swych europejskich rodaków czynią dochodowe przedsiębiorstwo holokaust.

 

Nikt ze środowisk żydowskich tak mocno i zdecydowanie nie demaskował kłamstw i fałszerstw Jana Tomasza Grossa dotyczących Jedwabnego, jak Dora Kacnelson. To nie konfabulator – stwierdzała – to wynajęty przez amerykańskich Żydów oszust. Bolała ją i przerażała eskalacja nieuzasadnionych, jej zdaniem, roszczeń finansowych Żydów względem państwa polskiego.

 

Nie mogła zrozumieć, dlaczego niektóre sądy polskie wydają sfałszowane dokumenty na własność pożydowską, jak pisała: „kombinatorom nie mającym ani z prawem własności drogą dziedziczenia, ani w ogóle z narodowością żydowską nic wspólnego”.

 

– Polacy obronili swoją własność w przeszłości przed Rosjanami, przed Niemcami, muszą ją obronić obecnie przed tymi Żydami, którzy stali się niegodni mojego narodu – tak zdecydowane, mocne słowa padały z jej ust.

 

Krytyczna była również względem ruchu feministek oraz w sprawie homoseksualizmu, który jako Żydówka nazywała słowami z Księgi Kapłańskiej Starego Testamentu: „To jest obrzydliwość!”.

 

Przyjaciele z Polski

 

Pozostawała w kontakcie i serdecznej przyjaźni z wieloma Polakami, a także instytucjami w Polsce. Była w stałych kontaktach ze Światowym Związkiem Żołnierzy Armii Krajowej i innymi polskimi organizacjami kombatanckimi. Ceniła współpracę z Instytutem Badań nad Polonią i Duszpasterstwem Polonijnym KUL. Współpracowała z wybitnymi polskimi historykami, m.in. z prof. Stefanem Kieniewiczem, prof. Franciszką Ramotowską, prof. Wiktorią Śliwowską, dr Teresą Stanek z Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.

 

Współpracowała również i pozostawała w przyjaźni z księżmi profesorami z KUL, m.in. z ks. Romanem Dzwonkowskim, ks. Marianem Radwanem, ks. Edwardem Walewanderem, ks. Zygmuntem Zielińskim. Wspominała o bliskich relacjach łączących ją z dr Heleną Gulanowską z Lublina, prof. Eugeniuszem Niebelskim i prof. Mirosławem Piotrowskim z KUL, dyrektorem Biblioteki KUL Andrzejem Paluchowskim, dyrektorem lubelskiego wydawnictwa Norbertinum Norbertem Wojciechowskim, Jerzym Narbuttem, Bohdanem Porębą z Warszawy, prof. Peterem Rainą z Berlina.

 

W obronie Polaków

 

Dora Kacnelson w publikacjach, a w szczególności w licznych swoich wystąpieniach w kraju i za granicą, z siłą swej mocnej argumentacji broniła dobrego imienia Polaków.

 

Kochając naród żydowski miłością wielką, potrafiła jednocześnie dostrzegać i ganić u jego przedstawicieli wszelkie przejawy antypolonizmu, nawet najdrobniejsze. Irytowała ją opieszałość w czynieniu tego samego przez polski Instytut Pamięci Narodowej. Pisała, być może w nadmiarze żalu, że dostrzega „antypolską pozycję kierownictwa Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej”.

 

Znamiennym mottem opatrzyła Dora Kacnelson swoją książkę „Skazani za lekturę Mickiewicza. Z archiwum Lwowa i Wilna”, wydaną w 2001 r. przez Norbertinum w Lublinie: „Bohaterom Armii Krajowej, walczącym o wolność Polski z okupantem hitlerowskim i sowieckim, broniącym ludność polską i żydowską na ziemi wołyńskiej, lwowskiej i wileńskiej przed zbrodniarzami ukraińskimi i litewskimi, składa hołd – autorka”.

