Healing Fields Talk from 9/2/10...

Last week, I was asked to be the Keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the Healing Fields. I know this might be a bit long in blog format, but I hope you'll read it and think about someone who is a Veteran who is a hero to you. Try to capture the reasons why this person might be a hero to you and then, tell him or her.

Also, don't be afraid to show your pride in being a veteran. I suggest some easy ways to do just that in this talk. Enjoy.

*********************************************************************

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ORIGINALLY ASKED TO BE HERE FOR THIS OPENING CEREMONY, I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED BY JIM HALL, WHOM I HAVE COME TO KNOW THRU THE WWII/KOREAN WAR VETS TO DC WORK WE DO. HE’S ON THAT COMMITTEE WITH ME AND ON OUR LAST TRIP, JIM WAS DOING THE MAIL CALL. WELL AFTERWARDS, WHILE HE HAD THE MICROPHONE, HE MENTIONED TO THE VETS THAT I WAS AN “FBC.” AFTER HE SAID THAT, HE LOOKED AT ME WITH THAT BIG, INFECTIOUS GRIN HE ALWAYS HAS AND NOTICED A STRANGE LOOK ON MY FACE AND HE WAS PUZZLED. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE BEEN IN THE ARMY FOR A LONG TIME AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, ANYTIME SOMEONE REFERS TO AN OFFICER WITH AN ACRONYM CONTAINING AN “F” IN IT, THAT USUALLY ISN’T SOMETHING GOOD. ALL OF YOU VETS KNOW ABOUT A “FUBAR” OR A “FNG.”

SO RICH ….. THANKS FOR BEING SO KIND IN YOUR REMARKS.

SO HERE WE ARE, THIS EVENING, KICKING OFF A TRIBUTE TO AMERICANS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN SOME CAPACITY OR ANOTHER DURING THEIR LIFE. THESE NEXT 10 DAYS ARE MEANT TO BE A TIME OF HEALING, RECOGNIZING HEROES, AND GIVING THANKS. I KNOW THIS IS A MULTI-FACETED CELEBRATION, BUT MY PERSPECTIVE IS FROM A MILITARY POINT OF VIEW.

I KNOW WE CERTAINLY HAVE MANY, MANY THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL, ONE OF WHICH IS THAT GOD CREATED US TO SEE THINGS IN COLOR SO WE CAN LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE BRILLIANCE OF THIS FIELD OF HONOR …. THE BEAUTY OF HIS CREATION HIGHLIGHTED AGAINST THE STRIKING CONTRAST OF THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE.

I AM CURIOUS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE HBO SERIES, “BAND OF BROTHERS.” IF YOU DID, YOU MAY REMEMBER ONE OF THE CLOSING SCENES WHERE DICK WINTERS WAS RECALLING SOME OF HIS MEMORIES AND HE SAID HIS GRANDSON ONCE ASKED HIM IF HE WAS A HERO. HE SAID, “NO, BUT HE SERVED IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES.”

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE A COMPANY OF HEROES LOOKS LIKE? I SUSPECT THAT IT ISN’T MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE COLLECTION OF VETERANS I SEE BEFORE ME.

SOMETHING I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WORKING WITH VETS FROM WWII AND KOREA AS WE TAKE THEM TO WASHINGTON TO SEE THEIR MEMORIALS … THEY TOO NEVER REFER TO THEMSELVES AS HEROES … MOST OF THE TIME, ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY WERE JUST DOING THEIR JOB, OR THEY WERE JUST THERE. IN FACT, THEY’RE OFTEN A BIT EMBARRASSED TO HEAR THIS KIND OF TALK. THEY NEVER CALL ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES AND DON’T ASK FOR A LOT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, EXCEPT MAYBE FOR SOME RESPECT, AND SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO THEM ONCE IN A WHILE.

I THINK THE REASON THESE GUYS AND GALS OFTEN FEEL THIS WAY IS BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HEROIC DEEDS AND HEROES.

· HEROIC DEEDS ARE THE THINGS LEGENDS ARE MADE OF …

HEROES ARE THINGS STRONG FAMILIES AND SOLID COMMUNITIES ARE MADE OF.

