“Freedom”
My friends if you ever wondered what freedom means just go by a local cemetery or military cemetery. Look at the graves that gave the colonies freedom from Great Britain. Look at those graves that protected her against Great Britain in the War of 1812. Those graves that were the resting places of those defenders of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas of 1836. The graves of the troops lost in the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-1848. Then the horrendous total of graves that came from the American Civil War between 1861-1865 which totaled over 700,000. There were places such as Bull Run, Shiloh, The Wilderness, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga, Petersburg, The March to the Sea, just to name a few that people still remember and discuss to this day. Then there were the soldiers who died taming the West in the 1870’s with losses such as Custer’s Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Then the Spanish American War of 1898 that started with the
sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Then the Philippine war of 1899-1900. A war began in Europe in 1914 that would begin costing the lives of Americans in ships going to Europe by the sinking of them by the German U-Boats. The United States entered the Great War in April 1917 until it ended in 1918. This was the World War One that took so many lives in the trenches of France. Then only a few short years later we entered another even bigger war that was global that began in 1939 by the crazed dreams of a madman named Adlof Hitler. We entered the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This war was a horrible war that lasted until 1945 with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs to end the war that was called World War Two. We fought in North Africa, Italy, from Normandy to Berlin, Germany. We fought from islands in the Pacific known as the Philippines where we were defeated at Bataan, Corregidor, and then
the Bataan death march that claimed thousands of men. We fought at places like Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and many others.
Then with the dawning of the Atomic Age we then went into what would be known as a Cold War that lasted till the Soviet Union broke up. But in between there were hot spots like the Korean War in the early 1950’s, Vietnam which was from the early sixties to we left Saigon in 1975. A long black wall in Washington bares the names of the over 58,000 who died there. Then we were involved with the war with the rebels in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and the Cubans in Grenada. There was also the Marine Barracks suicide truck bomb in Beirut, Lebannon. We then went to the Middle East to fight Saddam Hussein of Iraq who had invaded Kuwait in 1991 and we drove him back into his country. Then, our fighting men and women went to the Balkans to support the war in Kosovo. Suicide bombers killed several on the U.S.S. Cole in the Middle East. We were attacked by a power seeking monster on our own homeland in New York on September 11, 2001 by the suicide terrorists of
Osama Bin Laden. This launched us into the War on Terror which continues to this day. We have fought in Iraq to see the downfall of Saddam Hussein, we are fighting in Afghanistan, we sent a team into Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden, but more trouble is brewing with a new group known as ISIS. The entire Middle East region continues to be a powder keg.
This is from the Bible of wars and rumors of wars that will come. But this is also how we have kept our freedom. Freedom is not bought freely it is through the blood of the many thousands over the years who gave their lives so that America would be free. So, remember those graves on the hill over looking the beaches of Normandy, France; the graves all across the Pacific, and those graves here in the United States in places like Arlington Cemetery, Andersonville National Cemetery, Marietta National Cemetery and many more. Stand for a few moments today and give honor to those who have fallen to give you this right. We are the United States of America. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.” My Country ‘Tis of Thee Sweet land of liberty of thee I sing, Land where my Father died, Home of the Pilgrims Pride, From
every mountainside let Freedom Ring.
Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon, 1st Lt. USAFSC Honorably Discharged.
I find it really hard to understand why people picked to be on the ZAB and the DDA by the current City Council would want to protest the very people they represent. It is a misnomer for them to even contemplate such an action while trying to be a part of the city government per se. There is a dual problem here. One the city council needs to handle their business accordingly. And two those who are representatives of the city on various boards need to find a way to communicate with those that chose them without going out in front of the City Hall looking like you are in Missouri. The leader of this rabble complains that there is too much media attention and now he rouses this event up in hopes of gathering media attention not for the right reasons though. He plans on running for city council and wants to try and drum up a base to have him elected. I personally would not be able to vote for this type of person because they are just enhancing their
own agenda. If you are in league with this person it might be wise to distance yourself from him because all he will bring you is trouble and more angst in the city.
Chris Goodman
Stockbridge, Georgia
Protesting in Stockbridge really doesn’t help anything because the message is tied to the run for office by a self appointed mouthpiece.
