Thanksgiving 2009...

If you are reading this you probably are not in transit to your Thanksgiving destination; you may be on post. I have been there, and I know the feeling of being so far away during the holidays. Such has been the life of warriors as far back as war goes in history. You can be assured that most folks back here are in full support, and all of your brothers and sisters in arms who have actually been there feel your place and time.

There is no news worthy of repeating this week in light of the situation of all of you over there. The sports news is not worthy either this week, if you know what I mean. So this will be a very brief note to wish all of you the best Thanksgiving possible away from your loved ones!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

SUMMER OPTIMISM

The summer swim hole in fall...

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The colder nights have brought a new look everywhere; My 'Boys of Summer' hangouts have been through a lot, with the summer look being devoured by the grayness of fall. If I had a day of summer that I could bring back, it would be that day at the ole Swim Hole, with the beautiful women swinging on the rope swing ... not in winter dress! The swim hole now is very fall looking and not filled with those lovely summer girls or summer optimism. It tells a tale of winter over the hill, the rope swing now hangs in despair. But, and there always is a but in life, a day will come when that ole swing will again fill the beautiful hands of those 'Girls of Summer' once more...

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November is a very nice month with Thanksgiving coming, and opening day of deer season pending. It isn't long after that when Christmas is here, and all the festivities and good times that bring families together to celebrate and share.

For those who love the outdoors, opening day is a tradition that goes back deep into a young boy's memory. The real outdoorsman knows it is all about the time spent together with the old man, not about the taking of game. When I was that boy, schools were empty on opening day, whereas the fields were full. The night before opening day was as bad as Christmas Eve, who could sleep? Just when you thought you were going to burst from anticipation, your first footstep in the crisp and crunchy snow brought the brutal reality of a wintry day to your senses -- now back down on earth.

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The Cheswick theater,which has been open for 61 years, has closed. A sign of the times, and disappearing times right before our eyes. Small town movie houses fading away in the shadow of the new "Big Box" metroplexes...

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

VETERAN'S DAY 2009

Happy Veteran’s Day to my brothers and sisters in harm's way and back here on the home front.

Unlike most politicians and some citizens who give you the obligatory greeting and salutation, I truly mean it from the heart that beats with yours, and stops with every loss.

Some declare themselves as “Antiwar” as if you are for war! This shows their ignorance and misunderstanding! The soldier is sent to war by the politicians who disdain both! The soldier is not for war as is the poor and mislead, antiwar ideologue; but the soldier responds to the call to defend their country; unlike most politicians and the lost souls of the antiwar clan. With Honor, the soldier dies for them both!

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SPORTS UPDATE:

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers crushed the Denver Broncos 28-10, but the game easily could have been 42-10. The Denver offense scored their only points -- 3 -- on their first drive. Their defense score the other 7.

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Local happenings:

The replica ships Pinta and Nina, which are exact copies of the ships that Christopher Columbus used for his voyages are in Pittsburgh this week! The Nina was his favorite that he used for 3 1/2 voyages. When you see these ships and the relatively small size of them, although big for their time, it becomes apparent that these men were very bold and brave to do what they did. To cross the ocean, thinking that it may be flat and they could fall off, these wooden ships would have been extremely frightful. The crew was made up mostly of slaves, and this crew slept on deck, only the Captain, Christopher Columbus slept down below in a compartment. None of the crew perished on their voyage, which again is amazing!

The Pinta on the left, and the Nina

Heinz field is visible on the right, with the Heinz mustard color seats!

The Nina, Christopher Columbus's favorite ship used on three voyages!

(CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE)

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Amelia Earhart, and her Lockheed Vega

This was shot a few days ago at the Air & Space Museum in DC.
The is Amelia Earhart's Lockheed 5B Vega that she flew solo across the Atlantic in.

This week the post was not completed due to circumstances of out of town travel. I am also grappling with keeping this column non-political -- the commander in chief -- being so indecisive about sending you over there the requested backup troops is making it very difficult for me to do so! The big news is the elections held on Tuesday, and of course the troop issue, and the health care bill(s).

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The Steelers had a bye week, and a well deserved rest.

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania