White Rose's Adventures
by Cynthia Morgan
White Rose's Adventures

One Night With the King - Chad Gibson as Elvis




Over time I have met many Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that have left a lasting impression on me. Each have something unique about them that make them stand out in my mind. But I have to say that Chad Gibson is one that I will never forget.

I met Major Chad Gibson, Chief of Public Affairs, with the USAFR when I did the Hurricane Hunters Blogger Flight back in May. At that time he mentioned that he had an alter ego....ELVIS! I have to say that I was intrigued by this and made my mind up that I had to see his show at the Hard Rock in June.

I invited an ole high school classmate and his wife to join me and they were as excited as I was. We met and drove to the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS on June 14th with great anticipation. I have been to Vegas and seen a few Elvis impersonators, some were OK and some were not. So I was very surprised when Chad, aka Elvis, opened his mouth and really sounded like Elvis! (watch a video from that night here)

Chad started singing when he was 3 and impersonating Elvis at about the same time. He told me, "I wanted to imitate that sound that I had records of. Mom let me play only so many records, many being Elvis. When he died (I was 5) I ran into a closet and cried -- I truly thought there was no more music for me to sing with. Mom let me listen to all of her records after that and I never quit singing. Mostly in churches and Southern Gospel quartets, the same way Elvis started."





As my friends and I sat in the back of the Hard Rock Café we all noticed that Chad really had the "Elvis" moves and sound down to a T. "I watched many of his concerts and movies, repeating particular moves, accents and mannerisms. YouTube is great for unreleased shows. My Favorite is the 1972 Aloha from Hawaii concert - his voice was spot on for that one. I have been doing this for much of my life, this was a life-long endeavor (music, in general), and for whatever reason, Elvis' voice came naturally to me and emulating it did not take long." Chad told me in an email. He says he has several favorite Elvis songs, "How Great Thou Art", "Way Down", Suspicious Minds", and "Love Me Tender" to name a few. But his favorite to sing is "American Trilogy".

Chad had great support from his Military family in the audience that night. "The Air Force Reserve is a huge family and whether it is a deployment, hurricane or concert, the Citizen Airmen family is there to help and support." In the audience cheering him on were Brig. Gen. James Muscatell, 403rd Wing Commander and wife Nancy, Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, Retired, former 403rd Wing Commander and his wife Suzy and many, fliers from the 815th Flying Jennies and 53rd Hurricane Hunters (Lt Col Roy Deatherage, Capt Darren Ray, Lt Col Doug Fairtrace to name a few).

And never to forget his fellow troops over seas, he helped collect over $1100 for phone cards to be sent to troops deployed around the world.



"Elvis" back up singers are also members of the Air Force Reserve, Christi Vallo, Dhiana McKaig with Michael Duhe on guitar. Chad has been performing at the Hard Rock in Biloxi for about a year now and already has 2 more shows scheduled with the next to be October 8th. I encourage any one in the area who can, to attend this show. You will be amazed! I know my friends and I had a blast and so did the folks sitting around us. As with a real Elvis concert, we sat in that back yelling and screaming with every hip movement and toss of an ascot.

For anyone wishing to be a fan, go to "Got Elvis?" on Facebook or to Chad's Facebook page.

photos courtesy of Chad Gibson and "Got Elvis?"
Posted by White Rose at 25 Jun 2009, 6:12 PM | Add Comment

ACLU attacks The Mojave Desert Memorial Cross



I really get sick and tired of what the ACLU has and is trying to do to the honor and memory of this Nations Veterans. The following is from the web site trying to save this memorial. PLEASE, go and sign the petition and help save this and all memorials to our Fallen.

The Mojave Desert Memorial Cross has stood proudly for over 75 years, honoring our American war dead. Or it was until the ACLU stepped in and got a judge to rule the memorial to World War I veterans unconstitutional. They covered the cross with a bag, and when that didn't work, they boarded it up in a plywood box. Now, they're threatening to tear down this national monument because they don't believe America should have religious imagery anywhere on public property.
 
If they win and succeed in tearing down this monument, what's next? Imagine what could happen at the Arlington National Cemetery. Will they put bags over all the crosses that mark the graves of our fallen heroes? What about the 20-foot Canadian Cross of Sacrifice?
 
