The Flag Display

So for years, there has been a 9/11 flag display at Kastman Park in Lubbock.  The students from Miller Elementary school participate in setting out the flags http://lubbockonline.com/news/local-news/2017-09-08/flag-tribute-911-aided-miller-students.  

Although I live within a mile of the park, some years I go, some years I do not.  This year I did go to the park.  I am always amazed to see the people who visit:  Seniors.  Seniors with grandchildren.  Young families with small children. Lone visitors.

I am grateful that my community, a bank, and a school supports this display.

Memorial Day 2017

In recognition of Memorial Day, I went to the ceremony at the City of Lubbock Cemeteryhttps://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x86fe6cbc2b936f5d:0xd97d0d076c73dc91!2m19!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m13!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!3m1!7e115!4shttp://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page%3Dcr%26GRid%3D492%26CRid%3D151541%26!5scity+of+lubbock+cemetery+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e1!2shttps://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2012/349/CEM151541_135561713366.jpg&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjokNms55XUAhVq_IMKHYOlA3YQoioIdTAK
The service is organized by the Nancy Anderson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution http://www.texasdar.org/chapters/NancyAnderson/.  There was a nice crowd, and after the service Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts put flags on the about 2000 graves of veterans in the cemetery.

After the service, I went to the Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x86fe7271a5c99123:0x5618d02a9f4624e7!2m19!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m13!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!3m1!7e115!4s//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ISsJq0rjoJc/WQvYR_XnsuI/AAAAAAAAAEE/PWY73y_dTFYrn1y-jNmaFzcOoGh3vD_YgCLIB/w213-h160-k-no/!5slubbock+area+veterans+war+memorial+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e3!2s-ISsJq0rjoJc/WQvYR_XnsuI/AAAAAAAAAEE/PWY73y_dTFYrn1y-jNmaFzcOoGh3vD_YgCLIB&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiH6dCO6ZXUAhXs64MKHa-YB14QoioIbDAK.  There was a good number of people there, including one veteran who was explaining about the meaning of Memorial Day to two young girls, presumably a daughter or both were daughters. I do not have roots in Lubbock, so most of the names mean little to me.

In the same park is the statue of William "Willie" McCool http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23173 who lost his life on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003 when it disintegrated upon re-entry.  One year, I was at the statue, and Astronaut McCool's father was there.  That was an honor to meet him.

My last stop was the Lubbock Regional Public Safety Memorial https://www.facebook.com/LubbockRegionalPublicSafetyMemorial/. I did not know any of the fire department, EMS or police honored, but some of the names and stories of the honorees are familiar to me, having heard about them on the news.  I knew the wife of one of the firemen. I was the only person at the memorial at the time I was there. 

I was watching a show on National Geographic about John Kennedy http://www.natgeotv.com/za/jfk-seven-days-that-made-a-president this evening, and became oblivious to what else might be on TV. But after that was finished, I started looking and realized that I missed the National Memorial Day Concert https://tv.kttz.org/schedule/#page=schedule&day=20170528&provider=Broadcast

Laurence Fishburne and Joe Mantegna host the annual salute to America's military heroes. Performers include Renée Fleming, Vanessa Williams, Scotty McCreery, Five for Fighting, Ronan Tynan, Russell Watson and the National Symphony Orchestra. Gen. Colin Powell (USA Ret.), John Ortiz, Christopher Jackson and Ana Ortiz also appear. The event features a salute to the Doolittle Raiders presented by Gary Sinise and includes a look at music therapy for injured vets. From the U.S. Capitol's West Lawn.

I was able to watch the last half hour, and fortunately, it will be re-aired. So I will get to see the show.  Thank you PBS.  Which is why I send a small donation every month.

D Day Remembered

I went to the Silent Wings Museum for the D-Day activities http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/silent-wings-museum/special-events-, particularly the "USO Show" presented by Moonlight Directions.  There was a standing room only crowd.  It was a very good show.  Hard to believe these are high schoolers.

The museum admission was free for the D-Day celebration.  That was nice, too.

Memorial Day Ceremony, City of Lubbock Cemetery

I went to the Memorial Day Ceremony at the City of Lubbock Cemetery today http://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/memorial-day-service-at-the-historic-city-of-lubbock-cemetery-on-may-30-2016.  It was a simple ceremony, and very brief, about a half hour. The guest speaker,  Colonel Dave Lewis, United States Air Force (Retired), talked about everyone who puts their life on the line for their country, and that they pay for their service "in the currency of blood."  I thought that was a very interesting way to talk about the ultimate sacrifice that is made by many of our freedom fighters:  military, police, and other first responders.  It is an accurate description: because even if these freedom fighters do not become injured or die during service, they are putting their lives on the line every time they respond on behalf of our country. They risk their blood.  Every time. 

