tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575545326295672692024-03-13T05:21:29.971-07:00Central Virginia JournalCommentary, Poems, Photos, and Articles
Cover Photo by Mark R. DayMark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-75103664560895808162021-11-02T10:19:00.004-07:002021-11-02T10:21:13.280-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQMT0-fJM-0/YYFx8BmxZJI/AAAAAAAADbs/PQrVla4O9kgceumwcE4WYDy7EVhjfINgACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Peaks%2Bof%2BOtter%2B27%2BOctober%2B21%2B-%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQMT0-fJM-0/YYFx8BmxZJI/AAAAAAAADbs/PQrVla4O9kgceumwcE4WYDy7EVhjfINgACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Peaks%2Bof%2BOtter%2B27%2BOctober%2B21%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oncoming Twilight </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4MOXnQrpaw/YYFyT-0d-FI/AAAAAAAADb0/xKmUzWhmjegKipHTBMd3unlk64oRRGWhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Peaks%2Bof%2BOtter%2B27%2BOctober%2B21%2B-%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4MOXnQrpaw/YYFyT-0d-FI/AAAAAAAADb0/xKmUzWhmjegKipHTBMd3unlk64oRRGWhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Peaks%2Bof%2BOtter%2B27%2BOctober%2B21%2B-%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blissful Retirement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos by Mark R. Day 27October21</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Copyright by Mark R. Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all rights reserved</div><br /> <p></p>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-8560487731995509122021-11-02T09:53:00.006-07:002021-11-02T09:56:46.607-07:00Short Comments at Dedication of 12th West Virginia Marker at Kernstown Battlefield Park 10/30/21<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Distinguished guest and friends<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">This afternoon we have gathered to
pay homage and respect to the men of the 12<sup>th</sup> West Virginia Infantry
Regiment who fought upon these fields. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Pause)
Fittingly, I would like to talk about one of those men, 2<sup>nd</sup> Lt.
James R. Durham of Company E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
fighting of June 13-15 1863 he was placed in charge of the skirmishers at the wall
and led his men in an advance that entered the Rebel lines. In his own account
of the battle he says, “turning to my boys and shouting “Goodbye” and “Come on”,
I was the first over the wall and as we advanced forward about 30 yards, I was
struck in the right hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning I saw
that six or seven of my men had been killed or wounded and that the main line
of Battle had advanced to the wall and no further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Ordered my men back taking our wounded with
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon regaining our own lines, I
found that my right hand and forearm were severely shattered and reported to
the hospital.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of his wounds
Lt. Durham was unable to report to his regiment for duty the next six months.
His actions that day earned him the Medal of Honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">That is only one example of the
courage and dedication exemplified by the men of the 12<sup>th</sup> West
Virginia over the course of three years’ service in the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, the record of the 12<sup>th</sup> in
the Fields around Kernstown, Winchester, and the Shenandoah Valley is filled
with stories of sacrifice and bravery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
valiant unit saw continues action participating in significant battles in the
latter years of the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1864 they
were involved at the Battle of New Market and still later were a part of Major
general David Hunters Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley and the attempted
capture of Lynchburg,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near the very <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>end of the war, they were <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moved east to join the Army of the James <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>participating <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the siege of Petersburg where they played a
major role in the breakthrough on April 2md 1865, which ultimately lead to the
surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">On 2 April 1865 four men of the 12<sup>th</sup>
West Virginia would earn the Congressional medal of honor in the attack on Ft
Gregg for actions described in the following: when within 50 yards of the fort
Sgt. Emanuel Adams, the Color Bearer, fell mortally wounded the flag was picked
up by Private Joseph Logsdon and as the movement toward entering the fort
continued , the gallant Logsdon undertook to plant the flag of the 12<sup>th</sup>
upon the parapet, and he was killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
colors were then seized by Lt. Joseph Caldwell, who leapt upon the parapet and
was also killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flag falling into
the Rebel Fort the boys of the 12<sup>th</sup> rushed to the parapet and being
joined by comrades of the rest of our brigade poured volleys into the Rebels,
planted our flag, and took the Rebel works<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">The men of the 12<sup>th</sup> were
ordinary men who made themselves extraordinary by their deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
somehow kept trying in the face of everything because they had a belief in each
other and what they fought for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
young men were heroes in every aspect of the word, and it is only fitting that
we are met here today to ensure that the memory of such men is honored, and the
fidelity of such men is thought to our children and grandchildren. No grand
prose or poetry exists to honor their names, like the leaves of a great tree
some fell and withered in the storm of war, while others though battered and
torn clung on to life only to see their legacy dim in the mist of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is up to us to ensure they are not lost
forever to future generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today let
us fulfill our obligation to the men of the 12<sup>th</sup> West Virginia and
dedicate this marker to their deeds and patriotism are evident to all who come
to this hallowed place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Lest we forget, Lest we forget . .
. Dear Lord never let it be so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">I Thank you for the privilege of
speaking to you on this important day of remembrance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Written and Presented by Mark R. Day, Copyright by Mark R. Day all rights reserved 10/30/21</p>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-34537200963100458242021-07-07T09:46:00.000-07:002021-07-07T09:49:12.986-07:00The Bliss of Nature<p> </p><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The birds speak to one another in the treetops and the meadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each small voice imparting a musical tone,
which then harmonizes with the others to produce a operetta such as which few composers
can conceive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sun slowly arises to brighten the eastern sky, having
completed its journey round the far side of the world, to provide a reminder of
the cyclical patterns, which pervade our existence while expressing the pure
and steady rhythm of God’s great creation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the soft light of early morning dew drops tenaciously cling
to the grass; sparkling like diamonds as light passes through them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The simplicity and elegance of a Butterfly as it weaves and
curls from plan to plant; Never following a straight path but rather allowing
the currents of the air to inspire them in the creation of a graceful dance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The leaves, their veins made visible by the light passing
through them shimmer and glow, creating an aura of gold at their edges.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The kindly cool touch of a gentle breeze upon the cheek and the
soft caress as it passes over the skin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In such an environment how can one help but feel bliss for
it calms the soul and brings peace of mind <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7/7/2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Written by Mark R. Day, Copyrighted by Mark R. Day 7/7/2021
all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></p>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-17733411161749016012020-12-03T04:20:00.000-08:002020-12-03T04:20:01.043-08:00Sons of Union Veterans - Vol. VI, Episode 28<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wX0KWwknwNM" frameborder="0"></iframe>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-36119920322970990442020-04-19T09:59:00.002-07:002020-04-24T08:15:31.651-07:00Personal Log (Diary of Covid19 Self Quarintine) a written by Mark R. Day <span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid _51mz _5f0n" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: currentColor; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: currentColor; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; table-layout: fixed; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 100%; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
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</td><td class="_51m- vTop _5ep6" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 300px;"></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 14 03/25/2020 (Star date TBD) </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Another day another opportunity to enjoy life. The skies are grey this morning and the ground is damp from storms, which passed through overnight. For breakfast I made a fried egg and bologna sandwich while Barbara opted for Raisin Toast with Peanut Butter. Coffee and Juice were our choice of drink. We had a long conversation with Barbara's sister Cathy this morning, it was good to hear from her and to have an opportunity to talk about things. Barb's sister lives in the Norristown area of Pennsylvania. She said that her husband, who is employed by major Philadelphia hotel is still working but the hotel is closed for business and more than 300 people were laid off. Barbara's other sister Nancy, who lives in New Jersey and works as a Nurse for the State, told us in a personal message that she and her daughter, an EMT, are both fine and doing the best they can given the situation. In local news, there is a big blow up over Jerry Falwell Jr's decision to open Liberty University to returning students and require staff to report for work. Many people are very concerned that these students coming back to Lynchburg from states that have high numbers of cases, and the Mayor has called upon Falwell to rethink his decision. Personally, I think having the students come back is a mistake. LU could become an epicenter for transmission of the disease. I doubt that Falwell will be swayed, but wish he had followed the path which was taken by every other major college and university in Virginia and closed the school. Barbara is doing laundry this morning and I hope to get some writing done on a project long left to languish. Right now, I am watching Clint Eastwood in "A Fist Full of Dollars" while writing this log entry. Well enough for now but will write more later. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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COVID19 Log Day 15 03/26/2020 (Star date 97833.67)</div>
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Well good morning my friends. It is another haze grey start weather wise here at the house. Barbara and I continue to be in good spirits and good health, for our ages that is. Currently watching "The Martian" on Syfy Channel, The music in that movie is decent and the story line of a man secluded on a planet all by himself; seems to fit for the times. We slept in until 9:30 this morning just because we could and then had a breakfast of English Muffins and Sausage Links. Last night, I finally won a game against Barbara. I rolled five twos and filled in Yahtzee on the score sheet for the win. A good warm shower completed my morning activities. Not sure how, I will fill up the daylight hours just yet. I have to pay a couple of bills and order some Trulicity this morning. Thank God for Tricare for life and Express Scripts. I am very appreciative for both services. Perhaps I shall also visit <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="origin" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FWine.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1G3RCllrnjEZ34lNGvfGyqFt3YKQBalC887DBHD6YME0PZXyon_zBwKsk&h=AT3HnQ0JefWE8OSsjtGNGm9I2-piFw5YDoo0QHhRRCfc6ARaULYgDi0unk1lYG5uHQWd3-l6NubYNi_vc2wPpiOawI_TSFZ_MpKCjD9cNZTacFFY3dfAlNYC4_vYu0AZrTnPxwTeQbqZVnKJKNJY0_R9QCuuz064iCwZ7D_vpHI4zxg" href="http://wine.com/?fbclid=IwAR1G3RCllrnjEZ34lNGvfGyqFt3YKQBalC887DBHD6YME0PZXyon_zBwKsk" rel="nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Wine.com</a> and order a couple of bottles of Merlot. Be well my friends. Please take care of yourselves, be safe, and stay same.</div>
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<i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 16 03/27/2020 (Star date 97836.09)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> The skies are blue and the grass is green this morning. I have been watching the squirrels jumping from tree to tree in the woods behind my house for entertainment, while enjoying an egg mac muffin (ala the Day café'). The noise surrounding Liberty University has calmed down as more information comes out showing that only a few students actually returned t</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">o campus. The State Health Department also made a surprise inspection at LU and found everything was being done in accordance with the Governors executive order. This mornings movie is the "Mummy" Brandon Frasier version. Last night, I was able to stage a comeback and win a game of Rummy against Barbara. I don't think that she and I have ever been closer to each other and I am enjoying the slower pace of life, which is a side effect from the present situation. I was able to get some Genealogical work done on Barbara's side of the family. I learned a lot about her mother's brother, , who I had the opportunity to know. He like Barbara's father was a member of the Coast Guard. I also found records for his wife and children. Perhaps today will be a day for yard work and fresh air. Oh well that is the news from my little part of the world for this morning. Perhaps I may write some more later. