EARLY MORNING ACTIVITIES
Almost everyone knows that I have always been an early morning person. I've usually been up and out of the house for office around 5 each morning. During the Legislative days in Tallahassee, I was usually the first person in the office and many days was the last person to leave in the evenings. Now that I'm Co-hosting the Wake Up Call on WFTW AM (1260 on the dial) each morning Monday through Friday from 6 to 9, I'm beginning to realize that getting up at 4: a.m. is early even for me. I'm truly enjoying the program and especially receiving telephone calls from individuals throughout the area who take the time to call and ask questions of our guests or who call to bring up subjects of interest. I encourage individuals to call us at 664-1260 and join in the show. Also, if an individual has suggestions for guests or subjects, please pass along to us on the show or email me here. Would truly appreciate hearing from you on how the make the program more informative, interesting and entertaining.

SONS OF CONFEDRERATE VETERANS MEMORIAL
My good friend, Bob May who lives in Old Town, Florida, has been working for months to put together a fitting memorial honoring Veterans of all wars, and a separate granite monument honoring ancestors that fought in the War Between the States. Appropriate flags will also be flown behind the monuments.

The memorial will be constructed in a park-like setting with benches and a "Donor's Walkway." The Donor's Walkway will contain marble "bricks" with the name of each donor engraved into the brick. Each donor will have the option of adding the name or names of any ancestors or family members that served in any of the wars. You can include your name with an important date, or you may memorialize a loved one, or simply honor a special person with your donation.

Bricks are available in two sizes - $50 and $100 - and will be engraved to your specifications, and then placed in the Donor's Walkway. The Walkway will surround the area near the monuments.

If you'd like one of the forms to use in making a donation and listing the name for the brick, either email me at jerry@jerrymelvin.com, or contact Bob May at robnfla@inetw.net. Just ask for the form to complete for donating to the memorial. Sure would be good if folks in this area could help out the small community and the Sons of the Confederacy.

RECOGNITION HERE AT HOME
If you haven't seen the Lighthouse photography by Bob and Sandra Shanklin of Fort Walton Beach, then you're missing something. These two individuals have photographed every lighthouse in the U.S. and elsewhere. As guest speakers for the Fort Walton Beach Kiwanis Club Tuesday, they told of their experiences in getting to the various sites around the nation. They've published some books of pictures and information, especially one titled, "Lighthouses of Florida". You truly need to get a copy and make sure your children see something of history. For complete information, go to their web site http:?/www.TheLighthousePeople.com. I know you'll be pleased to see what they have done.

SUGGESTED READING
As some of you know, I'm constantly adding to my list of "Suggested Reading" , books that I feel would be good reading for one reason or another. I'd like to add the following: "America Extinguished: Mass Immigration and the Disintegration of American Culture" by Samuel T. Francis. The whole illegal immigration situation is, I feel, getting out of hand and we're all going to have to get upset and demand that our Federal Congress do something about it. "The Good War" by Studs Terkel is also a great one to read.

SADD STILL ACTIVE
I received information from Nellie Bogar recently, bringing me up to date SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving). Over the last 20 years SADD has been committed to empowering young people to lead education and prevention initiatives within their schools and communities. It was founded as Students Against Driving Drunk in 1981 in Wayland, Massachusetts. In 1997 in response to requests from SADD students themselves, SADD expanded its mission and name, and now sponsors chapters called Students Against Destructive Decisions. They are still active in sponsoring chapters throughout the nation. Unfortunately I did not get the website information, so guess I'll just say that if you want more information, contact Nellie Bogar at njbogar@yahoo.com. She'll be glad to fill you in with all the information needed.

LET'S GET WITH IT
You and I and anyone else with the time to write a letter should jump on this issue to force Congress into action. I'll explain.

It is no secret that federal courts, including the U.S Supreme Court, have angered millions of Americans with their rulings on abortion, flag burning, prayer in school, capital punishment, the Pledge of Allegiance, and many other matters (Including the moment issue in Montgomery, Alabama). However, rather than exercising their constitutional authority to rein in mischievous federal judges, members of Congress have pretended to address these issues by proposing constitutional amendments aimed at each judicial violation. BUT CONGRESS ALREADY HAS THE AUTHORITY, under Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court - and, by extension, all federal courts. (Only the Supreme Court was created by the Constitution; all other federal courts were created by Congress).

So, if the Congress were serious about reversing judicial approval of abortion, flag desecration, etc., and wished to do so in the most efficient and constitutionally sound manner, the best solution would be to remove the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction in these cases. This could be done by a simple majority vote by both houses, rather than the long, drawn-out, multi-year process involved in a constitutional amendment. Not only would this remedy be quicker and more efficient, it would pose fewer hazards to the Constitution. But again, by instead introducing high-profile amendments, Congress has diverted the public mind from inquiring into and demanding the exercise of actual and effective powers possessed by the Legislative Branch.

Let's all ask our U.S. Congressmen and Senators to act now.

A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME
What a great pleasure it was for me to have the Honorable Jeremiah Denton as the in-studio guest on the Wake Up Call Wednesday morning. This Retired U.S. Navy Admiral served in the U.S. Senate from Alabama for a period of time. It was the "Denton Amendment" that made it possible to send supplies and foods donated by private organizations to countries less fortunate than ours by using space available on military aircraft. If you're interested in learning more about this great American and his National Forum Foundation, go to his web site at www.nff.org. Read his publication called "Updates!!" and you'll see more about the Transportation for the Relief of Mankind program. If you didn't hear our program Wednesday morning, Admiral Denton has promised to return.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
This is from "Thoughts of the Older Folks". Do not know who is the author, but it was sent to me by a friend.

"I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older than it dawned on me.they were cramming for their finals."

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What is your favorite book of the week that you would recommend others read?

Comments should be sent to:  jmelvin@gulf1.com