My Town Franklin author: Gunner Lanson, USMC

After two and one half years of work, the Macon County Veterans’ Memorial will be officially dedicated on the 4th of July at 11:30 a.m. The public is cordially invited and encouraged to attend to see the fruition of the combined efforts of Veterans’ Organizations, numerous volunteers, generous contributions of the public and local government, the work of skilled professionals and the dedicated labor of many. The Memorial is not finished by any consideration but remains a work in progress but is in its current state is a stirring tribute to those who it honors. Please join us. View recent photos of Veterans Memorial at www.VeteransMemorialMaconCounty.org. Those desiring further background contact Don Lanson at 828-369-2144.

It was a typical bright Saturday Morning as I assumed the watch at the American Embassy Caracas Venezuela. The Embassy staff was coming in checking their mail and then leaving to do errands. I was in the midst of logging in, checking keys, inventorying guard property and checking electronic alarms for the secure areas. Mr. Norm Werner the assistant Vice Consul informed me that he had a 09:30 appointment with Warren P and that I should allow him access to the Consular Office when he arrived. Read more…

While engaged in Central American Surveillance Operations aboard ship, my Sec Gru Det was augmented by a Spanish Linguist from 2nd Radio Battalion. It provided us benefit of his services and an opportunity for forward area training for him. Sergeant Rick was a fine Marine, a bachelor, a man of the world with many talents, and extremely good at his job. Read more…

The exuberance of a great day in the making showed itself in my stride as a fairly bounded across the trestle leading to leading to the embassy lobby. The sun rising above the mountains penetrated the early morning purple shadows with warming rays that dissipated the cool mists as they advanced along the valley floor in which Caracas lay. Read more…

While perusing a newspaper article a few weeks ago, there was a picture of an airplane at a museum that drew my attention. It was not that aircraft that caused me to zero-in but in the background, there was what appeared to be, a helicopter from long ago that stirred some memories. Read more…