By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Another prom season has come — and gone.
The good news is that our kids all came through it safely. The bad news is that there were a few bumps in the road for some.
As sometimes happens, some of our kids were involved in a a party
that included underage consumption of alcohol. The resulting uproar
produced a number of expected, and some unexpected, reactions.
As so often happens, a lot of the heat was turned toward the Piqua Daily Call because we made the decision to report the incident and publish the names of those involved.
To address that particular issue, there is no law that prohibits a
newspaper from publishing the identities of accused subjects, including
juveniles.
Sometimes the decision to publish information, and the related names,
is not a popular one. Which side of the line one stands on, usually
depends on if one is, is related to, or is friends with, an involved
subject.
That fact of the matter is that a group of respected young residents,
did in fact, have a party and were caught with alcoholic beverages.
Were their actions illegal? Yes. Was it the end of the world? Not at
all.
One way to look at this is that potential tragedy may have been
averted. It is entirely possible that if one, or more, of these kids had
left the party and attempted to drive, prom weekend could have taken a
more tragic turn.
As it was, no one was hurt. A few egos may have been bruised. Those
involved are going to have to face the consequences of their actions.
But, it is not the end of the world for anyone.
These are good kids. They are a bright hope for the future of Piqua
and for themselves. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's just be happy that
these mistake, in the grand scheme of things, were minor.
How many of you, during the course of this story, probably related to
friends, family or co-workers an incident from "the good old days,"
when you were involved in a questionable activity? Yes, I know. Most of
us have a story or two.
In a nutshell, our kids learned a life lesson. Sometimes, the best lessons sting a little. That way, they are better remembered.
My message to the kids involved is, don't let this get you down. Yes,
you made a mistake and will have to pay the price. It is okay to be
ashamed of what you did, but do not be ashamed of yourself. Your
accomplishments far outweigh this setback so move on and continue to
live life.
You are all just getting a good start on life's path. Hang in there. We are counting on you.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Same-sex marriage and an election year ...let the fireworks begin
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
I don't know about the rest of you but I will be so happy when the upcoming presidential election is finished.
You may, or may not, have noticed that television ads are beginning to take up more time slots than scheduled programming.
What is sad — actually just downright disgusting, is that the stuff we are hearing could make Pinocchio jealous.
The latest hot topic is changing laws to allow same-sex marriages. North Carolina held an election this week that would allow for same-sex couples to wed. The measure was soundly defeated.
Liberals have been coming unglued since the election. They claim that everyone has the right to make their own choices and marry whomever they choose.
The majority of Americans seem to still believe that marriage is a religious, or faith-based, action first and foremost. The governmental status of marriage is an entirely different issue. In other words, marriage, in the eyes of God, is one man and one woman.
What strikes me as I watch current events unfold is that all of the voices we hear are those crying loudly that same-sex marriage should be legalized and that they, the liberal masses, are being discriminated against because gays are not allowed to marry.
The media, in their ever-present bias reporting ways, manages to film, interview and focus on pro-gay marriage individuals and groups. To read and see the media coverage, one would swear that 99.9 percent of Americans supports same-sex marriage.
Why, then, do such issues get voted down by such wide margins? Could it be that the big media organizations are ignoring the majority of the people? Could the liberal media be attempting to sway public opinion by telling only one side of the story?
Part of the reason is that America has such a mind-set of political correctness, those who are in the majority are afraid to speak out publicly because they will be branded as anti-gay and chastised mercilessly.
Americans are being brainwashed into following the leader — or should I say dictator. We are being "trained" to forget our religious beliefs and go with the flow ... as seen through rose-colored liberal glasses.
That brings us to President Barack Obama's latest wolf-in-sheep's-clothing remark. Our president is now on record as being in favor of gay marriage. Guess what folks? It is an election year. Obama has not spoken a word of truth since taking office. He is one of the most crooked politicians in American history and all he wants is to get re-elected. Of course he is in favor of same-sex marriage.
This is the same man who has been photographed failing to salute the American flag. This is the same man who has repeatedly apologized to foreign countries for America's actions.
Now hear this, Barack Obama cannot be trusted.
