Armed Forces Day

Hello Everyone,

Each year Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May as the culmination of Armed Forces Week. Armed Forces day was created in 1949 as a result of the consolidation of the military services under one governing organization, the Department of Defense. Armed Forces Day was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, however many still observe these individual days.

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish Armed Forces Day for citizens to come together to collectively thank service members for their dedicated service in support of the U.S.

Like Memorial Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day, the first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, receptions and air shows. In Washington D.C., 10,000 troops of all branches of the military, cadets, and veterans marched pass the President and his party.

Also celebrated in the U.S. in May is National Military Appreciation month. The U.S. Congress designated May as the month for citizens to take the time to learn about the history of the U.S. military and recognize, honor and learn about current American service members.

All of the military branches have played an important role in American history. The Army, Marine Corps and the Navy date back to 1775, just before the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Along with Armed Forces Day, National Military Appreciation Month also includes Loyalty Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Memorial Day.

Besides parades, receptions and air shows, there are many ways to celebrate Americas soldiers during the many military holidays in May. Some ways to celebrate and honor service members on any of these special recognition days include visiting veterans in the hospital, flying an American flag, send a thank you letter to an active-duty deployed service member and make a donation to a charity benefiting active-duty service members.

While Armed Forces Day is often overshadowed by other military-related holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day, it should not be ignored or forgotten by the citizens of the U.S. Our military service men and women are dedicated to preserving our freedom all-year long and we should take every opportunity to honor them.

Thank you E for serving and protecting our country. I am so honored to be your wife and I love you with all of my heart.


To all the men and women who allow us to live our amazing American lives. We honor your service and sacrifice, on Armed Forces Day and every day.

Only missing for a little while and now I'm back

Hello Everyone,

 

I can't believe how long its been since I've posted here. My apologies for not being so proactive with blogging.

We were busy throughout the holidays. I was trying to get a sewing project done as a Christmas present and I had a lot of trouble with the pattern. I will post about that when I finish it and it will be soon. I have been "frogging" a lot with a pattern I have been working on in knitting. I won't give up!!

I always say that I want to start the New Year off right and get my WIP's (work in progress) done. Then I hit a sewing and knitting funk and I was not happy about it.

So, now I am out of my funk. I tested a new sewing pattern and I will post about it when the pattern is released. I am going to finish that sewing project that I had problems with and get it done. Then the big task of accomplishing all of my other WIP's.

On Friday, I will have a Septoplasty (deviated septum) procedure. I am nervous, but, I know this will give me better quality of life for breathing. Hopefully, it won't set me back to long. Wish me luck and please say a prayer.

I hope all of you are doing well and I can't wait to see what you have been up to.

Have a great day!!

Veterans Day and Remembrance Day

Good Morning,

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. An official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, while parades and other celebrations are held in states around the country. 

Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans--living or dead--but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. Today, Americans take time and recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. We will never forget the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and all those who have not yet returned home.

 A recognized symbol of Veteran's Day is the red poppy. In World War I, Soldiers who were returning home, reported seeing battlefields covered with red poppies blooming. In their hearts, the red poppies symbolized the bloodshed and sacrifice made by the fallen soldiers. After the war, groups began making red paper poppies as a way to raise money for the wounded veteran's and selling them on Armistice Day (Veteran's Day). The red poppy remains a symbol of solidarity for Veteran's.

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on November 7, 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red color an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

If you know a Veteran or someone currently serving in our country's uniform, take the time today to thank them for their service and sacrifices. 

On a personal note, thank you E for keeping us safe, serving our country and keeping us out of harm's way!! I love you!! Also, I want to thank all of my family and friends that have served.

Thank you Veteran's!!

Appaloosa Bag - Test Pattern

Hello Everyone,

I completed another beautiful pattern for Sara at Sew Sweetness. This bag is called the Appaloosa Bag and I love how it came out.

This medium size bag is a perfect size for a day out shopping, lunch with friends or going to see the beauty of the fall foliage. It has accordion dividers on the inside, which is perfect for organization a snap closure, zippered pocket inside, adjustable shoulder strap and purse feet on the bottom (which is always optional). The finished size: 10 3/4” long x 7 1/2” tall x 4” deep. 

When I saw this bag, I knew it would be perfect for beautiful and crisp fall days. I got the fabric, zippers, thread and all of the hardware at Joann's.

I love all the detail and thought that Sara puts into all of her bags and her instructions are always easy to follow. If you ever have a question, she is always available to assist you.

If you would like to purchase this pdf pattern, hardware and notions, please stop by Sara's pattern shop. This pattern will be released soon.

I am linking up with these parties, Remodelaholic, More the Merrier and TCB.

Have a wonderful day!!

September 11, 2001 - 14 Year Anniversary

Today marks the 14th anniversary as one of the worst attack on the United States. I can't believe that fourteen years have passed since that tragic day. It is with every post that I write every year that I have such a heavy heart.

Early on the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took control of four commercial airliners (two Boeing 757 and two Boeing 767) en route to San Francisco or Los Angeles after takeoffs from Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Large planes with long flights were intentionally selected for hijacking because they would be heavily fueled.

The four flights involved were:

• American Airlines Flight 11: Left Boston's Logan Airport at 7:59 a.m. en route to Los Angeles with a crew of 11 and 76 passengers, not including five hijackers. The hijackers flew the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.
• United Airlines Flight 175: Left Logan Airport at 8:14 a.m. en route to Los Angeles with a crew of nine and 51 passengers, not including five hijackers. The hijackers flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m.
• American Airlines Flight 77: Left Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia at 8:20 a.m. en route to Los Angeles with a crew of six and 53 passengers, not including five hijackers. The hijackers flew the plane into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.
• United Airlines Flight 93: Left Newark International Airport at 8:42 a.m. en route to San Francisco, with a crew of seven and 33 passengers, not including four hijackers. After the passengers revolted, the hijackers crashed the plane into the ground near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.

 I always include the past post of my experience on that day. You can view it here. Being a New Yorker, we are very resilient and can manage a lot of things that head our way.  I can tell you that nothing prepared us for that day or for anyone else in our country. September 11, 2001 touched every American in some way and it also reminds everyone of the many heroes that are in our lives, that protect us and that are still protecting us every single day. They help to keep a horrific event such as this from ever happening again.

America's Military, Police, Firemen and EMS have done such an amazing job keeping our country safe. Please take a moment to remember the nearly 3,000 men, women and children killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93.

Please also keep our men and women in uniform in your thoughts as they continue to fight for our Nation. Military members and their families have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country since then. We salute you and thank you for your service. America sleeps easy knowing you are there to protect us.

We will never forget the events of that fateful and horrific day in September 2001.

My thoughts and prayers are with those lives lost and families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. Thank you to all the first responders from the FDNY, NYPD and the NYARNG (101 Cav, 69th IN, 256 FA) who risked their lives on that tragic day. Thank you to all the men and women who defend our freedom by serving in the Military. We will never forget!!