February 2021 Newsletter
Van Tellfaster’s Corner
The Newsletter
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Winter 2021 / Issue #2 / http://www.vantellfaster.wordpress.com
February 28, 2021
This month was indeed a challenging month for many Americans. We saw Covid-19 deaths in our nation reach a milestone of 500,000 deaths. Astonishingly enough, I heard that we lost more people to Covid-19 in one year, than the total number of deaths in WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War. A half a million people dead from the horrible killer virus seems unreal. If that wasn’t bad enough, Texans experienced a deep freeze that almost caused their main power grid to crash. Citizens all over the Lone Star state were negatively impacted by the harsh weather, causing several deaths, and enormous property damage due to pipes bursting and massive flooding in homes. In addition, many Texans were forced to boil their water before drinking it. Moreover, others had to break up their furniture and burn it just to stay warm in their homes. This was no less than a disaster for Texans, many of whom are still reeling from the traumatic experience.
On the bright side, however, I understand that power is slowly being restored across the state, and due to massive relief efforts people are getting food assistance and plenty of drinking water. Although Texans are not out of the woods yet, they are beginning the painful task of cleaning up their homes. Speaking of Texas, I highlighted a new birth in the family (see below). Other reassuring news include the kick off of this year’s Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021, which I discuss below. Although we hit the milestone of 500,000 American deaths due to Covid-19, hospitalizations are dropping, and hundreds of thousands of citizens are now receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations. This is not perfect news, but it’s good news!
Finally, if you make it to the end of this newsletter, I remind my readers that I’ve written a thriller, The Private Investigator, that I hope you’ve already purchased, and/or have alerted your friends they can buy the novel at Amazon’s Books site. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6BBXXD
Current Hot Topic!!
Family
My nephew Lawrence, and his wife Salina Nadine, had a wonderful addition to their family, and introduced a new Texas citizen into the world on December 29, 2021. They welcomed baby Lauren Sun Whitman into their family, weighing in at 3 pounds when she showed up, and I understand she’s a real bundle of joy. I’m told that baby Lauren is eating well, and is a very happy baby. I'd like to extend hearty congratulations to Lawrence and Salina Nadine on bringing in a healthy and precious baby girl into this world!
As for my son, Larry, and his wife, Trina, they continue to enjoy the beautiful Colorado scenery, even though they’re getting their share of cold weather and snow. But that’s okay, because our grandchildren, Zach and Claudia, continue to have the time of their lives in the Centennial State. They’re attending school a few days a week, wearing masks, and doing social distancing because of the pandemic. They do distance learning from home using their trusty laptops the remainder of the week.
And when they're not doing research, or class work, or helping their mom in the kitchen, Zach and Claudia like playing outdoors in that endless supply of snow, or riding their bikes in the neighborhood with their mom and dad. Lately, the kids have been brushing up on their gymnastic skills with help from one of the local trainers. They seem to love every minute of the indoor activity. Outside, they’ve been braving the outdoors having fun picnics in nearby parks with their parents, and I can honestly say that there is never a dull moment in my son’s and daughter-in-law’s household. Smile!
Speaking of outdoor adventures, I talked to Larry about some really impressive photos he posted recently and learned that he took some time to venture out into the Colorado wide-open space for hiking. It turns out that he visited the Garden of the Gods, which is comprised of some 1300 acres of sandstone formations. I read up on the park and learned it is a very popular place that hikers often enjoy visiting. I know where I’m going the next time I visit my son and his family.
America’s DNA
When I was in high school, many moons ago, we learned the basics about DNA in our science class. At the time, I didn’t find the subject matter very interesting. In fact, it seemed kind of boring, and only a topic that those interested in becoming doctors or scientists would want to learn more about. I made note of the topic and moved on. Fast forward to 2021, and there’s lots of attention on this obviously important topic that I believe requires the attention of doctors, scientists, and all of us, for that matter. Our DNA is such a hot topic that it was one of the feature stories on a recent 60 Minutes show.