As for same-sex marriage, the only equitable solution is to recognize "marriage" as what it is, a religious union of a man and a woman — exactly as God intended.
There should be civil union laws for same-sex couples. They should be afforded the same benefits as any other American.
A "couple" in the eyes of American law is fine, but a "married couple", one man and one woman, is only valid in the eyes of God.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
I don't know about the rest of you but I will be so happy when the upcoming presidential election is finished.
You may, or may not, have noticed that television ads are beginning to take up more time slots than scheduled programming.
What is sad — actually just downright disgusting, is that the stuff we are hearing could make Pinocchio jealous.
The latest hot topic is changing laws to allow same-sex marriages. North Carolina held an election this week that would allow for same-sex couples to wed. The measure was soundly defeated.
Liberals have been coming unglued since the election. They claim that everyone has the right to make their own choices and marry whomever they choose.
The majority of Americans seem to still believe that marriage is a religious, or faith-based, action first and foremost. The governmental status of marriage is an entirely different issue. In other words, marriage, in the eyes of God, is one man and one woman.
What strikes me as I watch current events unfold is that all of the voices we hear are those crying loudly that same-sex marriage should be legalized and that they, the liberal masses, are being discriminated against because gays are not allowed to marry.
The media, in their ever-present bias reporting ways, manages to film, interview and focus on pro-gay marriage individuals and groups. To read and see the media coverage, one would swear that 99.9 percent of Americans supports same-sex marriage.
Why, then, do such issues get voted down by such wide margins? Could it be that the big media organizations are ignoring the majority of the people? Could the liberal media be attempting to sway public opinion by telling only one side of the story?
Part of the reason is that America has such a mind-set of political correctness, those who are in the majority are afraid to speak out publicly because they will be branded as anti-gay and chastised mercilessly.
Americans are being brainwashed into following the leader — or should I say dictator. We are being "trained" to forget our religious beliefs and go with the flow ... as seen through rose-colored liberal glasses.
That brings us to President Barack Obama's latest wolf-in-sheep's-clothing remark. Our president is now on record as being in favor of gay marriage. Guess what folks? It is an election year. Obama has not spoken a word of truth since taking office. He is one of the most crooked politicians in American history and all he wants is to get re-elected. Of course he is in favor of same-sex marriage.
This is the same man who has been photographed failing to salute the American flag. This is the same man who has repeatedly apologized to foreign countries for America's actions.
Now hear this, Barack Obama cannot be trusted.
As for same-sex marriage, the only equitable solution is to recognize "marriage" as what it is, a religious union of a man and a woman — exactly as God intended.
There should be civil union laws for same-sex couples. They should be afforded the same benefits as any other American.
A "couple" in the eyes of American law is fine, but a "married couple", one man and one woman, is only valid in the eyes of God.
Friday, April 27, 2012
No excuse for abuse!
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Another local child has been buried, the victim of alleged child abuse.
This is getting to be an all-too-frequent occurrence at all levels of our society. Innocent children are the ultimate victims of situations where an angry or abusive adult takes out their wrath on those who cannot defend themselves.
I find myself asking, “Why, and how, do these things happen?”
Although some situations are first-time issues, I see too many times that the person responsible for the violence is a husband or boyfriend and the investigation reveals abuse that has been ongoing and long-term.
The obvious question, then, is “Why do women stay in an abusive relationship?” You will hear excuses, ranging from “I love him,” to “He promised he won’t do it again.” There are, I am sure, many cases where the abuser has threatened the life and safety of his mate should she attempt to leave.
In my eyes, there is no excuse for either mental or physical abuse of a wife or girlfriend. Neither is there a legitimate reason for someone who is being abused to stay in that situation.
When there are children involved, it is criminal for a mother to put her children in harm’s way just because she is attracted to a man, who also happens to be an abuser.
What makes some women tick, I wonder? I have seen women practically abandon their children because she fell, head over heels, for some “bad boy” type, who turned out to be a real bad boy who physically abused the children. Yet, when confronted, the mother refused to believe her “bad boy” capable of such an act — in spite of the evidence. When given a choice, her decision was to stay with Mr. Bad Boy.