· HEROIC DEEDS ARE RECOGNIZED WITH RIBBONS AND MEDALS…

HEROES ARE RECOGNIZED BY SONS AND GRANDSONS … BY DAUGHTERS AND

GRANDDAUGHTERS..

YOU KNOW, YOU SURE DO GET SOME GOOD INSIGHTS INTO THE PAST WHEN YOU TALK TO THE VETS ON THESE TRIPS. ONE OF THE KOREAN WAR VETS ON ONE OF OUR RECENT TRIPS TOLD ME THAT HE WENT OFF TO KOREA AND FOUGHT THERE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. HE CAME HOME AND GOT OUT-PROCESSED ON A WEDNESDAY AND WENT BACK TO WORK THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WHEN HE WENT THAT FIRST DAY, HIS FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS SAID THEY HADN’T SEEN HIM FOR A WHILE AND WONDERED WHERE HE’D BEEN AND WHAT HE HAD BEEN UP TO. APPARENTLY THEY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE HAD BEEN GONE OR THAT HE HAD BEEN IN A WAR FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. THIS MAN TOLD ME HE THEN PROCEEDED TO WORK FOR THAT COMPANY FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS AND THEN RETIRED. HE THEN SAID TO ME: “PRETTY BORING STUFF, HUH.”

I SUSPECT HIS STORY IS TYPICAL OF A LOT OF VETERANS, FROM WWII TO TODAY. IT’S PROBABLY TYPICAL OF A LOT OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

HAVING SAID THAT, THOUGH, I THINK IT’S TIME THAT THE SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND HONOR YOU MIGHT FEEL OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IS TAKEN FROM THIS FIELD OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE PRIDE YOU HAVE FOR HAVING SERVED … THE PRIDE YOU FEEL FOR BEING A PART OF THAT COMPANY OF HEROES. THE QUESTION IS THOUGH – WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.

WELL, A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS AGO, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PUT OUT A DIRECTIVE THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT THAT AUTHORIZED AND HIGHLY ENCOURAGED ALL VETERANS TO RECOGNIZE THE FLAG BY RENDERING A HAND SALUTE DURING THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, OR WHENEVER SUCH ACTION IS APPROPRIATE -- SUCH AS WHEN A FLAG PASSES IN A PARADE.

THE DIRECTIVE ALSO PROVIDES FOR SALUTING DURING TAPS, REVEILLE, AND RETREAT. I THINK THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES WANT TO SEE IT AND NEED TO SEE US SHOWING OUR PRIDE AND OUR PATRIOTISM, ---

AND A VERY SIMPLE WAY TO START IS BY STANDING THIS FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE GAME WHEN THE BAND PLAYS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND SALUTING THE FLAG. NOT A HAND OVER YOUR HEART – A SALUTE YOUR DRILL SERGEANT WOULD BE PROUD OF.

NO ONE IS GOING TO CALL YOU TO ATTENTION AND GIVE YOU AN ORDER --– YOU’LL HAVE TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

IF YOU DON’T --- IF YOU JUST STAND THERE AND DON’T DO IT-- -- WELL ----- YOU JUST DON’T , AND NO ONE WILL KNOW ANY DIFFERENT. THEY WON’T KNOW YOU WERE A VET.

BUT IF YOU DO -----------YOU’LL STAND OUT --- YOU’LL BE DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU --- AT LEAST AT FIRST. UNTIL THE REST OF YOUR BROTHERS RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND JOIN YOU IN DOING WHAT HEROES HAVE ALWAYS DONE.

IT MAY NOT CATCH ON AT FIRST, AND YOU MIGHT FEEL A BIT AWKWARD OR EVEN EMBARRASSED – KINDA LIKE THOSE WWII AND KOREAN WAR VETS FEEL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM AS BEING HEROES. BUT EVENTUALLY PEOPLE WILL TAKE NOTICE AND EVENTUALLY THEY’LL GET IT.

WELL IT HAS INDEED BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE STOOD WITH YOU IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES TONIGHT. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CELEBRATION OF PATRIOTISM OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS …… AND I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THE TWO TAKE-AWAYS FROM TONIGHT’S TALK:

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A PERSON WHO HAS DONE HEROIC DEEDS TO BE A HERO --- TO SOMEONE, AND

2. YOUR COUNTRY HUNGERS FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR PRIDE AND PATRIOTISM AND TAKE YOUR PLACE IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES.