So what are we really talking about? DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. It has been likened to a recipe book, in that it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. In the field of molecular biology and genetics, a genome is all genetic material of an organism, and it consists of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). By the way, you might recall I talked about mRNA-1273 in my January 2021 newsletter as I identified Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett’s work on mRNA. Also you should know that notable human diseases caused by RNA viruses include the common cold, influenza, SARS, MERS, and you guessed it, Covid-19, among many other nasty viruses we want to avoid.
Why is all this background information important? Because it turns out that our DNA seems to be linked to our personal and even our national security. This is no joke! According to the 60 Minutes piece, the Chinese Communist Party is very interested in obtaining America’s DNA. Reportedly, China is trying to collect Americans’ DNA in hopes of controlling the future of health care. This sounds pretty scary.
In fact, the largest biotech firm in the world, the BGI Group, a Chinese company, has reportedly offered to build and run Covid testing labs in America. BGI has apparently offered to do this in at least six states, including Washington State, New York, and California, according to 60 Minutes. China’s action prompted our Intelligence Community to warn the American public that “foreign powers can collect, store and exploit biometric information from Covid tests.” The head of our counterintelligence community believes the Chinese are trying to collect American’s DNA to win a race to control the world’s biodata. If this is true, and I have no reason to disbelieve our Intelligence Community officials, this is quite alarming. The bottom line is that biodata has become a precious commodity and in the wrong hands, poses threats to our national security and our economy. It is unfortunate that China’s military and its Communist Party are using the Covid-19 pandemic to advance China’s ambitions to control the world’s biodata.
Noteworthy News!!
Events
Black History Month
Many of us are aware that this is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. Interestingly enough, Black History Month has received official recognition from governments in the U.S. and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Since the mid-1970s, every American president, Democrat and Republican, has issued proclamations endorsing the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s annual theme. The theme for 2021 is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.”
The Department of Defense also celebrates Black History Month each February throughout America, and across the globe, where we have airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, and coastguard members assigned. I was in the U.S. Air Force in the mid-1970s and remember celebrating Black History Month on installations in the U.S. from Michigan to Texas and later at overseas bases in Asia and Europe. I thought it was interesting that the U.S. Navy, during Black History Month, rolled out its findings from Task Force One Navy. The Task Force issued dozens of recommendations this month after months of evaluating the military branch's diversity and inclusion practices. One official said, "Our Navy must continue to remove barriers to service, and most importantly, be a shining example of a workforce centered on respect, inclusive of all. Simply put, all Sailors -- uniformed and civilian - and applicants for accession to the Navy must be treated with dignity and respect above all else.” This is all very encouraging to learn and indicates our U.S. Navy is on the path of improving the lives of all its sailors. Go Navy!
People
Historic Figure
Abraham Lincoln
This 16th President of the United States was born February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. His name is known by just about all Americans, young and old. We learned about Abraham Lincoln in Elementary School through high school, and those of us, who went on to college, learned even more about the controversial and historical figure we were taught freed the slaves. I’m told that, over the years, there have been literally thousands of books written about the man, and historians are still churning out books about Lincoln. Most notably, however, Lincoln is known for having led the nation through the American Civil War, the country's greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865.
In Memoriam
Cicely Tyson
Shortly before she died, Cicely Tyson spoke of her memoir, entitled, Just as I Am. It included details of her life and memories made with such noted actors as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, and James Earl Jones, to mention a few. The talented actress also shared what it was like to work with leading stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Fonda. Tyson was born, December 19, 1924 in Harlem, New York. She was an actress and fashion model, and her career spanned more than seven decades. She was known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. The well-known actress passed away on January 28, 2021 at 96. Rest in peace, Cicely Tyson.
Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer, born December 13, 1929, Toronto, Canada, was a veteran actor who many of us had the pleasure of seeing on the big screen, on TV, and maybe even on stage. At the age of 82 Plummer was still going strong in his profession, adding an Oscar win for “Beginners” to the many trophies he’d won in the past. It’s said that Plummer, whose acting career spanned seven decades, will always be remembered for his role in “The Sound of Music,” where he played the part of the Von Trapp patriarch. Much to my surprise, Plummer said he hated the part. I remember when I was a musician in high school, we often played pieces from “The Sound of Music” at various concerts, so I grew to enjoy the score. Although Mr. Plummer appeared in so many big-screen movies, my favorites are the 2017 movie entitled “All the Money in the World,” and “Knives Out,” which was released in 2019. The famous actor died on February 5, 2021 at 91. Rest in peace, Christopher Plummer.
Mary Wilson
I was a teenager when the Supremes became famous. Mary Wilson gained worldwide recognition as a founding member of The Supremes, the most successful Motown act of the 1960s and the best-charting female group in U.S. chart history, as well as one of the best-selling girl groups of all-time. I loved listening to their music and still have some of the old 45 records somewhere in my basement with their original songs. I also remember watching the famous group, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard on the Ed Sullivan show, black-and-white TV, many years ago. My favorite Supremes songs include "Where Did Our Love Go," "Stop! In the Name of Love," and “You Can't Hurry Love.” Ms. Wilson was born March 6,
1944, in Greenville, MS, and died in Las Vegas, on February 8, 2021. Rest in peace, Mary Wilson.
Greetings from Van’s Corner
Special Interest Item
Ash Wednesday
This year’s Ash Wednesday occurred on Wednesday 17, 2021. As many of you know, Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, the night before Easter Sunday. I can say with confidence, that a number of my fellow Fort Belvoir Catholic Community members celebrated this Ash Wednesday in a way we’ve never experienced in the past. I don’t need to tell you that the pandemic has negatively impacted our active-duty military members, and our retired military community as it has caused havoc across America and throughout the world. In fact, once it was officially determined we were in the midsts of the pandemic, the Department of Defense moved to protect our military against the horrible virus. The Fort Belvoir Post Commander ordered that a total of 50 people only were allowed to attend religious services in all Belvoir chapels at one time. Of course, this forced the majority of military members and veterans, of which there are thousands in the Belvoir surrounding area, to attend virtual religious services offered by the Army. As for this Ash Wednesday, there were three different services offered, again only allowing up to 50 people at a time in the chapel. However, in order to reach as many people as possible, in addition to the three indoor services offered, ashes were sprinkled over the heads of Catholics, while we observed social distancing, and wore our masks, on the front steps of Fort Belvoir’s Main Chapel. It was an unusual experience, but a refreshing one that allowed many of us to very briefly interact with the priest and others in the community.
VT’s Special Note
Frank E. Petersen Jr.
In a recent discussion with my brother, he asked me if I was familiar with a military officer named Frank E. Petersen. He informed me that Petersen was an African-American Marine Corps officer, and encouraged me to read about the man. After reading about the former Marine, there was no doubt in my mind that Petersen was a military trail blazer. Born on March 2, 1932, Topeka, Kansas, Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr., was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general. Petersen, who served in the Korean War, and in the Vietnam War, retired from the Marine Corps in 1988 after 38 years of service. In 2012 his book, entitled, Into the Tiger’s Jaw: America’s First Black Marine Aviator, described Petersen’s personal and career trajectory from young teenager to seasoned Marine Corps officer. I’ve since put his book on my reading list. Retired Lieutenant General Petersen died on August 25, 2015, in Stevensville, Maryland. Semper Fi!
Buy My Book!
If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of my book, The Private Investigator, here is a synopsis of my thriller: A.J. Williams, a former military police investigator, is now a skilled private investigator employed by one of the nation’s well known international investigative firms. He never pursued a college education after leaving the U.S. Army, but he’s smart, and is a self-starter with a good instinct for ferreting out the facts and solving complicated cases.
