Karen Holby (Fornell)

Proud of you, Preston! Will be ordering your book. 🦅

Nancy Schroeder

Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment. I envy your ability to write a book of such a a grand bird. I have been reading while walking for over 50 years. I look forward to perusing your book when itt comes out in April. May it raising money for your museum.

Lincoln Krochmal

Preston,

congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. Love the subject matter! Best wishes for lots of success with sales.

Be well and happy.

Wendy (Wynn) Garber

Preston, What an amazing accomplishment! Tell us more about the book and its contents. Does it celebrate primarily your private collection? or go beyond? Did you include a blurb on each item documenting its historical significance?  Or is it mainly photos? Are you interested in the artist or craftsperson who designed the pieces?  Does it also include how you got involved in collecting and which items have the most personal significance to you? Maybe all the answers are in the book, so I'll just have to buy it and read it.

Preston Cook

Hello Wendy,  thanks you for all your questions.  The book took seven and a half years to complete.  Prior to that I spent years collecting information on the collection and the chronology.  The book has 1340 images from the 25,000 item collection.  Each image has a detailed caption to explain as much as possible in a limited space. It is a coffee table book, a museum or collection catalog, a history book of the American eagle in our culture and varied uses. The book took a number of professional staff to complete:  a managing editor, researchers, editors, copy editors, photographers and designers.  It is the most comprehensive book and collection on the subject matter.

The museum to house the collection has commitments of just over $10 million of the $18 million needed.  We have the real estate and a great head start.  It will take several years to complete.

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

That is an impressive accomplishment, Preston!

Fred Brostoff

DINNER IN THE DESERT, PART 2

Five of your classmates gathered on March 14, 2019 in Cave Creek, Arizona (Phoenix suburb) for another mini-reunion.  Mark and Dale Goldman generously again offered their home as the meeting place, with appetizers and then Chicago pizza from Lou Malnati's (just opened in Scottsdale).  Lots of good conversation and great frienship.  Even the political discussions were civil.  

In attendance were Mark Goldman (and wife, Dale), Phil Kaplan (and wife, Jan), Jay Siegall, Babs (Drew) Spero, Fred Brostoff (and wife, Shelly).  Below is a photo of the classmates in attendance.  From left to right:  Fred Brostoff, Mark Goldman, Jay Siegall, Babs Spero, Phil Kaplan.

And one more thing;  The gathering fostered a debate over the lyrics of the song "Louie, Louie" and when the song hit the top 40 charts.  Mark cleared up the longstanding belief that the song contained "dirty" lyrics by directing us to websites that showed the lyrics to be the following:

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Fine little girl waits for me
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home

CHORUS
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, constantly
On that ship, I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair.

CHORUS
Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!
GUITAR SOLO
See Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
Tell her I'll never leave again

CHORUS
Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!!

...and then Phil Kaplan provided proof that the song hit the charts in December, 1963 (instead of 1964/65).

(just thought you'd want to know)

Holly Romans (Green)

Sounds like fun!

Victor Brown

Rumor has it that the FBI spent 2 1/2 years investigating Louie, Louie to see if it was pornographic.  Can you imagine that assignment?  OK, guys, today we are going to listen to it backwards at 27 rpms for the 2,843 time. Tomorrow it will be forward at 63 rpm to see if we hear anything objectionable that we didn’t hear any of the 3,821 times before.

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

I think I remember Babs Drew from Combined Studies.  Hi Babs!

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

Pretty ridiculous!  BUT - Not as sinister as the Trump-appointed head of the US government's agency that's supposed to be in charge of refugess tracking the last menstrual period of pregnant refugee teenages so the head of the agency, an anti-abortion and anti-birth control zealot, can block the teens from getting the abortions they have requested.

Ronald Zukerman

Vic:

Looking for a song about Vietnam? Try "Green Door". Talk about the Unknown that is Known. Better yet, don't!

Ron Zukerman, USAF 1966-67, Survival Training, Base Honor Guard

Lincoln Krochmal

If you want to get caught up in lyrics, check out Woolly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs!

Here are three songs that also reference Vietnam:

1. Born in the USA by Springsteen

2. I fell like I'm fixin to die by  CountryJoe Mcdonald and the Fish

3. Fortunate Son by CCR

Jane McCleneghan (Smith)

Congratulations on the publication of your book, Preston!  My son-in-law is a Major General in the Army National Guard Reserve.  He'll love this book when he receives it from me on his next birthday!

Preston Cook

Hello Jane.  Thank your son-in-law for his military service.  I devoted an entire chapter to the use of the eagle in  the military and during war times.  

Jane McCleneghan (Smith)

Dear Preston,

I will indeed thank my son-in-law for his service in this way:  when I get your book, I will include a note to Tim that says the author expresses his thanks for your service to our country.  Tim served as a helicopter pilot in the first Gulf War among other deployments.. I'm pleased to see that you have devoted considerable space to the eagle as a military symbol.  I knowTim will enjoy reading about it.

Jane

Jane McCleneghan (Smith)

As far as Vietnam-era/themed music is concerned, how about Glen Campbell's "Galveston" and Kenny Rogers's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town."  I still get goosebumps when I hear "Ruby," especially when Rogers speaks the last line:  "For God's sake, turn around."

Jack Penrod

‘Don’t take your love to town’ and ‘for God’s sake turn around’ are very poignant lyrics of Kenny Rodgers. ‘Billy Jack is about a Vietnam veteran, but it’s theme ‘One tin soldier’ lyrics more closely fit Laos.

Jack Penrod, Navy gs engineer who helped build weapons for Vietnam war

Suzanne Linfield (Spindler)

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

Congratulations!

1

William Wanlund

Yes, congratulations.  That’s quite an accomplishment, and reward for hard work.  As for period music, I’ve always been partial to “I feel like I’m fixin’ to die rag” by Country Joe.

Suzanne Linfield (Spindler)

Dana Phillips (Johnson)

Suzanne, Congratulations !!

Suzanne Linfield (Spindler)

Dana Phillips (Johnson)

Suzanne, I’ve been in Houston for 20 years. Let me know when you visit your granddaughter at Rice. Very exciting.