We arranged to have dinner in Pensacola, FL with Abby, a young friend of Peter's, who stayed at our place for a few weeks, a couple of years ago. Since we were going into the city, we decided to explore it a bit. We ended going to the Museum of Art, and the TT Wentworth, Jr FL State Museum. That one was really interesting, as it had the rooms from Trader Jon's bar moved into it. This was a guy who for 50 years, received, saved and put on the tavern's wall memorabilia from the Naval base that is a huge presence in Pensacola.
We drove over to the Veteran's Memorial Park along the Pensacola Bay. Finally, we went to meet Abby over at McGuire's Irish Pub. What a restaurant! It was huge, with lots of small rooms, and was packed the whole time we were there. Definitely a hot spot in Pensacola. An interesting item--when they first opened many years ago, they taped their first $1 bill to the wall, for good luck. There is now more than $1.9 million stapled to the walls and ceilings throughout the place.Delightful dinner with young Abby, who is graduating from college this spring.
Pensacola photos--at the art museum:
Veteran's Park, wall memorial--a high school friend of Peter's:
A nice statue at the park, encouraging community:
The ceiling of $1 bills, stapled to it-with Peter adding one more:
Abby and us:
Actually the name on the wall is someone who went to my high school not somebody I knew personally. Although we did not know at the time while we were learning to stand at attention and the like he was a prisoner of the Viet Cong. His biographer attributes some of the qualities on character he exhibited to his days at Xavier. During the Carter administration he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.
ReplyDelete"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while interned as a Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 31 December 1964 to 8 December 1967. Despite the fact that by so doing he would bring about harsher treatment for himself, Colonel (then Captain) Cook established himself as the senior prisoner, even though in actuality he was not. Repeatedly assuming more than his share of responsibility for their health, Colonel Cook willingly and unselfishly put the interests of his comrades before that of his own well-being and, eventually, his life. Giving more needy men his medicine and drug allowance while constantly nursing them, he risked infection from contagious diseases while in a rapidly deteriorating state of health. This unselfish and exemplary conduct, coupled with his refusal to stray even the slightest from the Code of Conduct, earned him the deepest respect from not only his fellow prisoners, but his captors as well. Rather than negotiate for his own release or better treatment, he steadfastly frustrated attempts by the Viet Cong to break his indomitable spirit and passed this same resolve on to the men whose well-being he so closely associated himself. Knowing his refusals would prevent his release prior to the end of the war, and also knowing his chances for prolonged survival would be small in the event of continued refusal, he chose nevertheless to adhere to a Code of Conduct far above that which could be expected. His personal valor and exceptional spirit of loyalty in the face of almost certain death reflected the highest credit upon Colonel Cook, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service."