Free Republic

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — In truth, the last Howard Johnson’s restaurant closed long before the one in Lake George, New York, did last week. The only thing that particular location had in common with the fried clams and 28 flavors of ice cream the restaurant was famous for was maintaining the iconic orange roof that signaled to families for generations you were pulling up to a place you could trust for known comfort food at reasonable prices. What began as Howard Deering Johnson taking over his father’s struggling medicine store and soda fountain in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1925 grew because of...

BANGOR, Maine -- The orange roof is long gone and the Simple Simon plaque is history. The famous 28 flavors of ice cream have dwindled to 16 varieties. But at least the Howard Johnson name sits atop the building, which is a lot more than hundreds of one-time Howard Johnson eateries can say. The venerable chain once had more than 800 restaurants from coast to coast, but these days you can count them on two hands.

I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from Atlanta. The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet" and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the gorgeous southern sunset out of the right side of the plane". He then, however, said this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script, but I want you all to know that simply by coincidence you have been granted both the privilege and honor of escorting...

I truly wish I had been on this flight. H O M E I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from Atlanta. The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet" and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the gorgeous southern sunset out of the right side of the plane." He then, however, said this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script, but I want you all to know that simply...

This was sent to me from a member of the our ANG unit. This touching letter from a gentleman in Mobile. I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from Atlanta. The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet" and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the gorgeous southern sunset out of the right side of the plane". He then, however, said this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script, but...

Delivering tragic news to military families tough way to make a livingBy James V. WalkerWhen 1st Sgt. Terry Canty arrives at the doorstep, she's wearing her sharpest Army dress uniform, pressed and polished. She carries a letter, just paper, but heavy all the same."Normally, when they see me, the family is expecting to get bad news just because of how I'm dressed," Canty said.It's the moment every military family prays will never come, opening the front door to learn a loved one has been killed. But for the officers, like Canty, who bear the news, that moment comes all too...

Names of the four US Marines who died in yesterday's helicopter crash: Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore, Md. The Pentagon has just released the names of two more US Marines who were killed in Iraq. I'll post as soon as I find that.

June 18, 2002 Call It Dodgers Lite, but Brooklyn Loves ItBy IRA BERKOW WO freshly minted Brooklyn Cyclones, members of this Class A baseball team that is more or less a wisp — less would be the key word here — of the late, loved and lamented Dodgers, were in this kaleidoscopic part of the universe for the first time yesterday, and feeling their way. One, a 22-year-old pitcher named Eric Templet, is from Gonzalez, La. The other, Kevin Deaton, a 20-year-old, also a right-handed pitcher, is from Cocoa Beach, Fla. They were sitting in a dugout at KeySpan...