The Front Page
The Risk is Real - Serving our Country
Remembering those that have served and those that are serving our country.
You know sometimes it doesn't hit you until it is personal.
I look at the names on the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count every day to make sure no one I know from Santa Anna or from anywhere else is listed. I don't always look at the Department of Defense link which shows their hometown but I did Tuesday after hearing the obituary on KOXE of a Brownwood Marine. Up until now, the nearest loss was in Mason. The DOD had this official news release:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Mario A. Castillo, 20, of Brownwood, Texas
Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Kilpela, 22, of Fowerville, Mich.
Both Marines died June 10 as a result of an explosion while conducting combat operations in Saqlawiyah, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
I could not find anything on the Brownwood newspaper's website but the Abilene Reporter News had this nice write-up.
Please remember the Castillo family in your prayers as they mourn their loss.
I have another new name to add to our list. Jeffrey Watson finished high school in Coleman, but his parents, Joe and Sharon Watson, live in Santa Anna out on the Trickham highway. Special thanks to Pat Adams, formerly of Santa Anna and now living in Midlothian, for letting us know!
Please remember these Santa Anna folks that are serving our country in military combat, training, or support: Maricela (Marty) Siller, Clay Stewardson, Eddie Dawson, Ike Garza, James Watson, Austin Voss, Randy Casey, Mike Montgomery II, Mark Rutherford, Allen Tucker, James Culpepper, Shane Watson, Brandon Beloat, and Glen Donham.
1715 American soldiers or sailors have died in Operation Enduring Freedom as reported by the
Department of Defense and the
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. Pray for our country, its' leaders, and our soldiers and sailors.
Please remember the many serving as volunteers for various groups and those that may be working for the media or one of the many Department of Defense contractors that have employees in support roles in Iraq including Santa Anna's Jason Dane. These folks are serving an important part in the rebuilding of Iraq and the danger is just as great if not more for them as it is for soldiers.
The
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count has also tracked the deaths of 88 American contractors working in Iraq so the risk is real.
Many service men and women return home safely. Operation Tribute to Freedom Homecoming Photographs.
We must never forget the sacrifices of men and women serving our country from all generations. Tex Wright recently sent me this information:
The Coleman County Historical Commission has started work on a new project.
Since this year is the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, we (Texas Historical Commission statewide) have started a project to honor the ones who served.
We (I) have set up a Web Page to keep people posted on what is being done and to ask for their help in remembering those Men and Women.
The Web Page is:Coleman County Historical Comm.
WW2 Commemorative Activities
Spurs drop game four in the NBA Finals
Well it still isn't really Santa Anna news!
The San Antonio Spurs got what I call an old fashioned whoopin' in game four against the Detroit Pistons Thursday night in Michigan. The Pistons came out strong and never let up. Game five on Saturday will also be in Michigan and game six in San Antonio and game seven if necesary.
Santa Anna Stuff
No, not the same kind of "stuff" on the Stuff Page!
I am not in town enough to be able to keep up with some things but I am pretty sure that Vacation Bible School is going on at First Baptist Church. I have seen a lot of little kids walking by our house in the evenings to and from the Church and the other towns' Baptist Churches that I go through like Goldthwaite, Mullin, Early, and Zephyr have had some big banners out front of their Churches for VBS.
I never went to Vacation Bible School when I was little but all of my kids have gone to First Baptist's VBS and it is a great opportunity for kids to learn about Jesus. They used to have it in the mornings and Cindy told me that it has been in the evenings now for about five years which is good because it allows some that work during the day to participate.
Swimming lessons are also going on in Coleman and I read in the paper where Santa Anna's Jenna Hensley is conducting the lessons and one of my Scouts, Aaron Dobbins from Coleman when I was Scoutmaster there a few years ago, is managing the pool. I think it is great that these young people are so involved. Jenna was working at Eckerds last Summer I think in between going to Texas Tech. I am not sure her classification or major. Aaron and Jenna both are pretty good kids.
I remember when I was little I started swimming lessons in Garland and then when we moved here went one year to Coleman when the pool was on the way to Hords Creek Lake by the Rhone Ranch. We used to ride a school bus there and it was mostly just a chance to go to the pool. Most of my learning to swim was at Scout Camp which is also a great opportunity to learn.
Whatever Happened to..?
Some schools have Summer class reunions. Here in Santa Anna we have traditionally had class reunions during Homecoming week during the Fall football season. Particularly reunions of classes that graduated in the same numerical year. The Santa Anna Ex Student Association recognizes the classes that are celebrating 20 and 50 year reunions and I will get to that a little later, but I was wondering why we don't celebrate 25 and 50 years? and I thought... Whatever happened to the Class of 1980?
