The "A Letter Not To Be Missed" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the morning paper telling of the speech that President Trump gave to the nearly 40,000 Boy Scouts that were gathered for their national jamboree in West Virginia.  Seems that one of those Boy Scouts, Benjamin Pontz, 2015 Eagle Scout from Troop 56 in nearby Strasburg, Pennsylvania and who is a 19-year-old sophomore political science and public policy double major at Gettysburg College, was listening to the speech.  Couldn't believe what he was hearing and decided to write a special letter to the Lancaster Newspaper telling his opinion of the speech.  It was published this past Wednesday, July 26, and as of yesterday had garnered way over half a million hits on LancasterOnline website.

Benjamin Pontz, Eagle Scout

This young man who has earned the Bronze Palm, with five additional merit badges as an Eagle Scout,  has remained active in his troop as well as writing for the newspaper as a member of the "Generation Next" staff.  Very rarely do I post anything political, but this young man's letter to the newspaper was so outstanding that I just had to post it.  His letter speaks well for the Boy Scouts as well as for himself and his family.  I'm sure his parents are thrilled with what he has accomplished thus far in his life.  I believe you can see, no matter what political party you are associated with, that our country is in good hands with people like Benjamin waiting in line for their chance to lead.  Speaks well also for the Boy Scouts.  They can be proud that the training and skills taught to Benjamin through Scouting are being showcased to the world.  I am also proud of him for speaking his mind and amazed at the level of maturity this young man possesses.  So, I present the letter titled "An Eagle Scout reflects on Trump's Jamboree speech" to you for reading:

   Profound disappointment barely seems to scratch the surface of my feelings toward both President Donald Trump and the Boy Scouts of America after the presidents' speech at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia on Monday evening.

   Trump, whose meandering address contained nuggets of advice cloaked in shameless self-aggrandizement, redoubled his attacks on both Democrats and civil institutions, derided “Obamacare,” and touted economic indicators that have been on the rise for years.

Trump, whose meandering address contained nuggets of advice cloaked in shameless self-aggrandizement, redoubled his attacks on both Democrats and civil institutions, derided “Obamacare,” and touted economic indicators that have been on the rise for years.

   I am disappointed in the president for expoiting a captive audience of young people to engage in flagrant self-promotion and to widen the chasm of division that pollutes our politics.  I am disappointed in attendees who applauded the president as he demeaned his predecessor President Barack Obama (who, incidentally, was involved in scouting), his former opponent Hillary Clinton and the media.  

   And I am disappointed in commenters on social media who posted horrifying side-by-side images and comparisons of the Jamboree and Hitler Youth rallies.

Each group — presented with a unique opportunity to celebrate values that should guide our nation —displayed an appalling lack of self-control.

   In a time of unyielding rancor, the tenets of the Scout Law were used not as ideals to which we can aspire, but as weapons with which we can bludgeon our political opponents.

   So here I offer an alternate message, one that could have been given by the president to a group that aims to embody so much of what we purport to value as a country.

What Trump could have said

   On a foggy evening in London more than 100 years ago, a disoriented businessman named William Boyce received directions from a young man who expected nothing in return. He was a Scout doing a good turn. Inspired by this simple act of kindness, Boyce brought an organization to America that has been part of its fabric for 107 years.

   In a time when our politics divides us, the Scout Law reminds us of our duty to ourselves, to one another and to our country. It extols the virtues of citizenship; it centers our mind on service; and it reminds us of our fundamental duty to love our neighbors as ourselves.

   We find wisdom in the points of the Scout Law.

   A Scout is trustworthy. He can trust his neighbor; his neighbor can trust him.

   A Scout is loyal — not to any one political party or ideology, but to his peers and to his country.

   A Scout is helpful. He knows that when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. To that end, when he has a hand to lend, he lends it, trusting that the next time he needs a hand, someone will lend him one.

   A Scout is friendly, courteous and kind. He doesn’t need a reason to show kindness to someone else, and he doesn’t expect a quid pro quo. He just does what is right.

   A Scout is obedient. Whether or not he agrees with a directive, he upholds it, and then later, if he believes it's unwise, he seeks to change it through proper channels. He respects leaders and authorities, realizing that they must make decisions, and he must respect them.

   A Scout is cheerful. He maintains a positive attitude even when circumstances appear bleak. When the challenges appear insurmountable, he puts a smile on his face and presses forward because he realizes the only permanent failure is a failure to put forth one’s best effort.

   A Scout is thrifty. He uses his time, his energy and his money wisely.

   A Scout is brave. He stands up for what he believes is right even if that means he stands alone. Faced with a moral dilemma, he turns inward to confirm what he knows is right rather than looking outward to see what the crowd is doing.

   A Scout is clean— in thought, word, and deed.

   A Scout is reverent. He puts God ahead of everyone and everything else. He trusts in the divine wisdom of the Lord Almighty to guide him along his path.

   In this age of division and incivility, I call upon all Americans to reflect on the values of the Scout Law.

When we’re willing to work as a team, caring more about the job getting done than who gets the credit, we can overcome so many of the self-imposed barriers before us.

   When we realize that leadership means putting others before ourselves, remembering the words of the scout’s oath of office (I promise to do my best to be worthy of this office for the sake of my fellow scouts and my troop and the World Brotherhood of Scouting) —which never mention self-interest — we can put ourselves on the path to the more perfect union our nation's founders envisioned some 241 years ago.  For it is in the legacy of one simple good turn by a young man done in 1909 that we are gathered today. With that in mind, go forth and serve your communities and your country one good turn, one service project and one smile at a time, knowing that the impact of your actions will be felt for generations to come.