War Movies

I think I am weird.  Well, I actually know that I am weird.  And one of the weird things about me is that I like war movies.  I do not like war, and my mantra for war is "Support our troops, Pray for peace."  But I like war movies.  I do not like the blood and gut and gore of war movies.  I like the heroism, the bravery, the devotion and commitment to a cause of war heroes.

So, on weekends (or even weekdays) that commemorate veterans and war days, I usually look to one or more television channel to play a lot of war movies.  Memorial Day, D-Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day, Pearl Harbor Day are times when this typically happens.  This year, Turner Classic Movies http://www.tcm.com/ played war movies. But I was not particularly impressed.  Hmmm. Some of the movies early on in the week were okay, but this weekend they played war comedies. And, in my mind, not even good war comedies.  Maybe I am just not in the mood for comedies.  Maybe I am seeing Memorial Day as a serious day to commemorate our veterans and their families and friends who sacrifice so much so the military members can serve. 

Well, I should not complain too loudly. No other TV channel even recognized Memorial Day except PBS, with its National Memorial Day Concert!

Memorial Day Rememberances

This evening, May 29, 2016, I was able to attend the Second Baptist Church Memorial Day Service http://www.secondb.com/calendar-item/memorial-day-service-2/.  It was an hour and 45 minutes, and it ended too soon.  It was very moving.  This is the 4th time this church has had such a service, and the second time I had the opportunity to attend. I was honored to attend. 

The service included song, pledges, prayer, and testimonials.  There was a collection for the Honor Flight https://www.honorflight.org/. There was the opportunity to thank the veterans and their families.

I came home and was able to watch the rerun of the PBS presentation of The National Memorial Day Concert http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/about/the-concert/.  I am so glad that it is being rerun, because I wanted to watch it, but I wanted to go to the live service at Second Baptist. It was raining in Washington DC, so the crowd was smaller than usual, but as the hosts said, our military have served in worse conditions, so the show went on!

I am honored to participate in Memorial Day in this way!

9-11

I did not intentionally do much to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/on-sept-11-anniversary-appeals-to-remember-as-time-passes/ar-AAeap4l?li=AAa0dzB?ocid=ansmsnnews11  I started the day very conscious of the anniversary, and did put my flag out. At the football game the team's uniforms honored the living and dead first responders, veterans, and military members.  But that was it.

But I often think about how 9/11 changed us.  Our nation's citizens had rights curtailed by virtue of the Patriot Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act which allowed The Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/ and other government agencies extensive liberties in surveillance, wiretapping, data mining, and invasions of privacy in the name of looking for terrorists or terroristic activity.

Our language has change: 9/11; ground zero; first responders (which was used previous to that attack, but not as prevalently as after); Homeland Security, to mention a few.

Our way of looking at things has changed.  First responders are more recognized as heroes.  Or at least, people who put their life on the line.  The members of the military are honored, and it is not uncommon for someone to approach a person in uniform, and to say "Thank you for your service."

In my way of thinking, we as a country are more leery about immigrants and refugees. Yet, I think some people have gone out of their way to be more aware of diversity and learn about different cultures, countries, religions.   

I also wonder if some of the police on citizen violence does not hearken back to the changes caused by 9/11.  First responders were given more authority by virtue of the need to seek out terrorists.  But when someone is given more authority, it is easy to generalize that to any or every situation. And, minority profiling, whether intentional, by policy, or unintentional, does occur.  So it became easier for someone so inclined to abuse their authority in certain situations.  We know this has happened for years.  I don't know if it has become worse recently, or we are just more aware of it, attuned to it, and seeing more unbiased evidentiary reports about it.

Of course, security at airports and the borders, even with our neighbor to the north, Canada, and to the south, Mexico, has increased. 

I wonder what exactly Al Qaeda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda hoped to accomplish by these attacks.  To bring the United States down, in some way, shape, or form.  To my thinking, these attacks made our country stronger.  It started with Flight 93, when people did what they could.  Instead of being helpless victims on a skyjacked plane, they fought back, realizing they might not live, anyway. I think in many ways even though we have a lot of divisiveness in the country, we as a citizenry will rally together against any outside attach.

