May 2014, Helsinki, Finland.

 

Somewhere there is also one for me and my wife.

 

Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5

Lens: Olympus M.17mm f1.8

Focal Length: 17mm

Shutter Speed: 1/1250 s

Aperture: f/5.6

ISO/Film: 400

Los Angeles 9th May 2015

Phillip May, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Louisiana, talks about the devastation to Southwest Louisiana and Entergy's commitment to rebuild. Entergy’s Hurricane Laura information website provides customers with storm restoration and recovery updates. Visit the site at entergy.com/hurricanelaura

Sourcing high quality cocoa in the village of Bonikro in Côte d’Ivoire

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Nestlé is happy for you to use this image to illustrate a news story, blog or article. Please credit the photo: © Nana Kofi Acquah /Nestlé

Proud partner of the Life Ball

The Le Meridien Hotel Vienna is also on May 31 in 2014 again exclusive hotel partner of the Life Ball. For the eighth time in a row, Le Méridien Vienna and its sister hotel, Hotel Imperial, Vienna, provide rooms and suites as well free of charge for the international guests, as facilities for events around the ball. "We stand still behind the idea of the Life Ball and we work with our commitment for (world) openness and tolerance", explains the director general of the hotel Gabriela Benz. The two hotels are since 2007 partner of the Life Ball in Vienna and thus one of the largest sponsors of the event: The commitment corresponds to a value of around € 250,000. To support social issues, is part of the philosophy and practical self-image of the group.

Life Ball Vienna - Le Meridien Vienna. The Life Ball is not only as a pioneering charity event of importance, but also as the globally heard sign of respect for individual life concepts. This event has been able to provide for the self-conception and the attitude of this town towards life sustainable impetus and the international Vienna-image add an important (and quite right) facet. All the more appropriate it is that the two top Vienna hotels act as Life Ball partners that due to their stand-alone profiles throughout the world are understood as ambassadors for each one of the many 'faces' of the city.

Fanciful garden sceneries, insect worlds and flower scenes allow the Vienna City Hall on May 31, 2014, to become the "Garden of Earthly Delights"! Symbolized should be a diverse society in peaceful coexistence. Let yourself also be tempted to promenade in baroque pleasure gardens and book now your room at Life Ball 2014.

www.lemeridienvienna.com/de/life-ball-wien

 

Palais Württemberg - Hotel Imperial

1, Kärntner Ring 16

Architects: Arnold Zenetti, Heinrich Adam

1862 - 1865

The client - The Palais turns into hotel - War, soviet occupation - Reopening

Facade - Portal - Grand Staircase

(if you want like to see many more pictures please go to the link at the end of page!)

History - the builder

The Imperial Hotel began its history as a palace. It emerged as one of the first buildings on one of the best and most expensive grounds, with unobstructed views to the Karlskirche.

Even for a Adelspalais (noble palace) it was very representative. The room was divided wastefullly: Just the grand staircase would have provided space for two apartments in a normal apartment building. Who had built this way, did not have to pay attention to his money.

The client was according to this an illustrious figure: Closely related to the Württemberg Royal Family (1806 establishing the Kingdom of Württemberg) came Duke Philipp of Württemberg (1838 - 1917), son of Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm of Württemberg 1838 in the French Neuilly into the world.

His mother, a princess of Orleans, died a few months after Philip's birth, so he was baptized and brought up by his grandparents, the French citizen-king Louis Philippe, the last official King of France and his wife, Queen Marie Amelie, in Paris.

Duke Philipp of Württemberg

With ten years Philip had with the royal family in 1848 to flee from the revolting crowd of the capital and he returned to Bayreuth.

His father had later again married, to the displeasure of the Son, because the marriage was morganatic: she was his housekeeper.

Philip pursued a military career.

Shell Palais Württemberg

Wedding with (female) Habsburg

In the great conflict between Austria and Prussia, he was on the side of the Habsburgs and counted as one of the losers of Hradec Kralove (Königgrätz).

The Württemberg were on par with Europe's most powerful royal houses. Philip asked for the hand of the youngest sister of Empress Elisabeth, Princess Sophie, but the marriage did not materialize.

Finally, his love brought him to Vienna, the Duke married into the Habsburg family.

In 1865 he married Archduchess Marie Therese (1845 - 1927), daughter of Archduke Albrecht (Monument Albertina ramp), granddaughter of Archduke Charles, the victor of Aspern (Memorial Heldenplatz).

The wedding took place in the court chapel of the Hofburg in Vienna.

Wedding with Habsburg

Together they moved into the newly completed palace on the Ringstrasse.

It was built in 1863-65 by the Munich architect Arnold Zenetti, according to the plans of Heinrich Adam (grave Central Cemetery).

His wife had recently suffered a severe stroke of fate: her mother had so strongly caught a cold during the funeral of her brother that she died as a result. And soon should burn her sister Mathilde alive.

This one had dressed a gown made ​​of Indian muslin for the theater. This type of material was impregnated at that time with glycerol to give the fabric more fullness.

Before leaving the theater she wanted to smoke a cigarette. When suddenly her father, who had strictly forbidden her smoking came in, she hid the cigarette behind her baggy dress. The highly combustible, glycerol impregnated fabric immediately went up in flames.

Floor Plan 1st storey

The view to the Charles Church was lost

A clear view to the Charles Church was lost by the building of the Musikverein.

The Duke could not enjoy his palace for long. Because behind it, to the Karlsplatz, there was a leafy park, which gave a clear view over to Charles Church.

But when he returned from Hradec Kralove, one was just digging the foundation of the Musikverein. 1870 was the "temple of music" finished and the beautiful view history.

Musikverein, on your left, behind the Imperial Hotel

That should have been the reason that Philip the following year sold his palace. I think this is one of the many "tales", because all the reception rooms were on the side of the ring road. If the view would have been sooo important to him, he would have also had laid out on the back of the Palais 'comfortable' rooms. Anyway, he moved to Strudelhof in the 9th District, a cheaper solution, it was the question here of a spacious villa. Incidentally, it is also told that he had gambling debts and therefore he could not afford the expensive palace on the Ringstrasse anymore.

Summer residence

Duke Philip, who did not feel quite at home in Vienna, lusted after a summer residence in the Salzkammergut.

(The Salzkammergut is a resort area located in Austria. It stretches from the City of Salzburg eastwards along the Austrian Alpine Foreland and the Northern Limestone Alps to the peaks of the Dachstein Mountains, spanning the federal states of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria. The main river of the region is the Traun, a right tributary of the Danube. The name Salzkammergut literally means "Estate of the Salt Chamber" and derives from the Imperial Salt Chamber, the authority charged with running the precious salt mines of the Habsburg Monarchy.)

In addition to hunting around Gmunden the Duke dedicated his passion to the emerging photography.

The architect Heinrich Adam built for the Duke and Duchess in 1872 Villa Maria Theresia in Altmünster according to a French model high above the Lake Traun.

In the summer of 1875 they moved in, 1878-80, the chapel was rebuilt by Heinrich von Ferstel.

Summer residence in Altmünster in Gmunden

As the succession of the Stuttgart parent house fell on Philip's son Albrecht, Philipp moved in 1905 with his family to the Stuttgart Prince Palace. After his death in 1917 his widow Maria Theresa spent her lonely summers preferably in Altmünster until she died for herself in 1927.

The Palais becomes Hotel

The palace was in 1872 in the hands of the Budapest hotelier Johann Frohner. As businessman he sensed with the approaching World's Fair his chance.

And he knew that there was a lack of representative lodging in Vienna, so he turned the magnificent building into a hotel.

At the opening Emperor Franz Joseph I also was invited, which was served a cake. It is said that he had it appreciated, so was the Frohner cake, now called Imperial Torte, born. The special thing about it: it is square.

An original recipe of the Imperial Torte from the 19th Century, however, is not handed down. She is known for only a few decades. At that time it was begun to offer it as a house cake at Café Imperial.

Several years ago was launched a marketing campaign and it was accomplished that the Imperial Torte today is sent around the world and one, according to the house, needs a total mass of 40 tonnes per year for it.

Imperial square cake

Café Imperial, recording 1941

The conservatory

The courtyard becomes a winter garden.

Donauweibchen (Danube maiden) copy

Frohner had a sense for staging. The glass-covered courtyard became a dining room with conservatory flair.

In the middle was a copy of the Danube female from the city park. Today she is at the end of the grand staircase.

The newspapers were ironed so guests did not have ink on their fingers. And the butler service is available to this day.

Who has once looked into it, knows why we put most of our state guests there - it is just not a "normal" hotel, but still a palace, one of the most magnificent!

Between the lobby and the Café Imperial runs a narrow passage where the house's history is told in pictures and text. And it is also worthwhile to study the guest list shown there.

Lobby to Frohner times

2 World War II, Soviet occupation

The war and the occupation had left its mark on the house. Here, since Adolf Hitler took his accommodation at his few visits to Vienna, the hotel had to be equipped accordingly.

On the side of Canovagasse one built an underground bunker, but not in the usual way.

It was just the road dug up, the bunker built into a pit and then the road above concreted again.

Hitler rises from the Imperial

During the Allied air raids on Vienna here many people found refuge, especially the Vienna Philharmonic from neighboring Musikverein.

After the war, the Soviets used the house as an office building. As they moved out of here again after the occupation time, the house was practically empty.

About the state of the Imperial, in which they left it in the mid-fifties, there are different statements.

It appears that the shape of the house may not have been much worse than the other districts of the Soviet Army.

In the stuccolustro of the main staircase of the Imperial a soldier has immortalized himself with a small doodle.

Left: the people cheering in front of the Hotel Imperial on 15 March 1938

Swastika flags near the Hotel Imperial

Reopening of the hotel

The large portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph at the end of the stairs, a symbol of a reactionary attitude, remained untouched over the years .

Even as the Imperial again was a hotel, considered Russian politicians the house as a kind of ideological hereditary leasehold.

Only U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger broke this monopoly, as he with his Soviet colleague Andrei Gromyko in Vienna lived at a meeting at the Imperial.

Because Gromyko did not want to spend the night with the representative of a capitalist world power under one roof, he departed angrily in the Soviet Embassy. Also for other state guests, the Imperial is recommended as the first address.

Re-opening of the hotel in 1958

Rooms at the Hotel Imperial in the then modern 50's style

Guests

The fact that the English Queen Elizabeth here took up accommodation during her visit to Vienna, was felt as a great honor because the Queen slept on visits abroad only rarely in hotels.

Therefore one replaced the by no means not unrepresentative furnitures of her suite against those from the Imperial Furniture Collection. And for the duration of her stay hung pictures from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in her premises.

Thus, the Queen could at least feel a touch of monarchical past. Finally, the hotel management did remove the seating from the lobby. No one should have the opportunity to insult the Queen, by just remaining seated in front of her.

Queen Elizabeth greets from the balcony of the hotel, in 1969

Plaque Rainer Maria Rilke

Plaque Richard Wagner

Inscription:

During 1916, Rainer Maria Rilke visited in the Hotel Imperial almost daily his "Unforgettable Café" and met here Oskar Kokoschka, Karl Kraus and Adolf Loos.

Austrian Society for Literature

Inscription:

Richard Wagner was at the end of the year 1875 with his family for nearly two months guest of this hotel to prepare for the performance of his operas Tannhäuser and Lohengrin.

The Vienna Schubertbund 50th Anniversary of the death of the artist, 1933

(Sculptor Robert Ullmann)

Facade

Important strictly historicist Palais, 1862-65 built by Arnold Zenetti and designed by Heinrich Adam. Monumental free-standing building of the beginning of strict historicism in forms of neo- Renaissance.

The main façade has a 6-axle central projection, which is further emphasized by the three-axis portal.

In 1928, the house was extented on the ring road by two floors. The attic was converted into a continuous balcony on the 4th floor.

1946, the portal has been simplified and the three-aisled hall (lobby) rebuilt to current form.

Floor plan 6th storey

1988 - 1994 followed ​​a general refurbishment and the roof extension (Maurizio Papiri), which on the back of the palace was not very successful.

