Yesterday (April 1, 2017) I was doing some site cleanup in anticipation of the annual Scholarship announcements.
I deleted some older posts, and moved some to locations that made more sense to me. There was no intention to publish to the members. I have no idea why this happened, and am sorry for any confusion it caused.
I will warn you in advance that I will be doing some more housekeeping in the near future, and hopefully things will not get away, but since I do not know what caused this last publishing, I fear it may happen again and request you patience.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Marilyn Murphy of Florida, who passed on March 19, 2017 . May she, and all the rest of our classmates who have passed before us, rest in peace. Click here to visit our class Memorial List.
A new page has been created to post fun things our class members are up to. Click hereto visit Fun Stuff
The first entry is a group of classmates out to lunch. If you have something to share, send it to out class email address lehs1965@lynnenglish1965.info
As we approach Veterans Day, I came across the following most of which is from the US Census Bureau and thought it might be of interest to many of you.
Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a remembrance ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Veterans
18.8 million The number of military veterans in the United States in 2015.
1.6 million The number of female veterans in the United States in 2015.
11.6% The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were black. Additionally, 78.3 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.5 percent were Asian, 0.7 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.3 percent were Some Other Race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and Some Other Race cover only those reporting a single race.)
6.4% The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were Hispanic.
9.3 million The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2015. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.
When They Served
6.8 million The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2015. Moreover, there were 5.6 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 930,000 who served in World War II; 1.8 million who served in the Korean War; and 4.3 million who served in peacetime only http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B21002
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during three wartime periods:
61,997 served during the Vietnam Era and both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
29,331 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during two wartime periods:
1,085,142 served during both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later)
288,341 served during the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and the Vietnam Era.
152,416 served during the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
65,704 served during World War II and the Korean War.
Where They Live
3 The number of states with 1.0 million or more veterans in 2015. These states were California (1.6 million), Texas (1.5 million) and Florida (1.5 million).
Education
27.7% The percentage of veterans 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015. In comparison, 30.8 percent of nonveterans had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Income
$38,978 The annual median income of male veterans in 2015, compared with $34,168 for male nonveterans. Source: 2015 American Community Survey http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B21004
$32,446 The annual median income of female veterans in 2015, compared with $22,505 for female nonveterans.
On the Job
7.2 million The number of veterans 18 to 64 years old in the labor force in 2015. Of those veterans, 6.8 million were employed
Service-Connected Disabilities
3.9 million The number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2015. Of this number, 1.2 million had a rating of 70.0 percent or higher. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0.0 to 100.0 percent, and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Voting
11.5 million The number of veterans who voted in the 2014 congressional election. In that election, 54.0 percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 41.0 percent of nonveterans. These rates reflect the citizen population. Source: Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2014, Table 13
Business Owners
405,235 The number of all U.S. employer firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised 7.5 percent of the nation’s 5.4 million employer businesses.
I found this article on the Washington Post site, and thought it interesting.
Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day. Why? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:
Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served — not only those who died — have sacrificed and done their duty.
Veterans Day and Memorial Day have different histories.
The first official observance of Memorial Day was May 28, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:
After World War I, the holiday was extended to all soldiers who had fallen in all American wars.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Veterans Day has its origins in the early 20th century. In November 1919, one year after the armistice ending World War I went into effect, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:
To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. …
In 1938, Congress approved a bill that made Nov. 11 an annual legal holiday known as “Armistice Day” that would honor the cause of world peace, but it was primarily used to honor World War I veterans. In 1954, after World War II, the law was amended, the word “Armistice” was changed to “Veterans” and Nov. 11 became a day to honor veterans of all American wars.
I asked Dave Emerton, one of our Vets from the Class of 1965 to make a comment on what Veterans’ Day meant to him. He replied:
“I am a veteran of the Vietnam War. I served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from February, 1967, to March, 1968. I am extremely proud to have served my country even when many citizens of this country turned away from this war.
As I get older, my appreciation of all the Veterans who served our country in time of need only grows. Each year when I go to Pine Grove Cemetery to flag the graves of my father, brother and uncles who served our country in time of war, I think of all the hardships and sacrifices they made to keep our country safe and to allow their children and grandchildren to grow and prosper in this great country.
This nation now has over 21 million veterans. From World War II to Afghanistan, these men and women have given up a number of years of their lives to serve our country. Every one of us knows a friend, relative or neighbor who has proudly served in our military. This November, thank a veteran for his/her service. They will appreciate it.”
Dave EmertonVeterans
I thank Dave for his heartfelt comments on what Veterans Day means to him. I do hope each of us can share his feelings in some small measure. To Dave and to all the other veteran members of the class of 1965, and for that matter, to all veterans: Thank you for your service and welcome home.
The members of the ROTC group at LEHS have invited members of the class of 1965, especially veterans, to join them at an exhibition at the LEHS gym in the Paul Cavanagh Field House at 6:45 PM on Tuesday, November 10. Cake and refreshments will be served and admission is free.
I do hope all our classmates take a few moments to say thank you to all the vets especially our classmates who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today. Please click on the word “comment” below and add your personal message to our vets.
If you are a member of the class of 1965 and are a vet and don’t see your name below, please click HERE and send me a message and I will add it as soon as I see your message. If you know of a vet who served our country and was a member of the class of 1965 who is not listed below, please let me know.
