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Scribe Notes, November 8, 2018 By: Hermann Welm Don Bierman opened the meeting, held at and hosted by the San Ramon Regional Medical Center, by reminding us that the R.I. President is Barry Rassin, of the Bahamas, and his theme for the year is “Be the Inspiration!” Don next introduced fellow Rotarian, Jim Bell, a member of a local veteran’s organization, to lead us thru a Veteran’s Day program. Jim served in the Army (Airborne) during the Vietnam War, rose to the rank of Sergeant, and was combat wounded. He first showed a video of how our National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, originated during the War of 1812, during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key was in the process of negotiating a prisoner exchange with the British admiral aboard his flagship. Even though they had agreed to the exchange process, their negotiations were cut short as the rest of the fleet arrived and started bombarding the American fort. Key was stranded aboard the British vessel and observed that bombardment, reassuring the American prisoners being held below, that “the flag was still there!” Lowering the flag flying over the fort would have meant that the Americans surrendered and that the bombardment could cease. Key recounted his experience in a poem which was later set to music -- a popular British tune, no less -- and became our National Anthem in 1931. PP Don Jones then led us in the singing of the National Anthem which reminded us that, with 19 semitones, it is an exceedingly difficult song to sing. Even starting in a Baritone voice, by the time you get to the end you’re forced to sing Soprano (or fake it!)! Visiting Rotarians: Joyce Castro, Honorary Rotarian with our club. Other Visitors: Lt Todd Santiago (San Ramon PD), Randy Castro, Jesse Castro, Michael Schneider, Dennis Mills (SRRMC), Alan Waltz, Julie Panis (SRRMC) and Joe Lopes-Cedric. Announcements: None Good News/Fine Free: None. Recognitions: Various veterans were recognized. From World War II, we had Pat Patterson, US Army Air Corps; from the Korean War, Horace Crawford, US Army Intelligence. Eight attendees stood up and talked of their service in the Vietnam War, an one visitor served in Desert Storm. Another seventeen served, but their service was not in combat zones. Jim Bell had a video with songs from the various service branches, and vets from those branches stood for their respective songs. US Army (founded June 14, 1775) – six veterans stood. US Marine Corps (Founded December 10, 1775) – 4 veterans. US Coast Guard (founded August 14, 1790) – Fred Nevarez US Navy (founded April 30, 1798) – 8 veterans. US Air Force (founded September 18, 1947) – 9 veterans. Program: Jim Bell went on to show a video of Paul Harvey, the very famous radio personality who died in 2009, explaining the risks the signers of the Declaration of Independence took. These revolutionaries were not persons who had nothing to lose, the poor, disenfranchised rebels that typically start revolts. These were men of consequence and wealth who staked everything on breaking with the Crown and starting their own country whose principles were totally contrary to the ruling classes of Europe. Many lost everything during the Revolutionary War that followed, including their homes and in some cases their lives. Jim then went on to remind us that Veterans Day was initially called Armistice Day and commemorated the end of hostilities of World War One. That occurred at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The truce was actually signed earlier that morning, yet for symbolic reasons the actual stoppage of fighting was delayed until 11:00 am. Estimates are that an additional 2,700 men died during those hours! The renaming of the day to Veterans Day happened in 1954, in order to recognize the participants of the Second World War and the Korean War. Jim, having been Army Airborne, couldn’t resist showing another video featuring the American Paratrooper Song, set to the music of “Blood Upon the Risers,” or more familiarly, “Gory, gory what a helluva way to die!” Lastly, Jim discussed the current status of recovery of POW’s and MIA’s (prisoners of war and missing in action). In addition to the 58,286 names on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall, there are more than 1,600 POW/MIAs left unaccounted for. Raffle: None; the prize next week will be $350! Next Week’s Program: TBA. Our Greeter will be Pat Patterson. |
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