I think the public response to the Boston Marathon bombers, Boston Strong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Strong, was a symbol of how the people of this country come together against outside attacks.

I personally am not sure how 9/11 changed me.  I have reflected that in the last few years, I am more conscious of thanking members of the military and first responders. I attend memorial services, and find myself tearing up when I hear patriotic music. I have passively accepted "security measures" while wondering if I should oppose the infringements on my rights. I feel stronger about wanting to defend my country. I feel stronger about wanting the wrongs in my country to be righted.

I fly very little, but do not find the impositions of searches and security measures that intrusive, partly, I think, because I work on a prison and search and investigation of personal effects is a regular experience. Except that the searches add so much time to the flight. But, I would rather drive so I can throw whatever into the car, even if I end up not needing it. Internet security is a problem, but it always was.

I think we have just settled into the "new normal" without realizing what we have lost or gained.   And that is the worst outcome of 9/11. Not being aware of what he have lost or gained.

Candlelight Ceremony

 
I went to the Candlelight Vigil for Victims of the South Carolina Church Shooting sponsored by the Division of Institutional Diversity, Equity, & Community Engagement at Texas Tech. It was organized by students, but open to the faculty, staff and community.  I sent the announcement out to the social work network.  I saw 2 other social workers there.
The organizers told me they started planning Tuesday. The crowd was small: I thought it would be very large.  I am sorry more people did not turn out. I cry easily at situations like this, and when I spoke, I was sometimes near tears.

The wind was stout, so the candles did not stay lit. It was not dark, anyway.

It was a brief ceremony, with a variety of tones:  education, anger, and reconciliation.  I think it is time in my life to somehow get more involved in community development and improvement in equality in Lubbock.  I am not sure how.  But I am sure God will lead me on the way.



























 

 

 

 

 

South Plains Branch NASW March is Social Work Month Awards Banquet

Dateline:  March 24, 2015

Location:  Trustpoint Hospital, Lubbock, Texas

The staff at Trustpoint Hospital transformed their cafeteria into a lovely banquet hall, beautifully decorated with flowers, candles,  cloth table clothes and a slide show, emphasizing the teal NASW uses as its symbolic color, for the annual South Plains Branch NASW March is Social Work Month Awards Banquet.  The genial setting and format of the annual banquet allowed for networking and visiting before the meal, with hors d’oeuvres and beverages.   As social workers we regularly rush to the South Plains Branch NASW CEU luncheon meetings once a month, eat lunch, listen to the speaker, and rush off to work.  At the function tonight, we had a chance to sit back and relax, visit and mingle, and just enjoy, and be served, instead of rushing off to the next crisis.

Thanks to Bonnie Anne Rudd, who asked Trustpoint to sponsor the banquet tonight, we had a wonderful venue and a great, relaxed time.  Thanks also to Scott Brown, Trustpoint Director of Marketing, and their coworkers for their hands on efforts to make this a wonderful event.  We had a fine meal that included some wonderful desserts!  Social workers do not usually get served, and the Trustpoint staff did so graciously tonight.

After the meal, there was time for door prizes before the awards, and during the awards. Everyone in attendance was afforded the opportunity to receive a door prize!

The awards ceremony began with Pat Hollingworth  awarding the Fields of Practice Certificates

 

State Agency – Valeria Joiner

Mental Health – Margaret Lair
Criminal Justice -  Joyce Badger
Children and Families – Will Weathersby
Medical – Jan D’Orsay
Social Work Education – Cara Speer
Private Practice – Beverly Greiner
Retired – Anne Howe
School Social Work – Adelaida Montemayor
Elderly – Joyce Atkinson
 
For those certificate winners not present, we will have your certificates at the upcoming NASW events:  the annual April workshop, and the CEU lunch meetings in the coming months.

Interspersed among the awards presentations throughout the evening, were more door prizes.  As always, Cara Speer does a wonderful job acquiring “social worky” door prizes that are fun and have practical value.  Some door prizes were donated by members, including 3 Joe Arrington Cancer Center cookbooks thanks to Jan D’Orsay. One of the recipients of this door prize was Lex Webster, the chef at Raider Ranch who feeds us so well at our monthly meetings. Joining in the spirit of the evening, Lex said that since our next CEU lunch meeting is in May, he will have time to peruse the cookbook, and find something to cook for us from it at the May meeting!

