Thoughts from America I
have often been dis- paraging of Yanks as
being brash and over de- monstrative. However, having just returned after nearly a month in Texas and California, I have had a change of heart.
W
e happened to be there on the anni-
versary of D-Day and also Memorial Day. Driving around Amarillo suburbs, it was amazing to see that nearly every house had a big Stars and Stripes planted on the front lawn. Also on all our internal flights over there - - all drinks were free to all Service Personnel, they were the first to be called to disembark and their names and ranks given. The rest of the passengers clapped them off the plane. What a nice gesture ! ! ! Many bars and restau- rants also gave discounts for Service Personnel.
A
t Dallas Fortworth Air- port and other U.S.
airports - the U.S.O. Club had facilities for food, mi- crowave, coffee maker, plenty of tables and chairs, loads of cold drinks and snacks as well as a 50- seats cinema showing the latest James Bond film - - all free -- and served by voluntary helpers. The place is mainly for Service Personnel and their fami-
lies to spend their time whilst awaiting for their flight departure
T
heir patriotism is strong and palpable.
For instance at the Graduation ceremony of Katie's granddaughter, held in the magnificent Auditorium in Amarillo, before the ceremony started, over 1,500 par- ents / friends and the graduates stood for the American Anthem, hand on heart and sang every word. The intense feel- ing was strongly felt and very emotional. I could- n't help thinking of some of our football yobs shouting and booing throughout our National anthem - with the language heard at football matches.
W
e spent 3-days in San Antonio mostly
to see the famous "ALAMO" - known to us Brits through John Wayne's film. We were fortunate that our hotel was just across the street from the Alamo Mission where the battle was fought. Surprisingly, the whole site is only about the size of a football field with outer walls, Mission Church and parts of the barracks still standing. The total of 189 defend- ers, of whom - 1 was
Welsh, 4 Scotch, 9 Irish, and 12 English, faced 3000-4000 Mexican troops and, of course, were wiped out after 13 days. However they had gained valuable times for General Sam Houston to re-train an army with which to beat the Mexicans 6 weeks later.
P
arties of around 40-50 school children of 6-
12 years old were going through the Mission every hour and it was a revela- tion to see and hear the Guide re-enact the siege. Firstly, the Guide would call out 3 boys to be Colo- nel Travis, Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie and to equip themwith sword, bobcat tail cap and fear- some Bowie knife (wooden !) Then the Guide went through the battle step by step - call- ing up the commanders as required. Not only were the kids completely en- tranced but so were we and all the other adults. What a way to teach his- tory - and patriotism!!! Oh --- that Britain re- spected itself and its' his- tory as much - and also treated ,.our Servicemen and Women with more re- spect and gratitude.
What do you think ??? RON GEGGUS
Page No. 31
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