National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day

Posted on April 15, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

On April 8, 2014, President Barack Obama signed the official documents proclaiming April 9, 2014 as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. Today, Cindy, her mom and dad, and I attended the National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day ceremony at the Orlando Veterans Administration Health Center in Baldwin Park.

April 9th is used as the date of recognition in honor of the day in 1942 when United States forces were surrendered on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines and the infamous Bataan Death March took place.

One of the most interesting parts of the event was The Missing Man Table Ceremony conducted by the Timber Creek Air Force Junior ROTC Honor Guard . I took this photo beforehand and I’m glad I did because once I saw how it was being conducted, I did not want to disrupt the solemn ceremony.

Missing Man Table Ceremony
The first 4 minutes of this video are very similar to the ceremony we saw:

I tease my father-in-law sometimes (and he graciously allows me to do so), but I have always held the utmost respect for his service to our country and the sacrifice he and his family made while he was a Prisoner Of War in Vietnam for 6 ½ years. I was honored to attend this National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day event today with him.

Here are some other photos I took at the ceremony.

The Timber Creek Air Force Junior ROTC Honor Guard perform the Parading of the Colors.

The Timber Creek Air Force Junior ROTC Honor Guard perform the Parading of the Colors.

The former POW's who were in attendance at today's recognition ceremony. My father-in-law is the 4th from the left.

The former POW’s who were in attendance at today’s recognition ceremony. My father-in-law is the 4th from the left.

Some of the former POW's pose with members of the Timber Creek Air Force Junior ROTC Honor Guard.

Some of the former POW’s pose with members of the Timber Creek Air Force Junior ROTC Honor Guard.

 

 

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Ken Burns Speaks About National Parks At Rollins College

Posted on April 14, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Last Monday night Cindy and I joined approximately 2,000 other folks at the Alfond Sports Center on the campus of Rollins College to hear celebrated director and producer of documentary films Ken Burns speak on the subject of our National Parks.

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As lovers and supporters of National Parks, and having the distinct pleasure of living in our little log cabin right next to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cindy and I were excited to hear the presentation.

We also had the unexpected pleasure of running into our friend Art, who saw us walk in and raced down from his seat to say “Hi” to us. Art built his own, and I mean built his own cabin by hand, not far from ours on the same mountain.

Burns spoke for approximately 90 minutes about his experiences over the years of traveling to and filming in the country’s 58 National Parks, regaling us with stories from his own youth and those of his children as they searched for the stories and history of the National Parks program. Having visited Glacier, Yellowstone and the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks myself, it was a real thrill to hear him mention some of the same magnificent sections of those parks that I had seen.

Ken Burns at Rollins COllege

Afterward, he spent about 30 minutes answering questions from the audience and sharing further inside stories relating to his other documentaries.

Crowd at Alfond Sports Center to hear Ken Burns

If you ever have the opportunity to hear Ken Burns speak, about any of his documentary subjects, I heartily recommend you do so.

Close up of Ken Burns speaking at Rollins College

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Is This The Best Mailman Note Ever?

Posted on April 13, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I’d do it for a Butterfinger! That’s my favorite candy bar.

According to reports, it worked.

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Visiting My Brother In Clearwater

Posted on April 13, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Last Saturday Cindy and I drove from Orlando to Clearwater to spend the day visiting with my younger brother, Mark, and my niece, Diana.

I hadn’t seen Mark since our last get together in Manhattan on March 10, 2013 and I’m not even going to guess how much longer it had been since he and Cindy last saw each other, so It was a long overdue visit.

We arrived at Mark’s beautiful home around 9:45 am and after an hour and a half or so of just relaxing and talking, we went in search of a place for lunch, ending up at a mutual favorite, Tijuana Flats.

Tijuana Flats!

Tijuana Flats!

Then we drove across the causeway to Clearwater Beach. A normal 15 minute drive took a little more than hour due to Spring Break crowds that filled the roads with traffic. But we were in no hurry and enjoyed the views and the time to talk and make fun of the other drivers and their passengers.

