Yes, I know it wasn't all stardust and beautiful moments. Take algebra and geometry for example.
But the playback machine in my head edits out that sort of thing.
I think we'll all be recording NEW memories to add to our personal CHS movies this weekend at the 70th party. In my film I've already named this chapter: "...and We All Lived Happily Everafter!"
Don't forget to come for the entire event! It begins at 6pm NOT 6:30 on Saturday.
Speaking of re-visiting the past, this will be Ace Reporter Warren Sparrow's second close encounter of his past life in only a few months!
I'll let Warren tell it:
Dear Ed:
Here are photos taken during my day on the USS Oak Hill, LSD 51, steaming off the Virginia coast. I was one of six people from our county who participated in the Navy's "Leaders to Sea" program.
The Big Day was 20 September 2006. We met the admiral in charge of the surface warfare forces, boarded a helicopter at the Norfolk Naval Air Station and plopped onto the Oak Hill which was about 30 miles off Virginia Beach. During the day we learned a lot about the "new" Navy in general and the Oak Hill in particular. The ship is 600 feet long. As you can tell from the photo, the Oak Hill has the capability to open its stern and to allow various water-born craft to "swim" inside.
The Navy treated us well. We spent much of the time with the ship's captain. We had lunch in his quarters. After we had been on the ship for about five hours, our helicopter taxi returned to ferry us back to the air station. The weather was perfect, the sea relatively calm. A good time was had by all. By the way, taxpayer, we paid twenty dollars apiece for the lunch.
It was quite a day. It was the first time I had been on a US Navy ship while it was underway in more than 44 years. I was struck by the fact that the "new" Navy looks much like the one I knew. The ships are painted the same gray. The passageways, the hatches, the ladders and the bulkheads look the same. Even the stenciled lettering looks the same.
The electronic stuff is far advanced and there are many more gadgets. But, the most dramatic change is this: There are women sailing on the ships of the 2006 Navy. I know this has been Navy policy for several years but I had never really seen it. From what I saw on the Oak Hill, it seems to work fine.
Keep up the good work. Becky and I are looking forward to the 70th party.
Sitting up and taking nourishment, I remain
Your faithful servant,
Warren
