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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

    We're going to be running Big Band Sounds all this week. 

   As mentioned yesterday, today's edition pays particular tribute to         Sydney Dearing's ('56 - of TN) father,          Syd Dearing (Hampton HS - '36) (30 Dec 1918 - 16 Feb 2002), a survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima:

By the way, this coming Tuesday, March 9th will be the 65th anniversary of the date he was severely wounded by a Japanese mortar round which went off right behind him and he was evacuated from the island the next day.  He was a piano player in a couple of big bands before the war (after the war his injuries ended that career), so I wonder if you would be so kind as to use a big band song as the theme song on that day in his honor. His favorite song was "After Hours" by Erskine Hawkins but I don't think a midi of that song exists so any big band song of your choosing would be just fine with me.

   Certainly, Sydney - I'm honored to do so! I chose this Erskine Hawkins composition which is arguably one of the most recognizable of all the songs of the Big Band Era.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuxedo_Junction:

The song is about a jazz and blues club in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Ensley. The area is referred to as "Tuxedo Junction", even though the building is called the "Nixon Building" (built in 1922). This is due to the location of a streetcar crossing at Tuxedo Park, hence "Tuxedo Junction". The empty building still stands at 1728 20th Street as a testament to the musical heritage of the area. A punk rock venue bearing the same name operated near there briefly in the mid 1980s.

The song was originally written as an instrumental. When it was given to Lewis Music Publishing, they farmed it out to several prospective lyricists to see who could write the best words that matched the song. Buddy Feyne asked Erskine Hawkins why he titled it as such. Erskine mentioned that it was a whistle stop on the "Chitlin' circuit", which led to Buddy's lyrics. Erskine selected his above the other candidates. Once the song had been published, then the white bands added it to their playlist.

BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIoU2W5TaU4 - Tuxedo Junction - Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra, July 18, 1939

BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEYFoDbEZwA&NR=1 - Tuxedo Junction - Glenn Miller

BONUS #3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNI0DBdWLX4 - Tuxedo Junction - Big Band Tribute - instrumental version from the soundtrack of "The Glenn Miller Story"; vocal version by The Manhattan Transfer

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

   Happy Birthday today to Patrick Burke ('57) AND   Bobby Hilling ('62) of VA AND   Katie Haan Spaulding ('64) of CA!

  Happy Birthday tomorrow to    Helen Avant Neal ('57) of VA AND (if Plaxo is to be believed) Bill Douthat ('66) of VA;

  Happy Birthday this week to:

11 - Margaret Blayton Cowan ('57) AND   Nancy Horton Wilkes ('62) of FL AND  Shirley Caudill Williamson ('65) of VA;

13 -   Betty Spain Uecker ('63) of VA AND My Daughter-in-Law,      Kim Woods Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL / Richard Milburn Academy, FL - '03) of IL;

15 - Joan Williams Eberwine ('57) AND Linda Robinson Gillespie ('71) of VA;

16 -     Linda May Bond Crayton ('66) of VA AND  Jacque Ray Fisher ('66) of NC!

   Many Happy Returns to You All!

http://www.nnhs65.com/Happy-Birthday.htm

THIS DAY IN WWII:

THIS DAY IN 1965:

Carol:

Noted the following entry in your March 1st newsletter: 

A light cruiser, also built by NNS, thus became the USS HOUSTON (CL-81). Delivered in 1943, she participated in the successful Pacific campaign, revenging her namesake.	A light cruiser, also built by NNS, thus became the USS HOUSTON (CL-81 ). Delivered in 1943, she participated in the successful Pacific campaign, revenging her namesake.	Even later (1982), NNS delivered a third HOUSTON, a nuclear attack sub (SSN-713), which is still on active duty; home ported at Pearl Harbor.
When she was christened in 1981, members of a reunion association representing the crews of both cruisers of the same name were honored guests at the event and had a ring-side seat for her sliding launching.	Millions of people have unknowingly seen SSN-713 in action - she performed a dramatic 'emergency ascent' drill for use in the film The Hunt for Red October.	A number of survivors of the sinking of CA-30 spent most of WWII in Japanese prison camps. Some who lived through the sinking did not survive being POWs...   In honor and memory of all lost CA-30 crew members, divers recovered the ship's bell from the depths of Sunda Strait in recent years and presented it to the city of Houston, where it is currently displayed atop a memorial in a downtown park.

WOWZERONI-RINI! Thanks so much for sharing this valuable history lesson with us, Bill!

