ShipPet Pet Sitting

Since I blogged last here at ShipPet, I learned of the passing of two of Shippensburg unique and active community leaders.

Dr. George Rae passed away on October 30th.  Dr. Rae was one of those community leaders that helped found the Shippensburg Corn Festival, was very active in political party activities, and involved in many other civic activities like the Lions Club, Vigilant Hose, and the Shippensburg Historical Society.  George was one of the first people I met when I got married and moved to Shippensburg.  At the time, I was working for former State Rep. Jeffrey Coy and Dr. Rae was intimately involved in Shippesnburg politics, but not at the local elected level.  Wasn’t his style.  He was a long time committeeman that worked the party and his area hard, harder than many.  He truly believed in the democratic process.  He was a warm, welcoming soul and introduced me to the political scene in Shippensburg and helped get me elected twice, once to the Borough Council and once to the School Board.  I swear, I don’t think I ever saw Dr. Rae without a smile on his face.  He was a close friend to another man I admired and had profound respect for and has since passed away, Robert “Bob” Sullivan.

Galen ‘Tubb’ Smith passed away on October 27th.  Tubb was one of the co-founders of West End Fire and Rescue, involved in several other local emergency activities.  He was a dedicated, humble servant to fire and rescue in Shippensburg .   Tubb was also actively involved in the community and local political processes serving as party committeeman for several years.  I knew Tubb pretty well from the days I spent with former Rep. Coy.  His jokes never got old.  His humor was infectuous.  You could always count on Tubb, even on a bad day, to make you at least smirk a grin.   He is a man I will not forget.

Thinking about these two gentleman, makes me sit back and think about the generation that is quickly passing.  It was the great generation, a generation that fought World War II then came home and built the American Superpower.  All three of my Grandfathers were part of the terrific generation ( My Mom’s biological father, Maurice J. Ott was killed in action in WW II, 1944).  They contributed as much as anyone, providing the same hard work ethic and family driven attitudes that made  America great.

I look at my generation and the younger generations and hope and pray we can be at least 3/4 what the WWII generation was for our Nation.  Their passing quickly and these two gentleman were part of that great generation.  To them I say, thank you and God speed!  To those still alive, I say thank you for everything, you will never be forgotten, nor will your sacrifices.