Star Spangled Banner As You've Never Heard It

Let's keep this going thru July 4th...

 

Happy 4th of July!…. Let' s get this started, NOW!  So it will be out there on the fourth! I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE  NATION UNDER  GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTYAND JUSTICE FOR ALL!  KEEP IT LIT!! KEEP IT LIT!   For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be. Please Support all of the troops defending our Country.     And God Bless our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom. Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.     We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be eternally grateful.   I watched the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine saluted it, And then he stood at ease.   I looked at him in uniform; so young, so tall, so proud. With hair cut square and eyes alert, he'd stand out in any crowd.   I thought how many men like him had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil; how many mothers' tears?     How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? NO, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!     I heard the sound of Taps one night, when everything was still. I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill.   I wondered just how many times That Taps had meant 'Amen.' When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend.     I thought of all the children, of the mothers and the wives, of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives.     I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea. Of unmarked graves in Arlington, NO FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!   Enjoy Your Freedom and God Bless Our Troops.   When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen.   Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one.         ReplyForward

Death of a Classmate - CAPT Michael “Mike” J. Stoffel, USN -

Captain Michael J. Stoffel, USN (RET), age 89, passed away on June 18, 2021. Michael was born on September 16, 1931 in Kewanee, Wisconsin to Julian (Keogh) and Raymond Joseph Stoffel. After graduating from high school in 1949, he attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin for a year. In 1950 he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1954, and began an interesting naval career of 26 years.

He first served on the destroyer USS Walke based in Long Beach and then attended submarine school in New Haven, Connecticut. After service aboard the submarine USS Jallao and the Submarine Development Group staff in New London, he attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, graduating in 1964 with a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

His subsequent career centered in engineering and he then had successive submarine-related tours at Portsmouth, New Hampshire Naval Shipyard, the Supervisor of Shipbuilding in Quincy, Massachusetts, and two years as submarine Repair Officer aboard USS Simon Lake at Holy Loch, Scotland.

After assignment to Washington, D.C. in 1970, he served as Project Officer in the Naval Electronics Systems Command specializing in undersea surveillance. In 1976, he was assigned to the Navy Special Project Office which was responsible for the development and maintenance of the Navy submarine missile programs. While in Washington, he was very active in Naval Academy Alumni activities, serving as class secretary and publishing many articles.

In 1978, he assumed Command of the Naval Electronics Engineering Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. After his first marriage ended in divorce, he met Nancy Cain. They married in 1979.

He retired from the Navy in 1980, and then accepted employment in various positions with a defense contractor, first in the Washington D.C. area and then in Omaha, Nebraska. After completing that employment, he and Nancy moved to Seguin in 1989.

He and Nancy enjoyed the antique business, doing shows and estate sales, and Michael was a certified appraiser in personal property and fine arts. He and Nancy were involved in the operation of the Christian Cupboard and active in the First United Methodist Church. Michael also served several years on the Seguin Economic Development Corporation and as a member of Seguin Rotary. After several years of declining health, Nancy passed away in 2007.

Michael and Marietta met by happy accident. They married at St. James Catholic Church in Seguin in 2010. They enjoyed a shared blessing together in the subsequent years while continuing to participate in social and civic activities, enjoying the challenges of duplicate bridge, and making annual visits to Wisconsin.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Jack.

His survivors include his devoted wife, Marietta Allmond, son Mark Stoffel and wife Amy, daughters Sarah Stoffel, Mary Wallace and husband Evan, Nina Kunkel, and son Matt and wife Dorothy; eight grandchildren; one great grandson; and numerous step-grandchildren.

The Rosary will be at St. James Catholic Church on the morning of July 15, at 10:00, followed at 10:30 by the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Father Greg Nevlud. A reception will follow at the St. James Family Center.

The family would like to thank the Guadalupe Regional Hospice team, especially Case Manager Amanda and Nurse Linda as well as loving care-givers Regina, Teresa, Virginia, and Maria.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Christian Cupboard, 516 N. Camp, Seguin, Texas 78155; Guadalupe Regional Hospice, 1215 East Court St, Seguin, Texas 78155; or St. James Catholic Church, 510 S Camp St, Seguin, Texas 78155.

Tres Hewell Mortuary

165 Tor Drive

Seguin, Texas 78155

(830) 549-5912

https://www.treshewell.com/obituary/capt-michael-mike-stoffel

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Death of a remarried widow - Mrs. Sandi (Dallas Wallace '54)

 Sandra (Sandi) Knight Moore, a longtime resident of South Florida, passed away on May 18th, 2020 at Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers, FL.  Born in 1948 in Birmingham, AL, she was the daughter of Thomas (Harold) Knight and Dorothy Evelyn Woods.

