HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!
What a glorious one it is, the birds will attest to that.
The Baltimore Orioles, beautiful black and orange birds
visit my area just to mate and have their babies. They
are here for only three months and then I need to wait
until next year to see them. They just LOVE grape
jelly although they will if they have to due to rain, feed
from the sugar water feeders. The rain washes the jelly
away even though I confess to trying to feed them in
between the intermittent rain.
We have had so much rain and a few have condescended
to feed from the feeder but they did not like the ones I had
up but the hummingbirds loved them. I think it is the way
they need to be sideways or something as I see them
struggling with them. Soooo, I took down the ones they
were having trouble with and put up the old faded ones’
they love but are more difficult to clean. The hummingbirds
were then relegated to their own feeders as their beaks are
not strong enough to push down the button as the orioles have
much stronger beaks.
I know when their babies are born because I see them picking
up the jelly sideways and then racing off with it hanging from
their mouth. I had at least 8 pairs of them this year and they
have been so busy until just a few days ago. I saw the very
first young one, oh boy! I don’t see them when they are
babies and when I see them, they are the size of their
parents but a much paler color and much slimmer.
Friday, I saw my first one. What a thrill that was. In one
way, it is sad as it means their presence is coming to an
end but it is so much fun to watch the parents try to teach
them to either eat from the jelly feeder or the sugar water
one. It takes them a lot longer to figure out the sugar feeder
one, they poke at every opening they see, even hanging
upside down to poke at the place where the perches come
out.
The fireworks were spectacular this year. It started Friday
night around 10:30PM and I needed my ear plugs that night
as it went on past midnight. Those are carried out by the
immature person who wants to make a statement without
sharing the beauty with everyone. They just love being
outside the box and doing what they know irritates others,
just making loud bangs with no concern for the time.
Saturday night the same thing. Last night the big show
started around 9PM by the mature individuals who just
love to share their displays with all of us. I had three
neighbors right around me and a couple across the lake.
to be safe, they are shot off over the lake and their
are many boats out there getting a front row seat.
I did not need ear plugs as the mature people
cease the noise at 11:00PM in consideration of
their neighbors.
I enjoyed them from the inside of my home with
my own front row seat. The chemicals in them
make me ill so I cannot inhale all the smoke they
cause. They were spectacular and it seemed to
be a symphony as each took turns shooting them
off. Many neighbors came to the beach to watch
them.
But…one side effect is the Baltimore Oriole’s do not
like feeling like they are in a war. Their homes are
so very close to where the fireworks are being
shot off or into. I have only seen one Oriole today and
that was a young one. Since the young ones are too
big for the nest anymore, they can all fly away to a much
safer place. Last year was a much quieter 4th of July so
they stayed until August 15th but I don’t know about
this year. There have been years that I don’t see them
after July 4th even if I have grape jelly available. I will
have to wait and see. The hummingbirds don’t leave
but perhaps they can find a better hiding place during
the noisy display. My son calls them my feathered friends
as I have many birds at my feeders. I love the Hummingbirds,
and Golden Finches but the Orioles are my favorites. Perhaps
because they are here the shortest amount of time.
Our beach looks so good, almost like it did before the
clubhouse came down. The buoys that kept the boats
at bay were in the clubhouse so we lost them but noodles
were bought, cut in three and strung on rope. It looks so
good and the raft was put out WITH the ladder that was
salvaged when the clubhouse was torn down. The
kids are having so much fun as well as the adults swimming
out to it and basking in the sun. The very first visitor to the
raft was the Great blue Heron who just loves to sit there
and look for its food. Now we just need to rototill the
beach and put down some new sand.
We do have a lot to celebrate, we are Americans and we have
the freedom that has been fought for. Let us honor those who
defend us and have defended us but honoring the one memorial
that we all share, The American Flag. I will include a story here
that I believe explains why.
Maximize for best reading ..(I would do it for you
if I knew how ) There were pictures included but
I have yet of discover how to copy and paste them.
You might remember a news story several months ago about a crotchety old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it.
Now you can find out whom,exactly,that old man is.
Read on.
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburgh — probably didn’t
Make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carno , Italy , Van T. Barfoot,
Who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun
Positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced
Through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned
With 17 prisoners of war.
If that wasn’t enough for a day’s work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news last week was a neighborhood association’s quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items s
He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn’t take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.
“In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference,” Barfoot told The Associated Press.
As well he should.
And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation. It indicates he’s not real good at backing down.
Van T. Barfoot’s Medal of Honor citation:
This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carno , Italy . With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding Ground, Sgt.. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled To the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand Grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German
Defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tom mygun Killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. >From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt.. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tom mygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.”
WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
His story deserves to be remembered by us all!
A true American Hero!!
Love and Light
Mary Grace
www.TheWoundedChalice.com
www.TheWoundedChalice.com/blog
[email protected]
PO Box 403
Wales, MA 01081, USA
413-245-3977