 

Do Lublina Dora Kacnelson przybywała często, zatrzymując się u przyjaciół. Była w ciągłym ruchu, mimo już dość sędziwego wieku. Pod koniec życia coraz rzadziej przebywała w Drohobyczu, coraz częściej w Lublinie, Krakowie, Warszawie, a ostatnio w Berlinie. Tam przed nią zmarł jej mąż, Aleksiej Jegorow, z którym wzięła ślub w 1955 r., po wypuszczeniu go z łagru sowieckiego na Kołymie.

 

 

Pamiętnik polskiej Żydówki

 

Z Berlina Dora Kacnelson pisała do mnie dwa tygodnie przed śmiercią, 15 czerwca 2003 r., prosząc o recenzję wydawniczą jej książki „Ukochałam obydwa narody. Pamiętnik polskiej Żydówki” (17 arkuszy wydawniczych).

 

Druk książki powierzyła wydawnictwu Arcanum w Bydgoszczy. Prosiła mnie o napisanie wstępu do książki, zapowiadała przybycie do Lublina, by kontynuować u władz miasta starania o mieszkanie. Zmarła w Berlinie 1 lipca 2003 roku. Losy maszynopisu wspomnień Dory Kacnelson, które miały być wydane przez Arcanum pod wspomnianym wyżej tytułem, z moim wstępem, są nieznane. Z informacji medialnych wynika, że po jej śmierci zaginęły i wątpliwe jest ich odnalezienie        [Zaginęły… ciekawe, kto je zaginął… – admin]

 

Dora Kacnelson, prosząc mnie o recenzję wydawniczą, przesłała mi konspekt książki podający treść wstępu i pięciu rozdziałów. Konspekt stanowi dziś unikalne źródło ujawniające treść nieopublikowanej dotąd wspomnieniowej książki.

 

Prof. zw. dr hab. Ryszard Bender

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Professor Randy W. SchekmanProfessor Randy W. Schekman called the prize a wonderful acknowledgment of the work he and his students had done and said he knew it would change his life.

2 Americans, German-American win Nobel medicine prize for discovery of cell transport system

 

 

Monday, October 7

Autor: KARL RITTER

 

James Rothman, 62, of Yale University, Randy Schekman, 64, of the University of California, Berkeley, and Dr. Thomas Sudhof, 57, of Stanford University shared the $1.2 million prize for their research on how tiny bubbles called vesicles act as cargo carriers inside cells.

 

The winners’ discoveries in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s have helped doctors diagnose a severe form of epilepsy and immune deficiency diseases in children, Hansson said. In the future, scientists hope the research could lead to medicines against more common types of epilepsy, diabetes and other metabolism deficiencies, he added.

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THE ITALIAN FEAST OF MARIA SS LAURETANA

THE FEAST OF MARIA SS LAURETANA

SEPTEMBER 4-7

 

Sponsored by Congregazione di Maria SS Lauretana di Altavilla Milicia.

The feast is moving this year to a new location in Niles on Church Street, between Greenwood and Cumberland, on the south side of the Golf Mill Shopping Center.

 

Festivities culminate on Sept. 6 with a candlelight procession at 9 a.m. and Mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by processions with the Sicilian Band of Chicago leading up to the traditional Flight of the Angels at 5 and 8 p.m. A street festival with live entertainment will run from Sept. 4 to 7, a Novena will run from Aug. 27 at the society’s chapel in Chicago, with the final day of the novena being celebrated on Sept. 4 at the feast.

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Poland’s great Romantic composer and favorite son

By Rick Steves, Tribune Content Agency

 

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, doesn’t appear at the top of many European travelers’ wish lists. But that’s just one reason you may want to visit. With evocative sights, an epic history, and low prices, Warsaw is a diamond in the rough.

 

If you’re looking for Old World quaintness, head for Krakow. If you’re tickled by spires and domes, get to Prague. But if you want to experience a truly 21st-century city, Warsaw’s your place. Huge, famous, and important, Warsaw is the country’s cosmopolitan business hub.

 

Warsaw has good reason to be a city of the future: The past hasn’t been very kind. Since becoming Poland’s capital in 1596, Warsaw has seen wave after wave of foreign rulers and invasions — especially during the last hundred years.