We believe America should remember and honor her veterans; and were taking our case to the U.S. Supreme Court to tell the ACLU that they can't tear down our freedom!

 The ACLU is threatening to tear down all monuments on public land that contain religious imagery. This fall, The Supreme Court will rule on whether these memorials will continue to stand for our freedoms, or if they will be removed permanently.
 
It is our patriotic duty to stand up and tell these left-wing organizations that we won't have our freedoms boarded up or our values torn down. By signing our petition, you will be showing your support for our veterans. Your name will be added to a letter going to the veterans groups of America, thanking them for their service and letting them know you stand with them in the fight to protect our nations war memorials.  
 
You can also consider supporting our fight with a generous gift that will go towards our efforts to defend our freedoms at The Supreme Court. Every dollar you send will make a difference in the way that our American veterans are remembered for generations to come!  
 
To find out more about other memorials under attack, visit www.saveourmemorials.com. 

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Posted by White Rose at 12 Jun 2009, 7:32 PM | View Comments (8) | Add Comment

"Taking Chance" a review

A black screen.....

The sound of radio chatter.....

"We have suspicious vehicle on the right moving pretty fast"........

"It's slowing!"....

An explosion...

Then gun fire....

Switch to two Marines in dress uniform getting out of a car at 0200 in front of the Phelps house. This is the first visual you get.

The tears started with the opening scene and they didn't stop through the entire movie and the extras. For those that have been to Iraq or been in combat, the opening scene will undoubtedly cause a catch in your throat and force your mind back to a memory of a battle or ambush you went through. For those that have not "been there and done that" your first thought will be "Oh my God!"

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Posted by White Rose at 2 Jun 2009, 3:19 PM | Add Comment

1st ANNUAL STARS & STRIPES APPRECIATION CELEBRATION

Start Date:6/29/2009
End Date:7/5/2009
Location:3 DAWGS & FUFUS TOO LLC.
Address:15321 COUNTY FARM ROAD
City/State/Zip:GULFPORT, MS 39503
Telephone:228-243-1799
Sponsor:VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DISTRICT #1
Website:WWW.threedawgsandfufustoo.com
E-mail:HarmonconstructS@aol.com
Description:Bike Vendors, Bike Show w/ money and trophies, BBQ cook off, concert Molly Hatchet and BlackFoot 3rd July, Vinnie and Cody formally of OCC. Mid-Way Carnival. Come celabrate with our Veterans during the 4th of July week.


Concert Flyer JPEG2
Posted by White Rose at 31 May 2009, 7:47 PM | Add Comment

Extreme Tuck Stops

OK, I was board and flipping through the channels when I saw on the Travel Channel "Extreme Truck Stops" Course being a truck driver I had to stop and watch to see what they called an "EXTREME" Truck Stop. Now I have to say that these truck stops are a bit "extreme" in the world of truck stops, but are they really what a truck driver would call a good truck stop? And why did they include the Mid-America Truck Show, in this list? It is only a week long show and NOT a truck stop.

In this day and age REAL truck stops are hard to find. It seems that what once use to be a Truck Stop is now a Travel Center and they only want you to get your fuel and get out! They have cut down on the parking and with the log book rules being as they are now, every driver has to find a place to park their rig for 10 hours out of every 24 hours. How do ya do that when the so-called truck stops have limited parking, and the rest areas are being closed or you are limited to only 2 to 8 hours of parking in them?

Also many have gotten rid of their real resturaunts and put in fast food joints. How can a driver stay healthy when most of the places they stop to fuel, shower and eat, don't have a real resturaunt? Drivers are not very active people. We do what we can when we can, but eating healthy without a real resturant is almost impossible....unles you want to put a kitchen in you truck. And that is what many drivers are doing now days. A real fridge and little cook stoves or grills is what it takes to even think about eating half way healthy on the road now days.

I agree that some one these Truck Stops are really good, but I think they left one out that is my favorite. Bosie Stage Stop just outside of Bosie, ID is in my opinion one of the few REAL Truck Stops left in America. Why do I say this, becasue they do cater to the truck driver. The are signs in the resturaunt that tell the patrons that the cater to the driver because they are on a time schedule and will be waited on first. The shower not only are showers, they also have big bath tubs. There is pleanty of room to lay out you clothers and do what ever ya need to do without getting you stuff wet or wrinkled.

