10 Years... Already?

Wow. I cannot believe that it has been 10 years since September 11, 2001. I remember it like it was yesterday...

 I was ten years old when 9/11 happened. I was in bed sleeping, when one of my younger siblings came into my bedroom and woke me up. They kept saying, "A plane flew into one of the World Trade Center buildings! Come see it on the TV!" 

Really, quite frankly, I didn't even know what the WTC was so I was thinking "Umm... what's the big deal?" Well, when I came into the living room only one of the towers was hit. I got up in time to see this happen a few minutes later...

As I watched, the towers actually started collapsing, which to my 10 yr old mind was boggling because it was such a strong, big tower, right? It's actually more of a shock to me now because I'm older and comprehend the impact this had.

 To just see those buildings collapse into this was eerie. But through it all, God was there - he had a purpose for this, though I don't know why.

I saw... and I remember.

Appomattox Court House Trip Pictures (and Some Random Ones)

Here are some pictures of my trip to Appomattox Court House (where Lee signed the surrender to Grant, thereby ending the War Between the States).  With a few random ones thrown in... :)

Yes, I promise you I did take this picture!! Amazing, isn't it? :)

A creek running through Jefferson National Park.

Mmmm... deviled eggs!! One of my favorite foods!

Click on the picture to view larger to read the signs.

The building on the left is the tavern where they published the papers that let the Confederates go free, back to their homes. The building on the right is the general store. Both buildings are original.

I really am sorry, but I didn't get a picture of the outside of the house where Lee signed the surrender document.

Master Bedroom - left side of the room.

Master Bedroom - right side of the room.

Let's see... this was in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Gotta love four poster beds and canopy beds! :)

This is in the same room as the bed above.

This was the kitchen in the bottom story.

And this was the dining room across the hall from it.

In the picture above you will see this above the mantel.

This was on a table in the kitchen... and is one of my favorites! :)

These are the slave quarters of the man who owned the house when Lee came to surrender. It is an original building.

The well in front of the house. This is another favorite picture of mine.

The summer kitchen and another work room in background (in a separate building from the main house).

A stable for the tavern

Another original building in Appomattox Court House.

The picture below is of the inside of the walls of the original jailhouse. The metal framework over the bricks was to keep inmates from gouging out the mortar, removing bricks, and escaping (this is what I'm guessing).

The back of the Court House; the front looks exactly the same, but there were trees blocking the view, so I couldn't take a picture.

There were a few people there re-enacting town life. This is another favorite of mine. :)

The flag at the entrance.

Flags next to headstones at the Confederate graveyard near ACH.

The grave of an unknown soldier. This is another favorite.

I hope you enjoyed this looong post of pictures!

A Tale of Two Men

 Here are two stories I was emailed both true - and worth reading!!!!
  
STORY NUMBER ONE
  Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example. One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay.

  STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
  

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
  

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.