Donald
I believe it is totally unacceptable for a person to attack the city and try to call it a rally for jobs. He is just looking for a way to promote his agenda to run for office. It is a cheap way to do it on the backs of others.
Maurice James
Above all we need more jobs in the city. With that said we don’t need protests to bring more negative publicity in the press about Stockbridge. No one asked Alexander to be our public relations person.
Monica Morales
This protest/rally is another black eye on the City of Stockbridge by one that is supposed to support the City according to his past posts.
Margaret Juanita Emerson
I drove by the City Hall in Stockbridge and there were only 8 people at the protest rally. Looks like this petty little man’s influence only goes to a very few.
Alicia Thomas
The protest didn’t effect anything inside the building. 6 or 7 people can’t make much of an impression. Then there was what was happening inside the building with some drama included with former councilwoman Gilbert being ejected from the room by the Mayor for her continued growling. Then the proceedings continued until past 1:00am when the council decided to stop tonight and plan more discussion at another date to make a decision. Ms. Buschman called J.T. Williams and Houston Nelson of the DDA to be her witnesses. The lawyer bringing the charge told them at the end that the point was not what the DDA people had to say it is that Ms. Buschman broke the charter. She violated her oath of office and more.
Lindsey McKay
Ellenwood, Georgia
This protest at City Hall Sucked!!!
Josie Slick
R. G. Rudy Kelley
July 26, 1934 - May 3, 2015
R. G. Rudy Kelley, age 80, of Stockbridge, GA died Sunday, May 3, 2015. He was born in Kelleytown, GA to the late Clifton Cloud and Raleigh Vee Crumbley Kelley. Rudy was Presbyterian, a Veteran of the United States Army, Owner / Operator of Southside Tire Company. He served as Mayor of Stockbridge for 31 years. While serving as Mayor, he was a member of Atlanta Regional Commission. He was owner of Wireless ETC. Rudy’s favorite past time was a round of golf. He was a member of the Eagles Landing Country Club. He was a loving husband, father,and,grandfather.
Mr. Kelley is survived by his wife of 59 years Mary Jo Kelley; children, Rudy (Natalie) Kelley, Jr., Kim Kelley, Kristy (Chris) Harris; siblings, Billy Kelley
Mary Ann Brisendine; grandchildren, Anna and Lauren Harris; and Kassie Bella his four legged daughter.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Stockbridge. Interment will follow at Kelley Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 5, 2015 from 1:00 - 3:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Funeral Home.
I will truly miss Rudy (Mayor Kelley) as he was a long and good steward of the City of Stockbridge. I knew him before he ever became Mayor of the city. His family being from Kelleytown and his brothers and his sister knew my family as we lived in McDonough. My uncle grew up with them. He was the late Sam McCullough, Jr. or “Little Sam” as he was known. His parents Sam and Myrtice McCullough are buried at the Kelley Presbyterian Church on Airline Road. I remember Rudy having his tire store underneath the old Moseley Furniture Store Shopping Center on North Henry. Then, he built Southside Tire on the property next door. He saw a lot of changes come to Stockbridge during his tenure. The hwy through town was four laned and a bridge built over the railroad. He began in the old city hall on North Berry Street that was torn down to build the Ted Strickland Community Building. He was mayor in the City Hall at the corner of S. Lee Street and N. Henry Blvd. Then the new city hall is named for him. Rudy did a lot for people over the years to help them and those who know this do remember it. I know my late father was a friend to Rudy and knew that Rudy was a good man and tried his best to do what was right for everyone in business and city hall. I saw Rudy at the funeral of former Councilman G.W. “Jr.” Evans and then at the dedication of his painting at city hall recently. Lord I know that Rudy was always there when needed. I remember him shaking my hand when I shared that big award that time. He said that I put the county and city on the map. I told him he was being too gracious. I remember seeing Rudy and Miss Mary Jo a while back at the Walgreens Drugstore and he never failed to speak and have a few words with me. Time is passing quickly my friends and so many of those that I have known over the past 45 years are passing along quickly now and we are getting to the time when we will be stepping over to the other side. Some of us sooner than others but the time is getting near. I want to say to the family that I respected Rudy and I want them to know that the Lord is there for them at this time because it is a time of reflection and memories. May God Bless You All.
Pastor Dr. Mike and Linda Moon
