From: Harry Wright <hwright@adams.net>

Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 11:29 AM

To: William Durall; Walter Lamb; Violet Shulman; Steve Hardin; Roberta Dolbeare; Randy Hires; Randy & Jan Bleich; Phil & Linda Bradshaw; Patricia McIntosh; Noelle Smithers; Murray Martin; Mefford Dan; Max Middendorf; Martin Mel; Kent Wasson; Keith Smith; Kaye Iftner; Julie Boren; Josh Filbert; Jan Bleich; Harry and Helen Wright; Gregg Carnes; Gina Edwards; Gaylord Rhodes; Gary Woods; Fuhler David ; Fred and Carole Bradshaw; Eric Dolbeare; Debbie Dugan; Deb Festa; David R. Parsons DG; david fuhler; Dan Borrowman; Dan A. Mefford; chris little; Carolyn Casteel; Carolyn and Chuck; Anna Revis; Jim Filbert

Subject: rOTARY 2-16

Categories: Rotary

PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB 2-16-201

Visitors: Ryan Lowe, Principle of Pleasant Hill, with his students; Brenton and Christian Dean with Dawson; Terry Rush, father of our Speaker, Craig Rush;

Visiting Rotarian: Paul Kuhn, Manitawac, WI;

Student Guest, Pleasant Hill: John McConnell, son of Darrel and Bonnie. He is in FFA, Snowball, Football, youth group at church and plans on going into the U.S. Airforce upon graduation.

Kristina Buffington, daughter of Tracy and Becky. She is in Cheerleading, Schoolastic Bowl, Blue Crew, FACS, Chorus, likes to cook, will attend Illinois College in accounting and Psychology, wants to become a CPA.

Diego Martinez, our Rotary Exchange student, would like to have some weekend experiences. If you are going someplace, doing something and can take Diego along to experience something of our American Pike County Life, please make arrangements with him via Violet or Bill...

Reality Day...March 10...all schools are coming, so plan to sign up to assist, if it is at all possible,

Drug/Alcohol Day is May 13... Be prepared to assist, if at all possible.

President Dan Borrowman indicated that we need a chairperson for the GED Team Hosting event. Jan Bleich and Max Middendorf have volunteered to work on this Rotary Project.

He also said we need to try to find High School sophomores who would attend RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Activity, which this year will be in Carlinville. Bill Durall volunteered to check with schools on this activity. Rotary Board agreed to sponsor this activity.

Program: Walter Lamb introduced Craig Rush, USMC Retired, who has been very active as a Helicopter Piolet.

Craig told how he had came and spoke to our Rotary Clu 15 years ago as a Cptain and he was now a Lt.Colonel; had lived in 23 difrrferent states and 27 different countries....and the BEST place to live was still Pike County.

He enlisted in '88, and never dreamed he would spend the next 20+ years in the service. It took him 4 1/2 years to get his Wings, and he piloted a 100 foot long helicopter...the biggest the service has. He went to Iraq flying across Turkey..

He told that Truman was the 1st President to fly in a helicopter.

He was assigned to the Marine Unit that provides Helicopter service for our President. It is a very prestigious position. He got to fly the President in France on the 60th Anniversary of 'D-Day'.. They went to Omaha Beach and the Cemetary there, it was an Aswome Experience. He also got to meet the Queen of England, and was heads of France, Spain, had Chrismas with the Obamas,and gothis family pictured with the President. He enjoyed speaking with then President on 4-H and other items. He also had to tell the President several times,"we have to go"///

He took the President to the Military Hospitals many times to see wounded Servicemen and women. He said the President was very emotional after each such experience.

We learned that normally there is a 35 mile no fly zone around the President's travel route in th air.

Trips to Egypt, Israel and the Jorden River were exciting experiences to remember.

Craig finished with stating that serving your country is the highest calling and takes a great deal of family understanding...

Thanks Wally for one of the most exciting Rotary Programs......the man who flew the President, Craig Rush...