OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS #72 - PATRIOTISM
This coming Monday, May 21, an extremely important "Opportunity" will be made available to our members, parents, and guests.
Mr. Arles Cole, a US Armed Services Veteran and Pearle Harbor survivor, will be addressing our troop. This is a wonderful activity, especially with Memorial Day right around the corner, and we encourage parents to attend with their sons. This message is also going out to all alumni of Troop 26 and for those who are in the Tulsa area and are available, we'd like to encourage them to attend as well.
The attack on Pearl Harbor ushered America into World War II and became one of the most memorable events in the history of our country. The attack came on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 in the morning. It was a Sunday. The Pacific fleet was anchored at Pearl Harbor but luckily, none of the aircraft carriers were there. Eight battleships were there. The Oklahoma was one of them. Twelve ships were destroyed. Hundreds of aircraft were destroyed. 2,400 people lost their lives in the attack.
Many of the remaining Pearl Harbor survivors are in their 80s and 90s. Their numbers are decreasing. That is why this coming Monday night's meeting is important for our scout families. It's an opportunity to hear about that historical day from someone who was actually there. Someone who saw it happen. Someone who can tell us about his personal feelings as the Japanese attack was carried out.
I recently saw the movie "Flags of our Fathers", directed by Clint Eastwood. It was about the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. I thought I knew about that flag raising. I thought I knew about that battle. I had seen the famous statue in Washington DC. I had seen the famous photograph that became a symbol for our war effort towards the close of the war. Much of what I knew, I learned from teachers and from history books. I assumed that what I read was accurate. The fact is, however, that history books about wars are usually written by the winners. Details that make the winners look bad are sometimes watered down or left out all together. This movie refutes much of what I thought I knew.
That makes this Monday night meeting even more valuable to our members. What we will hear from Mr. Cole is a first hand account of one of our histories darkest hours. It isn't hearsay. It isn't information from a book or a magazine written by someone who wasn't there. This gentleman was there.
What a wonderful opportunity for our troop. To learn history from a man who saw it happen.
Mr. Arles Cole, a US Armed Services Veteran and Pearle Harbor survivor, will be addressing our troop. This is a wonderful activity, especially with Memorial Day right around the corner, and we encourage parents to attend with their sons. This message is also going out to all alumni of Troop 26 and for those who are in the Tulsa area and are available, we'd like to encourage them to attend as well.The attack on Pearl Harbor ushered America into World War II and became one of the most memorable events in the history of our country. The attack came on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 in the morning. It was a Sunday. The Pacific fleet was anchored at Pearl Harbor but luckily, none of the aircraft carriers were there. Eight battleships were there. The Oklahoma was one of them. Twelve ships were destroyed. Hundreds of aircraft were destroyed. 2,400 people lost their lives in the attack.
Many of the remaining Pearl Harbor survivors are in their 80s and 90s. Their numbers are decreasing. That is why this coming Monday night's meeting is important for our scout families. It's an opportunity to hear about that historical day from someone who was actually there. Someone who saw it happen. Someone who can tell us about his personal feelings as the Japanese attack was carried out.
I recently saw the movie "Flags of our Fathers", directed by Clint Eastwood. It was about the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. I thought I knew about that flag raising. I thought I knew about that battle. I had seen the famous statue in Washington DC. I had seen the famous photograph that became a symbol for our war effort towards the close of the war. Much of what I knew, I learned from teachers and from history books. I assumed that what I read was accurate. The fact is, however, that history books about wars are usually written by the winners. Details that make the winners look bad are sometimes watered down or left out all together. This movie refutes much of what I thought I knew.
That makes this Monday night meeting even more valuable to our members. What we will hear from Mr. Cole is a first hand account of one of our histories darkest hours. It isn't hearsay. It isn't information from a book or a magazine written by someone who wasn't there. This gentleman was there.
What a wonderful opportunity for our troop. To learn history from a man who saw it happen.
Hope to see you all there.
Bill
posted by Bill Shaffer at 1:58 PM
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