Great writing and with love. I can say from this old Commander/Pioneer boy 1976 that I would have to agree with everything you said. Change the names and the story would be the same.
I can remember when I was out to Sea on a Navy ship watching the sun set and thinking about the Ranger Pledge, Code ect.. What it meant to me as a boy and again as a father and a commander. Yes it is in the blood. I know I was very confused about the Gold Track when I say it and learned about it. It took me a little time to see the whole benefit of the Gold Track and back it up. I will say that I don't like some of the changes mostly because I have not studied them in front of me like I should but I know that these men are going under God Direction and that is all I need to back the new changes. There are things I don't like and there are things I would like to see a return too. I think patches are not good pins and ribbons are better. I like the new medals. All we have to do is pray about the changes and the leaders.
William A. Zerby
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Burns [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 12:19 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; rangers
Subject: [RR] Commander Appreciation...( was *Get with the New program!)
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]
