Veterans Day 2022

A day to thank our veterans for their service.  It is too bad that so many don't.  

I have or will write about veterans in all blogs today except one.

I was admiring the Ukrainian flag I have flying as I pulled out of the driveway and then remembered, "Hey, Veterans Day."  Pulled back in and put the big  U.S. flag on the garage and the smaller one out by the mailbox.  I already had a U.S. flag flying from the gazebo.

Went to Fox Lake to participate in the Veterans Day ceremony, but was unable to find it.  I sure wish the village and Legion would put out more information on these things.  So, drove over to McHenry and also could not find it at Veterans Park, so then figured that perhaps the ceremony would be at 11:00.  I had time to kill so went to Wendy's for breakfast.

Drove by Veterans Park, but no ceremony.  Same with Miller Park.  Then went to the VFW and caught the very end of it.  Oh well.

Later  tonight, I will be going to the Fox Lake Legion.

Thank You Veterans.  --RoadThankful

JSS: Ukraine Flag-- Come On Weather!! -- Inflation Gets Personal-- Sad Sox, Sad Hawks & Sad Bulls

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  UKRAINE FLAG

I saw a Ukraine flag in the Jewel parking lot earlier today.  Come on Ukraine.  It is amazing what they are accomplishing against such overwhelming odds.

2.  COME ON WEATHER!!

No breaks from the weather  After a wonderful weekend with temps in the lower 80s, we now have 44 degree weather with a strong wind blowing the cold on us.  Is there going to be a spring?  Freeze warnings for tonight!!  

3.  INFLATION GETS PERSONAL 

Today at our local breakfast spot, we were getting ready to order from the specials list when a waitress ran over and quickly gathered the specials pages and replaced them with another one.  We saw that the new one was $1 more for everything.  Ouch!!

4.  SAD SOX, SAD HAWKS & SAD BULLS

Rough time to be pulling for Chicago teams.  The Sox are in the middle of a seven game losing streak and the only thing happening more often is the loss of players to injury.  Seems like a new one every day.

The Blackhawks can't end the season soon enough.  And, I remember when they won their 3rd Stanley Cup in five years back in 2015 that they were talking about a Blackhawk Dynasty.  Little did we know we were seeing the end of it.

At least the Bulls showed the first improvement since those wonderful 1990s and made the playoffs this year, but will most likely be eliminated tomorrow.

--RoadDog

JSS: U.S. Flag Day-- Paul's Birthday on WXRT'S Breakfast With the Beatles-- Piano and Violin Dirges for the "C-- The Sunday Chicago Tribune These Days

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  U.S. FLAG DAY TODAY--  Today is the birthday of the United States Flag.  On June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress  passed on that date, the new nation's flag was put thusly:  "Resolved:  That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

Hope you put your flags out.  I have my usual U.S. flag at the garage, the smaller one at the mailbox out by the street and a 76 Bennington flag hanging up on the porch.

2.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY ON WXRT'S BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  It has now started, so tune in at www.wxrt.com for Terri Hemmert's annual salute to Paul McCartney on his 78th birthday, which is June 18, 1942.  Nothing but Paul songs, with and without the Beatles for two hours.  It runs from 8 am to 10 am, CDST.  Listening to it right now.

3.  PIANO AND VIOLIN DIRGES FOR THE "C"--  Sure getting tired of all those coronavirus commercials on TV with the "dirge" piano and violin soundtracks.  I may never be able to listen to this sort of music again.

4.  THE SUNDAY CHICAGO TRIBUNE THESE DAYS--  Just went out and picked up my Sunday Chicago tribune out in the driveway.  That's right, I still get the old hardcopy newspaper.  I sure am going to miss this treat when it's gone.

Sadly, today's Sunday Tribune is about the same size as the old daily Tribunes.  The old Sunday Tribune had a whole lot of heft to it.

CRAZY COUNTRY SONGS:  "If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out By Now."

Memorial Day 2020: A Different Sort of Respect

Usually, I am coming home from Indianapolis on the day on which the commemoration falls, but not this year as the race there was cancelled because of the virus.

