Thanks so much for visiting the blog and your comments. All our “vocal” support, as you pointed out, seems the very least we can do and I too am awed to be asked to help, even in such a small way.

I am thinking a great deal about our military personnel and their families this night.

I am watching the CBS News program “Flashpoint” about correspondent Kimberly Dozier’s horrendous injuries suffered in Iraq as a result of a Memorial Day car bomb attack in 2006. The story of her on-going physical, mental and spiritual recovery (indeed, the recovery of all involved in the incident) was quite stunning.

As with most such attacks, many military personnel and civilians were injured in the blast. Dozier’s cameraman Paul Douglas and soundman James Brolan were both killed while the trio was on patrol with the 4th Infantry Division to cover a story.

Killed too was the planned subject of the CBS’ crew’s story at the time of the attack, 35-year-old U.S. Army Captain Alex Funkhouser. Funkhouser led a unit of the 4th Infantry Division taking the CBS crew on what was thought to be a fairly “routine” mission, if such a thing exists in a war zone.

There have been thousands of casualties in this war, both military and civilian; the same can be said of every war. But what those who don’t have family or friends in the military may occasionally forgot (intentionally or unintentionally) among the almost numbing daily casualty reports are the families who struggle daily with the lost of a son or daughter or wife or husband or mother or father.

It was the program’s interview with Funkhouser’s two small daughters that left a crushing impact on me. His four year old who said with a cherished smile that she ‘missed her Dad’s tickles’ and the two year old with sad eyes who spoke of her late Father as a ‘hero’. Their voices had the same timber as my own daughter and their honesty was just as true. Father’s Day will never be the same for these girls and their Mother will never remember her wedding anniversary as she had prior to Memorial Day 2006.

The phrase “ultimate sacrifice” is a polite euphemism for our war dead. Each member of our Armed Forces understands that exact sacrifice is a real risk of their job and that each is risking the future of his/her family and children when they go out on a mission.

And yet they go.

I remain humbled and grateful and saddened that such lives have long been lost in the name of peace and freedom. Reconciling the very real need to protect and defend versus the TOTAL number of war causalities in our world’s history (not just our dead) makes me wonder if man’s inhumanity toward his fellow man can ever end. And if not, why not?

Pax vobiscum
- Peter

Thanks so much for visiting the blog!

While I hope there can be resolution to this conflict before the summer’s end, I’m guessing there might not be, so Freedom Radio will likely be doing another “weekend” promotion and I know Chris would greatly appreciate your participation!

Best always,
Peter

Hope there’s going to be a Firecracker or Labor Day 500, I’d be so gratified & honored to participate.
All the Best,
Bobbin Beam

My congrats to everyone over at Freedom Radio who, likely as of this writing, are coming very close to the end of what I am sure was a very successful countdown.

Chris, I loved the pictures you posted on your blog featuring the jocks in the studio. Being entertaining in the environs you have there no doubt takes a LOT of energy and yet you clearly all manage to pull it off everyday. Next time any of us are having a bad day in the studio, we should keep that in mind.

Bob, thanks so much for the ping to what has easily become the most widely read blog (voiceover boblog) in the industry. “All the VO news that’s fit to print”

Allen, I think someone over on VO-BB started to post one of their countdowns and I was going to check if that had continued cause to me that would be a really fun thread…just one countdown cut from everybody. I’m not sure if they added as much stuff as I did (which my have been over kill).

Kara: thanks for being volunteered by a PITA production guy and turning around a “series” of voice cuts….the “dry” cuts were better and you know what I mean ) You’re awesome.

Say a prayer for our folks “over there!”

Best always,
-Peter

Thank you for including me in this project! I can’t wait to hear the first hour- my heart is warmed with all the support for our deserving troops!

Happy Memorial Day!
Kara

Allen Scofield