Bravo, Benjamin Pontz.  You said it better than anyone, of any age, could have.  And, I for one am extremely proud of you!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "'Race' Is Much More Than A Movie" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The movie just finished and Carol and I, along with our friends Jerry and Just Sue, are heading out of the movie theatre in State College, Pennsylvania.  The same movie theatre that we walked from in late summer of 2009.  Wasn't long afterwards that "Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy" began.  The movie that led to my blog fixation was "Julie & Julia" which told the story of Julia Child and her start in the cooking profession which becomes intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.  Well, that movie was very memorable and I must admit that today's movie left me with many of the same feelings as that movie six years ago.  

"Race" is the story of a man who showed that the son of a sharecropper and the grandson of a slave could become the fastest man on Earth.  It was President George H.W. Bush who said in his posthumous presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Jesse Owens in March in 1990 that it was an unrivaled athletic triumph, but it was more than that, it really was a triumph for all humanity.  Then I got to wondering why it took over 44 years before Jesse Owens was honored in Washington, D.C. by the President of the United States; and then it was after he died!  The answer is: Jesse Owens was a black man!  There can be no other answer.  I guess I should tell you at this point that maybe if you haven't seen the movie, and plan to go to view it, you may not want to read the rest of my story, for it may ruin the ending for you.  That being said, I was extremely moved by the film which featured Stephan James as Jesse and Jason Sudeikis as his college coach and loyal friend, Larry Snyder.  

Jesse Owens competing in the broad jump.

The majority of the filming took place in Montreal, Canada as well as on location at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.  The film opens in the fall of 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio as Jesse prepares to head to Ohio State University where he meets coach Snyder for the first time.  Jesse leaves behind his sweetheart and mother of his child.  Coach Snyder sees the potential in his new recruit and pushes him to new heights culminating in his winning the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds, tying the world record.  He also set world records in three other events at the 1935 Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The mixture of black and white scenes with the color scenes made for a seemless representation of old to new and then back again.  
In 1936, at the Olympics held in Germany, his four gold medals proves to be a blow to the Nazis.  Hitler's superiority German "Aryan" race takes a back seat.  The film shows the divide that existed among the United States olympic officials who wanted to compete and those who wanted to boycott the games in protest Hitler's treatment of Jews, blacks and other oppressed under his rule.  

The real Jesse Owens with wife Minnie.

The love story between Jesse and his sweetheart- /wife winds throughout the movie and draws you into the lives of the Owens family.  Perhaps the scene that was the most emotional for the theatre-goers, was when Jesse returned to the U.S. after winning his record four gold medals and was to be the guest of honor at a Manhattan banquet and told he and his wife would have to enter through the hotel's kitchen and use the service elevator because he was black.  I believe, for many black Americans, it is still the same today.  I'm positive the reaction of the white crowd at the movie today would be entirely different had it been a black crowd.  And, I don't believe that 8 years of having a black President has changed much as far as race relations are concerned.  The movie "Race" was essentially a true story.  But, "Race" is more than a movie.  "Race" was an emotion.  "Race" was black and white.  So sad to have to type that!  But, it's the truth and easy to see.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Jesse and Minnie had three daughters who are still all living.  Parade magazine did an cover photo, article and video with the three sisters.  I have included the YouTube video showing the interview.


Postscript:  As I left the movie I leaned toward my wife and said, "If you remember, after the last movie here I was inspired to start my blog.  Well, after this movie I think I'm going to begin to broadjump."  She looked at me and laughed .... real loud, and said, "Yeah, right!!" 

The "Politics in Lancaster" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking back over a file on desktop I had titled Politics.  Small file that had a three page word document and various photos I had saved over the past couple of years of politicians who had visited Lancaster at one time or another.  Lancaster wasn't one of the most important places to make a campaign stop, since it was an extremely strong Republican county and Republicans knew they could count of Lancaster County to vote Republican and therefore didn't take much time making visits to the town.  Democrats also knew that it was probably a waste of their time to visit a city that wasn't going to vote for them no matter who the other candidate might be.  Today's story will consist of a few photos I have found in the past that will give you an idea of which politicians made a choice to stop and visit with Lancastrians.  A final photo will tell you a bit about one politician who actually made quite a few visits to Lancaster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This photo you may have seen posted her before.  It features Abraham Lincoln's stop in downtown Lancaster  on February 22, 1861.  Lincoln had recently been elected President, but had not taken office as of the date.  His train stopped in downtown Lancaster's train station where he walked across the street to the Caldwell House where he went to an upstairs balcony to greet his well-wishers.  He did not have a speech prepared, but instead said, "Ladies and gentlemen of Lancaster County.  I am happy to meet the citizens of this great county face to face, but I do not feel prepared to make a speech to you today.  I have not the time nor the strength and what is more, have no speech to make.  I have come more to see you."  He spent 18 minutes in Lancaster that day.

Wendell Wilkie, Republican Presidential candidate who was running against Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, made a stop in Lancaster County during his campaign tour.  

Vice-Presidential candidate Henry A. Wallace, running mate of Franklin D. Roosevelt also made a stop in Lancaster on November 4, 1940.  

Harry Truman made a campaign stop in Lancaster in 1948.

Richard Nixon made a campaign appearance on October 22, 1960 in Lancaster.  There were two local high school bands that played when he arrived.

Also in 1960, John F. Kennedy made a stop at Penn Square in downtown Lancaster, PA in September.  I was part of the crowd that gathered to hear him speak that day.  

Another look at the crowd the day John F. Kennedy spoke in downtown Lancaster.

Ronald Reagan made a stop in Lancaster in April of 1980.

