My Middle Name is: Confused

Welcome aboard! And don’t forget to mind the knee-knockers!

Here I go again. Call me Mr. Confused. I hope I have all my batteries charged, because I have been sitting here for 45 minutes trying my best to digest an e mail Commander Dave greeted me with this morning.

After conferring with my bride, Frisco Fran, we are at long last underway. I believe we are on the right track.

Yesterday I sat down and followed Commander Dave’s instructions on how to e mail pictures and if I must say so myself I did pretty good. The instructions were clear and to the point and this old fuddy duddy mind of mine was able to comprehend what I was suppose to do.

I e mailed a picture of our WWII monument to our local newspaper for publication in the Memorial Day edition. It was a photo that was taken at 2100 hours. The monument was illuminated, and what a striking illusion it made. If I were to judge it, it would have myself the Pulitzer Prize for Photography (or whatever it is that they give for best photos).

I am going to attempt to link it to this post when I am through rambling on. A week ago today we unveiled the monument and now I am preparing myself for Memorial Day. Once again I am being called upon to read the Roll Call of our honored war dead.

I have had the privilege of doing this for over 30 some odd years. We had 50 names on the list of men that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Ten from WWI, 28 from WWII, 8 from Vietnam and 4 from Korea.

Last Sunday the phone rang and a gentleman called to congratulate me, and my committee, for the outstanding dedication program we had for the unveiling. He informed that he was saddened by the fact that a name had been left off. It was a boyhood friend of his that had been killed in action during World War II.

I was taken completely by surprise because I have been involved with the Memorial Day events for over 30 years and we always read 50 names for the Roll Call of Honored War Dead.

He explained that it wasn’t the fault of Memorial Day committee. He blamed himself for not informing us . It was not until he saw the monument that he faulted himself for not informing us of this gentleman’s name.

He told me, “My friend’s name was Eddie Burke, his name is Edward or Edmund, we called him “Eddie”. We graduated from Canastota High School in 1932 and we both went to Colgate University and graduated from there. “Pinky” Schmidt was our football coach there in Canastota. Eddie was such a good football player that the High School had a trophy named after him that was awarded to the best linebacker on the team annually. It was called the “Eddie Burke” trophy.

“Eddie was killed in action somewhere in the South Pacific. I believe he was a Lieutenant JG or a Lieutenant in the Navy. His name is on a Honor Roll of War Dead in Colgate’s Chapel.”

I thanked him for the information and assured him that I would verify it though the schools and have his name added to both the Memorial and the Roll Call.

Commander Dave, being the whiz he is on computers had it verified in a matter of minutes. He found it on the list of casualties from New York State in WWII. The man’s name was Edmund Burke, Machine Mate 3rd Class, U.S. Navy.

We now have 51 names that will be honored this Memorial Day. Eddie Burke’s name will also be inscribed on the World War II monument with a Gold Star alongside his name. Eddie Burke, you are not forgotten.

I deem it an honor to be the Officer of Day for the reading of the Roll Call. It is a task that is very difficult to do. As each name is announced I give the rank, name, branch of service and place of death. By the time I reach the end of the Roll Call my heart his heavy with sorrow. I think of shipmates lost and the dread of war. It is not an easy task.

Well, with tears streaming down my cheeks I’ll take my leave. Hope you enjoy the beautiful picture of the Town of Lenox World War II Memorial. I’ve entitled it, “The Creation of a Legacy”

Thanks for tuning in folks, and to Commander Dave, your help is so greatly appreciated. I hope to do better. My old business card use to say,”Day by Day - In Every Way - I’m Getting Better and Better”.

I did it again, I wanted the saying to be in italics and then I wanted to go back to the main text font. I thought if I changed to bold, (because there is no plain) it would revert back. No such luck. If you are lucky Dave, and receive this blog - set me straight. That being said, God Bless and be sure and Keep the Faith. - Sailor Jack (Stop laughing please.)

Saturday, May 27, 2006

My Middle Name is: Confused