3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Holiday

“Brother, My Brother”, a Tribute to Veterans

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On Veterans Monday I had the opportunity to merge two of my passions, my pride for my sons in the Marine Corp and my love of music, specifically the Elmwood-Murdock choir and band. Just wanted to share a preview of the the choirs song, “Brother My Brother” before I put together the full post, which will recap both schools and the local G.A.R museum.

It’s obvious this song was written with the American Civil War in mind, but I couldn’t find any other history. If anyone can point me in the direction I’d love to add it to the post.

Lyrics “Brother, My Brother”

Brother my brother
One blue and one gray
Will meet upon a quiet field
The morn of judgement day

Brother my brother
God has heard your battle call
Now he’ll watch his precious children
Learn how to stand, learn how to fall
And his eyes will look away

For his heart will so be torn
As his fields of gold turn scarlet
From the rage of battle born
And the silence of the night
Will be broken by the cries
Of the ones who’ve been forgotten
On the quiet field where honor lies

Give me now a splendid sun
With all his light full clear
Give me now a gentle autumn
Before the dying of the year
And some green unbloodied grass
While I can still see far
Give me one night on a river
And one unfailing star

Brother my brother
One blue and one gray
Will meet upon a quiet field
The morn of judgement day

Brother my brother
God has heard your battle call
Now he’ll watch his precious children
Learn how to stand, learn how to fall

My favorite Veterans Day piece the choir sang, by far, is the one a did a few years back of the choir singing Flanders Field. Take a look you won’t regret it!

Remembering Veterans Day

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It is time to pay respect and honor to our county’s military veterans. Yesterday was the Marine Corps birthday and today is officially Veterans Day.

I have three sons who are veterans, although one is still an active duty Marine. They learned to always have your buddy’s back. Never leave someone behind and respect authority. You can question, but you still must carry out your duty and responsibility.

Honoring our veterans

My Dad served on a destroyer in WWII and was also a Korean wartime veteran. I never heard of his experiences. Never knew what he did, never knew what it meant until I found his military records. Back then the term was shell shocked.

WWII Naval Veteran who served on two destroyers

Now we know this as PTSD. Post-traumatic stress syndrome. I don’t know if he had nightmares, but I know he “checked out” in many ways. He got silent, would shut down during stressful times.

Since then I have gotten to know many veterans and seen some “hit the ground” when a metal folding chair falls to the floor at a school function. Serving in wartime affects you the rest of your life. It shapes you in more ways than you can count.

May we never forget to honor those veterans who have served in all branches of our military: The Army, Navy, Air Force, and the United States Marines.

Don’t just remember our veterans on the national holidays like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, but remember and thank them every day.  

Next time you hear of conflict in another country, every time you see an American flag, and every time you hear on the news that another soldier died, remember the veterans.

Remember they defend our freedom of speech, our way of life, and liberty of the United States of America.

Remember them every day, not just on Veterans Day

In addition to my three sons, currently in the Marine Corps, this day and weekend I also remember my “Daddy”.

I wish I had asked more questions, I wish I had listened when you started to tell me the stories, but alas I was a child and only thought of childish things.

I wish I had more time with you, and I wish you had lived to see your grandchildren grow up.  You would be proud of them. I miss you now more than ever. I finally learned your military history and wish you were here to tell me more.

Private Leo Tyrrell, 82nd Airborne
Private Leo Tyrrell, 82nd Airborne (1952?)

4th of July Fireworks

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What do you think of on Independence Day, or the 4th of July? Do you think of fireworks, picnics, concerts, family, friends and barbecues? Personally I love firework displays, even though personal fireworks were illegal in Connecticut where I grew up, my family would often travel to Oklahoma during the first part of July and we got to experience poppers, firecrackers and roman candles.

Now that I’m grown I’m just as happy sitting on the grass watching someone else shoot off the pyrotechnics. The photo below was taken at the Omaha Memorial Park fireworks display after the concert in the park. I try and go every year and have seen Foreigner, Styx, Kansas, Huey Lewis and Pat Benatar in concert while sitting on a blanket and enjoying the summer sun.

Every year I attempt to take a memorable fireworks photo, one that isn’t just a sky full of color. This one of my favorites that not only captures the color in the sky, but the feeling of the spectators.

