1463rd Transportation Company Returns

From The Grand Rapids Press:

WYOMING -- Tears of joy and relief flowed at the Grand Valley Armory Monday night as friends and family greeted 128 returning Army National Guard soldiers from the 1463rd Transportation Company, back from a year-long deployment in Iraq.

...

Eastbound traffic was blocked in front of the armory for a couple hours prior to the soldiers' 9 p.m. arrival. An enormous American flag was hoisted over the entrance by fire engines from the Grandville and Wyoming departments.

The 1463rd is based out of Wyoming and Sturgis. They departed Michigan in June 2008 for eight weeks of training at Fort Bliss, Texas. They arrived in Iraq in August 2008.

In Iraq, the soldiers were stationed at Camp Bucca, where they were responsible for the oversight of Iraqi detainees. The Army estimates they processed approximately 10,000 detainees throughout the deployment.

A comment posted from a different story:

BikerEdge wrote:
What they failed to report is the escort that these hero's received. In front of their three busses were 26 motorcycles ridden by the Patriot Guard Riders, 14 cars driven by Patriot Guard members, several Corvettes from a Corvette club, several police vehicles which led the escort and blocked the intersections so the procession could proceed without interruption. Along the route people were seen waving, applauding, thanking, and waving the flag for the returning troups. It was a happy day for the entire community filled with gratitude and pride.

Thank you all for your service and thank God you're all home safe!

Read It & Weep

Read full text of Obama's speech HERE

Life

From MSNBC.com:

Differing positions of Obama, Bush on abortion
New president has said he opposes any attempts to restrict abortion access

President Barack Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, differ sharply on abortion and other reproductive-health issues. Here are some of their views:

Obama's position, from the official White House Web site:

"President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.

"President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims."

Bush's view, from a proclamation last week declaring National Sanctity of Human Life Day:

"All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

"The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. My Administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas, encouraging teen abstinence, and funding crisis pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was honored to sign into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which extends legal protection to children who survive an abortion attempt. I signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial-birth abortion, and that law represents our commitment to building a culture of life in America...

"The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law..."

Times, they are a'changing.

Bush/Marines v Obama/Marines

Pictures are worth a thousand words.