Clinton Township Newsletter

3 j u n e 2 0 2 5 Happy Father's Day! CarolBeder ' s –Julie Flynn In this month of Father's Day, I feel very fortunate that my father, who just turned 90 this year, is still alive, healthy, and active. If some of the qualities of a good father are respect, provision, discipline, leader- ship, and emotional support, then I have to say that my father has a monopoly on great-fatherhood. In addition... My dad is a very compassionate person. Growing up in Alabama in the 30s, 40s and 50s, Dad was unafraid to speak up for civil rights, at a time when doing so could bring a burning cross to your yard. When I was a kid, he helped provide housing for the homeless. Years later, he traveled to Africa and third-world countries to give medical help to those sorely in need. After etiring, he spent many years in prison ministry, spending his day with convicted rapists and murderers. He told me they were sweet, decent people. I've never heard him say a bad word about any person. My dad has always had a love of adventure. Our family vacations were spent white-water rafting, mountain climbing with bears, snor- keling with sharks, canoeing amongst gators, hiking next to all man- ner of poisonous snakes, and snow-skiing. Many years ago, when I asked my stepmother about the cast on her hand, she replied, "Well, your father and I were zip-lining in New Zealand and..." I cut her off . "You needn't say more – that just about sums it up." Dad was in his seventies at the time. My dad knows how to curse... creatively! You haven't heard curs- ing until you've met an Alabama boy. "Good Night in the Morning!!!" "DagNabbit!!!" "I Sewannee!!!" As a child, all of Dad's favorite, colorful curses left me puzzled. When I hear my New Jersey kids say "DANG- IT!!!," I think of it as a bit of their Southern DNA coming to the surface, and I can't help but smile. My dad is pretty fearless. He's been charged by a bull elephant in Af- rica, but said it was "a fake charge, so it was fine." He and some friends were first responders at one of the East African embassy bombings (in 1998); he said that "I wasn't actually in the building when it happened, so it's okay." He originally wanted to be sent to Vietnam so that, as a doctor, he could be of the most service, but felt that it was "probably for the best" that he was sent to Germany instead. Giving medical aid to both the Serbs and the Croats during their war in the 90s, he said about both sides, "They're such nice people, I can't understand why they're fighting." As I was growing up, my Dad's (and Mom's) constant refrain was: "You're a good kid. I love you. I'm proud of you. You have a good head on your shoulders. I know you'll do me proud." So, thanks Dad, I love you too. Happy Father's Day! DAYS TO KEEP IN MIND Sunday June 1 National Say Something Nice(!) Day Sunday June 1 Shavuot Sunday June 1 National Cancer Survivor's Day Thursday June 5 World Environment Day Friday June 6 Eid al-Adha June 6, 1944: "D-Day" – World War II, the Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy to fight the German troops Sunday June 8 Pentecost June 12, 1967: "Loving Day" – the breakthrough case of Loving V. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively ended all anti- miscegenation laws Saturday June 14 Flag Day June 17, 1775: The Battle of Bunker Hill, Revolutionary War Sunday Sunday June 15 Father's Day! June 19, 1865: "Juneteenth", or "Freedom Day", the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in Confederate states Friday June 20 Summer Solstice June 25, 1876: Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand) June 25, 1950: The Korean War began

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