A father's promise, a son's sacrifice for his country

The letter sat on the dresser for four years.

Robert Gilbert never opened it. He only touched the envelope when he needed to dust around it. He wanted to give it back to his son unopened.

Every time his Marine son was deployed, his son would ask, "You still got my letter?"

His dad never wanted to read what was inside an envelope marked: "Dad, open this if I am wounded. Love, Robert."

The call to open it came March 8.

Is Robert Gilbert there?" a voice from Marine headquarters in Quantico, Va., said.

"Junior or Senior?" Robert said.

"Senior."

The father felt his stomach drop even before he heard the words: "Your son has been injured in Afghanistan."

When he heard his son received "possibly a mortal wound," he sat on the bed, opened the yellow envelope and pulled out four handwritten pages of spiral notebook paper.

I'm sorry if you're reading this . . .

Robert Gilbert and his son Marine Gunnery Sgt. Robert L. Gilbert were more than dad and son. They were best friends. Robert, a police officer for Richfield, a village in Summit County, became a single dad the day his wife, Catherine, died of cancer in 1992. He stood at the cemetery with Robert, 9, and Ruth Ann, 11, wondering what to do next.

As soon as his son was old enough to drive, Robert Jr. headed to the Marine Corps recruiting office and came home with posters. Soon, he resembled that poster: 6-3, lean and powerful. He graduated from Revere High School, then from Parris Island. At 20, he became one of the youngest sergeants in the Marine Corps. He served five tours of duty: two in Iraq and three in Afghanistan.

I believe in sacrificing for freedom and I love America.

The last time Robert saw his son was in September. After a week together riding motorcycles around Richfield, his son grabbed a couple beers and said, "We gotta talk."

Instead of a father-to-son talk, this was a son-to-father talk. The 27-year-old Marine looked his 56-year-old dad in the eye and said, "If I'm incapacitated, don't keep me on life support. If we can't smoke cigars, drink a beer and ride motorcycles, let me go."

His dad resisted. "I really would like to keep you alive," he said.

The Marine insisted.

His dad made a promise he never imagined he'd have to keep.

View full sizeCourtesy of Gilbert familyMarine Gunnery Sgt. Robert Gilbert, Jr. with his dad, Robert Gilbert, Sr., who is a police officer in the Village of Richfield.

Dad, you gave me the desire and strength to do what I wanted to do . . .

The father couldn't be by his son's side to protect him from danger, but he sat by his side for the long journey home. The bullet from the rooftop sniper caught his son in the back of the head. Robert explained the damage to me this way: What allows you to breathe and your heart to beat is working, but what makes you Robert is not.

Before traveling to Germany to be with his wounded son, Robert began a journal on Facebook, to give friends news of his son: "Unless God grants me a miracle, I will find a badly broken child of mine that served America, his country that he loved, like none other."

When Robert arrived at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, he found his son in the head trauma section. His eyes were black and blue. "But he was my Robert," he told me.

Seeing the strong'" Marine with a full beard and mustache unable to speak was heartbreaking.

Robert flew home to America with his son in a C-17. The cargo plane was big enough to hold two tanks. At the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Brigadier General David Berger gave his son the Purple Heart as the family looked on in yellow hospital gowns, gray gloves and blue face guards.

The next day, they signed the papers to donate his organs.

I believe I lived more life in 20 some years than most lived in a lifetime . . .

Sgt. Robert Gilbert's funeral

Calling hours are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 27 at Catavolos Funeral Home, 3653 W. Market St., Fairlawn, Ohio.

The funeral is March 28. For information, call 330-666-3089. The time and place have not yet been determined.

Last Sunday, the father kept his promise. He held his son's head as doctors removed the ventilator. But his son's heart wouldn't give up. There was one last moment to share.

His birthday.

Marines filled pill container cups with Jack Daniels and sang Happy Birthday. Robert rubbed a drop of whiskey on his son's mouth, just like he had done 27 years ago when his boy was teething. Then each Marine kissed his son's forehead goodbye.

