Washingtonians

[Ogress]

Quote:

Oh I wish I was there with a Pina Colada lounging by your pool!!!!!!!!

At least it is nice & warm in the pool room!!!

But ya would have been even wetter because Olivia was in there splashing around. There is no where to escape the splash in there so either you join in or get out! I think I may find me one of those lounging pool floats with the drink holder, tie it to the current generator (since the float is nearly as big as the pool), turn the current on, maybe hang a couple of the chicken heat lamps above the pool so it feels like there is some sun!

 

[Kaneke]

Quote:
ok -- my dad was radio officer in the AAF in WWII --- made sure all the navigation facilities and radios worked the way they were supposed to, wound up in CAA, later FAA, afterwards; my grandmother was a Coast Watcher on the Oregon coast, spent many cold wet days on Cape Perpetua (my granddad was a Spanish American War veteran); my uncle Ken was infantry in Italy, came home with shrapnel in lung but farmed his heart out anyway afterwards; late husband volunteered for Korea along with his dad (who had been beachmaster all over the S Pacific in WWII) -- but they assigned them to machinist and then engineering school in Bremerton !

both sons volunteered for the Air Force, both were turned down on medical grounds

I have an unusual family name indeterminate as to sex (but very similar to Scandinavian male name); sheriff showed up on our doorstep to arrest me for failing to register for the draft since my birthday was assigned a very low lottery number; did NOT want to believe I was female, then asked for my twin brother (when partial undressing revealed gender) --- had to explain I was the only surviving child, my fraternal twin SISTER having died before birth, my younger brother stillborn

DH was in the reserves ... disqualified for active duty because of nearsightedness and narrow feet !

 

[Greg Richardson]

I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's. Sneaking a look at my watch I saw the time - 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever - the heat and humidity at the same level - both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive - a '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace. An old woman got out so slowly I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers - about four or five bunches as best I could tell.

I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's gonna spend an hour, and for this old Marine, my hip hurts and I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.

Kevin would lock the In gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.

I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in Marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

"Ma'am, may I assist you in any way?"

She took long enough to answer.

"Yes, son. Can you please carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days."

"My pleasure, ma'am." Well, it wasn't TOO much of a lie.

She looked again. "Marine, where were you stationed?"

"Vietnam, ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71."

She looked at me closer. "Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can."

I lied a little bigger: "No hurry, ma'am."

She smiled and winked at me. "Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time."

"Yes, ma 'am. At your service."

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.

She paused for a second. "Two more, son, and we'll be done."

I almost didn't say anything, but, "Yes, ma'am. Take your time."

She looked confused. "Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way."

I pointed with my chin. "That way, ma'am."

"Oh!", she chuckled quietly. "Son, me and old age ain't too friendly."

She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.

"OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home."

"Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?"

She paused. "Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action. All Marines."

She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.

"Get to the Out gate quick! I have something I've got to do."

Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

"Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead." I humped it across the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: "TehenHut! Present haaaarms!"

I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye - full dress attention and a salute that would make his Drill Instructor proud.

She drove through that gate with two old, worn-out Marines giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.

I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.

 

[RustyHen]

Hi Washingtonians,
I live near Hermiston OR right below Kenniwick, Pasco , Richaland area and I was wondering if anyone wanted Cochin bantam cockrels,
5 1/2 weeks. I hatched these little ones from ebayed eggs from Maryland.
1 birchen, 1 silverlaced, 1 red, possible buff also.
just need new home. there has not been any chickens on this property, and we are just building our coop and runs . They have been on medicated feed, boiled egg and greens- kale and spinach form our own garden.
just email or pm me if you know of anyone please.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Lump in my throat and a tear down my cheek. Thank you for that on this Memorial Day. And thank you to enrolled service men and women, veterans alive and departed, and all who have given their All for our country and our freedom...today we remember You.

 

[RustyHen]

Quote:

James Lee Burke?

 

[BarnChick]

So, went home for the weekend and built me a small chicken coop out of an old swing frame. Not a swing set, but a bench type. So here is the almost finished project. Just need to add the roof shingles to the sides to keep the rain out. And then a door to access the nesting boxes. Worked out pretty good I think. The coop is in a 16x16 pen for now.
the arrow shows here where the little chicken door is.

here is the pen

 

[TouchO'Lass]

Quote:

Well done, Devil Dog. Well done.
HMC O' sends...

 

[BarnChick]

this is what I originally started with, but it got to be way too much to finish in the time I had. Maybe next time.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
So true......but mostly this is one contractor who has hired alot of sub contracting, which is the way of the world now, too.
That way the contractor does not have to buy all the equipment & keep so many guys on his payroll.
The trick that is going on now, is each "group" of subcontractors has to be brought over with the main contractor and shown the project & introduced to us.
I hate my privacy invaded by so many strangers....