Portal

3 -axis portal above statues representing sovereign virtues.

As the duke had guarded the house round-the-clock, originally flanked two sentry house the wide entrance, which was designed for the entrance of the carriages.

The six-axle central projection visually protrudes a little bit and is rich decorated. The effect is mainly due to the generously employed sculptures of the portal and gable zone.

The statues above the entrance are from Franz Melnitzky and represent personalized Herschertugenden (souvereign virtues): wisdom - old man, lorbeerbekränzt (laurel-adorned) and scroll of honor - Woman with coat of arms, Justice - sword, strength - club.

In addition to the figures, by the same artist have been made reliefs, which were destroyed in 1946, as well as the lunettes.

Statues (ruler virtues)

Hotel entrance: reliefs and lunettes in 1946 destroyed

Wisdom

Honor

Justice

Strength

Above the balconies and windows of the first floor can be found the from the Orient stemming griffin motif: two griffins flanking each of them a vase. The lion's griffon, his head and body seem like that of a lion, but he has the wings of an eagle, he was apostrophized in antiquity as the guardian of the gold. Here he was reinterpreted as the guardian of the house.

In the triangular gable of the roof is an allegory of the house Wuerttemberg to see with the heraldic animals of the house, the deer and the lion. The very striking roof no longer exists, but it fell victim to the fact the hotel was increased in the 20th Century.

Grand Staircase

Former court (later conservatory, lounge today)

At the times of the Württemberg the palais still hand an open courtyard in the middle. This court allowed, as with all other buildings of that era, the coachmen to turn there after they get off their customers in the driveway.

So the coaches for this had sufficient space, the outrageously expensive main staircase had to be moved to the side. Who enters the hotel lobby of the Imperial today, does not immediately recognize the noble work, but he must climb a few stairs to the right. Such intricateness were then accepted.

The grand staircase leads to the main floor only. The stairs to the upper floors are designed very much simpler. Because here only circulated staff.

Grand Staircase

Grand Staircase piano nobile

Lobby

www.viennatouristguide.at/Palais/ringstrasse/wuerttemberg...

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Temecula, California, as we attended the inaugural Wine & Polo Classic at Galway Downs, home of the Temecula Polo Club. The event brought together the perfect blend of fashion, families, fine wine, and thrilling polo action.

 

Congratulations to the event producers for their commitment to creating such a memorable first-year experience. Guests were treated to three exciting matches featuring both young riders and seasoned professionals, including competitors from Poway who showcased impressive skill and sportsmanship on the field.

 

Beyond the games, the day was filled with stylish ensembles, elegant hats, and a true celebration of Southern California lifestyle where polo meets wine country charm.

 

Exclusive event and fashion photos taken by Richard Sandoval

www.usaraf.army.mil

 

U.S. Army Africa chef earns top honors in culinary competition

 

By Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Africa

 

VICENZA, Italy – When Sgt. Ken Turman drizzled thickened meat juice around a plate of herb pork tenderloin crepinette, he was putting the finishing touches on an entrée that would take top honors at the 35th U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition.

 

Turman, a U.S. Army Africa chef who works at Caserma Ederle’s South of the Alps dining facility, served as team captain for U.S. Army Europe’s team during the March 12 competition at Fort Lee, Va.

 

“Sgt. Turman's performance at the competition was exemplary,” said Maj. L. Trice Burkes, commander of Headquarters Support Company, U.S. Army Africa. “His accolades clearly represent years of commitment to the culinary field. We’re honored to have such an NCO among our ranks.”

 

Overall, the USARUER team earned 22 gold, nine silver and five bronze awards. The military chefs also earned the top team prize, the Installation of the Year award. It’s the first time since 1992 that a USAREUR team received the title. The USAREUR team also won the best team buffet table award.

 

“Sgt. Turman showed a keen ability to grasp advanced cookery skills and methods along with understanding the requirements of the rules established for the culinary competition, enabling him to be quite successful,” said Sgt. Maj. Mark Warren, from USAREUR’s logistics directorate, who managed the team.

 

The meal that won gold for the team included an appetizer of seared salmon on a bed of tagliatelle vegetables, served with a citrus wine cream sauce and tomatoes concasse. The main dish included the herb pork tenderloin crepinette and braised pork belly with savory crimini mushroom bread pudding, plus carrot and ginger puree served with pearl onions, peas and creamed Savoy cabbage. The natural jus-lie – thickened meat sauce – was the final touch.

 

Following the entrée was a desert of streusel-baked apple with mascarpone cream filling, pistachio sponge cake with raspberry cream and chocolate décor served with warm apples and raspberries in vanilla syrup with lemon.

 

Turman also served as captain of the student skills team. He received a silver medal in the senior chef of the year category and took gold in both the nutritional hot food challenge and in live hot food cooking. Turman was also selected to represent the Army during the Culinary Olympics World Cup this November in Luxembourg.

 

Warren is encouraged to see younger chefs like Turman develop skills and study the finer points of cookery, he said.

 

“I would expect to see great achievements and advancement in his future,” Warren said.

 

/////

 

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Atkinson pours gravy over a plate of bone-in veal loin in the Field House at Fort Lee, Va., March 5, 2010. Gunnery Sgt. Atkinson prepares a bone-in veal plate for judges to taste test during a Practical and Contemporary Hot Food Cooking event at the 35th Culinary Arts Competition . (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Walter Reeves/Not Released)

A box of matches turned into a bonfire.

 

"When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire leaving no trace of yourself." - Shunryu Suzuki

 

Here's to commitment to Dragonboat, and being MIA in Baguio! :(

designed by @gavinkeech

Dozens of Greater Manchester’s faith and community leaders stood together against hatred as they signed a new statement pledging their commitment to encouraging strong, diverse communities.

 

Leaders, including GMP Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Councillor Carl Austin-Behan, Lord Mayor of Manchester, Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, Mrs Sharon Bannister, President, Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, Mr Qadir Chohan, Chair, Manchester Council of Mosques and many others came together at Manchester Cathedral to sign the statement, created as a result of a rise in hate crimes following the EU referendum result.

 

Greater Manchester saw a 23 per cent increase in hate crime in the week after the country chose to leave the European Union at the end of June.

 

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “I believe in a democratic society people should be safe, both from physical harm, but also from hatred. Sadly we are seeing a significant number of people across Greater Manchester being subjected to hate incidents and hate crimes. This is totally unacceptable. Today is an important step in uniting our communities and am pleased to see so many other influential people standing with us to end hate crime and discrimination.

 

“This statement very clearly reinforces our commitment to encouraging inclusive communities, whilst recognising the difference people bring to Greater Manchester that help make it such a wonderful place. It is also, however, a very strong message to those who go against this – there is absolutely no place for hatred or discrimination in Greater Manchester. We will do all we can to take action against anyone who commits hate crimes.”

 

Faith Leaders’ Secretary, Canon Steve Williams, said: “The speed with which Faith Leaders acted shows how serious we consider the situation to be. But it also shows that people in our communities want to make a positive difference – to support people who’ve suffered in this way, and to promote good-news stories of acts of kindness and inclusion that build bridges, not barriers.”

 

The statement is part of GMP’s We Stand Together’ campaign which encourages people to come together as one and celebrate their differences in order to build safer and stronger communities.

 

It was signed at an event hosted by the Diocese of Manchester on Tuesday, 12 July, which saw speeches from Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, the Dean, Bishop David Walker, The Lord Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

 

Anyone who experiences hate crime is encouraged to report it by calling the police on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or using the True Vision website (www.report-it.org.uk).

 

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit www.gmp.police.uk

 

You should call 101, national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

 

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

 

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Dec. 1, 2011, marks Iraq's Day of Commitment. The ceremony hosted by the Iraqi government at Al Faw Palace, in Baghdad, Iraq would be the last of it's kind as U.S. forces continue to draw out of Iraq. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, took the opportunity to thank U.S. and Iraqi service members for all of their sacrifices that led to the end of an almost decade long war.

U.S. Forces Iraq

Photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Barrieau

Related Photos: dvidshub.net/r/d5lt8f

starring: the Countess of Vienna

 

This could have turned out better, and I hoped so. Unfortunately, the model—as good as she gets—didn't have the physical strength to handle the shoot, or rather, to hold herself up. She gave it her all, and I appreciated her commitment, but this needed a professional athlete, especially since I'm on a certain age and sometimes I have to stop and think between photos. Anyway, that's it: six fun, colorful photos. It was a beautiful day, with a beautiful sky, too bad it was so cold! (I did everything in manual, with manual speedlight and manual focus. The art of complicating simple things.)

 

Oh, I forgot: the idea for this shoot came to me at the precise moment I was photographing Violetta in the shoot called "la dimostrazione della nostra libertà è impossibile" on October 11, 2022. Go and watch it again, and no, the model is not the same.

The parish church of Briones has inside one of the most unique nativity scenes in La Rioja, in which will be shown the most representative houses and buildings of the town made by Rosa Mº Amutio, resident of the town.

After years of dedication and commitment, she has managed to gather about fifteen monuments, all thanks to the effort and enthusiasm she shows in each of her works.

The most expensive buildings, such as the Palace of the Marquis of St. Nicholas or the Church, have taken her about a year to complete.

Adapted from town website

 

Christmas is here again, and Spain’s streets are starting to sparkle with lights, gifts and festive spirit… But what about those other reasons to choose Spain for a getaway at this time of year? These are the scenes of the birth of the baby Jesus: the typical Christmas cribs.

 

Either traditional, living, innovative, life-size, featuring a wealth of technical details, created by artists… you’ll find them in practically every town and village, and you’ll see some amazing examples.

 

The tradition of creating nativity scenes to commemorate the birth of Jesus in Spain is thought to be some seven centuries old. Nowadays, when the Christmas season comes around (from approximately the beginning of December until 6 January), most towns and villages install a crib scene in their Plaza Mayor square, in their churches, and in every home… Many of these have evolved spectacularly, and now include moving pieces and special effects which amaze everyone who sees them. Normally all the figures are made by hand using traditional methods, and represent the typical stories from the Bible such as Jesus’ birth in the stable, the angel’s appearance to the shepherds, the Three Kings being guided by a star to a crib in Bethlehem…

 

A traditional nativity scene

 

In the popular nativity scenes in the area of Catalonia and the Region of Valencia (and increasingly all over Spain) you’ll come across the curious and much loved figure of the caganer, a peasant caught in the act of answering the call of nature. This figure has become so popular that nowadays you can even find caganersmade in the likeness of famous people.Some Spanish towns and villages such as Malaga and Ferrol have even gone so far as to set up crib scenes under the sea, or –in the case of Cordoba– created spectacular chocolate nativity scenes.Would you like to see a nativity scene made only out of sand? This is also something you can see here in Spain, and an example is the one on the beach of Las Canteras de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands.As you can see, you’ll find a multitude of ways to discover the importance of these nativity scenes in Spain, and to enjoy looking at all the Christmas figures and landscapes which are the fruit of so many hours of work. These are only a few ideas, but the list is very long: also well worth a visit are the nativity scenes set up in Laguardia (in Álava), Vitoria, Seville, Cáceres, Cuenca, Ciudad Real… What’s more, in many areas there are also special routes dedicated to this theme.

  

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briones,_La_Rioja

In recognition of their outstanding service to Delaware, Governor John Carney honored 13 young people and five groups with the Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards during a ceremony May 24 at the Polytech Adult Education Conference Center in Woodside.

 

“Across the state, I am impressed by the level of commitment our young people have to serving others,” Governor Carney said. “I am proud to honor their energy, spirit and willingness as they help us to build stronger and healthier communities. Without question, they demonstrate that one person can make a difference in the lives of others.”

 

More than 200 people, including Renee Beaman, director of DHSS' Division of State Service Centers, which oversees the awards, and Georgeanna Windley, Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service, joined the Governor in honoring the young volunteers for their outstanding service, community impact and inspiration to others.

