1981: DVRA AMATEUR OPERATORS' "FIELD DAY"

"Old Friends are the Best Friends." Above is a photo of two of my friends from the "DVRA;" (Delaware Valley Radio Association) during my 15 or so years as a member of that organization. An unfortunate and UN-deserved personal email attack some years ago effectively severed my relationship with the group for which I still hold great respect. I fondly recall the wonderful "Hamfests" we had over in the Lawrence National Guard Armory where I was the official sign-maker and general "helper outer." During those pre-cell phone years, I was part of the W2ZQ "commuters' net" which met each morning on the way to work, and each evening on the way home. We came from all points of the compass: Hopewell, Ewing, Hamilton Bucks County, Bordentown and other Burlington County areas. "K2AAR," "AB2F," "K2ZSY," "K2ITX" "W2SVV," "WB2EIZ," "WA2BOO," "W2AEI, K3MNX," "W3ZLP," "WA2JZF," "KA2BJC," "KA2DHA," and I could go on and on. All were a part of a very wonderful era in my life. How time has flown! I was in my 40's when I became a licensed amateur back in the mid 1970's. Today happens to be my 78th birthday, and the memories of the wonderful years I spent communicating with all those wonderful "hams" are indelibly imprinted in my memory. I fully intend to keep my WA2RU amateur license and at some point, I hope to pop up a vertical antenna in my back yard and go international. (Thanks to my dear friend W2AEI who gave me a Kenwood TS820 "work horse," I hope to one day get back on the "DX" trail as I become less and less physically active.)
As a personal observation, amateur radio will still prove to be the saving grace for any terror attacks or other disaster that could come at any time,any place. There will always be those of us who know the Morse code, and those dedicated hams who practice emergency message handling on a daily basis in the event of a national disaster. We seldom hear of them in the local press now that the cell phone has become fashionable. However, during any real emergency, cell phone phones become virtually useless as lines become overloaded. Fortunately there will always be the ham radio fraternity standing by to fill the communications void. We have all heard of the the lack of communication during 911 when the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department had communication problems. Such would not be the case with amateur radio should a national disaster occur. These dedicated hams are quietly standing by, ready to spring into INSTANT action!

That's what the above field day illustrated above is all about!

JoeZ said...

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM WITH MANY MORE TO COME. STOLAT

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Ralph Lucarella said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM....BIRTHDAYS ARE OCCURING RAPIDLY FOR BOTH OF US. LET'S HOPE WE'RE STILL AROUND WHEN THINGS IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE TRENTON AREA GET BETTER FOR EVERYONE. BEST WISHES

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Anonymous said...

Tom - Have a happy and very blessed birthday! Hoping the next year is all you want it to be!
Lakeside Girl

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Steve Csorgo Jr said...

Happy Birthday Tom - sorry I'm a little late but busy day on Thursday! Love reading your blog! On vacation next week and hope to stop by the library to give you some more stuff I found. Take care and have a Great Weekend.
Steve Jr

Friday, September 30, 2011