After Hutchison and Satterfield International Investigations relocates to Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia––following the murder of the firm’s senior partner––Jerry Satterfield reluctantly has to run the firm. A.J. and his new boss are often at odds over just about everything. But Satterfield understands that A.J. is his top investigator, and doesn’t want to lose him. He assigns A.J. to investigate a new case which requires the PI to visit two Asian countries as he pursues a North Korean spy, who recruited an American government employee to commit espionage.
New Book Trailer
**My book trailer is now on YouTube and can be found at the following YouTube site: https://youtu.be/dT_ec8bQdt0. I encourage everyone to check it out.
My author page:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6BBXXD.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/113005...
https://itunes.appleVan Tellfaster.com/us/book/id1448122285
Another place to look is on the BookBub Official site at www.https://partners.bookbub.com. You can sign in with your email address, then search for my novel.
Please also follow me on my Goodreads Profile Page at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show....
If all else fails, you can Google Van Tellfaster and view my Website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Until next time,
Van Tellfaster
References
1 Wikipedia article entitle, RNA Virus, last edited 7 February 2021; CBS News, U.S. officials tell “60 Minutes” that China is trying to collect Americans’ DNA, article dated February 1, 2021; www.klfy.com>national>u-s-intel... www.yourgenome.org>facts>what-i...
2 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Black-History-Month, Wikipedia article entitled Black History Month; asalh.org>about-us>origins-of-black-history-month
3 military benefits.info>black-history-month, article entitled, Black History Month/Military Benefits; Navy has fallen short in addressing lack of diversity, task force says, article by Nicole Chavez, Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman, CNN, dated February 3, 2021; www.navy.mil>display-pressreleases......
4 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Abraham-Lincoln, article entitled Abraham Lincoln
5 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Cicely-Tyson, article entitled Cicely Tyson
6 The Washington Post, Obituaries, article entitled “Stage, the star projected charm with a hint of menace: dated February 6, 2021
7 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Mary-Wilson-(singer), Wikipedia article entitled Mary Wilson (singer)
8 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Lent, Wikipedia article entitled Lent
9 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Frank-E-Petersen, article entitled Frank E. Petersen
Photos were taken from the Internet, and my family’s personal photo album.
Newsletter Overview photo: istockphoto.com; Creator: klenger/Credit: Getty Images/Stockphoto
Photo #1: China’s efforts to collect Americans’ DNA
Watch 60 Minutes, cbs.com
Photo #2: Officials, China Collecting our DNA
cbs.com
Photo #3: In this Jan. 20, 2021, file photo, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks during the daily press briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. China is trying to spread doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus as a World Health Organization-selected team of scientists are in the city where the pandemic first broke out. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng, File)
Chinese biotech firm offered to build …
foxiness.com
Photo #1: Black History Month, DoDEA
Creator: Burke, Christian M. Mr. Civ OSD/DoDEA
Photo #2: From Navy Task Force One Report
200623-N-OW019-0098 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 23, 2020) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) steams in formation with the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during dual carrier operations with the Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt Carrier
Strike Groups (CSG). Dual carrier operations unify the tactical power of two individual CSGs, providing fleet commanders with an unmatched, unified c redible combat force capable of operating indefinitely. The CSGs are on scheduled deployments to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Logan C. Kellums/Released)
Photo: Abraham Lincoln, Wikipedia article
Photo of Tyson: The Oprah Magazine, dated Feb 8, 2019, photo taken by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Photo: Christomer Plummer - Simple … article entitled Christopher Plummer, updated on Feb 9, 2021
Photo: From the Guardian, article entitled,The Supremes in 1961. Mary Wilson, centre, with Diana Ross, left, and Florence Ballard. Photograph: Fremantle Media/Rex/Shutterstock
Photo: Ash Wednesday: Why Christians wear ashes, fast, and give things up
Father Rick aNgel shows the ashes used during Ash Wednesday service at Saint John Catholic Church, Wednesday, Feb 10,2016. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar
Photo: from Wikipedia article on Petersen
The Newsletter
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Winter 2021 / Issue #2 / http://www.vantellfaster.wordpress.com
February 28, 2021
This month was indeed a challenging month for many Americans. We saw Covid-19 deaths in our nation reach a milestone of 500,000 deaths. Astonishingly enough, I heard that we lost more people to Covid-19 in one year, than the total number of deaths in WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War. A half a million people dead from the horrible killer virus seems unreal. If that wasn’t bad enough, Texans experienced a deep freeze that almost caused their main power grid to crash. Citizens all over the Lone Star state were negatively impacted by the harsh weather, causing several deaths, and enormous property damage due to pipes bursting and massive flooding in homes. In addition, many Texans were forced to boil their water before drinking it. Moreover, others had to break up their furniture and burn it just to stay warm in their homes. This was no less than a disaster for Texans, many of whom are still reeling from the traumatic experience.
