And, because today is, well, today...

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Liveblogging history.

I missed it yesterday but my buddy Pete has been liveblogging Gettysburg since yesterday. I know some folks around here might find it worth the read.

Do you read Letters of Note?

If not, you should. Here is a good reason why.

Rather timely, I think...

Today. 70 years.

Big Picture's photo homage to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

More than I could ever say is in those photos. Go, look at them, and remember.

Hoping you're celebrating our nation's independance appropriately...

Chris and I opted to take two out-of-town friends to Ft. McHenry, down in the city.  They had a small munitions demonstration (translation: THINGS THAT GO BOOM), and the weather was nice enough we opted to wander the grounds for a couple of hours, soaking in the history.

We were going to go to Antietam, but figured our friends would appreciate seeing Baltimore Harbor from the ramparts of McHenry.  It really is a nice view.

Because this is fitting for both this post and the holiday, have one of the better renditions of the Star Spangled Banner (thanks, Borepatch).

Hoping everyone else out there is having a lovely weekend!

Curators Corner on the NRA Blog

Thanks to Lars Dalseide and the NRA Museum, one of the coolest things we did at the NRA convention was get the opportunity to see, learn about, and handle some famous and prototype 1911's. This appealed to my geeky love of history and precision mechanical devices so much I almost had a Laura-type squee moment. (Almost?  Hah!  He squeeed and he knows it! - L)

I guess I'm late to the party, but in case any of you are too, the NRA Museum Blog has a weekly segment called Curator's Corner which is a virtual presentation of what my experience at the convention was. Senior Curator Phil Schreier discusses unusual or special firearms in the museums collection. Exhibits have gone from movie guns to historical items and the special and rare.  Not only is this historically interesting, but it's also a great way to see some of what the NRA Museum offers if you can't get there.  Go get your geek on and check it out! No one will see you squee, I promise.

This thread is worth reading.

Thanks to RobertaX I found this thread.

I'm still reading through it...it's amazing what the internet can do for people, if used for the powers of good.  Really.