I became a grandfather last week, for the 7th time, and as I look into the eyes of my newest granddaughter, I can’t help but realize the enormous responsibility put on all of the adults in her life. It is our job to protect her from harm.
Our role as parents and grandparents is no different than that of our counterparts in a pride of lions or even our own pet animals. Of all creatures on God’s Earth, there is nothing more dangerous than a mother, of any species, who feels her offspring is in danger.
Why, then, do some human females have such a tendency toward putting their children at risk just so they can gain the approval of, or be with, a man?
An excuse of “I have no one else to turn to and/or no place to go,” is just not viable today. Help is out there. All one has to do is reach out … beginning with your local police department.
Please, if you are a victim of abuse, get help. The life you save, may be your child’s.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Another local child has been buried, the victim of alleged child abuse.
This is getting to be an all-too-frequent occurrence at all levels of our society. Innocent children are the ultimate victims of situations where an angry or abusive adult takes out their wrath on those who cannot defend themselves.
I find myself asking, “Why, and how, do these things happen?”
Although some situations are first-time issues, I see too many times that the person responsible for the violence is a husband or boyfriend and the investigation reveals abuse that has been ongoing and long-term.
The obvious question, then, is “Why do women stay in an abusive relationship?” You will hear excuses, ranging from “I love him,” to “He promised he won’t do it again.” There are, I am sure, many cases where the abuser has threatened the life and safety of his mate should she attempt to leave.
In my eyes, there is no excuse for either mental or physical abuse of a wife or girlfriend. Neither is there a legitimate reason for someone who is being abused to stay in that situation.
When there are children involved, it is criminal for a mother to put her children in harm’s way just because she is attracted to a man, who also happens to be an abuser.
What makes some women tick, I wonder? I have seen women practically abandon their children because she fell, head over heels, for some “bad boy” type, who turned out to be a real bad boy who physically abused the children. Yet, when confronted, the mother refused to believe her “bad boy” capable of such an act — in spite of the evidence. When given a choice, her decision was to stay with Mr. Bad Boy.
I became a grandfather last week, for the 7th time, and as I look into the eyes of my newest granddaughter, I can’t help but realize the enormous responsibility put on all of the adults in her life. It is our job to protect her from harm.
Our role as parents and grandparents is no different than that of our counterparts in a pride of lions or even our own pet animals. Of all creatures on God’s Earth, there is nothing more dangerous than a mother, of any species, who feels her offspring is in danger.
Why, then, do some human females have such a tendency toward putting their children at risk just so they can gain the approval of, or be with, a man?
An excuse of “I have no one else to turn to and/or no place to go,” is just not viable today. Help is out there. All one has to do is reach out … beginning with your local police department.
Please, if you are a victim of abuse, get help. The life you save, may be your child’s.
Friday, April 6, 2012
ONG soldiers who died should be honored, as well as those who came before them
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Three soldiers from the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Ohio National Guard lost their lives this week while serving our country in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Hannon, 44, of Grove City; Captain Nicholas Rozanski, 36, of Dublin; and Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, 45, of Upper Arlington, gave their lives in service of their country.
They are not the first Ohio soldiers to die for us, and as much as we wish for it to not be the case, they probably will not be the last. Their names are fresh in our minds and hearts as we grieve for them and for their families.
I wonder how many of you recall the name Marion A. Ross? Ross was a Civil War soldier from nearby Christiansburg. He was a Sergeant Major in Company B, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In April of 1862, Ross, along with 19 other Ohio soldiers and two civilians who took part in what became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase" or "Andrews' Raiders."
The group captured a Confederate railroad train nearly 200 miles deep into enemy territory before being captured. Ross was one of eight of the Raiders hanged by the Confederates as a spy.
Marion A. Ross, from tiny Christiansburg, Ohio, became one of the first American soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for bravery in the face of the enemy.
On April 12, in Columbus, the Ohio National Guard will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Andrews' Raiders and our country's first recipients of the Medal of Honor.
