Happy Memorial Day

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday. I've spent the long weekend writing and researching for my WWII novel. After two days of watching documentaries, I decided to attend Memorial Day services in honor of men and women who died for our country at the Los Angeles National Cemetery located in Westwood.



The Color Guard




The program was wonderful. The main speaker, Major General James W. Comstock, gave a very poignant speech, especially when he said the reason why we have the freedom of speech, freedom to protest, and even the freedom to burn the flag is because of the men and women who have died fighting for our freedom.



WWII planes flew overhead






There a few guests, actors and a writer, who read "Letters from the Front". Each one read letters from soldiers from the Civil War to the present. (Robert Davi, Robert Forster, David Horowitz, Lee Purcell, and Jon Voight). I have to say, none of the actors were acting while reading the letters, everyone tearfully. There wasn't a dry eye in the place when Robert Davi read the last letter from a soldier in Iraq who had written the letter to his sweetheart with the instruction -- Do not read this letter unless I have died.

Jon Voight

Lee Purcell

Robert Davi


Restoration of the Flag

The Color Guard


Carnations were handed out to the audience and then later collected to be given to the Coast Guard to throw out into Santa Monica bay in honor of the men and women who have died for our country.






After the service we walked around to find some of the 14 Metal of Honor recipients who are interned at the Los Angeles National Cemetery. We found four.





Next year, I encourage you to attend services at your local national cemetery.
National Cemetery

Pictures of the grounds





Thank you to everyone who has given the ultimate sacrifice, a love one.

Movie Review ~ Four Christmases

Last night I went to the Premiere of Four Christmases at Grauman's Chinese Theater. The movie was a cute holiday romantic comedy which wasn't too over the top as I thought it would be. Good storyline that everyone could relate to if you have been in a relationship and have to meet your boyfriend's or girlfriend's family during a major holiday. Reese Witherspoon was lovable, Vince Vaughn was bearable, and the supporting cast Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek were great.

Movie Review ~ Pride and Glory

The story was excellent and well executed about an Irish American family torn between loyalty and corruption. The cast was wonderful, I enjoy watching Edward Norton on the screen and I even liked Colin playing the bad cop, as well as Noah Emmerich, and Jon Voight.

The only criticism I have is, during the fight scene between Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) and Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell) is that, I hated the song that was playing in the background, an Irish folk song, it doesn't fit at all. I would have preferred no music at all. Instead, I wished there were only the noises of the two men hitting each other and crashing to furniture.

Pride and Glory opens October 24, 2008