Let us NEVER forget the cowardous attack on thousands of innocent people, which occured 13 years ago today. May the souls of those who died that day, find eternal peace, may God place His loving hand upon the families, friends, and all those who lost more than lives that day. Our false sense of security magnified this low life event, for we arent used to war being fought on our own soil. I pray these events will never again occur. Day 3 of the challenge Ive been nominated to fulfill. This challenge is to publicly speak of people, events, things, which have had a positive impact on my life, including those who helped make me who I am today. #7. Im grateful for being found fit in every way, so to be allowed to fulfill my duty to serve my Country, especially during a time of war. While many people my age either hid behind a college deferment, ran to foreign lands, or never registered with the Selective Service, I found it my bound duty to serve, in any capacity needed. I enlisted, did not wait for any draft notice, in the US Navy, while in my Junior year of High School. Learning from books and taking tests on my learnings, I was honored to have started Basic Training at the rank of E-3 instead of the recruit level of E-1. This allowed me to help educate new recruits in some facets, opened the door for me to be our Company Clerk, and with rank, came some privlege. Volunteering for the Explosives division of the Under Water Demolition division, I found my way to lovely and exotic South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. After tour #1, I volunteered for a second serving, and was allowed to do so. This time around I wasnt as lucky as the first. One of four survivors in our group of 72, I was wounded and left for dead. Four days later, I was in Saigon for emergency medical attention and then flown to San Diego Naval Hospital Center, where after several surgeries, I was rotated into civillian life. Hurt, yet grateful to have had the honor to serve. #8. One of the experiences which made me more a man, was my time of service with the Mt. Bethel Vol. Fire Co., Inc. Not only serving my community of Mt. Bethel, PA, I served the corporation in various areas. Asst. Truck Foreman, which made sure all equipment were in top notch working order, vehicle maintenance, and coming in at all hours to mount snow chains, if the weather report so dictated the need. Serving under Harry Nasatka, Corporation Secretary, I assisted him in the Company Ledger and in outside communications. Then, honored by being elected as President of the Corporation, serving in that capacity for 5 years, was responsible for doubling the size of our social hall so it could hold over 500 people, utilizing the hall for weddings, banquets, and our weekly high stakes bingo games, as well as applying and being approved to hold a Liquor License, so to add to the income of the company. We were a privately held company, not accepting any tax payers money, making sure we were self sufficient in the way of finances. To this day, the company is still volunteering selflessly. Great people I served with and am very happy God allowed me to apply and be accepted. One of the best moments of my life. #9. Still on the subject of community service, I served with honor, in the capacity of the Upper Mount Bethel Zoning Hearing Committe, represented the Township at the (now defunct since the county wide 911 emergency system was implemented) Blue Mountain Control Centre, which dispatched Police, Fire, and Ambulance personnel. I was responsible to reporting to the Township Supervisors on how the Tax monies were being used by the Control Center, and changes in the Centres way of doing business. Being elected to the position of the Northampton County Republican Committee, serving the Townships of Upper and Lower Mount Bethel, I was one of many on the committee to interview candidates and endorsing those we felt would most benefit Northampton County, PA. Then I was selected to the Commowealth Republican Committee, and was one of the deciding votes to nominate Tom Ridge in his quest to become Govorner of the Commonwealth of PA. Happily, he won in a landslide. Yes, my lower level of political involvement, was at times dirty, but you separated the good from the bad, and if you held your ground and kept decent, the people knew and reacted in the same way toward me. Loved it. Long, hard hours, little to no pay, it was a most rewarding experience. Thats it for today. Keep those you love very close, and be thankful we live in a now more secure Nation. See you all tomorrow. Stay happy.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 17:04:17 +0000