What strikes me about this is that, while the names Hannon, Rozanski and Rieck are, to us, real people who not only are part of history, but a part of us, people like Marion Ross seem to be all but forgotten, just a footnote in our history books.
The point is, that Marion Ross, just like his current day counterparts, was a living breathing person, a man from a small town who was doing his duty when his life was cut short before the age of 30.
I feel certain that the families of modern-day soldiers who go in harm's way and put their lives on the line, hope that the memory of their loved ones and the sacrifices made are long remembered and appreciated by the rest of us.
I can't help but feel that Levi and Mary Ross, Marion's parents, felt the same for their son. (Both of Ross' parents died before the end of the Civil War.) The same sentiments go for the families of the thousands of American Marines, soldiers, seamen and airmen who have given their lives defending our nation.
Too many Americans brush the history of our nation aside. Too many Americans, and others, attempt to re-write history to suit their own political or religious beliefs.
The fact is, no one can change history. Some of the events that make up our history are not very pleasant. Some of the events are even an embarrassment. Still, they are part of the chain of events that brought us to this point.
Most important for all of us, is to never forget those who served and sacrificed for our country. We must all remember that just as Hannon, Rozanski and Reick were real people, so were Ross and thousands of other Ohioans, Americans all, who lie beneath marble headstones and bronze markers in cemeteries around this great country and overseas.
We all owe them a debt that can never be repaid. The least we can do is honor them by never — ever, forgetting.
Memorial Day is not far away. As you make the trip to a local cemetery to honor your family members this Memorial Day, take some time to look over surrounding grave stones and say a prayer for those who served.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Three soldiers from the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Ohio National Guard lost their lives this week while serving our country in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Hannon, 44, of Grove City; Captain Nicholas Rozanski, 36, of Dublin; and Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, 45, of Upper Arlington, gave their lives in service of their country.
They are not the first Ohio soldiers to die for us, and as much as we wish for it to not be the case, they probably will not be the last. Their names are fresh in our minds and hearts as we grieve for them and for their families.
I wonder how many of you recall the name Marion A. Ross? Ross was a Civil War soldier from nearby Christiansburg. He was a Sergeant Major in Company B, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In April of 1862, Ross, along with 19 other Ohio soldiers and two civilians who took part in what became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase" or "Andrews' Raiders."
The group captured a Confederate railroad train nearly 200 miles deep into enemy territory before being captured. Ross was one of eight of the Raiders hanged by the Confederates as a spy.
Marion A. Ross, from tiny Christiansburg, Ohio, became one of the first American soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for bravery in the face of the enemy.
On April 12, in Columbus, the Ohio National Guard will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Andrews' Raiders and our country's first recipients of the Medal of Honor.
What strikes me about this is that, while the names Hannon, Rozanski and Rieck are, to us, real people who not only are part of history, but a part of us, people like Marion Ross seem to be all but forgotten, just a footnote in our history books.
The point is, that Marion Ross, just like his current day counterparts, was a living breathing person, a man from a small town who was doing his duty when his life was cut short before the age of 30.
I feel certain that the families of modern-day soldiers who go in harm's way and put their lives on the line, hope that the memory of their loved ones and the sacrifices made are long remembered and appreciated by the rest of us.
I can't help but feel that Levi and Mary Ross, Marion's parents, felt the same for their son. (Both of Ross' parents died before the end of the Civil War.) The same sentiments go for the families of the thousands of American Marines, soldiers, seamen and airmen who have given their lives defending our nation.
Too many Americans brush the history of our nation aside. Too many Americans, and others, attempt to re-write history to suit their own political or religious beliefs.
The fact is, no one can change history. Some of the events that make up our history are not very pleasant. Some of the events are even an embarrassment. Still, they are part of the chain of events that brought us to this point.
Most important for all of us, is to never forget those who served and sacrificed for our country. We must all remember that just as Hannon, Rozanski and Reick were real people, so were Ross and thousands of other Ohioans, Americans all, who lie beneath marble headstones and bronze markers in cemeteries around this great country and overseas.
We all owe them a debt that can never be repaid. The least we can do is honor them by never — ever, forgetting.
