Pearl Harbor Survivors: “Thank You for Your Service”

 Pearl Harbor Honor Flight

When 90-year-old George Mills met Holly Shelton at a Yoga class she was teaching at the Haven assisted living, they became fast friends. In time George revealed his participation in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the frustration he felt as he helplessly watched the attack. He expressed a desire to make one last trip to Pearl to pay his respects to all his brothers in arms that had made the ultimate sacrifice that day and throughout the war – to say one last goodbye.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight

Holly was determined to make this happen for George and the more she thought about it, she began wondering if there were others that might appreciate making this trip. That’s when George told her about the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association, Chapter 138, in Pensacola. She put out the word about her idea  whenever she spoke to people and soon a group of interested folks began to gather. Bill Phillips, USAF, (Ret.) signed on as co-organizer, since he had connections in Hawaii from his recent assignments there.

Our friend Charlie Crumpton, then president of the Wide Angle Photo Club telephoned us and told us about the project, “She needs ya’ll ‘s help,” he said. When Holly arranged a meeting with the Survivors we went, too. They enthusiastically embraced the idea and the project began.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

The plan was to engage the community in support of the trip. We began gathering information to share with them. Our first task was to create a website with videos of our National Heroes, information about the trip and set up a way to receive donations on line. Http://PearlHarborHonorFlight.com has become a record of not only the living survivor’s stories but also those recorded by some of the other members of the original 80 plus chapter members, and a storyline of all the fund raising events and the trip that followed.

To make a long story short, we made connections with Gary Sinese, the spokes-person for American Airlines’ Air Compassion for Veterans, who made flight arrangements for the survivors, caregivers, and a documentary team. The Escambia and Santa Rosa communities came together making contributions to cover the remaining expenses for the trip. Everyone on the team was a volunteer.  They all wanted to be able to say “Thank You” to our Pearl Harbor Survivors for their service and sacrifices and to be a part of helping an elderly veteran say “One Last Goodbye” to his comrades who died that day so long ago.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

 

The book, “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye,” is a compilation of this fund raising project and subsequent trip. We are honored to have given our time, talents and support to this project. Since it’s publication, our efforts have been focused on getting the word out. Not so much for our benefit, but rather to share the stories of our local Pearl Harbor Survivors, our National Treasures, and to stir an interest in the history of the Pearl Harbor and World War II era among young and old. Many of us don’t know what we don’t know about this time and we should – if for no other reason, to avoid repeating it.

Pearl Harbor Day Book Fair

To help build and refresh memories about the Pearl Harbor attack, a presentation at the Pensacola Barnes & Noble store at the Pearl Harbor Day Book Fair was held on December 6th, 2014. Three local Pearl Harbor Survivors: Bill Braddock, Cass Phillips, and Frank Emond along with authors Billie and Robert Nicholson shared stories from the book, “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye.” Students from Tate High School, Newpoint Pensacola Academy  and Boy Scout Troops 603 and 438 participated.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

Organized and directed by Dianna Roberts of CBTR, Inc., this program benefited the Reading is Fundamental Program. RIF, by the way, is a literacy group, whose federal support was eliminated in 2011. Their mandate is to share new books with school age children to encourage reading as well as instill a reverence for books and their value. The Pensacola Chapter of Reading is Fundamental, directed by retired school teachers, Beverly Barberi and Elaine Sites, is the most active chapter in the state of Florida. They distributed over $8,000 worth of books to under-priveleged schools in Escambia County last year. Additional book fairs are scheduled at Barnes & Noble throughout the year.


Does your family have military veterans? Begin a conversation with them with a thank you. Maybe they’ll tell you the rest of the story …

Rotary Tree of Remembrance

Rotary Tree of Remembrance

Tree of Remembrance
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

Pensacola Cordova Rotary, Rotary E-Club of the Southeast USA & Caribbean, and Combined Rotary Clubs of Greater Pensacola are sponsoring a Rotary Tree of Remembrance at Cordova Mall. Beneficiaries  include  Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Simon Youth Foundation,  ARC Gateway, Rotary’s Camp Florida and Covenant Hospice.

A big hit with holiday shoppers and out of town visitors alike, this annual community giving project invites shoppers to make a donation and place yellow ribbons on the Tree in honor or remembrance of a loved one. The popular tree is on display at the Dillard’s entrance of Cordova Mall, located at 5100 N. 9th Avenue in Pensacola, FL.  Nearly $6,000 has been collected at this posting.

