01/24/05 - NNHS Newsletter - In
the Still of the Night
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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
I hope y'all
enjoyed your weekend, and that you're having, um, interesting weather.
There was a headline in yesterday's
Fayetteville Observer which read, "While others slip and slide,
Fayetteville watches, waits". Ya gotta love waiting for the
other shoe to drop!
From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 01/21/05:
| Carol, The addition of the page highlighting the Braxton-Perkins Post 25 American Legion on Marshall Avenue reminded me of a story I had nearly forgotten. I lived on 72nd Street in Newmarket and traveled up and down Marshall Avenue to the shopping center, so I saw the Post often. However, that is not part of my story. |
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I was back in
Newport News for the month of August 1966 on Summer Leave after completing
my Plebe Year at the Naval Academy
and my Summer Cruise in the Pacific. I had found my old buddy, Jay Bluxome, NNHS ’64, and we goofed around a bit. As you may recall, Jay had been a member of the NNHS Band and had somehow become connected with the Post 25 Drum & Bugle Corps. I guess they needed musicians. Anyway, he told me that the Corps was going to Washington DC to march in some parade, but I cannot recall the occasion. He said that they needed someone to lead the Corps during the parade who knew how to command men in close order drill and in the Manual of Arms. Having just completed a rigorous Plebe Year, I knew I was fully qualified …. and then some. Even better, the Post would put us up in a DC hotel for two nights. So, there I was marching down Constitution Avenue at the point of the Post detachment with a fake rifle on my shoulder, barking commands and shouting cadence to Corps. For a 20 year-old Midshipman, I was entirely full of myself and tried to put on the best show I could. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. |
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USNA - 1966 |
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Ohhhh,
David - what a marvelous story, and what a wonderfully exciting event that must
surely have been for you!
Of course, I wasn't there and don't know how full of yourself you were, but
having seen your gloriously beautiful Plebe
portrait, I can certainly testify as to how incredibly gorgeous you were even
then!
WOWZERONI-RINI!!!
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/American-Legion-25.html
From Fred Field ('45) of CA - 01/21/05:
Actually, to preserve their
privacy, I'm going to let Fred break this news of his new-found cousin to us all
later. But,
congratulations, Fred! As we frequently say, we're all just one big family
here, and often by blood as well as by spirit.
From Cheryl Pless Ramsey ('64) of VA - 01/21/05:
Hi Carol!
Love getting all
the Newsletters. The “Old
Stomping Grounds” brings back so many memories as do the other sites.
You do such a great job with all this! What would all us “Typhoons” do without
you!
Please add my birthday to your list as Sept. 8, 1946. I can’t believe I’m approaching 59!!!
Keep those memories rolling off the press. Thanks also to Dave Spriggs ('64 - of VA) for all his work.
Typhoons Forever,
Cheryl
Thanks, Cheryl! I'm
glad you're enjoying it all. Our Old Stomping Grounds - which is
less than two years old - has become
one of my favorite sections of the site. That's yet another thing for
which you have Dave Spriggs to thank; it was his vision
and diligence which brought it to you originally, and continues to keep it
alive and vital today. (Thanks, David!)
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html
I would be completely
remiss here if I failed to mention the input we received from Wayne Stokes
('65) of VA to this section.
Two years ago when we were pleading for copy for the web site, we jokingly
referred to the site as the "Dave and Wayne and
Carol Show", because for the most part, we were the only ones talking.
One of my favorite entries from Wayne is in the movie
theater section - which I still have not moved to the newer section of the
site - EEEK!
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/65nnhs/old-movie-theaters.html
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/65nnhs/palace.html
Obviously, as you read the various sections of the pages, you will see the
impact of Wayne's many contributions. (Thanks,
Wayne Honey!)
I added your name to our birthday list, Cheryl:
From Tom Flax ('64) of VA - 01/21/05:
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Send $10.00 Donation to: TOM FLAX |
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NNHS MAGNETS Send $2.00 Donation |
NNHS MUGS
Send $5.00 Donation |
NNHS GOODIE BAGS (Soft-Sided Cooler with NNHS Mug, Magnet, and Notepad) |
Thanks, Tom! I hope you're all enjoying that video presentation as
much as I am. I've lost track of how many times I've
watched it now. It's almost like being there again.
