The years are passing further and further along: Remember D-Day: 6 June, 1944 ...

“We’re losing about 1,800 World War II veterans nationally, every week. We
are losing out on getting their histories of what they did for their country
and the world.” - Donald Tyne, director of Linn County Veterans Affairs.

Freelance writer Dick Hogan writes article in The Gazette titled Not many soldiers left who recall D-Day, reflecting on a famous point in world history: June 6, 1944. The Gazette comments "Time is claiming what the Nazis could not 65 years ago today, on D-Day."

Some 150,000 to 156,000 Allied troops — 73,000 of them from the United
States — began one of the bloodiest chapters of the war on June 6, 1944,
with
the landing on the Normandy beaches in German-occupied France. The
invasion was
called Operation Overlord, but the day itself has long been
called “The Longest Day.” - Dick Hogan

Google is a great tool today, here are some links reflectiong 65 years ago on 6 June, 1944 ...

REFLECTIONS: Remembering D-Day
Sumter Item - The authors of Reflections invite you to enjoy this special edition and join with us as we honor some of Sumter's D-Day heroes. The landings at Normandy ...

Remembering D-Day The Herald-Times (subscription)

Jac Chambliss: Remembering D-Day The Chattanoogan
Veterans remember D-Day landings ITN
Times and Transcript - Vancouver Sun

Remembering D-Day
Dallas Morning News - We should also remember the heroes who served in all the conflicts and countless battles in faraway places. Don't let this Saturday pass without just for a ...

Remembering D-Day (part 2)
Examiner.com - ‎So many of these small towns throughout Normandy have unique tales to tell from the D-Day operations, Angoville-au-Plain is no different and their tale is ...

From the archives -- Remembering D-Day
The Daily News Online - By Paul Mrozek PAVILION — World War II veteran Henry Wright was the keynote speaker at Saturday's D-Day memorial event at Pavilion Public Library, ...

Remembering D-Day: Cenla veterans recall historic invasion
Alexandria Town Talk - Laborde said he remembers D-Day every year and has returned to France several times over the years, including trips to join in celebration of the 50Th and ...

Remembering D-Day: Local WWII veteran recalls his experience
Farmington Daily Times - ‎Paul Peterson, a World War II Veteran, remembers D-Day with memorabilia and old photos in his Bloomfield home Friday. BLOOMFIELD — Paul Peterson works ...

Chattanooga Times Free Press
Remembering D-Day
Chattanooga Times Free Press - Leon Brown, 85, talks about his experience as a soldier in D-Day. Doug Brown grew up wondering why he'd sometimes wake ...

Remembering D-Day while dad visits Normandy
Kane County Chronicle - ‎Today, June 6, 2009, is the 65Th anniversary of D-Day, when our American soldiers stormed the cliffs near Normandy, France. Thousands of these brave men ...

CCTV
Our views: Remembering D-Day
Florida Today - ‎Many books have been written about their valor, including “D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II.” In it, the late historian Stephen ...

Letter: Remembering D-Day in France TCPalm
D-Day: Remembering the heroes NJ.com
Remembering Normandy Telegraph-Journal
Anderson Independent Mail - Globe and Mail
all 30 news articles »

D-Day Veteran Remembers Historic Invasion
KIII TV3 - ‎Felix Longoria Jr., 88, sits in his living room remembering D-Day. The night before the invasion his commander got ill so the young 23 year old sergeant ...

peace

The Gazette reports 6 finalists named for Cedar Rapids Flood Czar ...

If you are interested The Gazette has a June 5, 2009 article online titled Six finalists named for Cedar Rapids flood recovery czar.

"Six people have been selected as finalists for the job of flood recovery
director in Cedar Rapids." - The Gazette

A Public Reception is Planned for Monday, June 8Th

"The public is invited to meet the finalists at a reception on Monday, from 5:30
to 7 p.m., in the lower-level north conference room in the temporary location of
City Hall, in the AEGON building at 3851 River Ridge Dr. NE." - The Gazette

“We have a high quality pool of finalists who show the qualities important
to the citizens who participated in the April open houses. The flood
recovery director’s position is an important step in moving the city of Cedar
Rapids into the next phase of our flood recovery.” - City Human Resources
Director Conni Huber

The Flood of 2008 anniversary occurs this month. RIVERenaissance-A Flood Anniversary's calendar of events is available online.

The City Council hopes to have a final candidate for the Flood Czar position by early August.

Robin Tucker

Who's going to Run for Mayor in Cedar Rapids for the November 3, 2009 Election?

The Gazette has reported that Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston is not planning to run for mayor for the City of Cedar Rapids. I am pleased to hear this. Our council-manager form of government for Cedar Rapids is supposed to be a non partisan form of government. We have seen too much partisanship in local government over the past 10 years or so.

