Happy Memorial Day... If one can really say that honestly.
Memorial Day is the day we honor those who have paid the ultimate price for their country. They have died so that we can remain free.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was at an event I attended today. I was able to explain to my daughter that the wall was special and that people would visit it to see the names of their loved ones on it.
Another item of interest I came across was a post that I saw. Someone made a good point when they said that Memorial Day was becoming more like Veteran's day. I totally agree with the person who posted that. It is, and there is not much we can do about it. Below is the response I gave. I hope that this helps to put this day, and every patriotic day into perspective. Especially since I realize that there are many people who would love to thank a member of the military, but don't know one.
"I can certainly see where you are coming from on this one. Unfortunately, the world we live in is not always as "clean-cut" as we would like it to be. As I listened intently to my Drill Sergeants on the day before we graduated from Basic Training, they gave us one final speech. This time it was on what you are obliged to do when someone tells you "Thank You!" Quite frankly, they told us, "You do not deserve it. You have not been deployed or even been trained (in AIT) to do your job yet. You have not defended this nation for one day in your life." "BUT, they continued, if someone thanks you, you had better keep your mouth shut and listen to them. Let them thank you." The average American doesn't know what a combat patch is, so they will have no clue that you are not returning from Afghanistan or Iraq. And most of them don't even know anyone in the military." Then they told us that when we wore this uniform, regardless of anything we had done or not done in our military career, we are representing EVERYONE who has ever put it on and that if they wanted to thank us, we had better let them. I kind of feel the same way when it comes to Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Sure, I have deployed now, and I would like to think that I have at least done something to help make America a safer place, at least a little bit, but I know that I am nowhere near as deserving as those who have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan several times, or for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying for their country. However, No matter how undeserving I am in comparison to them, as my Drill Sergeants so graciously informed me, it is my duty to stand there and listen since I may be the only person in the military they are ever able to thank. If I brush them off this time, they will probably not say "Thank You" to the person who is more deserving next time. Just a thought. I am not saying that the Drill Sergeants I had have everything right, but it makes sense to me."
As you celebrate today, I hope that you will remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country by honoring their memory on their day. Also, although this day is not for them, please feel free to thank anyone you know who is currently in the military as well (or even those who have served). After all, each and every one of them signed on that dotted line knowing full and well that they could be the one being honored on the next Memorial Day.
This BLOG is NOT endorsed by the United States Army. The opinions expressed are those of the author and some of his Drill Sergeants, who also not officially authorized to speak on behalf of the United States Army in this instance.
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Sincerely,
David H. Troyer
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
March 18, 2013 - Technology and Contact Information
It seems to me that with each passing year people have less and less actual contact information memorized. This includes the information they would need in order to get in touch with their closest friends and families.
Between the conveniences provided using our cell phones and the internet, most people find little to no need for the memorization of any information except for maybe their own phone number and address, that is, if these two items are not already on their business cards or permanently affixed to the side of their vehicle.
This thought had crossed my mind in the past, but what really brought the point home was the fact that I wanted to send some of my friends a post card while I am still deployed. Unfortunately, I realized that an updated address book listing a physical address where my friends could recieve mail has fallen by the wayside. I'm fairly certain that this is true in most cases.
Either way, the technology we posess is a valuable tool, however, we must also think about "the other side of the coin," as one might say. What if you suddenly found that your area was facing a natural disaster, such as the one faced by the survivors of Hurricaine Katrina in the New Orleans, LA area back in August of 2005.
Of course, technology had not advanced as far as it has today at that point, but I wonder how many of those people, once they actually found a telephone that worked, actually had at least one current telephone number to a friend or relative memorized. How many do you have memorized today?
Please don't get panicked and go overboard, but maybe it is time to dust off your trusty little black book, or better yet, start to memorize a few telephone numbers. After all, you do not want to be the guy tying up the line using directory assistance when there at least a thousand scared and impatient people behind you, many of whom will have to do the same.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by using your Gmail account.
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
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Between the conveniences provided using our cell phones and the internet, most people find little to no need for the memorization of any information except for maybe their own phone number and address, that is, if these two items are not already on their business cards or permanently affixed to the side of their vehicle.
This thought had crossed my mind in the past, but what really brought the point home was the fact that I wanted to send some of my friends a post card while I am still deployed. Unfortunately, I realized that an updated address book listing a physical address where my friends could recieve mail has fallen by the wayside. I'm fairly certain that this is true in most cases.