On September 4, 2008 Barach Obama traveled to Lancaster for a rally in Buchanan Park which is next to Franklin & Marshal College.  I was also part of that crowd that had a chance to hear him speak that beautiful fall day.  Wasn't long after that he was voted President of the United States.

This is James Buchanan who not only stopped in Lancaster, but lived in the city of Lancaster.  Pretty neat to say that your town was the home of a President of the United States.  Democrat James Buchanan was the 15th president.  He arrived in Lancaster in 1809 to practice law and took up residence near the courthouse on N. Duke Street in center city.  In 1848 he purchased Wheatland, a Federal style mansion in what at that time was consisted the suburbs.  He was elected president in 1856 and served as President on the eve of the Civil War.  He was a very unpopular President and said to Abraham Lincoln at the latter's inauguration, "If you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man indeed.  He lived the rest of his life at Wheatland which is pictured below.

Wheatland in Lancaster, PA

The "Head Honcho For The Day" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just realized that I missed one of the most historical days in the history of the city in which I live.  Yesterday was the 238th anniversary of Lancaster, PA being the Capital of the United States - if only for a day.  It was in the late summer of 1777 when the British advanced on Philadelphia.  With General Washington being defeated at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, the Continental Congress evacuated Philadelphia.  The delegates fled westward and eventually regrouped in Lancaster, the next largest town to the west.  

The Lancaster, PA Courthouse by Charles X. Carlson.

On September 19, 1777 they fled Philadelphia and headed by a round-about route to Lancaster which included stops in Trenton, Easton, Bethlehem and Reading arriving on the 27th.  They took the Liberty Bell with them, but a wagon break-down forced them to leave it along the way, and it was hidden in an Allentown church until the British threat to Philadelphia was ended.  People such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee and Charles Carroll assembled with the Congress to conduct business.  After their meeting on that historic Saturday they decided to move once again across the broad Susquehanna River to York, Pennsylvania which became the next capital of our nation until July or 1778.  Other capitals of our nation have been (1) Philadelphia, PA, (2) Baltimore, MD, (3) York, PA, (4) Princeton, NJ, (5) Annapolis, MD, (6) Trenton, NJ, (7) New York City, NY , (8) Washington, D.C.  Kinda disappointed that my hometown was only capital for a day, buy hey,  how many cities in the country can claim they were capital of the United States of America, even for just a day!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "An End To The Confederate Flag" Story

St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church in Northeast, Maryland.

It was an ordinary day.  Walking through the graveyard that surrounds St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church in Northeast, Maryland looking for the tombstone of Pvt. James A. Lowndes.  James was a soldier in the Civil War who happened to fight for the South.  I made a visit to the same church a few years ago to search for Civil War heroes and to take photos of some of their graves.  All featured American Flags standing next to them except for Pvt. Lowndes whose tombstone featured a Confederate Flag.  This is the same flag that has caused our Country so many problems in the past few months.  To some the flag is a symbol of "heritage" and not one of hatred or white supremacy.  Some still believe that the Civil War was not about slavery, but about "the fact that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition."  But, wasn't slavery the foundation of the Civil War the Confederacy?  Was not the flying of the Confederate flag on the South Carolina Statehouse the morning after nine black men and women were killed in an act of hatred and racism despicable to you?  

The gravesite of Pvt. Lowndes as seen a
few years ago.  The Confederate flag no
longer flies over his grave, but the
United States flag is still there.

And if it wasn't, why wasn't it?  I was raised in the North along with my fellow little league baseball team members and school friends who were black and I never thought we were different, but I know some who feel different.  Why do they feel that way?  They probably have reasons, but I'm sure they make very little sense, at least to me.  Well, I decided to visit St. Mary Anne's and see if the flag was still flying.  It was absent from it's holder next to Pvt. James A. Lowndes grave site.  What would Pvt. Lowndes think?  I don't even know if Pvt. Lowndes was a black or white man, but I wonder if he would care if a United States flag were placed over his grave to show that he fought in the war that helped start the road to equal justice for all races.  We are a long way from achieving that goal that the Civil War was fought for, but maybe someday ………  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The End Of Smart Remarks" Story

LNP photo of Gil Smart

It was an ordinary day.  Just saw that a graduate of Manheim Township High School, where I graduated for as a high school student and where I taught for 32 years, is giving up his very controversial "Smart Remarks" column in the printed Lancaster Newspaper.  I never had Gil Smart as a sutdnet when he went to Manheim Township, but I remember him well from seeing him at his locker which was right outside my Graphic Arts classroom.  Gil was one of many former students of the high school who ended up writing and taking photos for the Lancaster newspaper.  Joan Kern, one of my classmates when I was a student still writes for the newspaper as a correspondent.  But the biggest name and the one who probably sold more newspapers for the company was Gil Smart.  Gil was a left-leaning writer in right-leaning Lancaster County, PA.  It was in 1996 that he wrote a column which was critical of our local TV station after he thought their coverage of a 30 inch snowstorm was less than adequtate.  The column ran on page 2 of the automotive section, but to the suprise of many, quite a few people read the automotive section, saw his story and responded.  About half agreed with what he said while the other half thought he was way off base with his column.  My guess is that was the last time he had 50% agree with his point of view.  I can remember the column he wrote some time later telling the right-wingers to "get out of my face."  Boy did that go over well!  Carol and I loved reading his Sunday News columns on page 1 of the Perspective Section.  Bypassed all the other sections early Sunday morning to see what kind of trouble Gil was going to be in that week.  We never could understand how the editor of the newspaper kept putting Gil's column, "Smart Remarks", on page 1 against a right-leaning columnist on the same page.  We guess it REALLY sold papers!!  In recent years Gil has mellowed and has given in to the right-leaning views on some topics.  He attributed his slight change on growing up and having a family and starting to see some other viewpoints.  Carol and I talked about Gil's column when the newspaper changed their look and moved Gil inside the section.  At times he didn't even seem to put up a fight about topics that he would blast people about in years past.  Then when we didn't see his column for a few weeks we wondered if he was on vacation.  But then his column appeared called "Rolling with life's changes and marking end of an era."  He told of his journey from brash antagonistic writer to a more subdued writer.  I personally enjoyed the prior, but I can understand after having raised my own family and seeing different points of view on topics.  Carol and I even took a seminar he taught on designing and writing a blog.  I guess you can see where I got some of my ideas from over the years.    He still will have a blog for the paper and my guess is he will still have days where he will lambast the right-wing opposition on some topic.  At least I hope he does!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Mrs. Benedict Arnold" Story

