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Rich WhippleSeveral times each year dozens of our members take part in cleaning a portion of one of our local roads.
Saturday, October 1, was our last pick-up for the year for the Wayne County Adopt-A-Road project. It was a dreary day, however as ten brave souls from our chapter showed up with the attitude."bring it on" ! Roger Schlee turned out to be the hero of the day, as my Nikon camera’s batteries failed, and Rog volunteered to take the picture with his phone. Notice the eerie picture. With Roger's expertise with the special effects, he was able to make a scary looking picture since Halloween is closing in on us. Nice job, Roger! Those that braved the elements and gobbled down the fresh Meijer doughnuts were: Bob and Jan Humphrey, Bob Lamoureux, Gary Boucher, Dennis Waling, Don Shannon, Dominic Drake, Forrest Manley (wearing a hat he bought when he went to Disneyworld, Roger Schlee and myself. I want to take this time to thank all of you that volunteered to show up on the three dates that our chapter was to pick-up. This project just adds to the fact that our chapter is alive and well, and that we are a big part of the community!
We had thirteen volunteers including two new “FNG”s, Rick Dunn and Dale Sirkle, who did a remarkable job for being “rookies”. Thanks for coming out and being a part of the team, Rick and Dale! Once again, a lot of harassment from the troops for my attempt to take a timed photo. I truly believe that this crew has more fun with their snide remarks about my photography inefficiencies, than the donuts. Those from the peanut gallery in the picture are from left to right (top row): Dale Sirkle, Bob Lamoureux, Norma Demerly, Mark Grzesiek, Gary “Ouch” Boucher, Suzie Wagner, Dennis Waling, Don Shannon, Dominic Drake, and in the front row Pete Glasgow, Roger Schlee, and myself. Rick Dunn for some reason wasn’t in the picture. The award for the the longest distance volunteer went to Mark Grzesiek (Arizona), who nosed out Don “Captain Boblo” Shannon from Flat Rock Our next pick-up date will be on Saturday, October 1. Thank you for all that have volunteered over the years. The two Adopt-A-Road signs on Joy Road, just east of Canton Center Road, and just west of Haggerty Road lets the community know that our chapter is proudly entrenched in community affairs
The first pick-up of the year was held on Saturday morning, March 23. Luckily for all who participated, the weather was unusually favorable. And just hearing the weather report for Easter Sunday and the rest of the week, we have about five days of rain ahead. So we have to be grateful that it cleared up for us. The members of 528 that made this happen were Bob Lamoureux, Forrest Manley, Dennis Bielskis, Pete Glasgow, Ron King, Jim Hodgson, Jerry & Judy Thomason, Don Dignan, Dennis Waling, and myself.
A lot of credit is due to the many that worked the last Fish Fry of the year, finishing up late Friday evening, and showing up at 0830 hours the next morning. Thanks for your volunteering hearts, and for your camaraderie.
We collected ten bags of trash which was unusually more than normal. The wet cardboard was like a giant sponge!!!
I think what this group looks forward to more than anything is to harass me as I am attempting to be a photographer! You wouldn’t believe the whining and comments from the peanut gallery!! These people just don’t appreciate my professionalism.
One other thing, Digger is in trouble with Sgt. Ouch because he broke one of the hand held “picker uppers”. There will be hell to pay when Ouch gets a hold of the Digger!!!
Our next pickup is scheduled for Saturday, July 16.
It was a cold and cloudy morning on April 17, but the weather didn't deter the commitment of sixteen "Gung-Ho" volunteers to assemble and "spit shine" the 2-1/2 mile stretch on Joy Road. VVA 528 has had the honor of adopting this stretch for Wayne County since April of 1997. Probably the hardest assignment that morning was moving Bob Lamoureux's car so I could place my camera on top of the roof to take a picture with all of us in it, under the Wayne County Adopt-A-Road sign with our chapter's name on it. While setting up the camera, there was quite a bit of whining and harassment aimed at me, and I was a heartbeat away of having them all go down to the "front lean and rest position" for ten minutes! It took us about one hour and ten minutes to complete our task, and then we regrouped at the Canton Coney Island for some excellent chow and camaraderie. No one was assigned to the "pots and pans" for KP duty, like I was assigned to at Ft. Gordon for being a few hours AWOL, brought back to my company's headquarters by the MPs, because of consuming too much King Arthur IV Scotch Whiskey while visiting Augusta one weekend evening.
Our next pick-up will most likely be on Saturday, July 24. This date is scheduled by Wayne County. Those of you who belong to a VFW post, please let your post officers know that you did this community service, which benefits your post!
Thanks for all who participated, and for your faithfulness to "get 'er done!"
(Sgt.) Rich Whipple
HHC/2/503d. Infantry
173d.
Airborne Brigade 1968-69