And The Greatest of these is....

Ammon Sky

I took these photos this morning. On what had been a depressing morning (two funerals this week) plus a very hard work schedule and a bad book review, God sent me something to remind me of the things that really matter.

Photos of Philly

Rodin Museum, the Thinker.

Love Park, downtown Philly.

Liberty Bell. I'd already seen it, so I didn't want to go through security, but got a pretty good shot through the glass.

Tun Tavern, birthplace of the Marine Corps. One of my life's biggest regrets is my physical disqualification during Marine OCS. I'm a Marine at heart.

Korean War Memorial. Great statue.

Holocaust Memorial. Lest we EVER forget...

Irish-American Memorial. This is an amazing piece of art.

The Pope was at this cathedral. And celebrated Mass in Philly in 1979. I may be one of this guy's biggest fans. Pope John Paul II, you are missed.

Skyline from Town Hall.

Independence Hall---where our Founding Fathers got us off to a great start. Now, can we do them justice?

Philly skyline from the steps of the Museum of Art. I felt like Rocky.

And speaking of Rocky....

I took some time to see Philly while there last weekend. Here are a few photos for those who are interested. Philly is a city packed with history. I love it. I walked all over South Philly on Saturday. The World Series was in town. The whole city was going crazy for the Phillies, who have since won the Series. I was in Philly to honor the memory of my friend Leonard Herman, who was buried at Mt. Sharon Cemetery on Sunday.

Rest in Peace, Dear Friend

Sadly, both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Jewish War Veterans failed to show at my friend Len's funeral despite their assurance they would be there. Very sad indeed. But Len did get a good tribute in the Philly Enquirer. And God gave us a lovely fall day to lay our good friend to rest.

Miss you and love you, my friend.

Honoring a Hero this Weekend

July, 2008. My best friend Len and me. Columbus, Georgia.

Readers, I will be off-line for the next three days so that I may honor an American hero, Leonard Herman.

Despite the economy, and my own economic problems, I am happy to be leaving tomorrow morning before dawn to fly from Idaho Falls to Minneapolis and then on to Philadelphia, PA, to attend the graveside services for my great friend, Leonard Herman. Len will be laid to rest Sunday at Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, PA, just outside of Philly. Len was born and raised in Philly by parents who had emigrated from Russia, and lived in the Philadelphia area until a decade or so ago, when he moved to Columbus, GA to be with his daughter, Linda, her husband, and Leonard's grandson Jordan.

Somehow, from the reaches of rural Idaho, thanks to the internet, I was able to arrange for the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to be present at the service, despite the fact that their annual conventions are the same weekend on the other side of the state. We also managed to get his obituary in the Columbus, GA paper. However, we failed in getting it into the Philadelphia Enquirer--despite the fact that they ran half a dozen stories about war hero Leonard Herman when he returned from World War Two with a chestful of medals.

My final honor to my friend is to deliver his eulogy at the graveside. It is humbling and an honor. It's also a tribute to Leonard Herman's own complete open-mindedness and respect for people from all walks of life. Where else would you find a Roman Catholic delivering the eulogy at a Jewish graveside?

Len, we love you and men such as you rarely walk amongst us. Thanks for letting us be your friend.

Rob

95th's Brad Petrella Flies Final Mission

Sad news once again. Brad Patrella, Sr., who served with honor in the 95th Bomb Group in Horham, England, during World War Two, flew his final mission . If you were to saunter up to the bar at the Red Feather Club in Horham today, you would find yourself bellying-up to 'Brad's Bar'. When he was in the 95th, Brad served as the bartender at the Red Feather Club.

I had the incredible honor of meeting Brad at the 95th Reunion in Tucson last spring. He was spry and full of memories of his time at Horham. His smile and his love of life was contagious. My condolences go out to Brad's family, including his son Brad, Jr. whom I also got to meet.

What follows is a tribute and obituary for our friend Brad Petrella.

Have a safe journey, Brad. We'll miss you, buddy.

Brad Petrella, 85, of Wintersville died Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Acuity Specialty Hospital. He was born February 22, 1923 in Mingo Junction a son of the late John & Felicia Petrella. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church; 95th Bomb Group Heritage Assn.; and Red Feather Club.

Preceding Brad in death were two brothers Tony & Rocky Petrella. Surviving are his wife Rose M. Thomaselli Petrella; children John (Deanna) Petrella and Nancy (Tom) Schloss both of Wintersville and Brad (Gail) Petrella of Avon, OH; grandsons Mark Schloss, David (Emily) Schloss & Nicholas Petrella; great grandchildren Sage & Ava Schloss; sisters Mary Stover of Steubenville & Rose Kenealy of Fresno, CA.Per Brad’s request, there is no visitation. Friends are invited to attend a funeral liturgy with mass 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Church with Msgr. Kurt H. Kemo officiating. Entombment at Mt. Calvary. There will be a 1 p.m. reception at Shorac Family Center after the cemetery committal services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to 95th B.G. Heritage Assn., Attention : G.I. Hammesfahr; P.O. Box 71, Metuchen, NJ 08840-0071.

Cottonwood Time on the Snake River Idaho

Photos speak for themselves. It was a good day to be alive!! So beautiful I almost could not stand it.