Update to Memorial Day

It has been over a year since I last visited this blog, life had a way of being a little busy this past year.  But today I found out something about my uncle Maynard J. Rogg who has been the subject of past blogs that I had to share.

I was in a chat room with some colleagues and something lead to the name Maynard.  Not Maynard J. Rogg just people named Maynard.  So I did make reference to my uncle Maynard being killed in 1944 while in the US Army on Saipan.  One of my colleagues did a google search and found a book that I was not aware existed.   "Battling For Saipan" by Francis O'Brien.  and when you do the search on goggle of Maynard J. Rogg on of the hits is
 "Battling For Saipan" by Francis O'Brien   2003 - Biography & Autobiography - 400 pages
Lt. Donald I. Gunn and Pfc. Maynard J. Rogg were the first combat casualties suffered by the 2d Battalion on Saipan. Private Frederick F. Neubauer of Company ...

Of course I hit it and jump to the page on the goggle book

http://books.google.com/books?id=fe9r39XmUcQC&pg=PT134&lpg=PT134&dq=maynard+j+rogg&source=bl&ots=j7FGlDUQHf&sig=Ir-cDf5iNWtHbIsh5B7P7Vp5O0Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=T0zNT479A4qJ6QHnweiXAw&ved=0CFQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=maynard%20j%20rogg&f=false






Maynard along with Lt. Donald I. Gunn were killed by a US Marine who was most likely scared and trying to stay alive.  My stomach felt like it hit the floor.  I have been looking for how Maynard was killed for years, writing letters, reading books, looking for information.  Finally a relatively recent book tells me want I wanted to know, and now that I know what happened my only solace is that Maynard died without suffering. 


The term friendly fire is an odd one.  I've never had a gun fired at me in battle as I have never served.  But I have had guns pointed at me in my work as a firearms instructor.  There is nothing friendly about  the muzzle of a gun when you are on the receiving end of it.

Memorial Day 2011

I'm going to re post my blog entry of 3 years ago to the day.  I really don't think I can improve on it and I still feel the same.

The photos of the two plaques I downloaded off the National Park web site, that is on Saipan in honor of those killed there.

As we approach Memorial Day people have been asking each other what are you doing this weekend? It is the unofficial start of summer, kids are ready to put the school books away and start swimming and playing baseball and other summer games. I tend to keep it a low key weekend. I'll spend one day with my son, eat a couple of hot dogs, watch the races on TV - both auto and horse.

But I also make sure I remember why the name of the day is Memorial. It is easier for me to remember all I have to do is look at the two Purple Hearts in a shadow box that were awarded to my uncle Maynard J. Rogg. Maynard served in US Army, 27th Infantry Division, 105th Infantry Regiment, Company G from some time before the attack on Pearl Harbor until he was killed in action June 18th, 1944 on the second day in the battle for Saipan. I have very few photos of Maynard but was lucky enough to find someone on the internet who also had a relative that served in the same Regiment and shared the photo above. Maynard is in the first row far right. According the caption Maynard was still a private, when he was killed he was a PFC so I'm guessing that the photo was taken in a camp in the US.

Maynard is buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. I have not made it there yet but two co-worked who have gone to Hawaii were kind enough to visit Maynard's grave for me and take some photos.

The National WWII Memorial web page is worth checking out. You can search for people you know or add relatives that served in WWII. Feel free to type in Maynard's name to view an entry.

Enjoy the weekend, be safe and pause a moment to remember.

Country Music

Been some time since I posted here on my blog and I guess Face Book has been a part of the reason but I guess I've been lazy as well. 

Well here we are April 2011,  Japan oozing radiation, the world at a crossroads, seems like 1945 again.  I know it is simplistic but turning on a country music radio station not too much has changed over the years.

