Welcome to another stop along the blog hop trail. If you've come from
Amy's Blog you are on the right path, if you've stumble upon my blog you can go to
Operation Write Home for the start of the blog hop Saturday, 10 am est.
Memorial Day is a day that is very important to me. My father served his / our country for 22 years. He was a Vietnam War Veteran. I understand the fear of the possibility of not having my dad come home. Our family was fortunate that dad did come home.
Dad brought a MIA bracelet back to me from Vietnam. I still have mine today. The name on my bracelet is Lt. Col. Ivan D. Appleby. I received this bracelet when I was 13 years old. I prayed through the years for Lt. Col. and his family. When I went to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC I found his name and did a rubbing like many others and looked his name up in the memorial book. At that point he was still listed as MIA.
Getting ready for the this blog hop I decided to see if I could find out something via Google. I did. Sadly, Lt. Col. Ivan Appleby was shot down and died in Vietnam. He was a pilot and part of a group of highly specialized pilots going in for the most dangerous missions. After digging half the night I found one photo of this Hero. So I put together a digital layout to honor him on this Memorial Weekend. Click on the layout for a larger view and you can read the journaling.
Thank you Operation Write Home. Because of this blog hop I took the time to find out about another of our national heroes. OWH is about "helping heroes keep in touch with home." It is also a site of inspiration. I found a tutorial for Paper Pansies
Darlene Poltinski at It's an Inkin' Stampede at OWH. It is incredible how easy Darelene makes these. I can't wait to make mine. Check out the tutorial at
OWH Tutorials.
Giveaway: Click the follow button for Debby's Dare (right hand side) and leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a name and post it Tuesday Morning here on Debby's Dare for someone to win ......
7 Gypsies Clear Stamps - Calais
Gratitude List:
1. my dad who was willing to give his best for our country
2. Lt. Col. Ivan D. Appleby who gave his life for our country
3. United States of America, God bless her
4. God's comfort for all the families that lost someone in service of their country
5. God's strength and hope for those currently serving in high risk areas
Thank you Operation Write Home. Because of this blog hop I took the time to find out about another of our national heroes. OWH is about "helping heroes keep in touch with home." It is also a site of inspiration. I found a tutorial for Paper Pansies Darlene Poltinski at It's an Inkin' Stampede at OWH. It is incredible how easy Darelene makes these. I can't wait to make mine. Check out the tutorial at OWH Tutorials. 
Morning I love your story this morning I to had an MIA bracelet from the war. . . must of went with our ages.
ReplyDeleteMy guy never made it back and sent my bracelet to his family and they sent is back to me saying I should keep it to remember him and what he gave is life for.
Have a great weekend. . .
Thank You for sharing that story. The page you made is so thoughtful. It is amazing what you can find on the internet.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story. So fitting for this blog hop. My brother is currently in Germany, with the US Air Force, so I understand where you are coming from.
ReplyDeletePerfect cards and page! :)
wow what a touching story. when I was in the Navy we lost one of our pilots in a training mission... he was a great guy and I think of his family often. I had meet his wife on a few occasions and I know they had a little girl at the time...
ReplyDeleteAlready a follower sweetie. love your story. Very beautiful tribute. My Great grandfather served in both World Wars i was very fortunate to know him he died when I was 14 years old due to Emphysema caused by the mustard gas. i have pics of him in his uniform from 1918..
ReplyDeleteJanie Boots
boots3103@hotmail.com
What a beautiful blog post, and the memorial is just amazing. I hope the family has seen it. How much more often we all need to be reminded of what was given for our freedom. Thanks so much to your father.
ReplyDeleteloved your card, post and the story of Ivan and how you followed up on him!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are fantastic! And I love your layout too! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't usually like the 'vintage' style but your cards are beautifully done. God bless you and your family...
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching story!! Thank you for sharing that!!! Your digital page is beautifully done!! I just love your cards!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie. I love your artwork and i am going to come back later to see some more. You sais you would like a link to the winners from de contest on Tim's blog. I am suzanne bouchard and here are links to my two blogs:
ReplyDeletewww.emballageart.blogspot.com
www.lamaisondeplume.blogspot.com
Thanks!
WOW!!!! You have made such fabulous creations! You definately put your heart and sould into each creation and it shows!!!! I'm definately following you now and wonder how I've missed you before! I love your gratitude list. I must CASE it and post it where I can constantly see to remember the sacrificies that have been made for us!
