11 22 and 9 11 Numbers Not to be Forgotten

Dates I will always remember. On November 22, 1963 I was returning from recess at Fort Totten to our classroom at Eleanor Marshall School when a distraught lady pulled her car to the curb. Our teacher went to her car to check on her. When she returned she explained that the President had been shot. We were living in a fearful time. We had drills to practice diving under our desk in case of nuclear attacks. The news was full of riots and demonstrations about issues that we were perhaps too young to understand. Multiple leaders were assassinated. Our society went through very dynamic changes. Eventually as time progressed things seem to improve.

Fast forward to September 11, 2001. While having my morning coffee a report came across the screen that one of the Towers at the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. I left home to go to the Tent River Coffee Company to join the discussion at the table where all of the worlds woes were solved. Soon after my arrival the second Tower was struck. We watched and listened as it became apparent that our country was under attack. Rage, fear and confusion were experienced that day. The country's psyche would never be quite the same. I had not been born when Pearl Harbor was attacked but I imagine the feelings were much the same.

America will not forget the heroes of that day. People who ran toward the flames and destruction to protect others. Since that time two million young Americans have seen combat to make us safer and to improve the lives of those living under oppressive regimes. The America in which I live is still a wonderful place to live and I will always be grateful to those who have made it possible.

Gary Barker
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Don't fly a dead bear!

I hang out with a bunch of guys who know how to properly display a flag. We have a Master Gunnery Sergeant, Master Chief Petty Officer, a couple of Sergent Majors, and a Chief Master Sergeant. If you display "Old Glory" improperly you will definitely hear about it. Any one of those guys are likely to pull out a "Flag Manual" out of his back pocket. Some of these guys have flown on Marine One or served as crew chief on Fat Albert with the Blue Angels.  You can't find a more patriotic group.

I am not sure that anyone has taken that zeal and applied to our City flags. I am not sure there is a manual for the red, yellow and black. My wife dislikes the display when the Bear is lying on his back. I think it shows the Bear in distress. I told her that I would blog about it if she would take some photos. I hope others will join our crusade to keep our Bear climbing upward and onward. Please forward this blog to folks that have pride in our City.

Proper Display

Dead Bear Display

Proper Bear on a Banner

Fly the Bear. Keep him travelling upward and onward. Please no dead Bears.

My Favorite Super Bowl Moment

I joined my friends in the lounge at our local Elk's Lodge to watch the game. We had a great assortment of game food. Our lodge is made up of locals and retirees. Quite often a majority of those present are vets. We have an unusual number of guys that have served the US Military and reached the highest enlisted ranks.

I often wonder what is going to be the highlight of the night. A multimillion dollar commercial or an extraordinary athletic feat. My greatest moment came early. During the National Anthem the screen showed a group of our troops standing at attention in a tent in Afghanistan.

As I write this I am having trouble seeing the screen. The thought of our troops standing during a televised National Anthem in a tent in a war zone has had a profound effect on me. When the image above flashed on the big screens at the game the crowd erupted. This was my favorite moment.

Much has been made of our nation's "greatest generation". My father was a member of that group being a decorated veteran of WWII and Korea. That group truly saved the world from a looming darkness.The guys that responded to the threats of WWII had a clear vision of what was at risk and believed that our nations survival was at risk. We had been attacked.  I am very appreciative of the groups that served in the Korean and Viet Nam wars. During the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts many young Americans were drafted. Their service was no less heroic.

Our current group of service men and women are all volunteers. They have chosen to serve when the threat to the homeland is more difficult to discern. In my business of selling real estate I have been privileged to serve many of these young people. I have been stunned by their sacrifices. Many have served multiple combat tours. Considering that we have been sending our young people to the Middle East since Desert Shield in 1990. Afghanistan saw our troops arrive in 2001. We invaded Iraq the second time in 2003. Our young people still pull tours in Japan, Korea and Germany. I have concluded that the current generation is "One Great Generation"

Their standing at attention for a televised National Anthem preceding the Super Bowl is an image that will stay with me. Their deep display of patriotism has become my favorite Superbowl memory of all time.