A PEACE WITHIN , part 2

It's not all in your head

(c) by TK Rosevear January 09, 2008

It has been my experience that nightmares are teaching dreams or your inner self and fears trying to get your attention towards clarity and insight, depending upon how you identify, define and surrender or embrace the symbolic workings of the messages of 'subconscious' thoughts, beliefs or fears.

Our bodies respond to stress emotionally, as perceived danger and/or physically, as an extreme temperature change or exertion as: our muscles contract to fortifying and protecting the body; our metabolism speeds up to provide 'fight or flight' strength or energy. This will cause increasing heart rates and blood pressure; our rate of breathing increases to provide oxygen to 'fight or flight'; our digestion shuts down diverting blood and energy to large muscles needed for fighting or running; our pupils dilate to aid vision and our hearing is heightened.

Our bodily functions urge us to urinate and move the bowels, reducing the danger of abdominal infection if injury should occur; our arteries in the arms and legs constrict, so less blood will be lost if we are injured; and, our blood clots quicker, so we'll lose less blood if we're wounded. [WoW!] (3)

Our nervous system is somewhat overlooked in the typical diagnosis and treatment of PTSD, and the nerves are definitely part of the system that conveys impulses between the mind (brain) and body, it also reflective of strength, vigor and/or courage. A nerve impulse is defined as a progressive wave of electrical and chemical activity which stimulates or inhibits bodily function; Much like the similar sounding word 'Nirvana' which is a state of mind or place characterized by freedom from or oblivion to pain, worry, and the external world influence.

Our nerves are the center of our ability to experience beyond memories and senses. They are also representative of our communication and its receptivity's ability: when it breaks down, we're jamming the channels with self-centeredness guilt, self-pity and inferiority; when nervousness is our inability to trust the process of life!

Being anxious, struggling through and/or rushing time. The 'life lesson' or common denominator amongst PTSD clientele, is associated with this intricate, complex human network of 'nerve' and how we perceive tangible things, beliefs and ideas as we move beyond rationalizing, to the potential connection to a higher consciousness or insight.

Rationalizing forces us to abide by a set of rules that becomes increasingly limiting and isolates us from our imagination, while an intuitive hones their skills, knowing the difference between theory and practice ? like we don't just 'live by the book' but trust our instincts to supply us with unique and telling insight.

The possibilities of shadow or dysfunction for this 'life lesson' in balance would be neurological disturbances, poor vision, headaches, nightmares, learning difficulties and hallucinations, as are suffering from the imbalanced behaviors of arrogance, dogma, highly logical and authoritative, yet undisciplined, low goal oriented, and afraid of success scenarios in actions and communication. (3)

Balancing the nervous system takes practice and determination, without chemical alterations, and achieving this balance rewards us with being charismatic, highly intuitive, not attached to material things and the possibilities of experiencing unusual phenomena.

When painful, traumatic, adverse and/or negative experiences befall us, we tend to only see the negative sides more than the positivity in reasoning towards the nature of our senses, the nervous system, and the brain being beneficial tools, blessings, lessons, gifts and service of these painful and traumatic experiences.

The healing journey consists of discovering and embracing these balancing sides, so the larger picture is revealed not masked, to containing the 'gift of the wound', a piece to the puzzle of the meaning and purpose of our lives. (3)

The reasoning behind writing this article is somewhat cathartic, as it also revealing to my own personal experiences from childhood, adulthood and my choices to the services of counsel for PTSD, as well as nutrition as it has played a significant role in the healing of the nervous system, so vitally important in the healing process.

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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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A PEACE WITHIN , part 1

A PEACE WITHIN

by TK Rosevear
January 09, 2008 04:38 PM EST

Initially, the intentions of this article were simply to lead into a book review for one of our own here on Gather.com that I had the privilege of reading. E. Everett Mc Fall wrote a poetic journey and brief narrative about his own struggles with the 'demons' of PTSD, from his military experience in Vietnam.

As I began researching further, I have to say that if I were questioned by a psychologist today, I would most likely be diagnosed with some type of anxiety disorder, quite simply from my distressing findings. Please note that if you are currently taking any of the below mentioned medications for the diagnosis discussed or something else, it would be in your best healthy interests to discuss it with your doctor ? seriously.

