Published: September 22, 2007 12:42 am         

Palestine resident participates in Air Force plaque dedication

Our Town column

Palestine resident Jim Skelton was the Master of Ceremonies at the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio for a recent plaque dedication ceremony to commemorate the aircrew and ground support members of the 966th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron (966 AEW&C Squadron).

The 966th AEW&C Squadron flew EC-121s. The ceremony included the base honor guard posting the colors, the museum director Maj. Gen. Charles Metcalf (USAF Ret) accepting the plaque.

The invocation was written especially for the ceremony by Maj. Gen. Charles Baldwin, Chief of Chaplains USAF and the ceremony ended with a bugler playing “Taps.”

Jim Skelton retired from the USAF as a Chief Master Sergeant and among his many assignments and duties, was with the 966th AEW&C Squadron at McCoy AFB, Fla. He was the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of a Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) directed mission named GOLD DIGGER.

This highly classified mission (at the time) was to follow U-2 aircraft on surveillance flights over Cuba by EC-121s, who were flying at extremely low level, 50 feet above the ocean.

Jim was accompanied to the ceremony by another long time Palestine resident, Dick Sommer.



Texas Buglers participate in tuition program

Texas Buglers announces participation in the State of Texas Taps Tuition Voucher Program. This program was passed by the Texas House and Senate with a unanimous vote and was signed by Governor Rick Perry. The law took effect Sept. 1.

The program allows students in grades 6 through 12 to perform taps at military honors funerals held in Texas and receive a voucher of $25 per funeral to be used for higher education.

Schools will honor the absent day as an attended day of school without penalty and students will receive a reasonable amount of time to make up school work. Texas Buglers will assist in this program by providing bugles and teaching the students how to play taps.

Once ready, the buglers are informed of services near them that require their skills. This non-profit organization relies solely on donations and does not charge for any service.

Those who are interested can visit www.texasbuglers.org to volunteer, donate, or to request a bugler for a service.



PHS 55th Reunion Set

The Palestine High School Class of 1952 has scheduled its 55th reunion for Oct. 5-7. The event begins Friday afternoon with a time of visitation at the Holiday Inn Express pool area.

On Saturday, a coffee is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Howard House Museum with a visitation at 4 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. at the Harvey Woman’s Club.

Plans for Sunday breakfast will be scheduled during the reunion.

For information or to make reservations please contact Max Alldredge at 210-877-1824. Attendance is not limited to the class of 1952. Cost is $30 per person.

     

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