I made a quick trip out to North Lima Presbyterian Church last Thursday to partake in their annual beef dinner. As mentioned in last year's posting on the event, I was once a member of that church when I used to live out in that rural community. Of course I always see someone I know. This year I had to make the trip solo. But as with last year, after a quick chat with a couple of old acquaintances, I was seated immediately.
The dinner, is consummate family style. You find a seat in the basement hall and somebody will bring your plate of eats to you in short order. Like a lot of church dinners, the kids are recruited to help. In this year's case, a local Boy Scott troupe. When I was a youngster, I used to help with the fish frys back in the day.
There was a couple of good slices of thick and tender beef; a generous side of homemade mashed potatoes (real ones); a tasty side of corn; and a dandy dinner roll. The gravy comes in a coffee carafe...don't get confused I am thinking. There was a rich, pink cake with whipped frosting for dessert. Milk and coffee was the beverage choices.
It was a good time and a good meal. North Lima Presbyterian Church is still cool with Cool Dadio. Try to make it out there next year. Like last year, cars were parked out on the road due to there being so many followers of the event. The whole experience set me back nine Bucks.
For the record, this particular post is in regards to the meal that was held on Thursday, April 28, 2011. Find North Lima Presbyterian Church at Fire Number 9233 North Lima Center Road in....Lima Township. Call (262) 473 - 5236 for more information on next year's Beef Dinner.
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan)
Army Private Steven Thomas Drees, 19, of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, died on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl, Germany. Drees died of wounds he sustained in Konar Province, Afghanistan, in the mountainous Khyber Pass which links the country with Pakistan. Insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket-propelled-grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson, Colorado.
The Gazette of Colorado Springs notes that the combat Drees was wounded in took place on the Wednesday before his death. Drees had joined the Army in mid 2008. His unit had deployed in to Afghanistan in late May of 2009. Private Drees became the first Fort Carson casualty in the fighting in Afghanistan however his unit had sustained heavy casualties while in Iraq losing 113 soldiers.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Steven had recently turned 19. He had joined the Army right after graduating from Peshtigo High School. Peshtigo is a small town of about 3000 people and is known in history for the 1871 fire that ravaged the area. Private Drees was serving as a gunner on a Humvee during his last mission. After sustaining wounds he was airlifted to Germany where his parents were able to be with him. The Journal Sentinel went on to mention Drees played basketball during high school. He had a love of hunting and fishing. Steven joined family members each year to participate in Wisconsin's gun-deer season in November. The Milwaukee paper went on to note Drees was an organ donor.
The hospital in Germany via their Website at landstuhlhospitalcareproject.org posts information regarding Steven Drees. Using information from the Green Bay Press-Gazette the hospital notes Steven was remembered for writing poems during his Army training. When younger he played baseball; he then lettered in both football and basketball in high school. Some of Private Drees’ military awards include the Army Service Ribbon, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His military medals include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, and Bronze Star.
The Website findagrave.com notes Steven Drees was born on May 26, 1990. He had left for Afghanistan on his 19th birthday, May 26, 2009; he was killed just one month later. Steven was survived by his parents Dawn Bayer and Paul Drees; his twin brother Charlie; maternal grandmother, Louise Bayer; paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. (Marian) Drees; his girlfriend Stacia Baker and their unborn child. He was laid to rest next to his maternal grandfather, Michael Bayer. Private Steven Drees was the 13th Wisconsin military service person to be killed in Afghanistan since October of 2001.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
0 American/Coalition casualties in Libyan "Operation Odyssey Dawn" since March, 2011
100,588 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,924 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,452 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1563 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
874 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
32,074 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
11,110 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
107 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
31 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
148 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
21 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
4 journalists (regional and independents) have been killed in Libya since March, 2011.
Wisconsin military service person special mention of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; washingtonpost.com; thehighground.org; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; iraqbodycount.org; www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf; and, icasualties.org.