AND REMEMBER …… TO THOSE WHO COUNT ………… YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS A HERO BY YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR LIFE, NEITHER OF WHICH HAS TO BE HEROIC.

HOOAH

Field of Flags...

This past 10 days has been pretty special for a lot of veterans in the Shelby County area. The Shelby County Historical Society teamed up with some veterans organizations and put on a "Healing Fields" display. The common name for it is the Field of Flags, but it also included displays at the Historical Society which featured artifacts and displays from local Viet Nam War veterans, one of the traveling Viet Nam Wall displays, several memorial displays which included the names of service members killed in the various conflicts and wars since September 11.


The public was treated to a fantastic show on the opening day as somewhere between 2,500 and 4,000 motorcycles escorted the "Wall" from the town of Wapakoneta to Sidney, a distance of about 30 miles. It was reported that the semi containing the "Wall" and the first motorcycles were in Sidney and there were still motorcycles waiting to leave at Wapak. The bikers rode two abreast -- what a sight...what a sound. Naturally, people lined the route and waived their flags.


Historical Society members sold American Flags to the public who could purchase one to commemorate the life of a loved one in the service, present or past. The intent was also to honor firemen, EMTs, policemen, and any other kind of first responder who might have been killed in the line of duty. Their original intent was to just break even at around 600 flags. However, they did real well and sold right around 1,200 of those Star Spangled Banners. It was a pretty inspiring and humbling sight.

Pam and I purchased a flag in memory of my dad, a Tech Sergeant in the Army (Artillery) during the Second World War. He and I talked some about his experiences in the War but I wish I had learned more from him. He had some pretty interesting stories about his unit's participation in the Normandy Invasion and how his battery supported the landings from on board a ship.

We also purchased a flag in memory of a friend, SPC Damon Winkleman, a medic who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. SPC Winkleman's dad and I served together off and on for about 20 years. He is one of the best friends I have. He too has spent a LONG time in the Army, and will soon retire.

The concept of a healing field is pretty special, especially in Shelby County. This area is so supportive of our Veterans. I hope these feelings are not lost in the future, because I don't think this will be the last call for our soldiers.

They (the veterans) changed the world ... They made the world a better place today. ... Make sure to tell others who they were. (Anon)

Hooah

HAMming it up at 6,500 ft......

Two weeks ago there was a nation-wide event called "Field Day" which is an event that tests the operating skills and emergency preparedness of amateur radio ("HAMs") operators to perform their skill in a sustained emergency network. Field Day is run like a contest in which operators try to make as many contacts around the country and overseas as possible in a 24-hour period. Various categories are established and different operating environments are encouraged by which the HAM uses emergency power, generators, homemade antennas, and various other kinds of equipment in order to test the maintenance of communications networks in emergencies. Cell phones, land lines, twitter nets, computers and internet can and will fail, hopefully not all at the same time, so the challenge is still there to at least maintain emergency comms through HAM radio operators.

This Field Day was a bit different for a couple of us. My friend, Eric, and I thought it would be fun to try to hook up something totally different this time and see if we could push the envelope a bit. Eric owns a small aircraft and had been toying with the idea of doing something where we could create an air mobile platform and do our emergency HAMming from 6,500 feet. Of course all Eric has do do is mention flying and I'm in, so we talked about the possibilities and "theory" and he came up with a rig that would work. The antenna was going to be the tricky part along with the step-down transformer that would allow us to power up the HF rig (12 volts) from the plane's power system (28 volts). Eventually we/he got everything worked out, got the antenna worked out, and off we went. If you click on the picture of us in front of the plane, you can see the antenna wires which ran from the back of the plane to the tie-down hook on the strut.

We were able to talk to people on both coasts and pretty much everywhere in between. Once he started making contacts and using our identifier as "air mobile" there were lots of people trying to contact us. In fact, we got jammed up a lot of the time because everyone was stepping all over each other trying to get to us.