Sandi was  survived by her husband, John W. Moore of Alva, Florida who passed away on May 25, 2020, and is survived by her brother, Barry T. Knight and sister-in-law Emily D. Knight of Conyers, GA, her aunt, Joyce E. Woods (Mrs. William Carl Woods, Sr.) of Birmingham, AL, her several step-children, her many cousins, a host of loving friends and neighbors and her beloved cat Goose.

Sandi loved good food and socializing and could light up a room with her personality.  She never met a stranger and never encountered something she could not do including climbing a 15,000 foot mountain in Africa to photograph gorillas at age 65.  She owned and rode horses, raced quarter-midgets and motorcycles and traveled the world including seven years on a motor yacht in the Caribbean.  She was a fearless skier, an expert scuba diver and underwater photographer and an accomplished stained glass artist.  She photographed anything that moved and embroidered anything that did not.

As Sandi requested, cremation will be followed by scattering of her ashes in Alva, FL, Birmingham, AL and Findlay, OH when circumstances permit.  In-lieu-of flowers, Sandi requested contributions to any woman’s organization.

Family and friends may sign the guest register or leave a condolence message by visiting www.baldwincremation.com.

Baldwin Cremation, FORT MYERS

(239) 939-0050

1605 Colonial Blvd

Fort Myers, FL 33907

https://baldwincremation.com/obituaries/sandra-k-moore/

Services For RADM Ronald J. Kurth USN (Ret)

US Naval Academy graduation 2021 hat toss

Death of a Classmate - Arthur (Art) Jesser

 

Arthur D. Jesser Captain, SC, USN, Ret.

Arthur (Art) Jesser, passed away on April 28, 2021 at the age of 91. He was born to Frank P. and Barbara Boyer Jesser in Fort Collins. Art was number 6 of nine brothers and sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters – Millie, Vi, and Annie and three brothers, twins Herbert and Bob and Nick, granddaughter, Katrina Dees.

Art graduated from FCHS in 1948 where he enjoyed being Class President and also a varsity wrestler.

His education included a BS from U.S. Naval Academy, MBA from University of Pittsburgh, Graduate of the Naval War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Art was on the Navy Wrestling Team for 4 years.

Duty stations were USS Robinson DD-562);USS Coral Sea(CVA-45); Charleston Naval Shipyard; Supply Corps School; Headquarters Support Activity, Yokosuka, Japan; Bremerton Naval Shipyard; University of Pittsburgh; Navy Resale System Office Brooklyn, New York; USS Annapolis (AGMR-1); Office of Chief of Naval Operations Pentagon; Industrial College of The Armed Forces; Naval Base Pearl Harbor.

He served 30 years in the Navy and upon retirement in 1978 he returned home. He went to work at CSU in 1980 and was Director of Purchasing for 18 months until selected Director of Administrative Services where he worked 12 ½ years until his second retirement in 1992. He was once Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and served on the Board a number of years. He enjoyed gardening, travel, stamp and coin collecting.

He will be remembered as a loving Christian husband and devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather.

Survivors include two sisters: Nancy (Bill) Taylor of Fort Collins, and Sandy (Larry) Maier of Cheyenne, daughters; Kathy (Michael) Dees and Dana Jesser of Sylacauga, AL.; son Steve Jesser of San Diego, stepdaughter Lori Miltner of Temucula, CA and stepson Alan Deweese of Commerce City, CO, grandchildren, Alan (Kelley) Dees, Wesley Dees, Jennifer Adair, Justin Adair (Tony) and Rosemary Jesser.

Special thanks to all the Care Givers from Amada and Senior Helpers. Also, thanks to Hospice and The Center at Rock Creek and the staff of both for their care.

Cremation is planned and a memorial service will be held at the Salvation Army on 3901 S. Mason Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525 on May 3, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Allnutt Funeral Service – Drake Road Chapel

650 W. Drake Rd.

Ft. Collins, CO 80526

970-335-8213

Our Poet's May Poem - “EQUAL JUSTICE, UNDER … WHOM?”

 

May 2021 Pome

 

“EQUAL JUSTICE, UNDER … WHOM?” *

An Anthem for Voting Rights Advocates

 

              “On August 18, 1920, the Tennessee General Assembly made history, voting

              to approve the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Opponents           worked feverishly to rescind the ratification vote on constitutional technicalities.            Some anti-suffrage legislators even fled the state in an attempt to prevent a        quorum in the General Assembly.” – News item

 

            Thirty-six votes were needed, they came in at last,

            In the state legislature deciders were cast,

            And hosannas went up from each Suffragette’s throat,

            “Take that, you big bullies, for now we can vote!”

 

            And ever since then, in incredible ways,

            The ladies have set every movement ablaze,

            If a man says “You can’t”, they respond with a roar,

            “Let us into your club or we’ll kick in the door!”

 

            “We demand combat missions!” They got ‘em, of course,

            They can bomb with the best of the U..S. Air Force,

            As Marines and as soldiers, it’s “Fix bayonets!”,

            Not much left to wish for, today’s Suffragettes.