 

The Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor and are coordinated by the State Office of Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

 

2017 GOVERNOR’S YOUTH VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD WINNERS

 

INDIVIDUALS

 

Wei-Ling Moloy

Arts & Culture

Nominator: Angela Williamson

 

Wei-Ling Moloy is an active volunteer at Hagley Museum & Library, serving as a youth leader in its Youth Leadership Program (YLP) and as a camp counselor. As a youth leader, Wei-Ling facilitates and designs programs and activities related to Hagley’s stories of technology, science, and innovation. As a camp counselor, she supported the adult camp instructors by interacting with campers, assisting with activities, and maintaining the enjoyment and safety of campers. Beginning in 2014, as a shy, quiet volunteer, Wei-Ling has grown into a strong leader who is respected both by her fellow youth leaders and the adult mentors in the Hagley Museum & Library volunteer program.

Suprit Bodla

  

Community Service

Nominator: Jim Power

 

Since 2013, Suprit Bodla has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, Christiana Care Health System and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). He has organized a variety of fundraisers to benefit LLS and also to raise public awareness of the fight against blood cancer. Suprit is also a student mentor for the Science Ambassadors Program at the Charter School of Wilmington, where he, along with his peers, helped to organize a STEM tutoring program at Marbrook Elementary School and work with the Delaware Children’s Museum to provide science and match activities for Engineering Week.

 

Nadeem D. Boggerty

Community Service

Nominators: Adrienne Gomez

 

Dover High School honor student Nadeem D. Boggerty has been volunteering in his community for the past six years with his church, his school and through social organizations. One of the many organizations at which Nadeem volunteers is the Calvary Church in Dover, where he and his family help pack boxes and assist with dinner on Thanksgiving each year. Nadeem also participates in several social service organizations (the Omega Gents, a program steered by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; EMBODI, hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and BeB.O.L.D., a nonprofit youth mentoring organization in Dover) where he has helped feed the homeless, staff information tables at Back-to-School Fairs, toy drives, First State Community Day, and other activities that support the local community.

 

Sarah Davis

Education

Nominator: Michelle Neef

 

Fourteen-year-old Sarah Davis been volunteering with Faithful Friends Animal Society for four years. Sarah passionately promotes, educates and supports her community and has become a true leader and advocate for her generation. Furthermore, she displays great compassion while taking the initiative to ensure the safety of animals. Her tenacity has saved the lives of many dogs and cats, and improved the lives of neighbors who care for them. Sarah has provided long-term foster care to neonate kittens and delivered food from Faithful Friends Animal Society Pet Food Bank to pet owners with low incomes or those struggling in other ways to assist them in keeping their family pets in their home. She also rescued dogs and cats from perilous environments and has been instrumental for the Trap-Neuter-Return program, which works to reduce and improve the community cat population.

 

Cheyenne McGowan

Environment

Nominator: Emily Krueger

 

Cheyenne McGowan started with the Brandywine Zoo as a summer teen intern with its Zoo Camps during the summer of 2016. After the summer, she continued her volunteer efforts by signing up to help with various educational events at the zoo, including International Red Panda Day, Vulture Weekend, and Noon Year’s Eve. Her role for these events was educating the public at learning stations using animal artifacts, activities, or crafts. In addition, Cheyenne frequently came in to interpret the zoo’s animal exhibits to the public as a docent. Since she started volunteering a year ago, Cheyenne has helped educate hundreds of people at the zoo, which serves the greater Wilmington area, on different environmental topics, including climate change, animal adaptations, and specific animal facts.

 

Michael Robinette

Health & Special Needs

Nominator: Margaret Jenkins

 

Since 2013, Michael Robinette has volunteered with the Mary Campbell Center’s Children & Youth program. Mike works with more than 100 children each summer, in a variety of age groups with unique physical or intellectual disabilities. His responsibilities include assisting children in different activities throughout the day such as arts and crafts, games, swimming and cooking. Mike also supports staff with talent show planning and production. Additionally, he provides supervision and companionship for campers on field trips during the summer camp program. Mike gets to know the campers on a one-on-one level and is quick to learn their likes and dislikes, and when they need or want help.

 

Santiago Vizcaino

Health & Special Needs

Nominator: Richard Huber

 

Santiago Vizcaino began volunteering with the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired in the summer of 2016. During his time with the agency, Santiago has provided assistance in producing resource material for students with visual impairments, assisting staff with departmental projects and developing training procedures for the organization. Beginning at the Instruction Resource Material Center, Santiago produced large-print reading material for students, which were provided to 247 students. He developed a process that allowed books to be converted to PDF format, which allows a student with a visual impairment to use an iPad or other electronic device to review the document via voice narration or zoom text option, depending on the individual student’s needs. In addition, Santiago helped to develop training procedures for other volunteers.

 

Joy Baker

Human Needs

Nominator: Joyce Sessoms

 

In 2016 alone, Joy Baker volunteered an estimated 200+ hours in a variety of capacities in the Delmar and Laurel communities. She serves on the Youth Board of Directors of The ARK Education Resource Center, volunteers at her church as an assistant to the program coordinator responsible for youth activities, and is a member of the National Honor Society. For ARK, Joy acts as a recruiter and fundraiser, and is also an active participant in ARK-sponsored events like the Back-to-School Extravaganza held in Janosik Park.

 

Katelyn Craft

Human Needs

Nominator: Emily Holcombe

 

In July 2016, Katelyn Craft began volunteering at Exceptional Care for Children (ECC), Delaware’s first and only nonprofit pediatric skilled nursing facility for children who are medically fragile. Through the Resident Playdate volunteer program, ECC is able to provide the residents the chance to interact with individuals who can offer something other than medical care. At age 14, Katy knew she wanted to bring smiles and joy to children who have extensive medical needs. She has spent more than 100 hours reading, playing games, watching movies, assisting with arts and crafts projects, or just spending quality time with children who have little family involvement. In addition, Katy volunteered her time assisting with special events and fundraisers, like the Gala Fundraiser and Visits with Santa.

 

Daevean DeShields

Human Needs

Nominator: Aaron Tyson

 

Following the inspiration of his grandfather, Daevean DeShields created Project HOOP, which stands for Helping Out Other People. The goal of Project HOOP was to fill 1,000 bags with supplies to be distributed to people who are homeless through Faith United Methodist Church’s Open Hands Sound & Clothing Ministry. After recruiting from his local and school community (including his school principal), Daevean was able to meet and surpass his goal with a remarkable 1,015 bags assembled.

 

Jakob Ryan Thomas

Public Safety

Nominator: Shirin Skovronski

 

For almost two years, Jakob Ryan Thomas has volunteered as a junior firefighter with the Mill Creek Fire Company. In 2016 alone, he responded to 488 calls of emergency responses to structure fires, motor vehicle crashes, medical assistance, and other miscellaneous calls, amassing more than 500 volunteer hours. Jakob’s actions assisted the community in multiple emergencies, which were often quite serious and dangerous in nature.

 

Richard Thomas

Public Safety

Nominator: Robert Bassett, Jr.

 

Richard Thomas has been a volunteer firefighter with Camden-Wyoming Fire Company for two years, assisting in more than 300 emergency situations such as car accidents and house fires. Richard also assists with teaching fire prevention to children. Despite his youth, Richard is well-respected at the fire company and is seen as a mentor for new firefighters.

 

Ananya Singh

Social Justice/Advocacy

Nominator: Meghan Pasricha

 

For the past nine years, Ananya Singh has been a member of the Global Youth H.E.L.P. Inc. (GYH), a Delaware nonprofit whose mission is to train and support young people to become leaders by serving their communities through community service projects. Ananya served first as president of the middle school chapter and is currently chair of the high school chapter. Her time and efforts have been vital for many different community service projects, including the Annual Backpack Donation for the YWCA Home-Life Center, the Christmas Hygiene Product Donation, the Annual Ice Cream Party for the YWCA Home-Life Center and the Premier Charities Feeding the Homeless. She also has taught English and karate to younger children.

 

GROUPS

 

Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club

Arts & Culture

Nominator: Kenny Monroe

 

Following the devastation of Hurricane Matthew (Sept. 28-Oct. 10, 2016) in the Caribbean, the Teen TITAN program members of the Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club developed the “Hope for Haiti Donation Drive.” In a relatively short time, the Team Titan program members spent 400 hours collecting clothing, toiletries, bottled water, educational material and other items. More than 300 items filled more than 10 boxes and were sent to the people in Haiti to be used as they began to rebuild and recover from the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

 

Cape Henlopen High School Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Program

Community Service

Nominator: Angela Thompson

 

For 10 continuous years, the participants of the Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Program (JROTC) at Cape Henlopen High School have learned that everyone belongs to a community and therefore has a responsibility to that community. The 45 young men and women who comprise the current JROTC roster continue that legacy of service by devoting an average of 2,000 man-hours to community service activities benefiting a number of organizations, including the Delaware Seashore State Park, Beebe Medical Center, American Red Cross Blood Drive, the Salvation Army, Brandywine Senior Citizens Center and the National Kidney Foundation.

 

A.I. du Pont Middle School – Walk in the Kings Footsteps

Education

Nominator: Michele Fidance

 

When posed with the question “What will I do to walk in the footsteps of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?” the student body of A.I. du Pont Middle School in Wilmington decided to answer the question literally. A small group of students, led by Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG) instructors, were given the project of researching the speeches of Dr. King in order to choose quotes that meant something to them. The students then inscribed their selected quote on a cut-out of a footprint, which was then affixed to the wall in the cafeteria as a means to inspire their fellow students. Once students beyond the JDG classes saw the footprints, they wanted to participate as well. The project helped to raise awareness among students of Dr. King’s life, teaching and legacy, and how it translates into community action and service.

 

P.S. duPont Middle School Student Council – Adopt a Family

Health and Special Needs

Nominator: Mallory Stratton

 

Each year, the student council of P.S. duPont Middle School in Wilmington spearheads its annual Adopt-A-Family Drive. The drive involves the school community at-large adopting the families of 15 to 20 P.S. duPont students who are need assistance to make the holiday season a little brighter. The donations of clothing, books and toys generated by the student council benefited upwards of 50 fellow students and their siblings in 2016.

 

Delmar High School - Wildcat Wellness Pantry

Human Needs

Nominator: Michele Fidance

 

The Wildcat Wellness Pantry is a food pantry at the Delmar American Legion, which provides nonperishable food and household items for individuals in need. The pantry is staffed by as many as eight Jobs for Delaware Graduate (JDG) volunteers. The JDG volunteers come in on Saturdays to assist families in need and taking inventory to ensure the pantry can reach even more people. An additional group of more than 60 volunteers collect the proceeds from canned food drives that occur during the school year to continually stock the pantry.

  

Roddy Doyle's', The Commitments is now a musical in London and is playing at the Palace Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. This is 3 exposures with -1+ stops bracketing, then Photomatix for HDR and tonemapping treatment, and finally Photoshop for the finishing touches.

Cancer Survivors Park

Memphis, Tenn.

During the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly a roundtable dialogue organized by the Group of Champions on Women’s Economic Empowerment and UN Women, with the presence of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urged action to advance women’s economic empowerment.

 

At the current pace of change, it will take 170 years to close the economic gender gap, according to a 2016 report by the World Economic Forum. The event was an opportunity to call on world leaders to accelerate progress by taking forward the recommendations made by the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women’s Economic Empowerment, with a focus on leaving no one behind.

 

President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera, co-chair of the Group of Champions and a longstanding advocate for gender equality, said: “There’s much left to do regarding gender discrimination and exclusion. I am confident that the Group of Champions will serve the UN as an example that gender equality can no longer be regarded as a horizon, but as a real need for all women who cannot wait to show the world what they are capable of.”

 

Speaking at the event, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all partners to implement the commitments included in the HLP report. “Women’s Economic Empowerment is also a human rights issue. It contributes to building resilient economies and peaceful societies, and it is also a condition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, adding: “Let us deliver on the promises we have made to bring sustainable peace to the world today.”

 

Read More: www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/9/news-event-hlp-wee...