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 17 03/28/2020 (Star date TBD)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood. The birds are singing and the squirrels are playing. Well, that's what it seems as I look out the window. I am writing this log a little later than usual because Barbara and I had to drive over to the Dentist Office and pick up our records. Yes, my dentist is retiring and closing his office. We had to sign r</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">eleases, which he had attached to an email and physically pick up the records. I worked it out so we could just stay in the car and trade the releases for the records, so we generally maintained social distancing. I thought we might stop at the CVS and see if there were any alcohol prep pads available, but we didn't stop as there were to many cars in the lot and I didn't feel comfortable about it. As we passed the Walmart parking lot, I had Barbara take a look and see how full the lot was. She said that it was full of cars. We also noted that the Bisketville, Bo Jangles, and Taco Bell we had passed were open for drive through and several cars were at each restaurant. Traffic overall for a Saturday at 10 am seemed light. Breakfast this morning was Rice Krispies and Blue Berries. Lunch will most likely be a sandwich and some peanut butter crackers. Last night we decided to forego a game and just watched the movie "Jack the Giant Killer." I am not sure what I will do this afternoon but I will find something. Well Stay safe and sane my friend</span>s</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 18 03/29/2020 (Star Date 97841.46)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Good morning everyone! I hope you all are waking to a pleasant Sunday morning and are in good health. Once again the morning sky, here in Lynchburg, can only be described as bleak and grey. I am sitting at my desk in the Library and Barbara is still enjoying a good sleep across the hall. Current plans call for a Breakfast of Pancakes and Bacon with juice or coffee as the drink. We plan to watch the church service from Heritage United Methodist Church, our church here in Lynchburg, a little later in the morning. By watching the service online, we bring a sense of normalcy to our week and it also helps to reset the mental clock by reminding you that another week has started. These past few weeks my Daughter-in-Law has also shared the services from her church in Raleigh with us. They go to the church where they were married, and Barbara and I have attended services there on Christmas Eve the last few years. Yesterday, as it turns out was quite a busy day. As I wrote we went over to the Dentist Office to pick up our records in the morning, but the afternoon was filled with activities. After lunch Barbara took walks around the neighborhood and rode her stationary bike while I raked up sticks and yard waste out in front of the house. Around 2:45, I signed into a online conference, using zoom, with the Officers of the Department of the Chesapeake SUVCW. It was perhaps the brightest and most exciting couple of hours in a otherwise routine and somewhat boring week. Eleven of us attended, from our home offices and dining room tables. One Brother was calling in from Africa. While we did conduct serious discussions and made decisions about future meetings and projects, it was also an opportunity to socialize, laugh together, and share a feeling of camaraderie. I look forward to other such chances to get together with these friends in the near future. Dinner last night was Mild Italian Sausage on buns with onions as the main course. The vegetable was whole kernel corn and we had ice-cream sandwiches for desert. Around 8:00 pm we both had a Bourbon and Coke while we played cards. I was insanely lucky and won the game 505 to 215. The cards just fell for me perfectly. Well that is the story for this morning. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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COVID <span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Log Day 19 03/30/2020 (Star date 97844.32)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well, It was a early rise for me this morning. I figured to get over to the local Food Lion and pick up some items to replace those things used up last week. Barbara was still peacefully sleeping when, I slipped out of bed, got dressed in the dark and set out for the store. I was surprised to find that the store was fairly well stocked coming off the week</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">end. You might ask why would, I wait until Monday to go. Well I figure very few people are going at the time and I have been right in that supposition the last few weeks. Anyway, I was able to get the canned goods we needed, Meats, fresh vegetables, milk, and fresh fruit that Barbara had on the list. Once again our shelves are filled and the fridge is stocked. Funny thing, I always feel itchy when, I get home from the store and after putting things away, I cleaned up and took the clothing, I had been wearing down to the wash. Breakfast today was Jimmy Dean premade Egg, Cheese, and Canadian Bacon breakfast sandwiches. The weather here is warm this morning, but cloudy. They say we have a cool down in temperature coming tomorrow. Right now, I am sitting in my Library / Office and listening to the local Oldies Channel 103.9. I'm not sure what the day ahead holds for activities. Perhaps it will turn out to be a lazy laid back kind of day. Last night, after our dinner of Hot Dogs and Green Beans, Bread was the starch, we decided to not play a game but rather we watched the Original Star Wars Video Chapter IV "A New Hope. Around 10:30 the movie ended an it was time to turn in. Well that's the news for this morning. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 20 03;31/2020 (Star date 97847.83)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I waited until this afternoon to post my log for several reasons. First of all, I had a great deal of work to do around the house after my breakfast of Rice Krispies and coffee. There was laundry and the such, which need to be done; as well as some household chores. Once that was taken care of, I settled into my recliner and watched the America</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">n Military Channel for an hour of so. Lunch was Old fashioned Chicken Soup from Progresso. Barbara and I both are taking this opportunity to really think about our daily food intake. This morning, I weighted myself and the scale read 177.1 lbs. I forgot to say yesterday, that on Sunday we spoke with our Son Matthew and my Sister Cindy over the phone. Both said all was well on their end, but I do worry about my Sister because she works in a Pharmacy back home in Upstate New York. Last night Barbara kicked my butt at Scrabble, winning by more than 100 points. What can, I say the letter tiles just weren't coming my way. Today we sorted through all the DVD's and picked about 35, which are purely entertaining and sort of mindless. These will be the ones we watch over the next few weeks. Oh yes, I almost forgot. The weather today is horrid, grey, rainy, and cooler than the previous four or five days. Ok, that about rounds up the latest news with the exception that the Governor restated and reaffirmed the stay at home orders and extended the time frame through June 10th. I really hope it will not take that long to get past this however, Barbara and I will preserve. Stay safe and sane my friends. God Bless each of you and grant you the patience to endure.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 21 04/01/2020 (Star date 97850.26)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It is now 1:36 pm and the sky has turned from grey and cloudy to blue with scattered clouds. Today is the day before trash day. I am gathering all the trash from around the house, and bagging up the shredded paper from the library / office. We had a decision to make this morning when the Bug Guy showed up for our monthly service. He stood outside and asked if we wanted the service and I ask Barbara what she thought. We d</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ecided to let him in through the basement asked him to not touch anything but just put down his spray. We went around and opened all the doors he would need to pass through and I told him not to bother going into the train room. We keep our distance from him and he did his thing quickly. He left the billing paperwork on the front porch, where it will remain. We are expecting to receive several packages today via the USPS and UPS or Fedex. These items include a new bulb for the overhead light in the kitchen, some medicines, and two bottles of Merlot. If I can get it shipped to me, I am not going out to Home Depot or the Pharmacy. Breakfast this morning was a Fried Egg and Fried Bologna sandwich with coffee for me and a English Muffin with Peanut Butter for Barbara. Lunch was equally simple. We plan on Kielbasa for Dinner with Sauerkraut and Corn. Today, I am going Bohemian and not getting out of my pajamas. We are currently both sitting in the living room. Barbara is doing her puzzle book and I am writing this post. We have the local PBS station on the TV. last night we didn't play a game but we watched one of the DVDs. It was a Bourbon and Coke evening and we also had small bowls of Popcorn. Well that is it for the moment. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 22 04/02/2020 (Star date 97852.44)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well here we go again. It is no longer odd to have no place to go and nothing to do. That has become the new normal. Of course that is figurative because there really is always something you can do. It may be mundane housework or perhaps as creative as writing the great American novel. Time is what you make of it. I had a very pleasant surprise in my morning email, a short note from my one time shipmate Zoah Scheneman. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Zoah, now a Captain and Deputy Commodore of a Deployed Cruiser Destroyer Squadron, wanted to wish me a happy 127 birthday of the Navy Chief Petty Officer rating. I first met Zoah in Pascagoula MS. when I was his Chief and he was a Seaman Apprentice. He certainly has done well over his 33 year career in the Navy and I am so proud of him. This mornings weather report is as follows; cooler temps, windy with bright blue skies. A perfectly beautiful early Spring day. Breakfast was Raisin Bran for me not sure what Barbara had as we ate at different times. I am thinking about just taking a ride in the car later in the day. I just want a change of scenery for a hour or so. All of yesterdays packages arrived and are currently in their own period of quarantine down in the darkest corner of the basement. In three or four days, I will go down and get them. I have started to put together a list of things that have been put off for years. Just prioritizing it should consume most of a day. Barbara has come into the Living room and is working on her logic puzzle book. We have "Bruce Almighty playing on the TV, though neither of us is actually paying attention to it. Well enough of that, I will sign off for now. As always stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 23 04/03/2020 (Star date 97855.5)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I am currently watching Steven Hawking on my local PBS station. Why not expand the mind and learn a few things while in quarantine. Earlier, I watched the History Detectives show on the same channel. Well anyway last night we had Italian Sausage Sandwiches, with marinara, and Provolone Cheese. Whole cut Steamed Green Beans was the veggie. Later while watching Jeopardy we had Apple Pie. Barbara beat me at Scrabble by just</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> 7 points even though, I was able to get a Yahtzee. After the game we watched " Rogue One" on TBS. This morning, the weather was beautiful but still very windy. Breakfast was Bacon, English Muffins with Jelly, and the usual beverages. Today is my Daughter-in-Laws birthday so Barbara and I made a short video to wish her a happy birthday and posted it to her timeline on FB. Everything here continues to be good and I have not heard of any large numbers of people having issues in our area as yet. We did not get out for the drive, I wanted to take yesterday, but we plan to just go out for about half an hour or so today. I will probably take the side roads and head into the county's more rural area for the drive. I guess that is about it for this morning but I will write again later this evening before bed. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 23 Continued</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I said that more would come later, before bed, so here it is. We did in fact take a 45 minute ride this afternoon. For those who are local the route we chose was as follows:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Wiggington Road to Hawkins Mill, then turned onto Coffee Road and drove down to Perrowville Road, turned onto Perrowville Road and went down to Harper. Then Harper to Cotton town and Back out to Coffee. Turn onto Hawkins Mill and then back down Wiggington. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We stayed on all back roads and just enjoyed the scenery, which was mostly rural. When we returned, I decided to vacuum out the car and while doing that my neighbor stopped by to talk for a while. We observed the distance rules. The wind was steady out of the Northwest and it was blowing in a way that passed between us horizontally, . After dinner, which was Sweet and Sour Chicken, Barbara and I sat on the porch for about half an hour watching the birds flitter about and eat from out feeders. I observed at least five different species of bird during that time. We both were so caught up that we didn't realize the time and so we only caught the very end of Jeopardy. Tonight is a Bourbon and Coke night so we are enjoying those while watching the Movie "UP" a cute little cartoon feature that teaches the watcher the meaning of love and the need for connection with our fellow humans and other creatures. Well goodnight my friends.</span></span></span></div>
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As I sit here and look out the window, I can see that the once stoic grey and barren trees are flashing the new green growth, that comes with Spring. The deer really did a job on my azalea bushes over the winter but here and there a beautiful red bloom can be seen and my Peony plants are growing perfectly and beginning to put forth buds. On such a beautiful spring day I gi</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ve my thanks to God for the opportunity to be part of this glorious play called life. As Shakespeare said "The world is but a stage and we are all actors upon it" I think that is a great way to put everything into perspective. Each of us has a role to play. Roles, which affect all those who we come into contact with for good or for ill. I hope that my role has been a positive one. Oops got to take a moment, my daughter is calling . . . . . . well, back to this mornings post. Breakfast was more or less the usual but I also cooked up a couple of eggs over easy. My blood sugar was a little low this morning and I felt that was an appropriate addition to my meal. After, I finish this posting yard work is on the agenda. I will get out the tractor, hook up the thatcher, and go over the entire yard. We are planning to have soup for lunch around 1:00 pm and Something with ground beef for supper. Tomorrow being Palm Sunday we are planning to do some sort of observance here at the house and then watch the sermon from our pastor via the internet. Well, that's about all for this morning. If anything happens that is interesting, I will wait until tomorrow to report it. Most likely though it will just be another day and perhaps that is the best thing we can wish for. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 25 04/05/2020 (Star date 97861.99) </span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well Palm Sunday is almost over and it was a very pretty day here in Boonsboro. This morning after we had our breakfast Barbara and I had our own little worship service. Barbara and I sang "Tell me the Story of Jesus" I read the Palm Sunday Collect from my Episcopal book of Common Prayer, Barbara read a prayer from the Methodist Hymnal, and then I read from Matthew 21. Following that we watched our Pastor's Sermon on the </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Internet. Lunch was Ham and Provolone Cheese sandwiches. After lunch, I hooked up the Pressure Washer, cleaned up the siding on the front of the house, took the tractor out of the shed and finished cleaning up the yard with the lawn sweeper. I did not get around to doing the thatching. Supper was leftover Kielbasa and Hamburger Helper with Peas as a veggie. At one point in the afternoon, I thought why not send a quick message to my Grandson Jacob. I made a short video message and sent it to his mom as a PM. My daughter-in-law sent me a reply that Jacob and seen and liked the message. Tomorrow morning is Grocery Shopping. I will go early, to take advantage of the old guy hours. I have made a face covering based on a design a friend shared. I hope that everyone enjoyed their Palm Sunday and pray that you will all remain safe and sane. Oh I almost forgot. I am going to put up some new photos of the Bedford Branch N&W model railroad as a separate posting. If you think they might interest you feel free to look them over.