Either way, the technology we posess is a valuable tool, however, we must also think about "the other side of the coin," as one might say. What if you suddenly found that your area was facing a natural disaster, such as the one faced by the survivors of Hurricaine Katrina in the New Orleans, LA area back in August of 2005.
Of course, technology had not advanced as far as it has today at that point, but I wonder how many of those people, once they actually found a telephone that worked, actually had at least one current telephone number to a friend or relative memorized. How many do you have memorized today?
Please don't get panicked and go overboard, but maybe it is time to dust off your trusty little black book, or better yet, start to memorize a few telephone numbers. After all, you do not want to be the guy tying up the line using directory assistance when there at least a thousand scared and impatient people behind you, many of whom will have to do the same.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by using your Gmail account.
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
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Sunday, March 17, 2013
March 17, 2013 - Happy St. Patrick's Day
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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©David H. Troyer
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I always find it funny that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was actually born in England. According to what I learned in history class, he was taken to Ireland, found his way back to England, and finally returned to Ireland as a missionary.
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©David H. Troyer
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So, when you are out celebrating, or just thinking about the day and wondering what it is all about, please take a minute and look up St. Patrick. Find out some of the stories associated with St. Patrick. I'm fairly certain that doing so will not only give you something fun to talk about with your friends while you are celebrating, but it will also improve your overall enjoyment of the holiday in the future as well.
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by using your Gmail account.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
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Friday, March 15, 2013
March 15, 2013 - The Ides of March
Today is the Ides of March (March 15th). The day in history in 44 B.C. when Julius Caesar was assassinated. To me, this story seems almost unbelievable, but according to historical accounts, it happened.
Although the means by which Julius Caesar was warned of this day were not the most conventional, perhaps he could have taken some measures for protection against something bad happening. Then again maybe he thought Brutus had his back.
I know that this blog entry is short, but if you have never read the story, you should check it out. It says a lot about Roman society at the time.
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by
using your Gmail account.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
www.twitter.com/davidhtroyer - Find out the latest news about my career
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
www.twitter.com/davidhtroyer - Find out the latest news about my career
Thursday, March 14, 2013
March 14, 2013 - Random Acts of Kindness
Random acts of kindness are awesome!
I love it when someone does something nice for someone else, out of the blue, and has nothing to gain from it. Granted, you should do random acts of kindness for your friends and family, that helps your relationship to grow in a healthy manor and lets you know that you love them. You should also consider doing random acts of kindness for people who you have never met and may never see again.
An awesome example of this came up just last week (When I wrote this on December 19, 2012, that is) when I was chatting with one of my former students. She asked me if I though she should bake some brownies and bring them to the fire department across the street from her house, and expressed her doubts about doing so because of the fact that most modern-day Americans will not take food from people they don't know.
I told her that if she wants to do it that she should follow through, but that she should be prepared to eat a few brownies just to prove that there is nothing wrong with them.
Another random act of kindness is the sending of care packages. Thankfully, I have been on the receiving end lately, but when I leave here, I plan on being on the giving end as well. Fortunately, I will have a better idea of what deployed members of the military need when I get back. (Toiletry items, drink mixes, books, crossword puzzles, batteries - whatever kind you are allowed to send, DVDs/Cds, and anything which will provide lighthearted entertainment to name a few items).
I know that people give more during the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, etc.), but this is something that we should consider doing all year long. From November until mid January, we kept a candy box for everyone who worked in our area. Soldiers would bring extra candy and snacks which were sent to them and we would all share it. After January, we struggled to even have a box.
Keep in mind that it does not have to cost you anything to contribute a random act of kindness in order to help mitigate the effects felt by the sea of misery which so many people must swim through on a daily basis. You could trim the neighbor's hedges or mow their lawn, especially if they are elderly or not able to do so for some other reason. You could make it a point to hold the door open and warmly greet everyone you meet on any given day. You could even bring some cans of food you have just sitting on the shelf at home to the local homeless shelter.
If you have children, you could even get them involved by asking them to donate some of their gently used clothes or toys to a family in need or to any number of charitable organizations. Children are never too young to teach about random acts of kindness or charitable giving... and these lessons may even follow them throughout life.
There have been many times when I have seen a random act of kindness brighten up someone's day.
