Important Folks Along the way
"Dad's Favorite Place To Be . . . . "
. . . .would be in the woods, deer hunting and very
comfortable in a ground blind. He could stay put from sunup to sundown
regardless of the temperature or the weather conditions. Dad was always ready to
go hunting or fishing -- trying out or building new gadgets and devices to
be used for hunting, fishing and camping. He was also a "Johnny Appleseed" --
planting and pruning many different trees for family and friends. His first job
in life was as a coal miner at the age of 16 in West Virginia.
"Dad's Deer Stand Artwork"
The bottom side of a bracket fungi and the lid to a sardine can. Dad must not have been seeing many deer that day.
Another One of Dad's Creations
I heard that he had scribed a message into a Beech Tree somewhere on the mountain in the Adirondacks that we have hunted for many years. And one day while exploring the higher elevations of the mountain I discovered his "bear tree." He was in the hospital when I presented him with this picture and he was very surprised. Still not sure if there are other messages out there.
Uncle Paul "On Stand" in the shadow of two trees.
Unc is a WWII Hero who manned different several positions on
the B-17 Bomber of WWII. His favorite position was as Tail-gunner with two 50
Cal. Machine guns. He also loves the woods, deer hunting and fishing. we've
spent many hours, days and weeks together hunting, camping the Adirondacks with
family and friends who are like family. More on Unc's War experiences later.
Unc has passed now. He's where he wants to be. He's the wind, the earth, the
water and the mountains. He's back in the tail of that
B-17 wherever its flown. He's in NYS's Essex County and Town of North Hudson in
the Adirondacks on the track of that Adirondack Buck. He's also on Long Island
Sound fishing for hard hitting Bluefish. And I'm sure he's in the company of all
of our loved ones who have passed and who always enjoyed being in the great
outdoors. They're out there now for eternity.
Unc trying to sneak up on me in the "deer woods." But he just can't see me until . . . . .
. . . . .he hears the shutter release or sees the camera. By then
it is too late -- caught him looking.
Cousin Mike Testing His New Tripod
Cousin Mike Cerone Jr. while testing his new $600 tripod and
mounted Nikon
camera on the Stewart Buffer Lands -- during the Summer of 2002. Mike is an avid
outdoorsman, backpacker, reptile specialist, photographer, consummate
woodworker,
fine cabinet builder, carpenter, materials application specialist etc. The list of his
accomplishments,
inventions and creations is long and varied. He is a "chip off of the old block"
so to speak.
Ben Kissam Founder of the Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition
-- !987
He's passed on to the happy hunting grounds but his spirit lives on in the
winds, water, trees and earth of the Stewart Buffer lands
that he appreciated so much that he formed SPARC. Thank you Ben for all that
you've done for outdoor folks of Orange Co. NY
and anyone who enjoys the great, unspoiled outdoors.
Do you know the name of this gentle-man?
A famous quote of his is -- "never bring a screwdriver to a gunfight."
I had the opportuntiy to speak with him and take his picture at a protest against the United Nations about four years ago. I found him to be intelligent, soft spoken, a gentle man as well as a gentleman.
He would have just been another New York subway statistic if he hadn't empowered himself and listened to NYS and NYC oppressive gov'ts. He was very fortunate to be carrying a loaded handgun and was able to fend off four hoods who tried to shake him down for money. They had screwdrivers to use as a weapon against what they thought was an unarmed man. How many times were they able to use a screwdriver on innocent people. This gentleman is a hero in my book and might very well have saved his own life and that of others that followed.
"God helps those who help themselves."
All of the best to you all for a safe and healthy New Year!
. . . . . Frank