Langston, a Democrat, added that her party affiliation in a race against Ron Corbett, a
former Republican state legislator, could have made the mayoral race overly
partisan at a time when partisanship should not be paramount in the non-partisan
contest. - The Gazette

At the present time, Mr. Corbett is the only official candidate for mayor in Cedar Rapids. There is speculation that Gary Hinzman, a former Cedar Rapids police chief, is considering a run for mayor. A web site would give the impression Mr. Hinzman is seriously considering it.

On the partisan issue, The Gazette's Rick Smith commented about current District 2 council member Monica Vernon's partisan overtones in his blog post on May 5Th. I had the pleasure of running against Monica Vernon and incumbent Sarah Henderson in November 2007.

Robin Tucker

A video to highlight concerns in Small Business recovery due to the Flood of 2008 ...

The Gazette pictured the above photo of the now abandoned South Side tavern business impacted by the Flood of 2008 ...

Former Cedar Rapidian and current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has contributed to a new fundraising video for the Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery group per a story today in our local paper. The video will debut on June 9, 2009.

The online story in The Gazette dated June 4, 2009 features a story titled Warner warns of business failures on Cedar Rapids flood video as he delivers the collected voice of the Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery group.

"The U.S. Department of Labor has estimates 40 percent of the businesses that
have reopened — about 300 — could be closing down for good over the next two
years because they can’t manage their debt burdens." - Gary Ficken, president of
Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa Recovery and Reinvestment Coordinating Team (RRCT) Flood Recovery for the period June 13, 2008 – March 13, 2009 has issued a report titled Flood Recovery Progress Report: Nine Months. Further, the United States Chamber of Commerce has provided support through the Business Civic Leadership Center.

Everyone in Cedar Rapids has been impacted in some way by the Flood of 2008.

Our business location was impacted by the loss of steam service, due to the Flood of 2008. Fortunately, we didn't get any water at our business location at 613 Second Avenue SE.

On Monday, June 16, 2008, after the Flood of 2008 had crested on June 13, the civil authority didn't allow us to resume operations for that day. Ironically, we received FedEx shipments during the Thursday, June 12Th and Friday, June 13Th of the Flood.

We did resume on Tuesday, after the Flood. We saw our power go out during the Flood. Services were interrupted at times in the early days of Flood Recovery. Lost power knocked out our Internet, e-mail, our phones, voice mail and everything else runs on electricity. Thankfully, we stayed dry in 2008, but most of our former locations over the nearly 65 years of business in Cedar Rapids for our family were directly impacted by the Flood.

When you look at the combination of the financial crisis, the change in the City
government, the historical Flood of 2008, and our changing culture; at times,
one is reminded of the movie: The Perfect Storm. - Robin Tucker

By the way, fellow Cedar Rapids Local Home Rule Charter Commission member Leonard Hadley, who is a former chairman and CEO of Maytag Corp., narrated the epilogue for the video, The Gazette reported. I had the pleasure of serving with Leonard Hadley on the 2004-05 Charter Commission.

Robin Tucker

Three generations of Tucker's at McKinley in C.R.: high school to middle school ...

Carole and I have a student at McKinley Middle School this year. One of her teachers passed on a very nice note this week, as we approach the conclusion of another academic year. It wasn't the first note from this fine teacher.

We want say "thank you" to all the teachers and staff at McKinley Middle School over the years. We couldn't be happier with the experiences we continue to have at McKinley. We have very happy memories, one awful sad and tragic memory in May 2003, and the normal ups and downs brought on by the ages of the students. But, it's been great experience overall.

We look forward to 2009-10 later this year! But, I think our family is looking forward to Summer 2009 first!

By the way, our children are the third generation of the Tucker family to enjoy the Halls and experiences at McKinley as a Middle School now ...

• Our three children attended McKinley Middle School, while


• Robin's sister, Marcia, attended Junior High at McKinley, and


• Robin's father, I.L. "Tommy" Tucker, graduated from High School at McKinley

The Cedar Rapids Community Schools continue to serve our family for a third generation. Thank you to the fellow students, families, teachers and staff that make our community something special.

peace

New Police Chief Greg Graham celebrates first year on the job in Cedar Rapids ...

Rotary Moment Today in Cedar Rapids ...

Congratulations to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham on his first anniversary here in our community. Chief Graham gave a nice presentation at Noon today as speaker at the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting. At 1 pm today, Chief Graham celebrated his first 365 days on the job for our community.

Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for June 1, 2009 ...

Robin Tucker is a member of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, with regular Monday meetings at Noon at the Crowne Plaza in Downtown Cedar Rapids.

Today's Meeting:

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Monday, June 1, 2009

at Noon

Today's Speaker is:
GREG GRAHAM
CEDAR RAPIDS CHIEF OF POLICE

Robin Tucker