James Von Dolteren

Thank you for that info. I'm sorry I've missed the reunions. Just found all this about five years ago and haven't had the finances to make this one. Hopefully I'll be able to attend the next one. Most of the pics I saw showed a lot of you will still be around for the 75th lol. That's my plan anyway and the ones up until that one lol. Good to hear from you and again thank you for satisfying my curiosity.

Gary Bowers

Hi James,

The Reunion Committee attempted to contact each classmate.  Unfortunately, we were unable to locate many of them.  We even subscribed to an internet locator site with mixed results.  

James Von Dolteren

That's cool Gary. I was just curious. I've noticed quite a few of the people I knew seem to have vanished off the face of the earth lol. I really hated missing the last reunion, but this dinky town I'm living in is hard to get out of without a vehicle. I'm working on that so I have no excuse next time.

Ted Porter

So James. You’ve got a GREAT transportation venue in Murphy! Simply hop in your canoe/kayak, and float down the Nantahala or Hiwassee River to the TN River, onto the Ohio & Mississippi and ....you should get to Jax Beach by next Reunion! :)

James Von Dolteren

Never thought of that, but I've only ever been canoeing once in my life lol. Been wanting to do it again ever since I moved here. I'll let you know how that goes lol.

Ted Porter

Great tribute to our honored fallen; ie Memorial Day. Thank you.

I’ll add one more lil’ tidbit on the credit for this day, as History is often established by the person(s) or victors who write our history. In addition to the noted 1868 as the first Memorial Day, Kingston, Ga (in Bartow County where we live, northwest of Atlanta) honored the Confederate fallen starting in 1864, as noted below. As well, Columbia, MS & Columbus, GA were also credited with establishing a similar Deliverance Day in 1865, honoring the fallen. As Paul Harvey would say ...and that’s the REST of the story!

Beth O'Toole (Lutz)

Today is Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in Tennesee. In the state legislature they are trying to do away with it.  Why can't we just  get rid of Martin Luther King Day, How about Black History month,Cinco DE Mayo?  Whos' history is legal and whos' history isn't? Heck let's just get rid of  history all together. Make me so angry that we offend them,but it's OK to offend me when they step on my rights. Down of the band wagon  now.

Doug Ledbetter

Jay Hurst

Hey Beth. I am in complete agreement with your historical commitment and totally against the elite liberalism that is trying to transform my country into a twilight zone with their agenda. I posed these same questions you did to a person on one of my projects a few years ago. I presented my opinions in a respective and cordial manner and was immediately accosted by this person as a racist. If you don’t agree with their doctrine you are immediately labeled as something you are not. God has blessed the USA. Let’s all pray he continues to do so. Look back at how many centuries the Jews suffered when they worshipped idols and not him.

James Von Dolteren

Welcome to the One World Government.

Jay Hurst

I will not go quite into that night. Major resistance will be applied on my part and millions of others. “They” say that history repeats itself if you not lean from previous idiots actions. If we continue down the road towards a socialist dictatorship by the elites on either side of our 2 isle government it could lead to the 2nd Civil War. The choice is still in the hands of informed voters. Vote for our constitutional republic.

Jay Hurst

We are all "Dust in the Wind". Steve Davis passing must be a swift kick in the butt to jolt us into living each and every day to the absolute fullest. No sitting on the couch or playing video games or complaining your hip or knee hursts. Go For It! This is not a dress rehearsal and tomorrow is never promised. Hug and kiss your spouse, your parents,  if you are blessed to still have them, your kids, your dearest friends. Get my drift? Happy Trails to all of you who view this message. God Bless, Jay

Ellen Hensley (Garrett)

Happiest of Valentine's to each of you❣️❤️❣️❤️❣️

John Chapman

Hi everyone, Does anybody have any info. on the get together we were going to have in April 2021. Thanks in advance hope everyone is doing well in all this crazyness.

Ellen Hensley (Garrett)

My thoughts during this Memorial weekend are with the families of so many young soldiers that sacrificed their lives for freedom. I always think of our fellow classmate, Fred Paddleford who died during the Viet Nam War. Although I really did not know him that well, I was in one of his classes. I remember going to visit the Viet Nam War Memorial in Washington and locating his name and a another Forrest classmate, Alan Dick on the wall. It really disgusts me these men sacrificed their all in the Viet Nam war which was all about dirty politics. Thoughts and prayers for Fred's family and so many other families. Let us never forget. 

