Civil War @ MindSay 
terrorism
I just broke down crying.
I know I'm easy, but COME ON.
That's how much this man meant/means to me. When I think back to 'favorite teachers', Mr. K cracks the top 5 every time. I remember being SO anxious that I wouldn't get to have him for 8th grade Social Studies. This was EVERYONE'S biggest fear; you hear rumors about teachers, and all of K's were AMAZING. I don't know a student in his 30 or 35 (or longer) career who didn't love and worship this man, and look forward to his class.
Mr. Kemnitzer is the epitome of what teaching SHOULD be. He is caring and patient and thoughtful and passionate and really makes history come alive. Is that cliche? Whatever, he truly did.
It was making Stacey cover half her face with a piece of paper to re-enact the picture of her in the paper.
It was making us watch scenes in the movie 'Glory' that STILL make me bawl when I see them.
It was reading Uncle Tom's Cabin so passionately that he lost himself and actually kicked over a desk to show his frustration with the situation.
It was the loud, jolly laugh, and the accompanying smile.
It was writing our own radio skits and performing them, and then listening to them like we actually WERE in the 1920s.
It was the way he praised that stupid poem I wrote about the Civil War and wouldn't take my shrugging or shying away as an answer. I lost the only copy of that poem I had, and I regret that so much because it reminds me of Mr. K.
I don't have many fond memories of middle school, but Mr. K is definitely one of them.
When I teach my class Social Studies, I want to emulate him. I try to make it as interesting and creative as he always did. Even just taking NOTES was enjoyable. Honestly, one of the hugest compliments I could ever get during the span of my teaching career would be one of my fellow Mr. K graduates to observe me teaching a lesson and go, "wow, that was totally something K would do". There aren't words in the English language (and probably not in other languages either) that can encapsulate how high the bar is with Mr. K, and how bad I feel for all the future WHMS students who will never have the pleasure of Mr. Thomas Kemnitzer molding them for a year. I am truly amongst the fortunate.
Tax wants us to write letters that she's going to compile to give him in June. To tell him how he inspired us and helped us and how much we love and will miss him.
I don't even know where to start.
By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 18, 2008 - More than 4,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen from at least eight states will provide security, medical and other support during the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, a National Guard official said today. "We will be there to fill the gaps and help out the first responders," Army Maj. Kenneth Napier, deputy director of the Deliberate Operations branch for the National Guard Bureau, said.
About half of the 4,000 personnel will be dedicated to security, including crowd control, civil-disturbance missions, manning traffic-control points and assisting with the screening process.
"The states are planning and ready to support," Napier said. "Making sure that everyone is safe is the priority."
Air Force Gen. Victor E. "Gene" Renuart Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command, told reporters yesterday that another contingent on alert would be able to respond to a chemical attack.
In addition to marching units, bands and other ceremonial support, the National Guard will provide communication, medical evacuation and explosive ordnance disposal assets. National Guard members and re-enactors from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment have been invited to march in the parade. The 54th represents the all-black regiment that fought in the Civil War and was memorialized in the movie "Glory." "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service," President-elect Barack Obama said in a Dec. 8 statement. "Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade."
The District of Columbia National Guard's efforts will be larger this time because of the expected crowds. "We will be involved in almost every facet of the operation," Officer Candidate Robert Albrecht, a spokesman for the D.C. Guard, said.
In addition to the Guard's on-the-ground missions, the 113th Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., will lead the air-sovereignty effort through North American Aerospace Defense Command.
The D.C. Guard participated in a media event today with the Military District of Washington as well as the U.S. Park Police and other D.C.-area agencies involved in planning for the inauguration. Renuart told reporters that it is "prudent" for the military to plan for the possibility of someone trying to interrupt the inauguration.
"And how well we respond will be defined by how well we trained," Napier added.
Earlier this year, the National Guard provided similar support to the Democratic and Republican national conventions, but only about 1,500 troops were involved in each of those missions. The size and scope of this mission is much bigger.
"I can't think of anything that we've done other than natural disasters that would be comparable to this operation," Napier said.
(Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves in the National Guard Bureau
The Navy's newest attack submarine New Hampshire (SSN 778) will be christened Saturday, June 21, during an 11:00 a.m. EDT ceremony at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.
Director of Naval Reactors, Adm. Kirkland Donald, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Cheryl McGuinness of Portsmouth, N.H., will serve as New Hampshire's sponsor. Ms. McGuinness is the widow of Thomas McGuiness, co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11 which was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The highlight of the ceremony will be Ms. McGuinness christening the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine over the submarine, a time honored Navy tradition.
The fifth Virginia-class submarine, New Hampshire is the third ship to honor the Granite State. The first USS New Hampshire was in service from 1846-1921, including service during the Civil War. Later, she was renamed Granite State following decommissioning and was used as a training ship for the New York State Militia. The second USS New Hampshire (1908-1921) was a battleship used for convoy escort duty during World War I and also served as a training ship.
Along with her sister ships, New Hampshire, will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.
Cmdr. Mike Stevens will become the ship's first commanding officer and will lead a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
The 7,800-ton New Hampshire is built under a teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat (Connecticut) and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Newport News (Virginia). She is 337 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged.
Additional information about this class of submarine is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
May 17, 2008 - President Bush praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai today following meetings at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Bush and Karzai held a short media opportunity following the meeting and Bush backed up Karzai's strategy for the way forward in Afghanistan. The president is in the midst of a six-day trip to the Middle East that has taken him to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Bush said he supports Karzai's strategy for the Paris Donor Conference for Afghanistan next month. Afghan officials said they need $50 billion to rebuild a nation totally shattered by 30 years of struggle against the Soviet occupation and an internal civil war. Bush said Karzai has taken on "a very tough assignment, which is helping your young democracy survive amidst the threats from the radicals and extremists."
Karzai's strategy stresses the agricultural reality of his nation, Bush said. "His strategy is a smart strategy, and part of his strategy is ... for the world to help Afghanistan's agricultural community grow and prosper, so that they can not only become self-sufficient in (providing their own) food, but become net exporters of crops that people need in order to be able to eat and survive," Bush said.
Bush encouraged the world to respond to Afghanistan's plea, and said the United States will certainly help.
Karzai thanked Bush for his support and the American people for their sacrifices to free Afghanistan.
Karzai, who survived another Taliban assassination attempt in April, said there are unmistakable signs of progress in his country. "For the first time, after 30 years, were able to give diplomas to the graduates of Afghanistan's universities, the medical colleges, economics, law and all that," he said. "That would have not been possible without your help and the help of the rest of the world."
The Afghan president thanked Bush for support at the Paris conference. Hopes are that if Afghans can grow cash crops to feed themselves and others, they will not have to grow opium poppies.
Karzai also said he will be asking at the conference for help on energy resources and irrigation projects.
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