Reflections

An American POW...2239 days Just under 10 years after the end of the Vietnam war, I met my wife to be. Her father had been United States Air Force pilot. He never served in Vietnam, however, over the years,  many times I heard him speak about a particular American POW; his name was Ron Mastin. RONALD LAMBERT MASTIN Captain - United States Air Force Shot Down: January 16, 1967 Released: March 4, 1973 Held in captivity for 2239 days My father-in-law died in 2010. However, stories about Mastin's heroic 2239 days in prison continued via my mother-in-law over the years. This Christmas, she shared with me a Christmas Card from Ron & his wife. I have never met Mr. Mastin, but after hearing his history from my in-laws and researching him on the net, it makes me proud to know that Milton Sharp, my father-in-law flew in the same cockpit with a great American hero....a hero who suffered like very few American service men ever had to. Below, I have shared 6 parts of an intervie...

I have fallen for the water I have fallen for the collective gathering of spring fed waters that cascade down the rocky valleys and mountainous terrains. Water that trickles over the rocks formed by time and river bottoms that remind you of God's hand holding the water, if for a moment. Capturing the second that the dandelion pod make land on the silky trickling  river, and watching the mountain escaping her river bank to created the clouded horizon; and the only sovereignty that God allows is that of the bald eagle or the condor. Yet beneath the water only to rise for its food is the rainbow with its animated colors. And though God himself gives man the occasion to capture the power and the glory of this beauty, if not for a moment, for a lifetime in his heart. Yes, like the waters that fall, I too have fallen for the river, the never ending river of God's glory. T. Kyle Swicegood

 Veteran's Day 2015 As written from http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp "In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words: Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive...

I hope you enjoy this short story from my friend, Becky Tarlton. She is known all across North Carolina as a hardworking and honest auctioneer. Everybody's got a story....I think you'll enjoy hers! T. Kyle Shake my hand.   Good to see you.   I like an affirmative handshake.   There was a time when a contract was made and blessed with the shaking of hands.   My how things have changed.   How many times have you heard these sayings?   A person is only as good as their word.   A person’s word is their bond.   If you can’t say something good then say nothing at all.   Treat others as you wish to be treated.   There are many more but how many do we really try to live by?   I am sure we all fall short in some way or another.   I speak of my Dad every chance I get.   I always found him to be congenial with me and with others.   I never heard a cross word exchanged between he and my Mom.   Actually never...

Some people hate flying. I'll admit, in my younger years, I was scared to death, tightly holding on to the arm rest, and having a racing heart at the slightest bump. Times have changed however. I have found the solitude at 30,000 feet is golden. My cell phone is off, people are quiet and the constant hummmmm of the engines become peaceful. Today, I took off from McCarran Airport in Nevada and just as we reached our cruising altitude, the captain said, "look out the window to the right and you'll see Mt. Zion National park as well as the Grand Canyon,  the Colorado River and Monument Valley." All of these are huge land masses, but at 30,000 you can see it great. I can't help but think it's the view God in heaven must see as he looks down from his kingdom. Today alone, we flew over Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Eight very distinctive and diverse eco-systems. Back to the flight; I learn a lot about busines...

John Caudle, Part 2. An interview with a hero! John Caudle and his B-29 Crew. Photo most likely taken at Tinian Island This post is a followup to part 1 of an interview I conducted with John Caudle, a Farmington, NC World War II veteran. I think you will really enjoy this time I spent with John. You can see in his eyes the reflections of 65 years. Enjoy T. Kyle

Meeting John Caudle in 2009 was a rich experience. John was scheduled to be on the first rounds of veterans going on the Triad Flight of Honor, a trip for World War II veterans to see their memorial.   To describe John,  I would call him a humble gentleman. By age 18, he was stripped from his country roots and traveled all across our country and even a small island in the pacific, Tinian . A young John Caudle during the  war. This island was the launching pad for the Enola Gay , a plane that was engaged in the paramount event of World War II and will forever be engraved in the annals of American World War II history.  Caudle knew the bombardier of this famous plane, John Ferebee , who was from the same small county in North Carolina.  John served as a tail-gunner in a B-28. I hope you enjoy this reflection John offers, a relection over 60 years after this amazing experience.   Click to watch part 1 of his story.

In 2009 ,  it was my great honor to take James Foster from Cooleemee on the Triad Flight of Honor to Washington, DC.  Mr. Foster demonstrated a meek, kind demeanor. You'll hear him talk about working triage the day Eisenhower pushed the American troops on the banks of Normandy.  Later, he found himself post Battle of the Bulge liberating concentration camps. I think you will be moved by this great American!   Click to watch interview

One of the great memories I will cherish for a lifetime was my participation on the Triad Flight of Honor committee.  Together, with the support of Rotary 7690 and citizens all across the Triad, we took over 1300 veterans to see their memorial.  Listening to these veteran, I learned so much of what made our country strong. A World War II veteran that was known by many in Davie County, North Carolina was John Barber. I hope you will enjoy this 20 minute interview with a gentleman, a veteran, a public servant and loving husband.....John Barber. Click to watch the video

As a person who grew up in a Christian Church, I'll admit that 2015 is a climate where a lot of faith people are shy to admit, confess and demonstrate their belief system. Television, new organizations and many politically motivated groups will label you very quickly as zealot, crazy, or ultra religious. I woke up this September  11th morning thinking about my reliance on God in my life and wanted to share a few simple scriptures that I hope will encourage you to reach out to the creator. 1. John 1:1 says “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “ This means that from the beginning of time, Christ was alive and in our time he has been made real in flesh and the bible’s very words are of Christ. 2. Psalms 119:105 says “ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path . “ Our every decision should be made based on His word. It makes dark places light. One of those incredible sunrises over Shackleford Banks. 3. Hebre...

 The Gift of a Rainbow Norman Maclean ended his beautiful novella with these words " The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters .” As I spent my second week in Montana this summer, something in me continued to hear the mysterious words "haunted by water". So it was in August of 2015, I took my son to the great waters of the Missouri and the bending rocky and conifer laden banks of the Blackfoot River where Maclean experienced a youth that inspired him to write "A River Runs Through It".  Being August, we knew that the days would heat up so we rose early to get on the river as the fish were longing for their rising tricos ( a common name given to Tricorythodes mayflies, which hatch most abundantly in August on trout rivers) and other winged dry flies. We met up with ...