Summer League Basketball
I almost forgot to look at the photos from Tuesday's Orange team basketball photos. I had my camera set wrong during the first half of the game and knew that they would not come out too good. My camera was still set up for taking pictures in the dark Armory for Brandon and Shala's wedding reception and dance!
The Orange team won over the team from Rising Star. I didn't stay for the Pink team's game so I am not sure how they did.
Raelee Watson takes this shot at the basket
See the Sports Page for more Summer League game photos.
Spurs drop game three in the NBA Finals
Well it still isn't really Santa Anna news!
The San Antonio Spurs dropped game three to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night in Michigan. The Pistons came out strong for the hometown crowd in an almost must win situation. Game four on Thursday and game five on Saturday will also be in Michigan and if necessary game six and seven in San Antonio.
You might be from Santa Anna if..
You might be from Santa Anna if you get locked inside the Dollar Tree store, call the Brownwood Police Department twice, they don't believe you, and tell you "Don't eat all the candy!"
No, it wasn't Cindy or I and it wasn't the Family Dollar, but it was the Dollar Tree next to the new Walmart.
It was Bo Morgan and Jamie Wade and I have heard that they are prone to getting locked out of their car too!
Seriously these are two of the most honest kids you could know and just shows you that they were raised right.
They were doing some late night shopping when they noticed no one else in the store. After going up to the checkout and waiting, and then calling out they realized they were "Shopping Alone"! After two unsuccessful calls to Brownwood's finest and an hour of disbelief, they finally called a friend that knew someone on the police department and they contacted the store owner who came to let them out.
The funny part is that Bo was really needing to go to the restroom after an hour of panic but afraid to set off an alarm. They apparently could have just left at anytime as well, but did not want to be accused of hiding in the store or shoplifting. Oh and by the way, I understand they put all their own items back up. I think the owner/manager of the store should at least buy them dinner or give them a gift certificate of some sort. Better yet how about a midnight madness shopping spree! You know where they get to load up a basket with all they can in like two minutes and keep whatever is in it!
Classifieds
Someone ran across SantaAnnaNews.com Monday looking for rental property in Santa Anna. I wish I could have had some listed in the classifieds but did not so if you know of a place send an e-mail to news@santaannanews.com and I will put you in touch.
Update
I almost forgot to show you Cindy's caladiums.
They have really came out since I showed them to you last week. Especially since the rains and speaking of rain I poured an inch out of the gauge Sunday but I have no idea where it came from.. I think Cindy must have put it in there when she was watering my tomato plants!
Weekend
Whew! What a whirlwind weekend.
We spent the weekend as many of you did, going to Brandon and Shala (Guthrie) Olsen's wedding. Cindy and I took pictures and video of the rehearsal, wedding, and reception. I had also took some engagement and bridal photos for them and Cindy and Brandi McIver helped Briana Guthrie with a photo video for them.
Although I have done the video of a couple of weddings it was my first experience taking bridal and wedding photos and I must admit that I was OK with the bridal photos but I was a nervous wreck most of the week before the wedding.
Last weekend I told you about the planter bench that I was working on. To keep my mind off of the wedding, my Son-in-law Jason, and I finished it Saturday afternoon. I took this photo of it Sunday morning and a little after that Cindy and I were relaxing outside and saw our first humming bird on the first hibiscus bloom.
The bridal photos turned out pretty good but Shala is such a beautiful young lady and has such a great smile that I couldn't go wrong there. Especially since I took over 90 photos! But the jury is still out on the nearly 400 wedding photos. Since I haven't got permission from Shala or Sharon to use them here and since they haven't even seen them yet, I won't show you any wedding photos but I don't think they would mind if I showed you this shot of the front of their wedding set with the Santa Anna Mountains in the background.
The weather cooperated and the outdoor wedding went very well. It was one of most unique weddings I have ever been to. The bride was of course beautiful, and the carriage carrying the wedding party to the corral setting was really cool especially when she and her dad rode up and afterwards when the bride and groom came to town for the reception at the armory.
Spurs win game two in the NBA Finals
Well it still isn't really Santa Anna news!
The San Antonio Spurs handily won game two over the Detroit Pistons Sunday night after struggling to win game one last week. They will travel to Michigan for game three on Tuesday night and game four on Thursday. If necessary game five will be in Detroit as well followed but six and seven in San Antonio.
SantaAnnaNews.com
I had told you last week that I was struggling with whether or not to continue SantaAnnaNews.com. After a considerable amount of kind words, words of encouragement, and support, I have decided to at least continue on a limited basis.
Thanks to all of you for reading and especially those of you that had such kind words.
James
Want your own dot com?
This is a great time to get it whether you just want it for an e-mail address of your own, like james@yourlastname.com, or for putting some family pictures on the web, or getting your business on the web
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Any questions just send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you get started, or just click the 1 and 1 ad on the left, or any of the links in this article.