Ok drivers, you know what is one of my favorite Truck Stops so now, tell me what you think and what is your favorite "Truck Stop" in the country?


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Posted by White Rose at 31 May 2009, 10:30 AM | Add Comment

Colonel Robert Morris is in the Hospital

As many of you know, Colonel Robert Morris is the man that is writing and recoding a song about me called "Cindy's Song" and one about the Road Dogs on Hogs that were due to be released next month. Saturday afternoon I received a call from Roberts wife, Irene telling me that he had a heart attack and was in the hospital in south Haven, MS.

I talked with him today and he sounded good. He still has his sense of humor and is harassing the nurses. Right now all I know is that he has has walking pneumonia for a while and now this heart attack. He has some test to do tomorrow and what those show will determine how much longer he stays there.

I will keep ya'll posted on how he is doing as I hear about it. My prayers are with him, Irene and his family.

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Posted by White Rose at 27 May 2009, 7:09 PM | Add Comment

Wrists: Good News/Bad News

I saw Dr. Waguespack last Thursday. It has been 2 months since my last appointment and I have been in the bone growth stimulator's for about 5 weeks of that. She did the usual x-rays and told me that the right wrist is doing great, but the left wrist still has some delayed union. I don't have to wear the wrist braces all the time any more, only when I am using my hands a lot or if picking up any weight.  I still have to use the bone growth stimulator on both wrists though. She says that we wear them for 3 months total, so I have another 2 months of that. Even though the right wrist is doing good and no longer has any delayed union, I still have to use it on that one as well. "We can't over heal the bones" she said.

She did give me permission to ride my motorcycle again. Course showing up to the appointment on it may have had something to do with it. I did ask her if I should continue to wear the braces while riding. She said that I didn't have to but to be careful. I am still in danger of re-shattering both wrists if I fall and hit them. I have found that as long as I am on the open road and not having to use the clutch much, I am OK without the braces. But if in town, on wet roads, or any where that I have to use the clutch a lot, I really feel better wearing at least the left brace.

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Posted by White Rose at 27 May 2009, 7:35 AM | Add Comment

AF.MIL Video Report on Bloggers Flight

This is the Air Force Video Report of the Blogger Flight with the Reserve 403rd Hurricane Hunters.




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Posted by White Rose at 26 May 2009, 7:58 PM | Add Comment

Bloggers Flight with the 403rd Hurricane Hunters

Hurricene Hunters (100)


For the first time ever in the history of the Air Force, bloggers were recognized for their impact on public opinion and were invited to their very own Bloggers Flight with the Reserve 403rd Hurricane Hunters. What a great honor is was to be included in this flight with these brave Airmen and other bloggers that are helping to change the face of how the public gets it news and learns about the world they live in. McQ from Black Five was there and it was an honor to meet this Vietnam Veteran and fellow Blogger.
Hurricane Hunters (55)

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Posted by White Rose at 20 May 2009, 8:04 AM | Add Comment

403rd Hurricane Hunters Bloggers Flight

I am in the process of uploading all the pictures I took today on the first ever Bloggers flight with the 403rd Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. That is going to take a while since I took around 100 pictures. Once they are uploaded, I will make my post about this historic day.




Till then I want to give you this little teaser from our local station WLOX. (Ok, I tried to embed the code for the video, but it isn't working.) Here is the link --> Air Force taking Bloggers to Flight. Be sure to check out "The Pentagon Channel" on Thursday. They pulled me aside after the flight to do an interview and aske a few questions. The also on Thursday, check out the Air Force web site for this same interview.

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Posted by White Rose at 19 May 2009, 9:36 PM | Add Comment

PRESS RELEASE: Reserve 403rd Wing To Make Air Force History with Blogger Flight

I am very excited to announce that I will be taking part in this flight next week. So check back Tuesday night to read how it went and see pictures.



Reserve 403rd = Wing To Make Air Force History with Blogger Flight

5/15/2009 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. – An Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing “Hurricane Hunters” WC-130J is scheduled to depart May 19 as the military’s first-ever media flight compromised solely of bloggers.  This flight gives bloggers from across the country an opportunity only available to traditional media outlets until now.