On the bright side, however, I understand that power is slowly being restored across the state, and due to massive relief efforts people are getting food assistance and plenty of drinking water. Although Texans are not out of the woods yet, they are beginning the painful task of cleaning up their homes. Speaking of Texas, I highlighted a new birth in the family (see below). Other reassuring news include the kick off of this year’s Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021, which I discuss below. Although we hit the milestone of 500,000 American deaths due to Covid-19, hospitalizations are dropping, and hundreds of thousands of citizens are now receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations. This is not perfect news, but it’s good news!
Finally, if you make it to the end of this newsletter, I remind my readers that I’ve written a thriller, The Private Investigator, that I hope you’ve already purchased, and/or have alerted your friends they can buy the novel at Amazon’s Books site. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6BBXXD
Current Hot Topic!!
Family
My nephew Lawrence, and his wife Salina Nadine, had a wonderful addition to their family, and introduced a new Texas citizen into the world on December 29, 2021. They welcomed baby Lauren Sun Whitman into their family, weighing in at 3 pounds when she showed up, and I understand she’s a real bundle of joy. I’m told that baby Lauren is eating well, and is a very happy baby. I'd like to extend hearty congratulations to Lawrence and Salina Nadine on bringing in a healthy and precious baby girl into this world!
As for my son, Larry, and his wife, Trina, they continue to enjoy the beautiful Colorado scenery, even though they’re getting their share of cold weather and snow. But that’s okay, because our grandchildren, Zach and Claudia, continue to have the time of their lives in the Centennial State. They’re attending school a few days a week, wearing masks, and doing social distancing because of the pandemic. They do distance learning from home using their trusty laptops the remainder of the week.
And when they're not doing research, or class work, or helping their mom in the kitchen, Zach and Claudia like playing outdoors in that endless supply of snow, or riding their bikes in the neighborhood with their mom and dad. Lately, the kids have been brushing up on their gymnastic skills with help from one of the local trainers. They seem to love every minute of the indoor activity. Outside, they’ve been braving the outdoors having fun picnics in nearby parks with their parents, and I can honestly say that there is never a dull moment in my son’s and daughter-in-law’s household. Smile!
Speaking of outdoor adventures, I talked to Larry about some really impressive photos he posted recently and learned that he took some time to venture out into the Colorado wide-open space for hiking. It turns out that he visited the Garden of the Gods, which is comprised of some 1300 acres of sandstone formations. I read up on the park and learned it is a very popular place that hikers often enjoy visiting. I know where I’m going the next time I visit my son and his family.
America’s DNA
When I was in high school, many moons ago, we learned the basics about DNA in our science class. At the time, I didn’t find the subject matter very interesting. In fact, it seemed kind of boring, and only a topic that those interested in becoming doctors or scientists would want to learn more about. I made note of the topic and moved on. Fast forward to 2021, and there’s lots of attention on this obviously important topic that I believe requires the attention of doctors, scientists, and all of us, for that matter. Our DNA is such a hot topic that it was one of the feature stories on a recent 60 Minutes show.
