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This Newsletter theme is new to us this year. Okay, I'll admit it; I never heard of it before. But one of our primary functions here is to educate, so I thought I'd try to learn something myself. I've also never seen this beautiful painting, nor could I find the name of the artist who painted it. If you have more success with that than I, I'd appreciate your sharing that knowledge with me!

We have learned that Barbara Smith Hawk ('59) of VA, wife of Wilson Hawk ('56) of VA, is suffering from cancer. Your prayers on her behalf are requested.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

Happy Birthday tomorrow to Shirley Smith Langston ('57)!

12 - Mary Massey Lyle ('61) of NJ AND

Marcus C. Higgins ('65) of AZ AND Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73) AND

My #2 Daughter-in-Law, Bethany Winona Harty (Siuslaw HS, OR - '94) of OR;

14 - Elizabeth Mitchell Hedgepeth ('57) AND Kathie Avant Taylor ('64) of GA;

From My #2 Son, Brent Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL - '90) of GA - 12/06/08 - "When You Thought I Wasn't Looking":

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to,
and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it,
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you did not feel well,
and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know
to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say,
'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS, BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sending this to someone else,
you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others...

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

This is one for all ages.

This video was sent to me and it is fabulous! Anyone who is a mom or has a mom (is that all of us????) will love it. Enjoy. I know I did. You all will laugh!!

Turn up the volume.

Click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Jerry Blanchard (Class of 62) of Va.

Those of you who have followed my submissions to the Newsletter and to the NNHS web site, especially old post cards with identical "now" images, already know that I am drawn to "Then & Now" media. So, you can understand how I was blown away by these two YouTube videos, which show current views of key locations from those iconic spaghetti westerns of the mid-60s, "For A Few Dollars More" and "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly".

So, sit back for a few minutes and enter the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood "Way-back Machine":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpAN1AS3xbU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93b5MelKGQE

If spaghetti westerns are not your cup of tequila, then here is a similar video of locations from "Lawrence Of Arabia", unfortunately without the lush movie score in the background:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKfpMf1C4A&feature=related

From Judy Phillips Allen ('66) of VA - 12/07/08 - "A Different Christmas Poem":

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,
'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'
'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'

' So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'
'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

From ArcaMax Publishing - Health and Fitness - 12/07/08 - "Fiber-Rich Diets Promote Weight Loss, Health Gains ":

Your Health: Fiber-Rich Diets Promote Weight Loss, Health Gains

If you're working on improving your diet and enhancing your health, eating more fiber is a great place to start.

Also known as roughage or bulk, fiber forms the structural framework of plants, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and nuts. Because humans lack the enzymes necessary to fully digest it, fiber travels through the gastrointestinal tract relatively unchanged, and that's precisely what makes it so beneficial.

Fiber is best known for its ability to promote gastrointestinal regularity, but it offers a number of additional health perks. A substantial body of scientific evidence credits high-fiber diets with reducing the risk of developing a number of debilitating diseases.

Hundreds of studies have demonstrated a strong link between high intakes of dietary fiber and a lower risk of heart disease. In some cases, the reduction in risk is as great as 40 percent.

High-fiber diets are known to offer substantial protection against type-2 diabetes. In individuals diagnosed with the disease, fiber-rich foods can significantly improve blood-sugar control by slowing the absorption of sugar from foods, minimizing the fluctuations in blood glucose levels that occur after eating.

Adding more fiber to your diet can help you lose weight. Research reveals that people who consume high-fiber diets are less likely to be overweight or obese than folks whose diets are lacking in roughage.

You probably know from experience that eating a bowl of bran cereal or a serving of dried beans can fill you up fast. High-fiber foods like these are bulky and filling, and ounce for ounce, they typically contain far fewer calories than fiber-free foods.

Because they require some serious chewing, high-fiber foods take longer to eat, and this property dramatically increases their ability to satisfy hunger. Time spent chewing slows the pace at which you eat, giving your brain a chance to notice when your stomach is full and you're no longer hungry.

