WPC – WEEK 558 – ABANDONED

Today is Memorial Day. The day we honor and mourn the military personnel while serving in the Armed Forces.

Iowa Veterans Cemetery – Van Meter, Iowa

Even now, from the peace and calm of a spring day in America’s heartland, we can imagine what it must have been like, for all those they fought to save, when American forces came into view. A country was liberated. A Holocaust was over. A town was rid of insurgents. A village was finally free from the terror of violent extremists.

But ask anyone who served with them, ask these veterans here today, and they’ll often tell you the same thing. Yes, we fought for freedom. Yes, we fought for that flag. But most of all, we fought for each other—to bring our buddies home; to keep our families safe.

And in their final moments on this earth, that was the love that filled their hearts—like that of Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, who gave his life in Afghanistan and to whose parents I was proud to present his Medal of Honor. On a distant mountain ridge, his final words were of faith and family: “I’ve made my peace with God. Tell my family that I love them.”

This is what we honor today—the lives they led, the service they rendered, the sacrifice they made—for us. And in this time of war, we pay special tribute to 17 brave souls who have come to rest here. They are among the thousands of Americans who have given their lives during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who have earned their place among the greatest of generations.

And though our hearts ache in their absence, we find comfort in knowing that their legacy shines bright in the people they loved—America’s Gold Star families.

Their legacy lives on in the pride of their parents, like the mother who wrote to me about her son, Specialist Stephan Mace, who gave his life in Afghanistan. She told me, “I just wanted you to know what kind of hero he was.” To all the moms and dads, you instilled in your sons and daughters the values and virtues that led them to service. To you, every American owes a debt of profound gratitude.

Their legacy lives on in the love of their spouses—the wives and husbands who gave to our nation the person they cherished most in the world. To all the spouses, you have sacrificed in ways most Americans cannot even begin to imagine, but as you summon the strength to carry on each day, know that you are not alone. America will always be at your side.

Their legacy lives on in their beautiful children. To all these sons and daughters, we say as one nation: your moms and dads gave their lives so you could live yours. America will be there for you as well, as you grow into the men and women your parents knew you could be.

Their legacy lives on in those who fought alongside them—our veterans who came home and our troops who are still in harm’s way. You are the living memorials to your fallen friends. And just as you keep their memory alive, America must keep its commitments to you. That means providing the support our troops and families need, and the health care and benefits our veterans deserve. This is our sacred trust to all who serve, and upholding that trust is our moral obligation.

Finally, on this day of remembrance, I say to every American—the legacy of these fallen heroes lives on in each of you. For the security that lets us live in peace, the prosperity that allows us to pursue our dreams, the freedoms and liberties that we cherish—these are neither our entitlements as Americans nor accidents of history. They were earned by the blood and sacrifice of those who went before. And it falls to each of us to preserve this inheritance for all who follow.

Barack Obama – 2010

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A week has officially passed since my birthday. So the window to wish me a happy birthday has officially closed. So thanks to everybody that took me out for my birthday. Like Alexis, Nader, Monica and Graham, and Jesse and Jay! It is very much appreciated. And thanks to everyone that wished me a happy birthday through an appropriate channel. Off the top of my head: Becky, Becca, Fran, my sisters, Elizabeth, Kim, Lowell, Aidan, Scott, Baier, Dre, Russell, Suzie, Monica, Steve, Tim, Dawn, Sara, Logan, Elainie, Jason, Shannon, Sabas, Faust, Stephanie, Gina, Anders, Jason C., Michelle, Micky, and I’m sure I’m missing more than a few people.

To answer the most common question, yes it was a good enough birthday. Started out pretty awesome. I got a breakfast burrito from The Filling Station. I drove down and bought a birthday present to myself. A 4 foot long concrete alligator. Then I went to a couple of my favorite places. Jester Park to checkout the baby bison. Then to the Iowa Arboretum to look at the flowers and watch the birds. Unfortunately this time of year it is mostly gross irises, but still plenty of beautiful birds and peonies to enjoy.

But then my birthday took a turn when I lost my wallet. Which has been a pain the last week or so, but shout out to Greater Iowa Credit Union for not sucking and getting me a replacement card the same day! WooHoo! My other bank, yeah, OMB (methinks, they change names like some people change their underwear), their customer service isn’t spectacular. The reason why I only have a few quid hanging out over there.

But after dealing with that suck the rest of my day was pretty good. Took Bokeh for a walk. Had supper with Teresa where she made me my favorite meal… sauerkraut casserole. Watched some HACKS and MARGOT HAS MONEY PROBLEMS and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS before retiring back to my homestead to call it a night.

Maybe not the most epic birthday ever. But it checked off most of the boxes.

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ABANDONED! A great theme! But was it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, May 18, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks:

1-Sabas Hernandez – 1 week
2-Logan Kahler – 2 weeks
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Willy McAlpine – 2 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks
*6-Alexis Stensland – 6 weeks
7-Monica Jennings – 9 weeks
8-Sarah Karber – 17 weeks
9-Deanna Peters – 21 weeks
10-Kio Dettman – 27 weeks
*11-Deb Powers – 90 weeks
12-Mike Vest – 104 weeks
*13-Lowell Davis – 124 weeks
14-Scott Degeneffe – 143 weeks
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 152 weeks
16-Nathanial Brown – 155 weeks
17-Tamara Peterson – 166 weeks
18-Mindi Terrell – 170 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 199 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 200 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 203 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 206 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 214 weeks
*24-Joe Duff – 215 weeks
*25-Teresa Kahler – 226 weeks
*26-Carla Stensland – 226 weeks
27-Micky Augustin – 228 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 229 weeks
29-Bill Wentworth – 230 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 233 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 235 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 237 weeks

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

Becky Parmelee (Rogers, Arkansas) – 1 week

Ernie Redd (Kuttawa, Kentucky) – 1 week

Ernie Redd (Kuttawa, Kentucky)

Johnathan Stensland (Arnolds Park, Iowa) – 1 week

Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 7 weeks

Sarah Karber (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 18 weeks

Deanna Peters (Iowa) – 22 weeks

Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 28 weeks

Deb Powers (Ames, Iowa) – 91 weeks

Deb Powers (Ankeny, Iowa)

Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 105 weeks

Linda Bennett (Easton, Kansas) – 200 weeks

Linda Bennett (Easton, Kansas)

Sarah Toot (Austin, Texas) – 201 weeks

Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 204 weeks

Dawn Krause (Boone County, Iowa) – 207 weeks

Kim Barker (Colo, Iowa) – 215 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 216 weeks

Joe Duff (League City, Texas)

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 227 weeks

Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa) – 227 weeks

Carla Stensland (Boone County, Iowa)

Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 229 weeks

Andy Sharp (Indianapolis, Indiana) – 230 weeks

Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 231 weeks

Cathie Morton (Des Moines, Iowa) – 234 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 236 weeks

Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 238 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett (Menlo, Iowa) – 662 weekss