One final example is the day I deployed. When I was in the store at the airport, a lady bought a drink and a snack for the soldier in front of me, and myself. She did not know the two of us from any other soldier in the world, and she will probably never see us again, but still, she made it a point to tell us "Thank you for your service," both in word and in deed. We were both appreciative of her actions.
She did not know that I had skipped my lunch on that day or that I was rushed through the airport in order to get to our plane because someone had given our group the wrong time to arrive at the airport, or that I would be away from my family for the second Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day in a row, or that I would be missing Christmas, New Year, and our Anniversary as well. This kindhearted lady just laid down her hard earned money in a random act of kindness in tribute to every soldier, sailor, and marine who is fighting for her freedom.
It is the people like the lady at the airport, and my former student, who serve as examples to us all. The gladness which we can bring to another human being by contributing one simple act of kindness without the hope of something in return is simply amazing.
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by using your Gmail account.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
www.twitter.com/davidhtroyer - Find out the latest news about my career
I love it when someone does something nice for someone else, out of the blue, and has nothing to gain from it. Granted, you should do random acts of kindness for your friends and family, that helps your relationship to grow in a healthy manor and lets you know that you love them. You should also consider doing random acts of kindness for people who you have never met and may never see again.
An awesome example of this came up just last week (When I wrote this on December 19, 2012, that is) when I was chatting with one of my former students. She asked me if I though she should bake some brownies and bring them to the fire department across the street from her house, and expressed her doubts about doing so because of the fact that most modern-day Americans will not take food from people they don't know.
I told her that if she wants to do it that she should follow through, but that she should be prepared to eat a few brownies just to prove that there is nothing wrong with them.
Another random act of kindness is the sending of care packages. Thankfully, I have been on the receiving end lately, but when I leave here, I plan on being on the giving end as well. Fortunately, I will have a better idea of what deployed members of the military need when I get back. (Toiletry items, drink mixes, books, crossword puzzles, batteries - whatever kind you are allowed to send, DVDs/Cds, and anything which will provide lighthearted entertainment to name a few items).
I know that people give more during the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, etc.), but this is something that we should consider doing all year long. From November until mid January, we kept a candy box for everyone who worked in our area. Soldiers would bring extra candy and snacks which were sent to them and we would all share it. After January, we struggled to even have a box.
Keep in mind that it does not have to cost you anything to contribute a random act of kindness in order to help mitigate the effects felt by the sea of misery which so many people must swim through on a daily basis. You could trim the neighbor's hedges or mow their lawn, especially if they are elderly or not able to do so for some other reason. You could make it a point to hold the door open and warmly greet everyone you meet on any given day. You could even bring some cans of food you have just sitting on the shelf at home to the local homeless shelter.
If you have children, you could even get them involved by asking them to donate some of their gently used clothes or toys to a family in need or to any number of charitable organizations. Children are never too young to teach about random acts of kindness or charitable giving... and these lessons may even follow them throughout life.
There have been many times when I have seen a random act of kindness brighten up someone's day.
One final example is the day I deployed. When I was in the store at the airport, a lady bought a drink and a snack for the soldier in front of me, and myself. She did not know the two of us from any other soldier in the world, and she will probably never see us again, but still, she made it a point to tell us "Thank you for your service," both in word and in deed. We were both appreciative of her actions.
She did not know that I had skipped my lunch on that day or that I was rushed through the airport in order to get to our plane because someone had given our group the wrong time to arrive at the airport, or that I would be away from my family for the second Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day in a row, or that I would be missing Christmas, New Year, and our Anniversary as well. This kindhearted lady just laid down her hard earned money in a random act of kindness in tribute to every soldier, sailor, and marine who is fighting for her freedom.
It is the people like the lady at the airport, and my former student, who serve as examples to us all. The gladness which we can bring to another human being by contributing one simple act of kindness without the hope of something in return is simply amazing.
If you have enjoyed reading this entry, please become a follower of this blog by using your Gmail account.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
Please check out some of my other pages when you get a chance.
www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer - Become a Fan!
www.twitter.com/davidhtroyer - Find out the latest news about my career
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 10, 2013 - Deployment Opportunities
This new year is off to a good start. Although I would rather be home with my family, being deployed has offered several opportunities which I would not otherwise have had.
First, since I am stationed in the Middle East, I have had a chance to visit several places which I would not otherwise have been able to see. I was able to visit the Dead Sea as well as several ancient ruins.
