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Vero Pooch taught to dial 9-1-1

They say a dog is man's best friend, there's a dog in Vero Beach, FL who's living proof.

Pia Pia packs a powerful punch. She senses her owner's moods, can contact ER responders if he's in danger. The service dog is a family member & a diligent worker.

"Get help!" J. Taylor shouted to his 11-lb pug, who ran to a phone on the floor & pressed paws onto the circular button, the press of that button, service dog Pia Pia dialed 911. A huge comfort for the retired Army soldier, who suffers from PTSD & hearing loss. Pia Pia is his 'saving grace.'

"Without her, I couldn't imagine my life. I'd probably be home-bound cause what I suffer. I know if I have any kind of problems, she's there," said Taylor.

When the Vero Beach resident is in a crowd, he may feel panic. Pia Pia buffers & is his companion.

"If I'm out, like in Walmart, I give her a command, & she'll circle around me to keep the people a few feet away from me," Taylor said.

To help with Taylor's hearing loss: "If someone is at the door, she'll find me and tap me, & I follow her," Taylor explained.

If the fire alarm goes off, she'll turn in circles. If he's having a nightmare,she'll lick his face to wake him.

Taylor rescued Pia Pia from Halo Rescue in Sebastian. The Vero Beach-organization "Dogs for Life" taught him how to train her. "She learns something every day, that's what DFL (raising money to build a service dog training facility in Vero Beach, for veterans) has taught us" said Taylor. It's a life he's glad to have with a friend and ally.

Pia Pia has her own room and her own wardrobe of 34 tailored outfits.

Dawn Taylor
Vero Beach, FL

ODE TO UNITED FLIGHT 93

WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ IS A SPEECH I WROTE AS PART OF A MEMORIAL

SERVICE GIVEN BY THE CITY OF FONTANA, CALIFORNIA ON 09-11-02 TO COMMEM-

ORATE THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TRAGIC DAY TEN YEARS AGO.

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT AMERICANS CAN TAKE THE DEEPEST TRAGEDY

AND TURN IT INTO THEIR GREATEST TRIUMPH AND I HAVE LONG WISHED THAT

I COULD SPEAK TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE BRAVE AMERICANS

ON FLIGHT NINETY THREE TO TELL THEM . . . . . TO TELL THEM . . . . .

WELL, MAYBE WHEN YOU READ THIS , YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT I WOULD

SAY.



ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHO

FLEW WITH SUPERMAN EVERY WEEKDAY;

RODE WITH THE LONE RANGER EVERY SATURDAY;

AND TALKED WITH GOD EVERY SUNDAY.

SHE GREW UP BELIEVING THAT

RIGHT MAKES MIGHT -

THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THE UNDERDOG -

AND THAT LOVE CONQUERS ALL . . .

SO WHEN THEY KILLED HER PRESIDENT;

SHE CRIED . . .

BUT SHE STILL BELIEVED.

renee mong
fontana, CA

ODE TO UNITED FLIGHT 93

AND WHEN THEY SENT HER BROTHERS ANS SWEETHEARTS

OFF TO FIGHT A WAR NO ONE UNDERSTOOD;

SHE WONDERED . . .

BUT SHE STILL BELIEVED.

EVEN WHEN SHE LEARNED NEW WORDS LIKE

WATERGATE . . . AND . . . DEEP THROAT;

HER HEART GREW TIRED . . .

BUT SHE STILL BELIEVED.

THE TIME FINALLY CAME WHEN SHE BEGAN TO RAISE A FAMILY OF HER OWN.

SHE TRIED TO TEACH THEM ALL THE THINGS SHE BELIEVED IN.

BUT DRUGS AND HATE CRIMES AND DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS SEEMED TO DROWN OUT

THE SIMPLE WORDS OF HOPE SHE KEPT WHISPERING IN HER CHILDRENS' EARS.

SOMETIMES, SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HELD THESE BELIEFS DEAR.

FOR A WHILE, SHE EVEN THOUGHT OF GIVING UP . . .

WONDERING IF SHE WERE A FOOL . . .

SHOULD SHE PUT AWAY HER CHILDISH BELIEFS WITH ALL THE OTHER FAIRY TALES SHE'D OUTGROWN?

AND THEN IT HAPPENED . . . . . .

AN EVIL SO UNSPEAKABLE

SHE HAD TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!

A TRAGEDY SO UNBEARABLE

IT TOOK AN ENTIRE NATION TO BEAR IT!

