Monday, October 31, 2011

Real (dead) ghosts

I'm stealing inspiration from my good friend Karen Spears Zacharias and writing about ghosts today. Be sure to read what she has to say, too. Karen is full of good ideas.

Like Karen, I believe in ghosts. I don't believe in werewolves, zombies, monsters, and certainly not in vampires, but I do believe in ghosts.

I've written before about the spirit world encounters I've had with my father since he died three years ago. Most notably, the doorbell we installed (and later uninstalled) for him so that he could notify my mother and I when he needed help in his last days. The doorbell still has a tendency to go off from time to time in my mother's house. It doesn't happen as much as it used to, I guess Dad's got better things to do now, but we do still hear it on occasion. The last time I heard it was in May when I was back in Nashville to attend my niece Caitlin's wedding. Caitlin is the first of Mom and Dad's grandkids to get married and it was a big day for all of us. Dad would have loved it. My sister Laura and I were getting ready at Mom's house when the bell went off, then went off again, and again. No one had heard it in months but we all agreed that it was Dad sharing in our wedding day excitement.

Another encounter came years earlier. My grandmother died after a long battle with cancer. We all knew her time was coming and I was expecting a call to say that she had passed. One morning I was out for a run, it was February and chilly, a gray, rainy day. Midway through my run I began to crave silence and took off my headphones. Then I stopped in my steps. I knew without being told that she was gone. I walked back home and found a black cat — no kidding — sitting on our porch. I'd been inside the house for about 15 minutes when my phone rang, it was my dad calling to tell me that my grandmother had died.

My husband and I flew to Nashville for her funeral, and though expected, the occasion that was sad nonetheless. We all had loved her mightily. The family gathered the night before at the visitation and we all stayed late to share memories and cry. The next morning my husband and I were awakened early by another call from my father. This time he had called to tell us that my aunt, his sister, had also died. She'd suffered from lupus and other health problems and her mother's death had apparently been too much for her weakened heart to take. She had died in her sleep. As soon as we'd finished with my grandmother's service we began to plan my aunt's. My husband had to get back to work, though, and caught a flight back to Fayetteville on the day of my grandmother's service. He called me as soon as he got home — the very day my aunt had died — to tell me that the black cat was again on our porch.

There were other encounters, too. The house we lived in then was a beautiful, old house, built around 1920. Many times when I was alone in the house I would catch a glimpse of something brown and yellow darting past. In time I became convinced that I was seeing an image of a young black boy, perhaps 10 or 11 years old, wearing a yellow t-shirt. I even had the newspaper's research librarian look for old stories of a tragedy or crime that might have happened in the house but she found nothing. Another time my husband and I came home to that house late, around midnight, and as we pulled up in front we both saw — for the briefest of seconds — someone hanging on the porch from a noose.

In that same house my husband was awakened one night by a woman in a long white gown who slapped him across the face and then disappeared. I never saw her, but he was adamant and I believe him. And then we bought two old rifles from a gun show — a German mauser and a Polish mauser. My cousin came to visit us around that time and woke one morning to tell us about the strangest dream she'd had about two soldiers who had been in our kitchen arguing. She described the uniforms of the Germans and the Poles perfectly. And this was my Homecoming Queen cousin — she's no history buff.

Other weird things happened in that house — pictures fell off the walls for no reasons. Doors slammed without explanation. We loved that beautiful house, but were kind of relieved to leave it, even though we moved only one door down. We haven't had any ghostly experiences in our present home, even though it is just next door, leading us to think that maybe there was some dark history in the old house after all.

I do believe in ghosts, but I'm not afraid of them. I think they're just spirits that are — for lack of a better word — stuck. For whatever reason, good or bad, they just aren't ready to leave Earth, so they hang around to watch, encourage, celebrate with, and sometimes to frighten us. Just like living people, some are nice and some are not so nice but all can only hold as much power over us as we allow them to have.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fayetteville-area volunteers needed

In case you hadn't heard, Fayetteville is planning a HUGE, 10-day recognition of Vietnam veterans from Nov. 4 - 13. It's called Heroes Homecoming and more than 60 events (concerts, films, lectures, demonstrations, displays, etc.) will be part of program, including a big parade downtown. Sixty events require a lot of planning and a lot of work to pull off. Here's how you can volunteer:

 









      The Army’s Army, the go-to organization in Fayetteville for supporting the military, veterans and their families, is stepping forward to recruit additional volunteer participation in order to ensure Vietnam vets get the long overdue homecoming and personal attention they deserve.

