Free Republic

Flags will be lowered in New Jersey Saturday, the day of Whitney Houston’s funeral. But a Marine mom in Arlington says it’s an honor Houston doesn’t deserve. When Phyllis McGeath heard Gov. Chris Christie had ordered flags lowered to half-staff for Houston, she said she felt a pain deep inside her. “I was hurt and offended. Disappointed. Saddened,” she said. “I felt like the honor that was given to my son was tarnished.” McGeath had three sons who were active duty Marines. Her oldest, Philip, was killed by a suicide bomber just four weeks ago in Afghanistan. He was 25....

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he plans to order flags on public buildings to fly at half-staff on the day of Whitney Houston's funeral to honor the songstress and Jersey native. "Whitney Houston was an important part of the cultural fabric of this state," Christie said during a press release Tuesday. Christie also said the pop legend belongs in the same category as Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen. He said he will sign the order later in the week after Houston's family makes a final decision regarding time and place of the funeral. A Newark...

January is the birthday month of War Between the States Generals; James Longstreet born on January 8, 1821, Thomas Jonathan ‘Stonewall’ Jackson born on January 21, 1824, George Pickett born on January 28, 1825 and Thursday, January 19, 2012, is the 205th birthday of General Robert E. Lee.

When I would think of her over the years, I would think of a blue bird. I never knew why. It's just what I felt. She had an aura. Maybe because her eyes were blue and she could sing like no other. She loved music. It took nothing to make her sing. She expected all her children to sing. We did. Even if she didn't know the words, she would make them up and dance in place. She was the reason I came to write songs. When I was nine years old, I was chosen to sing a solo at...

It is with great sadness that we must report the loss of our dear friend Tony Blankley. Tony passed away Saturday after a long battle with stomach cancer. Tony was a longtime friend of our parent organization the Media Research Center, serving as one of MRC's DisHonors Awards judges in the past few years. Tony's syndicated column was also published on NewsBusters. Tony was a veteran warrior for the conservative movement having served as a speechwriter for the Reagan administration, as press secretary to Speaker Newt Gingrich, as editorial page editor for the Washington Times from 2002-2007, and as a...

How can a conservative commentator and an orthodox Catholic like me possibly admire Christopher Hitchens? He hated the Pope, smeared Mother Teresa viciously. He even published a book four years ago defending his militant atheism called God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Then Christopher Hitchens debated around the world on that very topic. Then he co-wrote and edited a book about the debates. In between those two books, there was a third one, about the war in Iraq and his support of it - which had caused him to break with many of the friends of his youth....

So Elmer Fudd Barney Frank announced yesterday that he would not be running for re-election in 2012. His stated reason was that his district was gerrymandered, which is true. But Frank was no longer safe in a safe-district. Remember it took a last-minute infusion of DNCC money to save Barney Frank in 2010 and even then, his 54% of the vote was the lowest he had ever received since his first election in 1980. Frank is retiring because he is chicken, he almost lost last time, and doesn’t have the guts to try again. In his 31+ years in the...

This appeared in Sarah Palin's "America by Heart." I think it is especially appropriate today. 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 us 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 he politician, who has given...

Steve Jobs is dead. I just got home and saw the news, it compelled me to write this. I wrote this because I have used an Apple product nearly every day since 1987, and those products have impacted my life in a variety of ways, almost all of them good. Steve Jobs was one of those people who seemed like he would be around forever to me. I don't spend much time pondering the passing of many public figures. It's not my style, and I understand all too well that in the end, our time here on this earth is...

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Amazing and first-hand account.

This is a tribute with the comforting words of President Bush throughout.

Excellent 9/11 tribute video from a Christian perspective. On That Day<\a>

I will add items as I find them throughout the day as I come across them.

Pay no mind to what ill-advised dhimmis  at the Washington Post might tell you...the New Media Right will always remember. Tribute, links, and 9/11 slideshow at Reaganite Republican May God Bless the fallen as well as those they left behind~

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain released a tribute video for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. An amateur gospel singer, Cain sings a version of "God Bless America" while images from Sept. 11, 2001 play on the screen.

