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I can offer no words, but to say here's a true American and true Texan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=lR ... &vq=medium

One of the men mentioned 500 Texans killed in Iraq & Afghanistan. According to this document dated two days ago—http://www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf—total U.S. KIA in both theaters is a bit over 5000. Texans represent 10% of that number—far out of proportion to our share of the national population. In 2011, Texas had 25,674,681 residents. Population of the U.S. at the same time was 311,591,917. Texas has 8.3% of the national population, but suffers 10% of the combat deaths in her recent wars. Food for thought.

Well, you didn't warn me that clicking that link would make me cry.

Thank you for linking it. I never would have seen that without you taking that step.

I hope when I am retired, I feel passionate enough about something to work as hard at it as this guy works at his passion.

And I hope whatever passion I find to work at is as worthwhile a cause his passion.

My wife looked over at me near the end of that piece and just shook her head. She said "Why do you watch that kind of stuff that makes you cry?" My answer..."because it makes me a better man to see how selfless people can really be."

We are just inundated daily in the Me, Mine, and Ours mentality...and even though I might shed a tear, it is important to remember to serve, give, and love others. Selfish leads to emptyness. The happiest people I know are the true givers.

I'm so thankful that we have men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for something greater than themselves. Way too many people take those sacrifices for granted. I'm proud to be an American...no matter how weird that might make me! The men and women in those paintings...as well as the man who paints them, are True American Heroes!

Awesome work for an awesome cause by an awesome man!
Thanks for sharing!

Wow this was an awesome story. It is good that we remember the sacrifice that it takes to keep countries free...

Every time I watch one of these my stupid screen gets all blurry and starts running...

Thank you for posting Puma.
We have HughesNet so loading is slow. Not quit as slow as dial up but ....... so I have to have some TIME to watch one of these.

Better men than me preserve what little freedom we have while adorned w/ these velvet padded shackles of Socialism.

Blindref757 wrote:My wife looked over at me near the end of that piece and just shook her head. She said "Why do you watch that kind of stuff that makes you cry?" My answer..."because it makes me a better man to see how selfless people can really be."

We are just inundated daily in the Me, Mine, and Ours mentality...and even though I might shed a tear, it is important to remember to serve, give, and love others. Selfish leads to emptyness. The happiest people I know are the true givers.

I'm so thankful that we have men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for something greater than themselves. Way too many people take those sacrifices for granted. I'm proud to be an American...no matter how weird that might make me! The men and women in those paintings...as well as the man who paints them, are True American Heroes!

Would you believe that we have a thread going here were someone is objecting to the use of the word "American" to describe a citizen of the United States of America?

Im not real sentimental, but I got hit in the gut towards the end of the video when the mother lovingly caresses the face of her son; then suddenly, out of the blue, I flashed to me having to do that to one of my sons. Wow, a portrait and memories are all that a parent has left.

When my half brother died it killed my step father. From then on he always repeated that he had always assumed that we would be burying him, not him burying us.

Blindref757 wrote:"because it makes me a better man to see how selfless people can really be."

Amen

Thank you for sharing that. I need to take a trip out to Baytown to see that.

Jumping Frog wrote: I hope when I am retired, I feel passionate enough about something to work as hard at it as this guy works at his passion.

And I hope whatever passion I find to work at is as worthwhile a cause his passion.

May we all be so blessed.

something that may be a bit off the topic but very relavant to the topic

"for those that fought for it freedom has a taste the protected will never know"


L/Cpl Edwin L. "Tim" Craft, B Co 3rd AT's, Khe Sanh Combat Base, February, 1968