Owego Rotary Club Rotateller

Matt did a wonderful job in his first meeting as president. His message for the week is:

Life becomes harder for us when we life for others, but it also becomes richer and happier. Albert Schweitzer

FINES:

Presidential prerogative: Matt fined all those who did not read about John in the newspaper (and John).

Al fined all the new members who have not yet been the greeter at the door and all those who have not yet signed up to help at the golf tournament.

MUSIC:

Carl and Kathleen led us in “America, the Beautiful”. (Since I have trouble singing this without chocking up, I am not sure how I would do visiting Bedford, VA)

ORIENTATION:

GOLF:

John still needs many more volunteers. Family and friends are eligible to participate.

FREE CONCERT:

Annette reminded everyone about the concert tomorrow evening at the Hickories followed by fireworks.

PROGRAM:

John Jones shared his experiences at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. His pictures and explanation were excellent. Fred can correct me if I am wrong, but George Kobylarz was there. (George and Pearl did the bulletin for years before I started doing it.) John explained how the monument came to be placed in Bedford, that the Coast Guard was involved in the landing, and why Eisenhower’s statue is in the pose it is. Each man received the following orders.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-1941. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less tan full Victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Bedford does remind me that Linda and I visited Seneca Falls yesterday which is the model of Bedford Falls in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. As the place in which people first met to declare the equality of women in 1848, it is worth the trip. We also stopped at Aurora to visit William Seward’s home, but it is closed on Mondays.

Rotary Club of Owego, NY