Bena Mae’s Kitchen: No Man Left Behind

All too often I find myself avoiding the news as of late. Too depressing. And I ask you, do the news anchors ever open their newscasts with a happy story? Not newsworthy, I guess.
So I find refuge in TV documentaries and old movies. And occasionally a reality show.  Lord knows there are enough of them to go around.
But one day last week I ran across a Medal of Honor presentation by the president to a young Kentucky Marine that made my chest swell with pride. His story was very powerful and represented the mettle we see in all the young men who are fighting for this country. The fact that he was from the small town of Columbia, Kentucky only increased my pride.
His name is Dakota Myer who was only 21 when the incident took place. He was like any young man we’ve seen grow up in our own neighborhood, very likable, unassuming, low key, never dreaming of becoming a hero. It was easy to attach ourselves to him, just a young Kentucky kid like we see everyday.
But in the thick of a furious battle in Afghanistan, he was a man. And he truly put into action the mantra of every soldier, “Leave No Man Behind.”
Meyer, who said he couldn’t “sit back and watch” his buddies get slaughtered, explained that he put himself in harm’s way so many times simply because his “best friends were in there getting shot at” during the 2009 incident. In addition to saving 36 people from the dangerous firefight, the Marine also transported out four of the bodies of fellow soldiers who did not survive the incident. The four fallen men were found in a ditch, out of ammunition and stripped of radios and other equipment.   “They were my brothers,” he said.
He said he knew he was going to die, the question was when. He also received a shrapnel wound to his shoulder.
Like other recipients of the Medal of Honor, Meyer is hesitant to take credit for his heroic deed. And whenever he was called at his workplace from the White House to tell him of the honor, he told them, “call me back during my lunch hour. I don’t get paid for not working.”
All Kentuckians proudly salute you, Sgt. Meyer.
P.S. His request for a beer with the president was honored.  

I think it’s  the Pumpkin Pie Spice that  makes you feel like Fall all the way down to your toes…(Also, it’s better the longer it chills. Even over night!)

Pumpkin Spice No-Bake Cheesecake
Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 8
Time: 10 minutes
Calories: 239
Points: 5.25 ww points

7 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup brown sugar, unpacked
8 oz Cool Whip Free, thawed
9 inch reduced fat Graham Cracker Crust

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar for a few minutes until fluffy.
Add Cool Whip and whip until smooth.
Spoon mixture into pie crust and chill for a few hours, until firm.