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Post by Mark O on Aug 25, 2011 9:43:57 GMT 9
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much Jim G. (As well as anyone else who may have been in the know.) A while back "The Old Sarge" sent me an e-mail asking for my snail-mail address, and told me he was going to send me something. I jokingly told him it better not be a chicken, as I was in the process of getting rid of my roosters at the time! He laughed about that, but was very non-committal about what was up. I was completely in the dark. A few days ago I got a follow-up e-mail from Jim that something was on it's way here, and to have the kids ready with the camera. (The camera? Okay....) Well, after I picked the twins up from football & volleyball practice, we went running all over town looking for art supplies for my daughter's art class. (So were a bunch of other parents we ran into!) You can see the sweat stain from my seatbelt in the first photo! When we got home we walked through the garage, and must have missed the box by the front door, until one of the neighbor kids stopped by. Written on the top of a very well-packed wooden box were the words "fragile instrument." My first thought was, "Why in the world is Jim sending me a sextant?" (Obviously I was still in the dark!) I guess you all know where this is going provided you haven't peeked at the photos below. Jim G.? The master clock maker? Yea, same guy! Guys, I am truly speechless, and really honored to get this. It means so much more than the photo-plaque I got from the squadron yesterday. So much more. The kids grabbed the camera, and here they are. I'll get some better pics up when I clean this place up. What can I say? Thank you so much! Mark This is a serious box!  First shot when I got it unwrapped.  P.S. I said I was speechless, not that I couldn't write! Ha! |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator 
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Aug 25, 2011 10:06:47 GMT 9
Very cool. He is a master at his craft. :salute
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Post by Jim on Aug 25, 2011 11:35:32 GMT 9
:e7new Mark, the co conspiritor was Pat Perry- he is the one with the sneaky abilities- I needed your address..... The clock is from all of the guys here on the forum, the constant contributors... You were our contact with the Air Force that we left behind....... And a tremedous supporter of the forum.. Enjoy your retirement, you have earned it.... Thanks for your service from all of us here :salute The Old Sarge
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Post by Mark O on Aug 25, 2011 11:40:17 GMT 9
Holy smokes, you're right! I am so absent minded right now! ;D
It was Pat that asked for my address. Geez, I feel like an idiot. So much stuff going on around here...
Guys, this REALLY means a lot. Thanks so much!
Pat, I'm sorry! (You sneak!)
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
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Retired: USAF
NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Aug 25, 2011 11:56:02 GMT 9
:salute :us_flag :salute
Mark, no one, absolutely no one, is more deserving of that beautiful clock Jim made for you.
It was a well-kept secret, as he wanted to express, for all of us, our thanks, our admiration, our friendship and our love to our fellow Patriot warrior, and how proud we are of you.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Jim on Aug 25, 2011 12:08:20 GMT 9
Mark, a bit of a story of the origin of your clock:I exhausted all my contacts to obtain a set of issue Flight Engineers wings, no luck.... But I did find a replica..... The chevrons I purchased at Arnold AFB, Tn. when I was visiting my brother this past June..... The walnut was furnished by "bear" Laverne Bruhn in Nebraska.. He delivered a big box of walnut cutoffs to me back in the spring en route to a mini Ma-1 reunion in Phx. The aluminum for the SIX came from The Chief O' The Darts, Ralph Robedlo at Castle Air Museum.... Don't laugh- the dogtag replica was made at the pet tag machine in Walmarts........ Thanks again for taking over from us old farts that preceded you.... The Old Sarge
BTW email me a copy of the pic you posted so I can add it to my rogues gallery...
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Post by Mark O on Aug 25, 2011 13:25:10 GMT 9
Will do on the photos. I've been sitting here stareing at it for some time. (Well, between finishing homework, and getting the twins to bed!)
I quickly decided I have find a good spot for it in the house, and not my dusty man cave (i.e. - the garage.) That's for sure.
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Post by shadowgunner on Aug 25, 2011 15:10:34 GMT 9
:salute
Congrats Mark on your retirement and the receipt of the clock. It looks good on you. Thank you for your continued service to our great nation.
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Post by LBer1568 on Aug 25, 2011 23:04:41 GMT 9
Mark,
I want to add my best wishes on starting the next phase of your life. Thank you also for keeping the wings level for us after we retired. And congratulations on a job well done. May your days be happy, healthy and many.
I always thought time went by rapidly while I was Active duty. But time has spead by more rapidly since I retired the second time in 2006. I passed a milestone last year. I have been retired from USAF longer than I served on Active Duty. I guess thats one reason Congress is looking into changing Retirement System. When I joined I was amased at seeing so many guys pass on within just a few years of retirement. But times change and so do the longevity tables.
(A quick salute) and All the Best on whatever you Do in Life.
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Aug 26, 2011 4:31:42 GMT 9
wow..awesome.....congrats on the clock...
what the others said.....
:thanks :salute :us_flag :patriotic-flagwaver :fire_missle_ani
Steve
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Post by Gene on Aug 26, 2011 7:03:21 GMT 9
Mark, I want to add my best wishes on starting the next phase of your life. Thank you also for keeping the wings level for us after we retired. And congratulations on a job well done. May your days be happy, healthy and many. I always thought time went by rapidly while I was Active duty. But time has spead by more rapidly since I retired the second time in 2006. I passed a milestone last year. I have been retired from USAF longer than I served on Active Duty. I guess thats one reason Congress is looking into changing Retirement System. When I joined I was amased at seeing so many guys pass on within just a few years of retirement. But times change and so do the longevity tables. (A quick salute) and All the Best on whatever you Do in Life. i know what you mean about retirements.. my dad joined the aaf in jan. of '42, retired in oct. of '72 and lived what i hope was a good retirement until he passed away in nov. 05. he was 100% disabled with the v.a...they took good care of him until the end.... BUT, on a happier note...Congrats on the retirement And on the beautiful clock... :salute :salute  |
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Post by falconkeeper on Sept 2, 2011 22:41:44 GMT 9
I'm like Iber- I have been "retired" longer than I was on active duty, but I still fondly remember the days, weeks, months, and years that I served. Mark, welcome to the retired fraternity and sorority. Enjoy your memories, 'cause "you done good".
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MOW
Administrator 
Owner/Operator
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Post by MOW on Sept 3, 2011 15:50:29 GMT 9
Happy retirement Mark. You are most deserving of an Old Sarge masterpiece, and as usual he has created one and it's just for you :salute
You know, most times when we get a new member here many of us say "welcome to our flight line" right? Well, retirement really means leaving the flight line so I guess we should say "welcome to your 2nd career".
Another beauty Jim :2thumbsup
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Post by lindel on Sept 15, 2011 2:38:05 GMT 9
Congrats Mark, on both the retirement and the clock!
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Post by bear (Deceased) on Sept 19, 2011 9:21:28 GMT 9
Congrat on your retirement. Jim does some very neat clocks,enjoy.
Been retired longer than I was active
Bear
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