Hey, it’s been a short week, with the holiday and all coming on Monday. That said, this is the perfect time to once again dip into ye ol? mail bag. More perfecter (I know that’s not a word, but this is my column) was this e-mail and picture I got from Tony Pierce.
Wrote Tony: ‘From the first time I saw the Orion Veterans Memorial and the Peacoat Monument, it touched me deeply and I had the desire to attempt to capture that emotion in a photograph I could share with others. Last Sunday was overcast and the perfect light for the mood I wanted to capture so I went to the memorial and took about 30 shots from many different angles and perspectives before I finally saw the shot I was after.
‘I again felt the strong emotions that had gripped me the first time I saw the monument and I knew I had successfully captured it in a photograph. I would like to thank you for allowing me to share this photograph with the public.
‘We should never forget to honor the brave men and women that have given their lives to protect our freedom and way of life. This honor also applies to all of the other service men and women that have served or are now serving in our armed forces.
‘I am a U.S. Army Veteran 1972-78 and I have a son that is currently serving in the U.S Airforce and has nearly 10 years of service.
‘May God bless our service men and women.
Sincerely — Tony?
For those who don’t know the Orion Memorial is on the west side of M-24, at Heights Road.
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I also received this acknowledgment about 1947 Oxford High graduate Guy Kessler.
‘Guy Kessler, probably the best athlete to come out of Oxford. Guy played for OHS in 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947. He played varsity football, basketball and ran track. Guy still has the record for touchdowns in a single game, six. Not bad for an old Oxford boy!
‘I talked to current coach Bud Rowley recently, he said anybody who scores five or six touchdowns has had a great game (probably a great year, too)! His prowess in football on the hardwood and in track puts Guy in the company of Oxford’s greatest athletes. The Oxford big names include Ed Meads, Jim Addis, Don, Dick and Bob Quayle, Larry Spencer, Freddy Bergan, Cliff Marsh, Digger O’Dell and Marv Acheson. And, in from the Class of ?47, Guy just might have been the best, baby!?
That was from Bob Gaddis — who invites all of Guy’s friends, to give him (Bob) a call, 248-673-2879.
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And, finally I received this e-mail from a man called Fisch.
‘Hey Don,
‘Driving a Navigator, Escalade, Hummer, or Big Honkin? Truck doesn’t showcase your wealth, but instead states your need for a larger vehicle.
‘What if you have a big boat or a travel trailer? What if you have 4 or 5 children? You can’t do any of those things in a Yaris or a Prius.
‘Then you also bashed the Big 3 by saying all they do is build monster trucks. The Big 3 make many cars that get over 30 mpg. Why won’t the media report on that? Toyota also makes big honkin? trucks and SUVs. We never hear the media talking about gas-guzzler Toyota Trucks and SUV’s.
‘Here are their mpg as found on the Toyota website. Land Cruiser, 13/17; Sequoia, 15/18; 4-Runner, 16/19 FJ Cruiser, 16/19; and Tundra, 14/18.
‘Toyota does make 2 cars that get 40 to 50 mpg, But I would never let anyone I love drive a death trap like those!
‘I guess if you can’t pay $10 or $20 more a week for gas, you should look into getting a better job or drive a Tuna Fish Can Toyota.
?(Don,) It’s hard to believe — I thought you were cool because you let your kids ride their bikes without helmets!?