While the sheer bulk of high-fiber foods can make you feel full, there's another important reason for their ability to satisfy. In the body, fiber triggers the release of cholecystokinin, a hormone known to produce feelings of fullness and satiety.

Not all fiber is created equal, and one of the most common ways of categorizing the various types is based on how easily they dissolve in water. Soluble fiber dissolves in liquids, while insoluble fiber does not. The distinction is important when it comes to determining fiber's ability to reduce the risk of certain diseases.

Soluble fiber, found in oats, apples, peas, beans, barley and psyllium dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. This substance helps lower levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, reducing the risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Insoluble fiber is found in wheat bran, nuts and many vegetables. Because it increases stool bulk and facilitates the movement of material through the digestive tract, insoluble fiber is an excellent remedy for the prevention and treatment of constipation.

Fiber is most abundant in unprocessed plant foods. With every phase of processing that occurs during the manufacture of food, fiber content is significantly diminished.

Only small amounts of roughage are found in refined foods, including white rice, white bread, refined breakfast cereals, and most types of cookies, crackers and white pasta.

If you aren't getting enough fiber from the foods in your daily diet, you can boost your intake by taking a nutritional supplement, available in a variety of tablets, capsules, powders and wafers. Eating the typical American diet, most adults consume only about 11 to 15 grams of fiber a day.

According to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, women ages 50 and younger should aim for a daily fiber intake of 25 grams, while those ages 51 and older should consume at least 21 grams each day. The daily recommendations for men are higher: 38 grams for men ages 50 and younger and 30 grams for those ages 51 and older.

When you increase the fiber in your diet, be sure to start slowly and work your way up gradually. It's a good idea to drink plenty of water, since fiber absorbs liquids in the digestive tract.

If you switch abruptly from a low-fiber diet to one that is rich in roughage, you may experience minor gastrointestinal distress marked by bloating, cramping and gas.

These symptoms will resolve as your body adjusts, but adding fiber to your diet slowly will help you avoid them altogether.

========

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Thank you so much, Emily! These were both attractive and delicious when you served them Friday night!

From My #2 Son, Brent Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL - '90) of GA - 12/07/08 - "Harty Army Progress":

Hello friends and family!

I wanted to send an update of how my Army training progress is going. Basic Training at Ft. Knox, KY went well and was complete on October 3rd. The training itself wasn't too hard. The hard part was dealing with all the bone-headed 17 & 18 year-olds for 9 weeks! That was really tough. And of course, being away from my family for that time was tough, too. I guess making the adjustment to soldier from civilian took some effort as well, but it was gradual. On October 3rd I went straight to Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning, GA. Prior to leaving for OCS I got to visit with my sweet wife for about 10 hours prior to that transition! So that was nice, but as you can imagine, difficult at the same time, considering I got to talk to her on the phone for a total of 15 minutes for an entire 10 weeks of processing and Basic training. And 10 minutes of that time came in the first week I was there for processing!

I have been pleased with my experience here at OCS in Ft. Benning, GA. The immediate difference was the 'freedom' afforded us as compared to Basic. The prior service candidates didn't see that, but those of us college options who just came from Basic saw it very clearly! As for OCS, I think sometimes that we don't learn enough of how to be officers, but yet again, there are still 2 more training segments to go through. The most exciting thing that has happened of late in my opinion is the branch selection and announcement of training dates.

So that is what I know for now. If you are curious as to what ADA does, I've attached a document that gives some info on it. Basically in the simplest of unofficial terms, ADA shoots down enemy aircraft and missiles before they can do any damage. You may recall seeing video of the Army shooting down the SCUD missiles with the Patriot missiles during Desert Storm. Well, that is one portion of the ADA. I hope to focus on the HIMAD side of the house (High to Medium Range systems as opposed to the FAADS or forward area systems). We'll see...I'll keep you posted as I know more.