 

Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland--Captain Michael Dyer, from 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), U.S. Army Europe conduct joint training with Estonian army partners during Exercise Steadfast Jazz here Nov. 6.

 

The U.S. Army is supporting Steadfast Jazz 13 with participation from the 173d IBCT(A), one of U.S. Army Europe’s forward-based combat brigades and the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the U.S.-based ground force contribution to NATO Response Force 2014. Collectively, these forces represent the reinvigoration of U.S. participation in the NRF and the enduring U.S. commitment to NATO, Europe, and regional stability and prosperity. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Alexander Jansen/54th Engineer Battalion)

Nikon D3200 - 90mm f/2.8 Macro -

 

Salmon complete the most profound physiological transformation at the end of their lives. I had the most fantastic experience with the boys tonight. One of my students informed me that salmon were running at Hidden Valley Park and we went to see them. In 36 years this is the first time I have witnessed this astounding evolutionary trait. The boys had so many questions after seeing all the dead fish. Although a little untraditional, this image I think is so gorgeous. This fish has returned to its birth place to help produce the next generation. In its last parental duty it passes away and decomposes in the water column. Its biomass will feed primary producers which will fuel the growth of small invertebrates. The invertebrates will feed the young salmon fry as soon as they emerge...so incredible. Committed parent!

Sometimes he wondered if it was worth doing. Occasionally he doubted his motives. However, he never forgot where the journey started and where it would end. He would see this through. One way or the other.

Despite the cold, people gather to support the idea that Health Care is a Right.

George Turkington CBE, Director of DFID's Ebola Crisis Unit and Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer AC sign an agreement for emergency Ebola assistance in Sierra Leone.

 

Find out more about the 'Defeating Ebola in Sierra Leone' conference and how the UK is helping to combat the disease: www.gov.uk/government/news/defeating-ebola-in-sierra-leon...

 

Picture: Jess Lea/DFID

(further pictures and information you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page)

History of the Austrian Province of the Order

About four centuries of eventful events

The history of the Order in Central Europe has its roots on the Tiber Island in Rome. There runs the dynamic, just now by the Pope confirmed Hospital Fraternities Order of St John of God since 1584 a Hospital. In this Hospital 1604 some of the staff of Prince Karl I of Liechtenstein, Envoy of Emperor Rudolf II in Rome, that have fallen ill from malaria are so excellently treated, that the prince shall ask the General Superior to send him some brothers for his territory in Lower Austria and Moravia. Those brothers take over in 1605 under the leadership of Fr John Baptist de Cassinetti the hospital to Saint Barbara in Feldsberg, the residence of the prince.

The second step follows with the delegation of Brother Gabriel Ferrara, an in Italy highly respected surgeon, to Vienna. He installs in 1614 on the road "towards Tabor" a small hospital with 20 beds. Through him Vienna became the starting point for further operations. Already in 1615 another house was founded in Graz. This is followed by Prague in 1620 and 1622 in Neuburg an der Donau. Those foundations form the framework for the further expansions of the Order in the countries of Central Europe.

The first generation of the brothers consists primarily of Italians who are struggling with social difficulties. The brothers win but by their exemplary nursing more and more prestige because their hospitals differ significantly from the in this country already existing hospital facilities, predominantly being hostels, retirement homes and infirmaries - as the Holy Spirit hospitals in Vienna and Graz. The branches of the Hospital Brothers are exclusively hospitals and therefore represent, regardless of their size of first 12 to 20 beds, in the countries of Central Europe the first hospitals in present-day understanding. One of the biggest sponsors was Emperor Ferdinand II, in 1624 the Vienna home endowing with the privilege to be allowed to collect alms in all Habsburg lands.

Due to the Thirty Years' War, the construction initially was just tough. In this by wars and pestilence devastated time, the Brothers of Charity are always to be found where their help is desperately needed. Many of them lose, as a result, their lives - as in 1679 with the great plague in Vienna.

Garden front of the Graz hospital in 1790

Establishment of the "Province of St. Michael the Archangel"

The six hospitals, Feldsberg, Vienna, Prague, Graz, Neuburg an der Donau and Triest, 1659 are raised to the province of the holy Archangel Michael. Until that time, still dominate Italians and some Spaniards that provide about half of the brothers in the convents of the Order in the countries of Central Europe. The exemplary commitment of the brethren but is bearing fruits, and many locals are joining the Order. From 1680 to 1700 a total of 165 brothers are making their profession.

At the end of the 17th Century in all plants of the brothers extensions and conversions are necessary. It develops a certain type of building with church, monastery, hospital and pharmacy in a front. The monks themselves are the nurses and surgeons. For internal diseases a postdoctoral secular physician is appointed who has the title "Spitalsphysikus (hospital physician)".

In principle, the sick are cared for free of charge. For daily maintenance ensure the collections. Despite the collection privilege and other privileges, the Order for the maintenance of the patients, for necessary purchases and for structural measures is dependent on contributions of the respective local lords and donations of wealthy nobles as well as civic benefactors.

Heyday

Within a few decades, doubled the number of the hospitals: Münster, Timisoara, Wroclaw, Eger, Neustadt/Silesia and Proßnitz are significant start-ups. The quality of training of the young brothers is leveled to those in the Latin countries, and since 1718 training centers in Prague and Feldsberg (Valtice - Czech Republic) are being built.

In addition to the imperial family and the Prince of Liechtenstein, other noble houses build on their dominions hospitals. The branches of the Order reach at the end of the 18th Century from Westphalia to the territory of today's Romania. The 31 hospitals of the province with about 500 monks represent a nationwide, well organized and cooperatively-led "network of Hospitality".

Towards the end of the 18th Century occur profound changes in the from Vienna led province. The Age of Enlightenment, the Josephinism, the side effects of the French Revolution and the changes in the Napoleonic period shape the processes strongly. 1781 Emperor Joseph II dissolves the German branches outside of the Habsburg patrimonial lands from the Provincial Association. The branches in the Habsburg lands themselves he separates from the Order leadership in Rome. Although he promotes the Order, but it comes to the isolation of the individual convents.

View of the Johannes von Gott Care Center in Kainbach in the 19th century

"Vienna and Graz Province"

1853 the province can again be linked to the General Curia in Rome and to reform-minded brothers in 1859 the Graz Convention is passed. This built in Algersdorf at Graz a convalescent home, which later on develops into the Hospital Graz-Eggenberg. In Kainbach at Graz 1875 a nursing home for the chronically ill is established and in 1876 in St. Veit an der Glan a new hospital built. Thus, the conditions for an own province are given, which in 1879 as the Inner Austrian province to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is established.

Due to the increase of Slovenian brothers in Graz the next step was to build in Kram in Rudolfswerth/Kandia a hospital, which is opened in 1898. From this house with its auxiliary facilities in Vrbinje, Kamnik and Stari Grad develops after the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire a separate Yugoslav General Delegation, whose existence in 1948 comes to an end by the state confiscation of religious institutions.

Archduke Leopold Salvator visits wounded people in the hospital Graz in 1915 .

Well-trained and recognized personalities lead in this period the Province of Vienna, including Celestine Opitz (1810-1866), who is also a great pioneer of the anesthesia surgery, and his student Johannes de Deo Sobel (1839-1903), who is able to bring the surgery in Prague to the most modern stand. These religious men know how to combine the requirements of progress in medicine with the care of the sick in the sense of the order's founder. The time of the great ancient wards once and for all is over, significant new buildings complement or replace the old hospitals in Vienna, Feldsberg, Linz and Graz.

1914 belong to the Austro-Bohemian Province 15 hospitals with a total of 1,550 beds. However, the World War brought lasting changes, because the majority of hospitals is converted into military hospitals and largely deprived of the power of disposition of the brothers. Due to the going to pieces of the Danube Monarchy the for centuries solid unit with Bohemia and Moravia goes astray, which is 1919 canonically separated, too.

Frater Medardus Oszmeyer treats a patient in the dental clinic in Vienna, 1937

Hardships after the First World War

The Viennese province remain next to the hospital in Vienna Leopoldstadt still the hospital in Linz and the convalescent home in Vienna Hütteldorf. In order to remain Province, in Kritzendorf in 1919 a fourth Convention is built. In 1922 comes the hospital in Eisenstadt because of the integration of the German-speaking areas of western Hungary (Burgenland) to the Vienna province. Only with great difficulty operation in the hospitals can be started. Now that all have to fight for the existence and the old foundation and support funds are worthless, the Order has virtually no resources. The closure of the Viennese house can be avoided only by support from foreign aid agencies. Fortunately, the Vienna City Administration allows an annual public collection.

Soon it comes to the expansion of the province: 1923 through the acquisition of Salzburg's troops Hospital and 1931 by the opening of the Kneipp spa hotel in Schärding. Another convent was founded in Walding at Linz, where a brothers holiday house is installed. As fourth foundation Wien-Gersthof comes along where a maternity ward is taken over and from 1936 on a general hospital is run.

Hospital Bad Kreckelmoos near Reutte in Tirol, 1950

Something similar happens with the Graz province. It can build in 1925 a small hospital in Kreckelmoos near Reutte despite difficult financial circumstances. For the first time gynecological departments in 1926 in St. Veit and Linz are opened. The hospitals of both provinces in this time are literally Hospitals of the poors - the distress in the cities is great, and the brothers themselves are living in modest conditions.

The outpatient clinics, where medical help is available free of charge, are constantly crowded, and also among the hospitalized patients, there are many who are totally destitute and absolutely not are able to pay anything, but nonetheless are looked after free of charge to the best of their knowledge and belief. Especially in Vienna and Graz are - despite of all its own financial woes - even hundreds of hungry people fed daily with a warm meal.

Reconstruction after the Second World War

The next turning point occurs at the time of National Socialism and the Second World War. Except for the Viennese house, all branch offices are expropriated. The main event of this period is the merger of the two in Austria located provinces for "Austrian province" in 1951.

Some facilities have been made ​​soon after the war, so Gersthof 1945, the hospital in Nazareth in 1959, Kreckelmoos 1961 and Hütteldorf 1962. Since then, the brothers lead seven hospitals (Vienna, Graz, Linz, Eisenstadt, Graz-Eggenberg, St. Veit, Salzburg), two nursing centers (John of God Care Center in Kainbach, retirement and nursing home in Kritzendorf) and a spa (Kneipp and health center in Schärding). Since 1978 the Order in Vienna also has its own "school for general health and medical care".

Order and works newly profiled

With the creation of central structures, as in 1975 with the computing center of the province in Eisenstadt, important organizational requirements for responsible economic activity are created. Modernizations concern since the mid-70s all of the facilities. They entail the opening of new departments, and also the appearance of all of the houses changes to this day continuously.

Although traditionally the focus of the work of the Brothers of Charity in the Austrian Province of the Order lies on the hospital sector, becomes the caring for people in the sense of the "option for the poor", ousted from the social center because of special disabilities or by their kind of living increasingly important.

In addition to the traditional forms of hospitality emerge various forms of the so-called "New Hospitality". Socially marginalized groups and self-help groups find in the houses of the Order their nursing and medical home. In addition to traditional outpatient clinics for destitutes (dental clinic and general outpatient clinic in Vienna), in Linz (1993 ) and Vienna (1999) are created outpatient clinics for the deaf and in Vienna a special station for acutely ill Justice prisoners. The latter find here because they are not admitted by most of the Vienna's hospitals because of fear of contact and loss of reputation, the necessary nursing and medical care.

In July 1999, the life-world Schenkenfelden (Upper Austria/Mühlviertel) can, an establishment for the deaf and deaf-blind people with special needs, its work start and 2004 is in Kainbach opened a drug treatment center - for the first time in a Central European religious institution.

"Do good and do it well - for the love of Christ". To his motto of St. John of God, the Austrian Province of the Order feels today so deeply committed as 400 years ago.

www.barmherzige-brueder.at/site/barmherzigebrueder/ordens...