Tree of Remembrance Opening Ceremony December 7, 2014

This year, the Rotary Tree of Remembrance project kicked off on Sunday, December 7, 2014, with a special program held in the Cordova Mall in conjunction with Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Special guests included Bill Braddock, Cass Phillips and Frank Edmond, all local World War II Pearl Harbor Survivors of our Greatest Generation.

Tree of Remembrance
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

 

Other guests included Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, Pensacola Cordova Rotary President, Dr. Carl Backman, and local Pearl Harbor historians, Billie and Robert Nicholson, authors of Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye. Escambia County’s Fire Rescue Color Guard trooped the colors and holiday music was provided by the Sacred Heart Singers

Tree of Remembrance Closing Ceremony December 28, 2014

To conclude this year’s 2nd Annual Rotary Tree of Remembrance project, a non-denominational service was held on Sunday, Dec. 28, at 3 p.m. at the Tree. This year the final figure for donations was $7,001.00. Following the service, checks were presented to the charities.

Tree of Remembrance
photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

Rotary members will then gather the ribbons and, during the flag retirement ceremonies on Flag Day, local Boy Scouts will place them on a bed of embers.

 

As part of the closing ceremony, Dianna Roberts of CBTR, Inc. and Billie and Robert Nicholson of Rusty Buggy Enterprises received Vocational Service Awards for assistance promoting this event.

Tree of Remembrance
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

 

 

Tree of Remembrance
Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

 

 

Rotary Clubs of Pensacola Thank the Community for their Support of the Charities Represented by the 2014 Tree of Remembrance.

[Updated: 1/08/15]

Military Authors Salute Veterans

Veterans Day Salute

Pensacola Military Authors provided a waffle brunch to feed Veterans following the 2014 Veterans Day Parade along with book signings featuring some of our local military writers.

Student Ambassadors from the Newpoint Pensacola Academy served brunch to over 500 veterans. Thanks to Robert Nicholson and Shauna Taylor for preparing 505 waffles, Polina, Vlad and Igor Mokrenko for preparing the hash browns with sausage and Dianna Roberts of CBTR for organizing the event in collaboration with Billie and Robert Nicholson of Rusty Buggy Enterprises and Jim Sanborne of Cumulus Radio.

Military fiction writer, Kevin MillerNelson Ottenhausen (also publisher at Patriot Media, Inc.), Gulf Coast Authors: Dr. Sandra Davis and her husband, author, Charlie Davis; Ernie Webb, Norman Meeker and  Billie and Robert Nicholson donated a portion of their book sales to veteran groups.

In addition, under our tents were the Pensacola Young Marines and the Escambia Chapter of Reading is Fundamental, a children’s literacy program.

Pearl Harbor Veterans Feted

Special guests included Pearl Harbor Survivor, Frank Emond, who we learned has a grand son who teaches world culture to some of the students helping out at the food kiosk. In addition, Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima survivor, William Braddock was thrilled to keep company with student escorts as they toured the tents following the parade. He told his student ambassadors with a grin, “My favorite part in Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye  is page 20 – my story, and where my sister comments about how my mother prayed for me every day.”

Rotary Military Appreciation Day

Rotary Military Appreciation Day

November 3, 2014 – Pensacola Combined Rotary Clubs paid tribute to  local military personnel in their annual military appreciation luncheon. Held at  New World Landing in Pensacola, nearly 300 people attended this event.  Members from 13 local Rotary clubs, active duty and retired military as well as community leaders made up the guest list.

Rear Admiral Mike White, commander, Navy Education and Training Command gave the keynote address. He talked about the contributions that active duty military have made in their spare time to volunteer projects in the community. The combined efforts of 1,600 military  volunteer have provided over 26,000 hours of community service.

Three Pearl Harbor Survivors, William Braddock Sgt. Maj. USMC (Ret.), Francis Emond CWO4, USN (Ret.), and Jacob Gallawa, RMCS, USN (Ret.) enjoyed lunch and conversation with active duty military.

 Military Appreciation Day

Pearl Harbor Survivors and Rotary Friends

Military Appreciation Day

Heroes Among Us

Heroes Among Us
L to R: Pearl Harbor Survivors Frank Emond, (CWO4, USN RET.) William Braddock, (Stg. Maj., USMC RET.) Jay Carraway, (ETC, USN RET.) Pearl Harbor Honor Flight co-organizer William Phillips, (Lt. Col. USAF RET.) and Pearl Harbor Survivor, Cass Phillips (LCDR USN RET.)

Heroes Among Us not fazed by rain

Members of the Pensacola Chapter 138, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association were honored at “Heroes Among Us” ceremonies, August 29, 2014. Scheduled to take place at the Veterans Memorial Park, the event was relocated to A&J Mugs store on Palafox Street because of rain.