And that race has to be America's biggest salute to our fallen veterans and all veterans for that matter.  It makes up a large part of the pre-race activities.

I was going to go over to the McHenry, Illinois, Memorial Day activity at Veterans Park with a friend, but found out it was canceled.  It was to be a bit different today with no speeches.  The honor guard of our three veterans organizations:  American Legion, VFW and Polish Legion, were going to fire volleys at three local sites.

And, our weather has been fairly good for Memorial Day weekend.  Usually we have pretty bad weather in northeast Illinois.  But, other than rain Saturday afternoon and some today, this has been an ideal weather weekend.  Temps have finally gotten into the 80s.

This year was just a stay-at-home thing for Liz and myself.  I already had a U.S. flag up by the garage and also put up an 1877, 38-star U.S. flag (from after Colorado became the 38th state).

I am trying to make a blog entry for all eight of them, but the internet is really causing problems today.  It takes a real long time just to do one entry with all of this stopping and freezing up.

We have had two short rain showers so far, but it hasn't rained for awhile, so I am hoping to at least get some yard work in.

I did enjoy the front porch (FP) a couple times and did some transplanting in the overwinter plants.

--RoadDog

Job Well Done, All Military.  --RoadDog

How About a Quiz on Our Flag in Honor of Flag Day?

If you would like to take a quiz on the American flag go to "This scrap of flag inspired the 'Star-Spangled Banner'"  Take the one from the Fayetteville Observer.  Once on the site go to "How much do you know about the American flag?"

There are some really hard ones and some easy ones in the 12 questions.

I got 9 of 12 right, including one I figured was a trick questions.  I had to guess on some.  I missed #2, #9 and #11.  They rank you at the end of the quiz.

I am proud to say I am a "Real Patriot."

I'm So Happy.  --RoadDog

Got My Flags Up To Commemorate the 76th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Today

I just went out in the cold (and a light smattering of snow) and put up two U.S. flags to honor those who died and survived that attack on Pearl Harbor 76 years ago that plunged the country into World War II.

Pearl Harbor, along with the Alamo, Fort Fisher and the Titanic have always been the four history stories that have interested me the most.

Sadly, as far as I know, there are no ceremonies in our part of northeast Illinois that is having anything for it.

This being the very first major action of the war for the United States, these persons are among the very oldest of those remaining from World War II and because of it, they are dying off even faster than the others.

When I was growing up, it seemed that all of my parents' friends were World War II veterans and it is hard to imagine there coming a time when they won't be around anymore.

In observance, every one of my blogs today will be about Pearl Harbor.

Hope You Are Flying Your Flag Today.   --

Flags Up for 9-11

I have been outside and put up my United States flags in commemoration and memory of all those who died this date sixteen years ago.

Not Forgetting.

Got the Flags Up and Plans for the 4th

It seemed like forever, but the 4th of July is finally really here.

The front of the house has two large U.S. flags, two pennants, two small flags and one on the mailbox.

The deck has a large U.S. flag flying from it and bunting.

All my blogs today will deal with the 4th of July for last post on each.

In a little bit, I'm going over to the Spring Grove, Illinois, parade and then to the festival grounds for a bite to eat.  Then we will go A.J.'s Horsin' Around bar in Round Lake Park to see Terry Spizziri and his nephew put on a music show, then back to Sunnyside for cocktails and food.

A  band will be playing at Horse Fair Park in Spring Grove and then we will go back to the house to watch the Spring Grove fireworks from the front porch.

Gettin' Da 4th On.  --RoadDog

It's Flag Day, Is Yours Up?

June 14th, became Flag Day declared by President Harry Truman in 1949.

Most years I remember it.

This morning I put up my flags.  I have one on the deck, the garage, the mailbox and a Bennington 76 flag hanging off the roof of the front porch.

That is my oldest flag as I bought it back during the nation's Bicentennial in 1976, 41 years ago.

I am writing about the U.S. flag right now in my Cooter's History Thing Blog.

Hoist Your Flag.  --RoadDog