707th AC&W RADRON EXCUBITORES

This ought to be fun. I've learned of some strange laws in different states and thought I'd share them. I was at a law enforcement convention in Las Vegas when I got involved in a conversation about them and it was interesting to say the least. This doesn't mean these laws are enforced, but they are or were on the books at one time. Makes you wonder what ever brought them about in the first place. For instance in;

You can be legally married by publicly introducing a person as your spouse 3 times

When was the last time you read the Constitution? I mean the whole thing. If your like me it's been awhile, maybe grade school, or more recently when you wanted to look up something specific. Well last night I was just sitting here and didn't have much to do, so I brought it up on the computer and read it. Folks our forefathers sure had their heads on straight and I suggest that you take time today to see what they had envisioned and how they intended to protect those ideals. It's not hard to find on the internet and it really doesn't take that long to read. In case you forgot it starts out with the following;

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I'm sure that most of you have seen the following but it's worth reading again. Remember these were common, ordinary, everyday, run of the mill folks that had a dream and were willing to give their all to see it become a reality.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire, and the home was destroyed..and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

It's time we get the word out that patriotism and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

I'm running late so this is going to have to do for today's post. Have a good chance at driving tomorrow so that means we'll have to go to church in the evening. Can't go tonight because of work and the party. Enjoy this weekend, Take Care and Have a Good One

Well I should have cheated and wrote this last night. I just got the call from the yard and I've got a run to Kentucky and a run to Indiana to start the day off right. Guess they heard my wish the other day. What I'm trying to say is this is going to be very short.

Yesterday at the VA went well for both Gene and I. They sure have changed since I was last there. Not so much the building as the service. Everyone was friendly, cheerful and helpful. I accomplished more in 2 hours than I would have in 2 days under the old system. I was really impressed. Now lets see how the rest of the place operates, to be quite truthful I don't expect anything less. Believe it or not it was ORGANIZED and EFFICIENT this is a government run operation, Right!! Actually anxious to see how things go. I know they bent over backwards to help Gene and that makes them tops in my book.

I can always count on Ferd to keep me up to date on things. After reading my remarks about the deaths of folks in the entertainment industry he sent me the most recent update, as follows; One weeks Obits' Ed McMahon, Farra Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Bill May, Carl Malden, Gail Storm. I know Bill May wasn't really in the entertainment field but you've got to admit as a pitchman he was entertaining.

I also received the following from Don Sroka in regards to Ed McMahon, you might enjoy reading about the man before fame overtook him.

Editor's Note: Don't know about you, but I'd rather read this report than all the stuff that's passing as news about Jackson. Only thing I saw on Ed was the fact that he died broke. Hell of a send off for a man of his standing.

Looks as if I'm going to be driving tomorrow, so that's going to make a dent in the plans but I'll just have to catch up with Geri at the party. Don't want to pass up any time I can get. I received this the other week, then the other day and again today. It came with the suggestion that I place it on the website so folks could view it and get in the 4th of July spirit. So as I've said many times - your wish is my command. Take a look and listen then let me know what it does for you.

I've got a lot of running to do today before Gene picks me up, but I'll try and find something worth while to take up some of your time. We are going to the VA today and that is going to take up the better part of it. Geri is busy with some sorority stuff so she won't even notice I'm gone. I've got a good chance of driving tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. Don't even care if I catch the run to Kentucky.

Well it looks like after 8 months of BS Al Franken has won his senate seat. Can't say that I'm happy about it but he'll fit right in with all the other jokers and clowns we have up there. Tell you folks I think Washington had better start listening to ~ we the people, if not I think there is going to be hell to pay in coming years. Some of the dumb moves they've made and some of the ridiculous ideas they are bantering about sure aren't making many friends. I very seldom read stuff about politics, on the internet, but I'll tell you some of it make as much sense, maybe even more so. I pray the Good Lord helps us ~ us being the United States of America.

See that Gail Storm of "My Little Margie" fame passed away. Wonder if that was the 3rd shoe to fall. 4 big names in the entertainment field in a week, now I don't remember that happening in a long time. Never recall it happening in separate incidents. I think the closest might be the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson better known as "The Big Bopper". Now that was a headliner story for sure. Boy are we getting old, that happen over 50 years ago. If there had been one more seat on that plane we'd lost Waylon Jennings. He had given up his seat on the plane to Richardson who was ill. I think they crashed in Iowa and were headed to Minnesota. I'm sure every one knows more about this than me. I can remember it because I had been at GPZ a short time when it happen.