This year, Public Citizen of the Year is really Public Couple of the Year:  Greg Carley most ably introduced the Reverend Ted (posthumously) and Betty Dotts, with contributions from Joyce Badger and Dr. Scott Badgett.  Mrs. Dotts gave a gracious and warm speech in acceptance.

Bonnie Anne Rudd presented the award for Agency of the Year to Raider Ranch, acknowledging their long history of hosting CEU activities, their generosity in providing us a meeting room, and free lunch!  Ashley Robertson thanked the social workers for their contributions to the community and Raider Ranch.

The Student of the Year from the Texas Tech University BSW program is Ashley Kuehl, presented by Helen Morrow. Helen told us that Ashley was the unanimous selection of herself, Dr. Elbow, Dr. Phelps and Dr. Lowe at Texas Tech! We were all given a pronunciation lesson: the name is pronounced “keel.”   Helen told us that both Mr. and Mrs. Kuehl have been United States Marines, and we thank them for their service to our country! as well as Ashley’s outstanding social work ability.  Ms. Kuehl was supported by the staff at VetStar, a part of Starcare Specialty Healthcare Systems of Lubbock County.  We thank them for their presence at the banquet!

Cara Speer, the 2014 Social Worker of the Year, presented the award to the 2015 Social Worker of the Year.  All of the previous Social Workers of the Year who were present were asked to come forward and support the 2015 winner, Greg Carley!  His efforts on behalf of the South Plains Branch include, but are not limited to, CEU activities for the luncheon series and the ethics workshop, Nominations and Leadership Recruitment, devoted steering committee member, and nominee for the upcoming election of Chair of the South Plains Branch.  Greg was out of town on business today, and we are grateful that he was able to get back to Lubbock to attend the banquet!

Poignantly, the last presentation of the evening was a memorial presentation.  Dr. Mike Rice lost his life in a plane crash earlier this year.  He, too, was a stalwart supporter of social services, and had a social worker’s heart.  He was a mentor to many, including Bonnie Anne, and gave of himself tirelessly to the needs of his patients. He was a strong advocate of the geriatric behavioral health program at Trustpoint.  One of his many passions was the American Diabetes Association, so the cost of the “ticket” for this evening’s event is being donated to the American Diabetes Association. We collected $240 + Trustpoint staff amount, and are grateful that his widow, Sandra Rice was present to acknowledge this memorial presentation.

As we departed, Scott Brown and staff, who had been taking photographs for us all evening, “framed us” for posterity. 

We asked all the social workers present to fill out a ticket with their name and phone number.  This will go into the drawing for the two NASW memberships that will be awarded at the annual ethics workshop on April 17, 2014.  You need not be present to win.  Your next opportunity to be entered into the drawing is at the workshop on April 17, 2015.  You are allowed one entry for the morning workshop, one entry for the afternoon workshop, and one bonus entry if you attend both workshops!

It was a wonderful night.  Once again, thanks to Bonnie Anne for her creativity, and the wonderful staff at Trustpoint for their efforts above and beyond!

I can’t tell you when I have had so much fun at an annual banquet.  As social workers, we need to learn to celebrate ourselves, and not always take ourselves so seriously! 

Thanks to all!

 

 

Labor Day Celebration

The regular reader knows that I have become increasingly dedicated to being involved in commemorative ceremonies for national holidays:  Memorial Day, D-Day, Independence Day, Veteran's Day in particular.

I did not really think about being involved in a commemoration for Labor Day, but from what I could tell, there was not a Labor Day celebration, commemoration, or memorial in Lubbock.  Hmmm. Maybe there should have been. 

I am thankful for the holiday.  I like my work, but I appreciate an extra day off from time to time.

Memorial Day Commemoration

I went to the Memorial Day Service at the City of Lubbock Cemetery http://www.kcbd.com/story/25611710/memorial-day-service-to-be-held-at-city-of-lubbock-cemetery. There were 3 ceremonies at 10 AM today, and a Catholic Mass at 11 AM.  It is unfortunate they plan the ceremonies to conflict with each other, but it is good that there are plenty of options for people to attend.

The crowd was small today.  That may be a function of the other available options.  I think it may also have been a function of the overnight rain, and the continued rain clouds in the sky.  People in West Texas do not do rain well. 

