Several cities in southwestern Los Angeles County have erected memorials to the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and to victims of Flight 93. Among them are the cities of Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Lomita and Torrance. Now, the city of Redondo Beach will be joining the list as they expect to receive a 300-pound beam fragment from the WTC as a gift from FDNY. The Redondo Beach Firefighters have established a strong relationship with the New York Firefighters. Read about how the beam fragment came to be delivered to the city and about the experiences of the firefighters in the South Bay Daily Breeze article below the fold.
Patriotism
Trump National’s Flag at Half Staff
A few months ago, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, acquiesced to Donald Trump’s installation of a giant flagpole on his Trump National Golf Club in spite of not having a permit to do so. Recently, he got into a flap with the City of Palm Beach, Florida for about the same thing. Putting all the squabbles aside, The Donald did the right thing in both locations.
Last week, when our 38th President, Gerald Ford, passed away, Trump National flew their giant flag at half staff for the late president. I took this shot from Palos Verdes Drive South with the new telephoto lens.
The Essence of Democracy
Friday, December 15, 2006 marks the 215th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, the very essence of our democracy.
The National Archives Experience Website says that during the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a “bill of rights” that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States therefore proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution that met arguments most frequently advanced against it. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first ten amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
A Day That Will Live in Infamy
Today is the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A couple of days after the attack, a reporter named John Lomax was doing man-on-the-street interviews in Dallas, Texas; he interviewed an elderly woman, Lena Jamison, who had this to say back then:
“My first thought was, what a great pity that another nation should be added to those aggressors who choose to limit our freedom…I find myself at the age of eighty, an old woman, hanging on to the tail of the world, trying to keep up. I do not want the driver’s seat but the eternal verities. There are certain things that I wish to express: one thing that I am very sure of is that hatred is death, but love is light. I want to contribute to the civilization of the world but…When I look at the holocaust that is going on in the world today, I’m almost ready to let go…”
Image and quotation found in the archives of the Library of Congress.
It’s a pity today as well, that Lena Jameson’s sadness prevails in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, another infamous day. Hatred is death, indeed.
Update: To all WW2 Veterans and all Veterans who have served before and after, thank you and God bless you.
Veterans Day 2006
Thank you Veterans for your service, your sacrifices, and your spirit. May God bless you all.
The Lomita, California Veterans of Foreign Wars post flew these brilliant colors all over the property. A large American Flag and the POW flag were on the mast high over the post. We got a nice thrill out of their show of patriotism on this Veterans Day.
Duty and Privilege
Well, we just got back from voting and now await the returns. Since we’re on the west coast, many of the races of interest won’t start to be tallied for another couple of hours (polls are open until 8 PM here). However, there are enough national contests interesting enough to keep us entertained. Good luck our favorite candidates and God Bless America.
Remembering Zep
Damsel and I are very proud to be able to honor Marc Scott Zeplin on the fifth anniversary of 9/11/2001 and to be part of the 2996 Project.
“Zep” is what his friends called him. Zep was one of the 2996 victims who perished in the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Marc Scott Zeplin, age 33.
Place killed: World Trade Center. Resident of Harrison, N.Y. (USA).
Marc Zeplin worked in the World Trade Center offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services company. Reading what Marc’s friends and family have written about him, Marc was well-liked and respected by peers, friends and others who wrote words about him following his death.
The following is from Zep’s tribute at the memorial site that his company set up to remember their employees that were lost in the attack:
Date of Birth: January 12, 1968
Department: Equity Sales
A group of friends named and registered a star in the heavens in memory of Marc Zeplin. How fitting as he was a star in the eyes of so many.
Successful as an equity trader, he formed close relationships with his clients but he was foremost a family man. Marc was very caring and devoted to his wife Debra, sons Ryan (3 yrs old) and Ethan (10 months), parents, sister and in-laws. He adored his children and treasured the time he spent with them. Marc was very proud of the new home he and his wife built in Westchester and enjoyed the change from urban to suburban living.
Raised in Long Island, Marc attended Oceanside High School and the University of Michigan where he also continued to earn a master’s degree in the acclaimed business school. Marc’s first career calling was sports casting. He loved sports of all kinds and enjoyed broadcasting games in Michigan during his college years. However, when he returned to New York, he found immediate employment in the financial world and soon after started at Cantor Fitzgerald where he became a partner.
Marc was truly a “master of the word.” He knew how and what to say in order to put you at ease, make you laugh or help you resolve a problem. Marc loved people. He had many friends and demonstrated a zest for living life to the fullest. He was tops in every way. He even worked at the top. The right position for so many years unfortunately was wrong on only one day – September 11, 2001.
— Debra Zeplin and Leora Zeplin, Marc’s Wife and Mother.