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 26 04/06/2020 (Star date TBD) </span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Just came home from the grocery store. Pretty much the same as last week as far as number of people in the store. The only difference was that 90% of us had on some sort of mask and the average age was 70+. The store was fairly well stocked with of course the exception of paper products, eggs, and cleaning supplies. It was a little eerie to have to go to the store dressed for combat; it felt like, I was doing something dange</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">rous and risky. A month ago who would have thought going to the grocery store would elicit that kind of thinking and emotion. Well when, I got home we cleaned all the packaging on the items that need to be refrigerated, using hot water and soap. I put the non perishables down on the shelves in the basement storage. We have enough upstairs to hold us for now. This will allow enough time for any virus to die over the coming week. If that doesn't work out, I don't know what else can be done. With all that accomplished it was a hot soapy shower for me and fresh clothing; as everything, I wore to the store is now in the washing machine. Well lets get onto the daily weather report. I appears we will have another nice day. Right now there are no visible clouds and the sunshine is filtering through the trees. Not sure what the day will bring, but ready for whatever comes along. What else can you do but soldier on. Stay safe and stay sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 27 04/07/2020 (97867.52)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Today has been a very slow and laid back. I arose around 7:00 am and as always checked my email. There were a few messages from friends and the usual daily report from the USPS. I had been in communication with a Gentleman from my hometown on the subject of a railroad line that ran through the town in the late 19th and early 20th century. During our conversation we had discussed the track bed of that railroad. Being in possession</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> of a set of track blue prints for the railroad, I decided to photograph the plans and post them to my hometowns history Facebook site. Well that took a hour or two and the result was very well received by the many people who view the site regularly. Breakfast this morning was scrambled eggs and sausage. The weather early this morning was sunny and cloudless but around 9 am we began to see the sky darkening to the west and then we heard thunder. It rained for about 15 minutes and then everything cleared of. We went through the same cycle of events later in the afternoon. Supper this evening was Spaghetti and Italian sausage accompanied by garlic toast. After dinner we watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Currently, we are watching the movie 'Captain Blood (1935) staring Errol Flynn and Olivia De' Haviland. This movie is one of my all time favorites. Well there really wasn't much to report today. Perhaps tomorrow will be a more productive and busy day but probably not. Stay safe and sane my friends and God Bless.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 28 04/08/2020 (Star date 97869.49)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> This afternoon, I am sitting on my front porch watching the trees sway in the strong breeze. A large Bee, who sounds like a B52 when he passes by is working the flowering plants in the garden. The day started off as usual although a little earlier than other recent mornings. Breakfast was Bacon, English Muffin, a small bowl of Strawberries and Coffee. Barbara and I did have some errands that had to be run this morning. A</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> legal document allowing for an easement had to be signed and I had a paycheck for the last few days, I worked for the school system, which had to be deposited. At the legal office there was only one other person present and they had hand sanitizer for our use before and after signing the documents. They even opened the doors for us so we did not have to touch anything other than the documents. The bank was only open at the drive through and that went very quickly. I decided to also stop and fill up my gas cans. As always I used gloves and when we got home, I cleaned the steering wheel door fixtures, shift knob and other items that were touched while out. I installed the new light bulb in the kitchen. The box it came in had been sitting down in the basement for 7 days. The weather today has been very unsettled. When we awoke the wind was whipping at about 40 knots and it had clearly been raining Around 7:30 the sun came out in all its glory. They say we are in for more pop up storms this evening. Oh well that is fairly normal for this time of year. Lunch was Beef Vegetable Soup. I am reluctant to do anything in the yard this afternoon because of the uncertainty in the weather, so, I decided to write this post. We are having leftover smoked turkey for dinner this evening, I think it will be coupled with, Mashed Potatoes and Wax Beans. Not a very colorful plating but it will satisfy the need. Oh yah. we decided to try a different game last night and Barbara picked Trivial Pursuit. Well the game only lasted about 20 minutes as neither of us was having any great success answering the questions. I told her we need to stick to cards, scrabble, and Yahtzee. I think that will be it for today my friends. Please stay safe and sane.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 29 04/09/2020 (Star date 97872.78) Today has been long but productive. As I stated in an earlier posting, I was awoken by the sound of Thunder very early this morning. Barbara and I were both up and moving before 5:30. Breakfast was cereal with fresh fruit and our usual breakfast beverage. Around 8:30 we decided to drive over to Appomattox Court House NHP. I wanted to go because today was the 155th anniversary of the Surrender and I had planned to atten</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">d the ceremonies, now cancelled, in the 1st person character of Major General E.O. C. Ord. I had also been looking forward to spending time with my friend Dr. Curt Fields (AKA General Grant) and the other members of Lincoln's Generals. We returned home around 11:00 am. I posted pictures from the park eelier today and I suspect many of you have seen them. Lunch was a Ham and Cheese sandwich with a few Potato Chips and a slice of pickle. This afternoon, I worked on two projects. First, I took more photographs of the Central New England RR track plans, which will be posted on the Red Hook History in Pictures FB site later this week. Second, I made a short video introducing my Bedford Branch N&W model railroad layout. This video was posted earlier this afternoon and the response seemed good. I intend tp make a few more video's showing operations on the layout in the coming weeks. This evening supper was Chicken Breast, Peas, and biscuits. Dessert was Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiches. After dinner Barbara took a walk and I sat on the porch for about 20 minutes. I have attached a short video to this email. Well its time for Wheel of Fortune so, I will sign off. Stay safe and sane my friends</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 30 (4/10/2020 (Star date 97875.67) </span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Today marks the 30th spin of the earth since going into self quarantine. I awoke around 8:00 am on this Good Friday morning. In observance of the day breakfast contained no meat. I had a bowl of Rice Krispies, a piece of Strawberry Cheese Danish, and some fresh fruit. I was surprised to see snow flakes coming down from the heavens, but there they were. Later, I saw several post rom friends in Amherst and Bedford Counti</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">es saying they had seen snow too. It was a cold and blustery morning so, I decided to work on the trains. I still have track to clean and some minor repairs to make. Lunch was also meatless and I had a grilled cheese sandwich while Barbara had tuna fish. After lunch, I returned to working on the layout. Around 1:00 pm Barbara came down and asked if she could run a train. I set up a Southern E Unit and some smooth side passenger cars for her and she ran that train for about 30 minutes. I remembered that the church was posting a Stations of the Cross service; so I went on line and watched it. The service was short but satisfying. Around 3:00 pm I saw my neighbor mowing his lawn and decided that after dinner, I would get out the Deere and at least do the front yard. Supper was Crab Cakes, Mac & Cheese. with Broccoli as the veggie. With the front lawn done, I came in to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Barbara and I are presently watching "A Knights Tale" and relaxing with some Bourbon and Coke. Well that will pretty much do it for today except for one final thing. A dear friend of mine in California <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1312705896&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARDnAbEr2WwgD11hGCuHl-KebLmoP2Mm2LIj1TETZxVPYxIaiRs0FScfxMyswxP-fJsrFqAqsuev2bfS%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/rachelle.campbell?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDnAbEr2WwgD11hGCuHl-KebLmoP2Mm2LIj1TETZxVPYxIaiRs0FScfxMyswxP-fJsrFqAqsuev2bfS&fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" title="Rachelle Bursheim Campbell">Rachelle Bursheim Campbell</a> made and inquiry about "The Foot." I must respond to this inquiry by saying that "The Foot" is doing well. He is enjoying semi-retirement from his hectic days of travel and hard work. Like most of us he is currently in quarantine trying to avoid the pandemic. I guess it is time to call it a day so please stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 31 04/11/2020 (Star date 97878.46)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> As, I sit here Bourbon and Coke in hand pondering the events of the day, I think it was a very good day indeed.</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I arose around 7:45 and found the weather to be perfect. After a breakfast of 2 eggs over easy and some toast Barbara and I took about a half mile walk in the neighborhood. The rest of the morning was for relaxing and catching up on a few administrative matters (bills). Lunch was Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Progr</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">esso) and cheese crackers. With lunch done, I started working in the yard. I was able to finish the mowing in the back yard and I also cleaned up all of the yard waste ( twigs, sticks, leaves, and such). I am quite happy with the way the yard looks this evening. Around 3:00 pm, I took a break from the yard to attend a meeting of the Department of the Chesapeake SUVCW officers using Zoom. We are putting the finishing touches on the plan to conduct our annual meeting of the Department via Zoom in a couple of weeks. The meeting ended about 5:00 pm and I then went back out to finish the yard work. Supper was Hamburgers with all the fixings and Baked Beans. If I must say so myself the burgers were perfect. Following supper, I decided to sit on the porch for a while and had, utilizing safe social distancing practices, a conversation with my neighbor Chris. At a little after 7:00, I attended my second Zoom event of the day; a campfire meeting of the New Jersey Light Infantry. This organization is a Revolutionary War reenacting unit, which I have belonged to for many years. How good it was to share some fellowship and general conversation with these friends. Well after about an hour and a half we said our goodbyes and made arrangements to have another Campfire in 2 weeks. Right now Barbara and I are watching Jumanji, the original with Robin Williams, and just relaxing. Yup, today was a very good day and I am so thankful for the great friends and comrades I have. I hope that each of you, my friends and family reading this post, had as good a day. Tomorrow is Easter and I look forward to singing "Jesus Christ is Risen Today Alleluia." May your Easter be a blessing to you and may you all stay safe and sane</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 32 04/12/2020 (Star date 87880.55) Easter Day. </span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Today is Easter, though it feels somewhat different to not be in church. We awoke late in the morning, about 8:45, and had a very late breakfast of sausage and pancakes. We watched the Easter Services from our church and then I went outside to secure our property for the storms they are predicting will pass through Lynchburg late tonight and early tomorrow. What, I could not put in the tractor shed, I secured </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">with bungee cords to the post of my trash can enclosure. I then checked out the weather radio and our emergency lighting system in the basement. If we need to take shelter there are two areas in the basement, which offer the most security. I have installed emergency lighting in both those places for instances like this. Well that is enough about that. Hopefully, none of that will be necessary. We decided to just have a snack lunch and then have a large Easter dinner of Pork Tenderloin accompanied by our traditional side dishes. Right now I am watching the last few minutes of "Ben Hur" on TCM. I have always enjoyed this passion play because it speaks to our most human of emotions. the need for forgiveness, and healing of our brokenness. Ah the key scene is on now, the rain that washes away the stain of human sin and folly. Well so much for that I am unsure what Barbara and I will do with the rest of the evening but I think we shall watch the performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on CBS at 7 pm. I guess that is going to be it for now. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 33 04/13/2020 (Star date 97883.89)</span><br style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well its almost 9 pm. This has been a very long and somewhat eventful day in my government imposed exile. As, I wrote earlier today we had a very bad weather event during the night. This resulted in a loss of much needed sleep, which can never be made up. Breakfast was a Fried Bologna, Egg, and Onion sandwich coupled with 3 cups of Coffee. The rain did clear out by 9 am and within a short period of time the sun made its </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">appearance. I held of on lunch until about 1:15. My meal consisted of a English muffin with butter and Jelly. I know that doesn't sound like much but its what I wanted. This afternoon our daughter called to see how we are doing. Our son had called last evening for the same purpose. Nice to know they are keeping up with us. Supper was left over pork loin with beets and potato. As usual we watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Right now we are watching Antiques Road Show on PBS and I am yawning. I think it will be an early night for me. Well that is all there is folks. Perhaps tomorrow will be more interesting. Stay safe and sane.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 34 04/14/2020 (Star date TBD)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It is now 11:37 pm and I am about to head to bed. Today has been somewhat interesting. Barbara and I both arose around 8:00 am and we had breakfast. I chose to have a Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich from the freezer and I am not sure what Barbara ate. After breakfast we took a walk trough the neighborhood of about 6 tenths of a mile. I worked on some minor projects till lunch time. After lunch which consisted of Ham and Chees</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">e sandwiches and fresh fruit, I put together a second short video about the Bedford Branch N&W Railroad. This time, I introduced the audience to the portion of the layout that is in a second room in the basement, but connected to the main train layout via tunnels through the adjoining walls. I really enjoyed doing the video and posted it to both my Facebook Wall and the Bedford Branch Facebook page. The rest of the Afternoon passed quietly as Barbara worked out on the stationary bike and I watched the American History Channel, which was showing a documentary about Western Films. After supper, which Barbara prepared we sat on the front porch until it was time for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Around 8:15, I decided to do some channel surfing and discovered that Indiana Jones "The Last Crusade was on and we watched that until around 10: 00 pm. Barbara decided to go on up to bed but I stayed up to watch a movie called "The Man Who Never Was." That movie ended about 10 minutes ago and now, I too am headed to bed. Well that is all for this evening. Please stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 35 04/15/2020 (Star date 97889.52) </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Today has been busy. As I posted earlier there was a necessity for me to make a pre-dawn grocery run. I was pleased to find the store very well stocked with bread, meats, and other essentials. I was even able to score paper towels and Kleenex. The store was busier than it has been the last few times, I was there. Returning to the house, I divided out the refrigerated goods from the pantry items and with the assistance o<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">f Barbara we wiped down the refrigerated foods and stored them away. The pantry items went down to the basement where they will reside for a couple of days before being brought upstairs. Barbara and I decided after breakfast to take a walk around the neighborhood and get some fresh air. I need to do more walking for exercise. I am concerned about sitting and becoming sedentary. Around noon a friend came by the house with some books on Civil War history, which he has been trying to get to me for more than a month. We talked, maintaining our distance, for a while and he left the books on the porch step for me to bring in later. Lunch was a meat sandwich and potato chips. In the Afternoon, I did some laundry and worked on the train layout. The postwoman had delivered a package containing a part needed to completer one of the buildings on the layout. I was very satisficed with the finished look of the structure. Supper was Chicken Patties on rolls with Corn as the vegetable. Barbara suggested that we sit on the porch after dinner and so we did that. As usual we watched Wheel and Jeopardy until 8:00. It was good to have my friend come by and to receive the part for the layout. It gave the day some variety and broke up the monotony of the routine we have established. Well its 10:00 pm and my bedtime. So long for now my friends and stay safe and sane.