Our weather has really been nice. Only in the high 70's and low 80's and no rain. Sure hope it continues for Monday. The past 2 nights it dropped down into the high 50's and it was great sleeping with the doors and windows open. You don't get much better sleeping weather than that. I like being just a bit chilled and the sounds are fantastic. Had our resident Coyote pack serenading us but that's alright for now. I think I'm going to have to get rid of that pack as they have been seen in the area and we don't need that kind of trouble. I also have to get out to Dave's place as they are starting to get bolder around the house. I'm thinking I'll try and get out there next week. Haven't talked to him about the hay yet but that has to be done also, would have been a perfect couple of days for doing it.

Just talked with Ryan and he's hoping I can deliver him some topsoil tomorrow. If I'm working that won't be a problem but if not it's hard to borrow a truck unless I can do it in the evening. Also have the problem that it might rain according to the weatherman. Coming to think of it that maybe I could deliver it tonight, that is if he isn't working tomorrow, might not be a bad idea. I need to pick up some skids that another guy is saving for me. Dave uses them for stacking wood and as a floor in his hay barn. I'm going to have to give this some serious consideration.

Well if I'm going to get that running done, before Gene gets here, I'd best be going. I'll be in touch, in the mean time Ya'll Take Care and

As you see 2 features have been put to rest. War Stories and Who's in the Spotlight. I said I'd run these until I ran out of Bio's and being as no one saw fit to send in anymore I'll suspend those pages until I do. Archived versions can be viewed by going inside. I'm working on something to put in their place but it's going to take awhile.

The newest version of the RAO Bulletin has some worth while information on many topics, and in some cases it could save you money. Take a few moments to check it out. I don't know about you but I like saving money and dealing with businesses that recognize our service. I use to feel bad about asking for a discount but now I'll ask anyone if they give a Veteran or Senior discount. This last trip,2 days, we saved $118.00 I wasn't expecting to, just by asking. Motels, car rental agencies, department stores are only a few of the places. We have restaurants in the area that give senior's a break and even more if your a vet. Lowes is another place I deal with because of the veteran discount. One place a lot of folks miss out on are cruise lines, make sure to ask for the veterans discount when planning your next cruise. Sure doesn't hurt to ask, all they can say is no.

We had a good time in Louisville and the girls did alright in the tournament but they didn't win it. I think injuries had a big part to do with it. Anyone says that volleyball isn't a rough sport didn't see this tournament. They had medics and medical facilities all around the convention center. 3 of the top players on her team suffered sprains -wrist-knee-ankle and it's hard to play with anyone of those. Scrapes, cuts, bruises and bloody noses were everywhere. Even had a heart attack, but that was one of the grandmothers of a team from Wisconsin. Also had a broken leg and dislocated shoulder. Seems we had the court right near the medics and I couldn't help but see all this. There were over 2,000 girls and 200 teams there. Our team came in 6th out of 24 teams in there grouping, not bad considering they were the 17th seed. They were suppose to be eliminated in the 1st no later than the 2nd round and ended up playing all the way even with the injuries. Oh well there's always next time. I'll tell you it's hard to believe the level of play that these girls are at.

Naturally we came back to a hornets nest of activity and we both wish we could have stayed away another week. We always say that but in no time we're right back into the swing of things. Thursday I'm suppose to go to the VA with Gene. He has an appointment and I want to go and see where I stand with them. Been some changes to procedures and I'd better make sure I know what the ground rules are, just in case I need to use them. With my service connected status I don't see how they can screw things up but it wouldn't surprise me one bit. Saturday night we are going to a friends house for a cook out and then watch fireworks that the township puts on. You can sit on their front porch and see them. I'm not much on doing the up close and personal thing, and even have a hard time from a distance, but I can always go inside or on the back porch with a nice cool drink. I'll more than likely spend the rest of the night in Nam.

Finally got a tee time for our 6 July golf outing. This ought to be a great day as I couldn't get a time at any of the regular courses we thought about playing. There is a private club that just went public and I was able to get a 0812 tee time. I shouldn't say I couldn't find times at other courses but they were all afternoon and it'll be way too hot then. I haven't played this course but have friends that were members and say it's a fair but dog course. That doesn't surprise me since every course is a dog for me, might give the rest of the guys a run for their money. I think that's the reason I can play with them because I don't know the difference between a hard and easy course. I just hit the ball and then play it from where I find it. Hope I don't make too much of a fool out of myself.

In between all the other stuff I got going I want to try and get in some driving time as usual. I'm going to have to get it in during the week because the next 2 weekends are filled up as is Sunday of the last weekend. You know I should never look beyond the current calendar but I just happen to look at the months of August and September and can't believe the schedule. I'm really looking forward to the last quarter of this year, but then again those dates haven't been filled out yet.

Well looks as if I'd best get this posted so I can answer some of the emails I received over the past 3 days. Only have a 118 to look through this time, only had 1 phone message to return and it only took 1 small bag to bring the mail home. Best to all, Take Care and