Greetings Neighbors,

 I remember sitting together with my high school classmates for the last time as a group at our graduation ceremony back in 1972 and reflecting back over the previous 12 years and wondering what the future would hold for each and every one of us. As the speeches were made the reality was setting in that we were all about to embark on new and challenging journeys much different from the sheltered lives that we were about to leave behind.  Some would go off to college, some would settle down and start families, some would continue working with jobs that they had already started in high school and some would enter military service. Some would pay the ultimate price during their military service with their lives.

 Three months after graduation found me in USAF. After completing basic training, technical school and on the job training, I qualified as a crew chief and was assigned to ship number 549, a KC135A Tanker Aircraft based out of Griffiss Air Force base in Rome NY.

 549 and I traveled the world together over the next few years and I had the opportunity to visit and live in many different countries. In no time at all 549 and myself received orders for Operation Young Tiger supporting the 509 Bombardment Wing stationed in Utapao, Thailand.

  I got a bungalow in Sattahip which was nineteen kilometers from the base and this became my home for the next few months. I quickly made friends with the locals that lived around me in Sattahip and spent many evenings answering questions about what it was like in America. These questions would go into the wee hours of the night. My Thai friends were absolutely amazed that an American family could own a car, let alone own several cars. But one of the most amazing things to them was that we voted for our leaders, from the president on down to our commissioners in local government. What was also amazing to them was that the incumbents that happened to be voted out would actually stand aside and let this transition happen without the use or threat of force. This was a dream to them.

 August 9, 2010 as I stood in the cubicle at the Orange Count Library in early elections I made my choices and voted for the candidates. The reason I voted was that I am an American citizen; it is my duty as an American citizen to vote. Many a young man and woman served in our military services to insure that we all have that right to vote. Many paid the ultimate sacrifice in their own blood to make sure that we had that right. It is a right that many Americans take for granted and has no importance at all to them, an inconvenience at best and a waste of time. These same people don’t have a clue how unique this country is and the opportunities that are available in this country that people elsewhere can only dream about.

 I say to you, regardless of your political affiliations, to take a few minutes out of your schedule to vote. It is one of the foundations that make this country so great and has been reinforced generation after generation by young men and women serving in our military to protect our way of life and our ability to choose our own destiny. It is your duty as a citizen to be informed and become informed about the candidates and their positions on the issues and decisions that need to be made. In doing so you keep our country strong, our families protected, our children the opportunity to grow up with food in their stomachs, a roof over their heads and the opportunity to receive an education and one day make a difference and a meaningful contribution.

 Your vote is just a drop of water in a vast ocean, but our vote is a downpour in a great flood that will cover the earth.

Best regards,

Rick Boyd - President

A note from the “First Lady”

Heartfelt thanks to all who rallied to replace all my stolen fishing equipment. I was overwhelmed by your generosity and concern! The morning that it was stolen, Rick told me that by the end of the day I would see a blessing in its loss. It was hard to imagine that happening, but he was right.  I  realized that I’m blessed to live in such a caring community  that  takes care of one another and there’s no place else I’d ever want to live!

Fish on,

Lisa Boyd