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  From Jane Chambers of VA - 03/07/10 - "BLUE STAR DINER":

		Here's a recent article about the BLUE STAR DINER that some of you might enjoy. Many people have fond memories of that eatery and its owners.  (Strangely enough, I can't recall ever eating there but once. I seldom ate out in my youth.)   Notice that 63 First Decader Pat Perkinson is quoted in the article.   (Miss Marple just HAD to correct the headline.)    AHHH, Jane, you're a woman after my own heart! GIGGLES!!! Thanks so much, Jane!    I've added it to that page in Our Old Stomping Grounds:
Friday, February 26, 2010
http://www.nnhs65.com/SITE-MAP.html      http://www.nnhs65.com/old-stomping.html           http://www.nnhs65.com/OOSG-A-B.html                http://www.nnhs65.com/blue-star-diner.html

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      From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 03/07/10 - "Jewelry":

Some times as women we do so much for others that we forget to do for ourselves. Getting rid of a bunch of things in preparation for my move I found this statement to ring true. Looking at my shabby jewelry a few pieces stood out, as I noticed the pieces have remained nice looking, despite being my favorites to wear. The stellar pieces are from the Sarah Coventry line. Thank goodness for eBay. I have won 5 or so bids on Sarah Coventry pieces since Friday, and finally did a little something for me. The pieces I have are 32 years old. Hopefully these new to me pieces of jewelry will still look great in another 32 years!    AHH! You've mentioned two of my Favorite Things - eBay and vintage jewelry! I actually prefer jewelry which is about 50 years old. Here are a few of my favorite pieces which I've acquired over the years from eBay. You'll notice a bit of a common theme - super sparkly with rhinestones and/or crystals, hopefully dangly!

Thanks, Shari - and congratulations!

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From Herbert A. Riebeling, CDR USNR- RET, of NV to       Dimples Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 03/08/10 - " 'Semper Fi.....' ":

      From Dimples Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC to From Herbert A. Riebeling, CDR USNR- RET, of NV- 03/08/10 - "RE: 'Semper Fi.....' ":

Herb,

If you don't mind, I would like to send this to my high school Newsletter !  Carol will print it, it seems as though we all have a great deal of affection for the Marine Corps, which some of our friends dropped out of school to join during the Viet Nam Conflict !  I will happily sent you a copy of the Newsletter when she prints it.   Let me know a.s.a.p.  We need something like this in the Newsletter !  May I have permission to use your name and your Military Ranking ? 

Sepi

From Herbert A. Riebeling, CDR USNR- RET, of NV to       Dimples Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 03/08/10:

Sure, I only forwarded The Message.

Herbert A. Riebeling CDR USNR- RET

      From Dimples Dinwiddie Prichard ('58) of NC - 03/08/10:

Carol, Perhaps someone to fill the spot       Herbie (Hice) (22 Oct 1924 - 18 Apr 2008) left ?  He is a great guy, met him at Reuben's father's funeral. He lives in Reno, NV and skiing is his sport of choice ! Dimples    Well, now, wouldn't that be fun?!? Thanks, Dimples - and Herb, we'd be honored if you'd like to join us!

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  From Judy Phillips Allen ('66) of VA - 02/18/10 - "Panda Therapy (#11 in a Series of 19)":

I love these Panda emails!  I hope you get the "warm fuzzies", too!

Is it any wonder the world has fallen in love with these animals? DON'T YOU FEEL BETTER ALREADY?       Yes, I do! Thanks, Judy!
		Pardon me, but do you have a napkin?

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ABBREVIATED ALERT:

  From Jane Chambers of VA - 07/01/09 AND 02/07/10 - "CNC BOOK BROCHURE & AD" AND 61-62 DECADERS ADDENDA:

http://www.nnhs65.com/CNC-CNU/brochure(2).pdf

http://www.nnhs65.com/CNC-CNU/CNC-Memories-Book-219390602.pdf

http://www.nnhs65.com/61-63-DECADERS-ADDENDA.doc

   Contact Dr. Chambers at cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.

Thanks, Jane!

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FINALLY:

From ArcaMax Jokes - 03/08/10:

You Might Be From New York If......

* You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan.

* You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.

* The subway makes sense to you, and the subway should never be called anything like the Metro.

* Your door has more than three locks and is made of steel.

* You think Central Park is "nature."

* You pay more each month to park your car than most people in the US pay on their mortgage.

* You haven't seen more than 12 stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid.

* You pay $5 without blinking for a beer that cost the bar 28 cents.

* You have 27 different take-out menus next to your telephone.

* Going to Brooklyn is considered a "road trip." Of course, you only go there to attend weddings or funerals.

* America west of the Hudson is still theoretical to you.

* You have jaywalking down to an art form. You're born with it.

* You take a taxi to get to your health club to exercise.

* You don't hear sirens anymore.

* You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns.

1. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 16, 17, and 18, 2010 - The NNHS Class of 1953 will hold its 57-Year Reunion. For details, contact Robert Walker at bobsawalker@verizon.net (757) 596-7722 or Betty Burns at bsb0735@cox.net (757) 223-9488 - CLASS OF 1953