Wednesday Hero

Pvt. Nathan Z. Thacker
18 years old from Greenbrier, Arkansas
2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
October 12, 2007


Pvt. Nathan Z. Thacker had only been in the country for two weeks before his death, according to the soldier's father, Stephen Thacker.

Thacker's father said his son felt a duty to enlist. "He said it was his job. Even after he got his orders that he was going over there, he said it's his job."

Thacker had attended Guy-Perkins High School in Guy, Arkansas. He earned his GED in 2006, his father said. Thacker enlisted in the Army in April 2007 and completed his training at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Fort Drum in August 2007. His honors include the Purple Heart.

"Nathan was an excellent man," sister Sabrina Black said. "He loved me, I loved him, and I’d give anything to have him back."

Pvt. Thacker was killed when an IED was detonated near his vehicle near Kirkuk. Three other soldiers were injured in the attack.

Pvt. Thacker is survived by his parents, siblings and his grandfather.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The Fisherman

I was visiting Monterey Bay last month and photographed this statue called "The Fisherman". The inscription at the base of the statue reads

"We dedicate this monument, The Fisherman, by artist Jesse Corsaut, to those who made a living from the riches of the sea, the families they supported and who, in turn, supported them. We appreciated their love of and respsect for Monterey Bay, around which a unique culture developed and this community was created."

Not far from the above statue was this lone houseboat. Perhaps one of these fishermans lives in such an abode.

- Karen

San Francisco National Cemetery

I visited San Francisco's Presidio a few weeks ago and encountered this military cemetery on the grounds dating back to the 1850's. Some of the graves date as far back as the Civil War. As you can see, the site faces breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay.

One of the photographs is of an electronic gravesite locator which I have never seen before. Originally, I thought it was an ATM machine on the side of a building until I got closer to read the sign. But, if you really think about it, why would there be an ATM machine in a cemetery? Silly me.

To read more about this historical cemetery, click here.

- Karen

Tea Anyone?

I saw these interesting teapots displayed at a local museum. The artists really had some wild imagination.

- Karen

Yabba-Dabba-Doo

How many of you remember the Flintstones cartoon? It was one of my favorites as a kid.

During our trip back from the Grand Canyon, our tour bus made a stop across the street from the Flintstones Bedrock City Campground. We only had a 20 minute break so my husband convinced me to run across the freeway with him, yes a freeway, so we can take some photos of this unique place.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Spc. Matthew A. Koch
23 years old from West Henrietta, New York
Company C, 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division
March 9, 2005


Spc. Matthew A. Koch was on his second tour of duty when he was killed by an IED that was detonated near his vehicle in Taji. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He previously was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon and medals for service in the fight against terrorism.

Koch enlisted in the Army in January 2002 after the attacks on September 11, 2001 and re-enlisted because he wanted to help the Iraqi people. "He was a brave soldier who made the greatest sacrifice anyone could make for everyone else's freedom," Diane Worman, Koch's mother, said through tears. "He realized that by being over there, he was going to make a difference in the lives of those people." She said her son once unsuccessfully sought green cards for an Iraqi family that had been threatened for helping Americans.

"He always looked out for the other guy, never thought of himself. He volunteered to go to C Co before our first deployment so that one of the guys from our Platoon didn't have to deploy early and would have a chance to marry his fiance. That's Koch for you, always looking out for his buddies." - David A. "Buch" Buchanan.

"He really loved the service and went back," said James Worman, Koch's stepfather. "He had no problem. He was dedicated to the fact that people over there needed help. He was always concerned about other people. He loved children. He was a nice, soft-hearted kid."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Bay Meadows, Part 2

These are the starting gates pulled by a tractor. The gates move to different parts of the racetracks depending the length of the race. Once the race starts, the tractor moves the gates out of the way quickly before the horses come through the finish line.

This place is called a Paddock where workers saddle up the racehorses and parade them around before they go out onto the racetrack. Bettors can come here to get a last-minute close up look of the horses before making their wagers.