No December 25, 1955

One of my annual "Christmas Blogs" concerns 1955 and serving in the US Navy aboard the USS General William T. Mitchell TAP114.

The ship carried both troops and dependents, and this particular trip we had a great number of dependent children aboard. When you cross the International Date Line, you either lose or gain a day. We lost a day, and that happened to be December 25. We went from the 24th to the 26th. We went to bed on the 24th and woke up on the 26th, difficult to explain that to the children. The only thing that was printed and distributed was the Plan of the Day, so we cheated a bit, and dated it on the 25th so we didn't have to explain it to them. I'm sure it has happened to others, but to the old Billy Mitchell, who has gone the way of many old ships, sold for scrap, there was no Christmas in 1955.

HOW, can this happen?

I don't know if you came across this article or not. I, for one, am glad that someone is keeping their eyes on issues like this, and not letting them be overlooked with everything else that is going on in this world. It they found this many, how many more are out there? Maybe, "Backward turn backward, oh time in the flight. Make me a child again, just for tonight," is not a good thing for way too many children.

The World Series, football ratings, basketball, new movies, new records out, what's on TV ............. really important, while we have this going on.

Child Prostitutes Rescued By FBI, Police
Slavery In The Suburbs
(CBS/AP) FBI officials say they have rescued 52 children in a series of raids around the country aimed at under-age prostitution.

Authorities say the youngest victim was just 10 years old. The bureau and local police officials also arrested 60 pimps during the three-day enforcement effort in 36 cities.

The raids are the latest in a long-running Operation Cross Country aimed at child prostitution rings around the country. Almost 1,600 agents and officers took part in the raids, which led to federal and state charges against a total of 691 suspects. The investigations typically target places where minors are likely to be sold for sex, including truck stops, casinos, public streets, and Internet Web sites.

In February, the FBI completed another sweep in major cities around the U.S., rescuing 48 teenage girls - some as young as 13 - whom the agency said were forced into prostitution.

Academy for Children

I designed this logo for a NP in New Jersey.

They are doing some great work, not sure if it is one of the links on this page, if not, will be there soon.

They are listed under Academy for Children.