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Flexible service programs are available for a variety of customers in health care, manufacturing, publishing, distribution, legal, banking, insurance, engineering, government and universities. In addition, Harris Digital Communications works very closely with computer dealers, value-added resellers, manufacturers and software vendors working as a team to provide the very best possible service.
Main Office Located in the suburban community of Concord, California U.S.A located at the northern end of California's Silicon Valley.
Our Mission Harris Digital Communications mission is to become the single comprehensive resource for computer, telecommunication, Security, and network services.
Care Package Response Letters
Subject: Your wonderful care package Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 3:30 PM
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you. I received your boxes today, and as a result, was forced to make up for the P.T. that I slept through this morning. I actually broke out in a sweat as I carried (with help) your many boxes from the mail room to my office. I wondered as I opened them if someone was so cruel as to send me bricks. They were heavy!
I don’t know how familiar you are will soldiers, but the sight of me bringing back that many boxes had them circling like sharks. They knew darned well that they had the opportunity for loot. It’s actually quite funny to watch them pick what they want. They have to maintain a certain amount of decorum and act civilized, while still grabbing those things they want before someone else gets to them. It’s a unique balancing act.
The CLIF bars were a big hit (as was the box of Pop Tarts). We have a lot of chocoholics here and they suffer during the summer months when no one sends any because they melt in the heat. The women’s magazines also had a short shelf life – I estimate about 10 minutes. The soldier who took them didn’t even pretend to have self control – yank! The razors came at a fortuitous time as our stash just ran out last week. Pretty much everything that was sent was greatly appreciated.
I also have to admit that I stole the Bit O Honey. It’s one of my favorites and I had a devil of a time getting a hold of some while we were still in our training phase prior to coming here. So I admit, I’m a pig. Sorry.
I currently have everything out in the front entryway for the soldiers to pick through on their way to their offices. After a couple of days, I intend to put it in our “Wal-Mart” room. That’s our own little corner store; a place to go when we need something. It’s been looking a bit naked lately, so I’m glad that I’m able to restock it a bit.
The unit is stationed at Joint Base Balad, also known as LSA Anaconda. We’re located about 50 miles north of Bagdad. In all honesty, this is the best base to be stationed at in the entire theater. We have more amenities here than anywhere else – bar none. Even so, it’s hard being here, away from friends and family. We try to remind each other not to complain, because it could be so much worse. Those of us who are returnees know just how much worse, but even the first timers hear about the other bases and FOBs (forward observation bases). Even so, we just want to go home. I can’t tell you how much of a morale booster getting your packages has been. Not only is it a piece of home, and a reminder that home hasn’t forgotten about us, it’s a reminder of what we will have access to once we get the heck out of here.
Again, let me say thank you for your efforts on our behalf. We really appreciate it.
Sunday morning was Rolling Thunder - all the bikes come together in the Pentagon parking lot and run to the Wall. The term comes from the Vietnam War and is descriptive of one of the sounds of war and power. When 400,000 motorcycles start their engines, you can hear them for blocks. At 0530 I'm up and ready to go. Off to the Pentagon and find that the lot all ready has a few thousand bikes staged. I take my bike to the "VIP Escort" area as I have the privilege of having a Gold Star Mom riding on my back seat. Their are a hundred or so of us and their are a couple of "deuce and halfs"
for the GSMom's/Dad's that don't have helmets. Their is zero shortage for scoots, just a shortage of the required helmets. No shortage of GSM/D''s, unfortunately. We spend the next couple of hours talking to friends from different groups, listen to the scoot noises and basically relax. At 1100, a bus pulls into the far end and off step the Gold Star Mom's/Dad's. The riders sitting on a grassy hillside near the bus stand and applaud. As the GSM/D's start walking thru the assembled bikes, row after row of rider's stand, come forward and form a corridor that the GSM's/D's walk thru. And we cheer and salute as row after row comes to attention to recognize these brave people and the sacrifice they live with.
