Freedom...and my tribute to all of you

If tomorrow all the things were gone
. . I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
. . with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
. . to be livin' here today.
Cause the flag still stands for freedom
. . And they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up
. . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota
... To the hills of Tennessee
... Across the plains of Texas
... From sea to shining sea
... From Detroit down to Houston
... And New York to LA
Well there's pride in every American heart
And its time we stand and say..

That I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up . . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up . . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA!

- Lee Greenwood :)

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 THE COLORS OF FREEDOM!!!!!

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July 4th, 2000 - I fled the USA and Arrived in Acapulco, Mexico, reunited with Rick.  I watched the fireworks in Washington D.C. on CNN in Spanish, from atop a hill in a tiny apartment overlooking the Bahia de Acapulco.


Only photo of Rick in Mexico, in our
tiny apartment overlooking the bay


Bahia de Acapulco...the bay

 

We lived directly below the shadow of the giant cross, atop the hill.  The Chapel of Peace - La Paz Chapel




Not knowing when or if we would ever return to the United States of America.

In the coming days I would watch hundreds of Mexican citizens line up for blocks and blocks to vote for their own freedom, as President Vicente Fox would soon be their new leader!  Perhaps the greatest lesson in democracy, the biggest impact on how I viewed the people of Mexico, would be played out during that first week in Mexico. 

There was little doubt in my mind that the people of Mexico understood democracy and understood their duty as citizens.  They cared about their country, they cared about their future, and the future of their children.

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July 4th, 2001 -  Toronto, Ontario.  I spent July 4th watching the fireworks on CNN as a refugee from the war on drugs.  With a new group of friends, brothers, angels.  I lived in the shadow of the Steeple atop the church across Jarvis Street.  A constant reminder of who I was and how I was raised.  Like Mexico, my past would follow me and I would never be allowed to forget.
 

View from my window - 298 Jarvis Street

With my roommate and brother Norman, another year would pass before I would taste freedom again.

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Spring 2002 - first contact made with family again


First photo sent home to Deena
using a web-cam

First photo sent to me from Deena, on her computer
 

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July 4th, 2002 - I was first reunited with my family.  Under false identification, Norman and I would set out on a journey home.  To be reunited with my sisters, my mother, my grandmother, my father, step-mother and nephews and nieces. 


Norman arriving with me in the USA July 4th, 2002

This is the FIRST American Flag I saw upon
arriving back in the United States

Reunited with my family - grandmother and Pastor Keplinger.

 

Under the impression that I was free, we would celebrate this fourth by watching fireworks above the skies of Shelbyville, Illinois.


Shelbyville, Illinois - waiting for the fireworks to start 2002



Tyler and me, waiting on the fireworks to start - 2002



First Fireworks in Shelbyville, Illinois.
A day I waited forever on




My nephews and nieces would chase and catch fireflies in
pickle jars outside of Deena and Tony's house. 
 

Then I was told that I was not free, and we had a long road ahead of us, many battles, many trials, many sleepless nights
 

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May 6th, 2003 A Tornado hits Massac County bringing everything to a head.  I was at my end and decided to take the steps to restore my freedom in the USA.   I would return to Alabama and take my chances with the court system.  A final resolution to what happened in the year 1999 and 2000.

 

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July 4th, 2003 - St Louis, Missouri  -  In the midst of a court battle, I took what freedom I had and enjoyed the fireworks above the ST Louis Arch!

Fireworks over St Louis, Missouri - July 4th 2003



and I wrote these words from St Louis that night....
 

I sat on the steps of the Court House and directly in front of me was the St. Louis Arch. I could see the entire Arch and each firework that shot off was brilliant, it would light up the steel sides of the towering structure, illuminating it with shades of red, blue, green, and gold.  The crowd was oooing and awing with each explosion.  Occasionally there would be a long stream of brilliant white light that would shoot high above the Arch and then a second or two of silence, followed by a magnificent flowering of golden shooting stars that would twinkle and crackle, covering the sky and wrapping itself around the entire breadth of the Arch.  You could hear the kids around you laughing and clapping in total awe of what they were seeing!

Now I am here in St. Louis on the steps of their Court House.  Celebrating MY FREEDOM!  My heart is filled with JOY and my spirits are high as I think about how FAR I have come in the last 12 months with the help of all of my friends in Toronto and all of my family in America!  WHAT A JOURNEY THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN!!!!!!!!  

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July 4th, 2004 - FREEDOM...FREEDOM...FREEDOM


The path to freedom


freedom

Freedom...waiting for the fireworks to start 2004



MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY 2004

So here we are, my mother said tonight "gee a lot has happened in the last two years" 
I said, yes, yes INDEED!

I laughed a little bit as I thought back over the past few Independence days and where they were spent!

And today we celebrate more than just me being free to go to and from, but we also celebrate me being drug free! :)  We celebrate me being free from so many other things, the list is long!

My freedom came at a high price, it was not cheap for me, for my family, or for my friends.  We paid dearly for it.  But we made it through the storms we made it through the difficult days apart and we made it to THE OTHER SIDE!

I watched with my mother and grandmother today the ending of the Wizard of Oz :)  and I was reminded again of the journey over the past few years!  That yellow brick road that we followed to get to where we are today!

So many friends walked with me along the way, providing me safety and security, and giving me the courage to move forward and never look back.

I can only imagine what is ahead! :) 
 

And to all the heroes that BROUGHT ME MY FREEDOM :)
 

THANK YOU :)
 

I can't even possibly name all of you  :) and I don't even have pictures of all of you, but you know who you are - thank you for all the prayers, the encouragement set by example...the encouragement of words, letters, emails, and phone calls! :)

I am blessed!  I am thankful and I am free!

and here is a look back...the photos of you!!! MEMORIES

:)  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!!!!

 

and as the songs goes.....

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!


America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.




 

My Homeland flags....



Imagine...

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

 - John Lennon

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