Honorees included Frank Emond, (CWO4, USN Ret.), William Braddock, (Stg. Maj., USMC RET.) Jay Carraway, (ETC, USN RET.) and Cass Phillips (LCDR USN RET.)

Heroes among usPearl Harbor Honor Flight co-organizers Holly Shelton and William Phillips, (Lt. Col. USAF RET.) introduced our National Treasures. Each survivor recounted his unique experiences during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. All nonagenarians, their memories were sharp and the store packed crowd hung on every word.

Heroes among us
Pearl Harbor Survivor, William Braddock, USMC Ret.

 

 

 

 

 

Heroes among us

 

 

 

 

 

Heroes among us
Pearl Harbor Survivor and Pensacola Chapter 138 President Emeritus, Jay Carraway.

 

 

 

 

Heroes among us

 

 

 

 

 

Pearl Harbor Survivor, Jim Landis (SCPO, USN RET.) was unable to attend due to health issues. His story of December 7, 1941, as written in the book “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye,” was shared by author Billie Nicholson.

Heroes among us

Heroes Among Us Special Guest

Heroes among us
Pearl Harbor child survivor, Mrs. Earline Williams

In addition to the survivors, Mrs. Earline Williams, who was a 12 year old, living with her family on Ford Island on December 7, 1941 shared her experiences that day. Their home was across from the berth of the USS Oklahoma, which was torpedoed and rolled over, trapping many sailors inside. Some of her clothing was used to cover the dead and wounded.

Heroes among us
Pearl Harbor Survivor, Cass Phillips

“What take home lesson would you like us to have from your experience,” someone in the crowd asked. “Pay attention to what is going on in the world around you and always be prepared,” responded survivor Cass Phillips.

Heroes among usWhen asked to what they owed their resilience and long life, Frank Emond replied, “Keep you mind active, and your body, too. I paint and volunteer one day a week at the Veterans Medical Center.”

Read the Pensacola News Journal article here. If you can’t find this in PNJ’s archives, see it here.

 

Three Generations Reading Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Multigenerational families shared the stories of the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, HI, with a Survivor at the book signing hosted by Hawsey’s Book Index. It is always heartwarming for our Pearl Harbor Survivors to have the opportunity to meet not only their peers from the World War II era but also young people who have taken an interest in  the history of that war.  The lessons they learn from these past events will make a difference in our future world.Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

The story of a community coming together to honor these National Treasurers is history in the making. One of our readers said, “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye is a good example for other communities to follow. We have taken the time to say ‘Thank you for your sacrifices and your service.’ We are proud of our World War II heroes.”

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last GoodbyeDinah Tronu, co-owner of Hawsey’s Book Index, is a great supporter of our military community.  Dinah said, “The evening was filled with reflection for all of us; the day of the signing was truly a day of thanksgiving.” She is especially proud of her customers who have been coming to Hawsey’s since they were young and now are bringing their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

 

 

 

 

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye publisher, Nelson Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last GoodbyeOttenhausen, Patriot Media, Inc. and Sissy Nessamar
from Cumulus Radio were also present. “We are thankful for all they are doing to promote and support this project,” said author, Billie Nicholson.Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

 

 

 

 

Pearl Harbor Survivor, Cass Phillips talked about the events of December 7, 1941 from his point of view as a radioman stationed at Kan’eohe, HI. The authors, Billie and Robert Nicholson, discussed the community project that helped make the return trip to Hawaii on December 7, 2011 a reality and some of their favorite moments.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

For more details on the book, visit PearlHarborHonorFlight.com 

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight Book Signing

 

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Pensacola, FL – On Saturday, June 7, 2014, the new book “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye”, by master photographers and historians Billie and Robert Nicholson, will arrive at Hawsey’s Book Index in Pensacola.

Hawsey’s Book Index will host a special appearance and book signing by the authors on Saturday, June 7, 2014, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm as part of a four-month book tour in the Gulf Coast area. Hawsey’s Book Index is located at 803 N. Navy Blvd in Pensacola.

Several of the last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, whose stories and original pictures are in the book, are now in their 90’s and live in the Pensacola area. They are slated to attend the book signing and will be part of the afternoon’s presentation.

The 80-page premium color 1st edition book tells the touching story of the Pensacola community coming together to make an elderly veteran’s dream come true — to return to Pearl Harbor and say “one last goodbye” to his friends and comrades who were with him that day so long ago on December 7, 1941.