This was the location of the "Shippen House" where Mrs. Margaret
(Peggy) Shippen Arnold used to visit when she was younger.

It was an ordinary day.  Just snapped a photo of the location of "Shippen House" which is at the northwest corner of  East Lime and East Orange Streets in downtown Lancaster, PA.  The original Shippen home stood on that location until 1914 and is now the home of the Lancaster YWCA.  The Shippen house was occupied from 1751-1781 by Edward Shippen IV and his family.  Edward was a lawyer, judge and grandfather of Peggy Shippen who eventually married Benedict Arnold and I assume most everyone knows the story of Benedict Arnold.  Mrs. Arnold's uncle was also a judge in Lancaster.  

Peggy and Benedict Arnold

Margaret (Peggy) Shippen married Benedict Arnold when she was 19 and he was 39 and had children from a previous marriage.  The couple called Philadelphia home, but Peggy made frequent visits to Lancaster to see her family.  The couple were social butterflies who led lives of luxury.  George Washington once said that all young men fell in love with the young bride because of her charm and appearance.  During the American Revolution, Mr. Arnold, who had suffered a debilitating leg wound during the war,  served as military governor when the British evacuated the city.  Then in 1780 he was given command of West Point where he began a secret correspondence with a British General and arranged the base's surrender.  When the plot was discovered, he escaped to New York City where he joined the British army and led attacks on Richmond and New London, Connecticut.  Did Peggy know what was going on?  Alexander Hamilton, who was serving under Washington, said he believed that she had no idea of her husband's plans.  She only became aware of her husband's plans when he came to her and told her he must banish himself from his country and from her forever.  She was said to be distraught and was "entirely lost" after hearing her husband's plans.  

New novel written about Peggy Arnold

But, in "The Memoirs of Aaron Burr," printed in 1836, it was said that Peggy had confided in a friend that she knew of her husbands intentions and urged him to do what he did.  Another writer also said that Mrs. Arnold was a party to the plot from the beginning.  The spy, John Andre, who was caught with the evidence of Benedict's treason had befriended the young Peggy and her family while the British were occupying Philadelphia.  She was allegedly awarded 350 pounds by the British for meritorious services.  In 1782 Peggy traveled with her husband to England where they both eventually died; Peggy dying in 1804.  

Grave site of Peggy's grandfather located
in St. James Episcopal Chruch cemetery.

Historians still are unsure of Peggy's involvement in her husband's affairs and some say that Peggy had loyalties to England and led her husband into his acts of treason.  A novel was recently written about Peggy Shippen Arnold titled "The Traitor's Wife" which tells Peggy's story.  It was reviewed on the "Today" show not long ago.  For anyone who is a history buff and enjoys Lancaster history, it should be a great book to read.  Peggy's grandfather, who lived in the Shippen House for 30 years, is buried in St. James Episcopal Church's cemetery where I romped as a young choirboy before choir practices.  Also snapped a photo of his monument in the church cemetery.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Disaster in the Making?" Story

Map of the United States showing where the majority of the
shale is located that can be drilled to find natural gas. The upper-
-right of the map shows the Marcellus shale area.  Click to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Talking to my uncle about his hunting cabin that he has in Potter County, PA.  It wasn't long ago that he and his brother, who also owns land and a hunting cabin in Potter County, were approached by a company who wanted to buy the mineral rights to their properties in order to drill and hydraulic frack their land in hopes of finding natural gas.  Both the properties were located in the mineral rich Marcellus shale area of Pennsylvania and have been the cause of great controversity over the last few years.  Many worry that the use of hydraulic fracturing is contaminating ground water and creating major problems underground that as of now are not known.  

On a recent trip to State College, PA to visit friends Jerry and
Just Sue we passed an area where fracking supplies were stored.
 The red units are water holding tank for the tracking procedure.

Hydraulic fracturing is the fracturing of rock by a pressurized liquid.  In this procedure a liquid, typically water, is mixed with sand and chemicals, and the mixture is injected at high pressure into a well bore to create small fractures (typically less that 1mm) along which fluids such as gas may migrate to the well.  This procedure is usually conducted once in the life of the well and greatly enhances fluid removal and well productivity. The procedure is known as fracking.  People in favor of fracking point to the economic benefits associated with the removal of vast amounts of formerly inaccessible hydrocarbons. These people would be the companies that will gain great monetary results from the fracking. 

A well-bore somewhere in north-east Pennsylvania.