Sorry for the delay in staying in touch with most of you. I didn't have anything definitive to say other than 'I still don't know yet what I get to do in the Army'. I didn't select my ADA branch until November 14th. And my training dates were just emailed to me yesterday. So is one respect, this email is fairly timely!

I hope you all are doing well during the holiday season and that life is going well. Know that even though at times it has been very difficult for the Harty family (wife and kids are squished into her parent's house in Oregon for example!) we are happy that we are doing well in pursuing our dream of serving as an officer in the United States Army. How many people can say that they are literally helping to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and working to protect its citizens? I'm very humbled and pleased to say that I am now one of those Americans who do this very thing. I am 'living the dream' you might say!

Oh, if you'd like to see more on how our family is doing you can visit

Bethany's (Winona Harty - Siuslaw HS, OR - '94 - of OR) blog sites. She has a great deal of information there that is interesting (IMHO!) to read. Stories and pictures and such. Those sites are:

Have a very Merry Christmas and hope to be able to talk with many of you in the near future!

Thank you, Sweetie!

We're really getting excited about coming to see your commissioning in January! Have I ever mentioned how enormously proud I am of you?!?

From David Whitley ('67) of VA - 12/03/08 (but not discovered until 12/08/08) - "All these pictures are made from FOOD" (#1 in a Series of 7):

The NNHS Class of 1958 Gathering and Dinner will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM at Al Fresco Ristorante, 11710 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606. CONTACT: Joe Drewry (jwdvt@aol.com, 757-244-4443, ext 4)

2. April 23, 24, & 25, 2009 - Class of 1954 will hold their 55th-Year Reunion. For details contact Dr. Harry Simpson at 804-694-0346 or email him at hdsdds@aol.com - CLASS OF 1954

See amid the winter's snow,
born for us on earth below,
see, the gentle Lamb appears,
promised from eternal years.

Refrain:
Hail that ever blessèd morn,
hail redemption's happy dawn,
sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
he who built the starry skies;
he who, thronèd in height sublime,
sits amid the cherubim.

Refrain

Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
what your joyful news today.
wherefore have ye left your sheep
on the lonely mountain steep?

Refrain

"As we watched at dead of night,
lo, we saw a wondrous light;
angels singing 'Peace on earth'
told us of the Savior's birth."

Refrain

Sacred Infant, all divine,
what a tender love was thine,
thus to come from highest bliss
down to such a world as this.

Refrain

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
by thy face so meek and mild,
teach us to resemble thee,
in thy sweet humility.

	Roasted Potato Medley
	2 sweet potatoes 4 russet potatoes 8 new potatoes 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. olive oil	1 tsp. dried tarragon 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper
	Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Peel and cube the sweet potatoes and russet potatoes. Scrub the new potatoes and cut into cubes. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan. Add enough lightly salted water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes for 3 minutes. Drain thoroughly. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on a large nonstick baking sheet. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with tarragon, salt, and pepper. Roast the potatoes until browned and crisp, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately. - Adapted from Great American Recipes

		I proudly selected Air Defense Artillery as my career path in the U.S. Army for the next several years. I am scheduled to be commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on January 8th. There is a 15 day Christmas Exodus leave between now and then, so there isn't much left of OCS. We just completed 2 1/2 weeks of Field Training. We have just a few more things to complete and then we'll be commissioned officers.


Then after I'm done here there is a lay over in training courses - which is fine for me as it allows me to spend 3 months straight with my family at Ft. Bliss, TX (doing I'm not sure what there-busy work of some kind I'm sure!) prior to returning to Ft. Benning for Basic Officer Leader Course II. This course will run from 5 April to 21 May. Then I go back to Ft. Bliss for BOLC III which is my primary branch training. That will run from 31 May to 18 September. And then I'll be off to my first duty assignment. I'll find out what unit I'm with sometime during BOLC II.

This is really cool, look closely at each picture; most everything is a kind of food. Lots of detail & tons more imagination than I have... Thanks, Gorgeous! These are really incredible!