The Doctor is in, with a Memorial Day round-up.
Happy Memorial Day to the family and friends of a great American.
I exhort everyone to have a great day, support the troops, enjoy a bit of Americana, and mind the late lightning.
BONUS EXHORTATION: Don't stint with the sun cream! The sun is as high in the sky as it will be in late July but it is more easily overlooked because the air is cooler. The sun cream I am currently stuck with using, at least until I finish it or lose the bottle, gives my skin a faint bluish hue. Death warmed over? C'mon, I like to think it brings out my baby-blue eyes! Don't let vanity or inconvenience put you on the slow road to melanoma.
As the Town of Darien readies for its annual Memorial Day weekend, there is one man, in particular, who will be on the minds and in the hearts of its citizens. World War II Army veteran and founder of Darien EMS-Post 53, John E. "Bud" Doble died April 8. This year, Darien's Memorial Day parade is dedicated to him. On Sunday, he will also be remembered with a memorial gathering from 2 to 4 p.m., at Post 53 headquarters on Ledge Road, Darien.
Initiated in 1970 by Doble, Post 53 is a unique emergency services organization, in that it utilizes trained and certified high school students, who work, under supervision, as emergency responders in Darien. According to the Post 53 Web site, Doble and other parents "felt there was no better way to learn about drugs and alcohol than through direct care, by teenagers, to the victims themselves."
Post 53 has had a distinguished history. It was the first EMS ambulance service organization in the U.S. to be formally recognized by the American Medical Association and has been recognized twice as one of the Top Ten Volunteer Organizations in the U.S. In the past 38 years, it has garnered attention nationwide, even receiving a write-up in People magazine in April 2007.
Connecticut's Gov.M. Jodi Rell recognized Doble in March 2001 as a Connecticut Treasure for the work he put into the organization -- the only one of its kind.
Doble, who was born in Arlington, Mass., served three years in Europe in the Army during World War II.
The memorial gathering will celebrate the life and contributions Doble made to the Town of Darien.
Happy Memorial Day to you, too, TM. Mr. Doble does sound like a great guy who will be missed.
Posted by: clarice | May 26, 2008 at 09:30 AM
The Noble Doble. 'Complications of pneumonia' must have been particularly hard on his two daughters. Pneumonia, is, however, known as the old man's friend. There was the seventh last surviving Spanish-American War vet, urged to turn away from the wall and move around to help the nurses take care of him, who responded with "God will take care of me", and died three days later, quite peacefully, and without ever saying another word.
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Posted by: kim | May 26, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I am proud to be an American.
Thanks for all the great posts TM!
Posted by: windansea | May 26, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Update: Don't forget to apply sunscreen to the back of the neck.
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Posted by: kim | May 26, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Good morning all, and Happy Memorial Day. God bless Mr. Doble and EMS Post 53.
I am envious of those of you living in towns with parades and ceremonies today. Austin does not seem to bother with such things. (Though we do have a great Veterans' Day Parade every November.)
Posted by: Porchlight | May 26, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Happy Memorial Day to everyone!
Posted by: JB | May 26, 2008 at 02:37 PM
And a Memorial Day request: Operation Gratitude has shipped over 360,000 care packages to the troops deployed overseas, but after this weekend we have some 4700 packages prepared for which we don't have service members' addresses yet.
If you have a relative, friend or acquaintance serving overseas, and you'd like them to get a care package, send their deployment address to Operation Gratitude and they will be shipped on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you don't want to visit the OG website, send the address to me and I will forward it.
Posted by: richard mcenroe | May 26, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Happy Memorial Day
Posted by: PeterUK | May 26, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Remembrance. Sometimes a scarce commodity.
Band of Brothers theme. Get your goosebumps and tears here.
Posted by: sbw | May 26, 2008 at 05:35 PM
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Posted by: Skin Care | June 13, 2008 at 02:43 AM