GATHER FRIENDS, PLEASE REMEMBER ME

Dear Friends of Mine on Our "Gather" site,

Recently I received an e-mail from a friend on Gather. The person, who shall remain nameless here, notified me that they were "cleaning out their friends list, and only those who commented on the articles they had written would be kept, I was shoved into reality, I want to set a record straight here.  Many of you know I love Gather, and for a time I was here a lot of the time. I want to explain my absence so no one else feels I am ignoring them or their work, images, and video's. I would not ever hurt anyone's feeling's.

A lot of you know I was hospitalized with those darn blood clots. I can only sit for a short time and then I have to get up. I also had that problem with the driver's on this old p.c. I am currently Chairperson for the "Tribute to Troops/9/11 Freedom Walk" for the Valley. I have been very busy getting the "Walk" lined out with the help of my fellow Ladies Auxillary at the Eagle's.  We are trying to make this a huge event for the Valley, and for the surrounding area. We have press coverage, we have a radio station coming, we have a very large line-up for the "Walk". Veteran's, The American Legion, The First Responder's. ALL local Law enforement, all of the speakers, the Boy Scout's, the Public, as many school children with their shoeboxes as we can get, full of pictures, drawings and love for our Troops that we will be shipping to. We have a huge area to fill at the site of the Main Presentations. We have in our possesion the "Last American Flag to to Fly over Iraq" and the soldier who has it to speak. We have several local dignitaries coming. We have the Hibernians coming to honor all First Responders. We are working hard, while working, to get it as right as we can.

The towns-people, and local buisiness's have all donated time and items to raffle to raise money for the "Troops" so we can purchase what is not donated. We have music, live singing from a great and popular group from our town. and we are still not done. There is a lot to be finalized. I ask that you give me time to complete this task. I have interviewed so many with tears in their eyes, as they speak of their loved ones overseas, I am working hard to make this event something they will remember. It is our hope they leave that night knowing that their son or daughter, sister, brother, friend, is loved and supported every day for the perilous job they do 24/7. I plan on video/pictures for you, and as we have free "press" for this event, I hope to share small town America's love for our Military. I just hope that those of you who know me , know I am not being unkind or uncaring about anyone, it is just between the inability to sit for to long while iIheal, and the responsibility to get this right! It is pertinent now, and timely. The suicide rate is up in our Military ranks and we want to do our part to help.

I miss my time on Gather, please do not think I have intentionally ignored anyone. It takes time to meet with all involved, including the paper. And I must see this thru. I cannot impress upon you all enough how rough it is for all those who have loved ones in IRAQ., or AFGHANISTAN right now. How much we want to honor our Military coming home. I apologize if necessary, but I must see this through, and I hope to have a "Full Coverage" video for you, and or pictures.  I thank you, and I miss all of you!To those of you out there who have friends and family in harm's way, please know this is to honor ALL our Military, and those who stand by them. We want to be included in those ranks, and God Bless All of You! We send you our love and prayers, and hope to show you "Small Town America Can Give Big Love" I thank all of you and hope to be "Back in the Saddle" writing and chatting with all of your beautiful selves after our "Mission" is complete! Ellen B