Quiet Heroes

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Weekends are for relaxing and reflection. Looking backward and ahead. [And this time of year, hoping the damned temperature does in fact rise or the weather guys will have a lot of explaining to do!]

We've begun to contemplate the passing of an era with Byron Dorgan's retirement announcement. Because he wasn't one of the posturers and preeners who feel it is their divine right to always show up on the pundit shows, he may not have been the best known of senators outside our own North Dakota borders.

But those who know him know well what a legacy of honor and regard he has amassed.

Two tales to tell about the Senator you may not know so well.

Thanks to Brendan for this milemarker [yeah, I know, I don't often venture into conservative blogospherics either]: A soft spot for Senator Dorgan.

And to Barbara for this: Minnesota Senators lose key ally. Kinda makes you wonder how much better this country could have fared had Dorgan been Obama's mentor, too, instead of Loathsome you-know-who.

We salute our heroes. Some are on the nation's stage, or the world's.

And some — we carry them with us in our hearts, right, Barbara?
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crossposted at firedoglake's The Seminal and Clotheslineblog

Roxana's Return to Land of the Free

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She's back...in the USA. One step closer to home. And saying maybe it's corny but she's glad to be back in the land of the free.

Friends in her north Fargo neighborhood have already planted flowers at the family home to welcome them all back.

Need we mention the quiet heroism of her parents? Leaving the safety and relative obscurity of their quiet life in Fargo for the harrowing challenge of flying to Iran and resolutely staying and speaking out until Roxana Saberi was released.

On this Memorial Weekend, we salute all the men and women who work in every facet of our American government, military, State Dept., intelligence services, diplomatic corps, Congressmen and Senators and their staffs...working in public service for us all. Led by a White House working to restore the honor and dignity of this nation in the eyes of the world...and ourselves.

Working to assure, most days in obscurity, that we all truly live in the land of the free.

We have much to celebrate...and reflect on...this Memorial Day weekend.
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crossposted at firedoglake's Oxdown Gazette