PTSD defined
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined clinically in the Merck Manual (the world's most widely used medical reference) as an anxiety disorder caused by the exposure to an overwhelming traumatic event, in which the person later repeatedly reexperiences the event. These experiences are considered to threaten death or serious injury that can affect people long after the actual occurrence has been experienced; an intense fear, helplessness, or horror that can haunt a person's beliefs, thoughts and behaviors negatively.

Traumatic events may involve having been threatened with death or serious injury or witnessing violence against another person. Clinical examples include engaging in military combat, experiencing or witnessing sexual or physical assault, or being affected by a disaster, either natural or man-made. A delayed onset of PTSD symptoms may take months, years, and even decades to appear. A diagnosis of concurrent symptoms for 3 months consecutively is considered as a chronic affliction with PTSD. This manual also concludes that this disorder affects at least 8% of the people at sometime during their life with the symptoms of re-experiencing repeatedly, usually in nightmares or flashbacks. (1)

In lieu of 9/11 events, in 2001, I would venture to say those percentages have risen considerably. The Merck manual continues its definition of symptoms to PTSD, as an intense distress that often occurs when the person is 'triggered' or exposed to an event, situation, even conversation. Even with persistently avoiding things and people that may remind us of the trauma. We will attempt to avoid thoughts, feelings/emotions, and talking about the traumatic event, also trying to avoid situations or people who serve as reminders.

Avoidance may lead to amnesia and/or a numbing or deadening of emotional responsiveness, as well as the tendency to being overly sensitized to relaxation or stimulation (difficult to fall asleep/easily startled). They go on to say that symptoms of depression are also common, as is losing interest in previously enjoyed activities. Feelings of guilt, whether "survivor's guilt", 'why me' guilt, or the guilt associated with being deserving of the trauma. (1)

The most common treatment for PTSD is drug therapy, like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's), Tricylic Antidepressants, and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI's), to be accompanied by psychotherapy and counseling. (1)

Psychologists and sleep experts still debate and disagree whether dreams/nightmares reflect emotional turbulence, though they continue to insist that brain waves are activities the sleeping brain randomly choreographs into a plot. While others argue to seeing the repressed fears, desires, symbolic solutions, even ancient archetypal patterns.

Nightmares are considered like anxiety attacks while dreaming with the side effects of losing sleep, raising blood pressure and heart rate and other 'fight or flight' responses. Sleep terrors are not dreaming nightmares, it is more akin to sleep walking as these both occur in the deep stages of nondream sleep and the person usually doesn't awaken and can even be difficult to rouse. Night sweats are emotions and stresses carried to bed, quite common with sleep disorders like sleepwalking, nightmares, apnea and insomnia.

The rising pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and adrenaline levels prior to bedtime with food, spices, alcohol, television and tobacco, can literally guarantee igniting night sweats later. (2)

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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE

BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE, WHEN MY TIME HAS COME

TO AN END, SO I SPEND ETERNITY, BESIDE MY BROTHER

AND FRIEND. I’VE SERVED BESIDE THEM FOR YEARS AND

THEY’VE INSPIRED ME EVERY DAY. THEY’VE NEVER ASKED

FOR ANYTHING, SO A DEBT I CAN NEVER REPAY. NONE OF

THEM SERVED FOR GLORY, NONE FOR MONEY OR FAME.

BUT THEY’VE SERVED IN EVERYTIME AND PLACE, HERO'S

WITH BUT ONE NAME. NO ONE WILL OUTDO THEM, THEIR

HONOR IS NEVER OUTDONE. THEY WILL ALL GO DOWN IN

HISTORY,AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE SONS. MARINES WILL

NEVER FAIL YOU, AND THEIR GUARD WILL NEVER CEASE.

PLEASE BURY ME NEXT TO A MARINE,

SO I MAY REST IN PEACE….

HM2 ( FMF ) ROBERT L. OWENS AUGUST 31, 2007

Thanks Ken "Doc" Coleman

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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE

1-800-273- TALK (8255)

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MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven

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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven CT
By Donald H.
January 06, 2008 12:01 PM EST

Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang, which is the main importer of illegal aliens, meth, and cocaine into the United States has vandalized a veteran's memorial in New Haven, CT.

You may remember that New Haven, CT has given illegal immigrants ID cards and that ALIPAC made the national press by making fliers encouraging illegal’s to go to New Haven, CT.

It appears that MS13 has set up shop in New Haven, to import illegal aliens and service them with documents, drugs, prostitutes, etc...Where are our elected officials and those who swore to defend and PROTECT?