Memorial Day is not far away. As you make the trip to a local cemetery to honor your family members this Memorial Day, take some time to look over surrounding grave stones and say a prayer for those who served.
Friday, March 30, 2012
In Martin/Zimmerman case, the only racists are those trying Zimmerman without benefit of evidence
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
The court of public opinion is, once again, trying a case before it can make it into a court room. This time, the very fact that a case may never make it to a court room has added fuel to the fire.
In February, in the town of Sanford, Florida, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Martin was black. Zimmerman is Hispanic, although early reports chose to insinuate that he was white.
Most of us are familiar with the case, to date. Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self defense. Rather than waiting for police to sort through witness accounts and get to the facts, the court of public opinion, as usual, has jumped in, voicing their opinion without a shred of evidence.
Also, as usual, the media is sitting back, a smile on its face, as it fans the flames for liberals to cry "Racism, racism," at the top of their lungs.
As an added bonus, liberals and the media are giving a shot of adrenaline to the clothing industry by giving hooded sweatshirts, or "hoodies," a new popularity. Could this be the long-awaited economic boost that President Obama has been forecasting?
Speaking of racism and Obama, this incident marks yet another time that our Commander-in-Chief has shown his true self as a racist by coming to the defense of young Martin. It brought to mind an incident a few years back where Obama quickly jumped on the racial bandwagon to defend a friend of his, once again without a single fact on which to base his opinion. It is most scary, indeed, when our president leads the country in promoting a situation inciting race as a factor, when, in fact, it has absolutely nothing to do with the case.
The president managed to calm that faux pas down with the help of a cold beer but I am beginning to see a pattern.
All of this enforces my opinion that racism in our country is not defined only by traditional terms. Racism is also when members of the black community try to take a situation in which a black is injured, killed or threatened by someone of another race for any of a number of reasons, and attempt to spin the story to have racial motivation or overtones.
First of all, where are these same folks when a black person kills a white person? You never hear a word. You ask the question, "Race motivated?" You wait for the answer ... none.
If you want to eliminate racism in our county, you must first acknowledge that some people are thieves. Some are violent. Their motives are many. The don't care if their victim is black, white, red or yellow. To them, we are just a target.
Looking specifically at the Martin/Zimmerman case, I have formed the opinion that Zimmerman made a series of stupid decisions that day. Those decisions put him in a confrontational situation with Martin. Self defense? I don't know. I'm not privy to all the fact and neither are you. Based on the known "facts" being batted around, the only thing I can come up with is that doing something stupid does not make one a racist.
My advice to Americans is to shut up and wait until the facts are truly in. Stop wearing the hoodies as a show of support. Admit it, all you want to do is make others think you are cool for supporting a cause you don't know a thing about — yet again.
And finally, stop the cries of racism. A huge step toward eliminating racism is to admit that, sometimes, bad things happen to good people for reasons we cannot explain. It's not about race. It is about good vs. evil and I would like to think that we are all on the same side.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
The court of public opinion is, once again, trying a case before it can make it into a court room. This time, the very fact that a case may never make it to a court room has added fuel to the fire.
In February, in the town of Sanford, Florida, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Martin was black. Zimmerman is Hispanic, although early reports chose to insinuate that he was white.
Most of us are familiar with the case, to date. Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self defense. Rather than waiting for police to sort through witness accounts and get to the facts, the court of public opinion, as usual, has jumped in, voicing their opinion without a shred of evidence.
Also, as usual, the media is sitting back, a smile on its face, as it fans the flames for liberals to cry "Racism, racism," at the top of their lungs.
As an added bonus, liberals and the media are giving a shot of adrenaline to the clothing industry by giving hooded sweatshirts, or "hoodies," a new popularity. Could this be the long-awaited economic boost that President Obama has been forecasting?
Speaking of racism and Obama, this incident marks yet another time that our Commander-in-Chief has shown his true self as a racist by coming to the defense of young Martin. It brought to mind an incident a few years back where Obama quickly jumped on the racial bandwagon to defend a friend of his, once again without a single fact on which to base his opinion. It is most scary, indeed, when our president leads the country in promoting a situation inciting race as a factor, when, in fact, it has absolutely nothing to do with the case.
