Memorial Day...A Day of Remembrance.
I spoke at the local Hampton schools this past Friday on the significance of Memorial Day. I am always surprised and pleased at the knowledge that these kids have. From 3rd grade to 8th grade. They all get it. They know the difference between Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. I can't say the same for some adults though. And look, I'm not going to berate those who don't know the difference, but I will say that I am always taken back at the lack of knowing from some of my peers.
At a CARS concert in 2010, I sat with some old friends at a restaurant. It was May. And somehow the conversation got around to how busy I get on Memorial Day. When I noticed that this married couple in their 50's, had no idea what Memorial Day was all about. I thought they were kidding at first.
But when the wife said..."It's something about Veterans right?" I looked at my wife in disbelief, and then back at them and shook my head. They had no idea. 3rd graders knew more than this affluent couple who lived in a multi million dollar mansion.
"Yes it's something about veterans. Dead veterans. The men and women who gave their lives so we can attend a rock concert. " And under my breath I said "and to allow fools like you to
live a life of luxury without a worry in the world..."
It was disappointing. I had a friend say to me on Friday, "that unless you have any military background in your family most people don't understand the differences
between Veterans Day and Memorial day. " And I suppose that's true. I was born into these traditions and holidays. My parents knew the importance of these days and I was a quick learner. Same with my kids. They all knew at an early age what these days mean. And thank god they still know today.
For me personally, I had many friends that I knew who sacrificed their lives. I know at least a dozen young men who died in Vietnam.
I think about them all the time. I mean all the time. But especially on this day. I have one friend who passed away after the war. Joe Somogyi died in 1978 from exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. That shit killed him, he just didn't know it at the time.
Longtime readers of this blog and all my facebook friends all know about Joe. I've mentioned him since my very first blog post. Why? Well, for starters Joe was a surfer. He lived here in Hampton and we were best friends.
We surfed the same breaks. In fact, Joe named a lot of the breaks we all surf today. He was someone special.
I remember how pissed he was when I took this photo.
He was disgusted
and annoyed. I was laughing the whole time. Of course in hindsight, I am so glad I took as many photos of Joe as I did. Actually, I shot more movie film of him and the crew. This pic above was one of the rare photos I have of him. I mostly have old super 8 mm movies. Tons of them.
Like this still from one of my movies. That's Joe and Moria
at the
Wall at 10th Street. This was either 1974 or 75. Moria passed away a couple of years after Joe died in 1978. She was something
special too. Hard to believe they are both gone from this world.
And another shot of Joe at the Wall. Seen here with Kevin Grondin.
And at our secret Skate park. "Ghost Town". That's Bruz and Kevin to the right of Joe. We skated barefoot back in those days.
So many memories. And the older I get, the more these memories mean to me. Joe was hero. A true hero. Not some phony. He was the real deal. Bronze Star with a "V" device for valor. Purple heart ( he was stabbed in the arm by bayonet..) .wrap your head around that. Thinking of how close he was to the enemy to be stabbed by a bayonet. Many commendation ribbons and medals.
And the actual saving of 40 orphaned South Vietnamese from a burning building, after the NVA shot rockets into it. I just hope, that some of those kids who are adults today, never forget the young Army ranger who saved their lives.
We all miss you Joe.
Another fallen war hero is Exeter's Dan Healy. A NAVY SEAL.
Like Joe, Dan was also a local surfer who surfed here in NH.
If any of you have seen the movie "Lone Survivor" you would know that Dan was one of the SEALS that died that day. The true story about Operation Red Wing. Based on the book by Marcus Luttrell.
On June 28th, 2005 the lives of so many changed forever. If you have not seen the movie, you owe it to yourself and to the families
of the fallen to see it. Be forewarned though, it is graphic. Just like war. There's nothing pretty or romantic about war.
Terrible things happen in war.
But thank god we have men like Danny Healy and Joe Somogyi who are willing to step up and take on the brunt of our nation's enemies, including sacrificing their own lives so we may continue on.
Living in total and complete freedom . Remember all the heroes this day who gave their lives for our children and grandchildren. May their sacrifices not be in vain. And may their souls rest in eternal peace, and may god watch over the loved ones they have left behind.
"Surfing Heals All Wounds"
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My latest movie is due for a mid June showing. And I think I'll end up showing it at the Legion (next to Flatbread) for an old school premiere. Portions of the proceeds will go to the WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT. So Stay tuned.
On Monday May 26th, 2014 at 7:00PM Memorial day , I plan on showing this movie at the Flatbread Company in Hampton. They have been having silent surf movie night on Monday's for a while now. I showed The RUN Redux last month. This movie is called THE WALL. I made this in 2000 and 2001. And it features a section called YESTERDAY that has a lot of Joe surfing at 10th Street.
So if you're not doing anything on Memorial Day night, stop by the Flatbread Company in Hampton and have the best tasting all natural pizza around, and take in a piece of Hampton history as I show the WALL 2000 2001.
Besides Joe you will see young groms like Jesse Gould, Max Fatello, and Casey Lockwood. There's even a brief appearance by Jimmy Dunn.
The movie ends with me catching my last wave of my 365 day undertaking of surfing everyday for a year here in NH. I called it "Catch a Wave For Gus!"
And you guys thought that my surfing every day for a year started with "Catch a Wave For Molly!" When in fact, I simply mirrored what I did for my dad with what I did for Molly. Both huge milestones in my life.
