Photography by John Michael

Goals and Persistence

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
–Henry David Thoreau

A President’s View On Defending the Freedoms

“Now let me make it clear that I believe there can only be one defense policy for the United States and that is summed up in the word ‘first.’ I do not mean first, but. I do not mean first, when. I do not mean first, if. I mean first –period.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

35th President of the United States

The Last 2012 Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

Finding a parking pl;ace on the Saturday that they are holding the Cherry Blossom parade in Washington DC is a challenge.  Finally I found one on a street near the Potomac River.  From there I had trekked down to the Jefferson Memorial to catch the action of the All-Service Drill Team Competition, something that is a true sight to see — rifles with bayonets fixed the spinning and twirling of the nearly 11 pound weapons by these talented members of the military – the Drill teams of the services:  US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard and the US Merchant Marine.

I had gotten there just as the US Marine Corps began their routine and continued to photograph until they announced the winner for 2012. With the memory card full of hundreds of photos, I walked back around the tidal basin and along the Potomac River – all lined with the cherry trees which normally at this time would still be in bloom, yet a very warm March forced them all to jump out early and now the trees were full of leaves … all except one.

As I approached where my vehicle was parked, there still loaded with blossoms was a cherry tree. An though my extensive inventory of photos from days past includes many cherry blossom photos, it was serendipitous, there was  space for one photo remaining on the memory card in the camera. So here up close and personal is “The Last Washington DC Cherry Blossoms of 2012″ 

For those who missed the spectacular display of color when the  other trees were in bloom, sorry, you’ll have to wait until 2013.

Did you see the 2012 cherry blossoms in full bloom?

Tribute to CSM Jack Lee Bonner Sr. USA (Ret.)

We lost another hero on 05 APR 2012 – He was a true patriot and one of the elite – The US Army’s Special Forces. I can’t really recall the first time I met Jack, but he was always glad to see me and thanked me for what I was doing for the Special Forces and for the US Army.

The true surprise came a few years ago in the US Mail – it was from the Freedom Team Salute – I was surprised to receive it. When I opened and read the letter it began:

” Dear John Michael.

CSM Jack Bonner has nominated you for the Freedom Team Salute for your support and promotion of the US Army… “

The next time I saw Jack, I asked him why he nominated me… He replied “Why are you doing what you’re doing for the Special Forces and the US Army?” I told him I believed in the value of what the Special Forces and US Army has done and continues to do for the US and the free world. – Jack said, “That’s reason enough to nominate you…”

Enclosed was an Army Star lapel pin along with a decal … I proudly wear the pin as a reminder of the man who thought enough to honor me.   It was great to know him.

 I wear the pin proudly. Jack, I ‘ll miss you … Thank you for your service!  Thank you for your friendship.

A Milestone in Special Forces is Finally Honored

It WAS October 12, 1961 when a visit by then President John F. Kennedy to Fort Bragg, North Carolina that would turn the tide and raise the awareness of these elite Soldiers of the US Army and award them officially their badge of honor – “The Green Beret”

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WORLD Backup Day 2012

MARCH 31  -  is WORLD BACKUP DAY — With all the special days we honor over the year, this has to be one that anyone with a computer and special files – family photos, financial records, and…  isn’t aware of the danger of a hard-disk failing - it will… and it will at the most unexpected time… or if you have a notebook computer – one in ten are stolen — that’s one every 53 seconds …  have you ever dropped your notebook?

I haven’t convinced you with the above words?    Then here’s a reminder in LIST form of those scary stats and more…

• All hard drives will crash during their lifetime
• More than 1 in 10 laptops will be stolen in their lifetime
• A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds
• Every year 46% of computer users lose their music, photos, and documents
• 50% of all hard drives will crash within 5 years
• 89.1% of PC users don’t perform regular backups
• A recent study from Gartner, Inc., found that 90 percent of companies that experience data loss go out of business within two years.
• 70 percent of companies go out of business after a major data loss

Now you’re worried aren’t you?  ( you better be!)

Have no fear Pilgrim… I found this wonderful place where I store my all  ”special stuff”  – so if I drop my notebook computer or that hard drive that’s making a noise on my desktop computer all of a sudden stops… completely stops,  I have my files backed up … and reachable from anywhere.

I urge you to click on the image below and TRY FOR FREE the Unlimited, that’s right UNLIMITED storage for your files.   Do it today …  Do it now…  you’ll be thankful tomorrow.

And PLEASE,  Share this with your friends … help them save their precious data – photos, correspondence, financial records before the crash…    The share buttons are below…

2012 Charity Hopping — TAPS

I would like to introduce you to TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors  - An organization that helps those who remain after they lose someone serving in the military.   Whether it be the widow, the children, the parents – the whole family benefits from the work that TAPS continues to do and has done since 1994 when it was found out of tragedy.  

Since then, over 35,000 people have benefited from the offerings of TAPS services – some are available 24/7, their resources and many events complemented by regional seminars and their annual meeting held each year in the Washington, DC area on Memorial Day Weekend.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (all rights reserved)

I would encourage you to donate to TAPS in some way – either financially,  your time or making others aware of the organization and what they do.

You can also enter below to win a copy of “Images of America – Fort Myer”

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The Roles of Sorrow

I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And never a word said she;
But, Oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!
– Robert Browning Hamilton

A Lofty Goal

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?
Sun Tzu

Reggie – A Dog Story

My roommate from college sends me some outstanding material that he finds.  This time he’s out done himself.  Thanks Dan!

“They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I’d only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

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