50th Wedding Anniversary

Following my work with the UMMC Donors Guild event, I was asked to photograph a couple's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. So, this past Saturday, I met the extended family at a local subdivision's clubhouse.

This is a delightful couple with three sons and two daughters. Add in the grandchildren and friends and it was a marvelous group of people.

While most of the digital images were taken inside, we did venture out into the heat and humidity to take advantage of the beautiful reservoir and and trees. Since it's June, there will be heat and humidity!

With all of the conversations taking place, it was obvious that everyone had a delightful time.

I have completed my work in processing all of the images, producing a DVD video clip with background music and special effects and placed the images on my web page. All that is left is for the family members to select their prints, determine print size and place their order.

Abilene, Texas Trip

With our parents aging, it becomes even more critical to plan trips to Texas (Ft. Worth and Abilene) to visit with them and other family members.

Our trip took us from Jackson, MS, to Ft. Worth, Texas the first evening. The first mission of the trip was for our youngest daughter having her bi-annual visit with her doctor in the Dallas/Ft. Metroplex. This is two days of alergy testing to determine the correct shot mixture. After visiting with my parents and two sisters it was time to move on.


The middle of the week we left Ft. Worth for the drive to Abilene. Dianne and I attended Abilene Christian University and received our degrees there. Dianne's dad, step mother and sister's family live there.




Wednesday night we left the church building to find a wonderful rain storm and an incredible rainbow. Have camera, will shoot!






Thursday was visiting day on the ACU campus to see the most recent building - the Bob Hunter Welcome Center. Wonderful facility for recruiting students, Alumni Association and other offices.


This same day became very special for me - visiting with the Business Dept. Head when I was a student. Dr. Overton Faubus is now ninety-six years old and bed bound. But, his memory is as strong as a twenty year old! A wonderful time to visit and talk about the past and current experiences. Hopefully, there will be a return visit to Abilene that will include another conversation with Dr. Faubus.

Friday was travel day from Abilene back to Jackson, MS. As if the ten plus hour drive wasn't enough, Dianne and I had tickets with another couple to see the play "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" which is Neal Sedaka music with a story line. Fine acting and incredible music.

MCSB Final Band Concert 2009/10 Season

Saturday night, May 22nd, was our last Mississippi Community Band Concert for the 2009/10 season. We had special plans for those who attended!

Since this concert fell between to military type holidays, it was decided to invite an active military person from each branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard) to participate in the concert.

We had Sgt. Major Dusty Reynolds (30 yrs. veteran) from the U. S. Army, Chief Petty Office Christopher Zeigler form the U. S. Navy, Sergeant Curtis Jones from the Marines, Col. Glenn Taylor from the U. S. Air Force, and BM1 Shawn Sappington from the U. S. Coast Guard. Each were in dress uniform with medals and ribbons.

Our band president purchased each branch's flag and the fun began at the beginning of the concert when Captain Curtis Jones presented the U. S. Flag for the playing of the National Anthem. It was so quiet with the 600+ people attending that you actually could have a pin drop!


Having all five branches with their flags in unusual to see at one time. Only at Presidential innaugurals and funerals do you typically see all five together. So this made the event even more special. And probably some people had no idea what the branch flags looked like in person.


The second to the last song had all five hymns for the branches. The five military men came to the front of the audience section with their flag. When they hymn was played they raised their flag and did a figure "8" with it. People in the audience who either served or currently serving in that branch or have a friend or family member were asked to stand at that time.


The final number was "Stars and Stripes Forever". All five men were now on stage in front of the band. When the last strain was played and the confetti cannons were fired, all five military men saluted the audience.





Our band director is retired U. S. Air Force and he now had his military uniform on and turned to salute the audience.

There were definitely tears in many people's eyes this night for this celebration of our military people.


Next year we're considering adding the MIA/POW flag to the concert!

Following the concert, the band celebrated its 6th birthday with a reception for all band members.