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">My apologies for this belated posting. I wrote it last night but failed to upload it to my FB Wall</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 36 04/16/2020 (Star date TBD) </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well it is after 10 pm and I am just getting ready for bed. Barbara is playing Solitaire while siting in the bed. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is playing on the Flat Screen. Today was another decent day. I arose around 7:00 am and remembered that, I had forgotten to post my Day 35 Log. So before anything else could be done the Log had to be posted. Breakfast was two cups of coffee, a Cutie, and English Muffin. Barbara had Ch</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">eerios with Orange Juice. After Breakfast Barbara and I took a walk in the neighborhood. I was a tad cold; mostly due to a west wind. I decided that today would be a railroad work day and proceeded to the train room when we came home from the walk. The important element, I wanted to complete was the covered conveyor between the coal mine and the coal tipple. The parts for this had come in yesterdays mail. I installed the last section of the conveyer and then modified a pair of support piers to carry the load of the conveyor. Lunch was Chicken Noodle Soup and some Cheese and Peanut Butter Crackers. In the afternoon, I had a few odds and ends to finish cleaning up around the Tractor Shed. While cleaning in the shed, I found a replacement spool for my Weed Wacker and got that tool in working order. The mail came at its usual time about 2;30 and so I went out to the road to get it. Now by this time it was getting late in the afternoon and I went back down to the layout and put together a short video of the work, which had been done in the morning. Supper was Kielbasa and leftover vegetables. We each had a small bowl of Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream for desert around 6:30 pm and then sat on the porch for a short time watching the birds and letting my foot get some air. The story of the foot is a tale in itself and perhaps, I will tell that story at another time. I missed all of Wheel of Fortune and half of Jeopardy because, I wanted to do a little more work on the layout. Following Jeopardy Barbara and I played Yahtzee and for a change, I won. We finished up the night by watching 'True Lies" on one of the cable channels. Well that is it for tonight. Hang in there my friends and stay safe and sane.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVD19 Log Day 37 04/17/2020 (Star date 97896.01) </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Today was a very active time for me. I was up around 7:30 and per my routine the first thing, I did was check my email. Finding nothing very important, it was time to go down stairs and make the coffee. Barbara got up around 8:00 am but we had to wait an hour for breakfast, her medicine requires you to wait an hour before eating. Breakfast was very simple toast Coffee, and fruit for me and cereal for her. Following breakfast I first worked on layout for about an hour and then decided it had warmed up enough to get outside and mow the lawn. I knocked out the front yard and then began cleaning up around the tractor shed. This is a wooded area and there was quite a bit of leaves, broken branches, and other stuff that, I wanted to get up in order to create a clear area between the shed and the woods. Some of this area is actually on my neighbors property, but he and I have an agreement that allows me to maintain the area around the shed. I came in for lunch at about 12:30 pm and we had ham and cheese sandwiches with potato chips and pickles. With lunch done, we decided to take a ride, just to see some other scenery. We drove down Rivermont and into the city. A quick trip into the River Front Park was made just to see if people were congregating there. We saw maybe 10 people in the entire park. Everyone was practicing social distancing. Signage was in place telling you to stay off the playground equipment. Leaving the park we went down to the intersection with 5th street and then turned right in order to head over to Old City Cemetery. We figured that though there are many people there, for the most part they are practicing a 6 foot distance from anyone who might stop by. Driving through the cemetery we saw some Public Works people doing upkeep and a couple of folks walking around. Two ladies had brought lawn chairs and were setting up in the garden across from the Chapel, they were more than 10 ft apart but looked like they were having a good conversation with each other. Heading out of the cemetery we went over to Kemper Street Train Station and then out Kemper to Campbell and ultimately Rt. 460. We took 460 back to the Candler Mountain Exit and then headed for the house. It was a nice ride on a sunny day. When we returned home, I went back to cleaning up the area around the shed. I toted eight 30 gallon cans of yard debris down to the compost pile in the back corner of our yard. I came into the house around 4:30 and Barbara cooked up supper, which consisted of Macaroni and Cheese, Peas, and the left over Kielbasa. After supper, I mowed the back yard; cleaned and put up the tractor. I sat on the porch watching the squirrels and the birds until about 7:30 pm when Jeopardy came on. After Jeopardy went off, I found a John Wayne movie "El Dorado" on one of the cable channels and that is what we watched until about 10:10 pm. Yup today was a very active one and I got quite a bit of exercise and fresh air. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and so is Sunday. I suppose that means a lot of time just sitting around in the house. OK, its almost 11:00 and I am about to turn into a Pumpkin. Goodnight my friends please stay safe and sane.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 38 04/18/2020 (Star date unknown )</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well tattoo has sounded and another day is in the books. This morning started off at about 6:45 am. I had a really good nights sleep of about 7 hours. Had to wait for Barbara to get up before cooking breakfast so it around 9:00 t cooked up a Omelet for us to share. Cheddar Cheese, ham, and onion were the primary fixings. I watched North by Northwest, with Carry Grant and Eve St Marie, which I had recorded on the DVR: i</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ts a Great movie. With North by Northwest done, I proceeded to the basement and worked on a small project which had been put of for months. I wanted to put details in the Gulf Gas Station on the train layout and so I worked on that until about noon. While, I was doing my railroad thing, Barbara did the laundry. For lunch we had the leftover Macaroni from last night and bowls of Tomato Basil Soup. I am particularly fond of that kind of soup. In the Afternoon Barbara rode her exercycle and I continue to make adjustments and repairs to the train layout. I was able to repair some buildings upon which the glue had started to weaken and things needed to be tightened up. I also did some touch up painting and dusted the scenery using an attachment for my shop vacuum, which allows me to have a low pressure air flow to blow the dust off and then reverses to pick the dust up. I had a call from Vern L. Vern is a member of an organization that I also belong to. Vern is about 10 years older than me and he was calling to check up on me and Barbara. I spoke with Vern for about 15 minutes and then I thought it would be a great idea to call my friend and college professor Clif P. I had not spoken with Clif for over a month and just as Vern was checking up on me, I was checking up on Clif and his lovely wife Bundy. Clif and I talked for a while and then it was time for supper. I prepared some pork chops, mashed potato and beets for Barbara and I. The meal was very good, if I have to say so myself. After dinner I had an on-line meeting with the other members of the SUVCW Council of Administration. This was a test to see what connectivity problems we might face for out actual meeting in early May. It was good to see and have chance to hear the voices of the 18 or 19 guys who checked in. After the test meeting ended Barbara and I took a walk around the neighborhood. It was a little chilly but it felt good to stretch my legs. Around 8:00 pm, I made us a couple of Bourbon and Cokes, which we drank while watching "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" staring John Wayne in one of my favorite roles, that of Captain Nathan Brittles. Weil that brings us to the present and I will be signing off for the day. Stay safe and stay sane my friends.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log day 39 04/19/2020 (Star date 97900.6) </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Another Sunday has come and gone. Another week is starting. The weather for the upcoming week looks bleak. It was nice today but rain returns for Monday, Thursday. Friday, and Next Saturday and Sunday. Barbara and I both slept in until almost 9:00 am. Of course once up all the usual morning rituals and routines were accomplished. Breakfast this morning consisted on Blueberry Waffles with Bacon,</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Coffee, and Milk. I spent some time this morning photographing and posting the repairs and additions that were made to the Bedford Branch N&W RR. The photo's were well received and there were a great many complementary responses and likes on FB. As has become our habit we watched the Sermon and service from our church. Following that we had lunch. Barbara made herself a salad and I had the left over pork chop from last night on a roll, with pickle and mayo. In the afternoon, I started to transfer my COVID19 post into my Google Blogger site. That proved to be a tedious process and I encountered some difficulties in the process. By 3:30 pm, I had transferred about half of the COVID Logs into a single document in Google Blogger. Tiring of the tedious nature of that work, I returned to the basement and ran some trains. I filmed a short video of the two trains that were in service and posted that to FB and then to the Bedford Branch N Scale RR FB page. Around 4:30 I decided to take the last couple of loads of yard waste, collected on Friday, down to the compost pile. Seeing that, I was done with the trash Barbara asked what supper would be. I gave her two choices. Sloppy Joes or Pizza. She chose Sloppy Joes. To give the meal a little class, I also made some French Onion Soup. Following supper we took our usual evening walk in the neighborhood. Returning to the house we watched a little TV and then played Rummy 500, which I was fortunate to win. Around 9:00 pm we turned the TV back on and watched "Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle" until time to turn in. Well that is the exciting news from Boonsboro for today. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1c1e21; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 6px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It is raining. I awoke to the sound of it hitting the roof. My first thought was damn its raining, I wonder if this is the sound Noah heard first thing on the 40th day. Rolling out of bed and standing up, the thought of it having been 40 days and 40 nights just made me laugh. I wonder if we will get a sign today that things are going to het better. This whole COVID thing has the makings of a modern biblical story. <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">I wonder if there is someone currently writing a modern version of Boccaccio's "Decameron" or perhaps there is a modern Daniel Defoe to write "A Journal of the Plague." I hope so, we will need to deal with these times by using humor and whit, while also remembering the tragedy of it all and the impact it had on humanity. Oh well enough of this musing. I will write more later</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well where to start. Oh, I guess I should relate that last evening after writing the daily log, Barbara kicked my butt at Rummy 500. She got 230 point in the first hand and I never had a chance to be in the game. Now for todays activities. I once again did not get up very early. I think it was near 8:30 when my feet hit the floor. Barbara had some Cheerios for breakfast and I, not feeling hungry, just had a couple of cu</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ps of coffee. While Barbara rode her exercise bike, I went outside and raked up the twigs and sticks, which had come down on the yard overnight. We had blue skies today but the wind was very brisk all day and into the evening. I took a ride over to the Verizon store on Forrest Brooke Rd. just to see what their hours were. I was surprised to find very few cars at the drive through restaurants or Walmart.. I came home with the idea of calling the Verizon store and heading over to get my phone checked out after lunch but I never went. Instead I got involved with the trains and taking photos for the Bedford Branch Google Blogger page and the Red Hook History in Pictures site on FB. Supper was homemade pizza. I topped it with Onion, Pepperoni, and Mozzarella, which is Barbara's favorite. After supper we took a long walk in the neighborhood maybe a mile or mile and a quarter. Coming home about 7:15 pm we watched the end of Wheel and all of Jeopardy. At 8:00 pm Barbara asked me if, I wanted some popcorn. Of course, I said yes and we settled in to watching the Lord of the Rings 'Return of the King" on AMC. Now its about 10:30 pm and Barbara has already gone to bed and has turned on the movie up here in the bedroom. Well that is about it for today. It was a real barn burner on the excitement scale, just joking. Stay safe and stay sane my friends.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Today was a early start for me. After three consecutive days where, I had not gotten up early it was necessary to make a grocery run for a few key items. So about 5:00 my internal clock goes off and I stumble to the bathroom. Once up there was not going back to bed; so I checked my email and brought up Facebook. About 6:00 the coffee was ready and I started getting my self together by putting on my mask and stepping outside to check the temperature. It was a cold morning perhaps around 40 degrees. I had shifted the order of the cars in the driveway yesterday so the Honda was the duty car. I was the first person in the store when it opened. Had to get some dairy so that was the first section of the store, I visited. They had eggs, but I didn't need them. Milk, Pillsbury Biscuits, and sandwich cheese topped the list. As I went past the paper aisle, I realized they had paper towels and T.P. We didn't need either but I picked up a 6 pack of Charmin. Better prepared than not. There was plenty of Pork, a fair amount of Chicken, some steak and burger. I took a package of chicken tenders and a ham steak. We have several packages of burger already and well the freezer space is only so big. Most of what we needed was pantry stuff. I did want some Tomato's but for the first time they didn't have any. I got home around 7:30 am and we washed the packages that had to be refrigerated. The rest went to the auxiliary storage area in the basement. Breakfast was a Jimmy Dean Bacon, Egg, and Cheese croissant. After breakfast I worked up in the Office Library for a while and then it was down to the train room. I had an idea to make a 10 minute video of the Bedford Branch in some sort of operation. That brought us to lunchtime and Barbara made us each a salad to go with a slice of leftover pizza from last night. Following lunch, I began in earnest to produce the video. There were several dry runs and adjustments to the Camera set up before, I found something satisfactory. I then did three takes before settling on the one which was posted on FB. Posting the video took quite a while too. Having completed that I decided to read through the FB notifications, I had. Seeing a comment from a friend, which mentioned Dr. David Block, I got the camera back out and took a few photos of items, I posses, linked to that esteemed and venerated gentleman. Once satisfied with the editing of the photo's, I posted the whole group to the Red Hook History in Pictures FB page. I think people liked both the Bedford Branch Video and the photo's of Dr. Block's military uniforms / memorabilia from WW2. Barbara now started asking about dinner. I planned to have roasted pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, and beets. She thought that would be fine. We dined at about 6:00 pm and then took a walk around the neighborhood. Coming home about 7:20 we watched the very end of Wheel of Fortune and most of Jeopardy. Barbara had wanted to sit out on the porch but it proved to be to cool for her and we came in just in time to see final Jeopardy. We wanted to find something on TV. but nothing was really getting out attention, so we came up to the Library to listen to music and relax; in our own way. For me that is writing this post and for her it was logic puzzles. Well now its 10:30 pm and I think its time for this old man to hit the rack (Navy for bed). Stay safe and stay sane my friends.