“Fayetteville is a model community when it comes to our support for the military, veterans and their families,” said Army’s Army Executive Director Janine West. “We want to encourage everyone to get involved in Heroes Homecoming by volunteering at one of the many events taking place here leading up to Veterans Day.”

Heroes Homecoming, the largest commemoration of its kind, is a 10-day celebration giving Vietnam vets the welcome home they deserve but never received. Home to the largest military installation in the country and to Fort Bragg, where more than 200,000 troops trained before being deployed to Vietnam, there is no better place to host this event than in Fayetteville. All Heroes Homecoming events recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans, ranging from concerts and parades, to lectures and movie screenings, to cultural celebrations and recognition ceremonies.

One of the larger events taking place during Heroes Homecoming is the first ever Heroes Crusade sporting tournament. The three-day tournament, which will kick off Heroes Homecoming from November 4-6, will consist of a rugby tournament, golf tournament, and run/walk/bike. Proceeds will benefit three military charities: Wounded Warrior Project, Green Beret Foundation and RDU AMBUCS. It’s unlike any other sporting event out there in that elite athletes and wounded warriors will compete side-by-side, all in the name of honoring wounded servicemen and servicewomen.

“We’ve already gotten a great response from our members and partners that plan on volunteering, but we need more to make sure we can give our Vietnam vets the ‘welcome home’ they deserve,” added West.

The Army’s Army, established in 2008, is the world's only non-profit volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who have pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. The Army’s Army is closely involved with several of the community’s largest military events, including 31 Day Salute and Ft. Bragg MWR’s Operation Celebrate Freedom. It was recently recognized by ABC as a leading military support organization as a result of its involvement with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition when the reality television show came to town this past summer to build a new home for a military family. Just like with these events, the Army’s Army plans to throw its full support behind Heroes Homecoming.

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities for Heroes Homecoming, contact Kaki Vansickle at snort2zero@aol.com or (910) 822-4501. For Heroes Crusade, contact Janine West at jlwest@armysarmy.com or (910) 709-9671.

Heroes Homecoming is held in partnership with the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and is being presented by WRAL-TV. For more information on Heroes Homecoming, visit HeroesHomecoming.com.

About The Army’s Army:
Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America’s first sanctuary community for the Military and their Families. The Army’s Army is the world’s only volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who have pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. We do everything we can to make soldiers and their families feel welcome, appreciated and safe. The Army’s Army is dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us©.” For additional information, visit www.armysarmy.com.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Free food & stuff on Veterans Day - you earned it!

If a tree falls in the woods and no one sees or hears it, did it really fall?  I've always thought that was a dumb question. The tree fell. Period. It happened. Just go with it. That's like asking if a restaurant offers a bunch of free meals to troops and military family members on Veterans Day and companies offered freebies, too, but no one eats them or claims the freebies, did the restaurants and companies really offer anything?  Well, of course they did, but still... With all this free food on the 11th, you guys will need to do extra PT on the 12th!

Here's a list of some of the restaurants that plan to do just that. Hopefully I'll be adding to this list in the coming days. Drumroll...

Applebee’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee’s served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from. Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com/.


Chili’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available during business hours on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.


Golden Corral – Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.
Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.
Hooters – Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Hooter’s is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Choose one of the new specialty items on the Hooter’s menu. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.
Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Friday November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.


McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants – free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 13, 2011: McCormick & Schmick’s is celebrating their 13th annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick’s as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: M&S Veterans Appreciation Event.


Outback Steakhouse – A week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes Monday Nov. 7 – Friday Nov. 11. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America’s military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran’s Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), DD form 214 Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), Photograph in Uniform, Wearing Uniform. For more information, visit, http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx.
The Outback understands commitment. For the past two years, The Outback, with the help of their patrons, has donated $2 Million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization providing everyday and emergency support for active troops, wounded warriors and their families.
Subway – Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran’s Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.
Texas Roadhouse – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.
T.G.I. Friday’s – Buy one get one free Nov 11-14. At participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. November 11-14.