ReplyDeleteLove your work here...Have a great weekend !!!
ReplyDeleteyour blog is really nice. Thank you for supporting our heroes. Sounds like you have a special hero of your own!
ReplyDeleteHi, Debby! It's your fellow fiskateer Caro here and I'm so glad to find you here.. I love the "altered" look of your card and as always your wonderful tips. Thank you for sharing your family's story with us. See you soon I hope.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Your cards are truly amazing and your story was wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDebby
ReplyDeleteWonderful card, I wish I could put one together like this but clean and simple is my way. It can be a curse.
Beautiful cards! I love the vintage one! Lisa
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards. The vintage look is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI agree the pansy tutorial was great! Saw it on the Stars and Stripes blog.
WOW, I am so very impressed with your story, and I admire your diligence to this fallen hero, have you contacted his family, and let him know how your family has been behind him? I am sure it would matter a great deal to them.
ReplyDeleteHappy memorial day weekend to you and yours. Thanks to your dad!
Fellow OWHomer...
Susan
Now following
Thanks for your support of OWH!
ReplyDeleteThanks for including such an inspirational layout on your blog hop post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and moving story. Your cards are so lovely too, but the thoughts you've shared really touch the heart.
ReplyDeleteHiya
ReplyDeleteWow what a flood of memories and emotions came with your page. My dad had an MIA bracelet, wore it every single day throughout my childhood and I believe he might still have it today. I can remember how bumpy and warped it had become throughout the years. I will have to call him and find out the name of the soldier on it. My mom had one in her jewelry box but she didn't wear jewelry ever (why a box then? who knows) but I wanted to be like my dad and so I took hers as a kid and lost it. :{ Shhh. Don't tell, I'm not sure she knows it was me.
That's a fantastic l/o you created. TFS!
StephanieD
txzgirl33@aol.com
Hey Debbie, I love you blog and joined as a follower. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteEmily
Fiskateer #7021
What a great way to honor this fallen hero. Thank you for sharing his story.
ReplyDeleteYour card is perfect!
I love your cards. That's great you've been able to hold on to that bracelet all this time and that you have been able to find information on this brave man. TFS.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful cards and touching story. I love the vintage look of all of them. Your scrapebook page is awesome that you have done for this fallen hero from long ago. You rock Debbie
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord is all I can say!! :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice layout. A great way to honor a solider!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletelove the vintage "rubbing" card but really was touched by the layout you made in honor of the Viet Nam MIA.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tribute to Col. Appleby--and what a blessing to each of us to be able to learn of him through your beautiful remembrance. . . .
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute to an honorable man who gave his life for our country. Your cards are so lovely! Thank you for a truly meaningful blog post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the story....I love that you found out about the name. Congrats. Wonderful card
ReplyDeleteDebby...I love what you have done to honor Lt. Col Applby. It is because of these selfless men and women that we have the freedom that we take for granted everyday. Thank you to your Father and your family for your service to our country...And Thank you for your continued support of our troops. May God bless you and yours.
ReplyDelete~Courtney~
I love your vintage style - the my heart card....*Sniff*!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this prompted you to look up that hero - and honor him with a LO! Can you contact his family to let them know? I bet they'd be honored!!!
Happy hopping!
Bless you for hunting out the information and creating a memorial for your MIA bracelet Hero. And your Dad probably never got thanked enough for his service in VietNam, so please give him a big hug for all of us girls from the 60s who didn't face the draft, and didn't (mostly) have to go to war. And I appreciate the lovely, muted colors on your cards.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely scapbook page and a wonderful memorial. Thanks for sharing your beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteDebby, your cards are great, but what a touching story and beautiful layout you have done as a tribute to this wonderful soldier. It's priceless! Job well done!
ReplyDeleteCorinna
www.myscrapbooklife.com
Absolutely gorgeous cards and touching story! I love the vintage look of them. Fantastic creations! TFS!
ReplyDeleteDebby,
ReplyDeleteI love your card and your story thank you for sharing with us. I also have my silver MIA bracelet.
God Bless,
Jeanine
Awesome story about the bracelet! MY gram, who was born in 1912, gave me a bracelet given to HER by her uncle who was in WW1, and found it on the battlefield. I still have the bracelet and found the man it belonged to via ancestry. He survived the war and died in the Bronx years later.
