"In God We Still Trust" You place your hand on His bible, when you swear to tell the truth. His name is on our greatest monuments an' all our money too. An' when we pledge allegiance, there's no doubt where we stand: There's no separation, we're one nation under Him. In God, We Still Trust, Here in America, He's the one we turn to every time the going gets rough. He is the source of all our strength, The one who watches over us. Here in America, in God, we still trust. Now there are those among us, Who wanna push Him out. And erase his name from everything, This country's all about. From the schoolhouse to the courthouse, They're silencing His word, An' now it's time for all believers, To make our voices heard. In God, We Still Trust, here in America, He's the one we turn to every time the goin' gets rough. He is the source of all our strength, the one who watches over us. Here in America, in God, we still trust. Here in America, ClickTo view Video and hear Diamond Rio sing "In God We Still Trust"

Updated Monday  July 23, 2007 10:45 PM Today marked one month from the date of the incident in Iraq

Updated Tuesday  July 24, 2007 6:25 AM Richard is doing very well and still going through occupational therapy and physical therapy in prepration for his release into the WARRIOR rehibilitation program.  Right now the word we have is that they will send him home next Tuesday.  It seems like such a long wait, but we know we need to be patient and that the doctors are doing what is best for Richard and what will help him the most.  It has been a really rough month for him most of all. The house seems very quite with Jalen and Autumn gone...it is funny how quickly we got used to their constant chatter and play and how much we miss it when it is gone. I know they are happy as little larks to be home in their own house with their beds and toys and their mom.

A Smile for a Tuesday A United States Soldier was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes." The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting." It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Soldier got up out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The Soldier went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, he looked at the Soldier and asked, "What the heck is the matter with you? Why on earth did you do that?" The Soldier calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like a moron. So, He sent me." God Bless America's soldiers.

Updated Tuesday  July 24, 2007 8:25 PM Richard is doing so good.  He is using his broken arm and doing very well in therapy.  He gets to leave the hospital with a pass as long as he has a family member with him.  His mother is going to take him shopping tomorrow for clothes since the the uniform he had on was destroyed.   Brittany said that he said he could possibly come home the end of this week but more than likely it will be Monday or Tuesday of next week. I will not be able to put in any  updates until Saturday night or Sunday, after we return from Ft. Jackson. Please continue to pray for Richard's physical recovery and his mental health.   We pray that he will continue to keep a positive attitude and continue to move forward.  We are so blessed that he has progressed and healed so quickly and that he is doing so well.  I can't say enough how much we appreciate everyone's thoughs and prayers.  I have not yet started to respond to the messages left in the guestbook...but please know that Brittany and I read every one and appreciate so much your love and concern.

Updated Sunday  July 29, 2007 4:30 PM Well Dana and I made it back from Ft. Jackson yesterday.  We went for Shane's (Brittany's brother) graduation from Army basic training.  It was hard to see him in his uniforms knowing that he too will probably have to go to Iraq or Afganistan in the very near future.  After what has happened to Richard, we are even more fearful of Shane's future in the military but we just have to place him God's hands, just as we did with Richard. So far the news is still the same and we are expecting Richard to be back at Ft. Benning, Georgia TOMORROW!!  He will fly out of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and will be flown to Martin Army Hospital here at Ft. Benning.  It is so wonderful to know that he will at last, be home with Brittany and the kids.  He already has invitations waiting on him, to go fishing, when he gets to the point where he is able to again.   The news of his homecoming brought applause to our church congregation this morning...so many prayers have been said and continue to be said... as well as praises to God for all that he has done for Richard so far and for our whole family. We are so thankful and so happy to be able to welcome Richard home alive and doing well.  He continues to heal and improve each day....with the help of God's healing hands and the prayers of so many faithful believers, I know he has a bright future ahead.

