Communities Coming Together

My daughter Callie, smiling behind her paddle while on the Chattooga River a few weeks ago.

I went for a couple hour paddle this afternoon/evening. It was a great afternoon with calm water, little wind and some time for reflecting on the status of the project. I put in on the Tuckaseegee arm of Lake Fontana and was glad to see the lake is filling. Last year it didn't get to this point at all and with recent rains it seems that the Nantahala, the Tuckaseegee and the Little Tennessee have all been pumping it up. Saw a couple students of mine as I was coming back in. A classmate of my son was there with her mom and dad. She was anxiously waiting to try out their new jetskis. Another who is a first grader fishing with his dad and grandpa. Much like my dad and many others, they were helping make their kids dreams come true. For some, catching a fish may not sound like a big dream, but to a first grader..wow, it can be the world. As I was driving away I was thinking these are the kids this project is helping. As I watch them grow up over the coming years and hopefully find success, maybe some of that success will be in part because of the support and donations of people who are supporting this project. My mom and dad gave me the tools and resources to make my dreams come true and for that I am thankful.

A BIG THANKS to a couple people this week...Gold Medalist and Olympic TV and venue commentator Joe Jacobi whose support and encouragement has been constant, appreciated and inspiring to the project. His tech/communication skills have given me a model and formats to talk about this project. Read more about what Joe is up to these days by clicking on the link above.
Also, Matt Delcambre from New Iberia, LA. Matt is a long time friend and former paddling team mate. We used to race marathon canoes way back when I was in high school. Those experiences led me to this life. Successful computer programming guru and married to another good friend, Alexis. Last I saw Matt and Alexis I was leading a Louisiana seakayaking trip for NOC. We were just south of New Iberia and on our last day of paddling the swamps and bayous of south Louisiana. I had just finished preparing lunch for my guests and we were sitting down to enjoy our meal. This big truck stops and out pop Matt and Alexis. They had seen our NOC van and knew it had to be me. Just another small world moment in the world of paddling.
Also, thanks to Bunny Johns. Past president of NOC, current president of Bryson City Rotary and paddling mentor. Bunny gave me my first teaching job of any kind. It was through NOC that I truly learned to teach and Bunny was the first to give me that chance. Her support for this means a lot.
Others have donated and I wish I could expound on all of them and why their support means so much, but I would be writing a book instead of a blog post. The donations from all parts of my life and the communities that surround it are what make this project so interesting to me.

One of the more interesting groups are the veterans that I have connected and learned from. This week I received an email on the status of The National Vietnam War Museum's exhibit that my father's Vietnam film footage is being used for. Here's some of the particulars.

Colette Lemmon's "TRIBUTE: Expressions of Loss and Remembrance by Vietnam Veterans" will be presented at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX. (Check http://www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org/news.htm more info on the event.)

Among the exhibits and in the "Bearing Witness" gallery, a 12-minute DVD will present two of Jonathan Myers ballads, "'Willie' Wilbanks' One-Man War" and "A Death in the Dak Na Valley," which describe the last missions of MOH recipient Hilliard A. "Willie" Wilbanks (KIA 24 Feb 67) and fellow-Kontum FAC Arthur J. Abramoff (KIA 20 Jan 67), respectively. Background will include O-1 FAC film footage (per Jim Meade/'65 and Bill Hester, son of K.L. Hester/'68), along with photos and other images.
Performing are Dick Jonas & Irv LeVine. Jonas is known as "America's Foremost Military Aviation Song Writer and Balladeer." He has produced nineteen albums of his kind of music, and published two books — RBAAB: The Red-Blooded, All-American Boy and PTF: Passing the Flame. See http://cdbaby.com/cd/dickjonas1 for more info.

If your in the Fort Worth Area, check it out.

I want to thank all the communities that have come together to support this project. From my neighbors here in Bryson City, my co-workers in the school system to the river community of friends; it's been absolutely great to see these different communities that surround me come together in support of this project. Also, my friends from New Iberia, LA, where I went to high school and where my dad taught. It's been great to reconnect and see your support. It is very much appreciated.

For those who haven't donated, please consider doing so. Remember, your contribution is tax deductible and is an investment in our kids future. Thanks