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">COVID19 Log Day 43 04/23/2020 (Star date 97911.50)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Well it was a very ordinary day. I arose around 7:00 and did all the daily routine items. Barbara was still asleep, so I went down to the kitchen and made the coffee and then came back up to continue reading the FB posting of my many friends and associations. Around 9:00 Barbara and I had breakfast. i made myself a Bologna, Cheese and Egg sandwich. Barbara had her usual Cheerios and Orange Juice. Following breakfast I headed down stairs to do some laundry and turn on the space heaters. It was pretty cold last night and the weather report for today is cloudy, cool, and rainy. I spent most of the morning down in the basement and the train room. For. lunch we had Beef and Garden Vegetable Soup plus crackers and cheese. I had received an email from the State Store saying that the bottle of Bourbon, I had ordered was ready for pick-up; so after lunch I headed over to Boonsboro Shopping Center to retrieve the booze. While there, I decided to check in Food Lion and see if they had Tomato's, they did. Now, I could have gone home but as you may have read my Cell Phone had died and I was in need of a replacement. Well I thought, lets go see if the Verizon Store is manned and open. To my joy it was and I was able to get a new phone. I came home and got the phone set up and then made a video call to my Daughter-in-Law to check it out. I also called my Daughter. Oh the joy of it; total happiness was achieved. Supper was leftover Pork Loin, Broccoli, and Some Mac and Cheese for a starch. Around 7:00 pm, I signed into a Royal Arch Mason training seminar on Zoom. The lecture was very good and lasted about 1 hour. We finished up the night watching "The Incredibles." Well so much for today. Stay safe and sane my friends.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span></span><br />
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</span>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-16046296881129141422020-03-06T03:39:00.002-08:002020-03-06T03:39:39.853-08:00Short Comments Medal of Honor Ceremony at Araby UMC near the Monocacy Battlefield, Frederick, MD March 2014
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brothers and
Sisters of the Allied Orders, Friends, and Guest</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
morning, I have the great privilege of representing the Department of the
Chesapeake Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and on behalf of all the
brothers of the department, I bring you greetings and offer their thanks to you
for planning and continuing this yearly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Medal of Honor Ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As Brothers
of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, we have sworn to preserve the
history and legacy of veteran heroes, such as 1<sup>st</sup> Lt George Davis
and Cpl. Alexander Scott, who fought to save the Union during the American
Civil War.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am proud
to say this annual ceremony, conducted by the Antietam Camp #3, is the perfect
expression of the commitment to carry out our obligation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today we are
honoring two men who through shear will and dedication to duty contributed
significantly to delaying Confederate General Jubal Early’s raid on Washington
DC almost one hundred and fifty years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1<sup>st</sup> Lt Davis held the approaches to two bridges over the
Monocacy against repeated assaults by superior forces materially contributing
to the delay of Early and Corporal Scott, while exhausted and under heavy fire
rallied the men of the 1oth Vermont by heroically carrying both his State Flag
and the National Colors.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some
histories say that this battle was a loss, but it is in such losses that wars
are won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the noble sacrifice of
brave men in the face of an uncertain outcome would prove to be the salvation
of our Capital City and we make no mistake when stating that the courage of 1<sup>st</sup>
Lt Davis and Corporal Scott was paramount in obtaining that final outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Such bravery
as these two men displayed is a rare and special thing and it is only fitting
that we are here today remembering them and ensuring that their spirit of
patriotism and love of country is never forgotten</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you
for you attention </span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-32877140814220188462020-03-04T16:02:00.001-08:002020-03-04T16:14:53.548-08:00Reflection: Thoughts while traveling cross-country by Train<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The train is
a community of strangers </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">brought
together by self-imposed </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">circumstance.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Dinning
Car is the place where strangers</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">become
acquaintances over Breakfast and </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">friends over
Supper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the train
you are never know whom</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">you will
meet and make a connection with.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the
train is a place of diversity </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">which
becomes a community through common experience.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The train is
America on a micro-scale </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">many creeds,
races, and origins</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">brought
together in a common adventure.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The train
proves that we can co-exist with, learn from, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and find comfort
in the company of each other.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thus, providing
a poly-ethnic smorgasbord of cultural wonder.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think we
need more trains</span><br />
</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
Written by Mark R. Day, copywrite by Mark R. Day 3/3/2020, all rights reserved<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-30861664408279302902020-03-04T16:00:00.001-08:002020-03-04T17:07:37.447-08:00Acceptance Speech on becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War August 2017 (an excerpt taken from 2017 Proceedings of the Annual Encampment Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War)<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those of
you who have the pleasure of knowing me well, know that I am not a man of few
words, but I will try to be brief. It’s just part of my personality,
unfortunately. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It's with
a very humble heart that I stand here today before you as your
Commander-in-Chief. You have given me a great honor and I will do my utmost to
be faithful in my duties and to be worth the confidence that you have placed in
me. Rest assured that our great Order’s promotion and success will be my
primary concern and number one priority. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are
the inheritors of a mission. The mission that we inherited was to preserve and
to inculcate the history of our forefathers and that is our primary goal.
Earlier today, my friend, Jeff, spoke very eloquently to that very point in his
Patriotic Instructor’s message. If we will not take up the cause and if we will
not be the ones who will go forth and inculcate, teach, and ensure that the things
this country stands for are preserved, then we should look at ourselves in the
mirror with shame. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will
seek to move the SUVCW forward. We've talked often about this being the 21st
century. We need to work hard to bring ourselves into this 21st century without
forgetting the traditions, as Brother Wolz has so eloquently over this weekend,
pointed out. I hope that we will continue to use this format (Masonic Arrangement)
for our encampment. This is the way our ancestors met, and I think it's
appropriate that we will meet the same. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As for my
hopes and beliefs and dreams for this Organization, I hope that we will be able
to become more visible to society in general. But to become more visible it will
mean that we each of us in this room and all of the Brothers across this
country, which I hope you will pass on to them, have to become active in
promoting our visibility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to go
out and get people to notice us. People are not going to notice us if we just
hope and wish for it. We must step out and be proactive in that goal.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
sincerely hope that we will be able to improve the internal communications of our
organization, how we talk to each other, how we communicate with each other,
and to that end I'm going to look to possibly create or investigate through
Brother Jamie, the use of Skype in order that we might be able to have
communications between the CinC and the Department Commanders. Coming up with some sort of regular way of
doing that and I would hope that anyone who would succeed me would continue
with that same goal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must work on
telling each other what’s going on all over this country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I went around to Department Encampments,
what I heard was, ”Nobody tells us what's going on. We’re just supposed to
figure it out.” We need to, from the top down, and from the Department to the
Camps, communicate effectively what it is were doing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, one of my other things that I'm looking to
do, is to talk with the Council of Administration on our use of communications. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now what we are good at is sending out
general orders, but we are not good at communicating what it is we want you to
do when we tell you something to do. So what, I think that we will try to look at is
having a system of notices; so that when we have a new document, such as the
Patriotic Instructors form, we can issue a notice that will actually tell you
what it is we want you to do and why we are asking you to do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also really want to try to work on, as a
separate part of communications a CinC Newsletter or Memo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I'm a
firm believer in fraternity, charity, and loyalty. I am encouraged by what has
gone on here this weekend because I've been to many Encampments, and this was
without a doubt one of the most civil. We treated each other like Brothers. And
we had no arguments. And look what we did. We were done two hours before we had
to be.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will
also try to work to develop stronger ties and relationships with the other
Allied Orders. While I know that there are significant problems, that exist
between us and the other Allied Orders over issues old and new, I feel that it
is imperative that if we are going to live up to fraternity, charity, and
loyalty, that we need to be open to trying to improve our relationships amongst
all of the people who have the same goal, to honor, inculcate, and protect our
ancestors’ history, so that is going to be another aspect of it. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I want to
thank a couple of people in particular before closing, I told you I’m wordy.
I'm sorry. I would like Steve Hammond to stand up for a second. Brothers, I
would not be here today, standing here, if it were not for the Brotherly love
and the selfless commitment made by Steve Hammond to take a young, you know
figuratively a young man, who showed up at his first National Encampment in
Harrisburg and to take that young man by the hand and show him the ropes; to
show him that there was a sense of that Brotherly loyalty. He ensured that I
knew what to do. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let me
explain what took place,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked into
the National Encampment a neophyte. You must understand, my Camp was formed the previous March. I had gotten a phone call from my Camp Commander, “Will you go to the
Department Encampment? I can’t go.” Of course, I'll go. And when I went there,
I had the privilege of meeting Brother Darby. And his first impression was very
favorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But while I'm at that
Department Encampment, I still don't know what I'm doing. I’m just following
the motions. At the end of that Encampment, somebody walks up, he says, “You’re
a delegate at the National convention?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I'm like, “What?” So I went to Harrisburg. I walked in the door of that hotel.
I was lost. Steve found me. He made it work for me and it became real. I
thought on it and I said, you know, this Organization really is something I
want to be involved in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been a
member for some time but now I was, at that point, fully engaged. I thank
Steve Hammond for doing that for me. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I'd like
Gene Mortorff to stand up for a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gene
once told me that when my Camp was forming down in Lynchburg, Virginia, that
the Department of the Chesapeake, the Department of Maryland at that time,
wasn't really sure that this was going to be a good idea. They were kind of
tentative about the idea of having a bunch of guys that live that far below the
Mason-Dixon Line be involved in this Organization and they were…so they were a
little bit tentative but, you know, Gene is the reason why I moved up. If Gene
had not seen something in me and appointed me Patriotic Instructor at the
Department level, I wouldn't be here today. I owe a great deal to Gene, for putting
me on the path to the place I am standing right now. So, thank you, Gene. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course,
I need to thank one other person for their patience, perseverance, and I will
warn them now that there will probably be some times that we will not be able
to be together because I will be doing the business, and she will suffer
through that. Because my wife, when I go away, my wife locks the house up and
she goes upstairs, and she leaves the lights on. I'll be doing a lot of that
going away, so I wanted you to know that I don't mind if the electric bill is
very high. You do what you need to, honey. Thank you. Thank you for everything
that you allow me to do because of you, without you and your support, I could
not do this.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As far as
schedule, I want to make myself available to attend things. I'm retired. I have
two cars. I will alternate them to keep the mileage down…</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…or I
will take some of the money that you graciously provide and get a rental car,
whatever. But I want to attend things. Faron Taylor, will you stand up? Faron Taylor
is the Chief of Staff. I would like you to work through Faron Taylor. Faron is
a “dot the I,” “cross the t” guy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a
rather pragmatic and sometimes slightly scatterbrained and need somebody like
Faron. I want you to work through Faron, but I want you to send me invitations.
