Some farewells are harder than others, and this one is one of them.
Today I have to say goodbye to my dear friend and 36th Engineer, Tom Nokes. I received this, this morning...
Today we lost one of our best. Tom Nokes was not just a nice person, he was an outstanding citizen, a great friend. I first met him in Fort Knox at a 19th Engineer celebration. His son Bob joined us in the past and hopefully will do so again. AS our numbers get fewer each loss is more painful. May he rest in peace.
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
Ah, cried when I read this. Thinking of all the good times spent with Tom. Can't believe he is gone. Thought of the last time we were together. Tom handed me an envelope and said, read this when you go back to your room tonight. When I opened it, a card with the most beautiful words were within, along with a verse from Danny Boy, which is rarely heard.
I read that card to my husband, his brother and his wife a short while ago, and everyone at the table got all choked up. I shall treasure that card forever, along with all the good times we had, including the trip to Fort Hood.
Will love ya forever Tom. You're missed more than you will know.
Jon Zappitello, 36th Engineer, told me about this event at last year's reunion. I showed this to Lee and he said, let's make it happen, so Conneaut, Ohio, here we come!
This year's event takes place on August 17 and 18, 2012
D-Day Conneaut is fast becoming America's premier living history event by being the most realistic and educational annual D-Day reenactment of June 6th, 1944.
Since 1999, this annual recreation of the amphibious Allied landings upon the beaches of Normandy, France, has thrilled thousands of spectators. The event occurs within the beautifully kept grounds of Conneaut Township Park, Conneaut, Ohio, and assembles hundreds of re-enactors from across the United States and Canada. Remarkably, the 250 yard long beach and sloping adjacent terrain closely resemble Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
Admiral W. Lewis Glenn, Jr., the youngest Commanding Officer of the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62), died on May 15, 2012 while surrounded by his family at the Carriage Club Nursing Home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 71.
Admiral Glenn will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
An obituary is planned for the 1 July 2012 issue of The Jerseyman.
My friend Andy Van Der Plaats, sent this to me and I wanted to share it with all of you. Awesome!
Here's info from their Bio page:
The Honeybee Trio was formed in October 2008. Its three young singers, Sarah, Natalie, and Karli were only 12 and 13 at the time. They were all aware of each other's vocal abilities: two of the girls had performed duets together, they had all performed in local talent shows, and they had all been members of the same musical theater groups. They had even discussed the possibility of doing a trio, but it wasn't until their artistic director, Debi McMindes, came along that this idea became a reality. Debi asked the three to work together for a special performance at a local retirement community. Though there were originally no plans beyond that one performance, it was clear that their combined talents produced something very special. And so, The Honeybee Trio was born. The girls sing classics from the 1930s and beyond in tight, three part harmony, with an emphasis on the 1930s and 40s swing era. In the three years since their journey began, they have performed hundreds of times to enthusiastic audiences throughout California.
Because of the nature of the songs in their repertoire, active military and veterans groups often request the girls to perform. They have formed a close association with Travis Air Force Base where they have appeared several times: the Base Commander's retirement party, a "Welcome Home Warriors" event, the "Skies Over Solano" airshow, and a VIP reception for General Raymond Johns (Commander, Air Mobility Command). In addition, they have had the honor of meeting the First Lady and performing for Admiral Papp (Commandant of the Coast Guard) during commissioning of the USCGC Stratton. They have also had the privilege to entertain the public on the historic USS Hornet three times.
The trio also organized and performed at a fundraiser which directly benefited the Travis Fisher House and the Travis AFB USO. This event raised over $6500 to help these important organizations assist our military members and their families.
These girls feel a very strong tie to their community, and have also participated in other fundraisers and civic events. They have performed for the past two years at the Festival of Trees Gala to help raise funds for Opportunity House (an important local organization that houses women and children at risk), twice participated in the national Victory Over Cancer celebration, and entertained the crowd at the Vacaville Relay For Life.
In addition to these experiences, the girls have twice graced the stage at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater to front Grant Pyle's Moonlight Swing Big Band, completed a holiday tour with the Air Force Band of the Golden West, and appeared with the California Pops Orchestra in a special tribute to the Big Band era. They had the thrilling experience of performing in front of a crowd of 25,000 at their town's tree lighting ceremony, and have entertained at the famous Jackson Rancheria Resort and Casino, sang and danced at San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders games, and performed the national anthem to open a San Jose Giants championship baseball game. They have also headlined at several local venues to sold-out crowds.
As their reputation has grown, so has the list of publications in which they have appeared. These include The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Jose Mercury News, The (Vacaville) Reporter, The (Fairfield) Daily Republic, The Dixon Tribune, Vacaville Magazine, Emma Close To Home magazine, Northbay Healthcare Wellspring magazine, Vacaville Around Town, and The Monthly Grapevine. They have also performed on Vacaville's own radio station (KUIC), and have appeared live on Good Day Sacramento, and Sacramento & Company.
They earned 1st place in the 2009 Fiesta Days Talent Competition and received the Artistic Achievement Award from the Vacaville Arts Advisory Committee and the City of Vacaville. Recently, they were given the Volunteer Appreciation Award from the Travis AFB Fisher House and the 2011 Vacaville Performing Artists' Award by the Vaca Arts Council.