The Missing US Ambassador at the feast for Ronald Reagan. "..."Why is our ambassador not here on Independence Day? No excuse. How is it that America is not represented in this room by our ambassador? It is appalling that no representative of our government is in this room. This has the feel of petty partisanship..."

Panetta Report 1 here; [caption id="attachment_7457" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Leon Panetta"][/caption] While a Southern California based congressman in the 1970s and '80s, CIA director and Obama Secretary of Defense nominee Leon Panetta, was close to a pro communist, Santa Cruz based "peace activist" named Lucy Haessler. In spite (or perhaps because of) Haessler's involvement with the Women's International Democratic Federation, Panetta placed a tribute in the Congressional Record, April 11, 1984, to mark Haessler's 80th birthday. Panetta noted that Lucy Haessler attended several conferences of the East German based organization, in France, the Soviet Union, Poland and East Germany. He did...

Martin Short's brilliant tribute to the killing of Osama Bin Laden performed on Letterman last night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9t9A1NQd1E

"Thousands gathered to remember their pastor, spiritual father, counselor and friend, Rev. David Wilkerson, during a memorial service at his Times Square Church in New York City, Saturday. The May 14 service marked a candid event for all to remember the man who had impacted so many lives. Pastor Carter Conlon, leader of Times Square Church, described Wilkerson as a "dear friend" who loved doing the work of God." For those who may have missed watching the memorial service live-streamed yesterday, here is a link to video of it at Times Square Church site: http://www.tscnyc.org/david-wilkerson-memorial-service.php

"Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends," John 15:13 This quotation is inscribed on a plaque that rests on a tri-faced structure within the air station's Combined Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit building. Besides the plaque, the wall is covered in portraits of Marines, 35 in all. The first portrait is of Gunnery Sgt. Michael Clark, the last of Gunnery Sgt. Justin Schmalstieg. All the photos show Marines in either full combat gear or a candid portrait in civilian attire. There is not an official photo in the whole bunch, as...

This Wed., March 2, the Prince William County School Board will be voting on what to name the new elementary school opening Fall 2011 on Linton Hall Road.  The naming committee came up with the lame name of "Piney Branch Elementary School" -- Ronald Reagan didn't even make the top 18 suggestions of the committee despite it having strong supporters.  I first suggested that name early last October and encouraged people to submit it to the naming committee by the Dec. 1 deadline.  Following is the message that I sent to the naming committee: Since the new elementary school on...

Prior to the Flyers-Devils game at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, the Flyers honored one of their beloved friends who lost his life in the line of fire. Chief Petty Officer and Navy SEAL Collin Thomas paid visits to the Flyers organization several times and quickly developed a close and personal friendship. Thomas was a highly decorated combat veteran and received numerous awards and citations during his 13 year Navy career including two Bronze Star Medals, six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons and the distinguished Purple Heart. On August 18th was killed in the...

This is an audio tribute to Veterans. If you are a Veteran please pick a quite time to listen. A Tribute to our Veterans

This is an audio tribute by Glenn Beck to our fallen Heroes. If you are a Veteran please pick a quite time to listen. A tribute to our fallen Heroes by Glenn Beck

    NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOEby Ann CoulterOctober 6, 2010My friend Joe Sobran died last Thursday, and the world lost its greatest writer. To my delight, some obituaries noted that he had influenced my writing style. I only wish I had known he was so close to the end so I could have seen him again to let him influence me some more. The G.K. Chesterton of our time, Joe could deliver a knockout punch with a single line. Many of his aphorisms were so catchy that everyone repeats them now without realizing their provenance. It was Joe who came...

...Sobran’s diagnosis of the domestic malaise started with the notion that “the regime we live under” derives its legitimacy from a blatant distortion of the United States Constitution. On the basis of a compact among the sovereign states, the federal government was to be a service confined to the specific enumerated powers the people delegated to it, pursuant to their general welfare and common defense. Over the past century and a half, however, the federal government has usurped all kinds of powers neither the people nor the states had delegated to it. It has become a “consolidated” or centralized government....

