November is a time for giving thanks...

Andrew Albers leads at Murrell Home.

This edition of the newsletter was supposed to be short, but I did want to send a reminder about singing this Sunday, 11/12/17, at the General Store on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History from 1:30 until 4:00 P.M. As usual, bring a friend. If you arrive early, look for a few singers that gather "around noon" at AQ Chicken House in Springdale for lunch. It's a good time to relax with friends and catch up on all the news.

Taking things in order, thanks to all the singers who turned out for the singing at the historic Murrell Home on October 8th in Park Hill, OK. There was a good old-fashioned outdoor church service before noon and we sang after a short break for lunch. There's something different about singing under trees and a blue sky. Thanks to the Murrell Home for the invitation. I hope everyone - both young and old enjoyed the experience.

Smaller singers liked the big horses.

However, after Katy and I got home from a late season trip to Yellowstone's early snow, as far west as the Sawtooth range and following the big mountains south to New Mexico, we found out that Bill Caldwell had been involved in a multiple car accident on the way back to Joplin from the Murrell Home singing. The best news is that Bill's on the mend and singing Sacred Harp tunes along with YouTube videos to help his recovery. We'll have a get well card at Sunday's singing for everyone there to sign. Please keep Bill in our prayers for his quick recovery and thankfulness for his eventual return to sing with us again.

Thanks also to all the singers who joined together on October 21st for the Annual NWA Fall Singing at the Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale. Special thinks to Alexis Walker, who made the arrangements with NTI for singing and Darryl Criss who helped wrangle the books and other logistics, and all the cooks who brought their special contributions for the pot luck lunch. I'm sure your efforts were appreciated.

One more thing: Tomorrow, November 11th is shown on my calendar as "Veteran's Day." Originally called Armistice Day, it celebrated the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when a cessation of hostilities was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany that effectively ended hostilities in "the Great War," or what people solemnly called "the war to end all wars." The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 after WWII and the Korean War. The holiday now honors all American veterans - living or dead - who did their duty to protect and defend their country during war or peacetime, a reminder of a duty that we all share at home or abroad.

Hope to see you on Sunday...