Yes, the songs are produced slicker than those put together when Lefty Frizzell was in front of the microphone.  The bands use electric instruments unlike their bluegrass cousins.  But there is still a honesty about Country Music that is hard to find in other music today.  For example  Thompson Square " You Gonna Kiss or Not"
http://www.cmt.com/videos/thompson-square/557313/are-you-gonna-kiss-me-or-not.jhtml

People used to say I was nuts in the 80's listening to Country.  But I defer to Duke Ellington when asked about music the Duke has been quoted "There are two kinds of music the  good and the rest"

Tribute to Sammy

Lost another good friend today.  This time it was a canine friend, Sammy.  Sammy was a 13 year old Australian Shepard that came home with me as a ball of fur in a box one afternoon in Georgia.  I was still married at the time and Noah was born about a year later. 

Sammy was the biggest pup in his litter as I remember and came running up to us as to yell  "Take me, Take me!".  Sammy would grow up to be a gentle giant about 80 pounds and tall at the shoulder.  He loved water, both to swim in it and try to eat it as it came out of the hose.  Sammy was big and friendly to everyone who came in contact with him.  Noah's mother would bring Sammy to Noah's baseball games and Sammy got everyone watching the game to pet him.  After two games everyone knew Sammy. 

Noah and Sammy grew up together and were best friends.  Just like I did with my boyhood dog Rusty.  I know Noah will  keep his memories of Sammy in his heart forever.

I just wish I had an answer for Noah when he called at 3:00 this morning asking me "Why?" 

But I didn't have one, I'm still asking that question myself.

Thanksgiving

General Thanksgiving

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.


Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

G. Washington (his actual signature)

Hog casings reflections....

I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few items to make a pizza.  I guess most people don't call them grocery stores these days but I still call them by that name.  As I'm walking by the sausage and bacon aisle what do I see but packages of Hog Casings.  Salted Natural Hog Casing, a thing of beauty.   I make my own sausage and  finding casing in a local store in a suburb of Boston is not an every day occurrence.

There are plenty of places to order casing on the web, but I the quantities just didn't make sense for my use.  Making your own sausage for those asking is very easy and you control what you put into the mix.  All you need is a food grinder.

So I finish shopping and head to the cashier.  A young lady of about 17 and young man about same age was bagging.  Of course we need a price check on the casing because it does not scan.  I'm thinking let's have some fun with this.  I tell the cashier I'm not sure of the price maybe $4 something.  Then I say I'm surprised you have these, I make my own sausage.  Her look was priceless "You make your own sausage???"  like I just announced I had the cure for cancer.  I explained how easy it was and how you control what you put in to them, and the kid bagging pipes in that he really doesn't like the way sausage tastes.

I told him ,"See you would like it if you made it yourself".  I'm sure they both said I was a crazy old guy when I walked away, but someday I hope they try their hand at making sausage.

A Friend and a Horse

Personal Ensign died today. Who's that you may ask, you can find out here http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/56353/racing-icon-personal-ensign-dead  You can watch her last and greatest race here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILJ6IYoZso

I watched that race on a Saturday in November 1988 with my friend Marty Healey  at the sports bar on 3rd Avenue  and 33th street in Manhattan.  Marty is gone, the bar is gone, now Personal Ensign in gone.  Seems like yesterday but it was almost 22 years ago.  Back in those days Marty and I would  follow the horses.  We would go to Belmont and spend the day mostly picking losers, but picking a winner ever now and then. 

The 1988 Breeder's Cup was only the 4th time the event was held.  It was still finding it's way in the horse racing world.  Personal Ensign helped put it on the map with her win that day.  I still get goose bumps watching it today.

Marty and I would take turns running up to Lexington Avenue in the rain, to an OTB to place our bets that day.  Now it is legal to phone bets in or place them online. 

I'll remember that November day fondly, I had the good fortune to spend it with two of my favorites a friend and a horse.

Reflections Along The Way to Fifty Two

Funny how the years have ambled along life's path.   One tends to forget it is all a matter of perception.  Back when I was is grammar school - that's what elementary school was called in those days - the subject of the year 2000 was often discussed, as I recall.  We all thought it was light years away.  More than one of the gang used to say " I'll be 42 when the next century comes around."  Now I'm about to turn 52 and it seems like the last ten years took about 37 minutes on my clock.

