Coming Home Can Be Hard

Soldiers never expect to come home in a casket
That’s draped with our country’s flag.
They would much rather step foot on this hallowed
Ground minus the escort and toe tag

They’d much rather see loved ones celebrating
And waving and cheering and crying
To see them alive and well and standing tall
Than shipped home in a box after dying.

Soldiers only have so much to give of themselves
The most important thing being their lives
A gift, while precious, is somehow best understood
By all the parents and children and wives.

So the price is paid many times over it seems
Whenever a casket arrives in their place
And their heart beats no more for what life brings
Nor the anticipation of a families embrace

A folded flag, some pictures and fading memories
Become the legacy of most who are lost
They are poor, poor substitutes for life and living
And the price paid is way too high a cost

It’s right that we celebrate with those who survive
And whose courage helps to keep us free
But we must never forget, we must never forget
Lives sacrificed in their personal Calvary.

Kenneth Hutchins, October 2012

A Magical Moment

Optimist Opportunities

Hunter won 3rd place in the Optimist Essay Contest (and a nice $100 for his efforts) but I've misplaced his essay!

Porter won 2nd place in the Optimist Oratorical Contest, with a $150 bonus. I never got his picture, but this was his speech:

"This speech is on how my optimism helps me overcome obstacles. Starting in February and ending in May was my school's track season. The event that is the cause of why I participate in track is pole vaulting. Pole vaulting can be viewed as many things but in this case, to me pole vaulting is like trials that must be overcome by using optimism. In this particular example, the pole vaulting pole would represent optimism, and the trial would be the bar. My father once told me that if you took the bar down, and then jumped, you would most likely get over it, because you have no fear of hitting the bar. If we viewed life this way, we would overcome our trials easier than we do now. Also relating to pole vaulting, two more pieces of equipment can be pulled into the equation. The pit, or mat, which you land on after your jump, can be compared to a support system, family, community, or religious congregation that catches you when you fall.  When my eight year old cousin died, having my foundation of religious beliefs, and my support of family, enabled me to overcome this difficult time in my life. The box, where you plan the pole, before your jump, can be compared to a foundation, one upon which everything else is built.

I recently read a book by Lemony Snickett entitled "The Miserable Mill." This book was the fourth in a series about three orphans who have a life in which everything that can go wrong, does. This book had the three children being forced to work at a lumber mill. Their stay was made more pleasant by an optimist, or as the book calls him, a zealot. Instead of seeing everything that could go wrong, he saw the best in everything that could go right.

In the past month I have embarked on my eagle scout project for the Boy Scouts of America. The project requires many tedious and trying tasks which I probably would not wish to endure without optimism. The project continues through help from family and friends, who refuse to believe that something is impossible. As I now enter the third week of working on this project, not once have I ever heard another member of the volunteers for my project complain. Their example and willingness helps me to continue to be optimistic that I will finish my project and it will be successful.

Throughout history men have remained both optimistic and pessimistic. One example of optimism, beginning just a few hours northwest of this area, is the story in the fight for flight. The Wright brothers, working together and supporting each other in their endeavor to fly, remaining optimistic, won the race. These men of history will always be remembered for the strength of belief and foundation of brotherhood, succeeding where others were unable. Remaining optimistic can help you as it has helped me overcome obstacles by giving you the extra boost you may need to succeed."

Memorial Day

We're on the way to a parade...hooray!

Today's a very patriotic day!

This is our choice of hat, we say!

Ironton, Ohio has had the longest running Memorial Day Parade in the country, this year marking the 144th consecutive year...a quintessential main street.

One of the local Shriner clubs, Hillbilly version

We also stopped at Greenup County Memorial Park to pay our respects, and remember.

Miller will most likely remember the helicopter or tank, and the ice cream and lemonade, and hopefully the feeling of gratitude for those who have made his comfortable life possible.

Cooper's Easter Talk

( Pretty pink princess plum pooped from parading!)

"Yesterday I watched a video called "The Lamb of God." This movie showed the suffering Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane. It showed Jesus suffering on the cross and dying. Jesus sacrificed his life for all of us. I appreciate this gift he gave us. We can live again, like Jesus if we choose the right. I'm thankful life doesn't stop when we die. I'm thankful we can think about this today on Easter Sunday."

A Patriotic Thought for President's Day by Tanner

On December 19, 1777 the Continental Army filed dejectedly into the encampment known as Valley Forge. Among the nearly twelve-thousand men was my 6th Great Grandfather John Glass, a non-commissioned officer. As a member of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment he had voluntarily enlisted as soon as the war broke out and already had fought in the Siege of Boston, in defense of Canada, the battle of Lake Champlain, Trenton and Princeton and Saratoga. They were tired, hungry and fatigued to the point of uselessness. Of the 459 men assigned to the 2nd Massachusetts when they entered Valley Forge only 297 were considered fit for duty.

From December of 1777 to June of 1778 my Grandfather endured the sickness that raged throughout the camp and the cold. The conditions were described by Continental Congress member Gouverneur Morris as “An army of skeletons appear[ing] before our eyes naked, starved, sick and discouraged.” Such was the plight of my grandfather and the entire Continental Army; one which John Glass and many others had volunteered willingly to endure because the goal in sight, freedom, was much too sweet to abandon.

