Coffee in the hole

Time for a big announcement. But first, some preface. 

For years now, I've been a huge proponent of Scars & Stripes Coffee. I joined the company just months after it went live. The mission being a huge part of the why. A Veteran owned and run company, to help Veterans reintegrate into their communities. Also, to build a business. If you go to the website at the time of this writing, you'll find the SSC still says, "We empower Veterans to build their own business using our e-commerce platform and through direct-to-consumer sales via events." As all of us in the company have recently learned, the company is no longer Veteran owned. And as an email sent out by the CEO informed us this week, the company will soon no longer be Veteran owned. 

The company to this point has been built on a military structure, and ranking system that's familiar to all Veterans. An easy platform for any Vet to build from. As our now sole CEO stated in his most recent email, we've been, "building a company that looks much like the military." That was the goal. Veterans have been struggling and hurting. So, we put them in a structured environment that's familiar to them and help them build out and back into their communities. Veterans holding each other accountable and teaching each other along the way. It's been successful for many of us. Then he continues on to state, "why would the company look just like the military." As a statement, not a question. You can imagine, seeing that statement was a direct attack on the vision we've had from the start. And it hurt. The company's vision and direction is changing, and no longer going to be focused on helping Veterans. A very unfortunate turn. 

This brings me back to the, "build their own business" part. For years now, many have known that a personal goal of mine has been to start my own coffee business. To no longer be the middleman or an affiliate, but to build something where I can support my family and be my own boss, with a product I believe in beyond my other ventures. 

With that said, Burton's Scars & Stripes is now going to transition towards that dream. Over the next few weeks my FB page will transition over to my own brand. My own company. I have two coffee roasters that will be taking care of my coffee as orders come in. So, it will still be roasted to ship. Freshness guaranteed still. And as I've been asked so many times, when will I get flavored coffee. Well, that is happening now too. Several flavors are ready to go, including seasonal favorites. For the time being it will be coffee only. In the future the plan is to bring in mugs, tumblers, stickers, apparel and such. Small steps forward, and building. Will SSC continue to be on the menu? I honestly don't know. Probably not. But for now, it is. 

So please continue to support and empower me by getting your coffee at: www.ss.coffee/rominger 

And keep an eye out for more announcements and the transition on my FB page: 

www.facebook.com/scarsandstripesROMINGER 

We're going to poke the bear, and help it wake up! You'll see very soon. 

Thoughts on my mind.

Had a moment tonight I was missing my brothers and sisters in arms back in the USMC. Specifically the ones I served with in Okinawa, Japan. And then this thought wandered into my mind.

The life of a drinky girl must be hard. They're kinda like that first slice of bread in the loaf. Everyone has touched them, but nobody really wants them. And those who say they love them, are usually not in their right mind.

Andy, I really hope you're puking over the thought of a banana right now.

Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day. It's an annual holiday which honors those whose paid the ultimate price for our country, and the many freedoms we have. Originally it was to honor the deceased troops of the Civil War, but quickly spread to honor all of the fallen. Unlike Veterans Day, it is only to honor the dead. Something that many people have forgotten, or take for granted and instead look towards family gatherings, an extra day off of work, and BBQ's. But many others still recognize it as well. And it truly holds a different meaning for the average civilian when compared to service members, and their families.

As of this morning, many people started enjoying parades, stalking up for various festivities, cleaning up the boat, and then some. For many of these people, Memorial Day doesn't hold much meaning. It's not a shot at them, but they just don't know anything else because they've never been directly impacted by this day of remembrance. They might know on an academic level what it represents, but beyond that there is nothing. 

Then you have those who have been touched in some way. Perhaps it's by a friend lost, or hurt in service. Possibly a veteran they met while volunteering at a retirement home, or helped at a shelter. Whatever the circumstance, they know that this is a day that represents a bigger picture than they realize. They go out to homes, and churches to help those veterans to pay their respects to fallen comrades. They go out to graveyards, clean them up, place flags, and possibly help others find the markers of the fallen warriors they're looking for. And yet others even go beyond that and do what they can to ensure that none of the graves are disturbed or vandalized.

You have the families of our warriors. They spend countless hours wondering if their fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, uncles, cousins, husbands, and wives are alright. They worry about them even when out training. They worry when they are out at their daily jobs. Then they worry when they are deployed. Seeing and hearing the news of an accident, ambush, or attack and wondering if their loved one will be next, while seeing their neighbor get the news that someone will not be coming home to them ever again. To the Memorial Day represents their lost loved ones, lost friends, and their loved ones family away from home.