Ellen Hensley (Garrett)

Ken Bolyard

07/22/2021

Dear Classmates:

I am writing out of worry and concern about the surge of COVID in Florida in particular, where many of us live. 

If you have not been vaccinated, I ask you to reconsider, please.  This is not political, but life or death for folks in our age bracket. {70? How did this happen?  It seems not that long ago that Coach Disch was yelling at me to run faster....}

My daughter, a nurse, told me that having severe COVID is like having lungs full of broken glass, and being suffocated.  I doubt that any of us want that experience.

I you reject vaccination, I pray you get through this without illness.

Thank you for your consideration,

Ken Bolyard

Lloyd White (Jeffords)

Everyone has a different immune response to very disease that presents itself.  Covid has a less than 2% infectio rate and less than 1% mortality rate.  It is definitely not a plague of Biblical proportions as some make it out to be.  For a brief political commentary: What it is about is control, and getting the last President out of office.  The economy was fabulous, taxes were down, and there was hope the government might actually stop spending deficit money. Along came Covid, a perfect crisis to ruin success, shut everything down, and then provide hand-outs so people become MORE dependent on government.  The current administration is running the same  playbook as his former boss- spend money on infrastructure, shovel ready jobs, if you remember.  And it was all just monopoly money hand-outs to the people who got him elected.  This is a repeat of that with the added spoiler of everyone being a racist, especially us rebels.

End of rant

John Griffith

Floyd!!

It has been many years, but I'm very glad to find you and to see you are going strong. 

It appears that we have views in common!

I'm figuring this site out and I think I'll be back!

John Griffith.

Donald DeMaria

I agree with Ken-this virus is something to be taken seriously. 
If you have not been vaccinated yet you should do so-soon. This is not 
about control or politics-it is about common sense. 

Ted Porter

Auch. I couldn't agree more with Ken & Don. Just like the vaccines we all took in our childhood (Polio, Smallpox, Tetanus, Influenza & more), this is a Public Health determination; not a political statement. These not-perfect (by any means ...) vaccines have saved millions of lives.

That being said, I certainly respect those who, for whatever personal reason, choose not to take a vaccine (e.g. they had to chase me thru the Health Dept in LaGrange, Ga when I was a kid to give me MY first "shot"!). On the other hand, as a Respiratory Therapist x 41 years, I had to intubate & place 100s of COPDers on life support who could no longer breathe. The family always asked me, "is there anything we can do to reverse this?" Sadly, the answer was "no", it was too late; the damage from smoking was done. Prevention was the only solution.

This pandemic is even more real to me, because I have lost three friends & acquaintances to Covid, before vaccines were available last year. Believe the medical science of this preventative vaccine, know that there are some inherent risks in it, but make an informed decision, really consider getting your inoculation & save a Rebel! Amen.

Donald DeMaria

Ted: Very well said. My only hesitation with the vaccine was the shot itself. 
Just like you-I have always had an aversion to shots. I do remember having to be chased around the waiting room at the Navy hospital to be given a shot . I think I was about 7-8 yrs. old. We all went through the vaccination process when we were kids. There was no talk of politics, control, etc.  As a result of those vaccinations we grew up relatively healthy.  Still, to this day I close my eyes-tense up-break out in a sweat, etc. whenever I get a shot. But, I no longer have to be chased around the waiting room.

Ted Porter

Ditto. Although with the new, tiny 25-26 gauge needles, there is no "stick" (or as they call it in Scotland, a "jab") pain anymore. But I still believe in the old adage, "Tis better to give than to receive", So I had no trouble drawing ABGs (arterial blood) from my patients, as long as I didn't have to get stuck!

* as a result of my aversion to needles, however, I did empathize with my patients and used the oh-so-tiny 25G needle over 40 years ago, way before it became acceptable (when I started in the field, we used mongo 18-20G needles, as big as dang bullets!). Ya know, some things do get better! :)

Ken Bolyard

Thanks Don and Ted, for your comments.

• I am sorry to hear of the losses you've had, Ted.  This is one ugly virus.
• My goal was to simply raise the issue, given what we are learning about the current surge and Delta variant.
• I hope that everyone keeps healthy.
• Additionally, looking up your profiles and finding out what great careers you both have had is great to learn.

Take care all,

Ken
 

Ted Porter

Glad the Forrest Faithful made the 55th on Fleming. (thats a lot of f's).
Look forward to some fotos, if you dare! :)