VIEW: 18-47: Good People Doing Good

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By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number
18-47
GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD Week of 2018/11/19
For a more pleasant change of pace after the recent hectic two year
election season, the need for more relaxing and pleasing subjects is
obvious.
One subject immediately evident is the immediate holiday now labeled
"Veterans Day". My church home, "Kirk of the Hills-Presbyterian" has for
the last several years on the last Thursday preceding November 11 held a
veterans recognition luncheon. Thursday is chosen because it is the day of
the week for our regular veterans club, originally founded in 1996 as World
War II Vets of Tulsa and now All Veterans Association morning meeting at
The Kirk. Sadly, two of the founders were no longer with us, one, Al Price,
having passed to Heaven the week before.
To back up a bit, at our October 25 meeting we were pleasantly
surprised by being joined by two of the First Congressional District staff
members, Ashley Wells and Cam Thomas. They had both attended a
previous meeting or two and so were considered 'associate members'.
With the resignation from Congress by Jim Bridenstine upon his
appointment to head NASA, the office had remained open to service
constituents, which had been done promptly and efficiently in his absence.
Unfortunately for them, the victorious run-off candidate had not
committed to retain the existing staff, as had two of the original primary
candidates. We were advised that their tenure would end with the end of
the general election on November 6.
To our surprise, gratitude, and delight they had obtained from the
office of the Architect of the Capitol a flag that had been flown over the
Capitol Building on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017. Included in the gift
was a certificate of the flying date. We were all deeply touched, and I
was directed to see to it that they were invited to the meeting on November
8 and to the Kirk Luncheon. This was done, but they may have been
instructed to not attend, according to some of the House rules that they
must still follow.
At the following meeting two of our members were found to have
fixed, vertical flag poles at our homes, and with the agreement of the
members the flag was flown on my pole on Saturday, November 3 and
at the home of C. R. Layton on Monday, the 12th. After which a visit
to Hobby Lobby netted a frame for both which were attached with
removable hooks for display.
At the lunch for veterans, ROTC cadets from Nathan Hale High
School provided the crossed saber path into the dining room, presentation
of the flag, a 'rifle twirling' demonstration, a sheet cake for desert to be
cut military style using sabers by a vet from each war, and by surprise to
the Church staff, the ceremonial folding of the flag. It seemed that we
should have flown it a little longer at each house as it was slightly stiff
to be
easily folded properly, but was accomplished after which it was placed in
the frame, they were re-connected and shown to those in attendance.
The staff member responsible for all the arrangements gave a talk on
letters home with pictures from her father during World War I, since this
Veterans Day on November 11 marks 100 years since the surrender was
signed in a railroad car "on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the
eleventh month in 1918". That war was to be "The War to end all Wars".
They were not very good at guessing were they?
On behalf of our membership, I wish to thank Ashley and Cam,
Kirk of the Hills, Nathan Hale High School ROTC and commander,
Major Mike Maguffee, USArmy (Ret) and those who attended to
show there support. It is in our memories for years to come.
END
Composed November 09, 2018
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. 841 Lynwood
Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com