Christmas Snow

Despite all predictions to the contrary, the old mudball is still spinning and the heavens have not split asunder.  In fact, I'm still looking forward to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for all.

  May the spirit of the season be with you.

Winter Blues

According to one interpretation of the Mayan Calendar, the world is going to end today.  Who knows, it could happen as I.....AAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Thanksgiving, 2012

          Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 22, and rapidly approaching.  What is it we are thankful for?  At our house, we have a tradition of asking each person at the table to tell what they are thankful for.  Usually, the number one expression of thanks is for family and friends.  We are grateful to have people in life who share our moments of grief and happiness, losses and triumphs, sadness and joy.  We are thankful for those people who lend us support by listening to our problems, offering a word of advice or encouragement, doing things for us that no one else would either think of or do.  We are thankful that people care about us and help us, and, in turn, in gratitude we offer our care and help.  This, I believe, is the number one reason, on a personal level, for thanksgiving.

OVUREP

As a member of OVUREP, I created an unofficial web site as a meeting place where members of OVUREP can reconnect with old friends and share memories of our time together.

OVUREP was a Battle Group that trained together from Basic Combat training through Advanced Unit Training for a total of 32 weeks of Combat Training. We were the 2nd Infantry Division, lst Battle Group, 11th Infantry and trained at Kelley Hill, Fort Benning,  Georgia,  Upon the completion of our training we were sent to South Korea to replace a unit on the DMZ.

In the ROK we took up encampment at Camp Hovey near the DMZ.  We were now the 7th Infantry Division, the 1st Battle Group, 32nd Infantry.  A short distance from camp was the village of To-Ko-Ri.

OVUREP was the Army’s first overseas unit replacement experience.  It lasted from 1960 to 1962.  As a draftee, I was part of OVUREP.   The 1st Battle Group was a finely honed unit under the leadership of Col. Hayes, and, to my mind, a highly successful experiment.

In searching online for information and/or contacts about OVUREP I found very little.  The most useful item I found was in a History of the 2nd Infantry Division:

“In February of 1960 the 2nd. Inf. Div. was formally named as a OVUREP unit. Which stood for (Overseas Unit Replacement). This Ovurep unit was the "first" in Army history to train as an entire unit, from Basic Combat Training through Advanced Unit Training. They had 8 months of very hard training, then was shipped off to ROK (Republic of Korea) in March of 1961. This was the 2nd. Division, 1st. Battle Group, 11th. .Infantry and they took their training on Kelley Hill at Ft. Benning. The Ovurep was separated in the spring of 1962 and all of the members were assigned to other units throughout ROK.”#

I served as Chaplain’s Assistant to Chaplain Carson and got to know men from every company in the Battle Group.  Initially I was in Delta Company, but was transferred to Headquarters Co.   In addition to my duties as a Chaplain’s Assistant, I wrote and directed a Troop Ship show about our training that we performed aboard ship that you might remember.  That led to a theatrical production of Mr. Roberts that toured Eighth Army.  Whether you remember me or not, but were a member of OVUREP, we’d like to hear from you.

Please comment and add some memories in the area below or on the OVUREP webpage.  I know that many of us from back in the day don’t use computers, so perhaps children or grandchildren can help us meet up once again.

Click here OVUREP to go to the OVUREP webpage.

Thanks!

THE LION’S SHARE

The Lion once went a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf.  The Lion had an impressive mane, wore plain colored, but elegant suits, and had billions of dollars, much of it in off-shore accounts.  The Fox was, of course, clever, and was constantly heard referring to the Revolution and The Constitution.  He’d vehemently shout, without much provocation, “No taxation without representation!” or “We have a right to bare arms!”  The Fox wore a three-cornered hat with a feather stuck in the band.  The Jackal is an excellent small game hunter, who usually hunts alone or with his mate in a well marked territory.  He has a rustic appearance.  The Wolf is an independent sort who likes to make up his own mind about things, loves his family, and doesn’t always run with the same pack.  Mutual needs brought these diverse types together to hunt, and their leader was the well-positioned Lion.

They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag.  The Stag was noble and brave, but too peaceful for these unrelenting hunters and soon the Stag lost its life.  Then came the question how the spoil should be divided.  “Quarter me this Stag,” roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts.  Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment:  The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter; another share comes to me for my part in the chase, and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it.”

“Humph,” grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl, “You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil.”


A Fable by Aesop with contemporary elaboration.  FDF

Edinboro Homecoming 2012

The  heathery hues of distant hills emerge as the sun burns off the morning fog.  October First has arrived with all the color, warmth, and, yes, cool rains, of the Fall season.  Our walks on the maple lined paths of Edinboro University are cheered by the brilliant red leaves of one tree in contrast to the orange or yellow of another.  At week’s end, Alumni will return to campus to enjoy one of the great days of Edinboro:  Homecoming.

Many events are planned to suit the interests of a variety of people from the traditional to the contemporary.  Highlights of Friday and Saturday’s activities can be found here.  On Friday, I plan to play in the tennis tournament with a much more capable partner than I deserve, and attend the Class Reunion and Affinity Group celebrations later in the day.  Saturday, my wife and I will gather with friends and enjoy the Tartan Brunch, followed by the annual Homecoming Parade.  Hopefully this year it will be back up to it’s old standards.  The traditional Homecoming football game is at 2:00 p.m.