I'm thoroughly
enjoying my other souvenirs as well. It's amazing how hungry my long
separation from Newport News left
me for all things connected with NNHS. Even though five years have now
passed since reconnecting with the first of y'all,
I find that hunger has yet to be sated. I hope it never is.
From Virginia Edwards Campbell ('66) of VA - 01/18/05:
Carol, you have done a
wonderful job on this website. I have enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane.
There were so
many places and people I had forgotten over the years. The NNHS class of '65
webpage brought a lot of those memories
back. I am deeply saddened by the lose of so many former classmates, regardless
if they were from classes of the 50's or 60's
I have been in this part of Virginia for almost 40 years. I was in the NNHS
class of '66. (Finished school in Augusta Co).
Keep up the wonderful work you are doing.
Thanks for your nice comments, and for signing the Guest Book, Virginia!
I can understand
the pain felt by someone coming upon all those memorial pages all at once.
It was an emotionally
wrenching experience just posting the names on them one at a time.
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/memoriam-all.html
Let me know if you'd like to be added to our Alumni Page and Birthday List; we'd love to have you!
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-list.html
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html
From Clifford Smith ('67) of AL - 01/22/05:
Carol, the website is great! What a great
job you have done. It has brought back great memories.
I just heard about it from my nephew Richard Curtis ('64) (also of AL),
and I spent three hours
looking at it. Although NNHS is forgotten by
many, it lives on in my family. All three of my children
(all grown up now) can, to this day, sing the Newport News High School fight
song, and have heard
me play it on the baritone horn many, many times. I grew up in Perkins Court
(35th Street
Apartments), and walked to school each day. I attended
John W. Daniel school, and spent many
days at the YMCA. Many people might remember my
mother (Birdie Smith) who worked in the cafeteria
at John W. Daniel, and was president of about everything I was involved in (e.g.
president of the Band
Parents Association, little league baseball, pony league baseball, etc.). She is
still living at 95 and
counting.
I have many fond memories of my days in the band.
Mr. Wilson was very strict, but it sure paid
off.
Every year, we would compete in the Winchester Apple Blossom Festival, one of
the largest and best
parades in the state. I think we won the best marching band award five years in
a row from 1961-65,
came in second place in 1966, and didn't even place in my senior year (ha!).
Anyway, in 1965, I think,
it was raining during the parade. Mr. Wilson decided that the band should wear
see-through rain coats
over our uniforms, which we thought was very considerate of him. The viewing
stand was at the very
end of the parade, and you had to make a left turn before the judges could see
the band. So, right
before the turn, Mr. Wilson yells, "Rip off the raincoats, and let them drop to
the ground". So we did,
and as we made the turn, we looked like we just stepped off the bus. I don't
know if the raincoats
made the difference (we won first place), but what a great strategy! Mr. Wilson
had done it again!
I guess I'll stop my rambling. Anyway, thanks for the memories.
Thanks for signing the Guest Book, Clifford! And what a great band memory! I posted it on the band page:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/band.html
As in Virginia's
case, please let me know if you'd like to be added to our Alumni Page and
Birthday List; it would be our treat
to have you!
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-list.html
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html
From Joe Drewry ('58) of VA - 01/22/05:
Thanks,
Joe. I have heard the answers to most of these questions before from
Susan Whitcomb Harlin ('72) of TX,
but as I'm
having a bit of trouble locating them, I'm going to let "the kids" answer them
for you anew - which is a far better choice than trusting
to my flimsy memory. I've no idea about the '72 Senior rings, but I do
know that there was a 1972 Anchor, because
Billy Turner
('65) of TX told me that his picture is in it with the rest of the
Faculty. We've been looking for a copy so that I can post that image
on his page:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/faculty.html
Okay, Pattie, Brian, Carol,
Debbie, Russell, Susan, and Kathy - we have questions, you have
answers. Let us hear
from you, please. Thanks!
From Jim Michie ('55) of NC - 01/22/04:
The NNHS Class of 1955
has had a Web site since August 2004 that has many photos
and plans for our
upcoming 50th reunion. It would be greatly appreciated if you
would
provide a link to our site at
www.nnhs55.com. Thanks!