The ceremony was brief.  A prayer, the posting of the colors, "The Star Spangled Banner", the Pledge of Allegiance, the featured speaker, who was on an Honor Flight, closing remarks, including recognitions, and the singing of "God Bless America."  The group was invited to join in, and we did.

The rains was noted as a blessing.  Veterans and their families were recognized.

I am watching the Red Sox vs. Braves on TV.  At 3 PM, Eastern Time, the game was halted for a moment of silence, and a commemorative video, per order of President Obama.  I thought it was a nice touch.

I will watch the Yankee vs. Cardinals game next.  

It is pretty out: grey, cool, but nice.

Memorial Day

I watched the National Memorial Day Concert http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/home/ on PBS tonight.  This was a very good but very emotional event.  The stories of surviving families, and veterans who survived or died in service were shared.  There was good music, appropriate patriotic music, and the rendition of the Services Medley always hits me hard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9g1n25HdY.

So, I cried through much of this concert.  And, I had cried through much of the movie I saw earlier today.  My jaw was very sore by the end of the concert, a function of how I hold my mouth while I cry.

The tears are sad, happy, proud. 

Latino Americans

PBS is airing a series called Latino Americans http://www.pbs.org/search/?q=Latino%20Americans.  I have watched some of this.  I believe it is a very well done series. It explores the various aspects of the Latin Americans, and their many, many stories.  Latin Americans include the historical Americans who were of Spanish descent in the early years of the United States. It includes the people from Mexico, from Central America, from Puerto Rico and Cuba. 

Although somewhat less dramatic, but not totally less traumatic, especially for the individuals and families involved, the discrimination against Latin Americans was not always as intense and ingrained as it was against the Afro Americans. But even as the discrimination was perpetrated, it was hurtful and inhumane. It was inexcusable and unacceptable. And it continues to sometimes relegate Latino Americans to second class citizenship.

No discrimination is acceptable. Although the United States has legislated equality, those laws are not always enforced as intended. There are still many, many barriers for peoples to overcome.

Maybe the series about Latino Americans will shed some honest light on their history, and offer some source of pride to those Hispanic Americans who watch the show.

The Assassination of John F Kennedy

This is a time of very important anniversaries in the history of the United States.  November 22, 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy http://www.jfklibrary.org/.  There has been a lot of media about this assassination, and I have watched it, remembering how sad I was for our nation.  I was in the 6th grade. I remember that we heard about this as the boys came back from the mid-afternoon break. The janitor had the radio on, and they heard the news and brought it back to us.

I remember watching  a lot of television: the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, the funeral cortege and the explanations of all the symbolism, the stories about the Kennedy children.

This was a very sad time for our country.  It is a hallmark of the United States government that instead of being thrown into chaos, although I am sure the players felt they were in chaos, the oath was administered to Lyndon B. Johnson and he became the next President of the United States.

To this day, there is controversy over whether Lee Harvey Oswald http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Harvey_Oswald was the lone assassin, or if he worked in conjunction with a conspiracy to assassinate the President.  I know that the Warren Commission http://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-1.html basically said that Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for the assassination.

I am reminded that a news commentator remarked that a whole generation of Americans will go through life thinking that there was a conspiracy, not based on history, but based on the Oliver Stone movie JFK http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102138/. 

There are many history, discovery and news media outlets that air stories that may be based in fact, but also have some questionable information in them.  Some are blatantly ficitonalized, or take "creative license" to make the story more interesting, more amenable to the time constraints of the media outlet,  but some try to stay true to the facts. But it is difficult to discern what is the reality of these media offerings.  Usually, I trust the stuff on PBS http://www.pbs.org/.  I used to try to believe the stuff on The History Channel https://www.google.com/search?q=The+History+Channel&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF, but realize it is an entertainment outlet, not an educational venue, and I have been disillusioned by it.  But I still like it. I do not watch the Discovery Channel http://dsc.discovery.com/ or the National Geographic Channel http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/, so I will reserve judgement on those two outlets.  

But, there has been some interesting programming about the assassination of JFK, and it is an important reminder about this tragic time in the history of the United States.

A Lack of History

Today is the birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States of America.  When I moved to Texas in 1977, and for many years afterwards, the non-profit organization that employed me celebrated the birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson as a holiday, and so, I got the day off.

I never forgot this, in part because August 27 was also the birthday of my father, Joseph Napikoski, who was born in 1919.

But, nevertheless, this is a Texas holiday. 

