Memorial Day

As we begin the unofficial start of Summer, it is necessary to take a moment to pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. We may choose to celebrate the holiday with food, drink, fun and friends, but must do so remembering the reason behind it. Without the sacrifice of our fallen heroes this great country, and indeed the world, would be a much different and lesser place.

It is those sacrifices that helped to preserve the freedoms we value and enjoy today. As we pause to remember our lost heroes, may we also vow to be steadfast in our opposition of those who wish to destroy that which has been so hard won.

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." -- John 15:13

Honoring The Fallen

On this long Memorial Day weekend, Americans stop to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. It is their sacrifices that helped to preserve the freedoms we cherish and enjoy today.

Sadly, there are too many people in our country who take freedom for granted, or who naively despise the blessings of liberty. Worse yet, there are those who actively work to limit our freedom. As we pause to remember our lost heroes, may we also vow to be steadfast in our opposition of those who wish to destroy that which has been so painfully won.

As you enjoy time with family and friends over this weekend, please take a moment to remember those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Homefront IPA

We picked up this bottle of Homefront IPA when we visited Center of the Universe Brewing during our Father's Day road trip. Proceeds from sales of Homefront IPA will go to support Operation Homefront, a charity that provides emergency assistance to our military heroes and their families. The beer is aged on Louisville Slugger bats.

A worthy cause demands a worthy beer. So let's get to the tasting to see how they did. Homefront IPA pours a deep orange color with a thick, frothy white head. The aroma is a mix of citrus and sweet malt.

The flavor is rich with bitter grapefruit citrus, and slightly sweet resinous pine. The pulp-like citrus is balanced by sweet caramel malt notes. There's an interesting balance between the sweet and bitter flavors and neither predominate. Mouthfeel is moderately thick. The finish is clean with a lingering bitterness. I didn't pick up any wood flavors that might added by the maple bats.

I enjoyed Homefront IPA very much. I'm a fan of bitter citrus IPAs, but knowing that the proceeds from the beer are going to a good cause, makes the enjoyment that much greater.

The Path of the Warrior

Worth six minutes out of your weekend festivities...

Homefront IPA

Center of the Universe Brewing in Ashland, VA is announcing the upcoming release of Homefront IPA. Proceeds from sales of Homefront IPA will go to support Operation Homefront, a charity that provides emergency assistance to our military heroes and their families. The efforts of nine participating breweries are coordinated by Hops for Heroes, which was co-founded by Center of the Universe.

In a press release, Center of the Universe announced this year's Homefront IPA ambassador.

HOPS FOR HEROES ANNOUNCES JIM JOHNSON AS AMBASSADOR FOR HOMEFRONT IPA IN THE VIRGINIA/DC/MARYLAND AREA 

Baltimore closer Jim Johnson is proud to support “Hops for Heroes” and Homefront IPA and thanks Center of the Universe Brewing Company in Virginia for their efforts.  

Ashland, Virginia, May 2: Hops for Heroes and Homefront IPA are proud to announce the support of Baltimore closer Jim Johnson and name him ambassador for the charitable efforts in Virginia.  

Center of the Universe Brewing Company, located in Ashland, Virginia will release Homefront IPA on Thursday, May 23rd at the Richmond Flying Squirrels Stadium. They will also hold a special event in their tasting room on Saturday, May 25th with all proceeds benefitting Operation Homefront. 

Other baseball ambassadors will be announced in Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

COTU founder, Chris Ray is a former pitcher for Baltimore, Seattle, Texas and San Francisco. Appropriately, Homefront IPA is aged on Louisville Slugger maple bats. 

Fr. Kapaun Awarded Medal of Honor

Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war during the Korean War. The story of this priest and the lives he touched, and saved, is amazing and inspiring. I have been following Fr. Kapaun's story and anxiously awaiting this day when he would be recognized for his service and sacrifice.

This holy man spent 7 months in horrendous conditions in a POW camp. Yet, his love of God and concern for his fellow prisoners never wavered. One can only imagine the abuse he faced from his captors, who were unable to break his resolve or fight the hope he gave to other captives. Fr. Kapaun was eventually martyred by starvation and lack of medical treatment. He died on May 23, 1951.

As I watched the medal ceremony online, I was moved by the presence of men who knew Fr. Kapaun, including a veteran who's life the priest had saved. I was also struck by the irony of the award being given by the president, and man so very unlike Fr. Kapaun.

Contego over at Gabriel Possenti Shooters summed it up well:

I sensed that this priest, who may one day be canonized a Saint in the Catholic Church, was placed as a sign for us, and for the president. As he spoke the words, I wondered if they might be touching his heart, his soul - showing him what virtue is, what a real man does, how a faithful Christian serves God? I am certain Fr. Kapaun is to be canonized; to hear his actions described by a man who has no respect for the Catholic Church, who is actively pressing for Her destruction, who has no moral compass as he pushes for abortion in all forms, same sex marriage and other objectively evil things, my heart was touched, my eyes misty. Even coming from the mouth of one so distant from Mother Church and all that She teaches, Fr. Kapaun's story was still glorious!

It took 60 years for Fr. Kapaun to be awarded the Medal of Honor. However, his true reward will come when he is recognized as a member of the Church Triumphant. Named a Servant of God in 1993, the cause for Fr. Kapuan's canonization is ongoing. May the wait for his heavenly honor be not so long coming as his earthly award.

National Medal of Honor Day

This doesn't seem to getting any coverage in the media.

March 25, 2013, marks the 150th anniversary of the first Medal of Honor awarded.

Our nation’s greatest war heroes – Medal of Honor recipients – will personally present awards to four unsung citizen heroes who’ve saved lives in extraordinary circumstances, during a special ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Approximately 20 Medal of Honor recipients are expected to attend the ceremony.

The recipients will first commemorate Medal of Honor Day, on the 150th anniversary of the Medal’s first presentation, with a wreath-laying at 2:00 at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The recipients will then present the Citizen Service Before Self Honors (CSBSH) awards at 2:30 to four honorees selected from a nationwide campaign for going above and beyond for their fellow man. 

More...

The Medal of Honor was first awarded on March 25, 1863 to 6 Union soldiers for their actions in the "The Great Locomotive Chase."