We at Flightline Fabrications salute our nation’s veterans for their selfless service to our great country. Their sacrifices have maintained the independence we enjoy and without them none of our treasured freedoms would exist. Whether you served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or Merchant Marines, during time of war or peace, saw combat or not, we thank you for your service.
As way of showing our gratitude, all items in our store are on sale 10% off for the next 24 hours. If you’re new to Flightline Fabrications, welcome. If you’ve looked before, look again. We are constantly adding new items for you to display your pride of service.
After four months of some of the most brutal fighting of the First World War, Canadian troops captured the town of Passchendaele, Belgium in early November, 1917. The battle, one of the most controversial of the era, has come to symbolize the extremes of that war - almost inconceivable horror and undeniable heroism and valor.
The numbers alone tell a grim story: There were almost half a million casualties in the Battle of Passchendaele. Historians estimate that the battle claimed at least 140, 000 lives and that as many as a million shells were exploded in the fields surrounding the town, turning the terrain into a barren, lunar landscape of mud and water-filled craters.
British Poet Siegried Sassoon simply called it “Hell”!
Flightline Fabrications is NOT a political entity nor do we officially endorse any party or candidate. We do however believe in the freedoms guaranteed in the United States Constitution and we honor those men and women who have sacrificed to preserve those freedoms. Among these freedoms is the right to participate as citizens in the election of our local, state and national leaders. When these freedoms are threatened on any scale, large or small, we are justly outraged and WILL NOT stand idly by while people or organizations would usurp the power of individuals through intimation, obstruction or any other illegal or immoral means.
In this first clip we see two Black Panthers standing in front of a polling place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania dressed militantly and brandishing billy clubs is certainly my idea of intimidation. You decide for yourself if you agree. One more thing; ask yourself which candidate these Black Panthers were supporting and whos supporters they hoped to intimidate. Is it me or is this sort of behavior scary to be seeing in the United States of America in 2008?
The second clip is an expanded report on the above incident from Fox News.
Thirdly as have yet another incident. Inthis case a Poll Observer with credentials was threatened and denied legal entry into a polling place. Apparently the Philadephia police were ineffective and the poll workers were successful in defying election law and conducted their work without poll observer oversight.
Today is election day in the United States of America. If you are a US citizen, please take the time to fulfill your civic dury and cast your vote.
“Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” - Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776)
“Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: ‘Tis onse step more to think one vote will do no harm.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are madeby a majority of thsoe who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.” - Walter H. Judd
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.” - Theodore Roosevelt
“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” - William E. Simon
The other day I purchased a CD titled Restoration by the trio Phillips, Craig and Dean which has as track 2 the song Freedom’s Never Free. I listened to and was very moved by the lyrics and have decided to share them here. I believe they are meaningful on many levels and a true reminder of the sacrafices and marvelous gift of freedom given to us by so many and the even more marvelous gift given by just one.
Freedom’s Never Free
Standing on a hillside
Where the river meets the sea
White crosses without number
Line the fields of peace
And each one a silent witness
Staring back at me
Every cross a story
Of another place in time
Where young men thought it worthy
To give their life for mine
And for the sake of honor
Left their dreams behind
And for the price they paid
I’m forever in their debt
Their memory will not die
‘Cause I will not forget
I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the ones who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
I will remember
That freedom’s never free
It was on another hillside
Outside the city gates
The battle lines were drawn
As soldiers took their place
The Father watched in silence
As a cross was raised
With freedom drawing closer
He took His final breath
He drank our cup of guilt
And took the sting from death
Heaven’s Finest Soldier
clothed in human flesh
And for the price He paid
I’m forever in His debt
The cross will never die
‘Cause I will not forget
I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the One who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
To remember that
Freedom’s Never Free
I will walk free
I will stay free
I will live free
I will die free
From time to time I find something in my web browsing that strikes me as interesting, well done or poignant. I found this video set to one fo my favorite songs by Nickelback and honoring Capt. Lewis Nixon of Band of Brothers fame. As this would be Capt. Nixon’s birthday, I thought today a fitting day to share the video with all of you.
Capt. Lewis Nixon served with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Infantry Division during World War Two. He was one of the few men to complete three combat jumps by participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Operation Market-Garden and Operation Varsity as well as his involvement at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. During the war and until his death in 1995 he was best friends with Major Richard “Dick” Winters.
Flightline Fabrications offers a wide variety of original productsrelated to the 506th PIR, 101st Airbrone, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge and World War II in general.
America Supports Youis a Department of Defense program that provides opportunities for citizens to show their support for the US Armed Forces. The program was launched in 2004 in an effort to highlight citizen support for our military men and women and communicate that support to the members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
America Supports You connects individuals, organizations and companies to hundreds of homefront groups offering a variety of support to the military community.
The program alsoconnects military service members and their families to homefront groups that provide assistance.
The America Supports You website, www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil, provides a one-stop location for citizens and service members to connect with hundreds organizations eager to help.
America Supports You homefront groups show support in many ways including writing letters and e-mails, sending care packages, offering scholarships and helping the wounded when they return home. Dozens of corporations, recognized on the website, are also America Supports You supporters.
Patriotic Americans were treated like the enemy after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor just because their parents were from Japan. While doubts of their loyalty swept the nation, these young “Nisei,” or second generation Japanese Americans, fought to prove they were 100% American by entering the U.S. Army. By the thousands they came, even from internment camps where they and their families were locked up just because of their Japanese ancestry.
Their story became one of the shining examples of patriotic sacrifice in our nation’s history. The 100th / 442nd Regimental Combat Team is one of the most awarded and acclaimed units in American history. The Military Intelligence Service (M.I.S.) saved countless lives using their knowledge of Japanese language and culture to help the Allies end World War II quickly in the Pacific. But the story is just the beginning. Their proud American legacy continues, but it may be lost as the veterans, who are now in their 80’s and 90’s, pass away. We must find ways to keep their story alive.
Help us campaign to keep a national permanent record of the Nisei WWII soldiers with a U.S. postage stamp. The Postal Service must be convinced that the Nisei WWII soldier’s story is a subject that “has stood the test of time, is consistent with public opinion and has broad national interest.”
Flightline Fabrications feels that this US Postal stamp is important in recognizing one of the highest decorated units of WWII, the 100/442nd Regimental Combat Team, and we’d like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It’s free and takes less than a minute of your time.
August 9, 2008 saw the visit of two original Band of Brothers “Easy Company“ 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne members to the Museum of Flight in another great lecture series sponsored by the museum. Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey and First Lieutenant Lynn “Buck” Compton, were on hand to participate in a panel discussion/presentation followed by a question and answer session, wrapped up with a 2 ½ hour book and autograph signing. Both Malarkey and Compton signed autographs until the line was gone.Flightline Fabrications co-owner Bryan Heim was on location at the Museum of Flight to attend the lecture and enjoy these two rare men in person as well as stand at the end of the autograph line.
“It was an honor to even be in the same room as these two men. I was blessed to have the opportunity to listen to them talk about the book each has written, WWII, and life. It was a once in a lifetime chance to receive an autograph from each as well; another great event by the Museum of Flight, well worth my time!”
Both Malarkey and Compton served in World War II as members from ‘E’ Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne now immortalized in the HBO series “Band of Brothers”.Malarkey and Compton participated in the paratrooper invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, jumping from C-47 Aircraft.
Both men have recently released new books telling about their lives, military service, and life afterwards.“Easy Company Soldier”, written by Malarkey and “Call of Duty”, written by Compton.
The Survivor: Donald Malarkey (played during the panel)
Check back soon for the video of this great event!
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