Sunday Afternoon in the Park

Saint Louis, Missouri

2009 Holiday

No visit to Saint Louis would be complete without taking in a lovely park on a Sunday afternoon. All of our Son's Saint Louis Family and Friends gathered to help celebrate his Birthday. We played washers (a Saint Louis game much like horse shoes) as we waited for the Band Concert.

Here you see the Flower Child and his Son as they compete in the game of Washers. The device you see off of the left foot of my son is the target. The washer must land in the outer area for a score of one and if you put the washer in the inner cup your team scores three. Game is twenty-one points.
Saint Louis has neighborhood parks and this one also has several miles of walking/biking trails which anyone can enjoy. This lake was extremely refreshing on a hot Sunday afternoon. During the Band Concert we enjoyed fried chicken from a Hodak's which is a local favorite for great food.

Of course you can learn more about them here: http://www.hodaks.com/

A grand Sunday afternoon in the Park and the Band Concert was very enjoyable. I would estimate that about 500 showed up for the Concert.

Iowans of the Mighty Eighth

Air Force

During my recent visit to Iowa I also took the opportunity to read some interesting books. I was impressed by the book, the title as listed above, written by Charles D. Taylor which contains World War II wartime experiences from Iowa Heroes as they relayed them to the author.

The book contained a brief History of the Eighth Air Force and then had pictures of most of the Heroes who were killed in action during the War. There were 482 known Heroes who perished in World War II who served in the Eighth Air Force. Each of these had a picture in the book.

The main part of the book contained the stores of those who came home. Their stories as well as the pictures taken during their Service time as well as their current photographs were interesting to view. Over 2000 Iowa Heroes served in the Eighth Air Force during World War II.

The author concluded his book with this comment: "Memories may have faded, but Pride in their Unit has not faded."

Certainly a great book to read and to also realize the sacrifices these men made to protect our freedoms.

Grant's Farm

Saint Louis, Missouri

Flower Child's 2009 Holiday

On day three of our 2009 Holiday our Son and his Bride who live in Saint Louis took us to Grant's Farm. While it was hot and humid we did enjoy the visit to Grant's Farm. There was an abundance of wild life in a park like setting.

These two birds captured everyone's attention. As you can ascertain their bright colors and this shady location was a mecca for the tourist visiting Grant's Farm on Saturday, June 27th.

Of course no visit to Grant's Farm would be complete without some time for family bonding and fellowship. Here you see the Flower Child and his Youngest Son engaged in appropriate Family Time. This photograph was taken after our visit to the Beer Garden.

Admission to Grant's Farm is payment of a $11.00 parking fee for a vehicle. Our Son and His Bride treated us to this fun opportunity.

The Global Achievement Gap

by

Tony Wagner

If you have not heard by now let me inform you that the Flower Child was raised in Iowa, U. S.A. During the recent 2009 Holiday to the Holy Land a.k.a. Iowa and other connected states the Flower Child had the opportunity to read an interesting book entitled "The Global Achievement Gap."

As we all fret about poor education I get the impression that the educators in Iowa maybe on the brink of dynamic change. Educators in Iowa are reading this book.

I will not attempt to quote the whole book here, but I will highlight some statements contained in the book which impressed me:

• We must teach students to use minds well.
• Students must learn and develop problem solving skills
• Educators must ask the correct questions to enable critical thinking

The author visited many schools throughtout America. He noted that when visiting High Schools that the Trophy Cases highlighted athletic achievements while academic achievements were often overlooked. In short there was no visual evidence of academic achievement.

The author introduced "Seven Survival Skills" which all students must achieve. Mr. Wagner also stated that education in China features "Thinking Schools - A Learning Nation!!!

He cited research which interviewed college students which focused on what they should have obtained in High School. Most former High School Students indicated that they did not learn how to think. Yes, they learned answers for a test, but they did not learn how to think a problem through. In an ideal educational system, students would be explaining a problem versus repeating canned answers.

The most informative comment Mr. Wagner made was" "In education the problem is the adults, not the students."

In the discussion regarding student motivation the author stated:

• "Kids today have everything they want or need - except some adult discipline."
• To motivate simply ask a student where they want to be in __ years? What goals have they set for themselves?
• Students must be self motivated

It was very interesting to me to read about the "High Tech High" in San Diego where the expenditure per student was $6,200.00. This school is obtaining superior results

While the book was an interesting read for me I must encourage our Georgia educators, especially our Bibb County System to obtain this book to glean refreshing insights into education. I will always remember the comment "In Education the problem is the adults, not the students."

As I pondered this statement I realized that it is I, myself, my peers, the members of Boards of Education, the school staffs and the administration of the schools systems who must be engaged in producing a better educated citizen for the future.