Members from the international blogging community will be able to share with their audiences what it is like to ride with the Hurricane Hunters while learning what goes into training for one of the most challenging missions in the Air Force. Immediately after their flight, bloggers will be able to update their sites in an adjacent computer room. The two-hour flight over the Gulf of Mexico will give a new audience a better understanding of how the Hurricane Hunters collect life-saving data inside storms and highlighting the coming hurricane season which starts June 1.

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Posted by White Rose at 15 May 2009, 3:12 PM | Add Comment

Release Date for Road Dogs on Hogs song

We have set a release date of June 12 for the Road Dogs on Hogs song. We hope to debut it on Freewheelin that morning along with interviews with Colonel Robert Morris (singer/songwriter), and co-founders, Buzzard and me. I will keep ya'll up to date of how that all works out and when and how to order your copy when the time comes.
Posted by White Rose at 30 Apr 2009, 7:00 AM | Add Comment

Walls

Walls


There is a great pain in my heart that started long ago
From many betrayals that cut so deep that they left a huge whole.
Strong, tall walls I use protect my heart from further abuse
So strong in fact, that in looking for love, I wonder, what is the use?

You can’t go around my walls for the length is out of sight
Nor can you climb over them either because of their great height
You could wonder around to look for a door upon which to knock
But sadly I fear, it won’t open, because of the many locks.

I wonder some times where the master key has been hid
I search around and around to no avail like a crazed kid
I want out of here, this hell, this cold dark place
I want to feel the warmth of the sun again, upon my face.

But I fear that even if the door were to be flung open wide,
Me and my heart would still find reason to run and hide
So I wonder again in my mind, what the hell is the use
Love can’t break through and if did, it would hang from a noose.

So do I give up on the dream of love and stay in this great misery?
That one question remains in my heart, with the answer a mystery.
There’s no one to see the many tears that slowly run down my sad face.
No one to softly whisper loves reassurance as we gently embrace.

So I sit behind my great wall built of the many pains suffered in life,
Left batter, broken and beaten down, crying out with great strife.
Please give me the keys to my strength to love like never before
Please fill my heart with great joy and let me suffer no more.

Posted by White Rose at 28 Apr 2009, 7:54 AM | Add Comment

Recovery and Summer plans

As most of ya'll know, I saw Dr Waguespack about a month ago. She did an x-ray and said that my bones are not fully healed yet! That sucks! After 5 months you would think they would be healed. She decided to put me in bone growth simulators to help in forming the needed bone. I have have it for a couple of weeks and it is a real pain in the tail. I have to wear it 3 hours on one wrist and then 3 hours on the other. I can move around and do things, but it is a bit bulky and uncomfortable.

The worst part of it is that she doesn't want me on my bike yet. At first she said I could, then after thinking about it she said no. She didn't think that riding my bike with the braces on would be safe and with the bones not healed yet, if I went down I would re-break my wrist. She says that if I re-break them, then I will never go back to my job. So, I have done my best to stay off the bike, but this week I just could not stand it any more! I have been out a couple of times, with my braces on and everything seems to be OK. I have not ventured off to far, only about 30 miles from the house, and I am doing good with it all.

I am in hopes that when I go see her at the end of May that she will OK my riding, course, it really wont matter by then because I am going to ride anyway. I am working the bike show with the PGR at the Gulf Port Blowout and I have a couple of trips planned this summer on my bike.

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Posted by White Rose at 26 Apr 2009, 6:58 AM | Add Comment

8 Stories from Road Dgos on Hogs People

I want to share with everyone the stories that were emailed to me about last years ride to Sturgis and how these people feel about RDOH. Everyone has seen my blog post about it so I have not included what I wrote.

Henry Dorame aka Buzzard (Co-founder)

 

How did the road dogs on hogs come about, you would like to know. Well if I were to tell the truth I would have to say they came about by accident during the first part of 2008.  A lot of drivers have moved to satellite radio for the convince of not having to look for a station every few miles on regular radio. In doing this we also discovered the trucker channel on Sirus radio.

 

During one of there programs [the ‘Freewheelin’ show to be exact] their topic for the day was ‘what are your plans for summer once it gets here.’ Since it was one of those weeks that no matter where you went you had bad weather, I figured why not call in and let every one know of my plans.  I called in and told them that I was going to take my bike and go to the bike rally at Sturgis, SD, as I had been doing for abut the last 35 years. Lol! Yep that’s right 35 years. While listening to the rest of the  show I heard white rose, aka, Cindy Morgan, call in and say that she had just moved from the back of the bike to the front that year and that going to Sturgis was a dream of hers, but that she didn’t think that it would ever happen because of personal safety issues that she has had since she had returned from Iraq.  Since I had her number I called her up and told her that if she really wished to go that she was welcome to go up with me and the group of riders that I knew and that we would keep an eye on her and see that she was safe. 