4th of July Fireworks at the Celebrate America Celebration in Omaha
Fireworks at the Celebrate America Celebration in Omaha, Nebraska

There are “safe” firecrackers and noise makers that are pretty much legal in all 50 states. So legal that Amazon sells them. So if you want to make a little noise on the 4th of July and have some safe fun check out the legal fireworks that will still impress the young at heart. Heck, I still like to throw poppers.

Safe Fireworks for Kids

Some people might not consider smoke bombs, snappers, and battery operated fountains fireworks, but the young kids won’t know the different.

Super Fireworks Smoke Sticks – Better Than Smoke Balls!Pow Pow Party Snaps, a Super Noisemaker, 50 BoxesUncle Milton Grand Finale Light Show Room DecorSnappers (1 Dz Boxes)

Happy 4th of July everyone, have fun, be safe and remember the service men and women who have served our country to protect the freedoms we have here in the United States.

Photo Details: Canon EOS Rebel f/5, 0.8 sec ISO-1600, 18mm

4th of July Fireworks

List of fireworks, festivals celebrating 4th of July in Hudson County

Macy’s 4th of July fireworks will not be visible from Hoboken. STATE FAIR MEADOWLANDS. You can get double the fill of fireworks if you head to the State Fair in East Rutherford to catch a show two nights in a row. On July 3 and 4, Garden State …
As 4th of July Approaches, Be Aware of Fireworks Laws

Patch’s BIG LIST of 4th of July Fireworks in Southeast Michigan. Dearborn residents are encouraged to call (313) 943-3030 to anonymously report unsafe or illegal activity in their neighborhood, or to call 911 if there is a dangerous or emergency situation.
Roundup: 10 Awesome July 4th Fireworks Shows Hitting …

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway welcomes tens of thousands of people for the annual 4th of July fireworks show. (Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia). • XFINITY Fireworks Show at Citizens Bank Park. July 1-2.
Watch 2015 Macy’s ‘4th of July Fireworks Spectacular’ Live Online, NBC TV

Although the sign-up process only takes a few minutes, it’s always best to get verified ahead of time so you don’t miss a minute of the 2015 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. The all-star line up of celebrities will undoubtedly draw viewers in …
2015 4th Of July Fireworks Coupons: Phantom Fireworks, TNT, Fireworks …

Looking for the best deals on fireworks for your 4th of July party? Phantom Fireworks, TNT, and Fireworks Supermarket stores and roadside stands are stocked up for the big holiday weekend, and all three retailers are offering freebies and discounts on …

Day 214/365: Happy 4th of July

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Happy 4th of Julty
Happty 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone! Here in Elmwood Nebraska we celebrate just like everyone else, with fireworks, picnics, parades (coming later), softball games, and watermelon. The holiday starts off with a bang ten days before Independence day when the fireworks go on sale.

This year I had an extra challenge. I was going to learn how to photograph fireworks with my point and shoot Fujica camera. This photo was actually taken two houses down from me as I braced the camera steady on the mailboxes. Tonight I’ll take the tripod for the big show in Ashland.

Photography Notes:

Photoshop composite of three shots. Two small bursts I selected the color black, chose the inverse selection so only the colored fireworks was selected, and pasted into main image in different layers.

Main blue fireworks: Aperture priority, f/2.8, Exposure 8 seconds, ISO 400

Gold Burst in top left:  Shutter priority, f/2.8, 1/50 sec ISO 400,

Day 120/365: Marshmallow Peeps for Easter

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You know it’s getting close to Easter when the Marshmallows Peep show up on the store shelves. I always get excited about the anticipation of Easter Peeps.

Day 120: Easter Peeps
Marshmallow Goodness in all colors

Marshmallow Peeps are soft, colorful, sugary, and fun!!

This iconic treat of pure sugar has a cult following and there are many ways to use them other than just for getting a sugar high. They now come in all sorts of colors, aside from the original yellow, although I’m a purist.

There is a whole website dedicated to Peep Recipes, Peep Crafts, and multiple contests including one from the Washington Post called the “Peep Show” I won’t even go-to the subject that comes to mind.

Heck, there is even the official PEEPS Facebook page, well of course, why not?