July 18, 2018 Happy Wednesday! Today has been an unusually busy day at Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor. Exhilarating. Exhausting. And thought provoking, too. On an average day we research, write and publish at least two stories that look back at history and heroes for our “On This Day” posts. Today, we posted eight stories. We spent a lot of time at on-line libraries and research sites. For good reason, this Victory & Valor Blog installment, on this day, is dedicated to a teacher: her name is Mary Jo. Since Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor launched last fall, we’ve researched and published a number of special stories. Indeed, there have been some special days as the business slowly grows. But very few days like today. Without doubt, each day we strive to accomplish our mission: to teach others by telling the stories of history & heroes. But, unlike most other days, the assortment of stories selected today captured the essence of all our values. For those new to this blog, here are our values: education; truth; history; nature; art; science & technology; sportsmanship; teamwork; loyalty; humor; and courage. We value the stories from the arena of sports so we can tell about sportsmanship, fair play, and the benefits derived from healthy competition and a quest for excellence. So, the memory of Nadia Comenici’s historic performance on this day at the 1976 Summer Olympics was a fitting example. Similarly, today is also the anniversary of Ty Cobb’s 4000th recorded base-hit in 1927. From those sports stories we can appreciate the dedication and loyalty to teamwork and individual effort embodied in the Olympic effort of Nadia Comenici and Ty Cobb. We also shared stories about General William Westmoreland who was the Commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and went on to become the Chief of Staff of the Army from 1968-1972. This is educational information for those studying that era. It also speaks to the courage and loyalty necessary to be a leader in our armed forces. Another story of courage we shared was in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned for 27 years. He was awarded the Nobel Prize. In 1994 he became the first democratically elected President of South Africa. The people and events of today’s stories spanned more than one-hundred years of modern history. We shared the story of a 1914 Act of Congress that established the Aviation Section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. We also looked back at the launch of Gemini X that took astronauts John Young and Michael Collins into space on this day in 1966. We remembered the birthday of another astronaut, too. Born on this day in 1921 we recalled the service of John Herschel Glenn: Marine Corps veteran; test pilot; one of the original 7 Mercury astronauts; first man to orbit the earth; and a man who went on to serve a long, distinguished career as a United States Senator from Ohio. I don’t care if it is cliché: he had the right stuff The efforts to advance from single engine biplanes to rockets propelling us into space are reliant on science and technology. And much of the knowledge we have gleaned from space exploration has helped us learn about weather patterns, precision mapping, geologic events, and even more about the nature of the world in which we live. So many of our values hit home today. I was taken aback. This installment was easy to see as the pieces came into view. But it was also difficult. Today, I saw stories of sports icons; pioneer explorers; and world leaders. Even though I saw figures from Romania, Vietnam, South Africa, and the United States, I was reminded of the small world in which we live. Researching and writing so much about history has benefits, for sure. You learn a lot. But sometimes you relive a memory or moment in time, and it can be bittersweet. There are times I have had to step away. Refocus. And take a more detached, objective approach. Today it was impossible. The combination of those people and events have had a profound impact on my life. Those events, either directly or indirectly, shaped me. In turn, they shape the way I present material for publication for this Victory & Valor Blog. I launched this business and the magazine because I want to help educate others. Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor have been my lifelong dream. So, when I select stories, it’s because those people and events align with the values I shared above. One more value was evident in that of an entertainer I wrote about today, as well. Red Skelton was born on this day in 1913. A lifelong entertainer, he loved to make people laugh, and he was good at what he did. One of his most popular characters was the clown, “Freddie the Freeloader.” And I remember laughing as I watched him so many years ago. His television show was on in an era of upheaval and turmoil in our country. But he prevailed with humility, sweetness, and humor. As I noted at the start, I dedicated this installment to a teacher named Mary Jo. All of today’s events in history would be a teacher’s dream. And Mary Jo would probably appreciate my point, unfortunately she’s also among those people and events whose stories I researched today.
Every day, part of the routine here is to search through multiple sources for significant events, birthdays, anniversaries, and memories of our past. I don’t regard the internet as a “library” but it is a search vehicle. And there are online libraries. Mary Jo’s name was among those listed who died on this day in history. She died July 18, 1969. She was 28 years old. She was born July 26, 1940 in Pennsylvania, raised in New Jersey, and graduated from Caldwell College in 1962. She was of Polish descent with a family history in Pennsylvania dating back to the time before our nation was born. Mary Jo was an idealist who was active in the Civil Rights Movement; she taught for a year in Montgomery, Alabama. She wanted to be part of a change for good. Mary Jo moved to Washington, D.C. where her work could make a greater impact. She began working for political campaigns; she helped write political speeches; and she helped coordinate campaign activities. On July 18, 1969 she was a passenger in a vehicle that careened off a narrow bridge and plunged into the waters off Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. The vehicle had turned upside down as it fell into the water. Trapped, Mary Jo Kopechne drowned. Mary Jo Kopechne is not forgotten. She was a teacher. She was a concerned citizen. She was an active force for change. I hope the research and due diligence taken here to tell some of the story of Mary Jo Kopechne does justice and honor to her memory. I hope Mary Jo Kopechne smiles down on us for our efforts at Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor to teach others; to inspire others; and to share stories that make a positive impact on the world. Admittedly, I omitted some details. A teacher will encourage others to dig deeper… conduct some of your own research. The driver of the car who went off that bridge is a man with his own story. You can learn more about him, I’m sure, by studying Mary Jo’s achievements. He is a mere footnote in the life of Mary Jo Kopechne. I hope Mary Jo would also be pleased if I signed off this installment in the same way as Red Skelton signed off his television shows during the late 1960’s. To our friends and followers, from Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor: “Good night & God Bless!”
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AuthorTom Davis is the owner of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC. He also publishes and distributes the Victory & Valor Flyer, it tells the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Archives
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