AND FINALLY . . . . . .

ACTIONS SO COURAGEOUS

IT GAVE HER THE COURAGE TO BELIEVE AGAIN!!!

NOW . . . NOT EVERYTIME . . . BUT OCCASSIONALLY,

WHEN SHE LOOKS UP AND SEES A PLANE OVERHEAD,

SHE'S REMINDED OF THOSE BURNING TOWERS

AND THAT UNDENIABLE THREAT TO HER BELIEFS.

BUT, MOST OF ALL,

SHE IS REMINDED OF THE HEROIC LEGACY LEFT BY FLIGHT NINETY THREE'S

PILOT , CO-PILOT , 5 CREW MEMBERS AND 33 PASSENGERS

WHO SAID WITH THEIR DYING BREATH . . .

WE BELIEVE!!!!!



THANK YOU, FLIGHT NINETY THREE, FOR TURNING THE UNBEARABLE TRAGEDY INTO THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH!!!

SINCERELY,

RENEE MONG

.

renee mong
fontana, CA

ODE TO A VIETNAM VETERAN

I, myself, have done two(2) tours of duty in "Vietnam." The years were '65 to'67. It was a troublesome time: Young Americans were practicing free love and protesting the war in the '60's and this was a movement of disillusioned young people that couldn't grasp the concept of why we stepped into a war half way around the world. Activists, and the Media, fueled the fires to such a frenzie that there was no rhyme or reason left to explore. The rights of a people to resist oppression and to try to hold on to the values of "Freedom" was the reason we aligned ourselves with the "Vietnamese People" and their right to exist as a "Sovereign Nation." It was a time of turmoil and political reteric, and it became: "The Nature of the Beast!" And with this social unrest our proud nation no longer stood for Truth, Justice, and the "American Way."...."Truth:" I, for one, was "Spit On" and called "Baby Killer" upon on my returning home to an America that had no use for returning "Vietnam Veterens!"...."Justice:" There was no justice for the American serviceman for all the good we accomplished was never put out there for all to see. All that was ever show'n was the casualties of war to which America "Shuttered!" This uneven account of what was, became a "Festering Wound" to which America never recovered. This was a war we could have won, but was not allowed too. I saw it, and so did the other sevicemen that were part of this exercise in "Fruitilty." We lost upwards of "58,000 plus" American lives for: "What?"...."The American way:" When World War II ended, our sevicemen returned home with dignity and pride for a job well done, and the pride of our nation...

wayne mong
fontana, CA

ODE TO A VIETNAM VETERAN (Continued)

, With Korea, not so much. But our sevicemen still had the respect and dignity for a job that they tried to accomplish....Vietnam servicemen were never treated with respect and dignity for the job that we tried to accomplish, and it has changed little in the passage of time....With respect to wars since "Vietnam" the "American Way" now shines "Brightly" again, with respect and dignity for the servicemen that have giving their all for "Freedom." For by forsaking the "Vietnam Veteren" in his time of need is "Unexcusable!" We also gave our all, and the "American Way" wasn't for us back then, and we have been "All But Forgotten!".....For to all my "Vietnam Brothers"..."WELCOME HOME!...."For We Will Never Forget!"...."We Are, And Always Will Be, True Americans in the quest for "Freedom!"....For again I say to my "Vietnam Brothers"..... "WELCOME HOME!" And to our "Fall'n Brothers," you are in our "Prayers And Are Not Forgotten!" For you have paid the "Ultimate Sacrifice" in the name of "Freedom!"

wayne mong
fontana, CA

ODE TO A VIETNAM VETEREN

, myself, have done two(2) tours of duty in "Vietnam." The years were '65 to'67. It was a troublesome time: Young Americans were practicing free love and protesting the war in the '60's and this was a movement of disillusioned young people that couldn't grasp the concept of why we stepped into a war half way around the world. Activists, and the Media, fueled the fires to such a frenzie that there was no rhyme or reason left to explore. The rights of a people to resist oppression and to try to hold on to the values of "Freedom" was the reason we aligned ourselves with the "Vietnamese People" and their right to exist as a "Sovereign Nation." It was a time of turmoil and political reteric, and it became: "The Nature of the Beast!" And with this social unrest our proud nation no longer stood for Truth, Justice, and the "American Way."...."Truth:" I, for one, was "Spit On" and called "Baby Killer" upon on my returning home to an America that had no use for returning "Vietnam Veterens!"...."Justice:" There was no justice for the American serviceman for all the good we accomplished was never put out there for all to see. All that was ever show'n was the casualties of war to which America "Shuttered!" This uneven account of what was, became a "Festering Wound" to which America never recovered. This was a war we could have won, but was not allowed too. I saw it, and so did the other sevicemen that were part of this exercise in "Fruitilty." We lost upwards of "58,000 plus" American lives for: "What?"...."The American way:" When World War II ended, our sevicemen returned home with dignity and pride for a job well done, and the pride of our nation... Continued below

