Thanks Andy. Good Stuff!!!! Mark Jones On Fri, 30 Jun 2000 03:19:01 -0400 "Andy Burns" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Geno, et. all: > > Unlike the 70's and 80's, there are more and more of us like Geno, > myself, > and yes, even A#1 who have seen both sides of the program... as a > Boy and a > Commander... and now as a Father... > > I have *many Commanders in my own book of Hero's... and I must > admit... to > see some my Pioneers now wearing Commanders Bars, Oak Leaves, or in > other > forms of full time ministry gives me *great pride... but i'll be > most proud > when the "roll is called up Yonder"... and THEY'LL be there! > > BTW.. the one Commander I cannot shake is the very first commander I > had > back in 1973 as a Pioneer... he happens to be my Father in Law now! > My > brother-in-law was one of my highest achieving Pioneers in the 80's > that has > worn commander bars... it's in the blood line and it won't wash out > (long > before I ever met and married his sister) ... now my own boys (8 and > 10) are > infected with *Ranger'itus ... their current hero is their old > Commander... > Simon Tanner (Rick Dostal)... no better an example to my boys than > that (of > course, he's pretty high up on my list too)! > > I posted this a few years ago... but it warrants a refresher... > perhaps it > will help you take a moment to reflect on your past to pick out > those who've > made the impressions that formed your life... > > "Parson's 'Commander' Hall of Fame" (in no particular order)... > forgive me > while I stroll down memory lane: > > -Martin "Lil' Green Frog" Kelly: The Senior Commander who talked me > out of > quitting Rangers at 17. Favorite quote: "Don't give up on Rangers > until > you've tried it (JLTC)" ... never have I had a Commander BEG me to > go to a > camp until Martin worked me over about JLTC.. it changed my life, > and put > Rangers in my blood to stay. > > -Gary Marentis: The TrailBlazer and Trail Ranger Commander who > spent > hundreds of his personal hours working with me to make sure I could > earn > every award my vest holds. Favorite Quote: "What do you mean you > didn't > have time? Did you sleep?!?!" ... and of course "Why stand yee thar > gazing? > Get to work!" > > -Kent "Tall Eagle" Teeters, My (then) District Commander. He took > me under > his wing and treated me better than I deserved... my favorite quote > from > Kent: ... upon walking into your campsite to see you working on > something, > he'd say "Do you understand all you know about what you're doing?" > His > son, Doug "Tall Turkey" Teeters and I used to hang out together with > Duane > "Chili Racoon"Velos at Traces and PowWows... loads of pranks and > fun!... > even the time we were handcuffed together for the night... I > destroyed my > flashlight in the process.. but I picked that lock with the spring > from the > flashlight and got us out of them! > > -Cat Velos: "Big Chief"... mentor, father figure, a man who > understood the > heart of a confused 16 year old Boy. He has one of the biggest > hearts there > is! ....Favorite Quote... too long to tell, but suffice it to say > that I > *still tell his Eagle story to this day... It was he and Kent > Teeters who > inspired my love for Bald Eagles... > > -Ken Moran: The Man who made sure I knew that his name was NOT > spelled > "moron" at my first JLTC... he was a mentor that helped to gude my > ministry > and always knew how to discern God's voice... and wasn't afraid to > lay it on > the line with me. Favorite Quote: "Now, I'll be DIPPED!" > > -Dwane Truman: A former Divsion Commander who made sure I > understood that > my age didn't matter... that I COULD make a difference, even though > I was > young. (His mother was also a saint)... > > -Pat Rielly - The man's smile (through his thick beard) will melt > the heart > of the most hardened person... If you want to know about a commander > who > understand unconditional love... it's ole' Bearwaller! > > -Rick Dostal - This man actully put up with me in his outpost... > through my > hectic schedules, personal pains and troubles, the hard times I > faced in > marriage and child rearing... He was always there with a smile, a > shoulder > and some type of vermit on the spit to fill my belly. > > -Bob "Screemin' Eagle" Chapman: the District FCF President when I > was but a > "mere varmit" in the old FCF initiation ways... He's the one who > donned me > "Parson" with the Parson Hat that I wear any time I speak at an FCF > Function.... my "preachin' hat" ... It was one of his favorite hats > that I > hounded him about my entire time as a Young Buck. After I did some > time in > college, I was elected as the very first District FCF Parson in > NCN... at > the Territorial Rendevoux that year, he called me over to his lodge > and took > it off his head and put it on mine, saying "Here now... your the > Parson, > afterall" ... It fell down over my ears!! I promptly stuffed it > full of > "mountain money" (toilet paper) and wore it with great pride! I > still get a > lump in my throat thinking of that moment... though my head is much > *thicker > now, so I don't need the tissue stuffing any more... > > -And Finally, Rich Mariott... He was my Division Commander back > when I was > 14 years old... then my District FCF President when I was a young > buck in > FCF, then my District Commander, and now the National Commander.... > 'nuff > said... he's risen to the top of the pile by God's grace, but no > better man > for the job. His vision is inspiring, his dedication is unwavering, > and his > love of boys... and a worm like me (in spite of myself)... is > constant. ... > though he left his companion "Squirt" in California... you haven't > lived > until you've met Squirt! > > There are many more... but i'll save those for the book i'll > probably never > get around to writing... > - > > Thank the Lord for all of the Godly Commanders in my life. Rangers > is my > life... but more importantly... it was THE tool that God used to > KEEP me in > the kingdom! > > Parson. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "rangers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 2:10 AM > Subject: Re: [RR] *Get with the New program! > > _______ > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! > http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mark Jones, Ozark MO, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Download a Free Royal Ranger Database visit my website at: http://home1.gte.net/mjones02/index.html ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