 

            So the ladies are warriors, itching to fight,

            They’ll punch, slap and kick, they’ll scratch, spit and bite,

            But the mothers may screech like the loudest of hags,

            As their daughters come home in non-sex body bags.

 

            6-9-20

 

 

* When Tennessee’s state legislature passed the final ratifying vote, the balance of American politics was changed forever. And once women had the vote, they used it with the force of the Incredible Hulk. Whether or not their efforts to revive the seemingly-dead Equal Rights Amendment will be successful is a matter for soothsayers, not political analysts.

 

 

THE ROMANCE OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES * - Dick Raymond's April Poem

 THE ROMANCE OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES *

For Roanoke, a Railroad Town

        Far down the valley sounds the mournful whistle,

Its echo wakes the eagle from his nest,

The chuffing steam erupts from iron vessel,

As round the bend come passengers, expressed.

The great black engine shows his mighty muscle,

His pistons work the drivers lightning-quick,

No time to waste, he’s all hot steam and hustle,

Rolling across the switches clickty-click.

How long … how long ago such scenes enacted!

Those wailing whistles from a distant past—

Is there no means for Time to be contracted,

To hear once more that lonely whistle-blast?

Those ghostly locomotives still remind us

Of great adventures, tearing down the track—

But O--how far their great days are behind us,

As we roll on, so seldom looking back!

* But only a couple of years ago, the famous 611, a Y6 streamliner once retired from service on the Norfolk and Western, was taken down to the shops in North Carolina, completely reconditioned, refueled and sent back on its own steam, proudly rolling in to the Roanoke yards, as hundreds of loyal fans waved and cheered. Its announced purpose was to power excursion trains. 

 

With the grace that defined her entire life, JoAnne Powell joined her beloved Charles in heaven on March 24, 2021. Born in Nashville, Arkansas on November 27, 1931 to Brooks and Iva Mae McAdams, JoAnne learned at a young age that honesty, hard work, personal ethics, and character were the values to live by and she did just that throughout her life. She grew up in Nashville with her childhood sweetheart Charles Powell, graduated from Southern Arkansas University, and married Charles in December 1954, six months after he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. From that moment on, wherever life took them, their lives were as one, until he left this world on July 2, 2020.

JoAnne was a nomadic Air Force wife for over thirty years, finally settling in San Angelo with Charles's final assignment at Goodfellow AFB. Once here, JoAnne began to work her magic on base and in the community. She revived the Goodfellow Officer's Wives Club and started the Christmas Bazaar (now Santa's Village). In 1984, she became the District Office manager and area staff aide to Congressman Tom Loeffler, and continued in that position serving three more members of Congress, Congressman Lamar Smith, Congressman Michael Conaway and Congressman August Pfluger. JoAnne took great joy in solving problems for the constituents throughout the district. For her it didn't matter who they had voted for, what family they came from, how much education they had or what their jobs were. They were people with problems who needed her and she was always there to stand for them.

JoAnne also stood for her community, working tirelessly for causes she believed were essential for others to thrive. She served on the boards of United Way, Red Cross, Angelo Civic Theatre, Concho Valley Partnership, Meals for the Elderly, Hope for the Holidays, Hospice of San Angelo and the Concho Valley Republican Women to name a few, and was a member of the Johnson Street Church of Christ supporting both its mission and its outreach. Her service brought her many honors, including being named one of the "Top Ten Republican Woman" by the Texas Federation of Women, "Woman of Distinction" by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, and receiving the "Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive" Award from the United Way.

Maya Angelou said "When someone shows you who they are, believe them," and JoAnne Powell showed us who she was every day. She was love in action, a force of nature, full of compassion, humility, truth and service to each person she met. Her life reflected those core values learned long ago, a life filled with generosity, patience, guidance, wisdom, and most of all, an effort to always do good and make a difference in other people's lives.

She is survived by her daughter Teresa Anne McKinney and husband, Bryan of Flower Mound, two grandchildren Dr. Colin Bryan Powell McKinney of Crawfordsville, IN, and Caitlin Brooke McKinney Cannady and husband, Jeremy, of San Angelo, two nieces and a number of cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Colonel Charles E. Powell, parents Brooks & Iva Mae McAdams, brother James Brooks (Jim) McAdams, and in-laws Alford Jackson Powell and Maggie Mae Powell Cowling.

Visitation will be held at Harper Funeral Home on Monday, March 29th from 5-7 PM. Funeral services will be at 10AM on Tuesday, March 30th at Johnson Street Church of Christ and will also be live-streamed through Harper Funeral Home's Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rust Street Ministries or a charity of your choice.

Family and friends can share online condolences at www.harper-funeralhome.com.

Published in GoSanAngelo from Mar. 26 to Mar. 28, 2021.