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

 

GP500.Org Part # 51800 Aprilia RSV 1000 Motorcycle windshield

 

gp500.org/Aprilia_FJGA.html

 

Aprilia is a dream come true. The dream of an enthusiast, Ivano Beggio, who made up his mind to create a motorcycle company which would become famous throughout the world. And to become famous in the motorcycling world, racing and winning at maximum level is indispensable. Madness at a time when, one after the other, the great Italian and English companies were starting to disappear with the formidable Japanese in hot pursuit.

How often over the years, even after Aprilia had started to make a name for itself, they accused the Noale company of being "over ambitious". A rider who transferred from Aprilia to Honda at the end of the 1980s said in an interview: "At Noale, we were all a bit dazzled. We even thought we could beat the Japanese!".

The distinctive characteristic of Aprilia is the genius, the passion, the creativity and the faith common to Ivano Beggio and his closest collaborators, from the first motorcycles made by hand at the end of the 1960s, one-offs assembled with the heart, to enter the third millennium with a range going right up to 1000 cc and acquisition of a piece of international motorcycling history, Moto Guzzi.

In 1985, thanks to an agreement with Rotax, the first Aprilia four-stroke, the ETX 350, was launched, followed by the 600. True to the company's spirit, participation was also stepped up in the African raids such as the Pharaoh and the Dakar.

In 1985, the adventure of the World Speed Championships began with Loris Reggiani. You can find the full story of Aprilia on the tracks year by year in the racing section of this site.

At the same time, the commitment to motocross and trials was still strong. With the TX 311, Diego Bosis came second in the World Championship, winning in the United States.

On August 30, 1987, Loris Reggiani won the first 250 cc Grand Prix with the AF1. In the meantime, the road "derivation" model, reaching 30 hp thanks to the RAVE (Regulation Aprilia Valve Exhaust), was an enormous hit among young people - not to mention the later "Sintesi". Aprilia was making an ever greater name for itself on the international motorcycling scene, thanks to its characteristic innovation, image and flexibility.

It was not long before launch of the Pegaso 600, one of the mainstays of Aprilia production, and the Amico, the colourful, easy to ride scooter which confirmed Aprilia's gift for anticipating market trends and needs.

In 1992, Aprilia won its first world championship title - or rather, its first three. The Finnish rider Tommi Avhala won the rider's title and contributed to the constructor's title. A few months later, Alessandro Gramigni won the World 125 Championship.

In 1993, the new Scarabeo 50 was launched, becoming an unequalled success, followed in 1995 by the Moto - designed by Philippe Starck - with its absolutely unique styling. It is no accident that it is displayed at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

 

The same year also saw the birth of the exceptional RS250, one of the most successful sports motorcycles of all times. In 1996, the Leonardo - the maxi-scooter characterised by an ultra-efficient four-stroke four-valve engine - was launched.

In 1998 it was the turn of Sonic, the brightly coloured micro-scooter aimed at a young public and in 1999 of the RSVMille. This signalled Aprilia's entry into the maxi-motorcycle world, astonishing everyone with its extraordinary ridability and immediately becoming a standard setter in its class.

In the meantime, the company had already won a further thirteen world championship titles.

Aprilia began production at the end of the 1960s with the Amico and the Daniela, the first small diameter wheel mini-scooters. These were soon joined by the Colibrì, the first Aprilia hinting at that sporting spirit which would soon become so familiar - tapering, with a distinctive exhaust, forcing the rider to adopt a position as uncomfortable as it was sporty and aerodynamic. Despite the success of these early products, the most famous Aprilia in this initial period was the Scarabeo which made Ivano Beggio's first passion abundantly clear - motocross.

It was on the dirt tracks that the structure today so well-known and admired throughout the world as "Racing Aprilia" made its debut. It's true that in place of the multi-coloured TIRs, there was a Fiat 238, but the attention paid to graphics and a highly original image was patently obvious. Ivan Alborghetti was the Valentino Rossi of those years, in 1977 winning Aprilia the Italian 125 and 250 titles. Victories which led to a boom in replica bikes. After the Italian Championship, Aprilia went on to compete in the World Motocross Championships with Corado Maddii in the 125s. Few will remember that wearing the team colours in the 250s was the Japanese rider Torao Suzuki.

In the meantime, the Aprilia Development Department threw itself into another field very popular at the time, trials. This proved highly satisfying.

From the racing experience came a number of highly attractive road bikes, in particular the liquid-cooled 125 ST with single arm suspension. The more sporty STX immediately found a place in the competitive 125 road bikes market.

The 50 cc market also smiled on Aprilia and the company introduced motorcycles distinguished by an attention to detail and dimensioning extremely rare in the competition as can be seen in the AF1 or the ET.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

 

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland--Latvian troops conduct mechanized vehicle-mounted and dismounted assault techniques during training held at Exercise Steadfast Jazz here Oct. 31. All 28 NATO Allies, including elements from U.S. Army Europe's 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), as well as Finland, Sweden and Ukraine are taking part in the exercise which is training and testing the 2014 NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational, deployable force.(Photo by Polish army Master Sgt. Artur Zakrzewski/Poland)

 

This is a picture of my grandparent's hands clasped together. I made it with darkroom photography. My inspiration was just love and hope I can have a relationship like theirs. Available for purchase at fineartamerica.com/profiles/rachael-lahar.html

Committed to Guitar Hero II

Commitment to fashion: I had a whole new level of respect for this lady after watching her casually dive into the River Aire (Leeds) in order to recapture a Trilby hat that was blown away by the wind!

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii (Nov. 3, 2017) - President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) Commander, Adm. Harry Harris, sit down for a meeting at USPACOM headquarters. The President is in Hawaii to receive a briefing from USPACOM prior to traveling to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from November 3-14. During the trip the President will underscore his commitment to longstanding U.S. alliances and partnerships, and reaffirm U.S. leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robin W. Peak/Released) 171103-N-WY954-092

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command | twitter.com/PacificCommand |

instagram.com/pacificcommand | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/

 

Daniel's hand - a very good friend - I saw you happy and that made me happy, my brother!

Do you know what commitment means these days? Getting clarity, then getting rid of distractions. -Brendon Burchard #motivation #commitment

Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.

YONGSAN GARRISON - Albert Lee (Bones) McFarland, mortuary officer for United Nations Command, a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, has recently been honored as a Legacy Fellow in the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice Legacy Endowment Fund for his generosity and commitment to continuing education and life-long learning.

 

McFarland enlisted in the Army where he spent over 26 years retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in the medical career field.

After leaving the Army he graduated from Mid-America College of Funeral Services, Associate in Applied Science Funeral Service and received his Funeral Services Practitioner certification in 1998. He is a Lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and earned his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation in May of 2000.

 

Albert is also Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners and a Certified Grief Counselor. He started his career in the Federal Service as Mortuary Officer in Panama and is currently the Director of Casualty & Mortuary Affairs in Korea with responsibility for the entire Pacific Rim. Mr. McFarland has conducted funerals for our fallen heroes all over the world such as Colombia, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Philippines, Micronesian Islands and the Marshal Islands to name just a few.

 

McFarland has been married to Seung Hee McFarland for 35 years, and they have one child, Hye-Mi and one grandchild, Avery.

 

Incorporated in 1976, the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice is one of the oldest organizations providing a program for professional certification in the United States. With almost 2,000 members worldwide, 1450 of whom have achieved the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, the Academy offers a voluntary certification program for funeral service practitioners to accomplish educational, professional, and community oriented goals in an organized fashion, recognizing funeral directors who raise and improve the standards of funeral service.

 

In late 2010, the Academy Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to establish the Legacy Endowment Fund which will accept donations from all eligible sources for the purpose of promoting education in funeral service and mortuary science. The Board of Trustees of the Academy will grant scholarships and make bequests from the income, appreciation and any other earnings generated by the Legacy Endowment Fund for the purpose of funding mortuary science and funeral service education for mortuary science students and funeral service practitioners.

 

For more information about the Legacy Endowment fund or the Certified Funeral ServicePractitioner (CFSP) designation, please contact Kimberly A. Gehlert, Executive Director, at (614) 899-6200 or visit www.apfsp.org.

 

more at www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=283458&id=227433525829

 

Same sex marriage is not yet recognised in Australia by the law but that does not stop Vic (in black) and Amy from exchanging their vows of love and commitment to each other in the shores of Narrabeen, Sydney in the company of their closest friends and relatives.

 

The couple bears matching tattoos on their left arm. "Never is a promise, and you can't afford to Lie" and "Be the change you want to see".

 

Photography by www.josephineki.com.au

Women lawmakers boldly reaffirm their commitment towards a Planet 50:50 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the occasion of International Women’s Day. UN Women in collaboration with the provincial Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) celebrated the achievements of local women and renewed pledges, at an event held on 8 March 2017 in the Chief Ministers residence in Peshawar.

 

During the proceedings, the ‘2017 WPC Awards’ were distributed acknowledging women ‘change-makers’ from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the areas of performing arts, women of courage, human rights, literature and politics. Women being honored included: Yasmin Jaferi (performing arts, posthumous), Rafia Qaseem Baig (Pakistan’s first female to join the Bomb Disposal Unit), Rukhshanda Naz (human rights), Zatoon Bano (Pashto and Urdu literature) and Begum Naseem Wali Khan (female once leader of a political party from 1970’s).

 

Pictured: Rafia Qaseem Baig

 

Photo: UN Women/Faria Salman

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland--NATO allies train together during the preparation phase of Exercise Steadfast Jazz here Nov. 2. The U.S. Army is supporting Steadfast Jazz 13 with participation from the 173d IBCT(A), one of U.S. Army Europe’s forward-based combat brigades and the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the U.S.-based ground force contribution to NATO Response Force 2014. Collectively, these forces represent the reinvigoration of U.S. participation in the NRF and the enduring U.S. commitment to NATO, Europe, and regional stability and prosperity. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Alexander Jansen/54th Engineer Bn)

Vintage postcard, no. 352. Photo: Warner Bros. Doris Day in It's a Great Feeling (David Butler, 1949). Collection: Geoffrey Donaldson Institute.

 

Legendary actress and singer Doris Day (1922-2019), with her blonde hair and blue eyes, performed with several big bands before going solo in 1947. In the 1950s, she starred in a series of popular film musicals, including Calamity Jane (1953) and The Pyjama Game (1957). 'Que Será, Será!' became her theme song. With Rock Hudson, she starred in the box office hit Pillow Talk (1959). On TV, she appeared in the sitcom The Doris Day Show (1968-1973).