 

But in this horrific crucible, the enduring spirit of the Polish people was forged. As one proud resident told me, “Warsaw is ugly because its history is so beautiful.”

 

The city’s darkest days came during the Nazi occupation of World War II. First, its Jewish residents were forced into a tiny ghetto. They rose up … and were slaughtered. Then, its Polish residents rose up … and were slaughtered. In retaliation, Hitler ordered the block-by-block destruction of the city.

 

While the Nazis destroyed the city, the approaching Soviets sat across the river, watching and waiting. As the smoke cleared and the Nazis retreated, the Red Army marched in and claimed the pile of rubble that was once Warsaw. It would be another 45 years before the Soviets would leave and the Poles could freely govern their capital and their country.

 

After the war they almost gave up on re-creating old Warsaw, but ultimately the Poles decided to rebuild, constructing a city of contrasts, with painstakingly restored medieval lanes, pedestrian-friendly parks, and sleek skyscrapers. Today’s Warsaw is safer, wealthier, and happier than ever (they even dodged the Great Recession). You’ll encounter stylishly dressed locals, sophisticated shopping boulevards, and thoughtful museums covering World War II, Jewish history, hometown composer Frederic Chopin, and Polish art.

 

The city has two historic districts: the 13th-century Old Town and the 15th-century New Town. Both are nearly complete 20th-century reconstructions, right down to the higgledy-piggledy charm of the colorful buildings. Just two generations after the war, it is amazing to see vacationing Germans and Russians stroll through the Old Town Square — joking, enjoying ice cream cones, and snapping photos.

The countless restaurants in the historic district provide a good introduction to Polish cuisine — and the national drink, vodka. Many traditional dishes — herring, cold cuts, pickles, steak tartare — pair naturally with chilled vodka. I learned that Poles don’t sip their vodka. It’s bottoms up (that way it only stings once on the way down).

 

For me, the pleasure of Warsaw is just connecting with its big-city people, who are as warm and charming as small-town folk. Poles love Americans — they think of us as big brothers and sisters from across the Atlantic. When the communist government gave the people a small shot at representative government in 1989, the “get out the vote” poster showed Gary Cooper from “High Noon” — holding not a gun, but a voting card.

Remnants of Warsaw’s earlier magnificence show up in the huge, idyllic Lazienki Park. It’s sprinkled with neoclassical buildings, peacocks, and young Poles in love. Poland’s very last king built the park in the 18th century for his summer residence and as a place for his citizens to relax.

 

A monument to Chopin, Poland’s great Romantic composer and favorite son, graces the park’s rose garden. Even though Chopin left Warsaw for Paris, his final wish was to have his heart brought back to his native Poland. And so it was, after his death in 1849. It now lies buried in a pillar in Warsaw’s Holy Cross Church (the rest of him is interred at Paris’s Pere Lachaise Cemetery).

Locals still proudly celebrate the composer’s music. On a recent visit, I attended an informal Chopin salon — an intimate evening of beautiful music, wine, and cheese hosted by my bed-and-breakfast. Joining a group gathered around a shiny grand piano, listening to young artists performing Chopin’s etudes, felt “very Warsaw.”

Besides listening to Chopin, eating apples has become a patriotic act here. Reacting to international sanctions brought on by the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has halted fresh produce imports from the European Union — including Poland. Now Poland is awash in apples grown for export to Russia. Standing on Warsaw’s Old Town Square, knowing how the Red Army had watched from across the river as the Nazis leveled the city, it’s particularly poignant to see feisty Poles eating apples to irritate Putin.

 

The resilience of Poland’s culture and the warmth of its people inspire me. Thankfully, these are good times in Poland, a nation with a rich past and an exciting future.

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GOD Bless America – on American Story

God Bless America!

