"Privileged?"

I acknowlege that I Have Been Well Blessed with Material Things and a Wonderful Family!

However -

Because of this I, Alan

am Saved!!

As I learned in Church this

Morning: 

 "Jesus Lives in Each of Us Who Believe 

and Trust in Him!!!

Thank You God!

 Blue Star Memorial

Highway Marker

Relocation!

Many of the readers of My Blog are aware that My Bride is the Garden Club of Georgia Blue Star Marker (BSM) and Gold Star Marker (GSM) Chairperson.  Additionally she also serves as the Camellia District BSM and GSM Chairperson!

Recently she has been very involved in the relocation of the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker at the Rest Area at the I-475 By-Pass here in Bibb County Georgia.

The pictures shown above were taken on 20 October at the original placement of the marker.

She ordered a new pole and coordinated with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GOT) to have the Marker placed in a more visible location at this Rest Stop.  The following pictures were taken on 17 November 2020 when the relocation was accomplished.

You can see that this Marker needs some renovation.  This will be accomplished in early 2021.  

 

An Interesting Reason

on

Why I Should Vote

for 

a Specific Candidate!

Recently I observed a Georgia U. S. Senate Candidate's Commercial on why I should vote for a specific individual!

Our former President was suggesting that I should vote for a candidate simply because he would listen to the "Doctors" when it came to working to cure the current Covid-19 Pandemic.  This particular candidate has a spouse who is a Doctor.  What this former President did not tell us is that the Doctor in this situation is a GYN specialist.  I have nothing but respect for this specialty, however I would suggest that consulting a Doctor who is a gynecologist for advice on Covid-19 treatment or prevention may not be all that appropriate.  As I understand it, a gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's reproductive health.  

I hope that I do not become a Covid-19 patient, but if that should happen I would seek the care from a Doctor who is well versed in treatment of a male.  I would like to point out now that this is the type of body I have, although not as presentable as this Statue of David:

Therefore I will ignore our former President's Campaigning comment regarding on who I should vote for in the upcoming Georgia U. S. Senate run-off election which is 5 January 2021.

In conclusion as I post this I would urge all Fellow Georgians to research the background of each candidate via trustworthy sites rather than just listening the plethora of Media Ads that we are currently being exposed to on an hourly basis.  Additionally, the U. S. Postal Service must surely be able make up for any budget shortfall as they fill my mailbox with all the printed Campaign Literature that is being delivered on a daily basis.  

In summary, the next few weeks should be very interesting!!!

 

Cry, Cry, Cry and Cry

Some More!!

The other evening I was viewing the Evening News.  The focus on the problems on distributing the Vaccine for the Covid-19 treatments/prevention caused the Anchor to express concern about how this would be accomplished in a timely and effective manner.  Not a very positive message which caused me to develop the title for this post.

However, I quickly recalled on how our United States of America reacted after the Attack on Pearl Harbor which happened on 7 December 1941.  Our Citizens and our Leaders  at all levels worked together to Win World War II.  We build ships, airplanes and tanks as well as trained our Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guard People and our Sailors to do their task using the basic concept of teamwork.  I even recall how us Post Toddler Farm Kids were able to pick milkweed pods for the fibre so that life vests could be produced.  

We even build Ocean worthy Ships to transport troops across the Seas to Europe, Africa and the Far East.  I have heard that we launched as many as three ships a day.  Some were consstructed on the East Coast and some on the West Coast.

Some of us have heard of "Rosie the Riveter" who worked in the ShipYards to replace males who were needed in the Military.

This all happened in the early 1940s without all of the technology we have today.  Yet our Citizens did it.  We had the famous "Manhatten" project which helped end the War.  Some may say many lives lost, but the facts are clear that if the War had continued many more lives would have been lost.

So today, December 2, 2020 we have those among us who question the ability of our United States of America to effectively transport Covid-19 Vaccine in a rapid and efficient manner.  I submit that it can be done!  What we do not need is our Media to tell us that it can not be done.  We have done far more complex task in our Past and with the tools we now have at our disposal now, today, I would submit that when we learn to work as a Team for the Good of All Peoples we can accomplish what some among us consider to be impossible.

So stop the crying.  No need for that.  Simply develope a positive attitude and remember what we have accomplished in our Nation's Past and expect our Citizens and Leaders to now work together as a Team!!!   I say it can and must be done!!

 Navy Deployment Shopping

USS Sellers (DDG-11) 1971 Mediterranean Cruise.  I was a YN1.

