Saturday, September 27, 2008

POW / MIA

Since putting on the next rank, it brings w/it of course more responsibilities. Well this year I tackled my first ceremony. Now annually we have a POW/MIA Recognition Day & I chose to tackle it as my first Master of Ceremonies (MC) event.

Here's a little history about POW/MIA Recognition Day:

Until July 18, 1979, no commemoration was held to honor America's POW/MIA's, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars. The 1984 National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the White House, hosted by President Ronald Reagan. At that most impressive ceremony, the Reagan Administration balanced the focus to honor all returned POW's and renew national commitment to accounting for those still missing. Subsequently, in an effort to accommodate all returned POW's and all Americans still missing/unaccounted for from all wars; the National League of Families proposed the third Friday in September, a date not associated with any particular war. National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremonies are now held throughout the nation and around the world on military installations, ships at sea, and even state capitols.

This year national POW/MIA Recognition day was held on 19 September 2008. Our guest speaker was a retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major (SgtMaj); SgtMaj Peter “Ski” Gorczewski; who served 3 tours & 2 extensions in Vietnam. He's a very well decorated marine & his decorations include: the Legion of Merit, two Bronze stars with Combat “V;” Seven Purple Hearts; two Navy Commendations with Combat “V;” four Navy Achievement Medals; Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver and Bronze Stars; Good Conduct Medal with nine stars; and 33 various awards. He immigrated from England & then joined the Marine Corps in 1961.

Needless to say his speech made me sniffle, but then when the bugler played taps at the conclusion of the reading & set up of the POW/MIA table I was a goner. SgtMaj is very passionate about POW's & MIA's. Nearly 63 years to the day of our ceremony his own father was once held as a POW. Maybe I was just hormonal, but thankfully my co-chair closed the ceremony.

Please enjoy these photos of the ceremony. After all the planning and watching it unfold; I was very proud of how the ceremony turned out.

Love you guys,
Nyoka


Reflecting Back

As most of you know Tam & I met here in Okinawa, roughly 1999ish. This is where our life's journey began & now we are back. This was a place of many firsts for us; our first date, walks to the beach & our first Hospital Corpsman Ball.

So w/out further a due I'll let this post speak for itself.




This time around we had a "special guest" in the oven.....can you tell?

Love to all,
Nyoka, Tam, Dominic & Baby #2

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Final Day

For our last 1/2 day in Tokyo we ventured off to see Tokyo Tower. So after checking out of our room & leaving our luggage w/the bell hop we were off on our last adventure in Tokyo. Yes, all this time our adventures included a lot of walking and subway riding - again a great way to ride (stress/hassle free).

A little history of the Tokyo Tower...

Built in 1958, this Eiffel Tower-like structure supports an antenna that broadcasts television and radio signals for important Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. In addition to being a television and radio communications tower, Tokyo Tower doubles as a major Tokyo tourist site. Over 2.5 million people annually visit the tower's recreational Foot Town and two observations decks.

Our journey took us to the observation towers where you could look out and see the entire city of Tokyo (or so it seems) as well as Mt Fuji. However, this particular day it was over cast, so the view wasn't as spectacular. We also visited the Guinness Book of World Records museum & the Wax Museum. We wanted to go see the trick museum, but one of us (okay I'm guilty) thought we had to meet the bus back at the hotel at 1:00pm. So we made a mad dash back to the subway and then to the hotel only to find out we didn't have to be back until 1:45pm. Oops more time for souvenir shopping at the hotel.

Please enjoy the pictures.

Our love to all,
The Duong Family


Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea

Day #2 in Tokyo we ventured out on the subway (way cool transportation) and headed to Tokyo Disneyland. Okay so Tokyo Disneyland is the same as any other Disneyland I've ever been too, but it's nice to say we've been there. Over all it was a lot of fun and worth the hassle to see Dominic's face light up when he saw Mickey Mouse and all the other characters. My advice just don't go pregnant. There are ride restrictions and the people (not the workers) were pushy. Chenoa, I now know how you felt when people kept bumping into you when you went to California Disneyland pregnant w/Christian.

It did rain while we were there, mostly in the morning after breakfast, but we made the best of it. Then once we returned back to the subway down from the hotel it rained and we had about a 10 min walk, let's say we came back soaked.

While at Disneyland we went on the following attractions: Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin; Mickey's House & Meet Mickey; Donald's Boat; Tam & Dominic did Autopia; Penny Arcade. Went to the following shops: World Bazaar Confectionery; Grand Emporium; Camera Center; Town Center Fashions & we ate breakfast at the Great American Waffle Co. We snacked throughout the day, but decided to eat dinner at TGI Friday's in the Roppongi area. The rest of the day we spent taking pictures w/all the characters we saw; there are even some that we haven't seen at California Disney. All in all we'll brave the madness again and go one more time before we leave (after all baby #2 needs to say he/she's been there besides mommy's tummy).




Day #3 in Tokyo, we ventured to Disney Sea. It was a little more relaxing than Disneyland, but a lot more ride restrictions & this time not just for the preggers. Poor Dominic could ride most rides unless he was a certain height even w/a parent. Before we headed out though, we ate Sunday brunch at the Hotel (great tip from a provider of mine). Then we were off for Disney Sea...once we got off the subway we headed to the Disney Resort Line where it took us to Disney Sea. You'll see that this subway was fashioned after Mickey Mouse.

While there we road the following attractions: DisneySea Transit Steamer Line; Sindbad's Storybook Voyage; Caravan Carousel; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (not so exciting). We ate at the Cafe Portofino in the Mediterranean Harbor. We did go into a few shops, but they carried the same items as those at Disneyland; California Disneyland's shops have HUGE selection compared to these. Also most of the attractions we rode on were in other parts of the park as well; you had to get off and on at the various stops, not ride all the way through.

Since we ate brunch at 10:00am we didn't really eat until after 3:00pm so our eating schedule was off. Once we got back to the subway near our hotel it was raining yet again & yes we were soaked again. We ate from food we ordered at the bar. Dominic knocked out - what can we say he had a blast.

Each night, except Sunday, we went to the pool to relax & unwind. Totally an awesome experience. Please enjoy the pictures.

All in all we enjoyed this vacation. After all it was our very first family vacation just the 3 of us (oops the 3 & 1/2 of us). Very exciting times.


Tokyo Trip

This first post is at the beginning of our Tokyo Trip. These pictures (which didn't fit into our picture categories for Disneyland or Disney Sea) capture some of the beginning & end of the trip.

Our trip started out at 8:45am when we meet the group at Kadena Schilling Community Center where we boarded the bus to Naha airport. Dominic was so psyched to ride the bus. The pictures then transition into our arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo when we are on yet another bus bound for our hotel. We stayed at the New Sanno Hotel (really nice & for Military).

Since we arrived in Tokyo and made it to our hotel a little after 4:30 pm we decided just to venture out to the Roppongi area.

So please enjoy these pictures and then the next two posts containing our adventures at Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea (not to be confused w/sea world - totally different).