I want to be aware of what you're doing. I've already been invited to Chicago.
I had an invitation to go to London, and I wasn't even a Commander-in-Chief yet,
but I need you to work through Faron. Everybody sees him. You know what he
looks like.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All right? So, we’re gonna work through Faron.
We’re gonna have a good year. We’re gonna have a great year. When the year is
over, we’re gonna have a better, bigger, stronger SUVCW but remember what I
said, no one man standing right here, makes that happen. It takes you. and you,
and him. It takes Freshley. It takes Danny. It even takes Larry back there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry and I are friends, so he doesn’t mind I
picked on him, but we need to be proactive. We passed several resolutions here.
We need to go out and be committed to the things that we've said and done here.
With that, I thank you. Once again, I cannot think of a greater honor in my
entire life than what you have bestowed upon me today and I appreciate it more
than you will ever know. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Written and presented by Mark R. Day 8/12/2018. Copywrite by Mark R. Day 3/4/2020, all rights reserved.</span></b><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-410757722902505812020-03-04T15:58:00.002-08:002020-03-04T15:58:40.872-08:00Very Short Remarks for Antietam Camp Mary Walker MOH Ceremony
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a wonderful setting this
is for honoring Dr. Mary Walker and her singular achievement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bring with me the greetings of Eugene
Mortorff the Commander in Chief of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,
who unfortunately can not be here with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Commander-in Chief Mortorff asked me to present his best wishes to the
Antietam Camp #3 and all those also to those in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my 5<sup>th</sup> time attending a
MOH ceremony put on by the Antietam Camp and I have come to appreciate all the
work and effort made by the camp; to bring this ceremony to the pubic each
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year’s ceremony honoring Dr.
Mary Walker is particularly significant and I applaud your choice of honoree’s.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you
for the invitation to speak and your attention</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-23788105573471945282020-03-04T14:09:00.002-08:002020-03-04T14:09:52.659-08:00Comments for MOLLUS Congress / Gettysburg 10-28-17
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Commander
Simmons, fellow members of MOLLUS, members of DOLLUS, and Guest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I bring the
greetings of the more than 6000 brothers of the Sons of Union Veterans of the
Civil War, who along with myself hope you are having a productive
Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While MOLLUS is not part of
the Allied Orders associated with the Grand Army of the Republic, many of the
brothers of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War can also be found among
your ranks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all we have kindred
missions to preserve the history of the men who fought a war to preserve the
Union and at the same time free a people from the tyranny of slavery.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a few
weeks, I and perhaps many of you will return to Gettysburg and commemorate the
154<sup>th</sup> anniversary of President Lincoln’s short comments during the
dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery; in which those who gave the last
full measure of devotion lie at rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
that now famous speech President Lincoln said that the fields and streets of
Gettysburg could not be consecrated by the words of man; for it had already
been made hallowed by the blood of the brave men who have struggled here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regarding that struggle, I feel a connection
with the words of Lincoln.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see my
Great Great Grandfather Richard Martin Lown, fought here atop Culp’s Hill with
the 150<sup>th</sup> New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gettysburg
was my Great Great Grandfather’s first battle; it is where he saw the Elephant
and it is where he first saw men of his unit fight and die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having learned of his service and the service
of his brothers in arms through the records and diaries they let behind, I
believe he and his comrades would agree that the sacrifices made were great and
that they would treasure the reverent words of Mr. Lincoln’s speech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hope that
each man in this room today would feel likewise; for the men of whom Mr.
Lincoln spoke deserve our acts of remembrance, not only one day a year, but every
day of the year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet sadly, my fellow
companions and brothers, the words of Lincoln, though etched deeply in the
history of our country, may not be permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They must be inculcated to each succeeding generation; lest they be lost
in the swirling storm of events which shape our modern world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plainly stated the education of both our youth
and our less historically informed fellow citizens must be one of our most
pressing goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must teach them to
value the past and particularly the lessons of the American Civil War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This task falls heavily on the shoulders of both
MOLLUS and the SUVCW and we must not shirk from the responsibility.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many forces
are at work in America today with the intention of undermining history and to make
the past seem less relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a
realignment of thinking, bathed in the waters of politics and clothed in the
rich fabric of presentism may jeopardize our ability to fulfill our promise to
perpetuate and keep green the memory of our honored ancestors in an uncertain
future devoid of traditional norms.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the
coming years MOLLUS, the SUVCW, and all other Allied Orders of the Grand Army
of the Republic in cooperation with other Veteran and Heritage groups must out
of necessity work together if we are to be successful in promoting history
education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will need to become more
visible in our communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will need
to utilize media to get out our message and we must formulate cooperative
long-term strategies for achieving our goals.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Companions
and Brothers, I look forward to working with all my Brothers and Sisters who
share my passion and my belief that we can overcome the challenges and ensure
our ancestors are never forgotten.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Again, I
thank you for the invitation to speak and for you kind and thoughtful
attention.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-13863742624834129142020-03-04T14:03:00.003-08:002020-03-04T14:05:19.431-08:00Short Remarks for the Sons of Confederate Veterans Reunion, Franklin Tn, 19 July 2018<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good morning,
I am Mark R. Day Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil
War (Use if a formal introduction is not made.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Members of
the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I bring you the greetings of the members of
the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who extend their best wishes to
you for a productive and harmonious reunion.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am honored
to have been invited to join you this morning to make a few short remarks and
to once more show that a fraternal spirit, as evidenced in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>common goals of preserving the history surrounding the Civil War and
honoring the valor dedication and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>self-sacrifice of our ancestors, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is never lost or forgotten.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These are
challenging times for both of our organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find ourselves living in a world that
seems, at times, to be turned upside down and unrecognizable from that into
which we were born.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bob Dylan
once sang the words “The Times They are a Changing.” Never has that been truer
than today. The future is revealing itself and change is occurring <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at an ever increasing pace; it is important
that our two organizations do everything in our power to keep the memory of our
ancestors present in the minds of our fellow citizens.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Years ago at
the SUVCW National Encampment in St Louis, one of your previous
Commander-in-Chiefs made a statement, that our two organizations need to work
together where possible and whenever possible; because if they didn’t both organizations
would find themselves irrelevant and fail to achieve their goals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe he
was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must seek to find those
projects in which we have a common interest, and I believe this can be
accomplished if we focus on the men who fought the war; our honored ancestors.</span><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We should promote their memory and
ensure that the Civil War is taught in our children’s classrooms</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
<br />
<div style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We should work to ensure that all
veterans monuments are protected and preserved</span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We must inculcate the citizens of our
country on the story of the sacrifices that were made by the common soldier</span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We must work to maintain the graves
of the fallen and teach remembrance to our own children </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe
all these things are achievable, they must be achievable for the benefit of
both organizations. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I want to
again thank the Leadership of the Sons Confederate Veterans for this
opportunity to speak to this reunion and want each of you to know that, I
appreciate the hospitality you have provided me and the warmth and kindness you
have shown this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">May God
Bless each of you and may he bless our country.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</span>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-68274057617409159022020-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:002020-02-28T13:39:38.806-08:00Oration: Remembrance Day 2017 at the Woolson Monument in Gettysburg, PA<br />
<br />
<br />
General Grim, General Shaw, Brothers and Sisters of the
Allied Orders, Guest.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Today we stand upon this immortal
field of battle, which distinguishes itself from all others in our country’s
history by its influence on the outcome of our Civil war and through a speech
containing just 272 words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we do
take time this day to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>remember and honor
the men who sacrifice all to achieve victory in the hard-fought battle, which
occurred in these fields surrounding us, thereby redefining the direction of
the war and setting a course to the Union’s ultimate victory at Appomattox and
Bennet Place in April of 1865.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
also bound by the blood of those hero’s and in gratitude for the life of a
President, who sought to bring about the fulfilment of the ideals and beliefs
of the founding fathers. to assemble in Gettysburg for Remembrance Day to take
notice of an event that happened four months after the great battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For on November 19<sup>th</sup>, 1863
President Lincoln, in only a two-minute speech, redefined the meaning of Thomas
Jefferson’s statement that all Men are created equal imbued with rights to
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Generations of Americans have been
born and passed since the either Lincoln or our Heroes in blue walked this
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that time we have faced many trials and
tribulations, which tested our strength and dedication to preserving the values
of freedom and equality which were won on the field at Gettysburg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever we have been confronted with these
difficult times, we have found our strength in the beliefs found in the
Declaration of Independence and in that short speech given by Lincoln.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
In November of 1863 Lincoln looked
back in history to the words of Jefferson and saw a valuable lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we must do the same in order to find
the proper direction for our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lincoln set his course to end slavery and make Jefferson’s words ring
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He believed that to do anything
less diminished the sacrifice, which had been made and that failing to achieve
that lofty goal would mean the end of the Union.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We owe Lincoln this moment of respect and
reflection, on Remembrance Day, for having the vision to see, that if we stress
the values of freedom and equality, recognize the worth of all mankind, and
fulfill the promise made at the start of our great Republic this nation would
indeed be one in which, all men were created equal and the government of the
people, for the people, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by the
people shall never fail.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Thank you for these few minutes of
your time and this rainy day and may the grace of God continue to bless this
great Union and its people</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Written and presented by
Mark R. Day CinC SUVCW at Remembrance Day 2017, copywrite 2/28/2020 by Mark R.
