From: John Chipura To: Friends Let us pray. Relax and let God be the only Person on your mind while you read this Prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends that Pray together, stay together. Let's pray... Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I Thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for I have sinned. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Keep me safe from all danger and harm. Let me start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day and give my best in all that is put before me. Clear my mind that I can hear from You. Broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God. And when this world closes in on me, let me remember to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Thy Will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who refuse to share a word from You. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will only read this and not speak this aloud in their own lives. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes, that they are out of debt & all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every Battle is in His hands for Him to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly. This is my prayer. Amen. Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father. "If you're Not ashamed Pass this on . But only if you mean it. Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. (Phil 4:13). This is the simplest test . . if you Love God, and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done for you. FDNY, NYPD Pay Visit to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune By Sgt Pamela Kershaw and Cpl Zachary A. Crawford Combat Correspondents The Globe April 11, 2002 After Sept. 11, the entire nation gained a New York state of mind. No place was this more true than in eastern North Carolina last week (week of April 1st, 2001). Several firefighters, policemen, and families of the New York Fire Department and New York Police Department came here recently to see what the Marines, Sailors, and Coastguardsmen do for their country and how they train to be better servicemen and women on a daily basis. After arriving at the Villa Capriani on North Topsail Beach, where they would be staying for the duration of their trip, the locals provided the New Yorkers with fishing trips during the day, free breakfasts all week, and even complimentary manicures and pedicures for the wives. On Wednesday, they arrived here and enjoyed a performance by the 2d Marine Division Band and also viewed a static display of various Marine Corps equipment and personnel, to include air and ground assets. Major General Martin R. Berndt, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, had a few things to say to the firefighters and policemen during a luncheon held at the staff noncommissioned officers club here. “The Marines here have a close affinity for those who serve others such as yourselves,” said Berndt to the firefighters. “We all do the same thing but in different ways. Here in eastern North Carolina, it is so important because we are cementing a bond that goes beyond uniforms, it goes beyond who pays your paycheck, and it goes to show that whether you are Marines, firefighters, or policemen, we all put others before ourselves.” Berndt also said a few words about the mission of the Marines here. “We both serve this nation and are your Marines and Sailors and we belong to you; and like it or not, you belong to us,” said Berndt. “We will do our job and we will always do it well. When we are called into action, Marines will perform like you expect them to, and will succeed like you do each and every day.” Berndt also reflected on the time that he was stationed in New York City as the Officer Selection Officer from 1972-75. According to Berndt, he was always amazed at the number of police officers and firemen who would offer a “Semper Fi” as he passed them on the street. There may not be many common factors between Jacksonville, N.C., and New York City, but to some of the members of the FDNY and NYPD, the similarities were obvious and hit close to home. According to New York firefighter Gerard Chipura, Ladder Co. 104, some of the firefighters came here to remember one of their own. “My brother John was a former Marine stationed here at Camp Lejeune from 1980 to 1984 and he served in Beirut before joining the New York Police Department and the FDNY,” said Chipura. “This is a very emotional time for us. My brother tragically lost his life while doing his job on September 11th. Chipura said visiting Camp Lejeune was a great experience. “It was an honor to be able to come here and be part of it all,” said Chipura. “I can’t thank the Marine Corps enough for everything they’ve done for us by letting us be here.” Some of the Marines who participated in the week’s events came from 2d Battalion, 25th Marines. Most of them hail from the New York and New Jersey areas and are scheduled to participate in this year’s upcoming Fleet Week in New York City. “We’re going there to represent the Marine Corps in New York City,” said Maj Wally D. Powers, assistant operations officer, 2/25, from Yonkers, New York. “All of us are pretty excited about going up there and interacting with our fellow New Yorkers.” The members of the FDNY wrapped up the week with a southern pig picking at the Villa Capriani, before returning to New York refreshed and ready to protect and to serve. To Firefighter John Chipura, Ladder 219, Engine 105 Dear John, In the blink of an eye Our lives went awry Not a day has gone by That we all do not cry For what we had For what was planned For what took place For what was yet to be For births, promotions, holidays, birthdays, graduations, bar mitzvahs Celebrated without you, but always thinking of you Another blink of an eye And a year has gone by How can it be? It went so fast and yet so much has passed So many tears, can it only be a year? Lives went on, go on, different, not the same We try, we share, we wonder why We try to make sense of that blink of an eye We try to make each blink count We try to do what you would want us to We try to make that blink of an eye Mean something. Help us, show us, tell us Be there as you always were In our hearts, in our thoughts In every blink of our eyes. With all our love always, Your family, friends, fiancé and Mom-to-be

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