So what are we really talking about? DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. It has been likened to a recipe book, in that it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. In the field of molecular biology and genetics, a genome is all genetic material of an organism, and it consists of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). By the way, you might recall I talked about mRNA-1273 in my January 2021 newsletter as I identified Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett’s work on mRNA. Also you should know that notable human diseases caused by RNA viruses include the common cold, influenza, SARS, MERS, and you guessed it, Covid-19, among many other nasty viruses we want to avoid.
Why is all this background information important? Because it turns out that our DNA seems to be linked to our personal and even our national security. This is no joke! According to the 60 Minutes piece, the Chinese Communist Party is very interested in obtaining America’s DNA. Reportedly, China is trying to collect Americans’ DNA in hopes of controlling the future of health care. This sounds pretty scary.
In fact, the largest biotech firm in the world, the BGI Group, a Chinese company, has reportedly offered to build and run Covid testing labs in America. BGI has apparently offered to do this in at least six states, including Washington State, New York, and California, according to 60 Minutes. China’s action prompted our Intelligence Community to warn the American public that “foreign powers can collect, store and exploit biometric information from Covid tests.” The head of our counterintelligence community believes the Chinese are trying to collect American’s DNA to win a race to control the world’s biodata. If this is true, and I have no reason to disbelieve our Intelligence Community officials, this is quite alarming. The bottom line is that biodata has become a precious commodity and in the wrong hands, poses threats to our national security and our economy. It is unfortunate that China’s military and its Communist Party are using the Covid-19 pandemic to advance China’s ambitions to control the world’s biodata.
Noteworthy News!!
Events
Black History Month
Many of us are aware that this is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. Interestingly enough, Black History Month has received official recognition from governments in the U.S. and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Since the mid-1970s, every American president, Democrat and Republican, has issued proclamations endorsing the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s annual theme. The theme for 2021 is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.”
The Department of Defense also celebrates Black History Month each February throughout America, and across the globe, where we have airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, and coastguard members assigned. I was in the U.S. Air Force in the mid-1970s and remember celebrating Black History Month on installations in the U.S. from Michigan to Texas and later at overseas bases in Asia and Europe. I thought it was interesting that the U.S. Navy, during Black History Month, rolled out its findings from Task Force One Navy. The Task Force issued dozens of recommendations this month after months of evaluating the military branch's diversity and inclusion practices. One official said, "Our Navy must continue to remove barriers to service, and most importantly, be a shining example of a workforce centered on respect, inclusive of all. Simply put, all Sailors -- uniformed and civilian - and applicants for accession to the Navy must be treated with dignity and respect above all else.” This is all very encouraging to learn and indicates our U.S. Navy is on the path of improving the lives of all its sailors. Go Navy!
People
Historic Figure
Abraham Lincoln
This 16th President of the United States was born February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. His name is known by just about all Americans, young and old. We learned about Abraham Lincoln in Elementary School through high school, and those of us, who went on to college, learned even more about the controversial and historical figure we were taught freed the slaves. I’m told that, over the years, there have been literally thousands of books written about the man, and historians are still churning out books about Lincoln. Most notably, however, Lincoln is known for having led the nation through the American Civil War, the country's greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865.
In Memoriam
Cicely Tyson
Shortly before she died, Cicely Tyson spoke of her memoir, entitled, Just as I Am. It included details of her life and memories made with such noted actors as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, and James Earl Jones, to mention a few. The talented actress also shared what it was like to work with leading stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Fonda. Tyson was born, December 19, 1924 in Harlem, New York. She was an actress and fashion model, and her career spanned more than seven decades. She was known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. The well-known actress passed away on January 28, 2021 at 96. Rest in peace, Cicely Tyson.
Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer, born December 13, 1929, Toronto, Canada, was a veteran actor who many of us had the pleasure of seeing on the big screen, on TV, and maybe even on stage. At the age of 82 Plummer was still going strong in his profession, adding an Oscar win for “Beginners” to the many trophies he’d won in the past. It’s said that Plummer, whose acting career spanned seven decades, will always be remembered for his role in “The Sound of Music,” where he played the part of the Von Trapp patriarch. Much to my surprise, Plummer said he hated the part. I remember when I was a musician in high school, we often played pieces from “The Sound of Music” at various concerts, so I grew to enjoy the score. Although Mr. Plummer appeared in so many big-screen movies, my favorites are the 2017 movie entitled “All the Money in the World,” and “Knives Out,” which was released in 2019. The famous actor died on February 5, 2021 at 91. Rest in peace, Christopher Plummer.
Mary Wilson
I was a teenager when the Supremes became famous. Mary Wilson gained worldwide recognition as a founding member of The Supremes, the most successful Motown act of the 1960s and the best-charting female group in U.S. chart history, as well as one of the best-selling girl groups of all-time. I loved listening to their music and still have some of the old 45 records somewhere in my basement with their original songs. I also remember watching the famous group, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard on the Ed Sullivan show, black-and-white TV, many years ago. My favorite Supremes songs include "Where Did Our Love Go," "Stop! In the Name of Love," and “You Can't Hurry Love.” Ms. Wilson was born March 6,
1944, in Greenville, MS, and died in Las Vegas, on February 8, 2021. Rest in peace, Mary Wilson.
Greetings from Van’s Corner
Special Interest Item
Ash Wednesday
This year’s Ash Wednesday occurred on Wednesday 17, 2021. As many of you know, Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later, the night before Easter Sunday. I can say with confidence, that a number of my fellow Fort Belvoir Catholic Community members celebrated this Ash Wednesday in a way we’ve never experienced in the past. I don’t need to tell you that the pandemic has negatively impacted our active-duty military members, and our retired military community as it has caused havoc across America and throughout the world. In fact, once it was officially determined we were in the midsts of the pandemic, the Department of Defense moved to protect our military against the horrible virus. The Fort Belvoir Post Commander ordered that a total of 50 people only were allowed to attend religious services in all Belvoir chapels at one time. Of course, this forced the majority of military members and veterans, of which there are thousands in the Belvoir surrounding area, to attend virtual religious services offered by the Army. As for this Ash Wednesday, there were three different services offered, again only allowing up to 50 people at a time in the chapel. However, in order to reach as many people as possible, in addition to the three indoor services offered, ashes were sprinkled over the heads of Catholics, while we observed social distancing, and wore our masks, on the front steps of Fort Belvoir’s Main Chapel. It was an unusual experience, but a refreshing one that allowed many of us to very briefly interact with the priest and others in the community.
VT’s Special Note
Frank E. Petersen Jr.
In a recent discussion with my brother, he asked me if I was familiar with a military officer named Frank E. Petersen. He informed me that Petersen was an African-American Marine Corps officer, and encouraged me to read about the man. After reading about the former Marine, there was no doubt in my mind that Petersen was a military trail blazer. Born on March 2, 1932, Topeka, Kansas, Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr., was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general. Petersen, who served in the Korean War, and in the Vietnam War, retired from the Marine Corps in 1988 after 38 years of service. In 2012 his book, entitled, Into the Tiger’s Jaw: America’s First Black Marine Aviator, described Petersen’s personal and career trajectory from young teenager to seasoned Marine Corps officer. I’ve since put his book on my reading list. Retired Lieutenant General Petersen died on August 25, 2015, in Stevensville, Maryland. Semper Fi!
Buy My Book!
If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of my book, The Private Investigator, here is a synopsis of my thriller: A.J. Williams, a former military police investigator, is now a skilled private investigator employed by one of the nation’s well known international investigative firms. He never pursued a college education after leaving the U.S. Army, but he’s smart, and is a self-starter with a good instinct for ferreting out the facts and solving complicated cases.