 

Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff was born in 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Alma Sophia (Welz), a housewife, and William Joseph Kappelhoff, a music teacher and choirmaster. Her mother named her after her favourite silent film star, Doris Kenyon. She had two brothers, Richard, who died before she was born, and Paul, a few years older. For many years, it was uncertain whether she was born in 1922 or 1924, with Day herself reportedly believing her birth year was the latter and giving her age accordingly. It wasn't until 3 April 2017, her 95th, not 93rd, birthday, that her birth certificate was found by the Associated Press, which confirmed she was born in 1922. Her parents divorced while she was still a child, and she lived with her mother. Like most little girls, Doris liked to dance. At fourteen, she formed a dance act with a boy, Jerry Doherty, and they won $500 in a local talent contest. She and Jerry took a brief trip to Hollywood to test the waters. They felt they could succeed, so she and Jerry returned to Cincinnati to pack and make a permanent move to Hollywood. Tragically, the night before Doris was to move to Hollywood, her car was hit by a train, and she badly injured her right leg. The accident ended the possibility of a dancing career. She spent her next years wheelchair-bound, but during this time began singing along with the radio. Observing her daughter sing, Alma decided Doris should have singing lessons. She engaged a teacher, Grace Raine. After three lessons, Raine told Alma that young Doris had "tremendous potential". Raine was so impressed that she gave Doris three lessons a week for the price of one. Years later, Day said that Raine had the biggest effect on her singing style and career. At age 17, Day had her first professional job as a vocalist, on the WLW radio program 'Carlin's Carnival', and in a local restaurant, Charlie Yee's Shanghai Inn. While performing on the radio, she was approached by band leader Barney Rapp. He felt that her name, Kappelhoff, was too harsh and awkward and that she should change her name to something more pleasant. The name 'Day' was suggested by Rapp from one of the songs in Doris' repertoire, 'Day by Day'. She didn't like the name at first, feeling that it sounded too much like a burlesque performer. While she was performing in Barney Rapp's band, she met trombonist Al Jorden, and they married in 1941. The marriage was extremely unhappy, and there were reports of Jordan's alcoholism and abuse of the young star. They divorced within two years, not long after the birth of their son, Terrence Jorden, called Terry. Despondent and feeling his life had little meaning after the much-publicised divorce, Jorden later committed suicide. After working with Rapp, Day worked with bandleaders Jimmy James, Bob Crosby, and Les Brown. The years touring with Les Brown & His Band of Renown, she later called 'the happiest times in my life'. In 1941, Day appeared as a singer in three Soundies (three-minute film clips containing a song, dance and/or band or orchestral number) with the Les Brown band. Her first hit recording was 'Sentimental Journey' in 1945. It became an anthem of the desire of World War II demobilising troops to return home. In 1946, Doris married saxophone player and former child actor George Weidler, but this union lasted less than a year. After leaving Brown to embark on a solo career, she recorded more than 650 songs from 1947 to 1967. Day's agent talked her into taking a screen test at Warner Bros. The executives there liked what they saw and signed her to a contract. Her first starring role was in Romance on the High Seas (Michael Curtiz, Busby Berkeley, 1948), with Jack Carson and Janis Paige. The next year, she made two more films, My Dream Is Yours (Michael Curtiz, 1949) and It's a Great Feeling (David Butler, 1949). Audiences took to her beauty, terrific singing voice and bubbly personality, and she turned in fine performances in the films she made - in addition to several hit records.

 

Doris Day made three films for Warner Bros. in 1950 and five more in 1951. She co-starred with Gordon MacRae in five nostalgic period musicals: Tea for Two (David Butler, 1950), The West Point Story (Roy Del Ruth, 1950) with James Cagney and Virginia Mayo, On Moonlight Bay (Roy Del Ruth, 1951), Starlift (Roy Del Ruth, 1951), and By the Light of the Silvery Moon (David Butler, 1953). Her most commercially successful film for Warner was I'll See You in My Dreams (1951), which broke box-office records for 20 years. The film is a musical biography of lyricist Gus Kahn, played by Danny Thomas. It was Day's fourth film, directed by Michael Curtiz. One of her few dramatic roles was in Storm Warning (Stuart Heisler, 1951) with Ginger Rogers and Ronald Reagan. She briefly dated Reagan, with whom she also co-starred in The Winning Team (1952), shortly after his divorce from Jane Wyman, when she and Reagan were contract players at Warner Bros. Doris Day met and married Martin Melcher in 1951. He adopted her young son, Terry and became her manager. In 1953, Doris starred in Calamity Jane (David Butler, 1953), which was a major hit. She performed 'Secret Love' in the film, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Several more hits followed, including Lucky Me (Jack Donohue, 1954), Love Me or Leave Me (Charles Vidor, 1955) with James Cagney. Alfred Hitchcock had seen her dramatic role in Storm Warning and chose her to play Jo McKenna opposite James Stewart in his remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). In the film, she sang the song 'Que Será, Será! (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)', which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became an evergreen. In 1959, Day entered her most successful phase as a film actress with a series of romantic comedies. Her best-known film is probably the first one, Pillow Talk (Michael Gordon, 1959), with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall. For her performance, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Leading Actress. She later co-starred with Hudson and Randall again in Lover Come Back (Delbert Mann, 1961), and Send Me No Flowers (Norman Jewison, 1964). In all three, Day and Hudson played love interests while Randall played Hudson's close friend.

 

Doris Day started in the 1960s with the hit Please Don't Eat the Daisies (Charles Walters, 1960), in which her co-star was David Niven. In 1962, Day appeared with Cary Grant in the comedy That Touch of Mink (Delbert Mann, 1962), the first film in history ever to gross $1 million in one theatre (Radio City Music Hall). In 1960 and during the 1962 to 1964 period, she ranked number one at the box office. Despite her successes at the box office, the late 1950s and early 1960s were a difficult period for Day. In 1958, her brother Paul had died. Around this time, her husband, who had also taken charge of her career, made deals for her to star in films she didn't really care about, which led to a bout with exhaustion. The 1960s weren't to be a repeat of the previous busy decade. She made fewer films, but the ones she did make were successful: Do Not Disturb (Ralph Levy, 1965) with Rod Taylor, and The Glass Bottom Boat (Frank Tashlin, 1966). By the late 1960s, the sexual revolution of the baby boomer generation had refocused public attitudes about sex. Times had changed, but Day's films had not. Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? (Hy Averback, 1968), and With Six You Get Eggroll (Howard Morris, 1968), with Brian Keith, would be her final feature. In 1968, her husband, Martin Melcher, suddenly died. Between 1956 and his death, he had produced 18 of her films. A shocked Day discovered she was millions of dollars in debt. Melcher and his business partner, Jerome Bernard Rosenthal, had squandered virtually all of her considerable earnings, but she was eventually awarded $22 million by the courts in a case against Rosenthal.

 

After Martin Melcher's death, Doris Day never made another film. She professed not to have known that he had negotiated a multimillion-dollar deal with CBS to launch her own TV series, The Doris Day Show, the following fall. Day hated the idea of performing on television but felt obligated to do it and needed the work to help pay off her debts. The show became successful and lasted from 1968 until 1973. The Doris Day Show was a light and fluffy sitcom, which changed formats and producers almost every season. Originally, it was about widow Doris Martin and her two young sons (Philip Brown and Todd Stark) who left the big city for the quiet of her family's ranch, which was run by her dad Buck (Denver Pyle) and ranchhand Leroy (James Hampton). Later, Doris, Buck and sons Billy and Toby moved to San Francisco, where Doris got a job as a secretary to bumbling magazine publisher Michael Nicholson (McLean Stevenson). In Season Three, the Martin family moved into an apartment above the Paluccis' Italian restaurant, and Doris began writing features for Today's World magazine. Finally, the kids, family, Nicholson, the Paluccis, and all other cast members vanished, and Doris became a single staff writer for Today's World, where her new boss was Cy Bennett (John Dehner). After her series went off the air, Doris Day only made occasional TV appearances. She did two television specials, The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special (1971) and Doris Day Today (1975). She also appeared on the John Denver TV show (1974). In 1976, she married for the fourth time, to Barry Comden, 12 years her junior. They had met at the Beverly Hills Old World Restaurant, where he was the maitre d'. The couple divorced in 1982. Comden complained that Day preferred the company of her dogs more than his. From then on, Doris devoted her life to animals. During the location filming of The Man Who Knew Too Much (Alfred Hitchcock, 1956) she had seen how camels, goats and other 'animal extras' in a marketplace scene were being treated. It began her lifelong commitment to prevent animal abuse. For years, she ran the Doris Day Animal League in Carmel, a resort town a little south of San Francisco. In the 1985–1986 season, Day returned to the screen with her own television talk show, Doris Day's Best Friends, on CBN. The network cancelled the show after 26 episodes, despite the worldwide publicity it received. Much of that came from her interview with Rock Hudson, in which a visibly ill Hudson was showing the first public symptoms of AIDS. Hudson would die from the syndrome a year later. Her son Terry Melcher had become a music producer and composer who worked with The Beach Boys, Bobby Darin and The Byrds. With Terry and a partner, she co-owned the Cypress Inn in Carmel, a small inn built in a Mediterranean motif. Terry died of melanoma in 2004, aged 62. In June 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush. She did not attend the White House award ceremony because of her intense fear of flying. In 2006, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In a rare interview with The Hollywood Reporter on 4 April 2019, a day after her 97th birthday, Day talked about her work on the Doris Day Animal Foundation, founded in 1978. On the question of what her favourite film was, she answered Calamity Jane: "I was such a tomboy growing up, and she was such a fun character to play. Of course, the music was wonderful, too — 'Secret Love,' especially, is such a beautiful song." Day died at her home in Carmel Valley, California, in 2019 at the age of 97 after having contracted pneumonia. As per her last wishes, there will be no funeral or graveside service. Doris Day was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in Carmel.

 

Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

Day 2 of Mini Festival at Brands Hatch and after a Superb Day of Both Racing and High Speed Action on the Saturday Sunday Was Promising to be a lot of the Same but with even more Racing to Look forward too.

 

With 2 Races for both Miglia class and Dunlop Mini Sevens as well as Formula 3 The Days events were already shaping up to be One for The History Books with Multiple Fierce and Competitive Drivers from Saturday Looking to Improve and Win their Respective Classes.

 

Lets take a Look at what Will be Racing Today and see which of the Drivers can Push Hard and Aim for a Win in their Respective Class.

 

Dunlop Mini Challenges Supported by Mini Spares - Miglia (Race 9 Results)

 

First up onto the Track was The Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge and after a Very Intense Qualifying Battle Yesterday (Aron Smith) Took the Pole with (Andrew Jordan) Second and (James Cuthbertson) in Third Place. Will all Three Men be able to Keep their Positions come the Race or will they start to fall down the order once Racing Gets Underway. Lets find out.

 

In First Place was (Endaf Owens) in his Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.221 and a Top Speed of 78.76mph. Fantastic Drive there Endaf who was Definitely not Afraid to get that Miglia Sideways as he Raced his Way through the Field to take a Dominant Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Andrew Jordan) In His Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.498 and a Top Speed of 78.64mph. Amazing Driving from Andrew Showing what a Fantastic Mini Racer he is as well as a Superb BTCC Driver as well using his Skills Learned from his BTCC Racing to Hold on for Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Aaron Smith) in His Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.449 and a Top Speed Of 78.63mph. Awesome Work there Aaron Putting on an Incredible Display Of Driving Commitment and Skill to Keep 3rd Place and Take the Final Podium Spot.

 

What a Start to the Days Racing with Three Top Drivers Battling out for a Victory and Showing what they can do when it comes to Competitive Miglia Racing. What New Challenges will be Seen in Race 2 as each Drivers Gets Ready to do Battle once again and this Time who will be the one to Claim that All Important Victory.

 

Lets Find out

 

Dunlop Mini Challenges Supported by Mini Spares - Miglia (Race 17 Results)

 

In First Place was (Endaf Owens) In His Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.862 and A Top Speed of 54.862mph. Very Fast and Quick Racing from Endaf who was Pushing as Hard as he Could to keep the Gap wide Open and ensure a Victory. Amazing Driving

 

In Second Place was (Aaron Smith) in His Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.773 and a Top Speed of 75.23mph. Fantastic Drive there Aron Really Great Work and taking Second Place away from the Previous Second Place Winner (Andrew Jordan)

 

In Third Place was (Andrew Jordan) in His Miglia with a Best Lap Time of 54.913 and a Top Speed of 75.21mph. Another Storming Drive from Andrew to take Third Place this Time Well Done.

 

What Another Amazing Race will all three Top Drivers Pushing their Miglia's Hard and all wanting to achieve that 1st Place Finish. To all other Drivers out there Good Luck and Keep Pushing Yourselves to Work Harder and you will Achieve what it is that you so Desire.

 

Dunlop Mini Challenges Supported by Mini Spares - Se7en (Race 13 Results)

 

Dunlop Mini Sevens were next up onto the Circuit and with Cars that all Have a Very Colourful set of Liveries and Drivers Ready to go this Next Race was going to be One that would be a Fantastic Watch from either Paddock Hill or The Main Straight as the Minis would be Blasting Past at Nearly 75mph.

 

Previously Yesterday During Qualifying it was (Jeff Smith) who took the Pole with (Nick Fowler) in Second Place and (Spencer Wanstall) in Third Place with all Three Drivers being Separated by Less than Half a Second as they Crossed the Line to Finish Qualifying.

