Subject: Words of Wisdom from a Cowboy
An Old Cowboy's Advice:
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Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
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Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
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Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
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A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere
Tractor.
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Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
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Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
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Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
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Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
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You cannot unsay a cruel word.
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Every path has a few puddles.
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When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
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The best sermons are lived, not preached.
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Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
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Don't judge folks by their relatives.
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Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
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Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older
And think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
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Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
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Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
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If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'
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Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
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The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every morning'.
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Always drink upstream from the herd.
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Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
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Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
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If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some
Influence; try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
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Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
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Leave the rest to God.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Footloose Phil
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Election News
At the February membership meeting the President will charge the Nomination Committee with the task of collecting a slate of candidates to run for the various Chapter offices. Danny Bantz and Lawrence Wilson make up this committee. If you are so inclined to run for office you must submit your name to them in writing with a short statement of which office you intend to run for. You have until the March membership to submit your name and to be placed on the ballot. If you miss the deadline you will have to be nominated from the floor on election night. This is an official notice for the April elections which will be held at the April 2 2007 membership meeting also known as the annual meeting.
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The Grim Reaper
I didn’t know what else to call it but it did get your attention. FY 2006 Chapter 172 became the largest VVA Chapter in the nation. We are currently closing in on 850 members. Now for the sad part or the inevitable part also in the same year 18 members passed away. This is just something to think about; maybe it’s time for you to start having some fun.
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Gangsta News
In light of the current announcement in the Cumberland newspaper that there are gangs active in Cumberland a meeting was held recently and several members have decided to start their own gang. It was the general consciences that we could be some bad-ass gangstas. Some of the preliminary ground work and membership requirements are already in the development stages,
A serious name that would strike fear was needed so it was decided so they call themselves “Redneck Nation.” Since all real gangs have hand signs to identify themselves the “RN” hand sign will be to take your right hand and slap yourself on the back of the neck then give the middle finger salute. The requirement for membership is that you must be A Vietnam Veteran currently taking at least three medications supplied by the VA. The VA hospital will be known as the “Mothership.” Official attire for “RN” will be a flannel shirt with the sleeves cut off and the top two buttons open. The spiritual leader for the gang will be “Larry the Cable Guy.” The official song will be “Rednecks, white socks and Blue Ribbon Beer.” There will be no auxiliary members or social members, no male guest will be allowed at gang social functions. Wives and girlfriends will not be allowed either. The only female guest must be ladies of ill repute and they must be younger then the average age of the gang members. Now here in lies a problem, two actually; what to do with female Vietnam Veterans, and what to do with really old vets (Harold Stallings) who would cause the average age to go distastefully higher. But, as I said this is still the planning stage. Also we have to have an official tattoo. It was decided that it would be something like half the Japanese flag with a middle finger salute on the sun. The official ride will of course will be a pick up truck (4x4 only.) All members will be required to own a shot gun, for ceremonial purposes only. The motto will be “Mess with the bull you get the horns.” Except the first word is not mess, you know what I mean. Now the next thing to do is you must have a cool gang name, but it has to be redneck sounding. For example; Ice Clyde, Big Thumper, Pig Slopper Ice, you get the drift. Now we must have a crime activity that we will be known for, nothing too dangerous, or anything that makes us have to run. It has been suggested that we pirate music videos and steal condiments from fast food restaurants. Oh yes the official drink will be Blue Ribbon Beer. More to follow.
Peace out!
Big Dog Ice.
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Let’s Talk
Editorial Opinion
Maybe the French have the right idea, if something doesn’t bother them they don’t get involved with it. They aren’t in Iraq or Afghanistan or too many other places. They take two hour lunch breaks, six weeks of vacation every year, drink lots of wine and make lots of love. They don’t do nation building and send their troops to every half-ass country on the globe. In France you don’t have to “hit one for French” to talk on the phone and they don’t allow foreign languages on official documents, they are not multi cultural. They also don’t want foreigners moving to their country. Any of this sound familiar?
Congress passes a bill for a 700 mile long fence to be built to stop illegal aliens from coming in from Mexico but then they didn’t fund it. So then they send 600 national Guardsmen to the border and tell them that they have no authority to do anything. So last week the NG’s spot four armed men coming across the border and what do they do? They obey their orders, they retreat, call the Border Patrol. The BP can’t get their and the four armed illegals disappear.
Meanwhile in Hagerstown, Maryland a five year old boy was arrested for sexual harassment for pinching a little girl on the butt. So I guess here in Maryland at least we have moral decay on the run.
Back to the fence on the border, what makes them think we can build a fence to secure the border when we can’t build levies to secure New Orleans. Almost two years after Katrina New Orleans still looks worse than anything I ever saw in Vietnam. Back to the fence if it ever becomes reality and keeps illegal aliens out won’t it also keep the 10 million illegals already here in? Meanwhile guess who is doing a lot of the work in New Orleans. That’s right, illegal aliens.
You know what would straighten all this mess out, a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning and allow prayer in school.
Rumor has it that the 372nd M.P. Company may be deployed once again. Hope this is just a rumor, but if it is reality – leave the cameras at home.
According to the State of Maryland if Maryland were to get hit with a Katrina level disaster there are no Maryland, National Guard troops available to be activated to help their home state.
