Hero Dogs

You're a hero. Everyone keeps telling you, but you don't feel much like a hero. Mostly, you feel frustrated, and angry, and scared. Frustrated at how tasks which used to be effortless now seem like climbing Mt. Everest. Angry, sometimes at the people you love and the very people who are trying to help you, because you hate feeling so dependent on them. This is not the future you had planned. And this - THIS? This 65 pound wagging yellow fool with the floppy ears and the tongue hanging out of his mouth - this is supposed to make any of that okay again? --read on, Hero Dogs

On Sunday, at the Takoma Park Street festival, GG's editor met an adorable (what other kind is there?) 10-week old yellow Labrador puppy who was to begin his training as a hero dog on Monday. The only thing that kept us warm in the cold rain was the puppy, the story of Lady Liberty & learning about the Hero Dog organization in the metropolitan Washington, DC-area. The people of Hero Dogs are new heroes to us. Check out their website, appearances at events in the area, & how you can help.

Giulia is pining for a puppy now.

ciao-woof-meow/the Management

(photograph via Free Desktop Backgrounds)

June 6, 1945 - Only the beginning

A few rather non-related images for this post; it was not exactly a coherent moment in time, anyway. There are so many wonderful sites, both news & blogs, that will be covering today's very important 65th anniversary. (And we just realized that we're supposed to be at the WWII Memorial on Saturday. Here is the link to the excellent National WWII Memorial website here in Washington, DC.)

The black & white photographs are courtesy of the Google-hosted LIFE archives. The terrific Yannick Vigouroux shot of the beach at Luc-sur-Mer was taken 1 June 2009. The series of photographs starts with Yannick's beach & goes back in time. GIs playing with children & talking to French citizens that day & the day after the invasion. The last photograph is servicemen playing poker on a dock in England, waiting to leave for Normandy. It is simply too much to comprehend how terrified they must have been & to wonder how many in that photograph survived the first hour, or moments, of the invasion.

Remember that WWII veterans are passing away at the rate of approximately 1,000 a day (in America). Time is running out to hear their stories, to pay your respects, & to say thank you while they're still able to hear it. Also, as great & successful as this largest invasion in history was, the knowledge of what was to come is sobering.

[Click on Yannick's panoramic shot of Luc-sur-mer to see a larger print or click on his name above to the full-size. The colors & pan shot are superb. Update: Tuesday, 30 June 2009. Time's up for clicking here. Please go to Yannick's flickr set. Thanks!]

Thank You

Thank you especially to the fallen & veterans (including all women) of World War II. Their numbers fall by approximately 1,000 a day. It's not too late to thank all Allied veterans & those who worked to save the world. For those who scoff at the 'save the world': study some Nazi history. There are other wars that are more controversial; but we've learned (we hope) to hate the war, not the warrior.

If you would like to locate a loved one or perform historical research about the all-too-often under-studied Italian campaign, go here. Many more books & films are being produced or are in production about this important WWII chapter, including the integration of the American Army.

Memorial Day is an American holiday but we cannot exclude the Allies. We know they have their remembrance days & we neglected to run an ANZAC photo. That will be rectified this summer during the remembrances in France & the Pacific. We apologize for the omission. Especially, since one of our very favorite people is a Kiwi survivor of a Japanese internment camp (after a march). If you know anything about that, you know that not many POWs survived. Here's to ya, Les & thank you -- from DC to Welly.

If you are in the DC-area, or will be visiting this summer, please consider visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is easily reachable by public transportation. Go here for information.

a very subdued ciao-meow to all & to those in Iraq & Afghanistan right now.

[photographs/image credits: 1-3 Montecassino & Anzio WWII tour; 4) Library of Congress]

A Soldier's Good-bye & Bobbie the Cat

Two of GG's favorite photographs from the wonderful, still-growing State Library of New South Wales Archives. These are, again, by our favorite Sam Hood. (Bobbie looks a bit annoyed, no?)

If you know anyone who needs help & support due to the loss of a family member or a friend (they do not have to be a relative) who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, please go to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). They do a great job & one of our best friends is on staff there. TAPS has a 24-hour hotline: 1-800-959-TAPS (8277). Do not hesitate to call on someone's behalf if they are unable to take the first step; TAPS will give you good advice on how to proceed.

Have a safe day.

ciao-meow/GG/Mgmt