I rememeber when Reagan was in the White House. I was in uniform back then and it certainy seemed like the rest of the world was respecting the U.S. alot more. The eighties were certainly interesting . Invasion of Grenada, Beirut and the bombing of the Marine Barracks,taking down Noriega in Panama. It was a time when the cold war was coming to an end and the wall finally did come down. Words like "the great communicator" and  "Reagonomics" were common. I do miss those days and seeing the procession yesterday really hit home. I felt like I was seeing the eighties, and all that we as a nation went through, go by. He was a great friend to those in uniform and he was never afraid to flex his military might under his command. Yet he was always one who, as percieved by me, to be extremely fair and always helpful to those in need.

Oh I am sure that there are alot of things that were done while in office that weren't right (alot would start with the Iran-Contra affair). But for now, for this week, I am going to reflect on those days and those times and how the world was. How we as a nation managed to turn some things around. As for Ronald Reagan, there is no doubt that he was the one president who brought back "style", panache, spirit and to some degree "royalty" much like the Kennedy's did. He wasn't just some suit there doing the political thing. He did that but you also knew that he had alot more to him than just being the president. He liked horseback riding the great outdoors (just like Teddy Roosevelt). He enjoyed working on his ranch and was never one to hold back his thoughts on things even if they weren't popular or right. I'll miss him and I hope that some day we have someone like this again in the White House.  Semper Fi, Mr. President.

Baseball to go to bat for DR

President-elect Leonel Fernandez would like big-name Dominican baseball players to increase their ties to the Dominican Republic for the benefit of the country. “We believe we can host Major League Baseball games here, as Japan and Puerto Rico have done, because we have quality ballplayers. Also, we are the second country with the most players in the Major Leagues, behind the United States,” highlighted Fernandez. One out of every 4 players in the US major or minor leagues is a Dominican. Fernandez believes the DR has the fans to back the hosting of these games in the DR, which would receive ample promotion abroad.
“We need to see the Quisqueya Ball Park improve its conditions so that the games can be held here,” said Fernandez, who felt that spring training games could be held here by 2005 and Dominican games scheduled on the MLB calendar for subsequent years.
Fernandez also thinks that the La Romana stadium could be upgraded to host MLB games and promised that his government would offer facilities to the teams to increase their participation in the country.
“Our players are ambassadors on a world level because they perform great promotional efforts for the nation,” he said.
President-elect Fernandez met with the press after conferring with visiting presidents of MLB teams John Allen of the Cincinnatti Reds, Andy MacPhail of the Chicago Cubs and Dave St Peter of the Minnesota Twin sat the Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo.
Allen, MacPhail, St Peter and Richard Dozier of the Arizona Diamondbacks are currently in the country for this afternoon’s launch of the Baseball City academy at Km. 25 of the Las Americas highway, where the teams have leased space. Lou Melendez, the VP of operations of the Major League Baseball, is also expected to attend the inauguration of the baseball training camp that features six stadiums and two half plays, a gymnasium, a school and conference rooms for baseball and language classes.

source: www.dr1.com  6/3/04

Man, that would be great...have all the Dominican baseball players from the major leagues play on one team against the American baseball players. Betcha it would be a great game.

For this Memorial Day I want to thank all the servicemen and women, past and present, who have proudly represented the United States of America here and abroad. Their duty and actions have and are still a tribute to all that is right and whole. To all that is good for fellow man, woman and child in this country and the world. Simply put - the protection from evil and defenders of our country and democracy. As the world changes ever more rapidly, we can always count on our men and women in uniform to continue the great traditions of duty as those who have done so in the past. Every man and woman that has put on this great nation's uniform has and is still saying that "we are willing to give our lives for our country". No other words can state so clearly what wearing the uniform represents. And yet, there are no words, in any language, that can ever describe the debt of gratitude we have to such fine and dedicated people.

Semper Fidelis

En este dia del recuerdo de los veteranos fallecidos, deseo agradecer a todos los hombres y mujeres, pasado y presente, que han representado con orgullo los Estados Unidos de América aquí y en el exterior.  Su deber y acciones todavía tienen y son un tributo a todo a lo que es correcto y bueno.  A todo que es bueno para el hombre, la mujer y el niño y su hermano ser humano de este país y del mundo.  Puesto simplemente - la protección contra el mal y defensores de nuestro país y democracia.  Mientras que el mundo cambia cada vez mas rapido, podemos contar siempre en nuestros hombres y mujeres en uniforme para continuar las grandes tradiciones del deber tal como los antecedentes han hecho en el pasado.  Cada hombre y mujer que se haya puesto el uniforme de esta gran nación tiene y todavía está diciendo que "estamos dispuestos a dar nuestras vidas para nuestro país".  Ningunas otras palabras podran indicar tan claramente lo que representa en ponerse el uniforme.  Tampoco hay palabras, en ninguna lengua, que podra describir la magnitud de la gratitud que les tenemos a esta gente tan rectos y dedicados.

Semper Fidelis