This Memorial Day marked the end my eight year journey. I was part of a small and dedicated group of average citizens including an auctioneer, a lawyer, a landscaper and this salesman. Our small cadre was buffeted with other citizen-volunteers who were always there at just the right times. I was honored to have served with [...]
Remembering names is easy for Soldiers. We just called each other by our last names. To make it easier, the Army put our names on uniform labels.
After basic training, I went to Fort Dix, NJ for radio operator training. It was here where I made friends with a few New York City types. One named O’Donnell [...]
The “Growing Up Italian” soiree went well today and about how I predicted. (May 3, 2008 posting: This I explain often.)
I decided to offer up a story and thought my chances rivaled a pork chop at a pitbull ranch. I just started walking to the lectern as the MC searched for speakers. Lucky me, I got the [...]
Eight years ago, I joined a committee to erect six Veteran memorials in our borough’s park.
Step one: Find the names of all local Veterans who served during the times of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf.
Step two: Have these names etched on large granite slabs
Step three: Install the slabs on concrete footings.
Step four: Dedicate them on [...]
I’m Italian! Well, okay half-Italian.
Mom is an Italian woman who married an Irish man. She avoided her countrymen because she grew up with three and knew too many others to consider them quality prospects.
My first seven years were spent in the Italian section called Johnsontown. It was the late 40s and early 50s. The area was still [...]