Filled with photos by the Nicholsons of the survivors’ recent return to Pearl Harbor, the book is brilliantly interspersed with historic pictures and eyewitness accounts of the attack. The beautiful color images pay homage to these military veterans of our Greatest Generation for their extraordinary courage and personal sacrifice. Says author Robert Nicholson, “the book was designed as a keepsake 1st edition hardcover book and lets the reader visually experience the enduring triumph of the human spirit that made our country great during World War II.”

Author Billie Nicholson calls Hawsey’s bookstore “a well-rounded family bookstore and a long-time friend and supporter of military veterans.” For those lucky enough to live in the Pensacola area, don’t miss this opportunity to relive history.

Comments from readers include:

“This is a great book. Thanks for telling this heart-warming story. Our community is a strong supporter of our veterans and every town should be.” R.T.

“You immediately get the sense that you’re listening to young soldiers and sailors who simply found the courage to rise to the occasion and do what needed to be done to make this country great.” D.M.

Proceeds from all book sales of “Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye” will go to benefit the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

To learn more about Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 138, visit: PearlHarborHonorFlight.com.

Panhandle Butterfly House

Butterfly House

The Wide Angle Photo Club sponsored a group photo activity at the Panhandle Butterfly House in Navarre, FL. Established to educate the community about ecosystem environmental conservation, the Panhandle Butterfly House is operated by an all volunteer staff. The entry room contains a collection of mounted butterflies from all around the world donated by Gulf Breeze resident, Dr. Tom Grow.

panhandle butterfly housePanhandle Butterfly House

 

 

 

 

panhandle butterfly housepanhandle butterfly house

 

 

 

 

From this room, visitors enter a vivarium, where butterflies in all stages of life can be found. Caterpillars and chrysalis stages can be seen in the nursery area. Mature butterflies of local species flutter throughout the room feeding on the nectar of their favorite flowers.

panhandle butterfly house

panhandle butterfly house

 

 

 

 

Photographing butterflies is a lot like hunting wild game, without the blood of course, but you need to be quick on the focus and on the shutter to capture them. Robert’s recipe included the following: camera with a 28-300 mm telephoto lens, set on ISO 320 or 800, Aperture priority set at f/11. The focal length varied with the distance from the butterflies. The shutter speed varied based on the lighting conditions.

panhandle butterfly house

panhandle butterfly house

 

 

 

 

Billie’s plan was to create some video clips as well as still images. She likes working with challenging conditions. Her recipe was to use the Lester A. Dine 105mm Nikon (macro – dental lens with dental directions on the lens) attached to the Canon EOS, Mark II. This connection was made possible with an adapter acquired from Calagaz Camera in Pensacola with the assistance of manager Rob Kepko.  Video clips were created using live view, manual focusing on the viewing screen. Still images were created using either ISO 800 or 320, aperture priority, with lens settings varying from f/2.8 – 8.0.

Photo Credits to Robert and Billie Nicholson.

 

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last GoodbyePensacola Launches Pearl Harbor Survivors Book Tour

Pensacola, FL – On Thursday, May 8, 2014, master photographers Billie and Robert Nicholson’s new book, Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye, will go on the shelves for the first time in Pensacola bookstores.

Kicking off a four-month book tour for this heartwarming photo documentary, also on May 8, the authors will be hosted by April Stokes, owner of Turn the Page Books at a premiere book launch reception and book signing at her bookstore located at 9105 Gulf Beach Hwy in Pensacola. The reception begins at 5:30 pm with a presentation by the authors at 6:30 pm.

The 80-page premium color first edition book tells the touching story of a community coming together to make an elderly veteran’s dream come true to return to Pearl Harbor and say “one last goodbye” to his friends and comrades who were with him that day so long ago on December 7, 1941.

Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye

Filled with photos by the Nicholsons of the Pearl Harbor survivors recent return to Pearl Harbor and brilliantly interspersed with historic pictures and eyewitness accounts of the attack, the book pays homage to these military veterans of the Greatest Generation for their extraordinary courage and personal sacrifice. Says author Robert Nicholson, “the book was designed as a keepsake case bound hardcover book and lets the reader visually experience the enduring triumph of the human spirit that made our country great.”

Author Billie Nicholson calls Stokes’ bookstore “just perfect for the launch of a historic event book of this kind with a ‘Little Shop Around the Corner’ feeling of nostalgia, a real bookstore of the time”.

Several of the remaining Pearl Harbor survivors who are now in their 90’s still live in the Pensacola area and are slated to attend the reception and book signing on May 8. For those lucky enough to live in the Pensacola area, don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of a piece of history.

Proceeds from all book sales of Pearl Harbor Honor Flight: One Last Goodbye go to benefit the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

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