United States Marine Pilot Memorial Scheduled September 10th 6:00 PM
August, when children realize that summer vacation is over, and teachers mark off one less year till retirement.
I want to start with an important update. In my May issue I wrote about a United States Marine pilot who lost his life in a crash just north of Dry River Rd. I now have more on that tragedy. On September 10th, 2025, at 6:00 PM the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors will honor this fallen pilot during their regular meeting and at this time plans are being made for his daughter who lives in Wisconsin and her family to attend. While she is in town arrangements are being made for her to visit the actual site where her dad’s fatal crash happened. She will be able to see the memorial that was erected in his memory. This being an open Board of Supervisors meeting anyone that wants to attend can if you want to be a part of this memorial. The meeting is at 20 E Gay St (Across from Roses Store) and you enter through the door under the clock tower, remember everyone welcome. I have spoken to individuals that were some of the first to arrive at the crash site, and they have plans to attend for any questions the family may have. I do want to thank the Lord for without his guidance in our search this would not have been possible.
Days later…I need to pause because life is ever changing, and I needed to come back and revise this article. I wrote about individuals that were the first to arrive at the crash site would be there to talk to the family, but sadly as I edit this article, one will not be able to make it. For on this day July 16th, 2025, our family received notification that Donnie Dove after a short illness has passed away. He and his brother Matthew were two of the first at the site. I remember when we first spoke about the crash. His words flowed. I could not keep up and absorb all the information he was sharing. What he saw, the flames and smoke. He was there, an eyewitness. He shared that he had a book with a photo of the other plane that returned to Harrisonburg. He was going to bring that and show me. Sadly, that never happened. I tell you this to help us all realize how important it is to talk to our old people, hear their stories and tell them again. What breaks my heart was he was so looking forward to, and excited about meeting the family of the pilot. That is why I write the Fulks Run Follies. To tell these stories before it is too late.
In memory of Veteran Donnie Elwood Dove Sr. December 27th, 1936- July 16th, 2025.
I have been sharing advertisement jingles with my readers, and last month was “Sometimes you feel like” finish it.. “a nut sometimes you don’t.” Yes, Peter Paul Candy company first aired this ad on TV in 1977, but it was composed in1970. The company wanted to call attention to the difference in their two candy bars, the Almond Joy and Mounds. The jingle was so successful that in 2003 it was inducted into the Advertising Slogan Hall of Fame for the success it brought to the Company. Now ready for the next one? It is…”Uh-oh!……” That’s it and it’s a hard one. If you think you have it you can always e-mail me at fulksrunfollies@gmail.com, good luck.
I want to lighten the mood with some stories about children and their first days at school. When we owned Mac’s Superette there would be company representatives of major food brands that would call on us with the specials they were running on their products. Of course, my daddy would sit down and talk to these Rep’s, and it was on one occasion that one shared this story. In his early years he was a teacher in coal mining country in West Virginia. Pretty rough country and on the first day of school as the children filed into the classroom, he noticed a larger young man that came in and went to the back of the room and set in the corner. The teacher seemed to think that this was not his first year in fifth grade. As the morning progressed the young man seemed that he was not at all interested in what the lesson was about, but he let it slip by, but what happen next, he could not tolerate. The young man sits picking his nose and then took whatever it was he retrieved and wiped it on the wall. The teacher immediately left his desk and approached the youth. As he pointed to the object on the wall, he gruffly asked the young man, “What is that? ( I have edited this)” The youth looked at the teacher and replied, “That’s a h*ll of a note, a schoolteacher and don’t know what a booger is”. He said Matthew I knew right away teaching was not for me. I did hear that someone said he thought the fifth grade was the hardest, especially the first three years!!
Next this story comes from an area a lot closer. Matter of fact Criders, Va. It was told to me by the bus driver that during that time ran that route. The first day of school and on the return trip home the driver was making their stops with the normal farewell of “I’ll see you in the morning”. It was at one stop when a little fellow walked up the aisle and carefully stepped down from the bus. The same thing, “I see you in the morning,” was said by the driver, but at that time everything changed. It was at that time the boy froze in his tracks and with a shuffling motion turned 180 degrees to face the driver. To quote the young man he said,” You don’t need to stop for me in the morning, I don’t like this sh*t.” The driver really didn’t have any questions, pretty much summed it up.
Remember Berton Fair, August 5th-9th see you there
August 22nd 5:00 PM Sportsman Banquet Mt Grove Church See Ad this issue
Until next time
Believe or not
Ronnie
