The period from mid May to mid June some most interesting events happen in the Mosaic that is often called History. This is the period book ended by Mothers Day and Fathers Day. In the United States we have at the end of May Memorial Day and in the next several days we have graduations over most of the country.

The Mosaic metaphor is a lot like the somewhat more familiar “can’t see the forest for the trees.” History is truly made up from a huge mosaic of tiles that are the individual people who are living in that historical period. It is quite complex because the tiles have a vertical axis which is the individual’s ancestors and the potential future progeny. Then there is the horizontal, maybe even radial, axis that represents the locality and culture in which each individual lives or to which they migrate.

In each case of the events mentioned the focus becomes intensely on the individual tiles. For Memorial Day our focus is on the veterans who have fallen in the wars defending our freedom and in many cases the freedoms we believe should be afforded to humanity. It is most inspiring as the names of those so remembered are read to the attendees. In many cases a bell is tolled. The famous phrase “Send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee” from John Donnes poem and made famous by Hemingway can raise chills in your soul.

Here in Calhoun County we work in what is called Warriors Weekend. This is a compliment to Memorial Day where we actually thank those warriors who sacrificed in many ways for the same reasons and did not die. That event is ennobling.

Graduation mirrors the ritual by the traditional marching across the stage to receive your diploma while your name is being read. Accompanying that march and reception is the traditional cheers and whoops of friend and family in the audience. Clearly this ritual is more celebratory of the future because of the most recent accomplishment of the graduates. They have achieved a goal and are preparing to move out into the world to make their mark, however deep that mark may become.

In both cases the lasting effect on the mosaic is not known precisely. In the case of Memorial Day we do not know what accomplishments that early departure has caused the world to lose. In the case of graduation we do not know which of those will make that huge impact on the world. We just know that something important was lost and that some important promise is stepping out.

This balancing symmetry both of time and focus on the individual time is a probably an unnoticed confluence of the combined meaning of the events. As one contemplates both of these they surely will begin to hear the toll of a bell in their lives. They will know the bell tolled Then and is tolling Now for them…

Flags Fly at Cemetery - Thanks go out to the volunteers who installed flags along the entrance of Port O’Connor Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day. The flags were purchased by the Port O’Connor Service Club and had been installed along the highway for Warrior’s Weekend. -Photo by Patricia Mayhall

The Conservative Club will hold its regular monthly luncheon Tuesday, June 12, 11:15 a.m. at the Heritage Center (corner of Austin St (Hwy 238) and Alcoa Drive.

Doug Jansen, owner/developer of the new Texas Lakeside RV Park at Hwy238 and CR 101, will speak to the group.

Question and answer period to follow.

The public is welcome.

Three of our members presented scholarship at the recent awards ceremony honoring Calhoun High School graduates. Debbie Busby represented the Service Club. Joyce Jordan, also a Club member, was there on behalf of the Chamber to award a scholarship.  And the third Club member was Carol Haverfield representing the Lions Club.

This once again shows how totally involved many members of our Club are in other aspects of service to our community.  As many times their interest and commitment towards needed community projects have helped to make them successful.

Sadly, it was announced at our last meeting, that several of the flags we purchased became missing following emplacement along the highway during Warriors’ Weekend.  Some of those remaining were relocated at the Cemetery while others have been put into storage for next year.

President, Janet Johnson reminded each member we will have only one meeting per month until September when election of officers will be on the agenda.  Our next meeting will be July 5th at 10:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room of the Community Center.

A Swallowtail Butterfly feasting on Plumbago in Port O’Connor. -Photo by Glenn Adamek

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Katherine from the Mobile, Alabama Boys and Girls Club followed the Aces during the 35th Annual Air Race Classic.

The Racing Aces, Dianna Stanger and Victoria Holt, are busy making final preparations for the 36th Annual Air Race Classic (ARC) which will begin on Tuesday, June 19th in Lake Havasu, Arizona. The 2,682 statute-mile race will span over eight states including; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Ohio.

“The course for the 2012 Air Race Classic will present exciting challenges for the team. We will be navigating through mountainous terrain, and special use airspace. We will face extreme temperatures in the desert and weather that changes by the minute in the mid-west,” said Victoria Holt. “We’ve modified our strategy a bit this year, we have a new airplane, and the entire team has a winning attitude. So….Game on!”

The Racing Aces announced earlier in the year that they will proudly sponsor scholarships available for 2013 Calhoun High School female graduates with the proceeds from the air race.

As female pilots, the Aces are well aware of the obstacles that each female pilot has had to overcome and they are working to encourage more girls with what has come to be a passion of ours: aviation! According to the Federal Aviation Administration, females comprise a mere six percent of all pilots, a percentage that has not increased in nearly a century of licensing pilots. This troubling statistic is one that we are going to personally combat during this race as we promote education in aviation to the general public along our race route.

“The opportunity to race along with fifty other teams of female pilots is an experience that lasts a lifetime. The fact that our race route changes each year gives us an opportunity to visit some locations and landscape that the Aces would have never gotten to visit,” said Dianna Stanger. “It is a very humbling and exhilarating race with new friends made each year and smiles we never forget.”

As a part of the minimal female pilot population, Victoria and Dianna are looking forward to the competition and the spirit of the Air Race Classic while educating our youth regarding all that aviation has to offer. Visit the Aces website, www.theracingaces.com to track them as they compete in the air race.

A new plane, refined tactics and a year’s experience under their belts; the female pilots are excited to take to the skies.