PICAYUNE — I am pleased to announce, the long awaited 'Pearl River County's Greatest Generation' book has landed, and is now available for purchase, or if you pre-ordered your copy, for pickup at the Item office in Picayune. The cost of the book is $42.75 (with tax).
Today as I sat at my desk flipping through the pages and looking at all the faces of the brave men and women, I thought of how proud I am to live in this country. The book inspired many memories and contemplations for me.
I come from a long line of military folk. I am the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and the granddaughter of a WWII veteran, and my heart swells with pride, and my eyes fill with tears when I attend any type of military event. I can't even begin to understand what it means to leave your home and your family and to travel halfway across the globe to pick up a weapon… to know you must kill or be killed — I can't even fathom it!
But, my feelings are getting the better of me, and I know that my job is simple — introduce this book and let people know, at least in my humble opinion, it was worth the wait.
The book is filled with unforgettable pictures and stories thoughtfully compiled and laid out by the Item's Barbara Mizell.
I thought it most appropriate to tease you with an excerpt compiled using information submitted by WWII veteran Delos H. Burks before he passed on July 8 of this year. His memory was honored in this book and I only regret that he did not live to see its completion:
"Major General (MS ANG Ret'd) Delos H. Burks was born in Picayune, Miss. on March 5, 1917 to William H. and Alice Burks.
“After graduating from Industrial High School in 1934, General Burks taught school at the high school for several years before enrolling as an Aviation Cadet in September 1941. He got his Navigator's rating, graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 23 May 1942. He then married his high school sweetheart, Melva Rester (May 25, 1942) and was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, (H), at Barksdale Field in Mississippi, where he was Navigator on the Consolidated B-24 'Liberator' performing anti-submarine patrols both during the day and night in the Gulf of Mexico.
"From August to September 1942 General Burks flew in the B-26 'Marauder' and taught ground school for bombardiers teaching the new Second Lieutenants navigation and giving airborne checkrides.
"October 1943 to January 1945 he was the Assistant Air Base Education and Training Officer and was promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain. In April, 1945 General Burks was reassigned to the Second Emergency Rescue Squadron in Morotai (Phillippine Theater) as Navigator on the Canadian Vickers produced… 'Catalina.'
"General Burks saw 34 air combat missions, received four decorations, three battle stars, and a Presidential Unit Citation."
To read more about General Burks, or some of the other valiant men and women of our county, stop by the Item soon and get a copy of this wonderful keepsake book.
Features
‘Greatest Generation’ proves worth the wait
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Everyday Heroes: Officers and families of the Picayune Police Department
The Picayune Police Department held a Memorial Service on May 4th, at which Senator Tony Smith was the guest speaker.
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Picayune Rotary Club inducts new members
The Picayune Rotary Club inducted two new members on Tuesday. They are from left: Paul DeVille of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC and Blake Travis of the Pearl River County Assessors Office, being inducted by Rotary President Mark Stockstill. Rotary is a service club who gave out $20,000 in scholarships and donations for 2011.
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Back home in high school with memories of the summer
By Dr. Stanley Watson/Syndicated columnist
Before I hardly realized it the summer was ending and school would be starting soon. It never occurred to me to attend school any place besides Randlett. I was impatient to get back with the gang - my kind of people. I left California with a somewhat slanted view of that state. I was no doubt biased because of my limited social contacts. Also, on a few occasions I had been exposed to the bias of Californians against "Okies". -
Hard work gets rewarded for Picayune High biology students
Picayune Memorial High School biology students in Coach Kristi Mitchell’s class were rewarded last week for a full year of hard work by being taken to a local snowball shop during class time.
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Main Street June Summer Blues Out 2012
This year’s event will be June 2nd, from 5 to 10 p.m., and features exciting performances by Biloxi’s The House Katz, Wardell Williams, Becky Eymard, Barbara Lane and many more.
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Arboretum Paths
Now is the time of year when spring blooms are a distant memory but we still aren’t firmly settled into the sultry summer days that Mississippi’s coastal residents know all too well. Many our native shrubs and smaller trees are really using this time to shine.
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Everyday Heroes
Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.
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Community leaders participate in Jr. High Career Day
Community leaders and former students joined 8th grade students in the library of Picayune Junior High School for Career Day last Thursday. Career Day is held the last week of school each year, in conjunction with a tour of Picayune Memorial High School.
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Lucille Gasecki:Volunteer, artist and winner of the June Summer Blues Out poster contest
Lucille Gasecki is the winner of the 2012 2nd Annual June Summer Blues Out Poster Contest and this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior.
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South Miss. Branch Experiment Station in All-America Selections Design Contest
South Miss. Branch Experiment Station, located in Poplarville, is one of 22 select All-America Selections (AAS) Display Gardens competing in the 2012 AAS Landscape Display Contest.
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