A Picture Worth 1000 Million Words.
We truly take a lot for granted. Forget the football "heroes" and movie "stars". Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul;
the other for your freedom.
Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraced Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas yesterday. Granunke lost a hand, a leg and an eye when he defused a bomb in Iraq last year. This week's images of U.S. troops in combat in
Fallujah deepened the day's significance for many who attended tributes held in San Diego and across the nation. Associated Press
My family, friends,making Native American Indian crafts, TSO (The Sims), Tuning in to PARTY CENTRAL RADIO!
Genealogical research, music, writting, LOTR!! Writting poems, meeting new people from all over the world. PC games
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Country, Christian, Native American, ENYA, Oldies, disco, rock, really just about any kind of music.
The Passion of the Christ, all the Left Behind movies, all the Star Wars, all Star Trek's (movies & tv shows)& my favorite movies of all time LOTR!! The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Dragonheart, First Knight, The Rock, Medicine Man, Highlander,Sword of the Valiant,Harry Potter, X-Men and many many more.
Television
SCI-Fi channel,StarTrek, Stargate SG1, Stargate Alantis, Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, The History Channel, The Science Channel, many others.
Books
My Bible that was my Pop's and the one Drako got me from "The Holy Land", the Left Behind series, LOTR.
Heroes
Jesus and my Pop (stepfather)died from a long battle with cancer on Oct 5,2005, may he RIP. My mother, who passed away on Feb 6, 2009, [b]"Mom the monster is now gone, God has taken you away from that terrible beast I love you."[/b]
[p] All the men and women that died protecting my Country. All that have died during the wars ALL over the world, not just the military. Specially those that died on 9-11. Including the family members of mine that died that day and the 6 high school friends that also died. All the Fire Fighters that have lost their lives here in Charleston, SC who just lost their lives on June 18, 2007 and all other Fire Fighters around the Globe! GOD be with them all!
The beloved firefighter, and Summerville basketball coach died in the Sofa Super Store fire in June of 2007.
According to reports, Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele, who penned Michael Mann’s “Ali,“ will write the script for “Mulkey,“ while Mike Tollin, a frequent ESPN collaborator and producer of such big-screen hits as “Wild Hogs” and “Coach Carter,“ will direct and co-produce.
When the 34-year-old wasn’t at the firehouse, he was devoting his time to the young people in his hometown of Summerville. Mulkey coached basketball for at Summerville High School, his players used his memory as inspiration for their AAAA State Championship in 2008.
Mulkey’s widow Lauren issued a statement published in the Post and Courier, “Louis would be absolutely humbled and thrilled to know that his life and the relationships he so deeply cherished with his players and his brothers at the fire department would be worthy of so much positive public attention. He would want his story to inspire others to believe in something bigger than themselves, and constantly give more than is asked of them”.
ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi put together a 14-minute feature on Mulkey that aired as part of it’s Outside the Lines program. Ron Semiao, senior vice president for the theatrical motion pictures division of ESPN Films, told the paper, “What we’ll do is take a 14-minute piece and develop it into a two-hour movie”.
ESPN did not say when the movie would be released.
| WATCH TOM RINALDI’S TRIBUTE TO MULKEY |
| PART 1 |
| PART 2 |
Below the picture are 2 links from ESPN written by Wright Thompson
about our beloved Louis Mulkey and his Summerville HS team
U.S. 17 stretch to honor firefighters who died in sofa store blaze.
Section to be renamed for 9 who died in sofa store blaze!
By Glenn Smith
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
For years, the bustling retail corridor along U.S. Highway 17 in West Ashley has been known as Savannah Highway, for the city that marks its Southern destination, or as the "auto mile," for its collection of car dealerships.
Soon, this stretch will have a more poignant name, one designed to keep a tragic memory alive through the ages.
With wide support, state lawmakers have approved a bill naming a 3.6-mile portion of U.S. 17 the "Charleston Nine Memorial Highway," after the nine city firefighters who died in the June 18 Sofa Super Store fire.
The stretch of road runs from the intersection with S.C. Highway 171 to Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and includes the sofa store site, which the city hopes to acquire and turn into a memorial.
State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, a Charleston Democrat and lead sponsor of the bill, said the move will provide a fitting tribute to the fallen firefighters and ensure that people will always remember what happened.
"I just felt like we needed to honor the commitment all of us made: that we were never going to forget these guys — their bravery, their courage and their sacrifice," he said.
Stavrinakis said he plans to contact officials from the S.C. Department of Transportation this week to begin making arrangements for a formal dedication of the highway.
"I know a lot of people are going to want to be there," he said.
Jean Dangerfield, whose brother Michael French died in the blaze, said she had suggested the road renaming to Charleston Mayor Joe Riley during a memorial luncheon in December. She was thrilled to learn Monday that lawmakers had made the idea a reality.
"I’m just so happy there will be something there to represent them," she said. "This is one way of keeping their memories alive."
Mark Ruppel, public information officer for the Charleston Fire Department, offered Stavrinakis the department’s thanks for pushing for the change. Ruppel called the honor "a fitting and most appropriate tribute."
Don't forget to sign my guestbook. Any comments that are written about our "Fallen Nine Heros" will be added to a video I am working on to give to our 4 FD Stations that lost their "Brothers".
