I have had a lot of questions from members asking if I was going to take over Danny Hamilton's job as AFMA email manager.  The answer is no...But I will be available to be the backup email manager if needed.  I talked to the AFMA President, Phyllis Kohlenberg last Saturday and she said that subject was going to be one of the topics of discussion during their business meeting at the AFMA Reunion this coming weekend.  I will be filling in until they find someone that will pick up where Danny left off and take this job to new heights.  In the mean time, since we are limited to three emails a month with our new email service, I will send out updates on member’s illness or deaths biweekly unless the President of AFMA tells me different.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience but we are using a new service that bypasses my Internet Provider (IP) so it won't block our updates because it thinks it is SPAM.  I'm sure the new email manager will be making suggestions on how to improve the service to keep us all better informed.  Please be patient with us.

On another note, I received an email from Jim Kashishian telling me that the email list might have been compromised because he got some SPAM while he was at Danny’s memorial service.  Please, DO NOT use this email list to SPAM anyone...especially our AFMA membership.  This list is for our use only.  If I find out (and there are ways to do that.) that someone has been taking the names off the AFMA email list for Spamming purposes, I will take your name off the list and report you to our leadership.  They can decide what to do with you.  Please don't compromise our email list...nobody likes SPAM.

Finally, our memorial service for Danny Hamilton last Friday was a very special event.  Friends from as far away as Spain and relatives from around the country came to give their final respects to or dear friend and relative.  Chief Master Sergeant (ret) Dave Ballengee produced and directed a memorial service fit for a 4 Star General.  It started out with a formal ceremony including a welcome and prayer from long time friend Steve Hoy, and tribute letters written by Danny's grandchildren and read by Chief Master Sergeant (ret) John Grove and long time friend Mabelle Kindle.  There was a Flag Folding ceremony by the base honor guard and Taps played by MSgt (ret) Ralph Davis and yours truly (SMSgt [ret] Jack Story) played Amazing Grace on Bagpipes.  After the formal portion of the ceremony was over, we all raised our glasses of Sangria and toasted our dear friend for the last time.  We all then began to catch up on old times with old friends and make new acquaintances just like Danny would have wanted.  We watched a slide presentation put together by Danny's son David of pictures of Danny's life and listened to some of his favorite music while enjoying each other's company.  I think Danny's wife and family was very pleased with the outpouring of love from everyone.  Farwell to a devoted and loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather and dear friend...Rest in Peace.

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