RAY HARWOOD'S JOURNAL

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

T.V. HARWOOD IN FRANCE, WWII

The move to Laon/ Atchies in Northern France was necessary to coordinate with advances of the bombardment and the rest of the allied war machine. Again the move to a new base of operations was made the groups trucks and borrowed c-47s. According to a post war account by Lt. Colonel Ross E. Harlan (February, 1990): “ This time the move was made to Leon-Athies Airdrome in Northern France, or to what was left of it after our B-17s had blasted it no less than five times. The move began on the 13th of October and ended on the 5th.
11/04/44: Dear folks, I had a swell pass to Paris & it seems good to be back to the old tent after a little stay away. Our crew all went & we met two boys in Paris who are stationed there along with one of their friends who is French, a LT. in the F.F.I., he could speak English very well so he really took us around. I bough a lot of perfume but have not decided weather to send it home by mail or to bring it when I am lucky enough to come home.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

STANDING BEAR POW-WOW KNAP-IN

Standing Bear Powwow, a celebration of American Indian heritage and community, began at Bakersfield College Friday evening and continued through the weekend. “besides the cultural and commercial aspects of this year’s event — whose official flier promises contest dancing, native arts and crafts, cultural awareness, native foods and family fun — attendees will be able to enjoy the powwow’s deeply rooted spiritual component.”
The food was great; I had Chumash Indian fry bread taco and some great strawberry Lemonade, with real strawberry chunks. Next to the booth where I ate was a sausage booth and a slushy booth next to that.
The music was great with drums from all over the state and southwest.
The dancers in the competition and doing demonstrations were very talented and their traditional dance costumes were inspiring.
The flintknapping booth was great; flintknappers from all over the state of California were demonstrating their craft and displaying their art. Gary Picket put on the knapping section of the pow-wow; Gary Picket, learned the stone age craft while living in Missouri, where flint Indian artifacts are common in the creeks and hollers. Picket experimented for many years before he mastered the craft. Picket says that modern flintknappers sign their work to keep it from being misrepresented as ancient. He invites all interested to the park to learn more about this strange but growing hobby. Gary often does demonstrations for events, schools, pow-wow and museums. For more information, call (661) 392-7729.