Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Bits O' History: Want to buy a Lighthouse?-- WWII in Wilmington-- WWII Vet Dies After Seeing WWII Memorial-- WWII Bomb Closes Runway

Some New Stuff About Some Old Stuff.


1. WANT TO BUY A LIGHTHOUSE?-- The June 3rd Lighthouse News reports that the US General Services Administration has placed two lighthouses off New York City up for auction. The West Bank Light and Old Orchard Shoal Lighthouse will be offered at a minimum bid of $10,000 and going up in $5000 increments. Buyers are cautioned that there will be big restoration monies needed for both.

Hey, we'll leave the light on if you can find the outlet.


2. WORLD WAR II IN WILMINGTON-- If you want your WW II history closer to home as opposed to the Pacific and Europe, you need go no further than Wilmington, NC, which features the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial.

In addition, there is a self-guided tour showing 35 other WW II sites in New Hanover County, including the hannah Block Historic USO Building, Wilmington National Cemetery, and Fort Fisher, which was also used during the Civil War.

Wilmington, one city really aware of its WW II connection.


3. WW II VET DIES AFTER SEEING WW II MEMORIAL-- The June 2nd Huntsville (al) Times reports that Bernard Dethomas, 81, died the night after he returned from a visit to the WW II Memorial in Washington, DC. He had been a private during the war and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

His son Richard found his father dead when he visited on Sunday and said that his father treasured his last day alive. "I'm so thankful that he got to see (the memorial). I know it meant everything to him."

The Greatest Generation.


4. WWII BOMB CLOSES RUNWAY-- June 3rd-- One of the five runways at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport was closed when nearby construction discovered an unexploded 500 pound WW II bomb.

It must remain still for 52 hours since it was moved during discovery. A similar bomb was found near this same spot in 2006. Officials hope to have it removed by Thursday.

And, the History Just Goes On. --Old Coot


TODAY IN HISTORY-- 1896-- Henry Ford took a ride in his automobile around Detroit, Michigan.

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