Ultimately you have service members. The men and women who raised their hand, swore an oath, and signed a blank check up to and including their very life. Memorial Day has a special meaning. We remember those who came before us. We remember those we called brother and sister, who have been called for duty by our Commander-in-Chief in the sky. For some it's a hard day, because to a point we feel that we are having it crammed down our throats that we've lost a part of our family. For others it's a good reminder that we have life to live for them and to make it count. We reflect on our fights, as much as we do our accomplishments. While some of us will let our eyeballs sweat, others will drown their sorrow in something else. But ultimately, we remember. We remember because for us Memorial Day isn't a holiday. It isn't a news report. It isn't a parade, or a BBQ. It's a face, a voice, a friend, a family member, a part of ourselves.

To those who have fallen, thank you. You are not forgotten. Semper Fidelis.

Life dreams, journeys, opinions, and advice.

A lil bit on joining the military here. Before, during, and now years after I'm still asked, "why would you join the military?" My retort, why wouldn't you? I'm of the opinion that every able bodied person should serve at least one term. But that's just me.

For me it goes back a ways though. I come from a family where damn near every generation has had at least one person go into the military. It's not required, expected, pressured, or even really talked about. It just happens. So there may be some bias there. My personal journey started way before that though. When I was little, I'd line up all of my toys to face off against each other. I knew from a young age I wanted to be in the service, I just didn't know what branch, and I wanted to be a cop. By the time I was in high school, I can still recall many people telling me I was nuts, or trying to dictate which branch to go in because "it was safer." Safer? My opinion hasn't changed on this part. Screw safer, if you're looking for safety go lead a pack of girl scouts at a bake sale! It doesn't matter what branch you're looking at, "safer" shouldn't be a consideration.

Bottom line is regardless of the job you want or end up with, the military is there to look the Grim Reaper in the eye, smile, piss on his feet, and call him a pussy.

Then came the vast majority, but not all, of my teachers and the outspoken ass hats that never had the balls to serve telling me I'd never graduate let alone make it. Now, I'm the first to admit I was a jerk once I hit puberty. After some time bouncing between private and public schools, and moving around, I finally got in gear. I buckled down on my school work, got my grades up, and then applied to NMMI.

For those that don't know NMMI is an 4 year high school, and 2 year junior college with an Army commissioning program. Some refer to it as the West Point of the west. Oh man, I had so many people tell me I wouldn't make it a week there, it made me sick. Upon getting there, I learned that because of how different the curriculum was (private school credits don't carry over to other schools in my state), I'd graduate much later as well. 2 years late! Yes, I was 20 when I finally graduated. Not only did I make it through 2 years, I graduated, and to this day I'm still in touch with some of the best friends I'll ever make from there. It was while I was here I finally enlisted in the USMC.

Even after making it through NMMI, going back home was a nightmare. Not only had I proven the nay-sayers wrong, but they continued to say I'd never amount to anything and wouldn't make it through boot camp.

I can remember the flight out to San Diego still. A group of us flew from Albuquerque, NM together. Made it to the USO where we were told where to go to wait for our bus to MCRD. Finally a few white busses pulled up and were wer rushed in, and told to keep our mouths shut by what I viewed at the time as the worst recruiter in history. After a while, this same person would tell us to put our heads down and look at the floor as we continued on. Finally the bus came to a stop, another guy jumped on the bus and started yelling at us in a tongue that I can only describe as an alien dialect as we were rushed off the bus and onto some yellow footprints. The journey began, and I'd not only gain new life long friends, but a new family. And I will be able to claim the title of US Marine until the day I die.

So why join up? To serve. To be a part of something bigger than yourself. To be a part of a small, and unique culture or warriors. To know that your work made a difference somewhere. To accomplish what others can only dream of. To travel to places you'd otherwise never see. To meet new people. To develope special skills that others lack. To find character that others only dream about. And to know you'll never know what it's like to regret not stepping up to the plate and showing just how big your balls really are.

All these years later, I can look back with pride. I graduated from a top notch school. I became a Marine. And was a military policeman which allowed me to kill two birds with one stone. I proved all the nay-sayers wrong. I accomplished everything I wanted in my childhood  quickly. Now I set goals, and look for new achievements just for me. I don't care about the nay-sayers anymore because they're all wrong. I've become a parent. And recently added collge grad to my list of completions. So regardless of hurdles, I look forward to lifes journey and take my time in choosing what direction I want to go in it these days. You can do that once you've learned how to accomplish your goals and dreams.

So my advice to everyone is this. Figure out what your dream is, and go for it. Use the nay-sayers to fuel those desires. Even if you don't join the military (I'll admit it's not for everyone) don't wait. Once you know what you want, look at what you need to do to get there, and start taking the steps. Even though you may not be able to take them all at once, the ability to take those other steps will present themselves in due time. Just keep moving.