The president managed to calm that faux pas down with the help of a cold beer but I am beginning to see a pattern.
All of this enforces my opinion that racism in our country is not defined only by traditional terms. Racism is also when members of the black community try to take a situation in which a black is injured, killed or threatened by someone of another race for any of a number of reasons, and attempt to spin the story to have racial motivation or overtones.
First of all, where are these same folks when a black person kills a white person? You never hear a word. You ask the question, "Race motivated?" You wait for the answer ... none.
If you want to eliminate racism in our county, you must first acknowledge that some people are thieves. Some are violent. Their motives are many. The don't care if their victim is black, white, red or yellow. To them, we are just a target.
Looking specifically at the Martin/Zimmerman case, I have formed the opinion that Zimmerman made a series of stupid decisions that day. Those decisions put him in a confrontational situation with Martin. Self defense? I don't know. I'm not privy to all the fact and neither are you. Based on the known "facts" being batted around, the only thing I can come up with is that doing something stupid does not make one a racist.
My advice to Americans is to shut up and wait until the facts are truly in. Stop wearing the hoodies as a show of support. Admit it, all you want to do is make others think you are cool for supporting a cause you don't know a thing about — yet again.
And finally, stop the cries of racism. A huge step toward eliminating racism is to admit that, sometimes, bad things happen to good people for reasons we cannot explain. It's not about race. It is about good vs. evil and I would like to think that we are all on the same side.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Doolittle Raiders holding final reunion in April. Last chance to say "Thank you."
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
The word "hero" is one of the most often-used words today. Perhaps, that is because we feel the need to recognize the achievements of those who protect us from harm. It is also one of the most abused words in our language. Over-using the word dilutes the meaning when something, or someone, performs in a truly heroic manner.
That is why, when the chance comes to recognize and honor real heroes, we should not pass up the opportunity. That fact is more important when it is the final opportunity to give such recognition.
In April of 1942, the United States and her allies were knocked back on their heels and reeling from attacks by the Japanese during the early days of World War II. Only a few months had passed since the attack on Pearl Harbor.
An Army Air Corps Lt. Colonial, James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle was assigned the job of striking the first blow against the Japanese.
His assignment — bomb Tokyo. The way it was to be done was to use B-25 twin-engine bombers, land-based aircraft, flown from the deck of an aircraft carrier, on a one-way trip. They were to fly from the U.S.S. Hornet, drop their bombs, then fly on to China and ... hope for the best.
The mission was considered impossible from many standpoints. No one had ever launched a loaded B-25 bomber from an aircraft carrier. Yet, when the call went out for volunteers, all assignments were quickly filled.
The mission was carried out. American casualties included three dead and eight captured. Of the eight prisoners of war, three were executed by the Japanese and one died of disease. The 80 men who took part in the raid became known as the "Doolittle Raiders."
Jimmy Doolittle and his raiders did what American military men, and women, have done for centuries. They accomplished the "impossible." For his part in planning and leading the attack, Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor.
April 18 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo. Time has taken its inevitable toll on the Raiders. Of the 80 brave men who flew from the deck of the Hornet on what many thought a suicide mission, only five survive.
The five living Raiders will all be in Dayton for this 70th anniversary and their final reunion.
A full slate of events are planned for the event, including a fly-over by more than 20 World War II-era B-25 "Mitchell" bombers, weather permitting.
The bombers will stage out of Grime's Field in Urbana, Ohio, where a number of Doolittle Raider events are also planned. These events will also include rides on some of these historic aircraft.
I stated earlier that the word "hero" is over-used. I can think of no term more fitting for these men. They are truly heroes. Yet, to a man, as most heroes do, they believe they were just doing a job.
I encourage everyone to mark their calendar for one, or more, of the Doolittle Raider reunion events in April. If you love airplanes or history, this will definitely be the place to be.
The main reason to attend is the opportunity, the final opportunity, to personally acknowledge the accomplishments of, and say "thank you" to, the five living members of one of the most daring and courageous military feats in history.