Robert told his son, "I love you. Thank you for being my son." He placed his right hand on his son's heart and felt the last beat March 16th, the day he first felt it beat.

His son got to turn 28.

"He passed from his father's hand to his Father's hand," Robert said. "I gave him back."

I pray for your health and happiness every night and I plan to continue. I love you. Your son, Robert.

After the funeral next Sunday, the father will put his son's letter back on the dresser. He plans to keep it there until the day he joins his son.

Story found here.

Key Dem. "We make up the rules as we go along"

Rep. Alcee Hastings was the sixth federal judge in American history to be impeached from office (bribery and perjury). The voters of FL-23 may have elected him afterward, but it was the Democratic party leadership that let him join the Rules Committee.

Anyone ready for change?

House Opts Against 'Deeming' Health Care Bill Passed

House Democrats on Saturday decided against using a controversial tactic to pass the Senate's version of the health care bill without an actual vote.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD., said he believes Democrats have enough votes to pass the legislation.

The decision capped an ongoing discussion on whether to use a so-called "deem and pass" strategy that would allow House members to approve the Senate version of health care bill without an actual vote before taking up a second "fix-it" resolution, known as reconciliation.

Full Story Here.

Caterpillar: Health care bill would cost it $100M

Caterpillar Inc. said the health-care overhaul legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives would increase the company's health-care costs by more than $100 million in the first year alone.

In a letter Thursday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Caterpillar urged lawmakers to vote against the plan "because of the substantial cost burdens it would place on our shareholders, employees and retirees."

"We can ill-afford cost increases that place us at a disadvantage versus our global competitors," said the letter signed by Gregory Folley, vice president and chief human resources officer of Caterpillar. "We are disappointed that efforts at reform have not addressed the cost concerns we've raised throughout the year."

Story Here.

Any guess on what Caterpillar will do to "stay" competitive? Oh...I know...lay off more works to cut costs! Way to go Obama! Obama creates jobs you say....hows that hope and change working out for you?

The underlining issue - must read

Today in an article by Charles Krauthammer at HumanEvents asks an important question:

"Why did President Barack Obama choose to turn a gaffe into a crisis in U.S.-Israeli relations?
And a gaffe it was: the announcement by a bureaucrat in the Interior Ministry of a housing expansion in a Jewish neighborhood in north Jerusalem. The timing could not have been worse: Vice President Joe Biden was visiting, Jerusalem is a touchy subject, and you don’t bring up touchy subjects that might embarrass an honored guest.

But it was no more than a gaffe. It was certainly not a policy change, let alone a betrayal. The neighborhood is in Jerusalem, and the 2009 Netanyahu-Obama agreement was for a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlements excluding Jerusalem.

Nor was the offense intentional. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did not know about this move -- step four in a seven-step approval process for construction that, at best, will not even start for two to three years."

...but that's not the full story...there is always something more...

In a story found here at World Tribune, we find the next part of the puzzle:

"Obama blocks delivery of bunker-busters to Israel"

WASHINGTON — The United States has diverted a shipment of bunker-busters designated for Israel. Officials said the U.S. military was ordered to divert a shipment of smart bunker-buster bombs from Israel to a military base in Diego Garcia. They said the shipment of 387 smart munitions had been slated to join pre-positioned U.S. military equipment in Israel Air Force bases. "This was a political decision," an official said.In 2008, the United States approved an Israeli request for bunker-busters capable of destroying underground facilities, including Iranian nuclear weapons sites. Officials said delivery of the weapons was held up by the administration of President Barack Obama.

Since taking office, Obama has refused to approve any major Israeli requests for U.S. weapons platforms or advanced systems. Officials said this included proposed Israeli procurement of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, refueling systems, advanced munitions and data on a stealth variant of the F-15E.

"All signs indicate that this will continue in 2010," a congressional source familiar with the Israeli military requests said. "This is really an embargo, but nobody talks about it publicly."

Under the plan, the U.S. military was to have stored 195 BLU-110 and 192 BLU-117 munitions in unspecified air force bases in Israel.


