I Saw America Today

I saw America today.

I was among more that 200 people gathered on the tarmac at the Meridian Air Navel Station to welcome Sgt. Eric C. Newman, 30, of Waynesboro, Mississippi, home from Afghanistan.

He did not exit to cheers and hugs but was greeted by respectful silence. Military men and women, bikers, policemen, firemen, all in formation riveted their attention as Sgt. Newman disembarked from the plane carrying him.

He exited in a flag draped coffin, killed in action in Afghanistan.

The family stood near the hearse and as Sgt. Newman’s casket approached he was greeted by his new wife and his mother as they draped their arms around the casket where their beloved husband and son lay. There would be no married life for the newly married couple and another mother had given her son in the name of freedom.

I saw America today.

The procession formed with a police escort in front leading the hearse carrying Sgt. Newman which was followed by his family, more than 100 bikers, including the Patriot Guard Riders, scores of police officers, firemen, and friends. I rode near the front and I never could see the end of the procession as we rolled over the hills from Meridian to Waynesboro.

I saw America today.

On the 60 mile journey truckers, the big rigs, pulled to the side of the road, exited their trucks and put hand over heart in honor of Sgt. Newman and the American flag. Down the road from one big shiny rig was a humble logging truck, driver standing on the ground, hand over heart.

For sixty miles a mixture of people stood by the side of the road, flag in hand as we rolled past. At every junction where a side road entered there were people. At the overpasses there was always a fire truck displaying a large American flag. Every fire department along the way had their fire truck standing by to honor this young American who gave his life for us.

There was a young Boy Scout, in uniform, proudly saluting Sgt. Newman and the American flags that passed him.

A man in bib overalls stood by a ragged old pickup truck giving honor. Just down the road was a man dressed in suit and tie by his expensive SUV.

Something in the bright blue sky above caught my eye. It was two jet fighter planes flying over the procession, the thoughtful action of fellow soldiers.

I could see a woman kneeling, holding something out in her hands. At first I thought it must be a camera but as I passed I could clearly see it was a folded American flag. Just like the one that was given to my mother when my father died. Yes, it was her way of saying, “I lost a loved one as well.”

I saw America today.

As we left the main road and entered Waynesboro two fire trucks were parked in such a way as to form an arch with a giant American flag suspended between the two.

The streets were lined solid with people. No cars were moving. I observed someone in a wheel chair on the side of the road. When we drew closer I saw several in wheel chairs, some on crutches. They were old, and fragile. They were residents of a nursing home. On down the road there was another group from yet another nursing home, all waving tiny American flags.

As we wound our way through town hundreds of people lined the sides of the streets. We passed an elementary school. The children lined the fence three deep, most with flags, some with red, white, and blue balloons which were later released.

Next we passed the high school. Again the students respectfully lined the streets adjacent to the school. All were standing respectfully in honor of Sgt. Newman.

And did I mention the yellow ribbons? They were on trees, mailboxes, fences, and anywhere people could place them.

I saw America today.

When we had finished the escort all the bikers were asked to meet at the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro. There they gathered us up and escorted us to the Western Sizzlen’ where the people of the town treated us to lunch for doing something of which we were proud to be a part.

Today, I saw America and I’m proud to be an American. God bless America.

Flying Higher Than the Enemy

On Friday, September 11, I released 21 white Rock Doves as a part of a ceremony commemorating 911. I released one representing our National Motto, “In God We Trust”, then 9, then 11. The ninejoined the one and then the eleven joined them as we played “America”.

They circled beautifully as is their custom. They circled as it seemed, in time with the music. They flew higher and higher as the music rose to a crescendo.

Suddenly, without warning, Osama Ben Hawk attacked. It was a Cooper Hawk and he was hungry. But the birds didn’t panic, they just kept circling higher and higher, keeping Osama Ben Hawk below them until finally they all disappeared in the clouds.

When I arrived home I checked their loft immediately. And there they were sitting on their perches as if to say, “Don’t worry about us. We know the enemy and we know we have to fly higher than he does”.

Fly higher than our enemy, hmm. Fly higher than our enemy and we beat him every time. That means always take the high road, always be prepared to meet every enemy that attacks.

We stay prepared by “setting our minds on things above”, by keeping our eyes on Jesus, by being prayed up and filled up with the Holy Spirit. When our hearts are right with God, and our mind is stayed on Him, we will defeat the enemies of doubt, fear, mistrust, shame, guilt, and the Devil himself.

So fly high my friends, fly high with Jesus. Fly higher than the enemy.

White Wings over America
2009 911 Memorial


A sticker on my van says “We will remember September 11, 2001.

The purpose of White Wings over America is to remember all who died on September 11, 2001, and to honor those who serve and protect us. Today owners of white doves are releasing over 4,300 white doves in 39 states and four foreign countries, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

On behalf of the citizens residing in Jones County, Mississippi, and throughout our nation, we offer our thanks to the brave men and women who serve and protect us, who keep us safe from enemies from within and without.

Tonight when I sleep I won’t sleep afraid someone is going to break into my home and do my family harm, I won’t sleep with a pistol under my pillow to protect my home. I sleep knowing there are men and women who are standing watch over us. Police officers are our protectors and friends who put their lives on the line daily. I have two children who are police officers and I myself am a former State Trooper so they are close to my heart.