The Charleston Nine
All Videos that I have made, have been moved to my "View My Videos" area. Please go there to view them. All comments will be added to the videos that I will be sending out to the Stations that lost their "Brothers". So please leave a comment for them. Also I am working on a new on right now.Keep checking back as I will be adding more videos and information.
I come from a long line of Fire Fighters(most of them in the NJ/NY/PA area) and Military. There are no words that I can give that can express my feelings. My page, from now on will be for dedicating to ALL our "Hero's, past present and future.
I have changed my page to dedicated it to the military, police,EMS firefighters, and our local Fire Fighters that lost their lives on June 18, 2007 fighting the most deadliest single disaster for firefighters since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, which killed 340 firefighters, two paramedics and a chaplain, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
From now on this page will be for ALL our "fallen heros".
The "Brave Nine"
Station 10
Michael French
27 years old
Asst. Engineer
with 1.5 years service
Brandon Kenyon Thompson
27 years old
Fire Fighter with 4 years service
Brandon Thompson was always looking for a grant to buy a thermal imaging camera for the Pine Ridge Rural Fire Department in Berkeley County, where he volunteered for 11 years and was a captain. Memorials made to the Pine Ridge department in his name will be used for that purpose.
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
Mark Kelsey
40 years old
Engineer with 12.5 years service
Station 15
Louis Mulkey
34 years old
Captain with 11.5 years service
It wasn't uncommon to see Mulkey, who coached and mentored children of all ages, head-butting each member of his elementary football teams as they ran out to the field.
Family: A Wife, Lauren Bennett Mulkey
Hometown: Summerville, SC
Station 16
Melvin Champaign
46 years old
Fire Fighter with 2 years service
Mike Benke
49 years old
Captain with 29 years service
Benke was a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also liked to take his son fishing, he was a soccer coach, and his nickname around the firehouse was "Cappy."
Hometown: Charleston,SC
Family: wife, Kim Benke; daughter, Holly Gildea, 30; daughter, Taylor, 14; son, Hunter, 10; grandchildren, Kayla Cofield and Chris Cofield, Jr.
Station 19
Bradford "Brad" Baity
37 years old
Engineer with 9 years service
Hometown: Mocksville, N.C.
Brad was a soft-spoken man with a dry sense of humor who was quick to help others, friends and strangers alike.
William "Billy" Hutchinson
48 years old
Captain with 30 years service
James "Earl" Allen Drayton
56 years old
Fire Fighter with 32 years service
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Earl was a low-key, confident man, Drayton passed up promotions in order to remain a rank-and-file firefighter on a station truck. He cooked soul food for the guys at the station. And he was never shy about skirting the department's chain of command when he needed to talk to Fire Chief Rusty Thomas, with whom he'd started his career in the 1970s.
Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said "Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties. To lose nine is just a tragedy of immense proportions, to lose nine is just unbelievable. To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."
"These firefighters were true heroes who demonstrated great skill and courage," U.S. President George W. Bush said in a statement issued in Washington. "Their unwavering commitment to their neighbors and to the city of Charleston is an inspiration to all Americans."
The Firefighter's Prayer
When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;
Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my mate.
To all of fireman who fought the fire, to those who lost their lives, to the families and friends of those we lost, to the families and friends of every firefighter, and to the whole world, who has been affected by the tragic loss of the lives of these men and women who don't think anything of putting their lives on the line every time they are called to duty. They have given the extreme sacrifice. Please keep all of these men and women firefighters all over the world, and especially those who fought the fire and those who gave their lives, along with their families and friends, in your hearts and in your prayers. They shall never be forgotten.
Gone but not forgotten....
Brother when you weep for me
Remember that it was meant to be
Lay me down and when you leave
Remember I'll be at your sleeve
In every dark and choking hall
I'll be there as you slowly crawl
On every roof in driving snow
I'll hold your coat and you will know
In cellars hot with searing heat
At windows where a gate you meet
In closets where young children hide
You know I'll be there at your side
The house from which I now respond
Is overstaffed with heroes gone
Men who answered one last bell
Did the job and did it well
As firemen we understand
That death's a card dealt in our hand
A card we hope we never play
But one we hold there anyway
That card is something we ignore
As we crawl across a weakened floor
For anyone that might be there
So remember as you wipe your tears
The joy I knew throughout the years
As I did the job I loved to do
I pray that thought will see you through.
To our brothers, their families and the people of Charleston who are hurting so much during this most difficult time. Our thought, prayers and hearts are with you...
Shift Tour #2
Morristown Fire Department
Morristown, New Jersey
Since the early 1800's I have had family members who were firefighters in the Morristown, Blairstown, Washington NJ areas. Even now I have family that are firefighters in NJ.
God Bless!
Nar
Who I'd like to meet:
Race Against Time
Erin Colgan, Live 5 News
You see the lights in the rear view mirror....the sirens blaring....an ambulance needs to get through traffic....
It's a crucial moment..because what you do or don't do could mean the difference between life and death.
Thanks so Much for having us as a myspace Friend.Look forward to seeing you at an event soon.
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I really appreciate your support and helping spread the word - everyone is welcome to add me to their friends list - Hope you are doing well and you have a great week! :-)
Help support our troops by visiting the Military Troops Calendar Myspace page (on my top friends), or my Myspace page and click the Paypal button. Proceeds go to the Fisher House, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and allow us to send the calendars to the troops serving overseas free of charge to thank them for their service to our country. Our goal is to send 17,000 overseas by the end of this month. Thank you for your support!
Wright Thompson
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