Operation Safety 91 Tribute to First Responders

It was my pleasure to attend this 5th tribute to our first responders here in Orlando. Ed and Mary Ganster did a fabulous job putting this all together and as always, the Rosen Center Hotel was beautiful.

Operation Safety 91 is about Psalm 91 and those who are willing to risk their lives for all of us everyday.

Psalm 91
King James Version (KJV)
91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The emcee was WESH2 Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi

Col. Danny McKnight, better known for Black Hawk Down is the National Spokesman for OS91 and he told the story of where he was last year. He was in Afghanistan when a young solider was blown up by an IED. The soldier lost both his legs but his arm was saved.

Jorge Diaz, West Miami Police Officer and author of Your Shield and Buckler talked about being watched over by God's angels and how each of the men and women serving this country were "equipped" to do it from within almost as much as they were equipped with their weapons.


This event was also broadcast to troops serving overseas.

Orlando First Responders Tribute from Operation Safety 91

Operation Safety 91 is having their annual tribute to first responders on Friday February 22 at the Rosen Hotel and announced it will be streamed live.

Thanks to Face to Face Live, Inc., and our devoted Board Member Al Haslam, Operation Safety 91's 5th Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders will be streamed LIVE on the Internet.

We invite all who are unable to attend, including our troops in Afghanistan whom we support, to be a part of this Tribute Event, by watching it live from wherever you are around the globe.

If you are unable to watch the live stream, look for the link on OS91.com to watch at your convenience! We want as many Responders, Responder families, Responder Chaplains, and patriotic Americans to watch this as possible! So please spread the word to your contacts through Facebook, Twitter, Blog, email, and word of mouth. We want to share our message with as many as possible! We know we can count on you to help us spread the word.

I was unable to attend the last couple of years because of other commitments but this year I can make it and I am really looking forward to it.

Rain and fire department didn't stop Orlando from honoring heroes

Yesterday I went to the Orlando VFW Post on Edgewater Drive. After finally finding a place to park in the pouring rain, when I got out of the car, I heard the fire alarm. People were getting back into their cars. The VFW Band was waiting outside and no one knew what was going on. It didn't take the heads of the heads of the VFW long to figure out a plan of action. They began directing people to the pavilion so everyone could stay dry while they waited for the fire department to come. Sure enough, they came fast and figured out what the problem was. There was a problem with the air conditioner from what I was told. The planned ceremony had to be canceled but they gave the awards out and honored these veterans.

Local vets to be awarded medals, ribbons at Orlando VFW Post
June 23, 2012
By Orlando Sentinel

A group of local war veterans will receive medals and ribbons that they are entitled to in a ceremony at an Orlando VFW Post on Sunday.

Veterans from the first Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea and World War II who never received the awards they were entitled to will get them in a 4 p.m. ceremony at VFW Post #2093 located at 4444 Edgewater Dr.

One Vietnam vet will receive 32 ribbons from his three tours of duty; another will receive his Bronze Star. Korean War veterans will receive their Korean Defense Service Medals and several Purple Heart medals will be awarded.
read more here

I'll have the video up on this later. As usual several news stations showed up but I haven't been able to find any reports. If you find them please leave the link in the comment section of this post.

Bones found belong to Caylee Anthony

Caylee Anthony Confirmed Dead
A medical examiner has ruled that the remains found are that of missing toddler Caylee Marie Anthony.

ORLANDO -- A medical examiner has ruled that the remains found are that of missing toddler Caylee Marie Anthony.

The identity of the utility worker who found the remains of the 3-year-old near the Anthony home is expected to be revealed Friday.

The utility worker is expected to hold a press conference at the Orange County Administrators office at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Deputies were reportedly called to the scene in August after a tip from the same utility worker that found the remains.

click link above for more

Orlando honors POWs and MIAs

Orlando honors POWs and MIAs
Mark Schlueb Sentinel Staff Writer
September 21, 2008
ORLANDO - Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer honored the nation's soldiers who have been prisoners of war or missing in action at a ceremony Friday at City Hall.
About 200 people attended the POW-MIA recognition ceremony hosted by Dyer and his Veterans Advisory Council.The event featured speeches by Dyer, veterans council chairman Paul Hay, and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Bennett.
The Winter Springs Junior ROTC helped, along with representatives of the Orlando police and fire departments.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-b3metjustin21_0508sep21,0,3685147.story