ReplyDeleteTerri
meterr70 at gmail. com
WOW, thank you for sharing your story with us. Your card is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI am now a "follower" but then I was visiting every day anyway. I did several layouts on my dad who was in the Pacific theater in WWII. It was really interesting finding out what he went through and then scrapping it was a creative exercise. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAmazing story! Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for supporting OWH!
I had one fo those bracelets years ago- you just jogged my meomry! The cost like $6.00 or so to buy, and all of my friends wore them! I love your backgrounds and cards you made- and your page in honor of Lt Appleby! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! Gorgeous cards! From your new follower!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on those cards... I am so glad I don't need to pick just one as my fav :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Cards! And, as a military wife, let me say thank you for sharing your creativity to help bring families closer who are separated by duty.
ReplyDeleteSaw your layout on Fiskateers and I'm so glad I came over and read the full story Debby - it is a wonderful tribute!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome backgrounds! Love your works!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Debi!
Fab cards- I'll be back to check out more later! Thank you for the candy opp!
ReplyDeleteLove your story thank you for sharing it. I am following you now I love your style!!
ReplyDeleteI also wore a Vietnam POW bracelet when I was in my teens. I still pray for him! Wonderful projects!
ReplyDeleteYour story and family's commitment to our Country is wonderful. I hope the family of your MIA Hero, Lt. Col Ivan Appleby, will have the opportunity to see your page layout in his honor.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and your cards are beautiful!
Sher
Thanks for sharing your story, your beautiful LO, and cards.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are beautiful! Thanks for sharing that story. It's sad to hear he was killed, but good that the family finally had closure. What a nice tribute to him you did!
ReplyDeleteWow thank you for sharing that story with us.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are great! I love that rustic look.
great card and awesome tribute!
ReplyDeleteLove the vintage style of your cards! Thanks for sharing about your hero.
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie!
ReplyDeleteReally nice cards! I, too, had an MIA bracelet but unfortunately, I don't know what happened to it. It's probably packed away somewhere.
One thing that is different with this war compared to Viet Nam is that our military is supported more by the people, thus, organizations like OWH. Thanks for participating.
Wow, good for you for going the extra mile and doing the research to follow up on your missing hero. Thanks for supporting OWH with such wonderful cards.
ReplyDeleteI love your story about the Viet Nam bracelet. How cool to make a page about hime. I love your cards.
ReplyDeletea touching story ~ thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteand thanks for the tutorial link!
Thank you for sharing Lt. Col. Appleby's story. I like the digi layout you did for him.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the wonderful story and for the inspirational cards you made. I love the one "My heart needs you", really, really nice!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are fantastic! I've been a follower for a while now...I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS!!! My husband is a vietnam veteran and says he wished there had been an OWH program when he was overseas. Thanks for supporting our fellow patriots, and have a great Memorial Day weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh wow - thank you for sharing that story - that was really special! Love your blog! I am going to follow! Have a great weekend Debby!
ReplyDeleteWow - thanks for your stories - very touching. I am just learning about OWH and am so impressed. You gals are really doing a super job. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing everything with us.
ReplyDeleteDianeL
loyaz1@wbhsi.net
Nice post! Thanks for sharing on the hop!!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fitting post! Love your cards! I am going to look up your link to OWH. I would like to join in in making cards for our troops. Love your layout!
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards! I love this style!
ReplyDeleteDebby,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love your sub-title of your blog: Do not dare to be different. Dare to be yourself" Very inspiring!
Your cards are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story.
What a terrific story to share and the page you created is an awesome tribute to pair with the bracelet. The cards are some of the more amazing pieces I've seen on the hop this weekend. Now that I'm following I'm looking forward to coming back for more inspiration. Thanks for sharing and caring. Hugs - Jean
ReplyDeleteI love the vintage look to your cards. Great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post ...TFS!
ReplyDeletecute cards! thanks for sharing. many thanks to your dad for his service.
ReplyDeleteI just love all the techniques you used on these cards - Tim Holtz stuff is great! Thanks for making such beautiful cards for the troops!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Carmen
cal8007 at aol dot com
Your story about the MIA soldiers just brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe name on my ID bracelet was also Lt. Col. Ivan Appleby I hadn't realize they made duplicates. I got my bracelet around 1973.
ReplyDelete