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

People

4420@comcast.net

To

erika & mike Tengler me

Feb 23 at 10:22 PM

 

 

 

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 2:00:46 PM

Subject: Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLINT EASTWOOD PRODUCED THE MOVIE “AMERICAN SNIPER” ABOUT CRIS KYLE. I BELIEVE IT

WILL BE OUT THIS MONTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the time to read this one….

 

 

.

 

 

Subject: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.

 

They lost many friends.  Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time.  Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

 

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book “The American Sniper.”  100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .

 

That was the kind of guy Chris was.  He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations.  He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD.  Chris was a giver not a taker.

 

 

 

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People

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To

erika & mike Tengler me

He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.

 

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.

 

Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into

…free of charge.

 

The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened.

 

Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel.

 

The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.

 

The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room.  I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs.  Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated).  The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

 

 

 

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Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

People

4420@comcast.net

To

erika & mike Tengler me

Feb 23 at 10:22 PM

 

 

 

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 2:00:46 PM

Subject: Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLINT EASTWOOD PRODUCED THE MOVIE “AMERICAN SNIPER” ABOUT CRIS KYLE. I BELIEVE IT

WILL BE OUT THIS MONTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the time to read this one….

 

 

.

 

 

Subject: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.

 

They lost many friends.  Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time.  Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

 

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book “The American Sniper.”  100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .

 

That was the kind of guy Chris was.  He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations.  He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD.  Chris was a giver not a taker.

 

He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.

 

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.

 

Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into

…free of charge.

 

The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened.

 

Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel.

 

The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.

 

The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room.  I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs.  Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated).  The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

 

At the Kyle house, the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house.  Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home.

 

Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis.  It was a huge coordination of many different events and security.  Derek was assigned to be a Pall Bearer, to escort Chris’ body when it was transferred from the Midlothian Funeral Home to the Arlington Funeral Home, and to be with Taya.  A tough job.

 

Taya seldom came out of her bedroom.  The house was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help.  I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris’ mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield’s parents (the other man murdered with Chris).  A tough job.

 

George W Bush and his wife Laura met and talked to everyone on the Seal Team one on one.  They went behind closed doors with Taya for quite a while. They had prayer with us all.  You can tell when people were sincere and caring

 

 

 

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Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

People

4420@comcast.net

To

erika & mike Tengler me

Feb 23 at 10:22 PM

 

 

 

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 2:00:46 PM

Subject: Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLINT EASTWOOD PRODUCED THE MOVIE “AMERICAN SNIPER” ABOUT CRIS KYLE. I BELIEVE IT

WILL BE OUT THIS MONTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the time to read this one….

 

 

.

 

 

Subject: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.

 

They lost many friends.  Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time.  Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

 

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book “The American Sniper.”  100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .

 

That was the kind of guy Chris was.  He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations.  He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD.  Chris was a giver not a taker.

 

He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.

 

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.

 

Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into

…free of charge.

 

The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened.

 

Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel.

 

The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.

 

The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room.  I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs.  Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated).  The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

 

At the Kyle house, the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house.  Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home.

 

Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis.  It was a huge coordination of many different events and security.  Derek was assigned to be a Pall Bearer, to escort Chris’ body when it was transferred from the Midlothian Funeral Home to the Arlington Funeral Home, and to be with Taya.  A tough job.

 

Taya seldom came out of her bedroom.  The house was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help.  I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris’ mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield’s parents (the other man murdered with Chris).  A tough job.

 

George W Bush and his wife Laura met and talked to everyone on the Seal Team one on one.  They went behind closed doors with Taya for quite a while. They had prayer with us all.  You can tell when people were sincere and caring

 

Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks, chicken and hamburgers.  They set up in the front yard and fed people all day long including the 200 SEALs and their families.  The next day a local BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once again.  Food was plentiful and all were taken care of.  The family’s church kept those inside the house well fed.

 

Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star.  He made sure that we all were taken care of.  His wife and he were just making sure everyone was taken care of….Class… He donated the use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many wanted to attend.