In conclusion a good education rest on educators asking "the right questions and engaging others in vital conversations." Critical Thinking - the new buzz words. After all, as employers seek willing workers in today's modern high tech world, they want problem solvers. Problem solving can be learned if our education allows it.

The mantra for today and tomorrow is an employee who can solve a problem in an effective, efficient and economical way. We can no longer measure academic achievement with multiple choice test. We need citizens who can think and employees who can solve problems in the work place.

From my point of view that was the important fact contained in this book ""The Global Achievement Gap." If we in the United States of America desire to remain a dynamic economy and in some situations regain our status; we simply must do a much better job in educating our future citizens/our future employees.

Metropolis, Illinois

Flower Child's 2009 Holiday

On 25 June 2009 the Flower Child and his Bride commenced the annual trip to "The Holy Land." After a long day of travel from Macon, Georgia we stopped for the evening at Metropolis, Illinois. We visited the "SuperMan" site and enjoyed appropriate ice cream treats at the Dairy Queen.
This wall mural was on a building just across the street from the SuperMan statue. This mural quickly reinforced the concept that "Small Town" America has it right. In fact many small towns also had signs on the street lamps displaying the names and branch of service that their citizens were currently serving in. What an appropriate tribute to our Nation's Heroes. Additionally it helps the local citizens realize that there are family members among them that would appreciate a "Thank You" and even assistance as their loved one is deployed.

As we returned to our Hotel we noted the entrance to a State Park. Once we arrive in the Park we learned that we were visiting the "Fort Massac State Park." This reconstructed Fort is indeed a State of Illinois treasure. To learn more about this place please visit:

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/LANDMGT/parks/r5/frmindex.htm

After our educational visit to this State Park we enjoyed a delightful night in Metropolis. The next day we continued our journey/holiday. During the nineteen day Holiday we never had to pay the high price for fuel that we did in South Illinois. Fuel was $2.719 at the Marion Truck Plaza on I-57.

It was also interesting to note in the local print media that some of the citizens of Southern Illinois were planning a meeting to organize an attempt to establish a new State.

Art Space

If you have not heard about "Art Space" yet I would encourage you to read on. Art Space is a cluster of former retail store spaces grouped principally at the east end of Macon Mall. The store spaces range in square footage from 900-50,000, and can be used to meet countless needs among the arts community. I first heard about this exciting venture a few weeks ago at a meeting of the Middle Georgia Art Association. They announced that the Art Space would conduct an Open House on Tuesday, June 23 from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

I attended this event and was impressed with the areas set up for the Art Space. This as well as the proposed Poplar Street Project downtown as well as the recent grant for the College Hill project indicates to me that Macon can soon be on the move.

USS Ranger (CVA-61) 2009 Reunion

Mobile, Alabama

June 18 - 20, 2009

Everyone knows that the Flower Child was in the U. S. Navy many, many years ago. Here you see him with his Bride at the Dinner Banquet and Dance at the recent USS Ranger (CVA-61) Reunion held in Mobile, Alabama.

After we toured the USS ALABAMA (BB-60) we visited the Aviation Museum. We were able to find an A-4 Attack Aircraft that had actually flown from the USS Ranger.

Here we are posing near the ground tackle (anchor chains) just forward of the two sixteen inch mounts. Each of the projectiles weighed more than 2000 pounds and could land some 22 miles away within ten feet of the target. This is awsome considering that the fire control systems employed on this Battleship were 1938/1939 technology.

Of course this is "The Flower Child" as he posed on the Bridge Wing. You can see the guns and the bow of the USS Alabama in the background.

Every U. S. Navy Ship Reunion always conducts a Memorial Service for those Sailors who have died since the last Reunion. Shown here is part of the crowd as we rendered honors to our Nation's Flag during the course of the Memorial Service.

A great Reunion and a great opportunity to visit Mobile, Alabama.

Arts Advocacy - Macon, Georgia

June 16, 2009

I was fortunate to be able to attend the 2009 Arts Advocacy Breakfast at Vineville Academy of the Arts here in Macon, Georgia on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

After a delighful breakfast everyone was welcomed by appropriate officials. Mr. Bullard of the Bibb County School System spoke to us and listed five goals for the event:

1. Identify the skills to be integrated into effective education
2. Examine and realize the impact Arts in Education
3. Development of a method for effective teaching
4. Engage Scholars/Students in the learning process
5. Interact with others

Dr. Fritz Mengert was introduced as the keynote speaker and he presented everyone with a paper which summed up his presentation. You can learn more about him at:

http://www.fmengert.net/

He discussed how a new born quickly realizes the following:

1. Responds to movements - patterns
2. Responds to smell - senses - learns the smell of the parents and other family members
3. Responds by trusting - learns who can be trusted - the sense of touch

The Brain develops:

Patterns - as a child matures the patterns of life, such as walking, dancing, etc.