Also speaking about National Guard I read in the paper last week that the department of Defense has lifted the ban on the number of tours that a National Guardsman can be activated and for how long. They almost made it sound like a perk, even though they still won’t be considered a veteran with full benefits. Oh and I almost forgot congress got a pay raise this year.
One more thing if we all hate political correctness where does it come from? Who determines it? I have never heard anyone say that they like PC so where does it come from and why does it bother us so much?
Back to the fence one more time. East Germany built a wall to keep their people in and us out, how did that work our for them? I’d ask them, but their not around anymore.
Steve Parsons
January 2007
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Correspondence
Dear Steve
Enclosed is the poem of our conversation this morning. Mrs. Amodei’s son took her to ‘The Wall” in Washington, D.C. shortly before succumbing to cancer, probably from Agent Orange.
Sometime after she wrote the poem, a friend of hers told her that a painting by Mr. Teter called “Reflections” so perfectly described her poem that she had to investigate the coincidence.
She called me for help in having the poem dedicated to her son after he died. She was the one who told me about the Cumberland Chapter 172.
Anything you can do to help her poem get into print would be greatly appreciated, and would certainly fulfill a mother’s dream of having her son recognized.
She is very agreeable to have you call her at any time for any reason.
Thank you for your help and consideration.
Semper Fi
Dennis Kavanagh
Program Chairman
Grsand Canyon Chapter 33
4th Mar. Div. Assoc.
I TOUCHED THE WALL
For all the men who answered the call
Ten years after the war , They’ve built a wall
Names of the dead ---- row after row
It took recognition ---- so long to grow
I walked along ---- And felt a chill
Honor and pride in their presence ---- So still
With a lump in my throat ---- Tears filled my eyes,
I touched the wall ---- and to my surprise
It touched me back, As if to say
In a very solemn way ----
“Wanted to be among my brothers ---
Not the chosen to fall----
Wanted back to the world ---- Alive----
Not a name etched on a wall,
Wanted to hear, “Thank You” ----
For a job well done
Or a voice saying,
“Welcome home, son,
The men who went are being honored now
Word got through to the world ---- somehow
Now it seems the wars’ anger is in the past
And everyone’s’ talking of our plight - at last
The Vietnam War and its controversy
Have taken their place ---- in history
Before you leave ---- We wanted to say ----
“Enjoy your freedom ---- Everyday
Don’t ever discount your liberty
“For we’ve all died ---- To keep you free”
Yes, I touched the Wall ----
And to my surprise
It touched me back
Filling my heart and eyes….
Alma Olsen Amodei
P.O. Box 595
Youngtown, AZ 85363
Tel. # 623- 875- 1381
Dedicates to: John Michael Amodei
U.S. Army Vietnam Vet
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Friday’s At the Chapter
The weekly TGIF at the Chapter has become an unusually large crowd leaving some of us to wonder “who are those people?” We now have guest bringing in guest. Once again we will ask you if you bring a guest in with you that you explain to them that they are with you. When you leave they leave. The fact that they have been a guest one time they are not welcome to come back on their own anytime they want to. This is a veteran’s organization and perhaps the only place on earth that where veterans come first. Also, the BOD has decided that the weekly sign up will be split into two separate jackpots once it reaches $500. And while we are looking at the weekly sign up I will remind you that you can not sign up for somebody who is not present, that would be cheating. Also you will no longer be able to sign up on Wednesday night. Friday night will be the only time you can sign the book and you must be present to win.
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Socials and Such
In March and April we will be making out the list for the upcoming year of socials, TGIF and various parties and functions. If you feel like you would like to host one of these event and make the preparations and arrange for the food etc. contact Roger Krueger. All events are funded and will require no out of pocket expense to you.
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Subject: Sailor in heaven
A Sailor, after living a full life and being the best possible sailor and proud member of the US Navy dies. When he got to heaven, God was showing him around.
They came to a modest little house with a faded Navy Crest in the window.
"This house is yours for eternity," said God. "This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here."
The Sailor felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up to the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story mansion with a Gold carpet rolled on the pathway, 50 foot tall Scarlet and Gold statue with the enormous Eagle, globe and anchor. In every window, there was Marine paraphernalia.
The Sailor looked at God and said, "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was a good citizen, I served my country well, and I did the best I could for my people and my service."
God asked, "So what do you want to know?"
"Well, why do the Marines get a better house than me?"
God chuckled and said, "That's my House."
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Two Families From The Middle East
These two families from the Middle East move to America. The two fathers are talking and the one said to the other.
“I will bet you that in one year my family is more American than yours.” So the bet was made and a year flew by and the two fathers meet to determine the winner.
The first father said. “My son is in the Little League, I had McDonalds’ for breakfast and I am on my way in my pick up truck to get a case of Budweiser. The other father just looked at him and said.
“Shut up towel head.”
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Chapter Meetings
Chapter meetings are the first Thursday of each month at 20:00 hours at the Chapter Home 17 North Liberty Street, Cumberland, Maryland. Boards of Directors meetings are the first Thursday beginning at 18:00 hours and the third Wednesday of each month at 18:00 hours. All chapter members are encouraged to attend both the membership and Board of Directors meetings.
email the editor Steve Parsons … s-eparsons@atlanticbb.net
CHAPTER 172 OFFICERS AND BOARD FOR
2005-2006
