QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: tglover320@optimum.net
It is such a shame that the meaning has been lost over but a few short years. It's nothing more that another day the government shuts for a holiday. I've done two "low pass" flights into the the old Hickham Army Air Corps Field and from there got a clear glimpse of the Arizona. After that there was no cause for burgers or dogs on the grill. A Japanese foot soldier surrendered a few weeks later from a very remote swimming hole (I had just used), out in the "boonies". The irony that I almost lost my life from a soldier of another war, I still have some trouble dealing with that. Few men possess such honor and loyalty. Part of his rifle stock was rotted from the dampness but his "clips" were said to be well tended. Tomorrow, I'll tip back a cup with the aviation mechanics crest on it, a cup of fine sake; right or wrong, your honor is without question!
Ed Millerick
Aside from flames about 3' high, what really burns my tush is an individual who shows up at the Allentown High School Fair. Among his "memorabilia" such as military pictures and pillows are bronze grave markers, when I questioned him him he indicated that they were "scrap" from when they "clean" the veterans graves, When I went to use my wife's cell to call Charles Webster, like Tom, a historian who maintains vet cemeteries and does tours and such, this worm packed his van and was not seen again.
Such items as military grave markers are NEVER SCRAP, THEY ARE STOLEN, period and end of story. Please get a few pictures and the license plate of the car if that is possible, but the minute they see a camera but no sales these dogs will pack and run.
The minimum you can do is to cause a bit of a scene and ruin their day. I forget the statute number but IN THEORY the local PD should contact the Vet Affairs office. Just possession of such an "artifact" is a lower felony in reality perhaps a warrant will be issued which is something such scum want to avoid since there is usually a string of other charges like drug or theft they would like to avoid.
The theft of such "scrap" in now worth hundreds of dollars since the prices have been going up!
Try to get the locals to do the initial contact and get information from the DL or registration, please do not try yourself. Often, if they have outstanding, warrants or citizenship issues or are past child support, they are often wary about the simplest act ..... don't get a black eye. Others "get paid" to do that. ;)
Ed Millerick
HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY
SING IT WITH ME:
M is for the million things she gave me
O means only that she's growing old
T is for the tears she shed to save me
H is for her heart of purest gold
E is for her eyes with love-light shining
R means right and right she'll always be
Put them all together they spell "MOTHER"
A word that means the world to me
The world to me.
Thousands lined the streets just like the old days as the Trenton St. Patrick's Day parade was presented under the most spring like conditions ever. Usually, the day is brisk and sometimes windy, but yesterday was ideal. I took these 3 photos before my battery decided to die (I thought I had just re-charged it, but never considered that it was a month ago.) Above is a photo of the gathering crowd as they assembled. This photo was taken at 12:10 and the parade was set to kick off at 12:30. A delay occurred when the officers were late arriving from Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Chambersburg. I took a few quiet moments to speak with the Lord, recalling the many happy years I spent as a parishioner at that magnificent building on South Olden Avenue. The lower photo is an amazingly accurate depiction of St. Patrick, as portrayed by Dennis Keenan's son, Tim; a true semblance of the revered Saint. 
Once upon a time, there was a custom that is no longer in vogue. Few indeed are the visitors to this blog who indulged in this charming but long forgotten annual rite. Each Valentine's day, after we had all received our valentines from that big red and white box in our classrooms, we went home and that evening, we addressed another collection of those treasured cards and walked the neighborhood to distribute them. We walked to his or her front door, slipped the valentine under the door, rang the bell and ran away. Why am I the only old guy who remembers that old custom? Was it unique to my Hartley Avenue neighborhood?
Anyone who went to school in the early to mid 20th century will remember that big red and white box with the slot in the top where we dropped our valentines. I reposed on a table up in front of our classroom, usually next to the teacher's desk. It was a serious annual custm. Would SHE like that mushy one I sent to her? Will SHE send me one? Will anybody send me one? Hey, if you didn't get to experience the classroom Valentines Day box opening ceremony, you haven't lived!
SJBill said...After you put your HEART into cutting the red construction paper heart, and personally inscribing the message to HER, you made it official by either folding the heart in half (to keep the message a secret), or by gluing the heat onto a paper doily - the bigger the better. This completed your third grader vision of life.
There was a transition period that we all went through. First, all official school gluing was done with LePage's Mucilage, with the rubber squeege head that got really gummy after time.
At some time in the 50s or 60s, the world quickly changed to Elmer's Glue-All.
Tom Glover said...We didn't have those rubber tipped mucilage bottles back in my day, Joe. The war effort demanded that all rubber products be rationed. We had white wheat paste (mmmm it tasted good) along with a wooden doctor type stick to spread on the paper to be glued.
Tom Glover
Let's remember who preserved, and still preserves the independence of our wonderful America! Anonymous said...
When one looks back on the various holidays as celebrated in the distant past, and compares them with the current celebrations, a very stark difference emerges. Back then it was known as "Decoration Day." The focus was on the veterans who fought and many who died for our country. In this year of 2011 as we celebrate Memorial Day, let's remember who the day is for....certainly not just outdoor cookouts, baseball, and another day off from the daily grind.
Sally Logan Gilman said... Sally Logan Gilman said...
Tom,
Dennis' son name is Tim.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
MANY,MANY THANKS ANONYMOUS. I HAVE MADE THE CORRECTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO SEND IT TO ME.
TOM
Sunday, March 18, 2012