Those against it point out the environ- mental risks such as contam- ination of ground water, depletion of fresh water, contam- ination of the air, noise pollution, the migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills and flow-back and the possible health effects of all these risks.  The Marcellus gas fields lie in 104,000 square miles and stretches across Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as parts of Ohio and New York and is the largest source of natural gas in the United States.  But the gas is trapped in the shale below the earth's surface and requires the fracturing to allow it to flow to the well bore.  My uncle, after some time sold his mineral rights to a natural gas company, but it seems that Potter County threw the gas company a curve when it required a payment of $54,000 just to drill the hole in the ground.  If they found that the well wasn't prosperous, they would be out the money.  If they found natural gas, they then would owe Potter County more money.  Lots of money!  So, my uncle told me that the gas company has been very reluctant to drill unless they knew for sure they would find natural gas on his property.

Beautiful Tucquan Glen may be compromised is the
 natural gas pipeline comes through the area and could
be claimed as eminent domain by natural gas company.

 So, as of now it hasn't made him a wealthy gas baron.  But, this isn't the end of my story for it seems that the gas companies, that have drilled many other successful wells in the Marcellus shale area, want to run a pipeline through Pennsylvania to transport the natural gas they have discovered and are processing.  Proposed line happens to run about a mile from my uncle's house in Mt. Nebo, PA.  Big stink is being raised by environmentalists who talk about the harm it will have on the Chesapeake Bay as well as the many nature preserves in the area if something should happen to the pipeline.  And, you know that someday something will happen!  Some comments such as: This is disgusting, preposterous, and needs stopped now. What part of the Nature Preserve isn't understood; There is enough pollution of our river that leads to the Chesapeake and they will erode the banks of the river with the pipeline; Would you eat the food near a radioactive pipeline?; Tucquan Glen is a nature preserve and county park that, if the plan is passed, they are going to give them the power of eminent domain.  

Click to enlarge.  The natural gas pipeline is in green and
will hug the Susquehanna River as it passes through
Lancaster County.  Could be a disaster in the making.

The lands will be lost forever.  One group that has taken up the cause to stop the pipeline is the Quakers and they are totally against the pipeline going through Lancaster County.  Who will win?  The gas company with the big bucks, naturally.  You can count on it.  As for my uncle, he is in favor of the pipeline much the same as he was the fracking on his place in Potter County.  It's going to be neighbor against neighbor along the pipeline.  Sad to see that happen.  As for me, I know that progress has to happen for future generations, but is this really progress?  Will future generations of my family really be helped or hindered by the creation of a pipeline directly along a river that has so much meaning and provides so many jobs to people who live along it.  Will it destroy the river forever.  Do we really want to chance that?  But, money seems to speak louder than common sense.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Half Century of Anniversaries" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Saw somewhere that not only is this the 50th anniversary year of the arrival of the Beatles in the United States, it is also the 50th anniversary of G.I. Joe.  It was at the New York Toy Fair in March of 1964 that G.I. Joe was introduced to the public by Hasbro.  The 11 1/2 inch toy was decked out in uniforms of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force with guns, helmets and vehicles as accessories for the movable-part toy.  Ever wonder what G.I. stood for?  Had to Google it myself to find out it was Government Issue.  Duh, should have figured that out myself.  Joe stood for everything that was meant to be good such as fighting evil and doing what's right.  Happened to come out shortly before the United States plunged into the Vietnam War.  The toy came about as a tribute to honor veterans, but with the start of the war, parents started to shy away from military-related toys.  The toy weathered the war storm and became one of the most popular toys in history.  In the 1980s Hasbro reduced the size of the toy to 3 1/2 inches to match the size of the popular Star Wars figures.  Eventually comic books, cartoons and two movies followed.  In 2004 G.I. Joe was elected into the Toy Hall of Fame.  Funny thing about all this is that I never owned one and I don't remember every buying one for any of my children.  Star Wars was all the rage in our household.  After reading about this toy celebrating it's 50th year, I decided to check on other things that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014.  The results are as follows: 

It was 50 years ago that the Ford Mustang was introduced.  The car was introduced at the 1964 World's Fair in New York and has sold more than 9 million of the cars since then.  Since the introduction the Mustang, it has had more than 3,000 appearances in film and television plus hundreds of musical references.

Mopar is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic 426 HEMI engine which was such a vital part of the heritage that made Mopar what it is today.  Chrysler and Mopar are synonymous and led the way 50 years ago in the muscle car market.

The classic 110 Folding Hunter Knife is also celebrating it's 50th anniversiary in 2014.  It was first introduced by Al Buck and revolutionized the industry with it's locking system.  I had one years ago, but somehow misplaced it.

It was 50 years ago that the dashing Scottish actor Sean Connery declared that he was "Bond, James Bond."   There have been 23 Bond movies and 6 actors who have played the fictional character during the last 50 years.

Mary Poppins also gained fame 50 years ago.  Dick Van Dyke as Bert, Julie Andrews as  Mary, Karen Dotrice was Jane Banks and Matthew Garber was Michael Banks in Walt Disney's musical Mary Poppins was directed by Robert Stevenson.

Actor Sidney Poitier won an Academy Award for "Lilies Of The Field" at the 36th Academy Awards ceremony making him the first black person to win the Oscar for Best Actor.  

Remember these two?  It was 50 years ago that actors Robert Vaughn stared as Napoleon Solo and David McCallum stared as Illya Kuryakin in "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."  Don't I see Robert doing commercials on TV?

You certainly can't forget Ann-Margaret and Elvis in the movie "Viva Las Vegas" that came out in 1964.

I can remember watching Art Fleming host the new TV quiz show called "Jeopardy" back in 1964.   The only other host the show ever had is current host Alex Trebek.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Rankin-Bass classic began it's run during the Christmas season in 1964.  Originally was a black and white production, but was later colorized.  My kids watched this every year and now watch it with their kids.