Day, all rights reserved</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-71028327362478242232020-02-28T08:49:00.000-08:002020-02-28T08:49:26.329-08:00Eulogy given for PCinC Charles Kuhn at the Pennsylvania Department Annual Encampment in June 2017
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This morning, I have been granted the honor of offering a
Eulogy for my SUVCW Brother and friend, PCinC Charles E. Kuhn Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While, I was very aware of the health issues,
which had plagued Charlie for many years, his indomitable spirit led me to hope
for the best. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last visit with Charlie
occurred in October of 2016 while in the area attending a Testimonial Luncheon
for John Frantz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During, that visit, at
Charlie’s home, it was clear that Charlie’s condition had worsened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However true to form Charlie seemed
determined to fight on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Barbara and
I were shocked by the news of his death in the first week of December and
prepared to attend his funeral.<br />
<br />
<br />
I had known Charlie for just ten years, having first meet
him during the 2006 National Encampment in Harrisburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, during those ten years Charlie first
became an advisor, then a mentor, and finally a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the best quality Charlie possessed
was his ability to make friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie
loved to be with other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved
to talk, and he was constantly seeking out people to interact with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie was a man who possessed a big heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heart filled with love for his wife Joanne,
his daughter Michelle, and his Grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A heart that was also large enough to make room for every one of his
Brother and Sisters in the Allied Orders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Charlie had won your friendship, he never
forgot you and you could not forget him.<br />
<br />
<br />
Because of that love for family and friends; Individuals
from the local community joined by Charlie’s friends, Brothers and Sisters, who
came to Gettysburg from Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and so many
other places assembled to say farewell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In his Eulogy that day PCinC Gene Mortorff said he wished Charlie could
have seen how many people there were to honor and remember him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<br />
Charlie was also a Patriot in every sense of the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He believed in his country and he took his
responsibility as a citizen seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was similarly dedicated to the remembrance of our Civil War
ancestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He poured himself into
honoring their memory and invested many hours to projects such as the
Remembrance Day Parade and the re-dedication of the Peace Monument on the
Gettysburg Battlefield.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, a couple of personal reflections, I would like to
say that Charlie and I shared a few moments that I will cherish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2009, I invited Gene Mortorff to attend
the first ever Lincoln Birthday Dinner put on by my Camp in Lynchburg, VA and Charlie accompanied him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evening was going well and entertainment,
in the form of a period group singing Lincoln’s favorite songs, was nearing its
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well the last song that the group
chose to play was “Dixie”, a song Lincoln said was his favorite, and of course
being in the south and many of our members, guest and wives being descended from
both sides of the War; they stood for the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well Charlie looked like a deer caught in a headlight but finally also
stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me that was proof that
Charlie was open minded and ecumenical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My second reflection proves another aspect of Charlies humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my wife was struck with Breast Cancer,
Charlie showed real concern for her and kept track of her status.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During his own personal battle with Cancer he
sought to comfort and support us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is real friendship and real love for your fellow human being.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-57778514802443580872019-12-23T05:24:00.000-08:002019-12-23T13:08:41.524-08:00“Seeking Peace Amid Holiday Chaos“ <br />
<br />
<br />
Finding peace begins in the heart of the individual.<br />
<br />
Finding peace is offering forgiveness and love.<br />
<br />
Finding peace is accepting God’s plan for us.<br />
<br />
Finding peace is submitting to God’s will.<br />
<br />
Finding peace is discovering God’s great gift; our Emmanuel<br />
<br />
Finding peace is knowing God’s presence in our lives<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, lay aside your burdens and your cares.<br />
<br />
Let go the concerns of the season. <br />
<br />
Peace will come and chaos will be dispelled<br />
<br />
Calm will manifest itself; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>silencing the noise of the world<br />
<br />
In that silence, if we listen closely, can be heard a voice<br />
<br />
A voice, which will gently warm the heart and refresh the
soul<br />
<br />
The sound of love, which came down from Heaven; on that Christmas
morn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Poem written and published by Mark R. Day, 12/23/19,
Copyright by Mark R. Day all Rights Reserved<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-4309152476306970472019-06-12T05:13:00.001-07:002019-06-12T05:13:38.975-07:00Photo: Last Snow of Winter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VrMt1QrBvPQ/VEb-ShkW1AI/AAAAAAAAAZY/fxn9ZvRcc24/s1600/snow%2B%2B1-17-13%2B048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VrMt1QrBvPQ/VEb-ShkW1AI/AAAAAAAAAZY/fxn9ZvRcc24/s1600/snow%2B%2B1-17-13%2B048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Copyright by Mark R. Day, all rights reserved 6/12/19</div>
<br />Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-48072737033166775652019-05-26T15:13:00.001-07:002019-05-26T15:13:22.743-07:00Offeratory Prayer (Memorial Day Weekend 2019) Heritage UMC
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Everlasting Lord,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We come before you today with our prayers and our humble
offerings knowing that you are the source of all the blessings, which have been
bestowed upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We confess that we
sometimes let the uncertainties in our daily lives confuse and distract us from
heeding your call to be generous with our love and our assets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give us the courage to express our gratitude
to you, for our salvation through your death and resurrection, by becoming a
church that practices its faith by actions and deeds that strengthens your
teachings in our community and our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gracious Lord we would also ask, on this Memorial Day weekend, that you
bless the lives of your sons and daughters who have departed this world in
service to the cause of justice and liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>we lift up the families and friends of those who made the ultimate
offering by giving their lives that others may live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Amen</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark R. Day, 5/26/2019</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-32782313238925209622019-05-26T15:02:00.000-07:002019-05-26T15:02:59.100-07:00Poem: Columbia Mourns Her Lost Sons and Daughters<br />
<br />
Columbia, like a mother, mourns for all her fallen sons and
daughters; heart broken by the sorrowful knowledge, that their voices have been
forever silenced by bitter fate.<br />
<br />
All those bold young hearts now devoid of life; no longer
pulsing with song nor laughter.<br />
<br />
All their spirit, kindness, joy, and love; encased within
the earth never again to brighten a weary world.<br />
<br />
They are forever as they were and can never be anything more.<br />
<br />
So, forgive them of their perceived ills in life and let
them sleep undisturbed.<br />
<br />
They are as the dust, their journey of life complete.<br />
<br />
No other dawn nor sunset shall they see<br />
<br />
They march now in the great host of host amid the starry
night.<br />
<br />
They are far removed and from this world of human contempt, hate,
and spite. <br />
<br />
So, Columbia mourn their passing, morn their loss, and hold
their memory close. <br />
<br />
It is their due and our obligation, to remember them with a raised
glass and never-ending toast.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Written and Presented by Mark R. Day on 5/26/2019, all rights
reserved by the author.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-70494890287710203942019-05-26T14:57:00.001-07:002019-05-26T15:16:13.664-07:00Oration for Decoration Day at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, VA Sunday 26 may 2019<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Memorial Day has always held a place in my heart, that reflects both
great pride and great pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When, I was
a child it was called Decoration Day and, in the days, immediately preceding
Decoration Day my mother, and I would walk around my hometown house to house asking
for donations and passing out paper poppies for the Veterans of Foreign
Wars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a parade, which brought
out all the people in town, and in which my Uncles and others marched
resplendent in the uniforms they had worn in WW II and Korea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a program, following the parade, at
the towns war monument to honor the men who had gone off from our small town to
America’s Wars, replete with pomp and ceremony, the reading of names, the
placement of flags, and ending in a crescendo of rifle fire followed by the
sound of Taps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole experience was
thrilling and to a younger me, it was a celebration that was the prelude to
summer and the end of the school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was just beyond my grasp to truly understand its meaning and
importance to the men who stood so solemnly at attention and sometimes shed a
tear in remembrance.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the years passed and I became more aware of the world, what was now
called Memorial Day became a different experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw boys, I knew go off to war in Vietnam; and
some of them were lost in that distant land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Memorial Day took on a deeper and more painful meaning as, I heard their
names called out in the service of remembrance at the war monument and the
thunder of the guns followed by Taps became more poignant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to really understand the sacrifice of
each American soldier, now I could feel both pride and sadness in the sound of
Taps, and I understood the need to remember and honor them all.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Around us lie the mortal remain of more than 2200 American soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, American soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not refer to them by the color of
their uniform or the side they fought for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To do so is irrelevant and does not do justice to the fact that most
fought not for causes or issues, but rather as all soldiers do; they fought, in
the end, for the man on their left and they fought for the man on their right,
their brothers in arms, tent mates, and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the aftermath of war and the death, pain,
and destruction that it causes those who have lost their lives are mourned
first by their loved ones and friends, and later by those many descendants,
whose lives are inherently and invariably connected to them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time has passed and memory faded, we are
left with only the words, which are inscribed on the headstones that surround
us as a reminder that they ever existed in this mortal realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the reality of time, memory, and the
human condition, we can become disconnected from the past unless we make a
conscious effort to inculcate the act of remembrance through ritual and
ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one of my favorite movies
the leading character is given a watch by the men he has led for many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside the watch are the words
“Lest we Forget” The character is overcome by the gift and clutches it close as
he fights to hold back a tear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it
must be for us in today’s ceremony and in the all the ceremonies that will come
in the future to pledge ourselves to live by the motto “Lest we Forget” and
dedicate ourselves to the cause of remembrance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>make the emotional connection with the past, and feel our hearts stirred
or shed a tear </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have often walked in this section of the cemetery at all sorts of
hours and sought to glean some insight to the common thread, which exists
between the soldiers from both sides of that terrible conflict who are buried
in this sacred plot of earth<a href="file:///C:/Users/Day/Desktop/OCC%20Oration%202019.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have contemplated the conversations that
might occur between former enemies as they seek solace in this bivouac of the
dead in the eerie stillness of the darkest hours of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have stood here in early morning light,
noon day sun, and in the darkness of the evening wondering what the spirits of
these men might be thinking about this country and its people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they worry that we will not honor the commitment
made to them years ago to never forget them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do they wonder why so few come to pay respects?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they often feel forgotten?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the musings of my mind, I suspect that if
they could their speak to us the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>answer
to all these questions would be YES and that is why we must do everything
possible to make things right.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In our country today, we find our commitment to remember some American
soldiers of the past called into question and our motives for honoring them
subjected to scrutiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are those
who would say we should forget these men and move on, but I would say to them a
resounding NO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my sixty-seven years
of life have taught me nothing else, they have taught me that shared
experiences, such as this one we are involved in today, are the glue which
holds a culture, a people, a nation together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of our citizens today see Memorial Day as, I did in my youth; a
celebration of summer with no emphasis on the true meaning of the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no ties to the past; they have no
connection to the fallen, they have lost the sense of respect that the joined
experience of remembrance and honoring the war dead in our society provided. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result,
a destructive discord has arisen, which threatens the vary foundations of our
National Unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To disavow any American Soldier whose actions or service, i.e. Vietnam,
Civil War, Indian Wars or Mexican War, does not fit into our modern world viewpoint
is a disservice to all veterans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead
of honor will there be hate and retribution masked as moral correctness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope not, but there is an insensitivity and
an unwillingness to stop the use of presentism when looking at our history in
America today. </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In my mind no American soldier should ever be discounted and discarded,
every life which was lost was a wound to our country, our communities, and
families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should not accept or give
countenance to actions which disrespect the life of any American Soldier, for
if we do, we are disavowing the very essence of who we are and where we came
from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only pray that the citizens
of my country will perhaps grow as, I did with age and experience, and realize
the importance of honoring the men and women of the past who gave everything so
that we might have the life we do today, regardless of the historical context
in which they lived and died. </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In conclusion please listen to the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> verses
of Francis Miles Finch’s poem “The Blue and the Grey” </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
From the silence of sorrowful hours</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
The desolate mourners go,</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Lovingly laden with flowers</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Alike for the friend and the foe:</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Under the sod and the dew</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Waiting for judgement-day;</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Under the roses the Blue, </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Under the lilies, the Grey</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
No more shall the war cry sever,</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Or the winding rivers be red;</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
They banish our anger forever</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
When they laurel the graves of our
dead!</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Under the sod and the dew</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Waiting for judgment-day,</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Love and tears for the Blue,</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Tears and love for the Gray.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
It is my hope that we can find it
in our hearts to practice love for all and to shed tears for all of America’s
lost sons and daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also my
hope that we, Americans will follow the maxim “Lest we Forget” and restore the
true meaning of Memorial Day / Decoration Day in the hearts of all our
Citizens.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wish to thank the ladies of the UDC for granting me this opportunity
to speak on this most special of days,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and I pray that as a people we never forget any American soldier who
shed his blood and may we as a nation find a pathway to reconciliation and
unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Day/Desktop/OCC%20Oration%202019.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span></a> If
necessary, point out the graves of Union Pvt. Bobbitt and Pvt. Ferguson in the Confederate section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> also point out</span> that there are several USCT buried
in the Old City Cemetery.</div>
</div>
Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-59794769498430252112018-04-17T19:09:00.001-07:002018-04-17T19:11:39.266-07:00Speech: Given at Lincoln Tomb Ceremony 4/14/18 in Springfield, Illinois<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Remarks Lincoln Tomb 4/14/18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">President Agosto, President Cleveland, President Greenwalt,
Commander-in-Chief Rojo, Special Guest, Brothers and Sisters of the Allied
Orders, and Friends.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Regardless of the Weather and our personal comfort it is our
sacred obligation to be here honoring the Life and remembering the Death of
Abraham Lincoln the 16th and, to my mind, most significant President of the
United States.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Recently the Brothers of the Garfield Camp, SUVCW, in
Baltimore, gifted me with a small book titled Lincoln’s Daily Devotional.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The book contains the original text of “The
Believer’s Daily Treasure or Texts of Scriptures arranged for everyday
use.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In life President Lincoln was
known to possess a copy of this work, which his pastor and presented to
him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning, I want to read the
passage which is designated for April 14th.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me” John v.39”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Lord, thy teaching grace impart, that we may
not read in vain; Write thy precepts on our heart, Make thy truths and doctrine
plain; Let the message of thy love guide us to thy rest above.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I suppose at this point you are wondering were, I am going
with this.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Well, I would like you to
envision Abraham Lincoln sitting in his study on the morning of April 14th,
1865 reading, contemplating, and reflecting upon the devotional.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Would his mind like mine begin to associate
the events which had transpired those four long years of heartache and
bloodshed, which only five days earlier seemed to have come to an end in
Appomattox, VA, and wonder if his efforts in word and deed; would be a
testimony to future generations.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Would
he ask himself if he been able to impart the value of granting grace to those
who had fought against us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Had he been
able to share his precepts of justice and etch them upon the hearts of his
countrymen?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did he make clear the truth
of his intent?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For me the answer is a resounding YES!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham Lincoln’s legacy resounds clearly in
our national memory and his words were not uttered in vain but enhanced and
expanded the very foundations of our beliefs about the character of
America.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Listen to his message of grace
and hope for all Americans<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“With malice
toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us
to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the
nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his
widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Listen to his instructions on precepts “Four
score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new
nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are
created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that
nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is rather for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure
of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government
of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Lastly listen to these Lincoln
Quotes “It is not my nature, when I see a people borne down by the weight of
their shackles - the oppression of tyranny - to make their life more bitter by
heaping upon them greater burdens; but rather would I do all in my power to
raise the yoke than to add anything that would tend to crush them” and “Our
defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage
of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted
the seeds of despotism around your own doors.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">May Lincoln’s words be the eternal light which shines in the
darkest of times, may they teach us humility, instill a love of peace, and
promote a sense of Grace for all mankind now and forever.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">May the words of Lincoln be written on your hearts and may
those words guide us to live lives which testify to the power of his legacy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">May God bless the soul of Abraham Lincoln and grant his Grace
upon the United States of America</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thank you for your attention.</span></div>
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Written and given by Mark R. Day 4/14/18, Copyright by Mark R. Day 4/14/18, all rights reserved</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-91219506715699038802017-10-12T08:51:00.002-07:002017-10-12T08:51:38.896-07:00Comments for Lexington park Medal of Honor Ceremony 9/30/2017
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comments for Lexington park Medal of Honor Ceremony
9/30/2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only a few short years ago, I was privileged to be part of
the ceremonial guard for the unveiling of this magnificent statuary tribute to
the three medal of honor awardees; Sgt. Harris, Pvt. Barnes, and Quartermaster
Hayden, who’s service we are here to remember today and all the men of St.
