Debbie,I am so sorry about that. I actually got that picture from your FB pictures. This particular picture was, I think, labeled with your name. Sometimes the labeling doesn’t always get placed right on pictures though.
Gary
Happy Birthday to Bernadette StokesFrom Lois Tweten: Helena, MTBERNADETTE….Have a wonderful birthday!! You always look so lovely on your posted pictures!!I too, always stop at Dale’s of Dunseith when back in ND. Several years ago I stopped there and then met Bev Azure at her shop when she got me signed up on this blog! Then the last time I took my Aunt Tweten Eleanor, from Rolette, and went to the Peace Garden. Then of course to Dale’s. Food was so great and staff was so very friendly and gracious!!Lois TwetenLois,Bernadette says thank you. She said she most certainly had a wonderful birthday.GaryReply to Bill Fassett’s posts yesterdayFrom Dick Johnson (’68): Dunseith, NDGary and Friends, Bill Fassett’s entry in his diary on December 7, 1941 is
something he considered of great importance. At least that’s how I see
it by the way he wrote it across the page and then entered, ‘We will be
laid off soon.’ He knew that this was going to be a major life changer
for most of the people his age. My own personal interest in history has
made me understand just how much everything changed for the entire world
when war was declared that day. President Roosevelt gave a speech before
Congress the next day and his opening statement is one I will never
forget. He said, “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 is a date which will
live in infamy.” He also knew just how big and brutal the next few
years would likely become. The public wasn’t interested in getting
involved in the war after the tremendous losses we suffered in the First
World War just 20 years before. The guys were eager to sign up for the
war effort in the First World War as they thought it was going to be
just a gallant romantic mop up of Europe and come back as heroes. It
turned into a stalemate in the trenches with conditions that were beyond
comprehension. In many cases it was impossible to even remove the dead
from the trenches and they just became part of the bottom of the
trench. According to Carroll Carlson and others who served in WW II,�
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was the deciding factor that changed
the attitude of not wanting to be involved in a war between other
countries. My father-in-law said he was of the same thought, don’t get
involved with ‘their’ war. After he heard about the Jap attack on Pearl
Harbor, he went to Minot to enlist and had to stand in line on the
sidewalk to sign up. There is no lack of patriots when our country is
actually threatened. I’m fortunate to have known some of these folks
and to understand their view of the concept of war and patriotism. They
earned their right to their opinion. I do get tired of hearing opinions
of others who haven’t ‘been in the trenches’ but still feel they are
completely informed and entitled to their opinion. Dad used to say that
the good part of our system is that everyone is entitled to an opinion,
but the bad part is that he doesn’t have to know anything about the
issue and still can have his opinion. It’s still the best system and
needs to be protected. Sermon over. Thanks Gary!Dick
Linda Johnson Juntunen (’72) installed as the ND American Legion Auxiliary Department President.Posting from the North Dakota Department American Legion AuxiliaryCongratualions Linda.We wish you well. With your excellent leadership abilities, you will be an excellent leader in the roll as president.GaryWho: North Dakota Department American Legion Auxiliary
What: Installation of 2012-2012 Department Officers
Where: Jamestown, ND
When: June 24, 2012
Why: to pass on leadership roles in promoting programs and activities dedicated to the aims and purposes of the American Legion.
On Sunday, June 24, 2012, nearly 200 members of the American Legion Auxiliary witnessed the installation of Linda J. Juntunen, Fred C. Wagner Unit #235, of Rolla, as the North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary Department President. Juntunen will serve as President of the Auxiliary for one year.
Others attending included several members of the American Legion, the Sons of the American Legion and the Junior Auxiliary.
The installation culminated the 92nd annual North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary Department Convention held at the Jamestown Civic Center. The group met in conjunction with the North Dakota American Legion Department Convention. The conventions began Thursday, June 21, 2012 and concluding events were their respective installation programs
Juntunen has been an active member of her local Unit for 21 years. She has served as Unit President as well as several other offices within that Unit. She also served as the District #3 President, Vice President and Secretary. This consists of about 15 Units in nearby towns.
While serving in these offices, Juntunen has developed and led many fundraising events. She has also instigated the development and implementation of programs and activities to serve the needs of the Veterans in her community and district.
Juntunen has held several Department level chairmanships and has just completed a year as Department Membership chairman. She was elected Department Vice President in June 2010. Juntunen was then elected Department President elect in June 2011.
Juntunen said, “I am humbled and honored by the trust that the members of this great organization have placed in me.” She wants everyone to know that she encourages everyone to express her “two cents” in the operations of the Auxiliary.
“Pennies for Projects for Vets” is Juntunen’s theme for the year of service. She has designed a thematic can cover and it will be available on North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary website (www.legion-aux.org). There are two sizes available for printing and the covered container may then be placed at a convenient site where people may fill them with monies.
“Pennies” donated will help Juntunen met her lofty goal of one million pennies collected. She will be dividing the funds equally between four projects, Gladys Ray Shelter in Fargo, Lisbon Veterans Home, Girls State and VAMC Healing Gardens project—in conjunction with Commander Dave Rice.
Juntunen chose the penny as her symbol as it is a symbol of good luck and of patient industry. One penny does not go far but when everyone pitches in their pennies, great strides can be made.
Charlotte Lassonde, Fred C. Wagner Unit #235 served as the Installing Officer. American Legion Auxiliary Past National Chaplain Beverly Wolff, Beach, ND, executed chaplain duties. Juntunen’s daughter, Monica Hanlan, Fred C. Wagner Unit #235, Rolla, was the Sergeant-at-arms. The President’s pages, also members of Fred C. Wagner Unit #235 were her granddaughters, Kiera Hegreberg, Elizabeth and Abigail Russell.
Fred C. Wagner Post #235 color guard presented the American flag as well as the flags of Juntunen’s home Unit. The Honor Guard was composed of pages from the ten Districts in the North Dakota Department.
The outgoing North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary Department President Betty Malkowski was presented with her Past Department President pin and ribbon. These had special significance to Malkowski as they were presented by her close friend Beverly Wolff and were the ones Wolff had been presented at the close of her year as Department President.
Juntunen also presented and introduced her family.
Closing remarks and a recessional concluded the event.
June 28th, Bernadette’s Birthday party – Ching Palace, Cebu PhilippineA good time for all at Bernadette’s Birthday party with 35 folks last night. We had a private room all to our selves too.GaryAs we were leaving for the partyBernadette with our two helpers – Sisters – Tata and Gaga
Inseparable very close friends – Lorna and RosePS – Rose is leaving Monday for the States. She will beattending her college reunion in Chicago before joiningArt Hagen in Bottineau. She graduated from MindanaoState University here in the Philippines with a math degreeThey are having a reunion in Chicago next week.
‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?’
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’
Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first!
Run to first!’
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team..
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third!
Shay, run to third!’
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.
Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.
Life is so grand!