To learn more about the Doolittle Raider events, visit www.urbanaohio.com/events for Grime's Airport information and www.nationalmuseum.af.mil for times and dates at the Air Force Museum.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
The word "hero" is one of the most often-used words today. Perhaps, that is because we feel the need to recognize the achievements of those who protect us from harm. It is also one of the most abused words in our language. Over-using the word dilutes the meaning when something, or someone, performs in a truly heroic manner.
That is why, when the chance comes to recognize and honor real heroes, we should not pass up the opportunity. That fact is more important when it is the final opportunity to give such recognition.
In April of 1942, the United States and her allies were knocked back on their heels and reeling from attacks by the Japanese during the early days of World War II. Only a few months had passed since the attack on Pearl Harbor.
An Army Air Corps Lt. Colonial, James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle was assigned the job of striking the first blow against the Japanese.
His assignment — bomb Tokyo. The way it was to be done was to use B-25 twin-engine bombers, land-based aircraft, flown from the deck of an aircraft carrier, on a one-way trip. They were to fly from the U.S.S. Hornet, drop their bombs, then fly on to China and ... hope for the best.
The mission was considered impossible from many standpoints. No one had ever launched a loaded B-25 bomber from an aircraft carrier. Yet, when the call went out for volunteers, all assignments were quickly filled.
The mission was carried out. American casualties included three dead and eight captured. Of the eight prisoners of war, three were executed by the Japanese and one died of disease. The 80 men who took part in the raid became known as the "Doolittle Raiders."
Jimmy Doolittle and his raiders did what American military men, and women, have done for centuries. They accomplished the "impossible." For his part in planning and leading the attack, Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor.
April 18 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo. Time has taken its inevitable toll on the Raiders. Of the 80 brave men who flew from the deck of the Hornet on what many thought a suicide mission, only five survive.
The five living Raiders will all be in Dayton for this 70th anniversary and their final reunion.
A full slate of events are planned for the event, including a fly-over by more than 20 World War II-era B-25 "Mitchell" bombers, weather permitting.
The bombers will stage out of Grime's Field in Urbana, Ohio, where a number of Doolittle Raider events are also planned. These events will also include rides on some of these historic aircraft.
I stated earlier that the word "hero" is over-used. I can think of no term more fitting for these men. They are truly heroes. Yet, to a man, as most heroes do, they believe they were just doing a job.
I encourage everyone to mark their calendar for one, or more, of the Doolittle Raider reunion events in April. If you love airplanes or history, this will definitely be the place to be.
The main reason to attend is the opportunity, the final opportunity, to personally acknowledge the accomplishments of, and say "thank you" to, the five living members of one of the most daring and courageous military feats in history.
To learn more about the Doolittle Raider events, visit www.urbanaohio.com/events for Grime's Airport information and www.nationalmuseum.af.mil for times and dates at the Air Force Museum.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Gas prices choking America
By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
I hope that everyone made a trip to their favorite gasoline station yesterday. If the fuel price prognosticators were correct, we are waking up to another significant price hike at the pumps.
We have been hearing for months that, by summer, we may be facing gasoline prices in the $5 per gallon range. On Friday morning, multiple websites warned that fuel could possibly jump by as much as $.50 per gallon by today.
I am like most Americans, at least I believe that I am. I rotate between frustration and anger at fuel prices in our country and ask, “Why won’t our government put a stop to the madness?”
I feel slightly hypocritical at my wish for government intervention as I am against our government sticking their nose into private business any more than absolutely necessary. My justification here is that petroleum products are, arguably, the most important commodity used by Americans. The price and availability of petroleum products directly affects nearly everything that we do.
The big petroleum companies are, no doubt, to blame for a large portion of our woes. I’m no economy expert but it is not hard to figure out that when Americans are struggling to make ends meet, then read that oil companies reported record profits, something is horribly wrong.
Rumors have been floating around for years that America’s quest for alternate energy sources have been thwarted at every turn by oil company lobbyists in Washington. It makes perfect sense that this might be true. If we find a way to unchain ourselves from oil dependence, oil company executives might have to give up two or three of their homes and whatever islands they may own. They have proven for decades that our best interests are of no concern to them.
