Greetings loyal airmen and a belated Happy 4th of July to all of you.  What with America celebrating a birthday this week, we, as a nation have been celebrating with traditional parades, games and food.  From flag waving to baseball games and Mom's apple pie, all the things we cherish that make us the greatest free nation in the world.  And as luck with have it, the Fortier family did its share of celebrating as well.  All of which got me to thinking about wood.  Look at trees, watch them grow and then, if you can, pay attention to those things we manufacture from wood. Things like baseball bats.

Aross the state line in the town of Sanford, Maine, is a small ballpark.  It was built to host a collegiate baseball team and they are called the Sanford Mainers.  Every summer, the good people of Sanford fill those seats almost every night to support and cheer on their team.  It is such a great atmosphere to bring the family, to eat all those things you aren't suppose to eat, like hot dogs, sausage subs, hamburgers, french fries, popcorn, ice cream and soda.  But who cares?  To sit there and watch all those talented young men race out onto the diamond and as the lights go on, evening falls and the umpire cries, “Play ball!”  Then there's that first, fastball pitch towards the plate and your breath catches for second.  Will the batter be quick enough to catch a piece of it, his bat swinging around hard and then there's the sound of contact…CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!  The ball soar's off the wood and heads for the moon like a rocket from Cape Kennedy.  The crowd roars!!   That's where we were last night, with friend and family, enjoying a real American pastime.  And listening to the sounds of wood.

Then, this morning, we rose up early, grabbed a quick breakfast, jumped into the car and headed for the nearby seaport town of Portsmouth, NH.  We live 18 miles from that history rich community, but just don't visit it as often as we would like to.  The truth is, once there, you simply cannot walk down any brick covered alley without feeling the ghosts of those early settlers all around you.  Portsmouth, in its time hosted such found fathers as George Washington and many others.  It was a booming port and contributed greatly to the healthy commerce of the times, after America became a new country.  Thus it was only fitting that this morning, to the waving crowds of hunders along the shores, that several wood masted “tall” ships should pay a visit.  The harbor fire boat led the magnificient procession as people waved and took pictures from the both shores.  The elation in the crowds was keen and no one gave any thought to the sticky, humid warm weather once those graceful ships glided past.

Fittingly an artillery squad, dressed in authentic colonial military garb were on hand to fire off shot after shot in welcome to these beautifuly queens of the sea.   The little children in attendance seemed to appreciate that cannon as much as the ships.

And even though it was impossible for me to hear, what with the cannon, the boat whistles, the crowds cheering, I could easily look at these vessels and imagine the sounds of planks creaking underfoot.  The soft, gentle groans of  those heavy masts as the tradewinds buffeted the white sails and pushed her across the waves.  The sounds of wood, alive on the water, reaching back into the pages of history.  See what I mean, somehow our history, hewn from the great forests, has forever entwined our past with the sounds of wood.  It makes for pretty amazing music.

We live in a land of riches beyond our imaginings. Riches in our pastimes, our history and all the simple things we relish every day.  Happy Birthday America.  Here's hoping you have a million more.
Ron – Over & out.