Smell - this sense is transmitted directly to the brain. Smell is a bonding experience. What do the people around a new life smell like?

Touch - any parent can tell you that a baby will respond to touching. Of major importance is stroking the backbone. This stimulates the brain. We all also know that the act of rocking a baby is a positive activity.

As a baby matures they must be able to talk and walk at the same time. This is a stable brain at work. It is known that language makes the brain work.

Therefore we now know that vocabulary is critical to a properly developing brain.

He concluded this segment with this comment:

"Movement, Sound, Smell and Vocabulary is critical for brain development."

In order to develop a brain the child must be exposed to the Arts. Reading to a child is also vital. In this regard, read something that is exciting and of interest to the child.

Education that works right is all about the arts.

Well educated children are able to ask questions. This is also vital. Teach students to ask questions. "The brain runs the show." In former times it was thought that the heart runs the body.

Teachers have the vital rold of building brain health. That stated, the whole process begins in the home.

Parents and Teachers must teach a child:

1. Who they are
2. Where they are
3. Instill the concept that everyone is their Brother's keeper

Thus Piano/Dance/Drawing accelerate brain development. Movement/Color/Line Art is critical to brain development and also reading readiness.

Dr. Mengert concluded by letting us all know that Boys develope slower. They must be able to run and balance before they can be effective readers.

Everyone needs to read interesting stuff and focus on "What I want to know."

We have bright kids, but we are challenged to teach interesting stuff.

To recap the statement concerning "Who they are/Where they are/Being a brother's Keeper" we can rephrase to this:

1. Be Smart.
2. Be Curious
3. Be Nice

We the adults and education leaders need to "understand arts are critical to the brain."

I was glad that Mr Bullard from the Bibb System was in attendance. I was shocked to realize that not one of the eight members of the Bibb County Board of Education were not there. Admittedly, several have full time employment.

Just days prior to this "2009 Arts Advocacy Breakfast" everyone in Georgia learned that the three highest scoring High Schools in the State had strong "Arts Components" in their educational scheme. I would have thought that our duly elected leaders would have cared enough to attend this informative event.

The flowering shrub in this post is a Vitex which is a part of the landscaping at Bibb County's Vineville Academy of the Arts.

It Finally Happened

Even AT&T has acknowledged that Warner Robins and Houston County are expanding at a faster rate than Macon and Bibb County. As everyone knows, I reside in West Bibb County very near I-475 mile marker 9.

Today I received my new AT&T Phone book good through June 2010. We all have heard that Warner Robins is growing, but just never thought it would happen this fast. We are now considered in the Warner Robins area as far as the phone company is concerned.

Middle Georgia Challenge

Today I issue another Middle Georgia Challenge. Even though this water tank is in Macon, Georgia anyone who resides in Middle Georgia, or has lived here and can identify the street that is closest to this water tank will win the Challenge.

As always, there is a deadline to post your comment on this Blog with your answer as to which street this water tank is near. The deadline is Monday, 2400, 22 June 2009. You must post your answer in the comment section of this Blog. Again, please remember that this water tank is in Macon, Georgia. The first individual to post the correct answer before the deadline will earn a casual lunch for one from the Flower Child at a delightful lunch spot in Middle Georgia. Those who have won in the past will quickly inform you that my favorite place is "The Pig in A Pit" near the Bass Pro-Shop or "Five Guys Burgers and Fries" on Tom Hill Blvd.

Good Luck and enjoy the Macon Scene!!

Health Care in the U. S. A.

Is our current administration and the U. S. Congress ignoring the situation in Iran and North Korea by throwing up this Health Care Screen?

Here we have two enemies of our Country developing Nuclear Weapons Technology and our Senators and our President are working on Health Care for all.

Just the other day I heard a commentary where everyone needs Health Care and that no one should be denied Care!!! A great sounding concept and one that surely will secure future votes.

But has anyone considered the expense? Has anyone considered that many who currently do not have health care are the very people that set themselves up by restricting their own educations when they dropped out of High School. What have they done since that event? Have they obtained their G.E.D. to improve their employment situation?

Our nation is the most compassionate country on Earth. People from around the World seek to live in the United States. That is a fact that no elected official can deny.

Yet we have a President and a U. S. Congress that feels we are a bad country because we do not provide for everyone's needs and wants.