At 1145 the last of the bikes are staged. It started at about 0430 - over 6 hours. At 1155 a lone B52 does a low fly over and then at 1200, we roll. Many of the participants are Vietnam Vets, but everyone is there for the vets. Being in the Gold Star contingent, I'm out of the lot by about 1208, and passing a Marine SSgt standing at attention, presenting arms. (He had his orders to deploy delayed so that he could be there to render this honor) And he will hold that until the last bike passes. The ride goes a pretty good distance in a large circle - I'd say about 3 miles. 3 miles of 3 or 4 deep people waving, cheering, saluting, holding the signs, being very respectful. One of the largest turnouts I've ever seen. Wanting to high 5, touch, thank, salute - it is a great day for vets of all time. We stage at about 1245 (took that long to go around) and walk over to the Wall (I needed to get a couple of rubbings). We walk over to Thunder Alley, and watch the last bikes come thru to final staging - about 1545. And the Marine SSgt can order arms. An amazing site.
As we drove in the parade, we passed thousands of bikes that elected to sit and watch rather than do Rolling Thunder. THOUSANDS. I have no idea how many veterans were here nor do I know the final count on bikes in and/or around DC and/or the Pentagon.
Doug Lyvere
Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial
The case surrounding the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial centers around whether or not a privately-erected cross on federal land established to honor fallen soldiers from all wars is unconstitutional on grounds of violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The seven-foot-tall cross was erected in 1934 in the 1.6 million acre Mojave Desert Preserve by a number of World War I veterans to honor the nation’s war dead as other hurting veterans gathered in the desert to heal from the War. Riley Bembry, one of the veterans who erected the memorial, cared for the cross until 1984, when he asked his dear friend, Henry Sandoz, to make sure that someone took care of the memorial after he was gone. Since then, Sandoz has cared for the memorial by repairing it from vandalism and securing it to the rock beneath.
In 2001, Frank Buono, a former National Park Services (NPS) employee who lives in Oregon, joined the ACLU to file suit for removal of the memorial claiming it was an Establishment Clause violation. The District Court sided with the ACLU in July 2002 and ruled that it must be removed.
Later in 2002, Congress passed legislation designating the memorial and surrounding property as a "national memorial commemorating United States participation in World War I and honoring American veterans of that war." They also passed a bill ordering the NPS to transfer the one acre upon which the memorial sits to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in exchange for five acres elsewhere in the Mojave Desert Preserve, donated by Sandoz.
Upon appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the District Court and ordered the removal of the memorial, which the District Court enforced in 2005. Following the District Court’s enforcement of the injunction against the memorial, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Congress’ motion to transfer the memorial and land would not take away the Establishment Clause violation and that the memorial must be torn down.
Diary from the Road. These are the deails of this years Run for the Wall, as documented by Doug (Sgt Maj) Lyvere.
Wed, May 13, the beginning of the Run, of the Healing, of the Welcome Home, of one of the most memorable and emotional things anyone, ANYONE, can do or experience. Be warned about two things - I do not remember what I wrote yesterday, and I write from the heart.
Last nite, the last thing before I crashed, I said "see you later" to Rick Pittman. A very special friend and who came down to this event because I asked him to. Very fitting for a veteran of his stature, and our era, to see these many people heading out on this Mission.
0 Dark 30 (somewhere around 5:30 AM - to dark to see the time). The Road Guards met in the Base Camp parking lot, finished insuring tight bindings on everything on our scoots, and headed over to the staging area at Victoria Gardens Mall. Hot food and drinks, fruit, cereal milk, you name it - all donated! Even though you know we had a mess of sign ups, you don't see the magnitude until this. As both Routes stage initially at the same location, its awe inspiring - about 550 scoots, some with passengers, and many cages that will accompany us on this years Run. Over 40% are FNG's. Rider's from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britian, and half of our States. The patches tell the stories - patches honoring our Fallen from all of our conflicts, some names, unfortunately new. Some of the vests actually tell the story of this persons life. Some, are bare as they might not have "traveled" the world. Old, young, and in between. All ages. And the scoots !! Every brand and probably every model. And of course the bulk are Hogs (we know because our chase truck driver meets most of them!!! I had to squeeze that in there.) The conversations at this point center around last years Run, who brand of bike is best, this years ride, old friends seeing each other for the first time in many many years. And, of those that have left us. We know that this year the Central Route will not see Robley Rex - he died 4 days short of his 108th birthday. A lot of us will seek out the FNG's - FNG's keep the Mission alive.