After Hutchison and Satterfield International Investigations relocates to Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia––following the murder of the firm’s senior partner––Jerry Satterfield reluctantly has to run the firm. A.J. and his new boss are often at odds over just about everything. But Satterfield understands that A.J. is his top investigator, and doesn’t want to lose him. He assigns A.J. to investigate a new case which requires the PI to visit two Asian countries as he pursues a North Korean spy, who recruited an American government employee to commit espionage.
New Book Trailer
**My book trailer is now on YouTube and can be found at the following YouTube site: https://youtu.be/dT_ec8bQdt0. I encourage everyone to check it out.
My author page:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6BBXXD.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/113005...
https://itunes.appleVan Tellfaster.com/us/book/id1448122285
Another place to look is on the BookBub Official site at www.https://partners.bookbub.com. You can sign in with your email address, then search for my novel.
Please also follow me on my Goodreads Profile Page at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show....
If all else fails, you can Google Van Tellfaster and view my Website. I look forward to hearing from you!
Until next time,
Van Tellfaster
References
1 Wikipedia article entitle, RNA Virus, last edited 7 February 2021; CBS News, U.S. officials tell “60 Minutes” that China is trying to collect Americans’ DNA, article dated February 1, 2021; www.klfy.com>national>u-s-intel... www.yourgenome.org>facts>what-i...
2 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Black-History-Month, Wikipedia article entitled Black History Month; asalh.org>about-us>origins-of-black-history-month
3 military benefits.info>black-history-month, article entitled, Black History Month/Military Benefits; Navy has fallen short in addressing lack of diversity, task force says, article by Nicole Chavez, Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman, CNN, dated February 3, 2021; www.navy.mil>display-pressreleases......
4 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Abraham-Lincoln, article entitled Abraham Lincoln
5 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Cicely-Tyson, article entitled Cicely Tyson
6 The Washington Post, Obituaries, article entitled “Stage, the star projected charm with a hint of menace: dated February 6, 2021
7 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Mary-Wilson-(singer), Wikipedia article entitled Mary Wilson (singer)
8 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Lent, Wikipedia article entitled Lent
9 en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Frank-E-Petersen, article entitled Frank E. Petersen
Photos were taken from the Internet, and my family’s personal photo album.
Newsletter Overview photo: istockphoto.com; Creator: klenger/Credit: Getty Images/Stockphoto
Photo #1: China’s efforts to collect Americans’ DNA
Watch 60 Minutes, cbs.com
Photo #2: Officials, China Collecting our DNA
cbs.com
Photo #3: In this Jan. 20, 2021, file photo, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks during the daily press briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. China is trying to spread doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus as a World Health Organization-selected team of scientists are in the city where the pandemic first broke out. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng, File)
Chinese biotech firm offered to build …
foxiness.com
Photo #1: Black History Month, DoDEA
Creator: Burke, Christian M. Mr. Civ OSD/DoDEA
Photo #2: From Navy Task Force One Report
200623-N-OW019-0098 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 23, 2020) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) steams in formation with the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during dual carrier operations with the Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt Carrier
Strike Groups (CSG). Dual carrier operations unify the tactical power of two individual CSGs, providing fleet commanders with an unmatched, unified c redible combat force capable of operating indefinitely. The CSGs are on scheduled deployments to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Logan C. Kellums/Released)
Photo: Abraham Lincoln, Wikipedia article
Photo of Tyson: The Oprah Magazine, dated Feb 8, 2019, photo taken by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Photo: Christomer Plummer - Simple … article entitled Christopher Plummer, updated on Feb 9, 2021
Photo: From the Guardian, article entitled,The Supremes in 1961. Mary Wilson, centre, with Diana Ross, left, and Florence Ballard. Photograph: Fremantle Media/Rex/Shutterstock
Photo: Ash Wednesday: Why Christians wear ashes, fast, and give things up
Father Rick aNgel shows the ashes used during Ash Wednesday service at Saint John Catholic Church, Wednesday, Feb 10,2016. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar
Photo: from Wikipedia article on Petersen
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