Thank You

My Grandfather, Carl O. Bunnell II, served in the Navy in WWII, stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He worked in the postal division and I know he remembered The Day of Infamy but he didn't talk about it much when he was alive so I don't have his stories to pass on.

My husband, Chris, served at Fort Campbell, KY as a turbine generator operator repairman for the 400-bed EVAC Hospital. He had the choice to transfer to Hawaii after his initial enlistment period but decided to accept an Honorable Discharge and stay in Oregon with his family. He remembers his days in the United States Army with pride and an obvious fondness for the men and women he served under and with.

Each year when Veteran's Day arrives I truly want to remember anyone I know--and anyone I've never met--who served, is currently in service or were and are the families of all the men and women who have given us more than we can ever repay. Not for a day off from work or school. Not for an extended weekend of sales at the mall. Not for a national holiday which, sadly, goes unnoticed by some in our current generation who are unaware of the true significance of what those people gave and still give us--the gift of FREEDOM.

Our special thanks go to the following friends and family we honor today:

Carl O. Bunnell III - US Army, WWII
Bob Pfeiffer - U.S. Navy, Korea
Dennis Reed - U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, Vietnam
Chris Pfeiffer - U.S. Army, NJ & KY
Marcus Sohm - U.S. Coast Guard, FL
Dan West - U.S. Army, US & Korea
Vince Oretger - U.S. Coast Guard, CA & OR
Matthew Peterson - Air National Guard, Desert Storm & Desert Shield
Kevin Jones - U.S. Navy Pilot

The Patriot

At the close of the day, an old cowboy sets

kinda quiet in the old porch swing

Now and then he'll softly whistle a tune,

or maybe he'll start to sing

Then he'll change his mind and waggle his head,

and close his eyes in thought

He thinks of Korea, the war over there,

and some of the lessons it taught.

When his gaze wanders over to the nearby hills,

he recalls how they look when it snows

He studies the flag that he raised just this morning,

how it moves when the west wind blows.

If you look real close you'll see that a tear

gives a hint of some inner strife

His mind's eye's seeing the faces of friends,

who long ago left this life.

The flag waves gently in the sunset sky,

and the old man raises his chin

When it does, his step is strong and brisk,

as he marches out to the flag.

He stops and stands there, watching it wave,

wipes his eyes with a pocket rag.

He continues his march to the old corral,

where his Morgan comes over to talk

He saddles him up, and climbs on top,

and heads him out for a walk.

On a hill, he wonders if the whole blamed thing

was worth all the friends he lost

Heading home, he knows down deep in his heart,

he too, would have paid the cost.

Yes, he shared the peril,

but returned to his home in the sand and the sage

Then back at his flag, he thanks all his pardners

for letting him reach old age.

© 2004, Hal Swift.

In Memory of 9.11.01

I captured this image of the small candle I have lit today in memory of those who lost their lives, those who survived and for those who gave their service on 9.11.01. It is also for those who continue to give service and protect our freedom across the world. This photograph is our small tribute to say thank you.

If you would like to purchase a copy of this image it will be available in our Etsy shop as a special edition print in various sizes. The proceeds from any sale of this fine art photograph will be donated to Operation Family Fund.

Operation Family Fund receives no funding from the government, is supported solely by private and corporate donations and does not endorse any political party or candidate. They simply provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.

NEVER FORGET

Never forget the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001.

Never forget what it means as Americans to persevere.

Never forget the freedoms we cherish.

Never forget our military families.

Never forget the children waiting for Mommy or Daddy to come home.

Never forget the parents who pray each day for their

son or daughter's safe homecoming.

Never forget all those who serve.

Never forget our veterans from all wars.

Never forget to fly your flag.

Never forget those who paid the ultimate price.

Never forget.

FREEDOM ENDURES.

A. Kellermann - Tampa Tribune, 9.11.03

The photos displayed in this post are copyright Pfeiffer Photos 2008. For information or to purchase please contact us via email or visit our Etsy shop...thank you.

Happy Labor Day!

"The end of labor is to gain leisure." ~Aristotle

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens". Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894. All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday. Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s. The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and [spirit] of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and, compared to the May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries, parades, speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key.
Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school.

Since 1966, the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association has been held on Labor Day weekend. The telethon, hosted by Jerry Lewis, raises tens of millions of dollars each year to fund research and patient support programs for the various diseases grouped as muscular dystrophy. Labor Day weekend also marked the annual running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The race was run at any time during the weekend from 1950-2002. In 2004, NASCAR began racing on Labor Day weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Chicago's Taste of Polonia, the city's largest Polish-themed festival celebration of Polish cultural heritage, traditions, and customs on the grounds of the Copernicus Foundation in Jefferson Park. Bringing in crowds well over 30,000 each year.

And, finally, a bit of Labor Day humor--for all the parents out there, here's a quote just for you:

"Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken."

- Bill Dodds, American humorist


Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend!


This description (mainly borrowed from Wikipedia) of Labor Day applies to the holiday as it is observed in the United States but many countries observe Labour Day on a variety of dates throughout the year, and have their own traditions for celebrating.

copyright pfeiffer photos 2008 - all rights reserved