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Posted by White Rose at 25 Apr 2009, 7:59 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Television Show About Truck Drivers & Their Families

OK, all my trucking friends. I have just spent a couple of hours on the phone with  and it sounds like a great project. Please forward this to other truck drivers and their families that you think might be interested in talk to her.


Television Show About YOUR Family!!

Emmy Award winning producer, Amy Kohn;casting new nonfiction about families of professional drivers. Looking for families dealing with the real life issues unique to the long haul truck driver lifestyle including long periods of separation when one (or both) spouses/significant others spends so much time on the road. Families of all types and structures of interest. The series will focus primarily on home life, but on the road time will also be featured. All family members must be willing to participate.

If you are interested in learning more about the project, please call 212-687-7716 or send an email to MADTWIN@ROCKETMAIL.COM

 

Posted by White Rose at 24 Apr 2009, 4:16 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

The Right Timing And No Regrets

They say timing is everything. So why is it that when so many things seem to be working, that some times, the timing really just sucks on others? Is it really the timing? Or is it that we are just so attached to some things or set in our ways, that we are not willing to give them up to make the others work? How important is love in our scale of things that are important? Or what about where we live? What about our health? Can we give up one and be happy with only the others?

I have found that some times in life we have to make a decision as to what is important to us and if we are willing to give it up for something else. One day I may say to myself that I am not willing to give one thing up for another. Then when I loose that other thing, I wonder if that was the right thing to do.

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Posted by White Rose at 19 Apr 2009, 9:46 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

"Thanks For Your Service"

Please forgive me for the rant I am about to embark on. I am soooo totally pissed off.

Many times, as I am sure CJ and Marcus have experienced, our post are copied and posted some place else. My post "A Moment of Silence, Please!" was repost on a not to friendly site called "Freedom4um". They pulled it from one of the truckers forums I belong to. I post some of my blog post on ths forum becasue I know that there are many former civilian contractors and soldiers that are drivers. I do this in respect of those people.

At first they wanted to disreguard the post because it talked about something that happened 5 years ago. They totally missed the point of the post, to honor those that had fallen that day and to pay my respects. I tried to bring this to their attention in a polite manner and of course that started a dialog wth some of the memers there. I was ok with most of what they had to say, I have heard it many times before.

Till this morning.

The following comment was made. I didn't loose my temper till the last few lines.

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Posted by White Rose at 13 Apr 2009, 9:19 AM | Add Comment

A Moment of Silence, Please!

April 8th & 9th, 2004 a bloody day for all in Iraq.

The days preceding the 8th & 9th were not easy days. Things were heating up all over Iraq. On April 7th, I took a convoy through Baghdad. We had problems on Sword, blockage, IED's planted on the frontage road, ect... Then on April 8th & 9th the shit hit the fan.

April92004

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Posted by White Rose at 9 Apr 2009, 8:35 AM | Add Comment

Coming Home from the War Zone

I get many comments and emails about how to deal with a loved one coming home from the war zone. Some of them are simple and other really break my heart. It is so hard some times to answer their questions. Mostly because I have to allow myself to feel again what I felt when I came home and that isn't easy to do. I think that I have dealt with those feeling just to find that I am not sure that I have when I am asked questions like I have in the last few weeks.

On a post that I made back in 2006, a lady recently made a comment that took me days to think about and respond to. She wrote back and I had to look deep inside myself again. This is not easy, as I have said. I am starting a new relationship and get worried that if he sees "that side" of me he will run away. But I realize that, "that side" of me is part of me and he needs to know about it like everything else. Then there are other things that come up and make me even more nervous.

Anyway, you can go read what her questions are here. I made one response and she came back with another. I hope that she does not mind that I am bringing this interaction to the forefront. I believe that it might help me, her and others to bring some light to it. Maybe some of ya'll that have dealt with this can also offer some advice.

Below is my response to her last comment.


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Posted by White Rose at 7 Apr 2009, 10:02 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment
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