Uno Chicago Grill, Friday, Nov. 11. Uno’s is offering a free entree or individual pizza with a purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value. Offer good for all military  for veterans and active duty military. ID or proof of service required: Show up in uniform (if your service permits), provide military ID, show a picture of yourself in uniform, or have other ID showing proof of service. More info here.


Home Depot and Lowes Coupon Updates
Update: Home Depot and Lowes 10% Military Discount Available Everyday.
Home Depot: The Home Depot(R) is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran’s Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 and is available at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center(R) locations. The 10% discount is available everyday for active duty and retirees, but not all veterans. Home Depot makes this offer available to all veterans on most military holidays. You can also find Home Depot discounts online.

Here's to the Heroes
Anheuser-Busch Parks. Anheuser-Busch Parks offers Active Duty Service Members free admission for them and up to 3 dependents to any of their parks once a year. Throughout 2011, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission. The Here’s to the Heroes program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman. Eligible parks include: Adventure Island, Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay or Williamsburg), SeaWorld (Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio), Sesame Place, and Water Country USA. Not valid at Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. For more information and to register, visit: Free admission summary, and ticket application.



Colonial Williamsburg Free Admission. Colonial Williamsburg offers free weekend-long admission tickets to active-duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, and their immediate dependents from Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 13th. The complimentary ticket incudes admission to Colonial Williamsburg exhibition sites, art museums, and most daytime programs, as well as free parking and use of the shuttle bus system. Tickets are only available at on-site ticket sales locations. Tickets are also available to families of deployed servicemembers. Tickets available on the following dates: Nov. 11-13.


Historic Jamestowne – Free Admission. The National Park Service commemorates Veterans Day with Fee Free days at Historic Jamestowne November 11-13. Free admission for everyone. See events calendar.


Knotts Berry Farm Military Tribute Days – Free Admission. Knott’s Berry Farm has an annual Military Tribute event in which they offer military members past and present by offering free park admission. This year the Military Tribute Days run from November 1 – 24 November (Thanksgiving Day).  Veterans or current serving military personnel plus one guest get in FREE with proper ID presented at Knott’s turnstile (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or Active Military Service ID). Purchase up to six additional tickets for just $17 each. More info.
Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veteran’s Day weekend – November 11-13, 2011. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event.
San Jacinto Monument and Museum (La Porte, TX). November 7-13: Free admission to the theatre, Observation Floor, and (on November 12-13) the special exhibit to all veterans and their families. More info.
Bed and Breakfast for Vets
In the third year of the program, B&Bs for Vets has organized over 485 (and counting) participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns across the US and Canada which will be offering veterans a free night’s stay on November 10th, the night before Veterans Day. This offer is available to both active duty military members and veterans with ID, but space is limited. Each Inn and B&B has at least one room available for this promotion and reservations must be made directly through the participating Inns and B&Bs. For more information visit B&Bs for Vets.


Free Hugo® Canes for Veterans.
Sam’s Club® locations nationwide will distribute 36,000 Hugo® canes free of charge on November 9th, 10th, 11th, 2011 to U.S. military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Limited quantities available, while supplies last. Sam’s Club® Membership is not required, but proof of military service may be required. For more information, visit HugoSalutes.com.

Other Veteran’s Day Discounts
Here are some additional Veteran’s Day Discounts. In all cases, be sure to provide proper ID or proof of service. In addition, some of these stores are franchises, so verify participation before assuming the discount is in place.
Free Car wash. Thousands of car washes around the country are offering vets a free car wash on Veterans Day. Find a list at Grace for Veterans, which helped veterans receive 101,537 FREE Washes on Veterans Day in 2010.
Amazon.com – Discount “Veterans Day Honor” MP3 album download. This downloadable album includes 12 songs as performed by the military bands and ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces. Visit Amazon on Veteran’s Day to download the album.
Netflix – One Month Free Trial.
Sport Clips – FREE haircut to active-duty military & veterans. Offer only available at select locations. Please call to verify local participation.
Tim Hortons – all US locations are offering a free donut to all veterans (check out the Star Spangled donut!).