We have power. As of this afternoon, there are still six hundred thousand without that boon, in Maryland alone. Lucky us. Stores are closed, or selling dry goods only, using generator power. Gas stations that have power (and still have gas) have lines around the block. And the power companies are saying that they might be at 90% restored by the week’s end. Yeah, a hurricane-style  hit to the region without warning, without the ability to call in out-of-state help in advance, and pre-position assets really sucks. But temps are staying in the high 90’s through at least the fourth. Sucks to be without power and AC, and your food is rotting in the fridge.

Lucky us…

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Maj. Paul C. Voelke, 36, of Monroe, New York, died Jun. 22 in Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, 23, of Tallahassee, Florida, died June 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan, 21, of Norman, Indiana, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, 23, of Arlington, Virginia, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Michigan, died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• 1st Lt. Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Virginia, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Alabama, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Of course, that subject doesn’t apply to those who either aren’t, or don’t have, “happy fathers”. So goes life. I’ve been busy, no point in boring you with the details this time. School, work, yardwork, sleep – that’s it, in a nutshell.

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Pfc. Nathan T. Davis, 20, Yucaipa, California, died June 9, in Tore Obeh, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore, 25, New Windsor, Illinois, died June 10, in Panjwai, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy small arms fire.
• Cpl. Taylor J. Baune, 21, of Andover, Minnesota, died June 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. 1st Class Barett W. McNabb, 33, of Chino Valley, Arizona, died June 12, in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, of San Diego, California, died June 15, in Spedar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Spc. Trevor A. Pinnick, 20, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, died June 12 in Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Joseph M. Lilly, 25, of Flint, Michigan, died June 14 in a medical treatment facility at Kandahar Air Field of wounds suffered in an attack at Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on June 12.

In a sense, every Sunday is Memorial Day for me – I don’t need a Federal holiday to remind me to stop, think, and give thanks for the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States who have died in service to our country. But tomorrow is the official Memorial Day, and I am deeply honored and touched by the sacrifices that men and women have been making for America for the last 236 years.

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat, 28, of, Prince George, Virginia, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• 2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander, 30, of Lawton, Oklahoma, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Samuel T. Watts, 20, of Wheaton, Illinois, died May 19, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 25, in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Arronn D. Fields, 27, of Terre Haute, Indiana, died May 21 in Qal-ah-ye Mirza Jal, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket propelled grenades.
• 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado, 25, of San Jose, California, died May 23 in Zharay, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with an improvised explosive device.
• Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson, 26, of Shasta, California, died of complications associated with a medical condition May 20 in Manama, Bahrain.
• Pfc. Cale C. Miller, 23, of Overland Park, Kansas, died May 24, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Oregon, died May 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, died May 26 of wounds received in action due to an improvised explosive device blast in Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.