So sleep well America, our police are standing watch.

Tonight when I sleep I know if my home catches fire that within minutes I will have men and women at my doorstep ready to protect my property and more importantly protect my life at the risk of theirs. Along with the firemen will be emergency medical technicians who stand trained and ready to assist my family in whatever way needed.

So sleep well America, our firemen and emergency personnel are standing watch.

Tonight when I sleep I know that men and women of our military are stationed around the world to protect us from those who would destroy our nation and the American way of life. Almost daily some young, brave man or woman sacrifices their lives so we can sleep well. I honor my father an officer who gave the prime years of his life and served during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. I am touched that my grandson became a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger at the age of seventeen.

So sleep well America, our military is standing watch.

So sleep well America, the valiant men and women who serve and protect us are standing watch.

US Navy Chaplain John Stockstill will now offer a prayer for our police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel, and our military.

After his prayer we will release 21 white rock doves. One will represent our National Motto, an American statement of who we believe in, “In God We Trust”, nine will be then be released and then eleven so we will always remember September 11, 2001.

Speech given by Dr. Rod Smith, September 9, 2009, at South Central Place, Laurel, MS. on the occasion of the first annual 911 memorial.

100 % Failure

The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 - they've had 234 years to get it right; it is broke, and even though heavily subsidized, it can't compete with private sector FedEx and UPS services.

Social Security was established in 1935 - they've had 74 years to getit right; it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938 - they've had 71 years to get it right; it is broke.

Freddie Mac was established in 1970 - they've had 39 years to get it right; it is broke. Together Fannie and Freddie have now led the entire world into the worst economic collapse in 80 years.

The War on Poverty was started in 1964 - they've had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our hard earned money is confiscated eachyear and transferred to "the poor"; it hasn't worked.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965 - they've had 44 yearsto get it right; they are both broke; and now our government dares to mention them as models for all US health care.

AMTRAK was established in 1970 - they've had 39 years to get it right; last year they bailed it out as it continues to run at a loss!

This year, a trillion dollars was committed in the massive political payoff called the Stimulus Bill of 2009; it shows NO sign of working; it's been used to increase the size of governments across America, and raise government salaries while the rest of us suffer from economic hardships. It has yet to create a single new private sector job.

Our national debt projections (approaching $10 trillion) have increased400% in the last six months."Cash for Clunkers" was established in 2009 and went broke in 2009 - -after 80% of the cars purchased turned out to be produced by foreign companies, and dealers nationwide are buried under bureaucratic paperwork demanded by a government that is not yet paying them what was promised.

So with a perfect 100% failure rate and a record that proves that each and every "service" shoved down our throats by an over-reaching government turns into disaster, how could any informed American trust our government to run or even set policies for America's health care system - - 17% of our economy?

Maybe each of us has a personal responsibility to let others in on this brilliant record before 2010, and then help remove from office those who are voting to destroy capitalism and destroy our
gandchildren's future.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent thegovernment from wasting the labours of the people under the pretence of taking care of them. -- Thomas Jefferson

Author unknown

Racing to Madness

I love to watch races of any kind. When in high school I loved to run in distance races. I like to watch horse races, and again when I was young I rode a few horses at a "bush track" in 1/4 mile races. Nascar is fun to watch.

But our nation is in a race to destroy itself. It began long ago when we as a nation allowed the destruction of our ethics and moral structure. And now, we are paying the price and we are racing against ourselves to destroy our great nation.

The statements of Congresswoman Dianne Watson praising Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the outrageous statement of Van Jones, an advisor to President Obama, saying among other things that whites in America are poisoning minorities, whites are spraying those who harvest many of our crops with poison, and other outlandish statements.

All across the country American people are angry at emerging Marxists, crooked politicians (Larry the Cable Guy says that 99% of politicians give the rest a bad name), and evil men and women in power. But we should be angry at ourselves.

We have allowed the theft of our great American way of life by remaining silent, by ignoring the creeping power that is now snowballing into the great American theft of our country.

Churches and school systems are perhaps to most guiltly. Churches have cowed to the threat of the IRS removing their tax exemptions. Schools have hastily retreated under the threat of the ACLU to sue the school systems for "religious activity". The lastest example is in Florida where a Principal and Coach are facing jail time for leading in saying grace before a meal honoring scholl employees.

Christians must understand that our values built this country and will hold it together. School leaders must understand we can do with out federal money. In several states our children are dropping out of school at the rate of 50%. I am a substitute teacher and we have children in the 8th grade who cannot read.

It doesn't take federal money to teach children to read, write, and do arithmetic. It doesn't take federal money to teach our childen honor and respect for others and for themselves.

Our prisons are full and growing larger every day.

Christians will suffer in the very near future in a way we never dreamed possible. I'm talking about the United States. Christians, tell your pastors to speak clearly on Biblical principles and not back down. If you lose your precious tax exemption, lose it. I don't believe people give to a church or ministry for tax exempt purposes. It they do you don't need their money.

How can we make a difference. How can we take back America? By changing one heart at a time, by becoming active in our small world and together we can take back America and win the race.

The starter's gun is raised. Get ready.