August 14, 1945: A jubilant crowd of American Italians are seen as they wave flags and toss papers in the air while celebrating Japan’s unconditional surrender in their neighborhood in New York City. (AP Photo)

Boy from iconic wartime photo pays it forward at Christmas

It’s one of the most powerful pictures from the Iraq war: an 8-year-old, his lip trembling, is handed a folded flag at his father’s funeral. Watch video here.

The iconic image inspired a family friend – someone the young Christian Golczynski had never met – to send him a present and, later, to launch a foundation that helps hundreds of kids just like him.

Every year, A Soldier’s Child sends children of fallen soldiers gifts on their birthday. Christian’s father, Marine Staff Sgt. Marcus Golczynski, was killed in Iraq in 2007, so Christian was the first recipient. Now, there are 1,200 in 46 states.

Aaron Thompson / Daily News Journal / AP

Christian Golczynski, 8, receives the flag that covered the coffin of his father during a graveside service in 2007.

“It’s letting these kids know…you’re not invisible to us, we recognize what you go through and how you serve our country,” said Daryl Mackin, the group’s founder. “I mean, imagine missing your parents on your birthday, you know, Christmas, Thanksgiving, all the special days, you know, you hit the home run and your dad’s not there.”

And six years after that famous photo was taken, Christian is doing his part to carry out the mission of A Soldier’s Child and make the holidays easier for other military children.

Christian is 15 now, a sophomore in high school and a goalie on his lacrosse team. He and his mother, Heather, are “adopting” other military families, picking out presents so they don’t feel forgotten during this holiday season.

“I really just hope that they feel like I did the first year when I got it,” Christian said. “Just really nice inside…the thought of knowing that someone else is thinking about you over the holidays.”

In 2010, the Golczynskis adopted Connor and Cooper Bunting, ages 6 and 4, whose father, Army Capt. Brian “Bubba” Bunting was killed in Afghanistan just days before their mother, Nicki, learned she was pregnant with the younger boy.

“It was really, really special,” Nicki Bunting said of the care package, which included child-sized lacrosse sticks and child-sized footballs, representing her husband’s favorite sports. “It was just so neat to just see my kids light up and get this package full of stuff.

Read the rest here.

Soldier Home for Christmas

The Disgraceful Character of Obama

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also have shown their lack of character and honor. They are cowards who do not have the backs of those who serve under them or of those who have ever served this country! May history remember them as the coward YES MEN that they are!

U.S Generals Who Won’t Enforce Martial Law Being Fired

I LOVE JUDGE JEANINE PIRRO! SHE JUST BITCH-SLAPPED EVERYONE AT TOP LEVEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF OUR TROOPS, VETERANS AND FALLEN WARRIORS!

10/12/13 – Judge Jeanine Pirro Explodes At Obama Administration – Opening Statement – Obama Administration Refusal to Bury U.S. Soldiers –

 

Dishonorable Disclosures

Intelligence and Special Operations forces are furious and frustrated at how President Obama and those in positions of authority have exploited their service for political advantage. Countless leaks, interviews and decisions by the Obama Administration and other government officials have undermined the success of our Intelligence and Special Operations forces and put future missions and personnel at risk.

The unwarranted and dangerous public disclosure of Special Forces Operations is so serious — that for the first time ever — former operators have agreed to risk their reputations and go ‘on the record’ in a special documentary titled “Dishonorable Disclosures.” Its goal is to educate America about serious breaches of security and prevent them from ever happening again.

Use of military ranks, titles & photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement of the Dept of the Army or the Department of Defense. All individuals are no longer in active service with any federal agency or military service.

Portrait of a Warrior

Thank You For Your Service (A Moment of Truth)

“I Honor Back” by Jon Kahn

At Itunes http://tinyurl.com/26oykez from Jon Kahn aka Jon David. A song to honor our brave men and women in uniform. Also check out Jon’s other music including “Careless Conversation,” as Jon David “American Heart” and from his band the Color Green: the albums “Breakable” and “Rust.”