 

With Three Very Experienced Drivers at the Front and a Whole Grid of other Great Drivers Ready Lets see what Results this Race will bring.

 

In First Place was (Jeff Smith) in his Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 59.566 and a Top Speed of 72.29mph. Amazing work Jeff Pushing that Little Mini Seven to its Limits and taking First Place.

 

In Second Place was (Jonathan Lewis) in his Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 59.197 and a Top Speed of 71.91mph. Another Incredible Drive from Jonathan Keeping Hold of Second Place and taking Home the Spoils from the First Race.

 

In Third Place was (Nick Fowler) in his Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 59.688 and a Top Speed of 71.83mph. Fantastic Drive there Nick Racing Hard and Managing to Hold onto Third Place on the Podium Well Done.

 

Mini Racing is Really Turning out to be Very Exciting and Fantastic This Year with so Many Different Winners and Other Drivers working Hard to Keep their Cars is Running and Race Ready condition. A Big Congratulations to Jeff Jonathan and Nick for showing some Seriously Impressive Racing and to all other Drivers Taking Part and enjoying what They Love.

 

Lets Dive into Race 2 and See who Might make a Leap to 1st Second or Third and who will be able to challenge the Top Three Drivers.

 

Dunlop Mini Challenges Supported by Mini Spares - Se7en (Race 19 Results)

 

Race 2 Up Next and things were not going as Smoothly as Most Drivers would Have Wanted as they all Gripped their Steering wheels and Prepared for Battle The Heavens Opened and a Large Rain Shower Engulfed the Track and with already Dark Conditions now getting even Darker it was only a matter of Time before Visibility would be Very Difficult.

 

Who has the Nerve to Push Hard and Take The Victory and who will be Brave Enough to take Second and Third Place? Lets Find out

 

In First Place was (Joe Thompson) in His Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 1:06.615 and a Top Speed of 60.38mph. Extremely Well Driven there Joe Pushing Hard but keeping the Mini Under Control in Very Damp and Dark Conditions to take a Superb Victory.

 

In Second Place was (Mike Jordan) in His Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 1:06.801 and a Top Speed of 60.33mph. Amazing Drive there Mike Well Deserved and Driven too.

 

In Third Place was (Spencer Wanstall) in His Mini Seven with a Best Lap Time of 1:05.178 and a Top Speed of 60.32mph. Incredible Bravery from Spencer and to Keep that Car on the Track Must Have Taken some Incredible Skill thought the Entire Race.

 

What a Fantastic Finish to the Mini Sevens Racing Today at Brands Hatch with Multiple Different Winners on the Podium and Some Very Changeable Conditions it made for some Remarkable Racing and Brilliant Overtakes thought.

 

Congratulations to Joe Mike and Spencer on their Podium Places and Well Done to all Other Mini Seven Drivers for Braving the Conditions to put on a Race that Shows What the British Spirit of Racing is all About. Alex Issigonis would be Proud.

 

Formula 3 Cup (Race 12 Results)

 

Formula 3 up Next and with the Track being Mostly Dry before the Start of This Race Each Drivers was Ready to Push Hard and try to take the Victory from the other. Qualifying Yesterday Proved that even a Smaller Grid can still Make for some Intense Racing with Drivers such as (George Line) (Robbie Watts) and (Shane Kelly) showing some Incredible Speed and Capable Car Control thought the Entire Qualifying Session.

 

With Lots of Aero and a Very Fast set of Dallara F308 Engines Powering them Lets See what the Formula 3's Get up to.

 

In First Place was (George Line) in his F3 Dallara F308 with a Lap Time of 43.825 and a Top Speed of 96.55mph. Incredible Speed and Confidence shown from George behind the wheel of that Formula 3 showing that he was Almost Fearless and in a League of his own. Incredible Driving.

 

In Second Place was (Robbie Watts) in his F3 Dallara F308 with a Lap Time of 43.926 and a Top Speed of 96.39mph. Another Super Driver in Robbie Pushing Hard and Defending Second Place thought the Entire Race and Keeping George Busy on his Toes Most of the Time.

 

In Third Place was (Shane Kelly) in his F3 Dallara F308 with a Lap Time of 44.071 and a Top Speed of 95.88mph. Very Well Done there Shane Racing Hard and Keeping up the Pace with Both Robbie and George in Second and First.

 

What an Exciting First Race for the Formula 3 Drivers who are all Showing that they All Have the Nerve and Skill to Race Hard and Push where it matters. Congratulations to Stefano George and Dominic and Good Luck to All other F3 Drivers out there for Race 2 Coming up Next.

 

Formula 3 Cup (Race 21 Results)

 

With Race 2 About to Start all of the Drivers took off for their Formation Lap and Plenty of Water and Spray was seen Shooting up from the Back of Each Car and Having had the First Race take Place in Dry Conditions thease New Track Conditions would be Very Different for Each Driver and Driving Ability is a Must for Survival Out there. With the 5 Red Lights illuminated the Race Began but who would Finish and take Home The Victory. Lets Find Out

 

In First Place was (Stefano Leaney) in his F3 Dallara F317 with a Best Lap Time of 50.532 and a Top Speed of 84.71mph. Stefano is Really Proving to be a worthy Drivers to Drive in Formula 3 as Once Again his Sheeree Bravery and Fearless Nature was on Display once again in Conditions that Most other Divers would have thought Twice about Pushing their Machinery to Hard in. Congratulations Stefano.

 

In Second Place was (George Line) in his F3 Dallara F308 with a Best Lap Time of 52.738 and a Top Speed of 81.07mph. Fantastic Work there George Once Again Demonstraighting how to Race an F3 In Wet Conditions with Beautiful Lines taken thought the Corse of the Race and a Well Deserved Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Shane Kelly) in his Dallara F308 with a Best Lap Time of 52.771 and a Too Speed of 80.96mph Another Very Brave and Quick Driver in Wet Conditions with Shane Really Defending Hard and Fast in order to Keep hold of that Well Deserved Third Place.

 

What an Astonishing Race with Winners in Stefano George and Shane all taking spots on the Podium and Hopefully One Day Having their Chance in Formula 1. Each Driver put on a Super Display of Driving Skill and Keeping their Cars at High Speed on a Wet Track is no Easy Feat. Well Done to all the Other Formula 3 Drivers too Keep Pushing Hard and Making sure you do Everything you Can To One Day Achieve That Victory.

 

Fastest Mini in the World (Race 11 Results)

 

Fastest Mini In The World was Up Next and this Racing Series Features Many Familiar Looking Minis and yet Each one has a trick up its Sleeve and that is that their Standard 1275gt Engines have all been Replaced with Engines from Cars that have Considerably more Horse Power. The Goal of the Race is to not Just Win but to also Prove to Everyone that You Have The Fastest Mini in the World.

 

With Qualifying Yesterday showing Very Quick Pace from (Bill Richards) in his Maguire Club Estate it was clear to see that The Drivers and their cars were in a completely different League to all other Racing Minis there that Weekend. Lets Find out who came First in the First Race and who took the First Title of Fastest Mini in the World.

 

In First Place was (Harvey Death) in his Austin Mini Cooper S V8 with a Best Lap Time of 51.294 and a Top Speed of 82.01mph. Fantastic Driving from Harvey to Push his V8 Mini to the Limit and take Home First Place and the Top Step on the Podium.

 

In Second Place was (Bill Richards) in his Maguire Clubman Estate with a Best Lap Time of 53.391 and a Top Speed of 80.15mph. Epic Drive there from Bill Pushing Hard and making sure to Keep Harvey Behind Him.

 

In Third Place was (Richard Billingham) in his Austin Mini Clubman with a Best Lap Time of 53.347 and a Top Speed of 79.91mph. Very Well Driven there Richard showing the Insane Horse Power thease Mini's have and how they Accelerate and Decelerate much Faster than a Standard Cooper S or even a Racing Mini Seven.

 

What an Epic Race and Display of Incredible Driving and Battling for the Victory of Fastest Mini in the World. Each Driver Held their Nerve and Push Very Hard Indeed which was Fantastic to see. Congratulations to our Race Winners Harvey Bill and Richard. Lets see what Luck Race 2 Brings.

 

Fastest Mini in the World (Race 16 Results)

 

In First Place was (Harvey Death) in his Austin Mini Cooper S V8 with a Best Lap Time of 52.256 and a Top Speed of 79.02mph. Another Fantastic Victory for Harvey who has proven to Have The Fastest Mini in the World and is Really Capable of Driving it as well. Congratulations

 

In Second Place was (Fabio Luffarelli) in his Mini Classic Saloon with a Best Lap Time of 55.949 and a Top Speed of 76.21mph. Amazing work there Fabio Fantastic to see such an Iconic Mini Out there but with a Twist by putting a Far more Powerful Engine under the hood to Have even more Fun with it. Amazing Build and Super Drive.

 

In Third Place was (Matthew Skidmore) in his Austin Mini with a Best Lap Time of 55.257 and a Top Speed of 75.71mph. Brilliant Drive Matthew Showing the Real Power and Driver Ability of a car Pushing right onto the limits all the Time.

 

What an Incredible Days Racing for the Fastest Mini in the World Showcasing Many Classic Favourites that Everyone Loves but with some surprises under each Bonnet. Congratulations to Harvey Fabio and Matthew for their Incredible Victories and Good Luck to all other Teams in the Series.

 

Mighty Minis & Super Mighty Mini Championship (Race 10 Results)

 

Mighty Mini's and Super Mighty Mini's were up Next and with a Massive Grid of Both Mighty and Super Mighty Mini's on Display This was going to be another Race that would be well worth the Watch.

 

From Qualifying Yesterday (Bobby Thompson) took the Pole setting a Very Fast Time of Just 1:00.205 Round the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit with (Ian Slark) and (Stuart Coombs) following Closely Behind in both Second and Third.

 

With So Many Different Drivers on the Grid and Plenty of Traffic to Navigate Through this First Race was going to be an Epic One to Witness.

 

In First Place was (Bobby Thompson) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.331 and a Top Speed of 61.14mph. Fantastic Work Bobby Racing at High Speeds and Pushing that Mini around the Circuit in Record Time. Congratulations

 

In Second Place was (Ian Slark) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.319 and a Top Speed of 61.13mph. Amazing Driving Ian Top Driver and a Fantastic Mini Racer

 

In Third Place was (Neven Kirkpatrick) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.426 and a Top Speed of 61.07mph. Well Done Neven a Really Well crafted Drive and a truly deserved Third Place.

 

What a Start to an Amazing Race with so many different Mini's taking to the track and Pushing hard keeping the top Three on their Toes the Entire Time due to How evenly matched each Mini is. Congratulations to Bobby Ian and Neven and See You all in the Final Race.

 

Mighty Minis & Super Mighty Mini Championship (Race 18 Results)

 

The Last Race of the Day for the Mighty and Super Mighty Mini's Championship and with a Very Tight Battle at the Top Between Bobby Ian and Neven which one of them will be able to take Home Victory for the Last Time today. Lets Get straight to finding out.

 

In First Place was (Neven Kirkpatrick) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:01.029 and a Top Speed of 70.35mph. Phenomenal Drive Neven Fending off Ian in Second Place and Keeping yourself up Front to Win and a Fantastic Way to End the Day with a Victory

 

In Second Place was (Ian Slark) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.756 and a Top Speed of 70.34mph. Another Brilliant Drive by Regular Ian Slark with Tremendous Car Control and Ability he Really is an Incredible Driver.

 

In Third Place was (David Kirkpatrick) in his Super Mighty Mini 1293 with a Best Lap Time of 1:00.991 and a Top Speed of 70.23mph. Amazing Work David Driving Hard and so Great to see Neven up there In First Place, Always Something to be Proud of.

 

And So that Ends the Days Racing for The Super Mighty Mini's and Mighty Mini's Racing, A Big Congratulations to Neven Ian and David on their Race Wins and also a Huge Well Done to all of the Other Mini Racers out there who Enjoy what they Do and show the World their Dedicated Passion and Commitment to Keeping British Racing Alive and Well.

