This week I have been reading “Easy Company Soldier” written in part by Sgt. Don Malarkey (a good Irish name <smile> ).   

                                                                  

Sgt. Malarkey was part of Easy Company – which you may have heard of the 10-part miniseries “Band of Brothers“.    Malarkey was from Astoria, Oregon, was drafted in 1942, and was part of the D-Day invasion in 1944.   He and his brothers-in-arms parachuted behind enemy lines in order to take out the guns which were tearing up our men, which were storming the beach of Normandy.  Reading the book showed me how accurate the miniseries was to history.  

Today I was reading about his jump into the darkness.   His plane was to be six hundred feet – was only three hundred.   The speed of the plane was to be slowed to 100 mph – instead it was 200 mph (Proof of Murphy’s Law).   When Malarkey jumped he yelled “Currahee!”.   Currahee is a mountain located in Georgia which those in the airborne would run three miles up and three miles down every day.   I guess they thought that if that mountain didn’t kill them – they have a fighting chance.   I should note that about half of Easy Company died in the D-Day invasion. 

To read about their heroics and their sacrifice for this county, is daunting – I highly recommend the book and the miniseries.     

                                             We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
                                              For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
                                                 Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, 
                                                                                            -  Shakespeare

This Weekend – we will be attending the Millbrook Days which is held in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area of New Jersey.    What they  have every year is a look back at what life was like in the 19th century.   I’ll update with pictures after the event   If any of you live locally here is the url:   http://www.millbrooknj.com/Calendar.htm

Since I didn’t run in the race in Morris Plains (early morning showers)- I figured I would do an endurance run later in the day.   That is a training run which focus on distance instead of speed.   I used the track which I used for the 5k in Mountain Lakes and ran it twice without stopping.   My time was fine for a first time - it was 1 hr, 5 min.   I haven’t ran this far since I was in my mid-twenties when I ran the Newark Cherry Blossom 10K.   Perhaps I will consider a 10K for an upcoming race.   My 2008 goal is to do a 13 mile, 1/2 marathon (but I have a long way to go).

I’ve decided on my next 5K race – which is raising money for a good cause.   It’s called Share the Care 5K Run being held in Morris Plains, New Jersey.   The money raised will be going to Morris Habitat for Humanity.   If you are not familiar with them they build and rehabilitates houses in partnership with families in need.   


                                                             
                                The pic above is linked to their website.

Edit:  Because of the rain – I’m passing on this race. 

 
Took a walk down to the Wall Street area with a friend from work the other day.  We wanted to see if we could get into the Stock Exchange for a tour – but it appears to be closed to visitors.   As you know the Market is taking a beating the last few days – with the fall of Lehman.   We figured it would be an interested time to go for a visit.    

Everyone is holding their breath – waiting for the next financial Titan to fall.   Let’s face the fact – that we can’t bail out everyone!   The sad thing is, that the government is far deeper in debt than any of the companies it’s bailing out.

You would think that we would have learned out lesson – but it’s the love of money (greed) that takes us down this road, again and again. 

Well this morning the 5K run for wounded marines was held in Mountain Lakes, NJ.   My time was OK, it was better then my last two races.   I did the 5K (3.1 mile) run in 27 minutes and 53 seconds.   I hope to encourage you all to donate funds to help these brave heroes. 


Here is a picture of me with my good friend Burt, and his oldest son – after the race. 


One of the organizers – explaining the mission of Family and Friends for Freedom Fund. 


The brother of one of the wounded marines – sings a ballet about his brother.

This was one of the best races I’ve attended.   It was great what these people were doing to raise money for those which were injured in the line of duty.   As they say on their website; “They gave for us, now it’s our turn to give to them.”

                                                  

Here are some pictures I took today, as I walked lower Manhattan.


The Opening of the WTC visitor center                       Naval officers and bagpipers after the ceremony.

Sign the beam – down in Battery Park                        A memorial outside the WTC Path Station.

Some bagpipers playing near my office building.          A family which lost a family member in the WTC.


Remembering the Police and Firefighters which died.       A memorial at Battery Park. 

Sadly, there were also the craze people.   Sad really.

This morniing picture of flowers placed in a pool in memory of the 9-11 victums. 


This morning picture of a someone comforting a loved one.


Old Picture of our NJ office on September 9th 2001 – employees watching the WTC buildings.

My employer just finished holding a moment of silence for the victims of 9-11.     As you know this year my current job moved back from New Jersey to lower Manhattan (across a street from the WTC) .  

On September 9th 2001, I was working in New Jersey and not in lower Manhattan .   A meeting was scheduled in lower Manhattan that morning – but thankfully my boss told me, that he will go, and that I did not have to attend.     I was awestruck that morning as I viewed the World Trade Center from outside our NJ office.   The entire experience was unnerving, surreal and very emotional.   Later when I saw the TV footage it shocking to see some of my fellow coworkers that were running away from the cloud of debris.   I learnt later that two of my coworkers (EMTs which ran into the WTC) were killed. (We are daily reminded of this, since we meet in two conference rooms named in memory after them).  

This morning I came in to the city through the World Trade Center, seven years later.  This is my first year, since the terror attack, to be here on an anniversary of 9-11.    It is indeed emotional to watch them on T.V. – but is something all together to be here in person.  It breaks my heart when I see these parents that lost their children, or husband and wives that lost their spouse, or children without father or mother.    I do continue to pray for these families that they turn to God in faith – so that they may have peace.  

Forwarded:    …Brian,   Thanks for the info…  Seeing the pictures of the local wounded really brought the war home.   I am going to pledge a fixed $25, so I expect you to complete the race in 5 minutes… You’d better run really fast!!!   Thanks. -Rob 

==============

Rob,

Thank you for mentioning the pictures and reading the letters on their website.    Here are the links  for others:

http://www.injuredmarinesfund.org/marines.asp
http://www.injuredmarinesfund.org/thanks.asp

Three of our area HEROES that have been helped are:

Sgt. Eddie Ryan from Ellenville, NY, 21 years old when wounded on April 15, 2005.  He was shot twice and suffered brain injury.

LCpl Sean Radhay from Jersey City, NJ 22 years old when wounded on Nov. 29, 2004.  He has brain damage, internal injuries and suffered a stroke while in a coma.

Army Spec James Benoit from Wharton, NJ, 23 year old when wounded on Sept. 8, 2005.  He was injured in a roadside bomb attack, confined to a wheelchair and may require up to 77 surgeries.

It really brings into focus their great sacrifice to this nation.   

Brian

I’m hoping to improve my running time – before the end of the year.     So I was looking for another race and I found another 5K which is being done by an excellent organization in a neighboring town.  



The funds raised are for a very good cause.    Their mission is to raise funds for injured marines and their families, while they continue their long road to recovery.    If you are in the area – I would recommend your participation (or if you are so moved a donation).     

Edited: If anyone is interested in challenging me (and like helping a good cause) – you could commit to donating a set amount ($5 – $20) for every minute I am under 30 minutes.  Note: I have no connection to this nonprofit organization and you won’t be sending any money to me, but directly send it directly to the charity.   Let me know how much you are pledging and once I run the race I’ll post my time and you can donate the money on their website. 

                                                  

The last race I did just under 30 minutes and the race before I did just under 29 minutes – so it is unlikely that I’ll bankrupt you.  Hope to hear from some of you.