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germerikan

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July 4th, 1976?

Was talking to some of my German friends about America and just having a few brews when I had a flash from the past.

Getting ready for the Bi-Centenial parade in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. We lived in a "low economy housing area" called the zoo and I was dressed as a little minuteman. My mom sewed the costume herself and I had to walk around the whole day in buckle shoes with knee britches and a triangle hat.

Afterwards we went to C&C´s to get the best cheese steak hogies (at that time) and the absolute greasiest frys you have ever experienced on the face of the earth. (If there was a dry spot on the bag by the time you got home you were lucky!!!)

Man I miss those times sometimes. hmmmmm I wonder if Little Italy is still there, that was my favorite pizza. Just up the road from Pep Boys

Oh and I´m anno 1967...

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Being 6 years old, I was no doubt excited about going to watch fireworks with my parents/family. My wife would have been celebrating her 5th birthday!

I was 2 months away from turning 6 myself. I don't remember the day at all, unfortunately.

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Stayed indoors as usual, watching the Tall Ships sail near Manhattan and waiting for the big (in those days) national-event Boston Pops July 4 TV broadcast that always ended with Arthur Fiedler conducting a dramatic FULL perf. of the 1812 Overture followed by the Stars and Stripes Forever. The Boston Pops ALWAYS did those things much better than anyone else! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pops/background/bios/fiedler.html

That was before Fiedler died and the NSO stole the national spotlight with its stuffy, glitzy, fluffy "A Capitol Fourth". DC's 1812 is an extremely shortened pathetic remnant of the exciting complete work, and the Boston Pops on July 4 is now a mere wisp of what it used to be.

But then, the 200th anniversary was something special -- the Nation had just come out of the pessimism and self-doubt of the 1960's and the Vietnam War aftermath, and I think the whole experience helped us regain a great deal of a well-deserved national pride.

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I was at Culver’s Naval School. It was my first year in the summer program that used to be 8 weeks long.(now 6) I was 13 soon to be 14 a few months later. As a first year kid, they put us through BS that made hazing at college look like a afternoon strole through the park. I went to school with kids from all over the world from the UBER very very wealthy to very poor on scholarships. We all were 1st year kids trying to survive and thrive together much like bootcamp, and it did not matter one iotta who mommie or daddy was, you were on your own to prove yourself.

And thrive I did. I loved Culver, and eventually was company commander of Fighting Four! I fell in love with girls from Asia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ireland, UK and the USA>.. There just wasnt enough time in the summer to date them all. hahahahahahaha. Literally from all over the world.. We had a good movie and 2 dances a week. (Not a miss print...) We had the Normal huge fireworks display going on, and I had a date in the middle of the lake with my GF of the week LOL She and I on a sailboat looking at the stars! She was a upper classmen and invited me... (Like I was gonna say no!!) I was the ONLY first year male kid to do so....

Some info on Culver below. WHEN OTHER KIDS HUNG OUT AT HOME BORED TO DEATH,THIS IS WHAT I WAS DOING...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Whether you are interested in earning US Sailing certification through
Culver’s Naval School, riding in Culver’s esteemed Troop or
Equestrienne program, learning Aeronautical techniques in the School of
Aviation, taking a leadership role or experiencing
the adventure of countless activities and new challenges the summer programs at Culver are like none other and
you’re invited to learn about each program and what is has to offer
your child.

Character development is
the focus. The goal of the Summer Schools & Camps is to teach
self-discipline, personal responsibility, fairness, appreciation for
diversity, respect for self and others – the characteristics upon which
honor is built.


The Culver staff is
committed to developing the whole person – mind, body and spirit –
through personal reflection, individual counseling, small group
experiences, unit and team activities, and participation in religious
services. The interactive Culver experience, set in a leadership –
military framework, provides an opportunity for young people of varied
skill and experience levels to develop lifetime interests and lifelong
friends.



What better way for your child to spend his or her summer days than
along the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, learning first to be a follower,
accepting personal responsibility, and then to be a leader of others –
all the while having fun and the summer of a lifetime.

upper_camp_top.jpg




Culver Upper Camp



Ages 13-17 | Young Men & Women | Est. 1902

JUNE 26 — AUGUST 8, 2009



UPPER CAMP IN A NUTSHELL




Culver Upper Camp is a six-week all-activity camp for young men and

women, ages 13 to 17. Boys choose among the Aviation, Horsemanship and

Naval Schools. Girls are organized into Decks and participate in the

Schools’ of their choice. Upper Campers participate in
, afternoon recreation or intramural competitions and evening social activities.