WOWZERS! What a great web site! We're delighted to post it for you, Jim:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/classes.html
Y'all go take a look at it! You might even be able to help them locate some of their missing class members:
http://www.nnhs55.com/Missing.htm
From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 01/22/05:
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Hi, Carol:
This message (about Jim Michie's Class of '55 web site) greeted me when I returned from St. Cloud, FL today, and had a great day with Jimmy Parker ('62) of VA who is visiting with his expectant daughter. |
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It was so much fun recalling our days in the
USMCR, and it has been over 40 years
since we last shook hands and talked when he was a police officer in
Newport News. He caught me up on his law practice
in Newport News, and his experiences as a NASCAR owner and driver, as well as his triumph over a brain tumor which disabled him and took his law practice.
It was so refreshing to hear of his experiences
and realize the power of intercessory prayer.
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@ 1964 - Newport
News Police Department |
Then to see
Jim Michie's name sure rolled my old brain back to
NNHS, and upon visiting the web site
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for the
NNHS Class of 1955 and seeing photos of Horace
Williams ('55), Howard Todd ('56), Dennis Ilish ('56), Darlene Mitchell
('55) (at Buckroe Beach, lower tier of the pyramid, left side)
brought on a major "Flash Back"
of wonderful memories. It is wonderful that you have linked web pages. I am sure some of the "missing" 1955 Grads have younger brothers and sisters who will be reading this list now that the websites are linked. So many of our TYPHOON classmates moved to Idaho when the shipyard opened their program there, and many are getting in touch now.
TYPHOON Forever!
Joe
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Thanks, Adonis! I'm so glad you and Jimmy had such a nice visit together! You DID take some snapshots for me, didn't you?!?
And isn't '55's web site just the coolest?!? I keep finding more and more each time I return to view it!
From Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) - 01/23/05:
Thank you for the tip on the
"fluffing"!! cool! I will definitely try that one! Thanks to Eleanor! I
remember with only
three children there was NO WAY I could get by with less than 3 loads per
day....I can't imagine 7!!!
Sarah "Sugah" (uh......DAVE!) Oh, and pineapples to YOU, Dave!!! HA
Thanks, Sarah Sugah! I'm glad you like
the fluffing trick. Few days pass when I don't use it, if for no other
reason than the joy
of wearing warm clothes!
Speaking of Susie Homemaker
tips, could someone tell me how to remove candle wax from fabrics? I do
love burning candles,
both for the scent and the ambiance. I had company Saturday, and left one
of those big four wick candles burning in my bathroom
a bit too long. (But the gardenia fragrance was sooo delicious!) It
spilled over on the terry cloth towel I had atop the tank, and now
there is a large wax blob on the towel. I know there's some goofy trick
involving ice cubes or peanut butter or something....
From Tom Oxner ('65) of AR - 01/24/05:
I was saddened to hear about the death of
Mabie Lamb. He was a very important part of Parkview Baptist Church
when I attended there. He had the patience of Job (a requirement to be Jimmy
Lamb's - '63 - father) and was an extremely
nice person.
Tom
Thank you, Tom. I never
had the privilege of meeting Mr. Lamb (come to think of it, I didn't really even
know Jimmy), but
from all I've read, he was surely a wonderful person, and will be greatly
missed.
I had planned to
have more things posted for y'all - I always do! - but I'm having company for
dinner, so I suppose I'd better stop
now and go pop a pineapple upside down cake into the oven.
Y'all take care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER!
Love to all, Carol
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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
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In the Still of the Night
(Five Satins)
In the still of the night
I held you Held you tight
'Cause I love
Love you so
Promise I'll never
Let you go
In the still of the night
I remember
That night in May
The stars were bright above
I'll hope and I'll pray
To keep
Your precious love
Well before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might
In the still of the night
So before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might
In the still of the night
In the still of the night
"In the
Still of the Night" midi courtesy of
http://www.jadierose.com/midicollection.html
at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 01/09/05
Thanks, Dave!
"In the Still of the Night" lyrics courtesy of http://www.romantic-lyrics.com/li20.shtml - 01/10/05
Images courtesy
of Cal's Gallery,
http://www.wtv-zone.com/cal555/, located by my niece, Shari, of VA -
01/10/04
What a great site! Thanks, Shari!
Blue divider line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04