Monday, December 3, 2018

Good Nail Beds



Georgia played Alabama in the SEC Championship game on Saturday.

My granddaughter, Piper, had spent the night before with us after a Friday night at the movies.


I invited Pipes on Thanksgiving to spend the night with us.  "I'd love to, PaPa.  But, of course you know I'll need to paint your nails if I spend the night."

That's what she said.


I'll remember a lot about that Saturday.  


Georgia played great.  Had the lead most of the game.  Some questionable calls from the refs.  The fake punt.  The heartbreak of losing, again, to the Alabama backup quarterback.  All Hail Alabama.  


But, I'll never forget having my nails painted on Saturday morning before the game by Piper.  Georgia red.  Coke red.  Red as it comes.  


My Piper slathered red polish on me like there was no end.  My nails had never been painted before.  They have now been painted and I loved it.


My sweet wife said two things that I will always remember from that day.  When Rodrigo unexpectedly missed a field goal, she said, "That's ok."  She didn't want Rod to feel bad.  She's the ultimate optimist and diplomat.  She doesn't want anyone to feel pain.

And, as she walked past me after my nail job, she said, "Good nail beds, honey."  I still don't know what that means.


Thank you, Piper, for an unforgettable day.  


You make my world a better place.  I hope I can return the favor.


A year from now, let's do it again.  

Friday, September 28, 2018

A downrange Christmas

Downrange in the military refers to personnel who are deployed, usually in a war zone. 

Boots on the ground.  American military personnel on the front lines protecting the United States on the ground, underground, in the air, on the water, under water. 

This Christmas, there will be Americans downrange and away from their families, their friends, their traditions, their favorite foods, their safe and warm places. 

Most of these Americans will be young men and women between 18 and 25 years old.  Many away from home for the first time.  All in a strange and dangerous place, or they wouldn't be there. 

They've all volunteered for this job.  They do our country's dangerous work so that 99% of us don't have to worry about it. 

The Peter Burks Unsung Hero Fund has one mission:  send care packages to deployed American military.

https://unsungherofund.org

We're working on a shipment to arrive in time for Christmas.  We will need to ship everything by November 15 to arrive by Christmas.  Donations are needed by November 2 to make the shipment cutoff.  If you'd like to take part, here's how.


Donate Goods to Ship

Use your imagination and use common sense.  What would young people like if there's not a store nearby?  What will ship over thousands of miles and not spoil, spill or break?

Here are the kinds of things most requested:

-A handwritten note, letter or card
-Salty and spicy snacks
               Beef jerky, Slim Jim's
               Doritos, Cheetos, chips, crackers
-Healthy snacks
               CLIF Bars
               Trail Mix
-Candy that won't melt
-Gatorade powder packets
-New white socks
-Moist wipes
-Baselayer (it’s winter where they are)
-Knit caps
-Warm gloves/mittens
-Oakley or Gatorz Tactical sunglasses
-PlayStation or XBOX consoles and games
-Redvines, Gummi Bears
-Hand sanitizer
-Toothbrushes and toothpaste

-Apple iTunes gift cards

Here's where you can drop off your donations:

Texas Star Bank
320 Preston Road
Celina, TX 75009

Heart's Desire
4760 Preston Road, #200
Frisco, TX 75034
(Next door to Tom Thumb)

Support Your Troops Resale
223 W. Parker Road
Plano, TX 75023

If you're not in the DFW area and want to ship donations, here's the address:

Unsung Hero Fund
1920 Coit Road
Suite 200, #156
Richardson, TX 75080

Donate Money

We always appreciate cash donations.  But, don't cheat yourself from making a personal connection.  Sit down and write a note and send it as well.

To donate money, the information is on the website:

https://unsungherofund.org/contribute-2/


Help us Pack and Ship

The only way care packages get downrange is they have to be packed, a customs form filled out for each box, postage applied and then delivered to the post office. 

We'll be having packing parties in early November.  If you want to help, watch your social media and/or email us at info@unsungherofund.org

Thanks in advance.  Let's make this a special Christmas for folks that wear the Cloth of The Nation.






Thursday, May 24, 2018

What Memorial Day means to me






I lost a son in a war.

He went to war to fight for freedom.

Freedom from oppression.  Specifically, radical Islamist oppression.  Those folks would have it one way and it's all their way.

That ain't America.


But, Memorial Day is much bigger than this one fight.

America is a land of freedom.

And, in order to protect our freedom, sometimes, war is the only answer.  If an oppressor of American freedom comes along, our military is there to keep them at bay.

Memorial Day honors the 1.4 million in our history that fought for our freedoms and died in the process.  They gave all for your freedom to think and act however you want.

