Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting of 1/15/14

Pledge: President Gerri Lewis
Prayer: President Gerri
Song: Andy Anderson!
Brents Card Game Winner: Charlie Norz

Sergeants Report: Glen filling in for Cathy
    Raffle Winners: Andy, Marty, Eric
    Happy Bucks: For Andy being at the meeting, Andy for all the well wishes and being at the meeting, Charlie put all his winnings in for the wine tasting, playing golf Tuesday and more, Wine Tasting progress!
   
Announcements:
Meals on Wheels this week - Ken Roche

Marty & Gerri spoke about the upcoming Wine Tasting & Silent Auction on Feb. 7. Time is running out so we must all work to sell tickets, get sponsors and obtain those auction items. Marty has flyers, extra tickets and forms. Forms can be downloaded from our website in the members only area.

Program: Paul Moore
    The Air Force Academy class of '63 consisted of 500 cadets. Most had dreams of flying the high tech, high speed planes and jets and some had aspirations of space travel as astronauts. The film started with an overview of Academy life including academics like calculus and chemistry but also how to deal with adversity. "The system" became a way of life. At the time of graduation, our country's involvement in the Vietnam War was significant and increasing.  President Kennedy made the case that freedom was threatened and so they were called to serve. 18 men from the class '63 died in combat, 2 were shot down and taken prisoner. They flew F4 Phantoms, C130's, AC119's, F-100's, B52's, and more. Missions involved reconassiance, attacking enemy positions and so forth but the rescue missions were very dangerous - exposed to surface to air missles and anti-aircraft artillary fire from the ground. The men flew with courage and great skill. The film gave backgrounds on the men who died in combat. You were left with an appreciation for the men who paid the ultimate price and sadness for lives lost and families left behind. John Borling and Jerry Driscoll were POW's who spent time in Hao Lo Prison also known as the Hanoi Hilton. They were freed on Feb. 12, 1973. The men served proudly and all Americans owe a debt for their sacrifice.
md