Freedom on the other side

I have lived my life with a firm conviction that being a free man is more important than any other thing. I gave up part of my freedom to protect it (US Navy) and I give up a part of my freedom each time I pay my taxes to support the structures that try and […]

The Cost of Freedom

These pictures were taken at the Masonic Village in Central Pennsylvania See link at end of post for more detailed information There is an American Flag for every Service Member that has given their life since 911 There is a separate Blue State flag for every Pennsylvanian The tradition of remembering these American Heroes goes back […]

Clear the Square… NOW!!!

I’m not sure if its vanity or just a curiosity, but I have always been interested in things named McPherson. My family name was actually spelled that way when they first emigrated to the US in 1845 at the beginning of the potato famine. The family came from northern Ireland on a ship called the […]

What will you tell your grandchildren?

All of us will leave a legacy when we pass to the next world. Some will be lengthy and some will be rather modest. I am at the age where I read the obituaries in the local paper. Its kind of ghoulish in a way since I am not from here and really don’t know […]

Are you “Value Added”?

In the “lean” world, a lot of time is spent in determining which of your processes are “Value Added”, “Non-Value Added but Necessary” or “Non-Value Added”. There are a lot of definitions for these phrases depending on which consultant is trying to sell a new book this week. I try to keep my definitions pretty […]

Make it Count

Make it count. As you thank the Vets you will run into over the next few days, do something more than a verbal thank you. Sit down and write Congress. Do it respectfully but do it with the full force of your conviction. The way we thank Veterans is to stop Congress from wastefully spending […]

Target Rich Environment

Google the phrase “Target Rich Environment” and you will get about 5 million hits. One of my favorite quotes comes from a feel good movie released in 1986 Warning: PG 13 applies, if you are easily offended, skip past the quoted area “Top Gun” Maverick: This is what I call a target-rich environment. Goose: You […]

Taffy 3 – Courage Beyond Measure

In the annals of US Naval history, there are a number of instances that demonstrate the courage and determination of a committed group of dedicated officers and men. The one that stands out most in many people’s opinions is the battle which occurred on October 25th 1944. On this day, a small group of […]

Bullies Redux

There were three kinds of boys in Junior High School. First were the bullies. This group had probably grown up quicker than their peers and normally came from homes where toughness was considered not only a virtue but a valued commodity. Second were the “hangers on”. These boys weren’t quite as big or strong as […]

Dereliction of Duty

One of the worst things I can imagine a service member doing is being guilty of dereliction of duty. We all take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. When we are derelict in our duties, there are military laws which judge us and rightly so. People depend on us to defend them […]