We stopped by Hulk Hogan’s Beach Shop, but it was closed due to an employee being rushed to the hospital with a broken arm. I guess Hulkamania got loose and ran wild on her. Then we walked over to the beach and took a few pictures while enjoying the sounds of the water and watching the beachgoers. Cindy and I agreed we’d like to return and spend a night or two at a hotel right on the beach, just not during Spring Break.

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Me standing in front of the closed-for-employee-injury Hulk Hogan Beach Shop. Glory days!

Me standing in front of the closed-for-employee-injury Hulk Hogan Beach Shop. Glory days!

Clearwater Beach on a gorgeous April day.

Clearwater Beach on a gorgeous April day.

Leaving Clearwater Beach we drove south on Gulf Boulevard to Indian Rocks Beach where Mark has some rental property. All the units were occupied so we couldn’t tour them, but we did get to see them from the outside as well as the nearby beach. My brother is becoming the combover-less Donald Trump of Pinellas County!

Mark and I as "The Boys Are Back in Town" played in the background on Clearwater Beach.

Mark and I as “The Boys Are Back in Town” played in the background on Clearwater Beach.

Taking the scenic route back to Mark’s home, we arrived just a few minutes before my niece Diana, spent about an hour chatting and catching up and then headed to dinner at a local Japanese Steak House. It was a fun experience and a delicious meal.

My beautiful niece Diana preferred NOT to be in the photo, but rather to take it.

My beautiful niece Diana preferred NOT to be in the photo, but rather to take it.

Afterward, we went back to Mark’s home, drank some excellent Scotch, laughed a whole lot and enjoyed the time we had to spend together. Too soon, it was time to leave.

 

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Daily Needs

Posted on April 12, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I think I MIGHT be able to take 5% of that sleep time and move it over to Internet, lol!

Daily Needs

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This Sounds Like Cindy And Firemen

Posted on April 12, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Anyone who has known my wife for any length of time knows that she has a “thing” for firemen, so I could easily see her doing this if firemen had to do mouth-to-mouth on her.

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Bella’s Third Anniversary

Posted on April 12, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

It was 3 years ago today that we adopted Bella into our home and lives. As I told my friend Desiree the other day over lunch; the pain of losing Wolf was still so sharp that I was not ready to open my heart again at that point, but Cindy was and so we went looking. I think we spent about 6 weeks meeting various rescue dogs and nothing seemed right until we met Bella, one of 7 or 8 (I think) rescue puppies from one litter who were being fostered in a home.

It’s hard to accurately state how much love Bella brought to us. She has been the absolute sweetest dog I have ever been around. She is gentle, loving, playful and has, just by her presence, brought so much peace and joy into our hearts and lives. I can’t imagine her not being with us.

Here are some photos of  her from that day and one from a few days ago.

Cindy and Bella

Cindy and Bella just before we took Bella home on April 12, 2011.

Jeff and Bella

Bella and I on April 12, 2011.

Bella

Bella a few days ago enjoying the garden. She has grown into such a beautiful girl.

 

 

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The Death Of Archie Andrews

Posted on April 11, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Death of Archie AndrewsArchie Andrews, comic book fandom’s favorite redheaded guy, is slated to die this July. Much like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and I don’t know how many other iconic comic book characters, the perennial Riverdale High School student will meet his maker.

Except it won’t be the student Archie who dies, but rather his future self in a flash-forward comic book series called Life With Archie, which has been chronicling the adult life of the ginger-haired teenager for the past 5 years. The comic books detailing his adventures with Betty and Veronica, Jughead, Mr. Weatherbee and Reggie will continue, though you would think that knowing his death is coming in the next few years would cast a pall over most reader’s enjoyment.

We can take comfort in the knowledge that Archie dies a hero and the even surer knowledge that in comic books, no one ever really dies.

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The Sullivans

Posted on April 11, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Last Thursday night our friends, Kirk and Laura, stopped by to visit before their flight out the next day. They brought a chocolate fudge cake from The Dessert Lady shop in Dr. Phillips and good gawd was it fantastic!

As we visited, it occurred to me that we did not have a photo of them with Cindy’s parents, so they were gracious enough to pose for this photo in front of the fireplace.

Kirk, Laura, Kay, Glendon

I have often told Cindy that if she ever divorces me I get her parents, lol. I should also add that I get the Sullivans.

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Social Media For Dogs

Posted on April 10, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

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