DUI Driver Killed Vietnam Veteran--Crowd Captures Driver

DUI Driver Strikes, Kills Vietnam Veteran in Tacony: Police
NBC 10 News
By David Chang and Denise Nakano

NBC10 obtained surveillance video of the suspect being surrounded by residents moments after the crash.

Friends and family are mourning a grandfather and Vietnam War veteran who was struck and killed by an alleged DUI driver only a few blocks away from his home in the Tacony section of Philadelphia.

Norm Ewing, 73, was standing on the 6500 block of Torresdale Avenue at 4:23 p.m. Sunday when he was struck by a van that dragged him for more than two blocks. The van also struck six cars and plowed through several intersections on Torresdale Avenue.
read more here

With Wings and a Prayer, National Guard Couple Wedding Inspires Floridaians Facing Irma

I couldn't post about this when I heard it on the radio the other day, but wow, it did us a world of good to hear this! It wasn't enough this Air National Guard couple were ready to risk their lives for us, but they decided to share their lives by starting their future here and gave us hope!

Hurricane Irma: Air National Guard couple gets married in fatigues

Fox News 
Published September 10, 2017 

Two senior airmen with the Air National Guard deployed to help out with Hurricane Irma efforts were supposed to get married later in September -- so with the storm on Orlando's doorstep, they raced to tie the knot early on Sunday. Lauren Durham, 24, and her fiance, 26-year-old Michael Davis, both wore fatigues for the ceremony.

Lauren Durham, left, and Michael Davis, both members of the Air National Guard, married on Sunday in their fatigues. (AP Photo/Claire Galofaro)

The bride and groom, who had planned a beach wedding, said they were deployed indefinitely and told their out-of-town guests that they’d likely miss their own nuptials. 

 They were eating breakfast with some friends Sunday morning, and one asked the couple why didn’t they get married in the middle of the storm. “It started out as a joke, and it just kind of unfolded,” Davis said. “And it turned out to be really great.” read more here

We Got The Power!

Irma Left and Rainbow Came
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 12, 2017

For over a week, we feared what Hurricane Irma could do to Florida. The monster was bigger than the entire state. We knew no one would go untouched by this. Having been through four hurricanes since we moved to Florida, this one was the one I feared the most. 

Food and water ran out. Long lines for gas, if they had any at all. And then we did the best we could to prepare. We boarded up the house, like every time before. We left my husband's sandals on the deck, like every time before because as powerful as Hurricane Charlie was, they did not move. This time we added mine.

We left the rest in God's hands since there was nothing more we could do.

Before Irma

This is where I waited during the beginning of it not knowing what to expect and feeling some fear. This was our 5th hurricane since moving to Florida.

But after it passed, this is what was saw in the sky!

Tree branches down and neighbor lost his fence.

But the rainbow got brighter and grew.

And spread out over my whole area!

And then it started to fade away like the storm itself.

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

Maybe if all of us think of troubles coming into our lives like Hurricane's doing their damage and moving on, leaving us behind as survivors, we'd be a happier with what we have.

Last night was rough without air conditioning or getting any hope of the power restored, but then I thought about all the people here before we even had all the modern conveniences we have now. No internet service to find out what was going on, they had to listen the radio, much like we did for a couple of days. They had no way of keeping food stocked and safe to eat. Much like we did when we just had to throw away everything in the refrigerator.

Still, while we had the hope of power coming back on and life getting back to normal, they didn't even know what any of this was, yet they managed to survive.

This morning I wanted to jump out of the car and hug Duke Energy workers on the main street near our house as we took a chance on finding something to eat. I felt joy when I saw MacDonald's open and didn't mind waiting in a long line at all. I almost kissed the coffee cup! I felt more joy as we walked down the water isle of Publix and saw they had a couple of cases of water and gallon jugs. Yet, when I saw the traffic signals working again near our house, I flipped out! Hope took over and then as we approached our house, the street was quiet. No generators running and I screamed, "We got the power" and sure enough, it was back on.

All of us have the power to get through whatever is blown our way. Ask for help along the way and be there the next time someone asks you for help. No storm in our lives ever came with an order to go it alone!

Sheriff in Florida Issues Warning to Stop Shooting at Hurricane Irma

It is really tense right here in Central Florida, especially when most of us know folks in the areas about to be hit hard by storm surges. Here are some things that I hope make some of us laugh at this nightmare.

Florida sheriff's office warns people not to shoot at Hurricane Irma

Yep, that's Florida! That was on USA Today. Here are a few more

In other news, boat owners ride out hurricane in boats, because "they float."

WENY NewsFort Myers, Florida -- It's generally considered dangerous to attempt to ride out a major storm in a boat. But a look around the Fort Myers Yacht Basin Saturday evening revealed several boat owners remaining on board. 

We even talked to one man who plans to stay aboard throughout Hurricane Irma. 

We asked the brave mariner how he plans to deal with a potential 10-foot storm surge. "My boat floats...I'm going to be on top of it."

Hurricane Party 
South Beach

Shouts of “F— you, Irma!” rose from a group of some 20 surfers as they drank beer, white wine and champagne on the beach. 

“Block party, baby!” artist Jona Cerwinske, announced.

They’d reluctantly left off surfing by late afternoon, after the Atlantic Ocean began to churn.

“It’s like a washing machine out there,” noted George Granizo, 51, as he abandoned the water.

The surfers said they’d gathered on the beach to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of one of their friends, who’d died while surfing.

In defiance of Irma, Fort Pierce's infamous Archie's Seabreeze parties

Everyone at the bar had more to say about it than just liking the hot wings and cold beer — though owner Patty McGee said Budweiser has awarded her 21 years in a row for selling the most Budweiser in a four-county area.

"Thank God for Patty," said Frances Pollari, an island resident and Archie's regular. "Look at us, we're all happy. If we were isolated in our homes, we wouldn't be happy. God bless her."

Pollari and Feeney touched on why Archie's Seabreeze has thrived   for 70 years. It's more than just hosting the best hurricane party on the Treasure Coast, it's perhaps its close and raunchy family.

Besides being open 365 days a year, Archie's is  known for staying open close to a hurricane. They even made t-shirts for Hurricane Irma.  

A Hundred Vietnam Veterans Return from Honor Flight to Honors

Vietnam vets have emotional homecoming after Honor Flight trip

KXAN StaffPublished: September 9, 2017

AUSTIN (KXAN) – About 100 Vietnam War veterans returned home to Central Texas Saturday evening, after visiting our nation’s capital on behalf of Honor Flight.

It’s an experience they said was special for them, and the reception they received upon arrival back at Austin Bergstrom International Airport brought out an emotional response.

“It was my first time in D.C. I really enjoyed it, and I wish everybody could do it,” said Alerse Martinez, Vietnam veteran. “This, I think, is great. I wish we would have had this 50 years ago. It would have been different.”

They were met upstairs in the airport terminal’s west ticketing area with a welcome home greeting from a big crowd.

read more here