Many of us wonder why the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) refuse to declare the murderous MS-13 as a hate group, since they are killing black and white Americans for racist reasons.

This is the kind of thing you can expect more of when our Mayor’s and city council members welcome illegal aliens, foster illegal immigration rights, thus permitting the drug dealing gangs to thrive uncontrolled in America.

Please watch, comment if you want to, forward the You Tube links for these video’s to all of your contacts.

MS-13 Gang Desecrates Veterans Memorial, New Haven
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1U854PyaQS0

MS 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_UO_FgG4IE&NR=1

MS 13 Gang Doco. Epi. 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBzu3mOFOvo&NR=1
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Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Talk Shows at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/
E. Everett McFall, Host
Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please, No Porn or Vulgarity)
email: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net

Your Comments are Welcome!!!

Old Man and The Marine

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NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE

1-800-273- TALK (8255)
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Old Man and The Marine

By Donald H.
January 05, 2008 06:44 PM EST

One sunny day in 2008, an old man approached the
White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue where
he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the
Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in
and meet with President Hillary Clinton.

"The Marine replied, "Sir, Mrs. Clinton is not the President
and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and
walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White
House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go
in and meet with President Hillary Clinton".

The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday,
Mrs. Clinton is not the President and doesn't reside here.
"The man thanked him and again walked away..

The third day, the same man approached the White House
and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to
go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton."

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point , looked
at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you
have been here asking to speak to Mrs. Clinton.

I've told you already several times that Mrs. Clinton is not
the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"

The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you fine, I just
love hearing your answer!" The Marine snapped to attention,
saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."
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at http://internetvoicesradio.com/

E. Everett McFall, Host

Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please, No Porn or Vulgarity)
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The Death Toll Gets Higher Daily

(captions):
#1- The Death Toll Gets Higher Daily, A Price TOO HIGH...
#2- "You're home now Marine, You paid the price,
They Will Wait"...and they did, patiently!



Visitors;
Please take the time to offer up this short prayer for our fallen:
Marines, Soldiers, Naval and Air Force warriors.
Remind others to do the same. Thank you.


"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts that

they perform for us in our time of need.

Please bring them back home safely to their friends and loving families.

Amen."

------------------------------------------------

Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Shows at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/
E. Everett McFall, Host

Got something to say, but don't have a platform?...
(Please,No Porn or Vulgarity)
email: getpaid365@sbcglobal.net
Comments Welcome!!!

There's No Holiday From War

IndyStar.com

December 28, 2007
Ken Bode

For the holiday season, the American media suspended most of the bad news from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, we're given reports on refugees returning, Christmas at Camp Liberty and Baghdad churches crowded for the holiday. In the presidential campaign, the candidates in both parties now tailor their themes to new polls showing that immigration, health care, taxes, foreclosures, even toys from China top the public's concerns. America seems ready to give the war in Iraq a rest.

John Rutherford toils in a different precinct. Rutherford is a Vietnam vet, wounded in that war and decorated for his service. Now he is an NBC News producer who writes a blog each Friday on http://www.dailynightly.msnbc.com/, in which he tracks the casualties still rolling in from the war in Iraq. After his regular reporting duties for the network, Rutherford examines official reports from the Pentagon and scours hometown newspaper accounts about soldiers who have died in the war to build profiles for his blog, which is called "Fallen But Not Forgotten."

Last week he reported on Army Spc. Jonathan Lahmann, 21, of Richmond, Ind., who was killed 15 days before Christmas in a roadside bombing in Bayji, Iraq. Among other things, back home Lahmann mowed his neighbor's lawn. Little details enrich Rutherford's reviews. The dead are mostly young. This one loved skateboarding and paint ball; another loved to hunt and fish; one dreamed of pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rutherford reported on Army Staff Sgt. Michael Gabel, from Crawley, La., who once told a newspaper that some guys think that being in Iraq is like sitting at a PlayStation, only for real. "But the thing about a PlayStation is, when you die, you can hit the reset button," Gabel said. Sgt. Gabel died on Dec. 12, in the lead vehicle of a convoy, when a roadside bomb exploded, destroying his truck.

A year ago this Christmas, support for the war was so low that President Bush finally said he would seek a new Iraq plan. At that time, 21 percent approved of the way he was handling the war. The last time he had majority support was just at the turn of the year in 2004.
Reports on the changed security situation in Iraq may have driven the war out of the headlines and off the top of the presidential candidates' campaign agendas, but there is much to remember and think about as we turn our calendars to 2008.