Updated Monday  July 30, 2007 5:45 AM It is Homecoming Day!! Richard's plane from Andrew's Air Force Base is scheduled to leave at 10:00 this morning.  It will be about a 2 hour flight, so we are expecting him to arrive at Ft. Benning around lunchtime today.  It is a happy day!  It is a day to praise God for his goodness and his mercy.  Our soldier will finally be home. Added Monday  July 30, 2007 6:05 PM Well, as fate and the Army would have it.... we are still waiting on our soldier to arrive home.  We found out that the plane carrying Richard is also carrying several other wounded soldiers to their home bases as well and would be making stops at military bases all along the East...so we have to be patient and wait for Richard to arrive at Martin Army Hospital sometime after 8:00 tonight.  But that is OK...it means that other soldiers like Richard are also making it home to their families today and that is a wonderful thing!

Added Monday  July 30, 2007 7:30 PM RICHARD IS HOME!!!!! Brittany just called and said that Richard has arrived at Martin Army Hospital on post and is in the emergency room being checked out by the Martin Army medical staff.  They will be putting him in a room a little later on this evening after they have gone over all his papers and given him an examination.  38 Days after being severely injured in Iraq....our soldier is finally HOME!! I just can't say how happy we are to have him home again and to know that he has come so far in only 38 days.  Dana and I have decided to allow him this evening with only Brittany and the kids going to visit.  We know he has to be worn out and tired from the long flight and will need a good nights sleep.  We will go to the hospital tomorrow as soon as we get off work to see our brave son-in-law. Thank you Lord... For bringing Richard home!

Added Monday  July 30, 2007 8:30 PM Even more GREAT news!!!!   Martin Army Hospital discharged Richard to go home to his house tonight.  He isn't even going to have to stay at the hospital at all!!  He can go home with Brittany and the kids and sleep in his own bed tonight! What a wonderful and loving God we have!

Updated Tuesday  July 31, 2007 9:00 PM Dana and I just returned from Brittany and Richard's home.  We took dinner to them to welcome our son-in-law home and spend some time with them as a family.  It was so wonderful to see him at long last.  He looks just great.  He is a lot slimmer than he was before.  He can walk without his cane and the bandages have been removed from his arm.  He has some pretty bad scars and quite a bit of healing left to do but overall he looked like a million bucks to us.   He talked some about his injuries and the incident...he doesn't really remember much about what happened after they were hit. We had a few laughs over the stories Brittany had to tell of his time in ICU while under heavy sedation.  Although I could see some differences in him...mostly I could see the same Richard  that we know and love and it is just a joy to have him back home again. He will have to under go surgery again on his arm to have a bone graft done. He can move his fingers on his right hand but can't use that arm or hand yet.  He can't write or eat with with his right hand yet but with therapy and time he should regain use of his right arm and hand.   Richard said that they should be able to take the pace maker out in about 6 weeks or so.  His heart is doing just fine. He said he plans to be in church (Kirkland Memorial) on Sunday and is looking forward to seeing everyone again.  He said he never wants to have to go through any thing like that ever again. Richard has a beautiful Purple Heart ribbon and medallion but he said it was one award he had hoped to never obtain.

July 15, 2008 Richard is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in Iraq last year.  He is home and still stationed at Ft. Benning. He is doing very well.  He has excepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptised at our church.  Richard has a lot to be thankful for and I have faith that good things will come from the horrible experiences he suffered last summer.

June 23, 2009 Two Years After the Injuries in Iraq Richard is now medically retired from the Army.  The damage he suffered to his heart and lungs has caused continuing health problems.  He has to take it easy and there are limits to what he can do.  Outwardly he looks healthy and fine.  The physical wounds have healed and to look at him today you would not guess the extent to which he suffered just 2 years ago.  But the internal injuries he suffered will be with him the rest of his life.  And the mental stress from that trauma is something we all know that he battles everyday. So many of our young men and women have suffered so much more than my son-in-law and we know only a little bit about what their families have had to endure or will endure as the days go by.  I can barely even speak of those who were not as fortunate as Richard and who did not recover.  I can only imagine what those families have had to go through. This is just one soldier's story

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