Georgia Magazine - May 2011 - (Page 5)

www.georgiamagazine.org (800) 544-4362, in Georgia; (770) 270-6950 GEORGIA Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia’s 42 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 500,000 members welcome the magazine into their homes each month. Georgia’s notfor-profit electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to more than 73 percent of the state’s land area serving 4.5 million residents. For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com. EDITOR Ann Orowski, CCC ManagIng EDITOR Jennifer Hewett, CCC assOcIaTE EDITOR Victoria Scharf DeCastro PRODucTIOn cOORDInaTOR Steve Jacobs assIsTanT EDITOR Kevin Braun assIsTanT EDITOR Jim Jess EDITORIaL InTERn Amy Saxon cOnTRIbuTIng WRITERs Matt Bolch, Connie Cottingham, Benita M. Dodd, Linda M. Erbele, Margie Fishman, Deborah Geering, Magen Howard, E. Wayne McDaniel, April Sorrow, Heather Teilhet, Candy Westbrook cOnTRIbuTIng PhOTOgRaPhERs Fernando Alfaro, Connie Cottingham, Erica George Dines, Dale Elzey, Kelly Hester, Tracey Homer, Karen Lougee, Ann Orowski, Kieran Reynolds, Stephanie Schupska, April Sorrow, Bill Verner aDvERTIsIng REPREsEnTaTIvEs In trust to us A By Paul Wood President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Laurel George, (404) 541-0628; Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 289-5700 National Country Market, (800) 626-1181 naTIOnaL aDvERTIsIng REPREsEnTaTIvE DEsIgnERs Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis Mary Wellman, (770) 270-6981 subscRIPTIOns 2011 aDvIsORy bOaRD Amanda Busby, Erin Cook, Lynn Coulter, Romanous Dotson, Jeff Ferguson, Chuck Grace, Robert Herman, Jamie Hulsey, Jennie Lacey, Ophelia McCain, Ted McMillan, Lynn Price, Neal Shepard, Heather Teilhet, Jere Thorne, Tony Tucker gEORgIa EMc OffIcERs chaIRMan Neal Talton, Flint Energies vIcE chaIRMan Alice Mallory, Coweta-Fayette EMC sEc.-TREasuRER Randy Crenshaw, Irwin EMC PREsIDEnT/cEO, gEMc A. Paul Wood GEORGIA Magazine (USPS-473120, ISSN 10615822) is published monthly by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., P.O. Box 1707, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30085. Periodicals postage paid at Thomaston, GA, and additional mailing offices. POsTMasTER: Send address changes to GEORGIA Magazine, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Printed in Georgia by Quad/ Graphics. Acceptance of advertising by GEORGIA Magazine does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Georgia’s electric membership corporations of the product or services advertised. GEORGIA Magazine’s LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN, OR OMISSIONS OF, ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO THE ADVERTISER’S BUSINESS, SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS OMITTED OR IN WHICH THE ERROR OCCURRED. s Memorial Day approaches, I recall a college professor of mine who invited two guests to address our history class. The first speaker was a veteran of the D-Day invasion who lost his right arm in the assault, and the second, a retired broadcaster from New Orleans. Their exchange, as they recalled details of that historic day, left a lasting impression on me. The broadcaster told us he was working the graveyard shift at the radio station in the early hours of June 6, 1944, when the network interrupted the music of Leo Diamond’s band with a “news flash.” (That’s what “breaking news” was called in those days.) It was the first confirmation that the Allied invasion had begun. I was surprised to learn that the first news of the invasion came from a German news source known as Transocean. Hours later, American news agencies confirmed the invasion. The veteran was next and spoke slowly. As the first “news flash” was being announced in America, he and his buddies were crowded in their LCA (“Landing Craft, Assault”), heading for the beaches along the French coast. He could remember only a few words of Gen. Eisenhower’s speech to the troops that morning: “You are about to embark on the great crusade,” the general said. The veteran said he didn’t think he was on a great crusade at all. He was just focused on staying alive. Someone in the class interrupted with what most of us thought was an impertinent question: “So, how did you lose your arm?” More online at www.georgiamagazine.org The veteran paused a long moment, then told us how his LCA hit one of the underwater mines the Germans had planted in the surf. I could tell he did not like reliving this event—but he continued. The mine blew a hole in the side of the LCA, threw him to the back of his landing craft, and left his right arm shredded. He remained conscious long enough to realize he had to get rid of the nearly 60 pounds of gear he carried or he would drown. After he shed the gear, he remembered only looking toward the beach and seeing it lit up with flares and exploding bombs. He did not recall being picked out of the water by one of the British boats that hung around after the landing to pick up soldiers—dead or alive—who might not have made it to the beach. He remembered only looking toward the beach and seeing it lit up with flares and exploding bombs. I think of that history class every Memorial Day. And I think of all the men and women over the years who have placed their lives “in harm’s way”—from Concord to Inchon, from Ia Drang to Tora Bora and Fallujah— in order that you and I might enjoy the blessings of liberty. Memorial Day ought to be a day of true remembrance and honor, with less emphasis on the holiday aspect. The shopping mall and the burgers can wait while you and I take a moment to renew our commitment to strengthening the nation bequeathed in trust to us. 5 May 2011 http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiaemc.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2011

Georgia Magazine - May 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Special Energy Report
Dolphin Tales
Agrability in Georgia
Creature Comforts
Georgia@home
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - May 2011