Erie County bragging rights will be up for grabs when a meeting of football teams with proud traditions takes place in Sox Harrison Stadium on the campus of Edinboro University.  The Fighting Scot’s take on local rivals, the Gannon Golden Knights, and the game should prove to be hard fought and exciting to watch.  Gannon (1-4) has lost to Slippery Rock, Clarion, and most recently to No. 10 Bloomsburg.  The Scot’s (2-2) have won two away games in a row and will come home to keep their streak alive.

Games, marching bands, celebrations, and cheering people of all ages will bring Edinboro to life this weekend in a setting of matchless Fall colors.

Mercer Community Band

Last night my wife and I attended a Banquet held to honor the Mercer Community Band's 35th anniversary.  The band, led by Dr. Hendley D. Hoge, is labeled as "The Best Free Entertainment on a Friday Night.  Indeed it must be, for each Friday night the Court House Square in Mercer, a community in Western Pennsylvania, is crowded with band and audience.

Patterning the concerts after the popular concert master and composer, John Philip Sousa, Dr. Hendley has arranged highly entertaining programs that appeal to a wide range of people, both in the audience and in the band.  He adds spice to the concerts with skilled vocal and instrumental soloists, and treats his musicians with respect and appreciation. 

Not only has the Mercer Maestro found a key to success with music, he has included other All-American favorites such as an ice cream social and home-made pie.  There is always an aura of excitement and a feeling of community Americana on a Summer Friday night in Mercer thanks to the energetic Dr. Hoge and the wonderful staff of volunteers he is able to recruit.

The 35th Anniversary Banquet was an opportunity to reflect on the success and growth of the Mercer Community Band and a chance to recognize the contributions of individual members.  Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

42nd Street

Saw a pleasing production of 42nd Street at the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.   Many delights rewarded theatre-goers: brilliant costumes (especially for the chorus girls), imaginative Busby Berkley inspired choreography, an excellent pit orchestra (placed on the balcony), great use of the Shakespearean three-quarter round stage, and solid performances by the cast.  The show has a definite “feel good” affect.

I enjoyed 42nd Street so much, that I wanted to get the DVD of the original movie that inspired the Broadway production.  In doing so, three other “gold digger” movies come with the set.  Thus, you see the early and some of the best Busby Berkley choreography, beautiful showgirls, and some great scenes with Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, and in Dames, Jimmy Cagney does a great songs and dance to Shanghi Lil.  

Music and Lyrics by Harry Warren and Al Dubin support the song and dance routines and lift you out of the doldrums.  These depression era songs capture an age and helped audiences feel better about themselves, while facing up to their financial circumstances.  There is a breezy and determined effort to succeed. The struggles of performers putting on a successful show carries over to the toils of the average Jane and Joe trying to rise above the depression.   

Do yourself a favor and catch 42nd Street or any of the “gold digger” movies. 

All Purpose Dialectic Diatribe

Writing humor is difficult.  What can provoke laughter in person, with appropriate delivery, can seem very unfunny on paper.  Besides, comedy can be offensive, because it's usually at the expense of other peoples foibles, and is often intended to be corrective.

I wrote the following letter to the editor of a local paper hoping to provoke a few grins and, possibly, cause some change, but the editors have not published my offering.  Why? I ask myself.  Is it not humorous, does it offend too many people, is it too long?  Well, I'll probably never know why the paper hasn't published my letter, so I'm going with it offends too many people.  Besides it's directed at the people who write letters to the editor, as well as the editors themselves.  At least the internet/blog offers freedom of speech.  Here it is:


To the Editor:

In consideration of the large number of politically charged letters you print I am offering the following all-purpose dialectic diatribe in an effort to help you free up space on your editorial page for enlightened, well-reasoned, and substantiated opinion.


THE ELEPHANT:
I am appalled that the liberal commie administration has once again proposed legislation that will stifle business and raise everybody’s taxes.  Moreover, Obamanation’s socialist policies enable lazy, shiftless people unwilling to find jobs.  If only these bleeding heart tree huggers could understand the importance of using God given natural resources and letting Capitalism, as our Founders intended, provide for people.  But no!  Instead, these government loving un-Americans will allow immigrants with foreign religions to take over our country, while businesses dry on the vine like so many unwatered grape leaves. We must not stand idle while leftist zealots fleece the pockets of every patriot.

THE DONKEY:
These petrified tea partiers can only say “No!” “No” to more affordable health care.  “No” to education.  “No” to change. These archaic neocons think: The Constitution protects the greedy;  The Constitution enables the already powerful;  The Constitution provides for less taxation for the wealthy.   Cloaked as Colonial Clowns, the Republican party has become a bunch of nay saying rightwing nuts!  Led by a Presidential candidate who won by default, because the favored sons and daughters of their party each shot themselves in the foot, uttering inane ideas and unfounded accusations, the Republican Party presents, that man who is out of touch with most Americans, Mitt the Twit.

Thank you for printing this letter.  I hope it serves its intended purpose, even  if it removes many seriously humorous opinions.

Remembering the Edinboro Shooting

One of my daughter's best friends, Marin Cogan, wrote, "Recollections from Another American Shooting," for GQ.   The recent tragedy in Colorado inspired her remembrance of a school shooting that occurred in our hometown of Edinboro.  More than memory infuses her column, as she reflects on conditions that allow the mentally ill to go unnoticed, untreated, but entirely capable of purchasing weapons of destruction.  

Please give her article a read.