Time can play tricks on you.  But where you are in life plays a big part in your perception of time.  A child's perception a time is vastly different than an  adult's.  Anyone who has been a parent can relate.    As adults most of us are controlled by time to some degree.  We have to be at work at a certain time, be at this activity at a certain time, be at this place, and on and on.

Jimmy Buffett has a song he wrote about Hurricane Katrina, called Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.  the song starts out with these lines;
I bought a cheap watch from the crazy man
Floating down Canal
It doesn't use numbers or moving hands
It always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was had
But this watch is never wrong
And if I have trouble the warranty said
Beathre in breathe out move on.

Maybe the man wasn't so crazy after all he did seem to me to have a pretty good handle on time.  Another interesting look at time is the classic Twilight Zone Episode " Time Enough at Last" take a look if you don't remember it.

Make the most of time and try not become a slave to it.
   

Old Friends

Old Friends,
Old Friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends.
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
On the high shoes
Of the old friends.

Old friends,
Winter companions,
The old men
Lost in their overcoats,
Waiting for the sunset.
The sounds of the city,
sifting through the trees,
Settle like dust
On the shoulders
Of the old friends.

Can you imagine us
Years from today,
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To be seventy.

Old friends,
Memory brushes the same years.
Silently sharing the same fear...

by Paul Simon

Well not quite 70 but still terribly strange to be turning 52 next month.

On New Years Day I wrote I wanted to slow down and make more time for friends. It is still a work in progress but still a worthy goal.

Facebook has been a good tool to use to catch up with some old friends. About 30 people from what seems like another lifetime got together one Sunday in August. It was great fun to see old friends from childhood and high school days. One of the highlight of the day was getting to see and speak with Mr. Tony Marino, who is the father of 4 of my childhood friends. Tony was and remains a vibrant person, well worth the time to stop and visit with. Pull up a chair.

Let's all take more time to pull up a chair and sit a spell with friends.

Bookends Theme
Time it was,
And what a time it was,
It was...
A time of innocence,
A time of confidences.
Long ago ... it must be...
I have a photograph.
Preserve your memories;
They're all that's left you.

By
Paul Simon

Baseball and Derby Day

To continue my theme of my last entry baseball is in full swing both Little and Major Leagues. Noah's team has played two games for a record of 1-1. This is his first year playing organized baseball and he is having fun playing. I was able to get to his second game and took a few photos.

It is interesting to see how the Little League has changed over the years since I played back in the late 1960's.

Most of the runs that were scored in Noah's game came as a result of a wild pitch or passed ball. I dug out my old newspaper clippings to read about home runs, doubles and the like. Today's kids have so many other things to grab their attention, back in the day we played ball all the time. Even if no one was around to play with I remember throwing the ball at the front stoop of the house as a backstop and practicing that way. I also remember getting yelled at when the ball hit the metal screen door.

Noah's team pushed 7 runs across in one inning and that ended the inning. Can not let any one team beat the other team to badly now. Back in the day there was no mercy. You played to three outs. I don't like that rule. If you get whooped on the diamond you need to practice harder to improve your team. But we can not hurt anyone's feelings these days.

Sports can be a wonderful tool to teach kids life lessons. There is no shame in losing if you try your best.

Theodore Roosevelt put it like this, ""The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name." "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."

One change that is positive is that ever kid get to hit even those not playing in the field. Also every kid get to play in the field for part of the game.

Little League baseball is a great thing for kids to be involved in.

On to Kentucky. The Derby was run yesterday and the second longest shot in the history of the race won and no I did not have him. There's always next year.

Spring is peeking around the corner

Spring is starting to get a foot hold finally. As we turn the calendar to April we can say a hearty farewell to March. In my little corner of the world the temperature range for the month was a mere 60 degrees, from a low of 1 to a high of 61.

For me the signs of spring are my son's birthday on March 30th. Here's a shot from his birthday party.