We made one contact with the Amateur Radio World HQ (ARRL/W1AW) in Newington, CT. and they talked to us for a while. In the background of their station, we could hear one of their guys saying "Air mobile.......How do we log that one in?" Eric said you are the headquarters guys, you figure it out.

We had another HAM, Joe, with us to help with the logging. Eric ran the radio and I flew the plane. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon.

Try not. Do or do not, there is no try. (Yoda)

Hooah

What a bunch of firsts...

Over the Fourth of July, we had a really neat bunch of relatives here from Georgia. Hank, Doy (Pam's sister) and their son Mike and his family (Janet, Sarah and Ben) all flew up from the sweltering heat of Georgia to be here and what a surprise -- the weather for the first half of the visit was absolutely beautiful. Most of the time the temperature was in the mid-70s with very low humidity and just a little breeze. We were all pleasantly surprised.

With that kind of start, we were able to get outdoors most of the time and do lots of things...most of which were firsts for at least one of the members of the group.

It began with some fishing at the pond. Ben was quite the fisherman, and got into a bunch of bluegills and got to pulling them out one right after the other. He had 10 pretty good ones in no time at all. He also caught one of the mid-size bass (a first for him). Doy and Sarah got to fishing and I found out that that was the first time Doy had either fished or caught a fish -- I can't remember which she said. It all happened so fast, and......the fish was only about 4" long!! Sorry, Doy. Sarah also got a fish or two but did more feeding of the bluegills than catching them. On that same day, Chuck, Alanna and Karen also tried their hand at it. Alanna has a little child's pole and we were all wondering what would happen if she got into one of the big catfish. But that didn't happen as she tired of fishing in a very short time and turned her pole over to Grandpa for safekeeping. And wouldn't you know it -- just after she gave it to Chuck, one of the bass took her worm and Chuck hooked it. He reeled it in and all the while Alanna jumped up and down saying, "I caught a fish, I caught a fish."

Later that evening we all sat around the fire ring, watching the stars and telling stories. I really enjoy those times.

We were also able to go to Chuck's and watch the fireworks that the City of Lima puts on each year. They do a pretty nice job.

One of the other firsts was taking the kids for boat rides. The women went shopping one day, and we all went over to Lake Loramie for a short ride on Miss Pam. Since I forgot to check the gas tank before we left, we only had enough for about an hour's ride, but that was plenty. I know that was Ben's first ride in our boat. Later in the week, we also took canoe rides on our pond. I think almost everyone who took a ride said this was their first or second time doing that. It's not a big pond, but it was fun.

Before they all left, Pam brought out all of her dummies and everyone sat around just having fun trying to be a ventriloquist. When you see this picture, try to avoid asking the obvious question.

I put most of the pictures on my Picasa site, so if you know where that is, check them out.

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.

Hooah

Follow-up on our last golf outing to NC...

While going thru some pictures last night and came across these. I had almost forgotten this part of our "Man Trip" to play golf in North Carolina this past spring.

As we did on our first trip there, we stopped on the way home to see Mayberry (Mt. Pilot, NC). It was another disappointment -- no Sheriff Taylor, no Barney, no Opie or Aunt Bea. We did, however, stop at the jail again and spent some time there...the tourist jail, not the real one. The old Sergeant Major (shown on the right) was the one in our group who may have had more of a chance to be in here than any of us as we were growing up. Dave liked fast cars back then! Chuck (left) is pretty much at home behind these bars too, but that's because he knows every line, scene, character that ever appeared on Mayberry.

Goober's gas station was closed. S'posed to open at 9:00 and it was 9:15. I guess that's how it was back then. Anyhow, it was raining and the gal who was to work that morning was just running late.

We hit the shops up town to find that perfect T-shirt to take home, and then went to the movie house (the old school house where Andy Griffith went to school when he was growing up there). There were some pretty cool statues out front, so we got our picture taken by some young couple who stopped by there, probably looking for the Sheriff or Opie too. From the way the young gal went on when she was taking our picture, she nay have thought maybe we were some of the characters from the original shows. I guess if you look closely, you can see some likenesses!

The "Good Old Days" aren't times marked precisely by a calendar, rather they are a state of mind fringed by the fog of passing time.

Hooah

The second most spectacular flight I have made...