When I joined the Army, I wanted to see the world. I was hoping to do so with my family, but the way things have worked out, I will have some nice pictures and I'm sure some fun stories to tell.
Second, I have been able to interact with several very important people at my location. Back at my unit, I would probably just be a face in the crowd to them. Out here, as I continue to diligently perform my duties, I have been able to interact with them one on one. If they remember me or not will be another issue altogether, but they know my name on a temporary basis, at least.
Third, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity to lose some weight. I'm not saying that the food is bad at all. I really like the food out here. Being here has allowed me to select the healthy options and to increase my Physical Training simeltaneously. In my experience, this is a winning combination if you are interested in weight loss. Seventeen pounds at last check.
Finally, as I am keeping this post brief, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity for personal growth. I am taking 15 Master's level credits this semester (the same as last semester), I am working on my language skills, studying for the board, learning about my current Army job, and as I have time, I am still working on my writing.
Deployment is not exactly what I would have picked at this point in my life, but I know that we all have to "take our turn." And besides, as it says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This deployment has certainly proven that in my life.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
This post was going to be "January 28, 2013 - Deployment Opportunities"
First, since I am stationed in the Middle East, I have had a chance to visit several places which I would not otherwise have been able to see. I was able to visit the Dead Sea as well as several ancient ruins.
When I joined the Army, I wanted to see the world. I was hoping to do so with my family, but the way things have worked out, I will have some nice pictures and I'm sure some fun stories to tell.
Second, I have been able to interact with several very important people at my location. Back at my unit, I would probably just be a face in the crowd to them. Out here, as I continue to diligently perform my duties, I have been able to interact with them one on one. If they remember me or not will be another issue altogether, but they know my name on a temporary basis, at least.
Third, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity to lose some weight. I'm not saying that the food is bad at all. I really like the food out here. Being here has allowed me to select the healthy options and to increase my Physical Training simeltaneously. In my experience, this is a winning combination if you are interested in weight loss. Seventeen pounds at last check.
Finally, as I am keeping this post brief, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity for personal growth. I am taking 15 Master's level credits this semester (the same as last semester), I am working on my language skills, studying for the board, learning about my current Army job, and as I have time, I am still working on my writing.
Deployment is not exactly what I would have picked at this point in my life, but I know that we all have to "take our turn." And besides, as it says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This deployment has certainly proven that in my life.
David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer
This post was going to be "January 28, 2013 - Deployment Opportunities"
February 10, 2013 - Classes and Country Statistics
I currently only have 14 classes (42 credits) left until I earn my Master's Degree. I am very excited about this. My plan is to take 5 classes now, 5 over the summer, and 4 in the fall. I can hardly wait.
My son is due around April 8th or 9th. Less than two months to go. I am hoping that I will be able to go home from my deployment for that. Either by use of my R & R or by going home for good. I would love to be there to support my wife, at least during the birth, since she has always been there for me and supported my Army career and I REALLY hope that the Army will return the favor.
It is always fun for me to look at the statistics for my Facebook page, Blog, and sometimes other websites as well. Of course, the United States has the most likes for www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer and for my blog, but I love the fact that there are people in other countries who are becoming fans as well! If you think anyone you know would enjoy reading this blog, you can share the direct link with them (www.davidhtroyer.blogspot.com)
Facebook Countries
Blogger Countries
United States
Canada
Jordan
Sri Lanka
My son is due around April 8th or 9th. Less than two months to go. I am hoping that I will be able to go home from my deployment for that. Either by use of my R & R or by going home for good. I would love to be there to support my wife, at least during the birth, since she has always been there for me and supported my Army career and I REALLY hope that the Army will return the favor.
It is always fun for me to look at the statistics for my Facebook page, Blog, and sometimes other websites as well. Of course, the United States has the most likes for www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer and for my blog, but I love the fact that there are people in other countries who are becoming fans as well! If you think anyone you know would enjoy reading this blog, you can share the direct link with them (www.davidhtroyer.blogspot.com)
Facebook Countries
166
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United States of America
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4
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Lithuania
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1
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France
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1
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Greece
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1
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Chile
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1
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Bolivia
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1
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Philippines
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Blogger Countries
United States
Canada
Jordan
Sri Lanka
Philippines
David H. Troyer
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