...so...any guesses as to why?...how about Israel getting ready to hit Iran and now Obama stands in the way?...how about the fact that the Palestinians are starting launch rockets into Israel again and Israel is getting really worried about all of this?... What will come out tomorrow?

A minority in congress plus the American people equals a majority … America, we can win this fight. - Rep. Pence

My Health Care Plan - A good read

Liberals keep complaining that Republicans don’t have a plan for reforming health care in America. I have a plan!

It’s a one-page bill creating a free market in health insurance. Let’s all pause here for a moment so liberals can Google the term “free market.”

Nearly every problem with health care in this country — apart from trial lawyers and out-of-date magazines in doctors’ waiting rooms — would be solved by my plan.

Full Story Here.

Today, the Washington Post reported that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the legislation is “the largest deficit-reduction bill that members will have a chance to vote on” in most of their congressional careers. The package contains “more deficit reduction than both the Senate bill and the House bill,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said today. “This is really a triumph for the American people in terms of deficit reduction.” The Democratic-controlled House is expected to take action on the bill by Sunday, although Republicans have opposed the measure every step of the way.

But Wait! What Is This?This graph released by the CBO shows that the first 4 years of ObamaCare will only cost $17 Billion, but in the following 6 years will coast $923 Billion. Ten years = $1 Trillion. But you figure it out, does that graph looking like it is going to go down at all after 10 years????? Only looks like it is going to keep going up doesn't it??? And Pelois has the gall to say this is a budget reducing bill. This is not a bill, its madness! It needs to be stopped Sunday!

Just Over The Wire - Cincinnati TeaPart Heading To DC

Dear Fellow Citizens and Taxpayers,

I apologize for the brevity of this email and the lack of details. The House just authorized the "slaughter solution" and the clock is ticking on a vote on the health care bill. The House leadership and Obama are desperately twisting arms and bending the rules in order to round up the votes.

The House will leave the text online for 72 hours and a final vote is likely on Sunday morning. A yes vote would "deem" the Senate bill passed and send changes to the Senate for reconciliation. Obama would be able to sign the original bill into law regardless of what changes are included.

I've been getting emails asking about a trip to D.C. this weekend and our friends at the Cinicinnati 9/12 Project are now working to get buses and hotels booked. I will have more details to follow later including costs and when we are leaving/returning, but I will share what I know right now:

Friday night: Leave from Northeast Cincinnati (targeting 8pm)
Saturday: Lobbying visits at the U.S. Capitol
Saturday Night: Overnight stay at a hotel

Sunday: Join with other Tea Partiers outside of the Capitol during the vote. Return after the vote (estimated return to Cincy between 10pm and 2am depending on when the vote occurs).

I just made arrangements for a babysitter for my kids and my wife and I are going to drive to D.C. on Friday night.

I will share the trip costs and signup info, along with hotel information and logistics info for those who will arrange their own transportation as soon as I have the information. Also, a local event may be planned for Saturday for those who can't make the trip, but the trip to D.C. is far more impactful in the eyes of Congressmen.

Look for another email from me this evening with the details.

Sincerely,

Mike Wilson

Founder, Cincinnati Tea Party

Vote To Be Sunday

WASHINGTON – House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.

Leaving nothing to chance, the White House announced that Obama has put off a trip to Asia for a second time, delaying it until June. Obama was to have left Sunday — when the House is planning to vote.

Full Story Here.

The Sound of Switchblades Coming Out On Capital Hill

“Mr. President, I send an unprinted Amendment to the desk,”

“Mr. President, I send an unprinted Amendment to the desk, and ask for its immediate consideration,” are the exact words that any U.S. Senator can say when offering this amendment on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

This amendment, below, should be walked down to the floor of the U.S. Senate and voted on prior to any vote on the floor of the U.S. House, in order to prepare the legal battlefield for the court challenge against the Alice-in-Wonderland-like-Red-Queen, Speaker Pelosi, and her dictatorial and unconstitutional scheme to pass the Senate Health Care bill without voting on it. While we are uncertain that we will be fighting on this ground, it is essential to prepare the battlefield, if we do.