It was also in 1964 that Sean Connery smelled liquor in a carafe while sitting at a dining room table in "Goldfinger."  You have to remember that golden lady laying across the bed.  

In sports Joe Frazier won an Olympic Gold Medal in the Super Heavyweight Boxing Final at the Korakuen Ice Palace during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on October 21, 1964.

Another boxer by the name of Cassius Clay won the Professional World Heavyweight Title on February 25, 1964 in the 6th round when he knocked out Sonny Liston at Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida.  He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became famous for his "Fly like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee." 

In politics President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964 in Washington, DC.  This photo shows him shaking the hand of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after the signing.

The Food Stamp Act of 1964 was the country's first permanent food stamp program.  The photo shows food stamps in 1976.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize during a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, 1964.

Fifty years ago the 24th Amendment abolished poll taxes. Tough to imagine having to pay a tax to vote.  This poll tax is very similar to the new laws that many states are attempting to enact that makes you have a specific ID to be able to vote.  My home state of Pennsylvania tried to enact such a law, but it was ruled unconstitutional.  This photo shows people paying poll taxes.

And, finally!  The 50th anniversary of Sports Illustrated features three models in swimsuits for their swimsuit issue.  That is, half of a bathing suit.  Forbes says that the swimsuit issue has made more than $1 billion for Time Inc. since it became a stand alone issue in 1997.  The company relies on the income from the swimsuit issue, since it generates 7% of SI's annual revenue.  I haven't been one of those buyers, since I'm not allowed to view this stuff, at least in print.

The "Vivid Memories" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got finished with my English Literature class at Millersville State Teachers College.  The year was 1963 and I was a freshman at the college studying to be an Industrial Arts teacher.  My adviser helped me schedule my classes so I would be done shortly after lunch on most days, as I was today.  I hustled in the Millersville Pike and punched in a little before 1:00 PM for my shift at the Acme Supermarket at the Manor Shopping Center, Lancaster, PA.  Went into the back room, grabbed my white work apron and started stacking boxes of baby food on my cart to go stock the shelves.  Did this a few times a week in order to pay my way through college as well as keep my car on the road and still have some spending money.  The day started as it usually did with the usual costumers stopping to talk as I stacked the jars on the shelves.  Wasn't more than 10 to 15 minutes later that static came through the intercom and the music was interrupted for an announcement.  The President of the United States, John F. Kennedy has been shot today at 12:30 Central Time!  At first I thought if was a joke, but when they continued with the details, I knew it was real.  

A single frame of film shows the instant after he was shot.

 Wow!!  Every- one in the store stood still to listen for more.  One lady who was holding on to a shopping cart for dear life was sobbing into a tissue.  Another guy was just shaking his head.  Then it started to really sink in.  Some just left their carts in the aisles, still full of groceries, and walked out the door.  Others went on as if nothing had happened.  And me …… I really don't remember what I did.  I guess I kept working to help relieve the sorrow I felt at that moment.  The store didn't close, but I do remember we had very few shoppers the rest of the evening.  Gene, the assistant manager who was on duty, came around to all of us and told us to take a break whenever we felt we needed it and if we cared to punchout for the day, he would understand.  He was sure we would have enough help for the few customers he anticipated would be shopping the rest of the evening.  I stayed until closing at 9:00 PM and went home to talk to my mom and dad about what had happened.  We watched the day over again on mom and dad's black and white TV.  Spent many hours over the next few days glued to the TV.  Even saw Ruby shoot Oswald as it happened live.  Do you remember where you where on that fateful day?  I thought it would be interesting to ask more than just my friends and family, so I picked a few web sites and forums and the results follow.  I have just cut and pasted their responses to avoid having to type them and have added their web names with their comments. 

Carol (my wife): I was in my junior year in high school when they announced that the President had been shot.  We were told to go to our homerooms immediately.  Many girls were crying in the halls as I walked to my homeroom.  When we were all in our homerooms they came over the intercom with the news that President Kennedy had been shot and was dead.  Silence fell over the kids in my homeroom.  Shortly after that they announced that school was dismissed for the day. 

Jerry: I was aboard the USS Holder somewhere at sea in the Caribbean.  I just began a tour at sea a week before and about 2 weeks after I got married on November 7.  The ship's intercom made the announcement that the President had been shot and killed.  We immediately went to General Quarters and were put on high alert.  The flags were dropped to half mast. 

Sue: I was at the Lancaster Shopping Center shopping at Kresge's when the news spread via other shoppers.  I thought it must just be a rumor …… but rushed home to the TV.  Spent the remainder of the day between doing the necessary things such as caring for our 9 month old son and watching TV.  Just couldn't believe it.

ncguy: I was in the first grade and the teachers were in the hallway talking about President Kennedy just being shot. I remember watching the funeral on a B&W tv.

GaKaye: I was in my high school (Freshman) English Class. The principal came over the PA system and announced the President had been shot. Schools were immediately closed and we went home. I remember the shock, and watching TV coverage (black and white, of course) for hours on end. We were living in Alexandria, VA at the time, right across the river from DC.