Lynn English High School’s Class of 1965 Veterans include:
Donald Baillie Naval Reserves
William Berkson Army
Frederick Bollen Army
Robert Bonin Marine Reserves
Richard Bowlby Navy Reserves
Kevin Buchanan Army
Richard Burke Army
Howard BurnettArmy National Guard
Tom Cahill Army
Roger Caldwell Navy
Richard Callahan Navy
James Cogen Marines
Anthony Colangelo Army Reserve
John Collier Army
Harry Corson Army
Ralph Cronin Army
Don Cyr Navy
Tom Devine Marines
John Donovan Army
Brian Doucette Navy
Donald Ellis Air Force
David Emerton Marines
Tom Fabrizio Air Force
Bruce Fisher National Guard
Lawrence Flanagan Air Force (died while serving in Texas)
Arthur William “Bill” Fogarty Army
Ronald Gerstenhaber Air Force
Thomas Gillis Navy
John GotimerNavy
Reverand Arlyne Grant Army Reserves
Norman Grant Marines (killed in action in Vietnam)
We have a ton of photos posted on our 50th reunion photo gallery (click HERE to go there) and a lot more posted on our 50th reunion school tour, ROTC and cheerleader presentation photo gallery (click HERE to go there).
With all those photos you would think that everyone who attended the reunion would be in at least one photo. Well…. we have a bunch of people (see below) who didn’t make it into at least one photo. If one of your photos has one or more of these folks in it, please send that photo to me. Just click on CONTACT and I will tell you how. It would be great if EVERYONE who attended was in, at least, one photo.
Here are the people who didn’t make it into at least one photo:
Lynnea Black
Howie Burnett
Betty (Courteau) Abbott
Victoria (Cowhig) Zimmerschied
Mary (Cronin) LoPresti
Don Cyr
Ernest Deland
Carol (Dutch) Cyr
Patricia Gately
Kathy (Gness) Amara
Nick Granese
Chuck Hamilton (I was able to get his image out of the group school tour photo)
Eileen (Jackson) Kalapinski
Jean (MacLeod) Bruck (I was able to get her image from a checking in photo)
Donna McDonald
Gail (Minton) Hickey
Louise (Murray) Thibault
Gail (Parsons) LaVoie
Bruce Phillips
Anna-Marie (Ruth) Frederick (I was able to get her image from the veterans’ group photo)
Photos from the 50th reunion are being posted under Photo Galleries. Use the down arrow (▼) on Photo Galleries in the Main Menu to see all the photo galleries (including the 50th reunion photo gallery and the 50th reunion school tour photo gallery.
More will be published when the come in. So check back occasionally to see the new ones. I am currently trying to put names to faces in about 200 photos I have received from Faith Hocter who took many photos at both the reunion and on the tour. As soon as I finish this task, I will be posting a whole bunch of photos. I do want people to send in photos however because I noticed that some people actually didn’t make it into the pile of photos I have and I am hoping other people have some to make sure we get everyone onto the website! To send me electronic copies of your photos use CONTACT and request my home email address (or click HERE).
Here is a photo provided by Debbie (McCulley) Blossom:
Mike Hickey, Paul Toner, Debbie McCulley, and Joe Milo
Faith Hocter took many of the photos in the 50th Reunion Photo Galleries and also supplied the Overhead projector for the PowerPoint presentation during the reunion. She did this at no charge to our class. We thank her for her wonderful contribution.
at the Vietnam Memorial Washington DCVietnam Memorial Wall, Washington, DC
My fishing buddy is a 3 tour Vietnam Vet who was injured in action and, like many other Vietnam Vets, was never the same as before he saw action. He observed me thank another vet for his service to our country and then coached me on what would be more meaningful to a Vietnam Vet. He told me to say:
“Thank you for your service and welcome home”
He told me that was one thing Vietnam Vets never heard…..”welcome home”. Well, to all our class vets (listed below) and to all our country’s vets, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND WELCOME HOME. I do hope all our classmates take a few moments to say thank you to all the vets especially our classmates who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today. Please click on the word “comment” below and add your personal message to our vets.
If you are a member of the class of 1965 and are a vet and don’t see your name below, please click HERE and send me a message and I will add it as soon as I see your message. If you know of a vet who served our country and was a member of the class of 1965 who is not listed below, please let me know.
Lynn English High School’s Class of 1965 Veterans include:
Donald Baillie Naval Reserves
William Berkson Army
Frederick Bollen Army
Robert Bonin Marine Reserves
Richard Bowlby Navy Reserves
Kevin Buchanan Army
Richard Burke Army
Howard BurnettArmy National Guard
Tom Cahill Army
Roger Caldwell Navy
Richard Callahan Navy
James Cogen Marines
Anthony Colangelo Army Reserve
John Collier Army
Harry Corson Army
Ralph Cronin Army
Don Cyr Navy
Tom Devine Marines
John Donovan Army
Brian Doucette Navy
Donald Ellis Air Force
David Emerton Marines
Tom Fabrizio Air Force
Bruce Fisher National Guard
Lawrence Flanagan Air Force (died while serving in Texas)
Arthur William “Bill” Fogarty Army
Ronald Gerstenhaber Air Force
Thomas Gillis Navy
John GotimerNavy
Reverand Arlyne Grant Army Reserves
Norman Grant Marines (killed in action in Vietnam)
Dave Santos is one of our classmates and will not be able to attend our 50th reunion. Here is a message I got from him while trying to update his contact infomation:
“Bob,
Got your message about the reunion, sorry we won’t be able to attend. We have just commissioned our latest sailing yacht and will soon be setting sail for the Spanish Main. Thus, at the time of the reunion we will either be sailing the South American coast or perhaps treking in Bolivia, Peru, or Chile. So as far as recounting previous sailing adventures around the world, we will leave that to you. I trust you have a copy of that account.
Regards,
Capt. Dave Santos”
Dave and his wife completed a 11 plus year sailing trip around the world in the Yacht Blue Moon about 10 years ago. Click HERE for a brief account of their trip around the world.
