I have two true and recent stories to share. One a sad tale, one a proud tale.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS; BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ... the Boy Scouts of America in Cambridge, Mass. were collecting funds and items at polling places in order to send gifts to the Cambridge-area troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the Holidays. One liberal "numb-nut" screamed out that the Boy Scouts were delivering a "pro war" message (huh?) and in great liberal fashion, without taking a poll or a vote or taking into consideration that these kids were actually off the streets, doing something "good" for their community and country, ... THEY WERE SHUT DOWN!!!!!

Once again, liberals deliver the message that "ideology" wins over "empathy." Screw the troops, in order to keep a few ignorant asses happy.

I wonder what kind of negative greeting the Girls Scouts are gonna get this year as they go door-to-door selling cookies in Cambridge. You know that a lot of those leftover cookies have been sent to the troops by the Girl Scouts for the past few years.

So I guess the message from the Cambridge politicians to the brave men and woman serving their country from Cambridge, Mass. is, "sorry, we don't think you're worth it."

Cambridge city government is sending an "anti-patriotic" message and I bet Paul Revere is rolling in his grave.

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Now for a good story, ... like pumpkin pie, I saved the best for last.

WATERLOO, IOWA --- Iowa's Bravest, a group of John Deere workers and other community volunteers, will be packing 325 holiday gift boxes to local troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan at 4 p.m. at United Auto Workers Local 838, 2615 Washington St.

The organization has been sending gift boxes ever since the Iraq war began in March 2003.

"The community has been very supportive again this year which is really nice to see after five years of shipping boxes," Julie Ehlers of "Iowa's Bravest" said. "It is especially helpful when people from other communities are stepping in to help." She reported an Eagle Scout troop from as far away as Indianola, which is south of Des Moines, has volunteered to help, collecting 382 DVD movies to put into the boxes.

The boxes are filled with snacks, games, toiletries and other items in short supply or hard to find in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"We had lots of school children take up collections again this year which always helps," Ehlers said, including a collection from a group of Air Force ROTC cadets at West High School, which collected $3,300 in cash and donated snack items from customers at Crossroads Hy-Vee.

The number of boxes being shipped this year is less than last year because members of the Waterloo-based Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry have returned home after 22 months' active duty, 17 of them in Iraq.

"I'm hoping to see lots of soldiers attend that have received boxes from us in the past," Ehlers said. "We have some soldiers continue to show up that received boxes from us in the earlier shipments so hopefully some from the 133rd will come join us to help pass on the kindness to the soldiers still serving today."

Iowa's Bravest flags and shirts also will be sold Wednesday night to help defray some of the $6,400 in postage costs.