 

The charter buses transported us to the stadium on Monday at 10:30 am.  Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs and police.  I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place was a security risk, I don’t know. We  willingly obliged.  No purses went into the stadium!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

People

4420@comcast.net

To

erika & mike Tengler me

Feb 23 at 10:22 PM

 

 

 

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 2:00:46 PM

Subject: Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLINT EASTWOOD PRODUCED THE MOVIE “AMERICAN SNIPER” ABOUT CRIS KYLE. I BELIEVE IT

WILL BE OUT THIS MONTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the time to read this one….

 

 

.

 

 

Subject: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.

 

They lost many friends.  Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time.  Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

 

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book “The American Sniper.”  100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .

 

That was the kind of guy Chris was.  He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations.  He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD.  Chris was a giver not a taker.

 

He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.

 

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.

 

Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into

…free of charge.

 

The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened.

 

Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel.

 

The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.

 

The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room.  I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs.  Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated).  The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

 

At the Kyle house, the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house.  Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home.

 

Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis.  It was a huge coordination of many different events and security.  Derek was assigned to be a Pall Bearer, to escort Chris’ body when it was transferred from the Midlothian Funeral Home to the Arlington Funeral Home, and to be with Taya.  A tough job.

 

Taya seldom came out of her bedroom.  The house was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help.  I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris’ mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield’s parents (the other man murdered with Chris).  A tough job.

 

George W Bush and his wife Laura met and talked to everyone on the Seal Team one on one.  They went behind closed doors with Taya for quite a while. They had prayer with us all.  You can tell when people were sincere and caring

 

Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks, chicken and hamburgers.  They set up in the front yard and fed people all day long including the 200 SEALs and their families.  The next day a local BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once again.  Food was plentiful and all were taken care of.  The family’s church kept those inside the house well fed.

 

Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star.  He made sure that we all were taken care of.  His wife and he were just making sure everyone was taken care of….Class… He donated the use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many wanted to attend.

 

The charter buses transported us to the stadium on Monday at 10:30 am.  Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs and police.  I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place was a security risk, I don’t know. We  willingly obliged.  No purses went into the stadium!

 

We were taken to The Legends room high up and a large buffet was available.  That was for about 300 people.  We were growing.

 

A Medal of Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police and Sarah Palin and her husband.  She looked nice, this was a very formal military service.

 

The service started at 1:00 pm and when we were escorted onto the field I was shocked.  We heard that about 10,000 people had come to attend also.  They were seated in the stadium seats behind us. It was a beautiful and emotional service.

 

 

 

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Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

People

4420@comcast.net

To

erika & mike Tengler me

Feb 23 at 10:22 PM

 

 

 

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 2:00:46 PM

Subject: Fwd: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLINT EASTWOOD PRODUCED THE MOVIE “AMERICAN SNIPER” ABOUT CRIS KYLE. I BELIEVE IT

WILL BE OUT THIS MONTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the time to read this one….

 

 

.

 

 

Subject: TEXAS GOODBYE

 

 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS GOODBYE

 

This is why America will remain strong.  We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people.

 

Chris Kyle was Derek’s teammate through 10 years of training and battle.  They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it.

 

2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field.

 

They lost many friends.  Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time.  Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

 

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book “The American Sniper.”  100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .

 

That was the kind of guy Chris was.  He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations.  He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD.  Chris was a giver not a taker.

 

He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.

 

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.

 

Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into

…free of charge.

 

The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened.

 

Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel.

 

The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.

 

The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room.  I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs.  Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated).  The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

 

At the Kyle house, the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house.  Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home.

 

Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis.  It was a huge coordination of many different events and security.  Derek was assigned to be a Pall Bearer, to escort Chris’ body when it was transferred from the Midlothian Funeral Home to the Arlington Funeral Home, and to be with Taya.  A tough job.

 

Taya seldom came out of her bedroom.  The house was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help.  I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris’ mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield’s parents (the other man murdered with Chris).  A tough job.

 

George W Bush and his wife Laura met and talked to everyone on the Seal Team one on one.  They went behind closed doors with Taya for quite a while. They had prayer with us all.  You can tell when people were sincere and caring

 

Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks, chicken and hamburgers.  They set up in the front yard and fed people all day long including the 200 SEALs and their families.  The next day a local BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once again.  Food was plentiful and all were taken care of.  The family’s church kept those inside the house well fed.

