July 8, 2012

I am back from Alaska after two weeks in the bush. The blog will be restarted this week. I am hoping to get the important parts of the blog up and running, such as the Monthly Pin-UP which is a popular part of the page. The local updates will also be running soon, no news on July 4th locally as I was not able to participate this year...

Check back, things will be back to normal shortly!

OUT OF THE OFFICE

due to time restraints working on another book I will not be posting new blogs for a few days or so!

June 6, 2012

The anniversary of D-Day means different things to different generations, but that day was the start of saving our country; that fact is beyond contestation. 

D-Day is now history beyond what some learn in school, and it is up to the older generations to keep the youth informed about the world at that time so the invasion has a place in their concept of time. D-Day was well past Pearl Harbor, where "Collective Irrationality" is the only concept that would explain in whole why Japan attacked our country in the first place. D-Day was about Germany and liberating Europe, but still connected to Japan in the complex web of geopolitical and philosophical allies. 

Our Boys today who fight everyday have to deal with the realities of today's enemies, who are not the same as on D-Day, as fighting the enemy on D-Day and the terrorists of today is not alike in most ways. D-Day was a massive battle with huge losses in a short time period, while today the battles are smaller, the losses are smaller, but spread out over 10 years now. 

Japan thought it was a strategic necessity, but in reality it was strategic failure based on false premises. Germany attempted to rule the world, and almost did! A few more months and they would have super weapons come on line that could have changed the world!

Our Boys made them die for their country, and did change the world. Our Boys now are on the same mission. Remember our Boys from D-Day today, but do not forget Our Boys today who sacrifice everyday, and now carry the torch passed on by Our Boys then!!!

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Things back here in Western Pennsylvania on D-Day were normal, as the legacy of D-Day hits the generations in a personal way. I spent the day thinking about our Boys hitting the beach at Normandy, and the slaughter of running through crossing fields of fire, as the these young men fought their way off of the beach under heavy fire without mercy. They fought for their brothers beside, in front of, and behind them, chillingly simple but true!

Roberta was writing a short story, the woman behind the Deli counter at the local Giant Eagle was thinking of our Boys Over There, my neighbor Chuck whose father fought in World War Two and was a recipient of a Silver Star -- reflected heavily on the day. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRv7PXU-l2E

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill

Memorial Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36XYOvaRCho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s6Srort8M8

Hello to all,

The above links go to my Youtube account, and are of my participation in the "Rolling Thunder" parade, and my salute to our veterans. This event takes place every year in Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend, with over 600,000 bikes taking part in today's parade. The heat took a toll on some, with medical services having to assist a few folks who passed out due to heat related problems.

My friend, Becca, rode along, and while doing so shot some still photographs.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

"The Marine" you see here comes to the event every year, and salutes every bike that goes by for over four hours!!! He does this without a break, and doesn't waver in heat hot enough to take the average man to his knees rather quickly. "The Marine" does this in full dress uniform!!!

Here is the photographer and I:

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I hope all of you had a great Memorial Day, and will have many more. I will keep this short, as the videos will say all that is needed to say on this day...

I will add President Lincoln's words that were spoken at Gettysburg, but are still relevant today, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Keep your head down,

Henry

Hello to all of our men and women Over There ... from this point on known as Our Boys ... I am bringing my blog back to you since The War continues. I will do my best to keep you abreast of happenings back home. 

May 22, 2012

This weekend Memorial Day will bring most of us together to honor you, and to celebrate life the old fashioned American way ... hot dogs, BBQ, heat, and family fun. The forecast is hot, muggy, and sunshine ... it doesn't get any better than that!

I will be one of the 650,000 riders to ride for those who cannot ride, as we close in on Washington D.C. for Rolling Thunder. The parade through the city starts at noon, and will end at the Vietnam Wall, the World War Two memorial, and the rest of the wonderful memorials and sites in our capitol city.

Photos and film to come!

Keep your head down,

Henry