Full Story Here.

A bluff? Or are we prepping an Iran strike?

Is President Obama preparing for a massive strike on the Iranian nuclear program?

The Times of India is reporting that a British company has contracted with the US Navy to deliver 300 "bunker busting" bombs to the British base in Diego Garcia - a staging area for strikes against Iraq in 1991 and 2003.

Along with other signs of increased activity, one analyst who has been tracking US preparations believes that at the very least, President Obama will have the option of striking Iran:

Contract details for the shipment were posted on an international tenders' website by the US navy. "They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran," Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, said.

"US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours"

Full Story Here.

p.s. Attention Diversion From ObamaCare Bomb Watch Now On.

On A Clear Day

More Here.

The Only Thing You Need To Read Today:

Abuse of Power
'An undemocratic disservice to our people and to the Senate's institutional role.'

A string of electoral defeats and the great unpopularity of ObamaCare can't stop Democrats from their self-appointed rendezvous with liberal destiny—ramming a bill through Congress on a narrow partisan vote. What we are about to witness is an extraordinary abuse of traditional Senate rules to pass a bill merely because they think it's good for the rest of us, and because they fear their chance to build a European welfare state may never come again.

The vehicle is "reconciliation," a parliamentary process that fast-tracks budget measures and was created in 1974 as a deficit-reduction tool. Limited to 20 hours of debate, reconciliation bills need a mere 50 votes in the Senate, with the Vice President as tie-breaker, thus circumventing the filibuster. Both Democrats and Republicans have frequently used reconciliation on budget bills, so Democrats are now claiming that using it to pass ObamaCare is no big deal.

Full Story Here.

p.s. The USA as we know it is going to change forever if we allow ObamaCare to go unchecked. Every effort must be made to keep it from being passed, especial under the use of "reconciliation." When our nation was founded, our form of government was set up with checks and balances so that a person or persons could not gain enough power to control the country as it happened with the kings England at the time. If "reconciliation" is used to pass ObamaCare today, it will signal the end of the need for "our" government officials to listen to the voice of the people. We will no longer be a represent Democratic Republic but a socialist nation where in the people are no longer free. This tyranny must stop! And if it means marching to DC to take back the country from the minority who threaten to take away the freedom of the majority...it must be done. Those reading this must understand that now is the time to cry out and make this nation shake with the sound of our collective voice and say, "Enough is enough! You will not rule over us! We are a free people, one nation under God!" Not under the control of one president and his party.

RE: TeaParty In England

Here is a speech by Daneil Hannan, MEP for SouthEast England.



p.s. Daneil Hannan for TeaParty President!!

The Other War - Oliver North

It’s a war the so-called mainstream media has apparently decided to ignore. Though the death toll is higher than Iraq and Afghanistan combined, it evidently isn’t worth covering; and unless you’re reading this in the American southwest, you probably haven’t even heard about it.

The conflict, a full-blown narco-insurgency, has claimed the lives of more than 17,000 combatants and innocents, threatens to undo several democratically elected governments and poses a real and present danger to the United States. It’s not the one being fought in Afghanistan. It’s the war being waged from the Andean basin all the way north to the Rio Grande.

Fully Story Here.

British Tea Party Movement to launch on Saturday!

The inaugural British Tea Party will take place on Saturday in Brighton.

Full Story Here.

p.s. Good to see the Brits standing up and saying enough is enough!

City of Dallas Killing Small Business

Showing complete disregards for the free speech rights of small business owners, the City of Dallas bans businesses from putting commercial signs in the upper two-thirds of any window or glass door, and on more than 15 percent of any window or glass door. Only ineffective signs are allowed by the government: tiny signs placed at people’s feet. The law also bans signs that cover more than 25 percent of a building’s façade. Failure to take down the signs means you are at risk to be hit with a fine up to $2,000.

Fully Story Here.

p.s. Incrediable!