Upper Camp Schools
















SCHEDULE




Morning and Afternoon
:

Formal instruction is offered during six daily class periods, each 45

minutes in duration. There are four periods before lunch and two after.

Classes meet five days each week.


Recreation Period
: This

is mainly devoted to the Intramural Sports pro­gram. Other activities

during free time include vis­its to the snack bar, visits with friends

in the dorm lounges or use of Culver’s many wonderful facilities,

including the nine-hole golf course, 15 tennis courts, ice rink, swim

piers, and sailboats. Theater rehearsals are also held during this

time.


Evening
: Evening

activities are a time for relaxation, reflection and getting to know

new friends. Campers will enjoy seminars on topics of interest

presented by staff, movies, dances, Sunday evening socials, picnics,

use of facilities (snack Bar, ice rink, recreation building).




Daily Schedule



6:30

7:00

7:30

8:10

8:30

9:25

10:20

11:15

12:30

1:30

2:25

3:10

6:20

7:00

7:45

9:45

10:00


Reveille

Breakfast Roll Call

Military Activities

Personal Inspection

1st Class Period - View Electives Offered

2nd Class Period

3rd Class Period

4th Class Period

Dinner Roll Call

5th Class Period

6th Class Period

Intramurals, Naval Competition, Recreation

Supper Roll Call

Tuxis Testing

Dance, Military Activities, Movie, Recreation

Closing

Taps


Tues/Thurs

Retreat Parade

Friday

Crew Competitions

Saturday

Classes, Permits, Dance

Sunday

Religious Services, Permits, Garrison Parade, Evening Social




ORGANIZATION




BOYS: Boys select an activity major: aviation, naval or horsemanship.

This choice determines which uniform a boy will wear and in which

required activity he will participate. The required activity is most

often for two periods of the class day. Boys may select from all the

other
to fill the four remaining activity periods.



GIRLS: Girls are called Cadets and are housed in living units called

decks. They compete among themselves in a variety of athletic and Naval

competitions. Girls may choose from any
they wish, including sailing and horsemanship. The selected activities must total five or six periods daily.




THE TUXIS SYSTEM

A progressive achievement




Campers must earn a certain number of Tuxis credits in every phase of
the camp – athletic, academic, aquatic, social and military. These are
gained through specific tests. Campers need not to excel in any one
area, but must reach a certain standard in all. The system provides the
means for reaching set goals as well as the incentive.


Progressive achievement is
emphasized and recognized in the Tuxis system. The requirements for
each medal are increasingly difficult. The Gold Tuxis, carrying with it
graduation and admittance into the Culver Summer Schools Alumni
Association (CSSAA), represents three summers of achievement.


SUMMER NAVAL SCHOOL




Midshipmen are required to take sailing for two periods a day. They

develop skill in rowing, sailing, seamanship and navigation, and are

imbued with the Culver traditions of leadership and character in an

atmosphere nurturing the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

Naval Band provides the musical

backdrop for over 1,300 campers. The Band dates back to 1904. It

maintains such cherished traditions as the weekly Garrison Parade,

Upper Camp retreat parades, the Moonlight Serenade and occasional

Sunday concerts.



UNIT BREAKDOWN




Midshipmen are divided into 5 companies:




Naval Band – Orange Crush

Naval Company 1 – Awesome 1

Naval Company 2 – Super 2

Naval Company 3 – Spartan 3

Naval Company 4 – Force 4



HISTORY




Over 100 years ago, Culver planned the first session of its Summer

School and announced this same purpose: “To afford an attractive and

really profitable summer outing for boys; to furnish a properly

balanced combination of work and play that would give a full measure of

wholesome relaxation and pleasure and at the same time prove an

effective substitute for the haphazard summer with its aimlessness and

mental inertia.” (circa 1920)






SAILING CERTIFICATIONS





ussailing_logo_small.gif

US

SAILING is the governing body for the sport of sailing in the United

States and its certifications are recognized internationally. Culver is

the first non-profit affiliate member to certify in small boat, keel

boat and coastal navigation.






LEDBETTER CREW




Second classmen may try out for the crew of Culver’s flagship, the R.H.
Ledbetter – the largest fully rigged square-rigged vessel on fresh
water in the world. The 21 top scores are selected as the crew with
seven first classmen from the previous summer’s crew appointed as
officers. The crew sets sail every Wednesday evening.







Culver Summer Naval School is a

Naval Honor School of the United States Navy

and has been since the award’s inception.

naval_3.jpg
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naval_2.jpg


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naval_1.jpg
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