You might notice that as fuel price fluctuate, they seem to skyrocket overnight, then take weeks to return to a not-quite-as-low-as-they-were level. Gasoline companies are simply following a standard retail method on pricing, quick to raise and slow to lower. This method helps the retailer’s bottom line. That is fine if we are talking about purchasing widgets. With a commodity such as gasoline, they are strangling consumers. What is worse is — they don’t care.
Many are telling Americans to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles. For an already-struggling family, how much sense does it make to trade in a paid-for vehicle for an over-priced under-sized new car? All they are doing is trading extra money spent on fuel for a large car payment. Of course, vehicle manufacturers love this solution. What better way to market new cars? Let’s see. With that solution, oil companies are happy, car manufacturers are happy and Americans still get screwed.
In this case, I believe that it is time for our government to step in. I have my doubts that anything positive will emerge. There are too many elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, who are willing to use oil as a bargaining chip for their own purposes. Don’t forget the oil lobbyists who probably have some of our elected official “in their back pockets.”
It is the same old story, Congress is so busy being party-oriented, they forget that we have real problems that need a united front to overcome. Since this is a presidential election year, things are worse than ever.
My message, my plea, to our elected officials right now is, please forget politics. Please show the oil lobbyists the door. You do not need their dollars to get elected. All you have to do is represent your constituents best interests. If you do that, we promise that we will remember come election time.
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
I hope that everyone made a trip to their favorite gasoline station yesterday. If the fuel price prognosticators were correct, we are waking up to another significant price hike at the pumps.
We have been hearing for months that, by summer, we may be facing gasoline prices in the $5 per gallon range. On Friday morning, multiple websites warned that fuel could possibly jump by as much as $.50 per gallon by today.
I am like most Americans, at least I believe that I am. I rotate between frustration and anger at fuel prices in our country and ask, “Why won’t our government put a stop to the madness?”
I feel slightly hypocritical at my wish for government intervention as I am against our government sticking their nose into private business any more than absolutely necessary. My justification here is that petroleum products are, arguably, the most important commodity used by Americans. The price and availability of petroleum products directly affects nearly everything that we do.
The big petroleum companies are, no doubt, to blame for a large portion of our woes. I’m no economy expert but it is not hard to figure out that when Americans are struggling to make ends meet, then read that oil companies reported record profits, something is horribly wrong.
Rumors have been floating around for years that America’s quest for alternate energy sources have been thwarted at every turn by oil company lobbyists in Washington. It makes perfect sense that this might be true. If we find a way to unchain ourselves from oil dependence, oil company executives might have to give up two or three of their homes and whatever islands they may own. They have proven for decades that our best interests are of no concern to them.
You might notice that as fuel price fluctuate, they seem to skyrocket overnight, then take weeks to return to a not-quite-as-low-as-they-were level. Gasoline companies are simply following a standard retail method on pricing, quick to raise and slow to lower. This method helps the retailer’s bottom line. That is fine if we are talking about purchasing widgets. With a commodity such as gasoline, they are strangling consumers. What is worse is — they don’t care.
Many are telling Americans to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles. For an already-struggling family, how much sense does it make to trade in a paid-for vehicle for an over-priced under-sized new car? All they are doing is trading extra money spent on fuel for a large car payment. Of course, vehicle manufacturers love this solution. What better way to market new cars? Let’s see. With that solution, oil companies are happy, car manufacturers are happy and Americans still get screwed.
In this case, I believe that it is time for our government to step in. I have my doubts that anything positive will emerge. There are too many elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, who are willing to use oil as a bargaining chip for their own purposes. Don’t forget the oil lobbyists who probably have some of our elected official “in their back pockets.”
It is the same old story, Congress is so busy being party-oriented, they forget that we have real problems that need a united front to overcome. Since this is a presidential election year, things are worse than ever.
My message, my plea, to our elected officials right now is, please forget politics. Please show the oil lobbyists the door. You do not need their dollars to get elected. All you have to do is represent your constituents best interests. If you do that, we promise that we will remember come election time.
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