September 11, 2013

Remember the Heroes...

September 11, 2001 is a day that will forever live in infamy.  It showed the world that monsters truly do exist and that your worst fears can find their way to our front doorstep.  I hope everyone takes a moment today to think, to reflect, and put their lives in perspective about the events in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, on that date.  Though that day is an abomination on our pride, I know that for others, it sprung them into action to do the jobs that the rest of us are too scared to perform. 

The following is a piece that we have been sitting on for a while because we couldn't find the proper way to do the Pustejovsky family justice in expressing how honored we were to meet them and spend the afternoon with them.  Today felt like the right time.  Thank you again to the Pustejovsky family, all those who attended the Bowen classic and to Wade Bowen himself for always remembering where he came from and for supporting his neighbors.


We here at LoneStar Outlaw Review get to do some amazing things, meet amazing people, and hear some of the best music this fine nation has to offer.  But every once in a while even we are taken aback.  While attending the 15th annual Bowen classic we had a chance to put a face with the horrifying devastation that took place in West, TX.  In hanging around backstage with other attendees we had the privilege of meeting the Pustejovsky family.  Joey Pustejovsky was a first responder from the West Volunteer Fire Department and according to his father and brother, Joe and Brad, respectively, they knew exactly where to find him when the sirens went off.  “He was a secretary for the city and always ready to jump into action when needed” his father said.  Joey unfortunately did not make it out of the blaze, and also leaves behind his wife, Kelly, mother, Carolyn, and sister-in-law Dolores.  It is the brave actions of people like Joey Pustejovsky that we should all pray to have as friends, neighbors, and guardians in our life.  Thank you Joey and to the other victims for making the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.   You shall never be forgotten.  

God Bless the Fallen.  
























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Article written by:
Matthew R. Ricketts
Senior Journalist @ LoneStar Outlaw Review

Photos courtesy of © KelleyStroutPhotography

Bruce Springsteen ~ The Voice of a Tattered Nation



Every generation has its moment.  That moment that you remember what you were doing, what you were feeling, and where you were when your world was forever changed.  Pearl Harbor, JFK’s assassination, and for younger adults; September 11th, 2001.  It is a day that is synonymous with hatred, unabashed  loyalty, revenge, and destruction.   It is a day that will live in infamy forever and proved to the greatest Nation on earth that we are not above being attacked.  The hate that spewed forth towards us was brought to our footsteps.  And we didn’t know what to do.  We as citizens were powerless to do anything.  We didn’t know whom to trust, whom to blame, or what to do next.  We slowly did what America does best and that is recoup, rediscover ourselves, and rebuild.  There was a great component that we were missing though; we needed a voice.  Not a politician, not another puppet on a string to tell us what to believe in or whom to hate.  We needed a common man.  One that could take our words and turn them into anthems to reinvigorate us.  One that could live through us to describe our pain.  One that could settle our fragile nerves and truly let us know that we will be alright.  Someone to lead us and let us know that we will live to fight another day and put back all the pieces together that had been shattered right before our eyes.  We were searching for that man, much like Gotham always turned to Batman.  We needed him, begged for him, and he didn’t let us down.  That man was Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce Springsteen released The Rising in July 2002.  He is, of course, a Jersey guy with deep ties to the New York area.  Being a great wordsmith and having an innate ability to tap into people’s thoughts and feelings, he was able to unleash a 15 song diatribe to live out the experiences that so many citizens went through.  From the opening “Lonesome Day” that puts a smile on being able to hold onto nothing but our own private lonesome day to “Into The Fire” with the opening lines of The sky was falling, into the street with blood, it was clear this was not a regular album release.  It was a declaration of strength and perseverance spoken for the people that braved these horrible actions.  The songs lend themselves to people who didn’t feel as though they had a voice and were faceless.  Bruce put a face to their fears and concerns and put it out there for the world to see.  “Mary’s Place” finds the world settled, if only for a second.  A place for neighbors to get together to put the outside world behind them and feel as though life will get back to some place of normalcy, at some point.  And finally, “The Rising”.  The ultimate anthem for New Yorkers to rally around.   Bruce is telling his friends, his neighbors, and strangers to come together.  Though the biggest black eye in America’s history happened on our watch, we will show the world why we are the greatest force to be reckoned with and though we are down, we are not out.  We will come together stronger than ever and fight as one.  We will all be part of America’s next Rising!
Somehow Bruce Springsteen was able to channel every single thought, hope, and prayer of America and pin it to words.  They were songs expressing our hopes and fears moving forward knowing our lives would never be the same.  He put to rest our minds and left us feeling that we will be put back together again.  Not in the same fashion so as to remember what happened.   His expressions and monikers guided us to relevance again after being blindsided.  He gave us our voice that we so desperately needed.  A way to remember that we are not invincible and the actions of others can cripple us.  But they will not tear us down.  They will not tear us apart.  They will only make this divided Nation whole again and remind us we are all brothers under the same sun.  We are proud.  We are whole again.  We are Americans!




Article written by: Matthew Ricketts,
Senior Staff Writer for LoneStar Outlaw Review


Picture Artwork by: Marc Lacourciere 



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