Well, all this military stuff this weekend has caused me to dust off some old pictures. No, we were not still flying bi-planes in 1954, but we did not have any F-16 either. Some of the guys I can remember and some of them may remember me…I was the right guide, fellows, remember…Sgt. Cole fired me on the spot one day while marching…maybe some of you remember that…We were marching across the parade ground, and I was probably day dreaming about my girl friend or some girl I wanted to make friends with…anyway, Sgt Cole was giving us the old, hut, ever so often…remember…a few steps, then, hut…a few more steps then another, hut…then if he wanted the pace picked up a little, then he would hut 2, hut 4 and then when we were where he wanted us he would settle back to the hut,……hut…well, this one day I am talking about he called us to a halt,  gave us a left face and by the time I reached the squad on the left, he was waiting on me…He says, “Hester, where the hell are you from” and I say, “Alabama, Sir” and he says, “Did you ever plow a mule”…well, being from Alabama I did not want to say no, so I lied and said, “Yes, sir”.  “Well,” he says, “I would have hated to see your rows. You have wandered all over this parade ground. You need to fix your eyes on an object way out in front of you and march toward it. When I give you a new direction, pick another spot to march toward.” He went ahead and replaced me for a time but eventually he put me back in that position. I saw him again a few years later, I was an Airman First Class and he was still a Tech Sgt…It was at Upper Hayford RAF station in England. I could not help but call him sir….He continually corrected me, but it was automatic…I said, “Sgt. Cole, I just can’t help it. You spent to long getting me there. I just can’t quit in a few minutes of visiting.” He was a very nice guy, looking back but at the time, he sure had my number. If any of you guys or any of you guys grandpa served back then, tell them about this post and web site….We even had jet aircraft…with radios and radar….But eyes straight ahead stuff  is good advice for us today, is it not…Fix our eyes on the direction we wish to travel, marching right toward it…If life turns you somewhat, affix your eyes on the next goal and keep on marching….Happy Fourth of July folks….Pete

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”…..Written so many years ago and yet they still go right straight to the heart of any American….So many have fought and died to preserve the things that Americans hold dear and may all future generations carry this banner forward, all long as our nation shall stand….You remember the closing of the Declaration of Independence?…..”And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred Honor.” … Let each of us remember that pledge……Enjoy the Fourth of July,…… thanks to many  thousands of military men and women from the 1776 forward to 2010…..