At the rate we are currently proceeding we will have nice hospitals and lovely waiting rooms and people waiting for their free health care with clerks determining who should be treated.

If Health Care is in such a terrible situation in the United States why do people from Canada seek their health care when they winter over in our Sunbelt?

I would suggest that it is certainly time that our duly elected officials consider what we really need. We need to protect our country from the Terrorist and actually confront North Korea and Iran as they seek the delivery systems and/or technology to produce Nuclear Weapons.

What good is free health care in the U. S. A. if we no longer have our freedoms that people from all over the world seek as they dream of living in America?

Or, are we going to let the citizens of Israel take care of Iran and hope that the North Koreans fail in developing their Delivery Systems?

If you scroll through my Post today you will note that I have featured several U. S. Navy Post. Please be aware that I realize that our Airmen, Soldiers and Marines have also given a lot to protect our freedoms. Our freedoms that will soon disappear if we do not do what is proper in the Global Community.

Every Veteran or their Families will quickly inform anyone that "Freedom Is Not Free!!!"

If you doubt that fact, please go and visit a National Cemetery. In fact people of all races and economic levels have defended this Country at great expense. A quick trip for most citizens of Middle Georgia to Andersonville National Cemetery will quickly bring you to reality.

Alan's Home Coming - Fall 1978

On Board the USS Hull (DD-945)

This is the sign that my Family used to signal me that they were on the Pier as the USS Hull (DD-945) approached. A great day!!!!!

The Flower Child as a Sailor

Alan as a Seaman during his time in USS Ranger (CVA-61) 18 April 1962 - 18 July 1964. Prior to detachment from Ranger he made YN3 which means Third Class Petty Officer.
Chief Petty Officer Thiese shown here during his tour of duty in USS John Paul Jones (DDG-32. The John Paul Jones was in the Long Beach Shipyard for a regular overhaul in 1976. The site of this picture was outside of Navy Housing in San Pedro, California.

This is a picture that was taken on 28 June 1978 as YNC Thiese prepared to participate in "Parade at Quarters" as the ship entered Hong Kong, B.C.C.

The Flower Child's Legacy

Just a few years ago, during the 1980s my Bride was the Chairwoman of the Flower Show held at the Georgia State Fair in Macon, Georgia. Then like now there was a youth division. Our two sons participated. Each is displaying his award and standing near his entry.

Home Comings

A Very Special Event in the Life of a Sailor

NORFOLK, Va. (June 12, 2009) Family members await the return of Electronics Technician 3rd Class Louis Catanzaro aboard USS Nashville (LPD 13), returning after a five-month deployment. Nashville served as the Africa Partnership Station for the U.S. Africa Command in the U.S. Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility providing maritime security operations throughout the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa. This is the last deployment before decommissioning of the Nashville. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Suits/Released)

I, The Flower Child, remember my three homecomings from major deployments on three different Navy Ships.

My first homecoming was in 1963 when I was assigned to the USS Ranger (CVA-61), which was an attack aircraft carrier. We were returning from a major deployment to the Western Pacific as a major component of the U. S. Seventh Fleet. We returned to our homeport of Alameda, California. No one was waiting for me even though I was hoping against hope that someone from Iowa would be there.

My second homecoming was in 1971 when I was assigned to the USS Sellers (DDG-11), which was a Guided Missile Destroyer homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. We were returning from a major deployment to the U. S. Sixth Fleet.

My third homecoming was in the Fall of 1978 when I was assigned to the USS Hull (DD-945), a true destroyer homeported in San Diego, California. We were returning from a major deployment to the U. S. Seventh Fleet. This homecoming was very special to me. My Bride of six years and our two sons were on the pier waiting for me. A great day to be certain.

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 9, 2009) Capt. K.J. Norton, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), left, salutes Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Noel Myers as he holds the flag that was presented to him after his father was laid to rest during a burial at sea ceremony aboard the ship. Ronald Reagan is on a routine deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea Kennedy/Released)

I can recall one burial at sea ceremony during my tour of duty in the USS Ranger (CVA-61). It was a very emotional and memorable event.

Yes, the return from a deployment and a burial at sea are certainly memorable "Homecoming " events in the life of a Sailor and his Family.

Fourth Annual Fort Hawkins Car Show

Remember the fender skirt era? Of course the Laker pipes on the side are certainly neat reminders of a bygone era also!!!

Most mature males remember that there are several types of six packs. One you can consume, one you can exercise for and of course this hot engine set up!!

Informal information received indicates that there were at least 280 cars at this show. I hope that you have enjoyed my pictures here. Additionally, it is my hope that there will be a Fifth Annual Fort Hawkins Car Show in 2010.