Another sure sign of spring for me is the trail to the Kentucky Derby really start to heat up with the final prep races happening the end of March and the beginning of April. There is something about the renewal every year in the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May. Every year about 30,000 thoroughbred horses are registered with the Jockey Club. Every owner who sends those papers on every one of those new foals is thinking could this be one that takes me to Louisville in 3 years. Only 20 out of 30,000 can get there. Only one can win. But when those foals first hit the ground everyone has the same dream.

But even for the average person there is something about the Derby. It a tradition that ties generations together. As a kid I remember watching with my parents. We watched the race in my mother's hospital room one year when she was ill with cancer. The race is a constant. Only the supporting cast changes.

Baseball like the Kentucky Derby is a welcome sign of spring. Much as been written about baseball being timeless. It is another thing that can tie generations together. From playing little league all the way to the big leagues it is the same game, with minor changes. If Abner Doubleday could comes back he would know he was watching a baseball game with the first pitch.

Grandparents can tell story after story about the games and players of the past to youngsters and rekindle there own childhood.

Not a bad thing these days to have some constants in one life.

Concert at the Cathedral

I spent Saturday afternoon at the Show Your Heart Charity Concert at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, in Springfield, MA. To refresh your memory Noah is a member of the Cathedral Choir of Boys and Adults.

The concert was a fund raiser for The Open Pantry, which helps to feed folks in need. I'm still employed in the lumber industry, so I consider myself pretty lucky. Parting with $10 for a concert and a good cause was a no brainer.

Five Chorale groups performed today. Noah's, which the emcee joking referred to as the house band. A group of students from the UMass Chorale, the Greater Westfield Choral Association. A group called Schola Nova. Last but not least a rocking gospel group Tehillah from St. John Congregational Church in Springfield.

Each group had a different style but the message was the same. Music can bring people together. It was great fun to sit and enjoy all the music. The music ranged from pieces composed in the early 1700's to modern composers.

There are some very talented people out there doing things for love and pure enjoyment. Maybe if we all did something for those reasons, whatever it is, we would all enjoy our trip around the sun even more.

Winter Not Quite Into Spring

I hope George Winston doesn't mind me paraphrasing on one of his record titles, but I'm guessing the groundhog was correct this year. I was in Vermont with friends this weekend. Twenty years ago I would have been on the slopes of Killington but my skiing days are behind me. So it was a more relaxed weekend of food, movies and friends by the fireplace.

The covered bridge is in the town of Quechee, Vermont. It spans the Ottauquechee River. I took this photo at the Simon Pearce Glass and Pottery store looking down stream. If you click on the link I believe I was standing under the brick arch in the center of the photo.

We watched The Court Jester which has one of the funniest bits ever filmed.

It is beautiful in Vermont in any season. But I'm ready for spring.

Presidents and such

So with all the hoopla and hype we have experienced another peaceful exchange of power in Washington. I defer all comments on both 43th and 44th Presidents to present and future historians. What I relish in is that the system with all its' faults still works.

Sure there any lots of problems out there. I work in the lumber industry so you don't have to remind me there are problems.

I like to read about leaders of the past and draw on their experience to hopefully guide me in the future. I came across a quote by Margaret Thatcher tonight. "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." I like that. I know a little about Thatcher but haven't read a book about her. So I did a little research and looked up some titles.

I'm reading a customer's review on Amazon on a Thatcher biography which starts out, " Not every British Prime Minister is a Thatcher or Churchill. Not every American President is a Lincoln, Kennedy, or Clinton." I have no clue what the rest of this review says. These two sentences stopped me dead in my tracks.

Thatcher and Churchill may be a good comparison, I know they are both highly regarded. I know more about Churchill and if I could have dinner with 8 people living or dead he would be one of them.

But putting Lincoln, Kennedy and Clinton in the same group!!!!!!!!!! As Phil Rizzuto put it "Holy Cow"

Let see Lincoln gets put on the ranking of President by historians oh first or second, right up there with Washington and FDR. Kennedy on average is in the mid-teens in the ranking. He didn't get a full term, so we will always wonder what if. Two things they have in common is they are both on coins and both caught a bullet in the head. Something neither one planned on, but links them forever in history. Now Clinton he is right around an average of 20 on the rankings.