It was in the same spirit that John’s grandson, Rufus Porter Glass voluntarily enlisted in the Army of the Potomac to preserve the union, where he fought in Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg before enduring even more horrendous conditions than those at Valley Forge while imprisoned at Andersonville. And it is the same selflessness that drew me to the Boy Scouts of America. I cannot claim to have endured any hardship, but I can claim to have given myself over to the improving of my community and my family through volunteering my time; often over five hours a week. On June 9, 1778 Washington and his army left Valley Forge, took Philadelphia and caused the British to retreat at the battle of Monmouth. With renewed vigor they had emerged from their trial a new army, still in pursuit of Independence and Self-Rule for their Nation.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest

Hunter:

Congratulations on receiving second place for your essay “Creating Our Own Beloved Community” in the inaugural Ohio University Southern Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest. Thank you for taking the time to research and write such a powerful essay. We are extremely proud of this year’s entries.

I would like to invite you to be recognized for your achievement at the OUS Community Celebration of Dr. King. At that time you will be presented with an award given by Dr. Bill Willan, Dean of OUS...

Creating Our Own Beloved Community

As a nation and a community, we are preparing to again honor a man who gave his life to his cause. Since Martin Luther King, Jr. sealed his work with his blood, much has been done to improve society as a whole. Yet, if King were here today, I believe he would know that the work is far from over.
From the beginning of civilization to now, people have dreamed and attempted to create their perfect community. We have heard the legend of Atlantis and El Dorado. However, there are many more. Since the book Utopia was published in 1516, it has given rise to thousands of dream residencies. Bacon published New Atlantis and Novum Organum as a portfolio of some of his ideas and predications. Voltaire had his character Candide visit a utopian place in the famous novel of the same name. From Tony Garnier’s and Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Cities of Europe, to Bruno Taut’s Chrystal City, the pinnacle of their dreams is still evolving.

When King was born on January 15th, 1929, the world did not know the impact he would leave. He also had a dream. His vision was of his “Beloved Community,” a place where justice and mercy is omnipotent. Unlike El Dorado, Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to shift the emphasis away from wealth, and away from an unachievable society of super geniuses, unlike Bacon and his New Atlantis. King knew what is important. Wealth is not. Power is not. Instead, King dreamed of a community where justice is most important: Where every man is treated fairly, and not judged with bias because of his race, religion, or possessions. Every man would be born with the same rights. As Jefferson had discovered earlier, “among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

It is my personal belief that with the reversal of three common aspects of life we see today we can create Dr. King’s dream - “a Beloved Community” in 2011. The three aspects I write of are choosing ignorance, having no ambition, and lowering standards. These three are infinitely intertwined. If as a community we turn around and cultivate our weaknesses into strengths, we will achieve a beloved community and become a people of wisdom, ambition, and value. First, by ridding ourselves of ignorance, we learn to place ideas over material possessions and power. With ideas and ambition we can transform any crime ridden, impoverished place into a piece of heaven. Schools have the job of fully educating children, the leaders of tomorrow, not just stuffing heads with facts. A college education can open new doors. Mostly we need to have the ambition and passion to enlighten ourselves and not fall prey to racism or other growth stunting beliefs. We should always seek to learn. Education does not end after graduation. Reverend King furthered his belief by regularly reading the Bible. We can easily do the same. History has proven that only educated nations survive. As Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” He is right. With knowledge we have the ability to rid ourselves of injustice. Also, the experience of simply living life cannot be overvalued.

Second, with ambition anything is possible. As Niccolo Machiavelli said, “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be greater.” The world cannot wait for people like King to come along. It is up to us, the commoner to change the world. Each and every person must find a personal desire to elevate themselves and their surroundings. We must desire to create our beloved community, to know it is possible and continue to work toward that goal. King was repeatedly threatened and jailed. He was stoned and stabbed. He probably knew he would die. However, he also knew he had the ability to change the world. He knew he could elevate a whole nation above social justice and free America from the bonds of racism. Now it is our turn to carry on his work and promote freedom. Let us knock down the walls of wrong and build up the right, creating our beloved community.

Third, by promoting and honoring higher standards and values, we can move on toward our beloved community in 2011. King condemned violence. It was not necessary to prove his point. He changed the world peacefully and became a symbol for peaceful change, especially after his death. Anybody can teach others these values. It can come from parents, other relatives, a sports coach or perhaps a teacher. What is important is that values are being taught. King believed in the Golden Rule of treating others like you would like to be treated. He always acted with kindness and care, as we should do as well. If so, we can create our beloved community, a loving community. When we serve with no expectation of remuneration, and practice justice and equality, we are coming closer. Any barrier can be knocked down with love.

In conclusion, we can create our own beloved community and continue to spread it to the rest of America. By adhering to these three aspects of life, wisdom, ambition, and values, we can become a beloved community, a place where justice is everywhere and injustice cannot be found.