HAVE A TERRIFIC MEMORIAL DAY

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom.
The kids came into first period, they walked in, there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Ms. Cothren, where's our desk?" And she said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them."
They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."
"No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior."
And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."
And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren's class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.
The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. And she says, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily." She said, "Now I'm going to tell you."
Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans , wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.
Martha said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk,

and don't ever forget it."

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It is the VETERAN,not the preacher, who has given us
freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN,not the reporter,who has given us
freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN,not the poet,who has given us
freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN,not the campus organizer, who has given
freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN,not the lawyer,who has given us the
right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN,not the politician,Who has given us the
right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,

It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag,

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ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM. WE KNOW THAT THEY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO WILLING TO SERVE, WITHOUT YOUR HELP, GUIDANCE AND BLESSINGS. SO THANKS TO YOU AND TO THEM.

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America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

..................
GOD BLESS AMERICA SONG'S LYRICS

Author: Irving Berlin, 1918; revised 1938

Spoken Introduction: While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains To the prairies,

To the ocean white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

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Without God's grace, love, mercies and blessings we wouldn't even stand a chance. God is so good, and we should praise and thank Him daily for His protection and guidance. THANK YOU GOD, WE LOVE YOU.

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PRAY FOR OUR SOLDIERS, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR LEADERS (whether you like them or not, they are still our leaders and need God's help!) ALSO, PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY TO ONCE AGAIN PUT HIM FIRST! PRAYER IS SO IMPORTANT, AND SO IS GIVING GOD OUR THANKS, PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY.

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We decided to stay in today. Norman had a bad bout with his vertigo this morning, enough so that it really left him sick to his stomach, and of courses dizzy. So, we changed our plans and decided to just stay in today. "our laundry thanks us ; )" so pray for him please. The last bad time he had this, he ended up at the ER. But today he had his medicine on hand, and hopefully it will keep it from getting that serious.

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The kids are down to 8 more days of school, which means 9 more days of work for us.. "pray for me please, that things there will start looking up, and being much easier to cope with." No, it hasn't anything at all to do with the work, that I can handle.. it's just attitudes, and some people being so 'snappy' and such. Maybe it's just that they also need a break! Anyway, I guess we all need prayer, and I thank you for the prayers sent up in my behalf, and I continue having you all in my prayers also. And pray for the one's that are looking for at least summer work will be able to find something suitable please and thank you. Prayer is a free gift that we can all give to each other, and it means soooo much.

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Dear God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, and all of His guidance and sacrifice. Thank You for Your love, grace, mercies, blessings and inner peace. Thank You for our freedoms, help us all, as a country, to get back closer to You, and to live more pleasing to You. Father, thank You for Norman, our lives, safety, health, love, closeness, happiness, and marriage. Thank Your too for our PRECIOUS family and the love and closeness we share. Thank You for our extended families, our church families, our friends, neighbors and co-workers. Thank You also for the friends we have yet to meet, or may never meet, and the closeness we still may feel. Bless each of us please spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, financially (because of the need of money now days, not the love of money) and for inner peace, happiness and safety. Bless our country please Father, and guide our leaders to lead us in the ways You would have them to. Bless our soldiers please and let them feel You hand of mercy, protection, and guidance in their lives, draw them closer to You. Bless them and their families with inner peace, and safety. Be with Leisa at her next appointment, and help it all to fall into place for her benefit, and then guide her doctors to make all the right decisions, and help her to heal quickly and without problems. Bless Mom at her upcoming eye surgery on June 4. Bless Norman at his doctors appointment on June 2, help him to finally have some good news. Bless each of us at work, and help things to go much better and lighter, and happier if possible. THANK YOU HOLY FOR EVERYTHING, AND WE GIVE YOU OUR LOVE, THANKS, HONOR, PRAISE AND GLORY IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN.

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If you would like to post a comment on this post, or any post in my blog, please feel free to do so. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again for the prayers and know that you too are in my daily prayers (see above in the orange).. Have a safe, healthy, happy day, and GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.