Freedom means you are free to be who you want to be.  And you are free to become anything you can figure out how to accomplish.

We are the only country in the world that allows this.


I am free to be a professing Christian.

My next door neighbor is free to be an Orthodox Jew.

My next door neighbor is free to be an atheist.

My next door neighbor is free to believe in UFOs.

My best friend can be black or brown or any other color.

My best friends can be gay.


I don't have to agree with any of them on religion or morals.  So long as we all agree that America and our ideals of freedom are what's important.


Our enemy is anyone that wants to reduce our freedoms.

Freedom of worship.

Freedom of assembly.

Freedom of protest.

Freedom of speech.


At Pete's funeral, the folks from Westboro Baptist Church were there proclaiming there spew of hate.  Pete died, as did all of the others, to protect their freedom of speech and assembly.  Odd, disturbing, but true.


America was created by folks that wanted out of tyranny of feudalism and a governing religion.

America was not formed by the Southern Baptist Convention, the Roman Catholic Church or any other one group.

America was formed by folks that wanted to be free.


There's a reason we don't have an official language.  America welcomes all.  It makes life complicated, but that's our program.  All are welcome.

For all of us, let's respect those men and women who died for this idea of freedom.

Take a few minutes on Memorial Day to say thanks for those that have given all.  And, for those who are currently wearing the Cloth of the Nation and willing to give it all.











Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Why SIXSITE won't be having a Memorial Day Sale


SIXSITE Closing on Memorial Day in Push to Remember Heroes Who Died for Our Freedom
Veteran-owned retailer will go dark on one of the biggest sale days of the year; challenges others to do the same

Dallas (May 1, 2018) – While millions of Americans celebrate Memorial Day as the start of summer, veterans and loved ones of fallen military members wish the holiday that honors more than 1 million people who died serving their country would command more respect.

“In an effort to encourage Americans to spend time thinking about these sacrifices, we won’t be having a Memorial Day sale,” SIXSITE founder, designer and veteran U.S. Navy SEAL Stephen Holley says. “In fact, our website will go dark on Memorial Day. We hope other retailers will follow.”

SIXSITE is a high-performance hunting and outdoor apparel and gear provider. It manufactures its products exclusively in America. To keep prices reasonable, SIXSITE sells direct-to-consumer at www.sixsitegear.com, but on this major shopping day its online store will go dark.

Alan Burks, general manager and chief operating officer at SIXSITE and Gold Star Father, adds, “For most of us here, there is a fallen soldier buried somewhere nearby. Please go visit their grave and ponder their life and death. If you can’t get there in person, join in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time to pause in an act of national unity for some who gave it all.”

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

A hat without a home


Men are weird.

We like uniforms.  


The exception is ball caps. That's one place we like to stand out.

If you are lucky enough to find one, a totally unique hat is gold.


We compete on the uniqueness and cool factor of our hat.

Recently, I thought I'd won. 


I found this hat in an a Irish bar in  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during an 11 day stint at the Great American Outdoor Show.





In the upstairs section of McGrath's, there was a hat.  

Nasty, not really protected from weather or the grease from the kitchen.


Disco Biscuits it read.  

I asked the attendant what the story was with the hat.

"Oh, some cook left it here years ago.  We should have thrown it away years ago,"


"Would you be willing to sell it?"

"You'd pay money for that nasty hat?

"Yes ma'am.  I'll give you $10 for that hat."


Bingo Bongo, I'd found the hat that would win with my crew.


For the next few days, Dicso Biscuits shut down all the challengers.  It was King of Hats.



Fast forward to last Tuesday.  We had a board meeting.  But, we had a special guest show up.  


Jason and Austin Jones came to visit.


I work for a very special company.  


Founded by a Navy SEAL.  A guy with a heart as big as all outdoors.  
Board members are incredibly supportive of the mission.

Jason and Austin stopped by at lunchtime.



Austin was born with muscular dystrophy.  

He lives in a wheelchair.  

His dad, Jason, is his buddy, a caregiver (along with his wife).  

Jason and Austin are outdoors men.  They love to hunt.  

Austin has learned to shoot a crossbow with his dad's help.  He's a champion.  



When Jason and Austin came into our office, it was an emotional time.

The board meeting stopped.  They were our focus.


About five minutes in, Jason asked me what the story was behind the Disco Biscuits hat.  I'd hung it in the warehouse for all to see.

I told him the short story.


Jason said, "Disco Biscuits is the name of our dog."


You can believe in serendipity or Divine Intervention.


Jason now has the Disco Biscuits hat.  


And, we have made two new friends for life.