Charlieh: I hope my mind never fades to the point that I can't remember this very memorable event. I was a high school junior at a boarding school. We were all in the school assembly room where we each had a desk and were taking exams. We had formal exams every 2 and 6 weeks and 3 months. School thinking was that after 4 years, we would be prepared for taking exams in college. When the exam period was over that afternoon (we did not have any access to TVs as students), the headmaster appeared on the stage and told us that we were all now going to the chapel to pray for our president, who had just been shot. Stunned, the entire student body then went to a special service in our chapel, which by the way, is the same chapel where I was married in 1969. During the school year we had a few dances, which were a big deal, since this was an all boys school. Surprisingly enough, the school still had the dance on that Saturday night. It was stunning that it was not called off. My parents brought my date for the dance from back home. On the day after the dance, I was in my parents' hotel room and saw the Ruby shooting on that Sunday. Boy oh boy was that a weird time in my life.

madisoncty:  I was in Mrs. Witt's 5th grade class at Macksburg Community School, in the very small town of Macksburg, Iowa. Mrs. Witt was called to the door; she stood there a moment, turned and with tears in her eyes, told our small class. She then broke down sobbing as we all just sat there stunned. I am now as old as dirt but still remember it as if it were yesterday.

kate: I am Canadian....but remember it as if was yesterday....was in grade school....the teacher went out of the classroom & came back & said the President had been killed....it was a Catholic Girl's School & we all got on our knees to pray...know that i think about it maybe the nuns made us pray because he was Irish Catholic...watched then the funeral on the black & white TV....always loved the way Jackie dressed....even as a young girl.

pat: I was in my junior year of high school and had left school early that day for a dental appointment. My Mom and I were driving along the local highway when the announcer broke into the song that was playing on the radio and made the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot and was being rushed to Parkland Hospital. My Mom had to pull the car over to the side of the road and regain her composure and by the time we got to the dental office, they had already come out with the announcment that it was believed the President had died.  Needless to say, the doctor cancelled the appointment and we headed home to glue ourselves to the black and white tv for the next few days. It was an unbelievable time and I truly believe anyone alive who was old enough to know about Camelot and the Kennedys will remember that day just as they will 9/11. There are times in our lives that are unforgetable - my Dad used to speak of the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and then Kennedy's assassination and for me it will be Kennedy's murder and the World Trade Center attack.

marksxm: It's actually one of my first memories. Got off the bus from Kindergarten, age 5, in Bethesda, Maryland, and when I went in my mom & 3 adults (a realtor and a couple looking at our house which was for sale)were sitting on the couch crying. I asked why everyone was crying and my mom said president Kennedy had just been killed. I can still see the fuzzy black & white TV….

TSelma: I was 8 years old. Our teacher was called out of the room by a staff member. She informed us what had happened and we were dismissed for the day. I remember watching the sky in fear as I walked home. I expected it to be filled with atomic missiles heading towards and away from us. I never felt that way again until 9/11. I also remember watching the funeral procession on TV. The band played the same song endlessly as the procession slowly made their way to his final resting place. I think it was "Faith of our Fathers".

jazzgal: I was a Junior in HS but had the day off. My boyfriend and I had driven north to the Seattle area as his sister was being married that afternoon. We were getting ready to leave a relative's house to go to the wedding site when the news came on the TV. The wedding was postponed until the next day as we all watched TV for the rest of that day.

fabila: I was in second grade and remember the news also coming over the PA system that the President had been shot. Our teacher, a nun asked us all to get down on our knees and pray for the President. So we all got down on the side of our desks and said a prayer. Beyond that I have no other recollection of the day.

SXMWendell: I was in my 6th grade classroom. The 5th grade teacher came to the classroom door and motioned for my teacher to come into the hall with him. They both returned to my classroom and my teacher announced President Kennedy has been shot.

libra46: I had only lived in DC a couple of months at the time. I was in class when we were notified "the Pres. had been shot", later it was confirmed he had died. Later that night some friends and I rode around DC, it was like a ghost town, it was as if the entire town had died, so sad.

LONGISLANDSHARON: I was a junior in high school, Riverhead NY. I had been chosen to compete in the All-State Choir and the concert was to be held that weekend. Arthur Fiedler was directing the orchestra. An administrator came into the rehearsal hall and told us the news. As corny as it sounds, we all sang 'Kumbaya'. The whole event was cancelled.

GrahamJ: I was in Grade 9. We were in English class and we were listening to a recording of Edgar Allen Poe's "A Tell Tale Heart". The vice-principal came into the class and stopped the record. (Yes, it was an LP!) He said I have a real life horror story for you and told us the President and the Governor of Texas had been shot. We lived in B.C.(British Columbia) and I believe it was just before noon pacific time. We went for lunch and later learned the President had died. School was dismissed for the afternoon.

marybeth: I was in my 6th grade classroom watching a French lesson on the TV. Mrs Mule, a 7th grade teacher came to the door & beckoned Sister Therese to the hall. Sister came back in the room, changed the channel to a local TV station & told us JFK had been shot. We watched for a few minutes & then the rosary beads came out & we all said the rosary as we were trying to listen to the TV. Then it was announced he had died & the whole school said the rosary using the PA system. I will never forget how I felt that day.

Bill S: I was a Freshman at Syracuse University, and a "townie" or commuter student, living at home 10 minutes from campus. I was in the "commuter students lounge" in the "Womans gym building" and the TV was on while I worked on homework between classes. The local NBC outlet, WSYR, interrupted regular programming and "went to network" to cover the breaking story.  It was also ironic, since I was working my way through college as an FCC licensed Broadcast Engineer at WSYR at the time.

TomR: I was a Military Policeman on patrol in Neu Ulm Germany. My partner and I had just left a notoriously rough and tumble bar after telling all of the soldiers to report immediately back to base. As I sat in our jeep ready to leave, an older man ran out of the bar and up to me. He reached for my shoulder. Thinking that he was going to try to pull me out of the jeep, I reached for my club. Instead of grabbing my lanyard, he put his head on my shoulder and began to cry. It was a moment I will never forget.

