A Little Boating Adventure...

So I get this cryptic e-mail from Gary at the American Airpower Museum last week: "Can you travel to Kingston on Sunday?" Of course, if Gary is involved, I'm in!

Turns out there is a gentleman there who owns a WWII-era PT Boat, and Gary wanted us to take some photos for future promotional use. Two other museum photographers, as well as six museum volunteer reenactors dressed in period uniforms, headed up to Kingston on Sunday morning. We found a beautifully restored PT Boat, with a crew ready to take us on a little adventure on the Hudson River.



The "pre-mission briefing":




After some dock-side photos, we headed out to the river. Rich, another museum photographer, and I sailed on a chase boat so we could capture the PT boat out on the river.









Rich and I decided we got the short end of the deal - we got some great images, but missed out on the PT boat ride! I guess there is always next time...

September 11

Saturday marked the 9th anniversary of the attacks on the United States. Once again, in New York, a Tribute in Light was illuminated marking the site of the World Trade Center, in memory of those lost on that day.

Having photographed the tribute several years from different vantage points, this year I went to the Staten Island September 11 Memorial. The memorial is on the shore, overlooking New York harbor and facing the site of the towers. A memorial service is held at the site, with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attending this year's service.



Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro (far left) and Bloomberg (second from right) during the ceremony.





This ceremonial fire bell was rung following the reading of names of Staten Island victims.

The End of the Road

Today marks the end of my tenure with the US Census Bureau. I was hired in November 2009 to work on the Decennial Census, and moved up to the position of Assistant Manager for Administration in the Locust Valley office in February of this year.

Today, was the last day for Locust Valley office – all that is left is for the movers to come and pick up the files, computers, and furniture. It has been quite an experience, one that I will never forget. The work was challenging, and I never lost sight of the importance of what we were doing in service of the United States and our local communities.

But for me, what made the job so rewarding was the incredible people I had the opportunity to work with. A relatively small group came together, and in a few short months accomplished some amazing things. We can all be proud of the work we did on the Census, I know I am grateful for the many fine people I came to know and call friends.

Now it is on to new challenges - first and foremost securing gainful employment again, but I enter this next phase of life bolstered by the experiences and friendships of my days with the Census.

The Few

Seventy years ago, a small group of brave airmen stood up to the might of the Third Reich, defending their homeland in what became know as the Battle of Britain. On this Labor Day weekend, the American Airpower Museum honored "The Few" with a special ceremony, and some rare visitors.

After some juggling of the schedule thanks to the near-miss of Hurricane Earl, the Canadian Warplane Museum's Lancaster bomber arrived Saturday morning. This is one of only two Lancasters flying today, and the only one in North America.


We also saw a visit from Tom Duffy, with his beautiful Spitfire fighter.


Ken Rose, 83, now living on Long Island, talks about his experiences as a youth during the Battle of Britain with Acting Consul-General and Deputy Head of Mission, Dominic Meiklejohn, OBE.


Gusty crosswinds hampered the flying schedule, but finally on Monday calmer winds prevailed, and these historic aircraft were able to take to the skies.







One of the more poignant moments of the weekend. Tom Duffy is talking with the sister of Robert Minnick. Minnick was a Long Island native, who joined the RCAF in 1940, and was trained as a pilot. In August 1941, Minnick was killed in Scotland while training to fly the Spitfire. He was the first Long Island resident to be lost in WWII. Among his effects, his pilot's log was returned to his sister, however she never really knew what all the entries meant. When she heard there was going to be a Spitfire at the museum, she and her son came down to see it and the pilot. Tom spent some time explaining the entries, telling her about the types of aircraft and missions her brother flew during training. She was absolutely thrilled to see the aircraft, talk to Tom, and learn more about her brother, nearly 70 years after his death





Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. - Winston Churchill