Our Army is suffering. When the scandals erupted at Walter Reed, more than 50,000 soldiers had returned from Iraq with serious injuries. It wasn't until March of this year that President Bush bestirred himself even to name a bipartisan commission to look into the problems of military and veterans hospitals. Five years into this war, he has used his bully pulpit to advertise his concern but none of his political capital to fix the problem.

Recruitment to the all-volunteer army is a constant problem. The Army is offering bonuses of $20,000 to enlist, $35,000 and higher for junior officers to re-up, and still it is hemorrhaging captains. It is accepting more recruits without high school diplomas, and more with waivers for criminal offenses.

The war may be going well in the American media, but nearly 5,000 American soldiers defected in 2007, a 42 percent increase from 2006. Then there is the stress on soldiers and their families. Increasing combat tours to 15 months, and then repeating them two and three times, has caused a serious lapse in morale, especially in the lower ranks.

National Public Radio recently reported on Pentagon statistics showing that among those in their third deployment, only 15 percent say their morale is high. One-third of privates and corporals say they intend to divorce.

Soldiers with mental health problems are often considered by their superiors to be laggards, and reports abound of the Army ignoring and punishing the mental anguish that comes with extended combat tours. Returning veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome are underserved and often forgotten.

This week, NBC's Rutherford reported that Army Sgt. Austin Pratt, 22, of Cadet, Mo., died in a noncombat incident. The Army assured his family that Pratt did not take his own life. But many have, and many others think about it. Suicide is on the rise, to the point that the Army is now sending suicide prevention teams to Iraq.

It is a troubled Army that celebrated Christmas at Camp Liberty. John Rutherford helps us remember. Mr Bode, a former senior political analyst for CNN, is the Pulliam professor of journalism at DePauw University.

Contact him at enbode@depauw.edu.

VA Begins New Suicide Prevention Program

Listen to the Archived "Veterans Forum" Shows at http://internetvoicesradio.com/ E. Everett McFall, Host

Remember: 120 Vets per Week!!!
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New Suicide Prevention Program within the VA
By Derek Meurer, The Daily Courier

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 "The biggest myth about suicide is that people should not talk about it," according to Ali Cassidy.
"People think that talking about suicide with someone will 'put the idea in their head,' and that's just not true," said Cassidy, the Mental Health Clinic Suicide Prevention Coordinator working at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center. "People who are dealing with suicidal thoughts are begging for someone to notice. We make sure there's always someone available to talk to who is knowledgeable, and who will listen."Cassidy, a former employee of the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, is heading up the local effort to enhance suicide prevention measures for veterans as part of a nationwide cooperative effort of VA hospitals

Veterans are a special risk group for suicide," said Cassidy. "There's a number of reasons for that, but mainly due to the experience of trauma in battle, post traumatic stress disorder and their familiarity with guns. That makes it more likely if they attempt a suicide, it'll likely be fatal."

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (1-800-273-8255), a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention hotline, now has a prompt of, "if you are a U.S. military veteran ... please press 1 now." The call will then route to Canandaigua, N.Y., where a staff of specially trained suicide counselors wait to help veterans through their time of crisis.

"It does require some special knowledge of what a veteran goes through to counsel a veteran, and they have that knowledge," said Cassidy. "Just as important, it immediately enters them into the VA Medical System, if they weren't already, and cross references their location to find the closest appropriate facilities to help them." (1-800-273-TALK)-8255

The Department of Veterans Affairs has established several new programs to combat the
threat of suicide among veterans. Cassidy estimates more than 100 life-saving emergency interventions, "where they were literally going to do immediate harm to themselves," since the beginning of the suicide prevention effort less than a year ago.

"Just last week I got a call from the suicide hotline about an Iraqi war veteran in California who was suicidal," said Cassidy. "I spoke with the young man for over an hour. He had returned from active duty and had a cascade of problems not unusual for a young man returning from war; numerous personal losses.

"With the help of the new information networking system, VA personnel were able to enter the veteran into the VA medical system and arrange for emergency care through a local community hospital.

"He was later transferred to a hospital in Phoenix, where I saw him at the end of the week," said Cassidy. "He looked at me and said, ''I was really going to kill myself.'' I thought, thank God for that hotline. It would have been so needless, such a waste if he'd taken his life. He was just a kid.