One of the best Tributes on the internet for remembering 9/11

Happy Birthday, Mr. President! President Obama will mark his 49th birthday today with a dinner celebration with friends in Chicago, while first lady Michelle Obama is vacationing in Spain with daughter Sasha, and older daughter Malia is away at summer camp. But the president isn't the only newsworthy person blowing out candles. August 4 is also the birthday of Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (who would be 110) ...

Dr. Demento has been on the radio for over 35 years. This is tribute to his earlier days.

Perhaps his health wasn't quite the best since he relinquished control, though it kind of figured that he might deny it---as indeed he did, challenging "anyone" to come down his way and try even a portion of the workouts through which he claimed to put himself. >But it almost figured it might take a "massive" heart attack to send George Steinbrenner to his reward over a week after he celebrated his eightieth birthday. Short of a SWAT team Steinbrenner seemed indestructible, even when acknowledging his mortality in perhaps the only way he knew: surrendering minute-to-minute control of the Yankees (does...

With all due respect to Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and even Bear Bryant and Vince Lombardi, John Wooden was in a class by himself. Wooden will go down as the most accomplished coach anywhere. Ever. The Wizard of Westwood won 10 national titles in a 12-year span, including a remarkable seven consecutive from 1967 through ’73. Wooden’s success is almost unfathomable. Wooden passed away on Friday night at the UCLA Medical Center, just months prior to his 100th birthday on Oct. 14. Wooden was still mentally sharp in his 90s and was spotted at UCLA games and other events.

When I lived in Hawaii my family visited Punchbowl National Cemetery to see where my grandfather’s high school buddy was buried. He was killed in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. As a child I had two thoughts that day. It was taking a long time to find his grave simply because it was a sea of stones and I remember thinking at the time, I wonder if his family wanted him buried here, so far from home. Did his loved ones ever see his grave? We can comprehend the price of liberty in the thousands of American soldiers,...

Vietnam Wall Tribute

I tried to watch at Foxlive but the link didn't work. Thanks

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2010 – Afghan President Hamid Karzai, flanked by America’s top defense leaders, walked among the white marble tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery today, a silent tribute to U.S. servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice, many while battling terrorism in Afghanistan.Video Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and John C. Metzler Jr., superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, tour the cemetery's Section 60, in Arlington, Va., May 13, 2010. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates; Navy Adm. Mike...

"Recognition Day is a time to remember those veterans who gave up their freedom to protect ours."Roland E. Moore Director, VA Medical Center Sixty-two years ago, America watched as Japanese forces squeezed U.S. Army and Filipino troops onto a narrow Philippine peninsula on Manila Bay. The American commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, was ordered to leave for Australia and Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright was left the task of surrendering his 37,000 exhausted troops on April 9, 1942. Those men and 10,000 defenders of Corregidor, an island fortress in Manila Bay that surrendered May 6, were rounded up by the Japanese and...

World Pays Tribute on Death of Atheist Turned Believer Leading academics, philosophers and members of the Christian faith across the world continue to pay tribute to Antony Flew, the famed British atheist and thinker who discovered God at the end of his life. The renowned rationalist philosopher died earlier this month at age 87 and continues to be remembered in obituaries and tributes world-wide. Those paying tribute to him include Catholic Theology professors from the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, well known American rabbis such as Rabbi Brad Hirshfield from New York and leading philosphers from academia such as Dr...

The late Rep. John Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, has achieved his highest undeserved honor. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has decided to name the Navy's newest San Antonio Class amphibious transport-dock LPD 26 the USS John P. Murtha. This is a slap in the face to every service member who bridled when Murtha publicly accused Marines in Iraq of intentionally killing women and children in cold blood. Murtha made his views known after details emerged about a firefight in Haditha in November 2005 in which 24 Iraqis were killed. Murtha accused the Marines of engaging in premeditated murder and agreed with MSNBC's...