Now for Some Of My Weekly Global Observances
*NEWS FLASH The missing Malaysian plane is still missing.
But the media is on to other things now. Like the VA Scandal. Oh boy, this has got to sting. And by the looks of our Commander In Chief here, it does.
My guess is heads are going to roll. So time will tell who's head will roll and when.
Must be hard to be the president. All those cameras aimed at you all day long. The one wrong quirky face and BAM that's the one they will use. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.
Nancy looks like...oh nevermind. It's all politics as usual.
This was another easy week for me with Ole nasty butt KSM.
My weekly humiliation of Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM) the mastermind behind 9-11. Here we see KSM visiting the grave site of his beloved leader Osama Bin Laden. Looks like only Osama's sandal remains.
Looks like KSM is not to happy with the way OBL's grave site has been maintained. Oh well. I would expect the same for you Khaliddy my Al Qeada loving fool.
So once again, let's all take a minute, and enjoy the weekly humiliation of the mastermind terrorist who killed 3,000 innocent civilians on September 11th, 2001.
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Note to self: Must pick up a case of Arabic sandals at Home Depot this week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pat Connor May 25th, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY John Grasso May 26th, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Gilly Donatelli May 29th, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAYJay Pinsonnault May 29th, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dean Petty May 29th, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sam Smith May 29th 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cy Zetterburg May 31, 2014!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leah O'Hara May 31st, 2014!
REMEMBER THE FALLEN on Memorial Day.
REST IN PEACE Dave Kelling. Another unsung hero.
REST IN PEACE Officer Stephen Arkell Brentwood, NH
GET WELL SOON Nancy Hartmuller!
Please continue to send positive thoughts and prayers to our dear friend Debra White and family.
As well as JT, and Ed O'Connell. Please add them all to your prayer list.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 9 years. **Think about BUYING a HIGH RES Photo
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CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC ABOVE TO SEE EVERY
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Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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Yesterday- Joe Somogyi racing down the line Summer 1974.
(Below) I can see this wave and this day as clear as the day it happened in my mind. And I can still hear Joe hooting. Such fond memories of this place and this day. Only Kevin Grondin and I are still around to remember it. But we remember it all Photo by Thom Moore |
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Today- The Last of a Three Day Swell. May 20th, 2014.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) Unknown off the bottom of a glassy mini suck out. May 20th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH
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(Above) Another unknown streaking across a wind blown left. May 20th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Lippy soup blast from MVF. May 20th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Surfing is a lot like golf. You can do it forever. May 20th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- Day Two of a Three Day Swell. May 19th, 2014.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) Michael Sander streaking along on his finless speed stick. May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Don't forget to look up. The magical world of clouds. May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Unknown regular foot punching off the bottom. May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) This might be DJ. Hard to tell. He did pull into this thing and got completely
covered up and came out. May 19th, 2014. Photo by RALPH
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(Above) MVF was really surfing good this day. May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) This kid refused to believe me when I said his boots go under the legs. He kept saying "I don't mind the flush". I told him it's not the flush it's being able to function without water balloons on your feet. Oh well. Tis the season. May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- The First Day of the Three day Swell May 18th, 2014.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) Johnny Meehan had this all to himself. Sunday,
May 18th, 2014.
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(Above) Someone's happy out there.
May 18th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Rick Evans is like clockwork. He surfs the same sandbar swell after swell
and gets the best waves that come through there.
May 18th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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Today- The EMPTY WAVES of May 18th,19th, and 20th, 2014.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) This always looks so remote. But it's not. It's right in front of your face.
May 19th, 2014. Photo by RALPH
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(Above) It was as good as this looks. Maybe better. May 19th, 2014.
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(Above) This thing is pretty dang hollow. Check it out.
May 19th, 2014.
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Today- The SEQUENCES May 19th & 20th, 2014.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) OK at first glance this looks like he's going to eat it. I can assure you he does not. Check the sequences gallery. MVF proving my point.
May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) It's always fun to rip a turn in front of your peeps. Especially if they are trying to impress their girlfriends. Mackey V on turn number 200.
May 19th, 2014.
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(Above) Jared Veltsos lifting off at 10th Street.
May 19th, 2014.
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(Above) Jon Kiskinis before he was violated (see blatant drop in).
May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
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(Above) Not sure who this is, but I do know, he got himself a cool little tube on this left.
Check the sequences gallery.
May 19th, 2014.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
Today- The Maine May Swell. May 19th, 2014.
Photos by Maureen McNamara
(Above) l know that whatever Maureen sends me, it is going to be good. Like this Gull flying along this open barrel. She has the southern beaches of Maine down to a science. Thank you Maureen for this latest batch. May 19th, 2014. Photo by Maureen McNamara
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(Above) l know what I thought when I saw this pic. Greg Noll at Pipeline. Not as big but just as intense for this kid. May 19th, 2014. Photo by Maureen McNamara
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SEE THE WALL Monday May 26, 2014
at Flatbread in Hampton
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(Above) This is as green as it gets. May 19th, 2014. Photo by Maureen McNamara
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Today- A Torrid Calming. More West Coast adventures
from the Phantom. May 19th, 2014. Photos by the PHANTOM
(Above) The Phantom and his crew are always on the search for something new, something better. And they will stop at nothing to find it. And the payoff is always sweet.
May 19th, 2014. Photo by The PHANTOM
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COMING THIS FALL ON CBS! |
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