During our June pilot's club meeting, the club decided to have a fly-out for the evening. It's been a while since I have been able to go to a meeting -- just about 6 years. Army kinda got in the way for all that time, so I was really looking forward to getting back with these guys. Most pilots I know are some really super guys, and we have some good times flying, talking about flying, and doing flying-related things, like Young Eagles, poker runs, etc.

This fly-out was to a small grass strip in the vicinity of Marysville, Ohio. We go over there every once in a while and the owner of the field has a hamburger and hot dog cook-out. The members bring a covered dish and it is really fun to just go over there, eat and sit around and just talk flying stories...most old, and some even real.

During this outing, the owner's son brought out a Stearman they own. What a beautiful biplane it is. Blue body with yellow wings, and a real nice black leather interior. I was once supposed to take a ride in one of these at the Troy WACO Field. My wife bought it for me as a present, but my first deployment to Iraq got in the way and when I got back from there, I found out that the guy who had the plane had gone out of business. I never got that ride, and I joked about it with the guy who owned this Stearman (shown below). He then asked me if I wanted to take a ride to make up for that one...I don't think a fly could blink faster than I answered yes. So off we went.
It was pretty cool. I even got to (had to) wear a little leather helmet with goggles and a built-in headset -- just like the Red Barron. We went rolling down the runway and had just cleared the wheels when he asked me if I wanted to fly it. That didn't take much convincing either. What a beautiful flight -- clear, blue skies at about 7:00 at night, no wind and me at the control of the stick. It doesn't get much better than that.

I might have flown a plane this way in an earlier life. No instrument panel, just a few dials, a stick and a rudder. This was as close as I might ever come to actually flying like a bird.

Maybe some day Quinn and I will get to go up together!!

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. (Leonardo Da Vinci)

Hooah

Scientific Investigation...

I have been conducting a scientific investigation this week, and may be on to something.

Haven't had a haircut for a few weeks, and I was getting a bit shaggy. I guess that's OK 'cause it keeps the sun from burning my head, but I discovered a problem with it -- or so I thought -- when I was playing golf this past Monday. It seems I kept hitting behind the ball and taking a rather big divot. I've never done that before, or at least that many times in a round. Well, after conducting more research over the next 14 holes or so, I came to the conclusion that I had too much hair on my head. It was too heavy and pushing me down into the ground, so I had to hit short!! I also found that with that much more hair, I was always sweating and the hair was always wet, thus adding to the weight that was pushing me down. That, and the fact that my head always felt waterlogged, drove me to this study, and to the barber.

I ran this theory by my barber, Cheryl (I've been a steady customer of hers since I moved to Troy in 1972) to see what she thought. I don't know why, but she was a bit skeptical. Barbers can be that way.

I further explained that as part of my study, I thought that dark hair was heavier than gray hair, so I wanted her to cut more of the dark hair and trim the gray. She said that should not be a problem, since there was a disproportionate amount of gray on my noggin. If this weren't a scientific study, she wouldn't have gotten a tip for this cut.

Anyway, as she was cutting away, I started to feel lighter in the chair. I thought I was going to have to hold the arm rests to stay in it. By golly, I think I'm on to something here.

Well, after getting a second opinion from Dave (the other barber in the shop), I left and headed to the truck. I have to admit, as I was getting in I did hit my head on the top of the door opening -- but I think that was just my being clumsy.

Later that day was my golf league and I thought I was going to hit that ball soooooo sweeeeeet!! How could I miss, being so light on my feet and all. Well, I did hit it sweet!! My shots off the tee were pretty good, and my irons were very good. In a sense of full disclosure, however, I admit I shot a 48, but I had an 8 on one hole and a 9 on another one -- the fairways were really soaked and the grass was very long because they couldn't get the mowers in there to cut. Anyway, our team won 26 points and we are currently in second place -- thank you very much.

I called Cheryl the next day to report the findings. She asked if she could tell all her golfing customers about the study and the results. I told her that I was going to see if Golf Digest wanted to publish the results first, then she could use them. I told her I would mention her and the shop in the article. Funny -- she said I really didn't need to do that. I wonder what she meant by that!

I found out how to increase my length off the tee -- hit the ball and then turn around and run backwards real fast for about 15 yards or so.

Hooah