 

Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star.  He made sure that we all were taken care of.  His wife and he were just making sure everyone was taken care of….Class… He donated the use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many wanted to attend.

 

The charter buses transported us to the stadium on Monday at 10:30 am.  Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs and police.  I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place was a security risk, I don’t know. We  willingly obliged.  No purses went into the stadium!

 

We were taken to The Legends room high up and a large buffet was available.  That was for about 300 people.  We were growing.

 

A Medal of Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police and Sarah Palin and her husband.  She looked nice, this was a very formal military service.

 

The service started at 1:00 pm and when we were escorted onto the field I was shocked.  We heard that about 10,000 people had come to attend also.  They were seated in the stadium seats behind us. It was a beautiful and emotional service.

 

The Bagpipe and drum corps were wonderful and the Texas A&M men’s choir stood through the entire service and sang right at the end.  We were all in tears.

 

The next day was the 200-mile procession from Midlothian, TX to Austin for burial.  It was a cold, drizzly, windy day, but the people were out.  We had dozens of police motorcycles riders, freedom riders, five chartered buses and lots of cars.  You had to have a pass to be in the procession and still it was huge.  Two helicopters circled the procession with snipers sitting out the side door for protection. It was the longest funeral procession ever in the state of Texas.  People were everywhere. The entire route was shut down ahead of us, the people were lined up on the side of the road the entire way.  Firemen were down on one knee, police officers were holding their hats over their hearts, children waving flags, veterans saluting as we went by.  Every bridge had fire trucks with large flags displayed from their tall ladders, people all along the entire 200 miles were standing in the cold weather.  It was so heartwarming. Taya rode in the hearse with Chris’ body so Derek rode the route with us.  I was so grateful to have that time with him.

 

 

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God Bless America!

 

The service was at Texas National Cemetery. Very few are buried there and you have to apply to get in. It is like people from the Civil War, Medal of Honor winners, a few from the Alamo and all the historical people of Texas.  It was a nice service and the Freedom Riders surrounded the outside of the entire cemetery to keep the crazy church people from Kansas that protest at military funerals away from us.

 

Each SEAL put his Trident (metal SEAL badge) on the top of Chris’ casket, one at a time.  A lot hit it in with one blow.  Derek was the only one to take four taps to put his in and it was almost like he was caressing it as he did it.  Another tearful moment.

After the service Governor Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, invited us to the governor’s mansion.  She stood at the door,  greeted each of us individually, and gave each of the SEALs a coin of Texas.  She was a sincere, compassionate, and gracious hostess.

 

We were able to tour the ground floor and then went into the garden for beverages and BBQ.  So many of the Seal team guys said that after they get out they are moving to Texas.  They remarked that they had never felt so much love and hospitality.  The charter buses then took the guys to the airport to catch their returning  flights.  Derek just now called and after a 20 hours flight he is back in his spot, in a dangerous land on the other side of the world, protecting America.

 

We just wanted to share with you, the events of a quite emotional, but blessed week.

 

Punch-line:

 

To this day, no one in the White House has ever acknowledged Chris Kyle.

However, the President can call some sport person and congratulate him on announcing to the world that he is gay?  What the hell is happening to our society, our honor and our pride??

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March In Hollywood Immigration Rally

 

Tens of thousands to turn out to the rally, which was among some 150 demonstrations on a day billed as the “National Day for Dignity and Respect.”

 

 

Oct 05, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP)

 

On Saturday as part of rallies nationwide to push for congressional action, while California’s governor signed a series of bills on the topic, saying he was not going to wait on Washington.

 

The Los Angeles demonstration called “March of the Stars” kicked off shortly after Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that included a bill prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from detaining people for deportation if they are arrested for a minor crime and otherwise eligible to be released from custody.

 

“While Washington waffles on immigration, California’s forging ahead,” Brown said. “I’m not waiting.”