Mary’s County who placed their lives on the line to preserve the Union and free
a people from bondage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our current era of history, when symbols have become
front page news, this monument takes on even more importance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A primary goal of the Sons of Union Veterans
is the remembrance of men like those named on this monument.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We seek to, as we say, keep green the memory
of the sacrifices made by both the soldier and his family to ensure that
President Lincoln’s bold vision of emancipation and his pledge that “Government
of the People, for the people, and by the people should not perish from the
Earth” would prevail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was the men, whose names appear in such bold relief upon
this monument, and many thousands of others who joined the United States
Colored Troops, that took up the great work of fulfilling Lincoln’s call to
complete the rebirth of our nation under the principles originally stated in
Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were willing to commit their lives to a
greater cause.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For they not only fought
to preserve the Union and establish freedom in the United States; they fought
to achieve respect and equality for an entire race of human being who had for
too long lived under the shadow of oppression and servitude.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Insert Adlib</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">– A previous speaker had noticed that the
park was full of young men playing organized football as their parents watched
from bleachers overlooking the fields.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I addressed those attending the Medal of Honor ceremony thusly “I would
ask each of you, why aren’t those young men and their parents here with
us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t they know how important
remembering those who gave so much to ensure that they have the freedom they
are enjoying?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Let me say this.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I find no fault in the young men or their
parents.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The fault lies in the lack of
knowledge they have about the men named on this monument and that has led to
their perceived indifference.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My mother
once told me that if you are remembered you never die but if your name becomes
lost to history and meaningless you truly die forever.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Will that be the fate of the names on this
monument?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Only time will tell, but I
pray it will not be so.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, here we are.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have
come here to reaffirm these men and remember their names in a society that is
less and less aware of them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To us falls
the obligation to ensure that these men do not die forever, that they are
remembered by future generations for their dedication to the cause of freedom,
and honored for their valor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We, the
living descendants and recipients of the freedoms and privileges they struggled
to obtain; must fulfill our obligation to all the men who Lincoln said, “Gave
the last full measure of devotion.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
must hold ourselves accountable for preserving their memory and commit our
every energy to educate our youth and perpetuate a sense of duty within society
to never forget those of the past and their efforts to bequeath us the great
nation we live in today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speech written and presented by Mark R. Day, September 30<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
2017 at the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> Annual Medal of Honor Ceremony held by the Sgt.
James H. Harris Camp #38 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Lexington Park,
Maryland. Copyright by Mark R. Day 9/30/2017, all rights reserved</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-46982778857782501982017-04-16T13:07:00.003-07:002017-04-16T15:26:11.173-07:00 Welcoming remarks as MC of the Lincoln Death Day Luncheon Brothers and Sisters,<br />
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I wish to welcome you to the Lincoln Death Day Luncheon. It is my privilege and pleasure to be the Master of Ceremonies for this event as well as the earlier ceremonies at the Tomb. I hope that each of you are enjoying the beautiful day that God has granted us and it is my heartfelt wish, that each of you have been able to connect with old friends or discover new friends with whom you will now share this meal. Let this be a special time filled with the conversations and fond remembrances, which will strengthen the bonds of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty that keep us steadfast in fulfilling our purposes as the Allied Orders and entreat us to act in harmony and with respect for each other. For only in that manner can we ever hope to inculcate all citizens with a love for those who gave the last full measure of devotion to preserve this country, and more especially honor the memory of our beloved President Lincoln, whom we are gathered to honor.<br />
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Written and presented by Mark R. Day 4/15/17. Copyright by Mark R. Day 4/15/17, all rights reserved.Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-22246061592039074752017-04-16T12:48:00.000-07:002017-04-16T12:48:06.254-07:00Welcoming Remarks as MC for the Lincoln Death Day Ceremonies in Springfied, Ill. 4/15/17Good morning! Welcome to the annual Lincoln Death Day Ceremony. I am Mark Day, SVCinC of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and today's Master of Ceremonies. It is very fitting, that we gather here this morning for it was one hundred and fifty two years ago, this very day, that our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, succumbed to his assassins bullet and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton uttered that now famous statement "Now he belongs to the ages." We now stand here, in front of Lincoln's final resting place as witnesses to the power and permanence of Stanton's words. It is our duty and responsibility to inculcate our fellow citizens with the same sense of duty we carry within our hearts and to ensure the continuity of this tradition which honors the memory of Abraham Lincoln. Let us never loose sight of that mission. <br />
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Remarks Written by and presented by Mark R. Day 4/15/17. Copyright by Mark R. Day 4/15/17, all rights reserved.Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-52717954325470560872016-09-10T14:27:00.001-07:002017-09-02T09:55:00.457-07:00Speech: Short Remarks given at Mount Hope Cemetery in Dahlonega, GA <div class="MsoNormal">
Short Remarks given at Mount Hope Cemetery in Dahlonega, GA
on the occasion of a joint SUVCW and SCV grave marker rededication ceremony
9/10/16<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ceremony was organized and
conducted by the Kennesaw Mountain Camp Sons of Union Veterans and Camp #1860
Blue Ridge Rifles Sons Confederate Veterans<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Brothers of the Department of Georgia and South Carolina,
members of Camp 1860 the Blue Ridge Rifles, Sisters of the Allied Orders,
Families and Friends<o:p></o:p><br />
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Good Morning! Isn’t
this a gorgeous day, that God has blessed us with for our ceremonies.<o:p></o:p><br />
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We have gathered here to celebrate the lives of two American
soldiers; Cpl. Isaac G. Rucker (USCT) and Capt. Augustus F. Boyd (CSA).<o:p></o:p><br />
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While these two men wore different uniforms, they are both American
soldiers and both were held in great respect by their birthplace for they are
both listed among the noble dead of Dahlonega.
A fact, which we and all Americans should never lose sight of.<o:p></o:p><br />
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It is most fitting that we have assembled members from both
the Allied Orders and the SCV to conduct a joint ceremony of rededication and remembrance. This joint event acts as a reminder, that all
the men who fought the Civil War were American soldiers who, after the great
and terrible struggle of war, were reconciled and reunited as one nation<o:p></o:p><br />
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Through this ceremony we are demonstrating, that though
enemies in battle these two soldiers offer us a chance to contemplate the
values of duty and devotion they held in common. <o:p></o:p><br />
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It is for us to rededicate ourselves to the task of finding ways to honor all our soldiers without malice. We
must be dedicated to the act of honoring the dead from both sides; for no
American soldier should ever be forgotten. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Written and presented by Mark R. Day 9/10/16. Copyright by Mark R. Day 9/10/16 all rights
reserved<o:p></o:p></div>
Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-57697029218856822272016-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:002016-05-21T08:46:31.176-07:00Quote: The dream of every soul is to find love and success and the uniqueness of our human heart is often revealed by the passion we pour into our relationships. Thus each life is made rich and the dream is fulfilled.<br />
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Mark R. Day, 5/21/2016, copyright by Mark R. Day 5/21/2016, all rights reservedMark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357554532629567269.post-50065459768055441182016-05-21T08:38:00.000-07:002016-05-21T08:49:56.736-07:00Speech: Address for Lincoln-Cushing Camp Memorial Day Ceremony Old Amphitheater Arlington National Cemetery May 30, 2016<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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On May 30<sup>th</sup> 1868, General James A. Garfield, the future 20<sup>th</sup>
President of the United States, stood at this very lectern and presented the
featured oration for the Dedication of this beautiful Amphitheater. Now the privilege of standing here is mine
and we are gathered here to honor the memory all those who rest around us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the past one hundred and forty-eight years this amphitheater has
been a symbol of the fulfillment of the Grand Army of the Republics promise to
keep green the memory of the Boys in Blue 1861-1865. Within the columns this amphitheater we have
faithfully assembled to perform our solemn duty to remember. We are summoned as were our forefathers to
return to this amphitheater, which marks for us, the heart of this hallowed
ground we call Arlington National Cemetery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many Men and Women have come to this place, first as the Grand Army of
the Republic and later as the Allied Orders.
Over the years the names, of those standing on this dais, have changed
but the purpose has always remained the same.
We come to pay homage to the brave men who sleep upon these rolling
hills, embraced in solemnity, peace, and reverence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We also come in part to follow General John A. Logan’s order # 11, which
established our tradition of remembrance.
This historic order was the clarion call for a day to be set aside for
the purpose of remembrance and it created a compact between the living and the dead
that must be reaffirmed by every generation of Americans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Much has occurred in the last one hundred forty-eight years. America has often be forced to deal with
challenges, but through it all we have always kept faith with those who
perished in the defense of our nation. We
have sent our young men and women, of every race and creed, into conflicts far
from home and family to bring hope, equality, and freedom to the oppressed in
every corner of this world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All those years ago General Logan
did not know what the future would hold for America but he hoped that Americans
would never lose sight of the sacrifice, which had been made to preserve our
Union. I find it only fitting for us to
also remember those soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen
who’s remains are forever joined, here in this place, with those of the Civil
War dead. Together they form a Legion of
Heroes to whom we owe an incredible debt for every breath of air and every
blessing of freedom we enjoy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a few minutes we will leave this amphitheater and travel the short
distance to the final resting place of thousands of American Civil War unknown
dead. We will place wreaths, render
honors, and play taps. Each of these
elements are an essential aspect of our ceremonial act of remembrance. However, for me it is my personal act of
remembrance that matters most. It is
taking time to separate ourselves from the myriad pursuits and problems of
daily life to participate in this ceremony that truly counts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The old veterans used the phrase “Lest We Forget” as their motto when
planning and holding their ceremonies of remembrance. I believe that phrase contains the essential
truth of why we are here today. In the
end it is not a date on a calendar or a specific place that defines Memorial
Day; rather it is our individual and corporate dedication to the act of
remembrance that has meaning and the ability to draw us together as a people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, remembrance is a sacred duty each American must share in but we,
the Allied Orders, have an even greater responsibility as leaders in the our
communities and the nation as a whole when it comes to emphasizing and
committing ourselves to honoring and remembering the fallen. We must proclaim the motto “Lest we Forget”
with every ounce of passion and patriotism we possess.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I ask you now here in this place of
honor and respect to join with me in pledging and reaffirming our commitment by
saying “We will Never Forget” “I will
Never Forget”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I thank you for the honor of allowing me to speak to you today, m May
the memory of our fallen brothers and sisters be ever with you, and may God
grant his grace on the United States of America<o:p></o:p></div>
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Written and presented by Mark R. Day 5/21/2016. Copyright by Mark R. Day 5/21/2016, all rights reserved.<br />
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Mark R. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193781654058330243noreply@blogger.com0