Tinman31: Was in Sister Phylis 1st grade class at St. Martin of Tours Grammar school. Catholic and all you saw was the young nun's face crying (the habit covered all features but the face, not even a wisp of hair) and dismissed us. Got off the school bus at the Long Island suburb of Levittown and our parents met us crying also. Parents did not drop off or have to worry about a pick up of young children in 1963 in our town. It was a very safe world up till then. The country I believe has not been the same since, I get the chills watching JFK w/ Kevin Costner. I am also a US Air Force vet. We may never know what happened in our lifetime. Very sad and historical. Crime of the century.

Southshore: I live in Canada and I was 13 at the time, in my first year of high school, in the middle of exams. I had an exam in the morning and came home for lunch with a few friends planning to study together that afternoon for the exam the next morning. My Mom made lunch for us all and as we sat around the table, my Dad, who worked for newspaper, phoned from work, told us to turn on the TV.  I remember we all sat staring at the TV, then looked at each other and started to cry. My Mom brought in dessert for everyone - mint-chocolate pudding. I couldn't eat it that day and I have never been able to stomach that combination since. Silly and unimportant in the grand scheme of things but I still associate the two.

Barbara: I had just graduated from college and had moved to NYC in June. I remember all of it like it was yesterday. I was working as a social worker in a foster care agency. I was in the basement organizing Christmas gifts for all the foster children. Someone came to tell me the news. I remember riding home on the subway surrounded by people with stunned faces and people crying all around me.  I remember that night my parents were coming from PA to visit me and I had to meet them at Port Authority. I remember seeing crying people all over the terminal, including me.....just standing there in the middle of Port Authority, unable to stop the tears. I remember all the days that followed too. It was a nightmare I will never forget.

bettenan: I was in 7th grade (I was 12 years old) and had walked home from Jr High with my best friend, Franny Roth. When we got to her house her mother (was crying) and told us what happened and told me to run home. I remembered running the few blocks to my house and my parents who worked for the government (together) were pulling up in front of the house. They had been dismissed early. I can still remember my parent crying. Franny and I are still friends and still talk about the day. Like others that day is etched forever in my mind.

Cincinnati Kid: This event occured my junior year at Middletown High School. During history class, Berman Litton, my teacher, was called to the hallway. He returned to the class upset and told us that President Kennedy had been shot. Class ended with prayers for the President. During the campaign both Nixon and Kennedy had passed by our school in open convertibles and most of us had seen both in person. It reminded me of the moment we first heard that Marilyn Monroe had died.

lobstaroll123: I was in sixth grade at Washington Street School, Springfield, MA. It was almost time to dismiss and as sixth graders were got to patrol the halls and staircases. As I stood at my post, a swarm of kids descended the stairwells screaming that the President had been shot and killed. I didn't know what to think or where to turn when I spotted my mom on the playground, in tears, ready to pick up my brother and me. We spent the following days glued to the television, though I didn't see Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald live on television. My dad, a construction laborer, who hardly ever had a day off from the job, had the day of the funeral off and we were again glued to the television. Being from Massachusetts and spending time in RI, the sadness of the beautiful Newport wedding and Hyannis port compound resonated and still does today Thanks for asking.

hottubdiva: I was almost 8 years old. My dad was career Army and we were stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. When word was received on base that the President had been shot the base was shut down, all leaves were cancelled, and we went on high alert. Bear in mind that tensions were high already in Germany because of the Berlin Wall. For 30 nights we had a 21-gun salute with canons as the base flag was lowered. You could hear the canons all over the base.

sumbeach: Looks like I'm a bit late on this. Another 11th grader - in drafting class in El Paso. Vice Principal Quizenberry came to our class and told what happened. He had totally broken down and was barely coherent. I remember they closed the border, I think for at least a week.

jrr1148: I was a freshman in High School. I remember we were either off that day or had a half day, since I was at home in my room. My Grandmother, an avid soap opera fan, had been watching "As the World Turns" when the bulletin occurred. She notified the entire household and we huddled around the tv for the next four days. 

CanadianAllan: Kennedy was a big deal in our home in Southern Ontario in Canada because he was the first Catholic President and we were only an hour from the border. 8th Grade and our Principal, a Nun came on the Classroom intercom and simply said that "Mr. Kennedy had been shot". We all immediately looked at Colleen Kennedy a classmate who went shock white. It is true, funny what you remember, though it was certainly not funny and our TV remained on, Dawn to Test Pattern. I recall on witnessing Oswald get shot, that my Stepfather exclaimed "Good, he deserved it" That Funeral Procession still waters my eyes to this day.

DnCnVA: Well, that was my 12th birthday, and before heading off to school, my parents had given me a birthday present: a model kit of PT-109. At school that morning, my teacher gave us an assignment to write a practice "business letter" to someone. So, I wrote a letter to President Kennedy telling him about receiving the model for my birthday present. That afternoon, at a school assembly in the cafeteria, the student "officers" were seated in front. About 1:30, our principal approached the stage and announced the terrible news to us...in my innocent ignorance, I thought someone had shot our student president ! After school was immediately dismissed, my brother and I walked home. Our mom had been baking a birthday cake, hadn't heard the news, and asked what we were doing home early...she didn't stop crying all weekend. We lived in Northern Virginia, so after my dad got home, we drove to the White House and joined a small crowd of people standing outside the fence...I wasn't sure why but it seemed the right thing to do. My memory of the rest of the weekend is a blur of my parents being glued to the TV and my mother crying...I'll never forget it.

After the last comment I thought it was time to publish my story.  As you can see the response has been tremendous.  Many wished to share their vivid memories of the assassination and the days that followed.  Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry and although I only used about half of the responses, you can see that the poster's nationality, religion, or sex had no bearing on the tremendous loss the United States suffered November 22, 1963, 50 years ago today. May that never happen again!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.