Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Soldiers and politicians: Who serves and who tries to 'service' the people


A SOLDIER DIED TODAY--anon.

He was getting old  and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the  Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought  in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his  buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his  neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened  quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear  his tales no longer,
For old Mike has passed away,
And the world's a  little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won’t be mourned by  many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very  quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly  on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died  today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in  state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were  great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were  young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is  the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks  his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in  times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his  life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are  often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the  ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And  perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their  compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now  enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at  hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling  stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his  kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?

He was  just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence  should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in  conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the  troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him  honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him  homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In  the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED  TODAY."

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Chance to visit with potential supporters of expansion of National Cemetery on holiday weekend

Hi All - Some time ago (March) I suggested that the RNCIC rent a table for the gun shows in the area, as a place to pass out literature and seek donations. Many of the attendees are ex-military, & good ole boys', the kind of patriotic folks that we need to reach. Yesterday I received a publication, listing a Show at the Springdale Convention Center on 2 & 3 July. I called the point of contact & received the following information:  The RNCIC is now on their list for a table (for both days)- the cost of which is zero, as long as we're not selling anything. (I told the lady that we're not selling, we're begging.)The set-up is Friday (1 July) from 12:00 to 8 PM.We should man the table from 0900 on Saturday 2 July, till 5 PM;on Sunday we should be there from 0900 till 4 PM.If possible, I'd like to have 3 people volunteer on Sat (9 to 12 & 12 to 5),and the same on Sunday (9 to 12 & 12 to 4).(I will be there anyway, so 3 volunteers will be enough each day)We should have a 'bunch' of brochures; perhaps a couple hundred? Also. any other items, such as photographs, news clippings, etc, items that reflect what we're doing.I have a couple boxes from Roger that have some stuff in them, & I'll see Gloria/Cris tomorrow to see if they have some items.    Will we make any money? I certainly don't know, but at least we can try, and the expenses will be minimal (your time).The publicity certainly can't hurt (and, yes, we should be prepared to accept cash donations, so we need to have some of the tax deduction forms (perhaps 25 or so?).If you'd like to volunteer for one or more periods, just let me know & I'll set it up. Call 479 750-2598 or 445-8336.Thanks,Ron

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Threat to National Cemetery looms large again

VIDEO pf July 2009 meeting of city council considering sale-barn plan for reference. Includes comments of neighbors, friends and many former active-duty veterans, reservists and descendants of people buried already in Fayetteville National Cemetery.







Please click on individual images to ENLARGE for easy reading. Click on first enlargement to show even larger view.







Live link to a related video on You Tube.
youtu.be/8sPGHu5wN9Y

holding space


Tuesday, June 7, 2011

June 11, 2011, meeting agenda for Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation

AGENDA
FOR RNCIC MEETING
JUNE 11, 2011
Call meeting to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Minutes of previous month’s meeting
Financial Report
Web Master’s Report
5K Race Director’s Report
OLD BUSINESS
Property Status Report (Ron)
Lot #15
Lot #17
Lots #20 & #20A
Fund Raising Projects (Need a chairperson to take responsibility)
Publicity (Merle)
Facebook page for RNCIC (Jeremy)
By-Law Review & Acceptance (Jake)
Member/New Member Letter (Ron)
IRS Form 990-N (Harold)
RNCIC audit (Harold)
RNCIC history (Ron)
Other Old Business
NEW BUSINESS
Any New Business to be brought before the Corporation
Motion to adjourn