The Glory of Poland By ROGER COHEN Published: April 12, 2010 NEW YORK — My first thought, hearing of the Polish tragedy, was that history’s gyre can be of an unbearable cruelty, decapitating Poland’s elite twice in the same cursed place, Katyn. My second was to call my old friend Adam Michnik in Warsaw. Michnik, an intellectual imprisoned six times by the former puppet-Soviet Communist rulers, once told me: “Anyone who has suffered that humiliation, at some level, wants revenge. I know all the lies. I saw people being killed. But I also know that revanchism is never ending. And...

President Barack Obama has ordered U.S. flags in West Virginia to be flown at half staff in honor of 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion. In a proclamation issued Monday, Obama said all U.S. flags in the state are to be flown at half staff until sunset on Sunday. The proclamation comes as federal and state mine safety officials begin their investigation into the nation's worst coal-related mine accident in 40 years. Crews are still working to recover the last of the victims. Recovery attempts have been hampered by high levels of hazardous gases. State Office...

Officers of the Government Security Office Lt. Colonel Jarosław Florczak Captain Dariusz Michałowski Lieutenant Pawel Janeczek 2nd Lieutenant Piotr Nosek Warrant Officer Jacek Surowka Warrant Officer Marek Uleryk Warrant Officer Paweł Krajewski Junior Warrant Officer Agnieszka Pogródka-Węcławek Crew of the airplane Captain Pilot Arkadiusz Protasiuk Major Pilot Robert Grzywna Lieutenant Pilot Artur Ziętek Senior Warrant Officer Artur Francuz Warrant Officer Andrzej Michalak Flight attendant Barbara Maciejczyk Flight attendant Natalia Januszko Flight attendant Justyna Moniuszko

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) -- Former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller is being remembered as a patriot who was remarkable for both her strength and humility. Hundreds of members of the Cherokee Nation and 170 tribal, state and federal officials gathered Saturday at a memorial service for Mankiller in Tahlequah (TAL'-ih-kwah), about 70 miles east of Tulsa. Mankiller led the Cherokee Nation from December 1985 until 1995. She died Tuesday at age 64 after a bout with pancreatic cancer......

To our Polish friends.

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2010 – I stepped out from the van and onto the rain-drenched flightline, shivering from the cold that seemed to whip straight through my wool coat. I had traveled to Dover Air Force Base, Del., in late February to write stories about the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center. I wasn’t supposed to start working until morning, but I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to witness an event known as a dignified transfer, which marks the return of a servicemember who has died while supporting a combat operation overseas to U.S. soil. I looked up...

It was no oversight. The executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologized to the friends, family and fans of Farrah Fawcett, who was conspicuously omitted from Sunday night's Oscar-event tribute to Hollywood personalities who had died over the past year. While some agents and publicists, besides actors, were included in the memorial, Fawcett, a high-profile star better known for her TV work (who also appeared on the big screen), was not. Neither was Gene Barry -- who was seen in both versions of "War of the Worlds" -- or Bea Arthur. Among those criticizing...

Philadelphia democrats have proposed naming the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after the disgraced and deceased John Murtha. I. Kid. You. Not. The same John Murtha who worked closely with anti war groups in developing a 'slow bleed' strategy in order to undermine the ability of our troops to successfully engage terrorists in Iraq. The same John Murtha that accused the now exonerated Haditha Marines of murder and war crimes: [VIDEO AT SITE] Murtha has an airport named after him, let that be. It would be more meaningful to name the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after one of Philly's fallen soldiers. This is...

After eight years of refusing my requests for an interview about the Nixon presidency, retired Gen. Alexander M. Haig Jr., accosted in the Fox News green room, finally relented. Our tape-recorded session -- held in Haig's downtown office on July 27, 2000 -- lasted nearly three hours. I published some portions in a book I wrote on Watergate but decided to keep the vast majority private until Haig's death. Haig, who served as secretary of state under Reagan and chief of staff in Nixon's White House, died Feb. 20 at age 85. In the interview, he was in rare form:...