This is beautiful. God bless America

> The daughter of a Soldier
>
> Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference.
> While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people
behind
> me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and
witnessed
> one of the greatest act's of patriotism I have ever seen.
>
> Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their
> camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost
> everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and
> cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being
> applauded
> and
> cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded
> American
> who still
> loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
> Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these
> young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday
for
> us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
>
>
>
> Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our
> service men and
> women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of
the
> male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then
she
> asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young
> soldier,
> he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and
what
> did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl
grabbed
> the
> neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and
then
> kissed him on the cheek.
> The mother of the little girl, who said her daughters name was
> Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and
had
> been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much
her
> daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to
tear up.
> When
> this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of
the
> soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other
> servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie.
> They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on
it.
> After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked
> back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to
your
> daddy
> and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl
that
> he
> had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying
"your
> daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he
is
> coming
> home very soon."
>
> The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as
> the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom.
> I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event
unfolded.
> As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people
> resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked
around,
> their
> were
> very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last
act of
> selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear
> rolling down his cheek.
>
> We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their
> families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of
the
> day, it's good to be an American.
>
> Red Friday
> Just keeping you "in the loop" so you'll know what's going on
> in case this takes off.
>
>
> RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people
> wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our
troops
> used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and
are
> voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking
numbers. We
> are not
> organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media
coverage
> on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.
>
> Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want
> to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.
> Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops
> with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and
every
> Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message
that..
> Every
> red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear
> something red.
>
> By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States
> on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in
the
>
> bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this
> with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be
long
> before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops
> know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever,
certainly
> more than the media lets on.
>
> The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to
> make things better for you?" is...We need your support and your
prayers.
> Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by
> example; and wear something red every Friday.
>
> IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON
> IF YOU COULD CARE LESS THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON --- IT IS
> YOUR CHOICE. WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
BRAVE.
> THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED! --- MAY GOD HELP AMERICA
> TO BECOME ONE NATION, UNDER GOD.
> HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Polaris Settled, Hachette Filipacchi Running Low on Facts and Friends

News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Irene Pinsonneault (508) 636-9149 or (508) 642-7165


Yon: Polaris Settled, Hachette Filipacchi Running Low on Facts and Friends

[Massachusetts] In announcing that he had reached a settlement agreement with Polaris Images this week, Michael Yon questioned who Hachette Filipacchi would now try to blame for their “numerous, ongoing, willful copyright infringements.” In a dispatch titled “Bordering on the Criminally Inane” published on his website, www.michaelyon-online.com, Yon dissects form letters sent out by Hachette Filipacchi executives, lambasting the editor of Shock Magazine alongside of CEO Jack Kliger, both of whom Yon asserts use false accusations and misrepresentations of facts and laws in order to shift blame and responsibility from themselves onto Polaris and Yon.

In a form letter being sent to people who complained to the editors of Hachette Filipacchi Media magazines, Shock’s editor writes that “We offer Mr. Yon recompense without being legally compelled to do so. He accepted and then refused the offer because of our continued legal use of the image.” Yon replies, “Hammer is wrong. U.S. law mandates fines and penalties in cases of copyright infringement. HFM desired to avoid court- mandated recompense. But by continuing subsequent and separate willful infringements, HFM violated separate laws confirmed in Tasini v. The New York Times.”

Yon wonders about the implications of publishing company executives who either don’t know the current laws that apply to copyright clearance and violation, or they know those laws, and knowingly violate them. Yon asserts these written statements publicly attacking the victim of their unlawful actions are “desperate and transparent” attempts to stave the bleeding from the stumbling launch of a magazine whose content is “so offensive it could only manage to secure three pages of advertisements.” But when it comes to the backlash HFM is getting from consumers and media, Yon has no sympathy for Kliger or anyone involved in this incident because they all had the opportunity to resolve the dispute quietly and professionally. “This is not the first time I have had to defend copyright on that photograph. Of dozens of cases of infringement, only one involving the US Army got any public attention, but all were settled quickly and in my favor.”

Polaris Images concurs, including the following explanation in their statement announcing the settlement: “After the use in Shock Magazine when we learned that we had no right to license that image, we removed the image and worked in good faith with Michael Yon to resolve the issue. We appreciate that Michael Yon settled the matter with us in a professional manner. We respect our service members, veterans and their friends and family and the sacrifices they make.” The full statement is on Yon’s website.

“Hachette Filipacchi contends that this fight is all about publicity, and I agree,” Yon says. “HFM staged this fight for publicity to bolster the launch of Shock magazine, but Kliger got his wires crossed. Shock is being electrocuted. HFM is being jolted.” Kliger released his retailer letter to the media before it went to the stores. From the day this dispute began Yon has repeatedly stated he prefers “writing about our soldiers in harms way,” but will not back down in the face of threatening bullies. “The fact that his public statement is a smear, with insinuations based on falsehoods and bad research, is another illustration of HFM’s modus operandi.”