Lincoln is remembered for freeing the slaves and guiding the country in the war between the states, preserving the Union. Clinton is best remembered for dropping his pants in the west wing and somehow preserving his Presidency.

Will Rogers put it best. "If we ever pass out as a great nation we ought to put on our tombstone, 'America died from a delusion that she has moral leadership."

2009 and beyond

It's a new year and my main goal for 2009 is to slow down and enjoy every day. Putting all the craziness of 2008 behind me I plan on staying in better touch with friends. I 'm off to a good start. Today I came across my next door neighbor from growing up days via Facebook. It was good to make contact after about 30 years. Here is a link to his web site. Check it out and throw him some work you won't be disappointed.

Nineteen days to the coronation, after that the media will be only reporting good news. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy already.

Christmas time

With all the rushing and shopping and checking lists it is always nice to slow down and remember what Christmas is all about.

Noah is a member of The Cathedral Choir of Boys and Adults at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, Springfield, MA. On Saturday night they performed A Candlelight Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral. The Choir performed various works by Elgar, traditional English and French carols, and an African American traditional carol titled " What' cha going call that pretty little baby".

With the lighting of candles and Scripture readings it was a nice way to bring the real meaning of Christmas back to center stage.


Charles Schultz had the same message back in the 1960's when he produced the best Christmas cartoon of all time.

Boston Car Show 2008

I went to the Boston Car Show on Saturday. This was my first chance to see the new 2010 Mustang, and the changes they made to the body. Overall the changes were minor from the 2005+ platform but I'm not a big fan of the rear end of the car. It has been rounded slightly and what's with the black plastic trim? I'm keeping my 2007.


It is fun to look at and sit in car that I'll never be able to afford. Like this ZR-1 Corvette, and this green Porsche.














And the really expensive ones they keep behind the ropes. Can you say Ferrari.

To sleep, perchance to dream Part 2

After four days on the road of not sleeping well in hotels I returned home Friday and had one good night of sleep. I was up early on Saturday to drive out to Noah's to spend the day with him. So I was really looking forward to sleeping in on Sunday morning. Sunday is usually my only day to sleep late and my body was telling me you really need a good rest.

Here's how that small dream was shattered like a sugar sculpture falling off a six story building.

What's that noise I hear? Hmm sounds like a vacuum cleaner, must be dreaming. NO what time is it???? 7:44 AM!!!! and one one my idiot neighbors is doing their best Felix Ungar imitation running the vacuum directly over my bedroom.

"O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!"

Who forgot to throw a log on the fire?

I returned home today after a four day business trip to Alabama and all I can say is I miss the warm weather already. It was chilly in the mornings in Alabama but the sun did its' job, and by the afternoon it was very pleasant.

The folks in Alabama are very happy with the their football team currently ranked number one in the nation.

On this trip our task was to take a physical inventory of lumber and plywood at an off site location for my company. Lumber and plywood is never easy to count because of the size of it. But it is one of those tasks that must be done. It kind of reminds me of what Rumpole used to say about his wife, "She who must be obeyed."

But in these tough times in the lumber business, I'm glad to still be needed to go count wood and that we have wood to count.

Cheezborger Cheezborger Cheezborger

I was on the road last week for business. I was outside of Atlanta Sunday to Tuesday then on to Chicago for the rest of the week. Chicago is a nice city to visit with a nice downtown area, many good places to eat, the lake and the river.




The second shot was taken from the 21 floor of the Hyatt looking down the Chicago river with lake Michigan in the distance. I also liked the older buildings that had character. Here is a shot of the Wrigley Building.
















Here is a shot of the new Trump Building that is just west of the Wrigley Building. It may be me but I don't think it fits into the skyline very well.

But my favorite spot I visited was the Billy Goat Tavern. It was neat to order a cheezborger and get asked "You want a double it's the best?" Cheeps? Coke no Pepsi. You get your cheezborger served on a grilled Kaiser roll on a piece of deli paper, a bag of cheeps, and a coke, pay your $8 and savor the history.