"In addition to the veteran-specific hotline and the information network, the suicide prevention program involves educating VA hospital staff and the Prescott community in how to look for the signs of suicide and what measures to take to prevent it.

"There are definite, tangible signs to look for, with suicide. It's another myth that suicide happens without warning," said Cassidy. "When trained to look for the signs, you can intervene and avoid a senseless death. Suicide is the permanent solution to a temporary problem. More people die every year by suicide than by HIV, or murder, things that are always on people's minds. People need to take notice. It's the only way we can make this change.

"The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

For more information, visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Contact the reporter at: dmeurer@prescottaz.com

Battle On The Homefront

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Http://InternetVoicesRadio.com E. Everett McFall, Host


By Jon Seidel Post-Tribune staff writer(Northwest Indiana)

Sgt. Jacob Blaylock won't be counted among the casualties of the Iraq war.
But he, like many soldiers, was haunted by its ghosts. (PTSD)
Blaylock, 26, was a fun-loving man when he went to Iraq, his family said. In photographs, he tends to be the one giving a thumbs-up to the camera. When he came home from war, though, his family said he wanted a beer, he wanted a cigarette, and he never wanted to go back to battle. Blaylock, who grew up in Calumet City, shot himself this month.

He left a note behind in his glove box for his family. "I'm sorry I let everybody down," Blaylock wrote. Blaylock was living in Houston, but his father, Ricky Blaylock, lives in Lowell. Ricky Blaylock said his son's depression medication, from doctors who were treating his son for post-traumatic stress disorder, arrived the day after the suicide.

"The military actually dropped the ball right there," Mr. Blaylock said.
-->According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, between 12 and 20 percent of Iraq war veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder.

Much of it has to do with guilt. Days after he died, Blaylock's family members said they were still learning more about how bothered he was about what happened overseas. Rob Wisniewski, Blaylock's uncle, lives in Highland. He said his nephew saw two of his friends die in Iraq when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

Originally, Blaylock told his family he was told not to ride in that vehicle. It was the lead vehicle in a military convoy, and he was scheduled to go home in two weeks, Wisniewski said. Wednesday, Wisniewski said they learned that Blaylock asked not to ride in the vehicle. "He was supposed to be in that Humvee," Wisniewski said. Instead, Blaylock came home to his fiance, Heidi, and their 8-year-old daughter, Lilly. He also continued singing in his band, Nine Volt. The band was scheduled to play at the House of Blues in Chicago, his father, Ricky Blaylock said. Wisniewski said the lyrics in Blaylock's latest music were a sign that he was bothered by what went on in Iraq.

"There's no hope/There's no doubt/Keep it up, kid, you're doing fine," Blaylock wrote in his song, "Like Peter Pan and His Shadow." Blaylock was buried last week with full military honors in Houston National Cemetery, at the request of his daughter. Ricky Blaylock said it is ultimately everyone's duty(especially the Veterans Administration), to make sure soldiers are taken care of when they come home from war. It's a task, he said, that the military can't handle alone. "If you've got somebody coming back from there," Blaylock said, "you've got to stay on them."

A memorial service for Blaylock has been scheduled for 10 a.m.,
Dec. 29 at St. James Parish, 9640 Kennedy Ave., Highland, IN .

Contact Jon Seidel at 881-3148 or jseidel@post-trib.com
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E. Everett McFall, Vietnam Veteran,PTSD Internet Radio Host, Author of
(I Can Still Hear their Cries, Even In My Sleep),
Http://InternetVoicesRadio.Com

Singing for Heroes

By TK Rosevear
December 17, 2007 09:49 PM EST


Unsung heroes of time and eternity gone by,
upon eagles wings please hear harmony's cry;
I know of the courage in your brave, purple hearts,
the valor that runs deep through all body parts;

No medals or ribbons could suffice true zeal
of facing the Devil, declaring, "NO Deal!"
Senses denatured to the ills of humankind,
focusing on 'cause' without losing one's mind;

War, we were taught, is freedoms price tag,
for waving or planting the colors of our flag;
Laying claim to faith and dignity to rites
for victim nations, to empower from plights;

A noble choice to risk one's life and limb,
while ignorance decides whether to sink or swim;
My promise to you from this moment on,
your memories heard in epiphenomenon;

With love and honor, respectfully I'll close -
each dawn 'sound the bugle', each eve with a rose.

TK Rosevear's website is http://www.freewebs.com/peacecandles/
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