We were homeported in Charleston, S.C. and during the deployment I used the opportunity o conduct some onboard shopping.  The Armed Forces Exchange System had a list of approved Vendors who would visit ships and sell merchandise to the Sailors.  Some would be delivered while inport and some would be shipped to an address in the USA depending what was purchased.

During one port visit a Shipmate ordered a custom tailored leather trousers for $150.00 which was to be delivered on the morning of our departure.  Unfortunately the Sailor had spend his funds on Liberty so the Vendor was looking for anyone to purchase the trousers at the reduced price of $75.00.  Fortunately I had the same body profile and the cash so I purchased them.

I also purchased a set of china and crystal as well as a set of stainless steel flatware.  This was shipped to me and arrived after I returned to Charleston.

This is just one square of a corn husk floor matt which I purchased and took delivery before we left port.  There are fifteen squares in this, five squares long and three squares wide.  I do not recall what  paid for this, however I suspect that it was a great value.  

While we were in Athens, Greece I frequently went on Liberty and visited the Daphne Wine Festival.  We were in port for 30 days during September and also anchored out in the harbor.  So we had to catch the Liberty Launch to return to the ship.  This was a 26 foot Motor Whale Boat.  However at the Fleet Landing there was a Merchant who sold urns to us Sailors.  The price always was $5.00 cash.  I ended up purchasing a total of five.  The two shown here are what I have left.  Two were given away and was broken.  I was able to store these urns in the Commodore's Shower for the Trip back to Charleston.  We did not have an embarked Staff for this trip.

In summary I think I enjoyed the shopping opportunities I had while on this Cruise as part of the U. S. Sixth Fleet.

USS Hull (DD-945.  1978 Western Pacific Cruise.  I was a YNC.  The Hull was homeported in San Diego, CA.  I purchased the following and took delivery while on the Cruise so there was no waiting for the shipments to arrive once back in the USA.

The USS Hull had a proto type eight inch gun for test and evaluation while I served in her!!

This was the WestPac Gift that I purchased for My Wife.

This is a reproduction of the "Flying Cloud" of 1869.

The U. S. Navy Exchange in Subic Bay, the Philippines had a great selection of Hand Made Wicker Furniture.  I was able to purchase ten items for less than $225.00.  The Exchange delivered it to the ship in a Sunday afternoon just before we departed to return to CONUS (Continental United States).  I was able to put this in the Captain's Sea Cabin just behind the Bridge for the return trip Home.  The Captain never used the Sea Cabin and I hoped that we would not go to War so my Stash of Wicker would go undetected.  The Officers were all at the Club for a Party and the Wicker was loaded onboard undetected by any Officers assigned to Hull.  The Wicker traveled well and once we returned to San Diego it was offloaded while we were pier side during the Afternoon we returned.  Once again, there were no Officers on Board.  Some Chiefs and a few  Sailors assisted me and I was able to get all this WestPac loot to our Home in South San Diego with one pickup load.  It was a large load, yet light weight, but well secured with ropes which I most likely borrowed from the Hull.

Again, a Navy Cruise with plenty of shopping opportunities which I enjoyed!!

I post this today, 9 November 2020 to point out the excellent opportunities that we who serve in our Nation's Military have to shop overseas while on deployments.  The separations were a challenge, but there is some reward!!

 

We Remember in Bibb County

Georgia

As we look forward to observing Veterans Day 2020 I took the opportunity to visit a very simple, yet timely site on the Dixie Highway, which we know as Highway 41 from Macon to Bolingbroke, Georgia.  These six markers are between Broadleaf Drive and Fairmont Drive less than one mile Northwest of the Bass/Foster Road intersection with Highway 41.  The most recognized landmark is Martha Bowman United Methodist Church.   As you travel to Bolingbroke these special markers are on the right side of the road.  In order to learn about the orgin of these markers I conducted some research.  Here is what I found:

Memorial Day and the Dixie Highway Road of Rememberance

A remnant of the Road of Remembrance is located on US 19/41(Forsyth Road) just north of downtown Macon. These memorial markers were installed by the Dixie Highway Women's Auxiliary of Bibb County in 1927 to honor the veterans of World War I. Memorials placed along Houston Road, south of Macon, were later removed during roadwork and are now housed in the Porter-Ellis Community Center.

May 27, 2014

Here are several pictures that I took today, November 8th as I prepared to make this post.  I was able to get close up photos of each Heroes Plaque on these marker post which were appropriately honored with a small U. S. Flag. You will be able to read the names and the organization of each Hero.

I do not know who places the Flags on these Markers, however a Thank You is appropriate.  "Thank You." 

I think You can click on each photo and view it in a larger format.   

I suggest that you take the short trip out U. S. Highway 41 and view this emotional tribute for yourself.  

 

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