wayne mong
fontana, CA

My husband My Hero

I think so much of my soldier he is everything to me married 18 yrs and three beautiful children we are Blessed to have him.He is with the Wisconsin National Guard doing many Natural Disasters calls and two Deployments he has done what he had to do and with pride.We have been through alot with him being away to fight for this Country we call home and to help others I would like to express my Love and support to him in all he does here and where ever he is needed I will have him in my prayers and thoughts.I love my Soldier!!

Sonja
Sun Prairie, WI
Janet Ann Kite & William A. Makley

Janet Ann Kite & William A. Makley

Janet Ann Kite graduated from the Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, Ohio in 1943 and joined the Army Nurse Corp. that same year. She was stationed at the 122 General Hospital just outside of London England where she reached the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served there until the end of the war. She worked with all the injured soldiers, sailors and airmen that were sent there from the battles raging across the English Channel but spent much of her time taking care of burn patients. She spoke of the bombings that were going on around her and remembered one German pilot that they had named "bed check Charlie" due to the time that he always seemed to fly over.


William A. Makley was working at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio as a welder when the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor. On the night of December 7th 1941, they called a meeting of all employees in one of the hangers on the base and asked for volunteers to go to Hawaii to help with repairs at the air bases there. He was employed as a senior welder for civilian defense at Hickham Field on the Island of Oahu. While stationed at Hickham Field, he also worked to repair aircraft that was damaged during missions flown in the Pacific theater. He was a member of the Hawaiian Air Depot Volunteer Corps., one of at least six such units formed by the Army on Oahu as Organized Defense Volunteers.

These men were civilian workers who trained in their off-time, and would pull guard duty at various locations on Hickam.

William was stationed at Hickham Field from 1941 to the end of the war in 1945.

I am proud to call them my parents.

Robert Makley
Celina, OH

My husband hero in many ways

My husband is my hero in so many ways. He is a proud member of he Missouri National Guard. Currently, he is serving his second overseas deployment in Afghanistan. He served previously in Iraq in 2003-2004. In addition, like so many guardsmen, he has served our state during natural disasters. In addition, he was activated to provide aid for hurricane Katrina victims. These alone would make him a hero. However, there are two other ways he is my hero. When I met my husband, I was divorced with two young girls, 3 and 7. Hs children from a previous marriage were practically gran, 19 and 16. He didn't hesitate marrying me and has been a wonderful stepdad to my girls. He has been a role model, comforter, and protector. In June 2010, I was diagnosed with stae 3 cancer. My husband has been my hero through all my treatments and complications. So not only is my husband my hero because of his military service, he s my hero by being a wonderful stepfather and husband.

Anonymous
House springs, MO
Navy Opportunities

Navy Opportunities

One day while I was "mopping" the quarterdeck, the Chief Petty Officer came to me and told me to immediately go to the Chaplain's Office and that the Chaplain wanted to see me. He stressed there was not a family emergency but the urgency to drop the mop and go "now" was stressed.

I went to the Chaplain's Office and was met by the Protestant Chaplain and I told him why I was there. He welcomed the opportunity and took me to his office where he told me he was looking for a Chaplain's Assistant and my name came up. From that first meeting, my life changed forever. I was now serving the Navy Chaplains Corps and worked under Protestant and Catholic Chaplains both who were genuine men of God who cared deeply for the sailors.

. Since I liked to fly I had the opportunity to travel to other duty stations and set up the services for the chaplains.

One day the Protestant Chaplain came out of his study and showed me his Dakes Annotated Reference Bible and suggested I purchase one. To make a long story short, he shared that he felt I was called to ministry and should get this Bible and study it.

Long story gets even shorter, I am now a disabled veteran with a severe hearing loss and almost deaf, but I retired from pastoral ministry after having served for 26 years. All because of a opportunity to work for the United States Chaplain Corps and a Chaplain that deeply cared. That is why I do not regret one minute of my time of service and proud to be called a Navy Veteran.

Rev. Paul M. Cavinee
Akron, OH