Memorial Day 2024 Honoring All Who Gave Their Lives for Our Country

 

Today we honor generations of Americans who gave their lives for our country. Recalling history, words of one of those Americans spoken some 159 years ago seem especially fitting:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations."

President Abraham Lincoln deilivered these words in his second inaugural address, March 4, 1865.

A little more than a month later, while in serve to our country, Preident Lincoln died by an assanin's bullet, April 15 1865.

"Recall the past, live in the present, give to the future"

Honor the Past - Commemerating Black American Day, March 5, 1971

February was first designated as Black History Month nearly fifty years ago in 1976*. As February came and went, I was reminded of growing up in Oakland. Recently, my long time friend, Phillip Jackson sent me these medallions. During March of our sophomore year at St. Elizabeth High School, Phillip handed these out to mark a new event for us, "Black American Day"! 

Before there was an official Black History Month, California held its first Black American Day" on March 5, 1971, which was championed as a holiday by Assembly member Willie Brown.  A brass medallion, the  "People's Gold", was issued featuring  the dates 1619 and 1971. 1619 marks the first arrival of Africans in Virginia.*

*References:

First commemoration of Black History Month

https://www.voanews.com/a/february-is-black-history-month-in-the-us/7466915.html

History relayed on coins

https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n06a33.html

Floating Wetlands in Baltimore Inner Harbor

Monday was my second February kayaking and conditions were so good that headed toward the Inner Harbor to check out the "floating wetland" at the Bond Street Pier.

 Floating wetlands that provide wildlife habitats and potentially improve water quality are installed along the developed shorelines in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The floating wetlands are managed by BioHabitats, .

Meet Justin Park, PLA, ASLA, LEED GA, a Senior Landscape Architect for BioHabitats  as he gives us a glimpse into the care of a floating wetland.

Good works for our environment!

References:

BioHabitats

https://www.biohabitats.com/project

Always a Cal Bear!

 It was a tough year for me as a Cal Bear. It was a challenge following the 2023 Bears from way out here in Baltimore.

Our Cal flag was still there for every game at our
Baltimore row house despite late night games

It was tough knowing the Pac12 had disintegrated right there in front of us

It was a roller coaster of big losses and gratifying wins (especially beating Stanford and UCLA; then Coming up short in the Independence Bowl game with Texas Tech.

Still, LB Uluave, RB Ott and QB Mendoza give us something to look forward to next season.

On to 2024! Go Bears!

 

Help for Homeless Vets near-Unanimous in the House Earlier this Week

 

On December 5, HR 3848, Housing Our Military Veterans Effectively Act, passed just 10 votes short of unanimous in the House of Representatives, 408 – 10.

HR 3848 extends help first offered during the pandemic for the more than 33,000 homeless veterans across the U.S. as well as veterans using Federal Housing vouchers. The aid is in the form of stipends to “purchase necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene items; transportation services; or communications equipment such as smartphones so the veterans can maintain contact with health care providers, prospective landlords, and family members” and increases the per diem rate the VA pays to non-profits assisting veterans in finding housing.

Welcome news addressing the plight of the homeless.

The list of representatives voting no HR 3848 is below. I have yet to find information as to  why these representatives voted against giving aid to veterans in need.

References:

Wake Up to Politics, “16 things Washington did this week” By Gabe Fleisher • 8 Dec 2023 https://www.wakeuptopolitics.com/december-8-2023/?ref=wake-up-to-politics-newsletter

 

Roll Call 695 | Bill Number: H. R. 3848 

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023695

Congratulations to Cristo Rey de Lasalle St. Elizabeth HS Boy's Soccer Team

 Congratulations to CRDLS Boy's Soccer team on a successful 2023 season, reaching the North Coast Section Division 2 Tournament for the second year in a row. Go Mustangs!

Great Game! Cal 33 UCLA 7 - Go Bears

Box score says it all!