 

Pre 66 Mini's (Race 15 Results)

 

Pre 66 Mini's were up Next and a whole Host of Classic Minis had taken to the track during their Formation Lap with Mini's from a By Gone Era that Showed Beauty and a Really Fierce Competitive Nature during the Pre 66 Category of Mini Racing.

 

During Qualifying the Previous Day (Ian Curley) Narrowly Beat Endaf Owens to Pole by just 0.254 with a Very Fast and Committed Lap Endaf Had to settle for Second Place while (Phil Brown)would take Third.

 

But today out of all three drivers who would be Brave Enough to challenge Ian and Endaf both Drivers who are very Competitive in their Racing and who both want to Win This One Race.

 

In First Place was (Endaf Owens) in his Mini Cooper S with a Best Lap Time of 58.026 and a Top Speed of 73.85mph. A Very Fast and Fearless Drive from Endaf who looked like he was Really Enjoying throwing that Mini Around in his Very Aggressive Driving Style. Congratulations Endaf

 

In Second Place was (Jeff Smith) in his Mini Cooper S with a Best Lap Time of 57.993 and a Top Speed of 73.84mph. Well Done Jeff an Awesome Drive and Keeping up with Endaf was no Easy Task.

 

In Third Place was (Ian Curley) in his Mini Cooper S with a Best Lap Time of 58.053 and a Top Speed of 73.32mph. Amazing Work Ian A Very Strong Drive for Third Place on the Podium.

 

What an Exciting Race for the Pre 66 Mini's with Both Endaf Owens and Jeff Smith Really Driving Hard and Defending both of their positions thought the Course of the entire Race. Also Well Done to Ian for Another 3rd Place Victory as Well as all other Drivers Racing.

 

Teekay Couplings Production GTI Championship (Race 14 Results)

 

The Teekay Couplings and Production GTI Championship was up next and with a whole Range of VF Golf GTI'S in one Race it was Going to be a Very Quick and Action Packed Race to Watch.

 

During Qualifying (Martyn Walsh) took the Pole with (Adam Hance) and (John Beale) in Second and Third Place Respectively.

 

With So Many Evenly Matched Cars Taking Part in the Race This was Really going to be About Driver Ability and Car Control to see who could extract that little bit more performance out of their Machine for a Victory.

 

In First Place was (Simon Hill) in his VW Golf GTI with a Best Lap Time of 56.824 and a Top Speed of 71.05mph. Amazing Driving Simon Pushing that VW to its Limits and Really showing off the Complete Understanding of Driver and their Car around the Race Track.

 

In Second Place was (Adam Hanke) in his VW Golf GTI MK5 with a Best Lap Time of 56.682 and a Top Speed of 71.02mph. Very Well Done Adam and a Really Spirited Drive from a Fantastic Driver to gain Second Place.

 

In Third Place was (Hendry Riley) in his VW Golf GTI With a Best Lap Time of 57.212 and a Top Speed of 71.01mph. Fantastic Work Hendry Driving the Wheels off that Thing and Taking Home Third Place.

 

What a Fantastic Starting Race with Plenty of Action and Drivers Working Hard at the Wheel and Thought the entire Race to try and Gain a Spot on the Podium.

 

Lets see what Race 2 Brings and Who May be able to Mount a challenge to the Top Three Drivers.

 

Teekay Couplings Production GTI Championship (Race 20 Results)

 

In First Place was (Simon Vercoe) in his VW Golf GTI with a Best Lap Time of 1:08.465 and a Top Speed of 62.13mph. What A Drive from Simon Vercoe Pushing that Golf to the Edge of the Track through Paddock Hill Bend and Making sure to Keep the Power on High thought the Entire Race for a Successful 1st Place Victory

 

In Second Place was (Hendry Riley) in his VW Golf GTI with a Best Lap Time of 1:08.886 and a Top Speed of 61.88mph. Amazing Driving there Once again Hendry for Second Place

 

In Third Place was (Simon Hill) in his VW Golf GTI with a Best Lap Time of 1:08.853 and a Top Speed of 61.81mph. Well Done Simon Pushing Hard and Making sure to Stay on the Podium Position for Third Place

 

What a Fantastic Set of Drivers and Race Cars all showing Different Racing styles and Lines but with Equally Matched Machinery. a Big Congratulations to Simon Vercoe Hendry and Simon for their Incredible Victories and Race Craft when out on the Track and Good Luck To Everyone Else.

 

Z Cars Racing & New Generation Production BMW Championship (Race 8 Results)

 

The Last Race of The Day and its the BMW New Generation and Z Cars Championship. With Many Different BMW'S Taking Part in this Race Speed Skill and Concentration will all be key Factors in Getting either a Win or a Podium Position.

 

During Qualifying on Saturday Chris Murphy took the Pole with Jack Wood Second and Edd Giddings Third. Three Drivers all with Many Hours of Racing Experience under their belt.

 

With The Race About to Start Lets Find out Who Will be The Last Ones to take First Second and Third Place on the Podium in Todays Racing.

 

In First Place was (Chris Murphy) in his BMW Z4 with a Best Lap time of 55.880 and a Top Speed of 75.95mph. Incredible Drive there Chris Taking the Win and Showing just how to Drive a Z4 BMW around the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit. Congratulations.

 

In Second Place was (Edd Giddings) in his BMW Z4 with a Best Lap Time of 56.481 and a Top Speed of 75.90mph. Amazing work there Edd with Some Incredible Driving and Keeping Pace with Chris Made for a Really Entertaining Battle.

 

In Third Place was (Matthew Dance) in his BMW Z4 With a Best Lap Time of 56.526 and a Top Speed of 75.16mph. Well Done Matthew Finishing in Third Place and Taking Home a Wonderful Victory.

 

And With that The End of Another Perfect and Incredible Days Racing comes to an End at Brands Hatch. The Mini Festival always knows How to Bring out the Best in both Drivers and Cars and Has a Real Atmosphere about the Love for the Little British Icon. The Spectators and The Raving Drivers a Like Really Cherish this Event and I Hope to see it and Document it Many More Times.

 

A Final Congratulations to Chris Edd and Matthew for their Superb Drives and to all Other Competitors Across the Entire Weekend for sharing their Love and Passion for Motorsport Helping to inspire the Many Different Young Talent's to One Day Achieve their own Racing Dreams.

 

See You All Again Next Year!

    

To love is to commit oneself to another, no matter what the hardship. Stay humble, stay forgiving, stay loving and stay true. :)

Denver's 2018 City Awards was a huge success!

Zé Ferreira, Guincho, March 2009

Statue at Cantigny Park in Winfield, IL.

 

On the plague:

The strength of nations is derived from the commitment of the citizenry. In this work the artist, Jeff Adams, has linked the four figures physically and allegorically to reflect interrelationships philosophically and across time. These people show sacrifice, strength, courage, love, resolve and hope and in their commitment, we find the potential for good, for freedom, for a better world.

"The SCAD Museum of Art showcases work by acclaimed artists, providing opportunities for students from all majors to learn from art world luminaries and expand their artistic points of view.

 

Mounting more than 20 exhibitions each year, the museum has presented such renowned artists as Jane Alexander, Uta Barth, Lynda Benglis, Alfredo Jaar, Sigalit Landau, Liza Lou, Angel Otero, Yinka Shonibare, Kehinde Wiley and Fred Wilson. André Leon Talley, SCAD trustee, Numéro Russia editor-at-large and Vogue contributing editor, regularly curates couture exhibitions such as "LITTLE BLACK DRESS" alongside ever-changing, site-specific installations by such artists as Kendall Buster, Ingrid Calame, Odili Donald Odita and Jack Whitten. The museum's permanent collection includes the Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art, the Modern and Contemporary Art Collection, the Earle W. Newton Collection of British and American Art, the 19th- and 20th-century Photography Collection, and the SCAD Costume Collection.

 

The SCAD Museum of Art is housed in an 1853 brick structure that was once a railway depot for the Central of Georgia Railway. The museum building itself is a work of art, demonstrating the university's ongoing commitment to historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The original walls feature handmade Savannah gray bricks, forming the oldest surviving antebellum railroad depot in the country. In 2011, this National Historic Landmark was transformed into an award-winning, modern museum building by architect Christian Sottile, a SCAD alumnus and dean of the SCAD SCHOOL of Building Arts.The SCAD Museum of Art is a radiant example of the university's legacy of innovative building adaptation and reuse. Since 1978, SCAD has revitalized more than 100 structures in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and Hong Kong.

 

This National Historic Landmark is the only surviving antebellum railroad complex in the country. The museum has breathed life into these ruins, which once extended more than 800 feet along Turner Boulevard's southern frontage. Originally conceived as a major trade post for Savannah, the railroad complex was occupied by Union troops at the close of the Civil War. In the early 20th century, the area surrounding much of the Central of Georgia Railroad buildings emerged as an important African American commercial district and cultural hub, and remained so through the mid 20th century. Despite its prime location and significant pedigree, the complex was beset by five decades of neglect and by the late 20th century, the depot and its precious Savannah gray brick lay in ruins. Yet, a wealth of natural beauty and possibility remained, sparking SCAD's commitment to its students and to the Savannah community at large.

 

Following a groundbreaking ceremony in January 2010, SCAD architects, designers and craftsmen integrated the building's history with its bright new future, analyzing and reproducing key original components down to the chemical compounds in the 19th-century mortar. The ethos of the rehabilitated SCAD Museum of Art is best articulated by its glittering atrium, an 86-foot-high steel and glass lantern featuring the first beacon that welcomes visitors and elegantly redefines the Savannah city skyline.

 

Visitors to the museum encounter a 12-foot-long horizontal touch pad in the building's atrium. The interactive table delivers images and comprehensive information about the museum's artists, exhibitions and events, and accommodates up to 40 users at one time.

 

Wherever possible, museum designers and architects used sustainable, renewable materials and employed the very best in energy-saving technologies. At present, the museum is outfitted with low-energy-consuming light fixtures, zoned climate control, exterior cooling towers, low-flow plumbing fixtures for water-use reduction and low-emissivity (low-E) glass on the south elevation. Landscape planning for the courtyard made use of xeriscape planning, porous paving materials and custom irrigation plans.

 

Salvaged bricks and original heart pine timbers appear throughout the museum, and the original high ceilings, most of which were kept, allow for optimal temperature regulation and provide a dramatic background for the display and experience of art."

 

www.scadmoa.org/

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCAD_Museum_of_Art

 

.......

  

The Commitment March - August 28, 2020, Lincoln Memorial, WDC].

 

To commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, NaN and Rev. Al Sharpton held the Commitment March at the iconic Lincoln Memorial. It was hot as usually in August this day, but, the crowd swelled over the course of the day. The all-day event featured various speakers of all ages and from different walks of life. The theme of the event was "Get your foot off my neck!" which was a reference to the murder of George Floyd, which set off a flurry of protests and the activation of the Black Lives Matter movement across the country. However the BLM movement was focused on Washington DC - mainly around the White House where, then, President Trump resided. The event was peaceful but emotional for some.

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland--Colonel Steve Gilland, commander, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, briefs multinational partners during Steadfast Jazz 2013 here Oct. 31. The U.S. Army is supporting Steadfast Jazz 13 with participation from the 173d IBCT(A), one of U.S. Army Europe’s forward-based combat brigades and the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the U.S.-based ground force contribution to NATO Response Force 2014. Collectively, these forces represent the reinvigoration of U.S. participation in the NRF and the enduring U.S. commitment to NATO, Europe, and regional stability and prosperity. (The badges in this image have been altered for security reasons / U.S. Army photo by Capt. Angel Jackson / 1HBCT, 1CAV PAO)

Latvian soldiers march afront the color guards from various NATO allied states in a pass and review prior to a parade through the streets of old Riga in a Latvia Day cremony in Riga, November 18, 2014. U.S. soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division honored the anniversary marking the 96th year of indepenence of the the nation as part of the U.S. Army Europe-led Operation Atlantic Resolve land force assurance training exercise taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy J. Fowler)