Today, as I interviewed patients at work, and asked them the standard "orientation" questions, some of them knew the date: month, day and year.  Not all did, but some did. When I asked these patients, who were all fairly young, not one knew that it was the birthday of a former president, and very sadly, not one of them knew that Lyndon Baines Johnson was a former president, nor that he was from Texas.

This is so sad. I am so convinced that our future depends upon the lessons learned from our history.  Granted, offenders in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are not always the smartest or most astute people.  And they will probably not shape our future. But it made me wonder how many people of their same young age knew who Lyndon Baines Johnson was, and that today was his birthday.

Jackie Robinson, A Biography

As I have previously mentioned, I went to see 42: The Jackie Robinson Story twice at the movie theater. This from someone who rarely goes to see a movie.  I was very interested in the accuracy of the events, and found myself picking up a book at the library: Jackie Robinson, A Biography by Arnold Rampersad.

As I read about his entry into baseball, I was pleased to see that the incidents depicted in the movie were fairly well depicted in accord with the book.  And, now, as I have finished the book, I was really, really struck by the fact that Jackie Robinson really was the right man, a man with a mission, to integrate baseball.

The incident that lead to his court-martial in the US Army indicated he was will to fight for integration and racial equality.  The life he lived after baseball demonstrated to what an extent he took that on as his life's mission. It is a part of the Jackie Robinson story that most of us do not hear about.  

This was a very good book. 

D-Day Commemoration

I did not click to the fact that today was an anniversary of D-Day. Actually, the 69th anniversary of D-Day.  However, I was able to attend the Silent Wings Museum commemoration of D-Day http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/silent-wings-museum/home.  They had some WWII vintage planes. I did not ride in one.  Hmmm. Maybe I will in the future.  There was a film about D-Day. I thought it might be the one I just watched on PBS, but it was different. It came from the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, http://www.ddaymuseum.org/.

The ceremony at the Silent Wings Museum was to commemorate the Breedlove Airport http://breedlove-cptp.org/Breedlove_Airport.html, the first commercial, official airport in Lubbock.

I am grateful I was able to attend the ceremony.

The Household Temperature

I arrived home from my outing on March 4, 2013, at about 9:30 PM or so.  I think it is significant that the temperature that registered at my house, both at the inside thermostat, and from the wireless, remote for outside temperatures, was 73°.  Since then the internal temperature of the house has decreased 2°, which is what I would expect, given we will be experiencing a northern front blowing in.

And, the outside temperature has decreased drastically to 48°, at a little before 1 AM,  which, I believe is amazing but not unheard of, in West Texas.

Hope you are snug in your home, and not experienceing the vagaries of climate and weather change.

If you are without a home, and need help to withstand the vagaries of weather change, I hope the homeless network of Lubbock can help you.  I can not promise answers or resouces, but if you need help, let me know:  naswlbbnews@suddenlink.net.

The Columbia Exhibit at The Silent Wings Museum

I have written about the Silent Wings Museum before.  On February 1, 2013, there was a remembrance reception at the Silent Wings Museum, opening the Columbia Exhibit http://www.silentwingsmuseum.com/specEvents/allSpecEvents.aspx.  Because my Friday afternoons at work have become somewhat inflexible, I did not have the opportunity to attend this reception, although I would have liked to do so. 

However, today, I went to see the Columbia Exhibit.  It was subdued but gave information about Willie McCool and Rick Husband, both of whom have Lubbock ties, and both of whom perished in the Columbia disintegration.

Willie McCool graduated from Coronado High School.  There is a statue of him in Huneke Park http://parks.ci.lubbock.tx.us/pk/willieMcCool.aspx  in Lubbock Texas.  http://today.ttu.edu/2013/02/a-fathers-pride-remembering-the-columbia-tragedy/ .  A few years ago, on Memorial Day, I went to a Memorial Day service at the Lubbock War Memorial http://parks.ci.lubbock.tx.us/pk/specialParks.aspx.  I walked over to the Willie McCool statue, and someone there told me the gentleman walking to his car was Willie McCool's father. I walked up to him, offered him condolences, and thanked him for his sacrifice. (I may have written about this before.)

Rich Husband http://sts107.com/crew/Husband/Husband.htm graduated from Texas Tech University. The exhibit at the Silent Wings Museum shows him doing a "guns up" pose in a shuttle photograph.

It is sad that Lubbock is blessed to have ties to two of the astronauts who perished in the Columbia tragedy 10 years ago.   Sad.