Hello friends. Year after year, I mention how fortunate Rico is to have the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and other veterans and their families at this most reverent time, Memorial Day.
All in all, I believe this years memorial service was the most special of all the years that came before. The largest attendance ever, an extra-special warm feeling between families, the beautiful Color Guard at attention and the best speech ever by Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Ret. Linley Leonard. Our friends Monte and Mica Mohr play a huge part. She is our piper each year, and Mica plays the accordion at the luncheon. Piper Jim Lynch and our drummer, Steve Studebaker, never fail us. Also, we thank Sheriff Jerry Martin for helping us, once again, with traffic control and we feel lucky that we have our Rico volunteers who prepare the cemetery and flag our veterans graves each year. The Rico Womens Club traditionally serves lunch to the volunteers up in the courthouse, and this year it was Navajo tacos that are always a hit!
Wind? Yes. It just about blew us off of the map. Of course, we have never had to weather a real hurricane, but beginning Wednesday, May 23, if it wasnt nailed down you might be in trouble! After lunch, a hot transmission line fell across our main street and the fire department detoured traffic until 9:30 that night, while at the same time they received a call-out of a rollover above town; there was no ambulance transport. More wind, and finally on Saturday, we lost power again. San Miguel Power Association found a total break in the line somewhere up in the mountains, so we had seven or eight hours without power again. I have not seen winds like that since we moved here 24 years ago.
San Miguel has a great team that we rely heavily upon.
Last Sunday, we found our hummer feeder totally frozen like an ice cube. A poor little bird tried for all his worth to get his breakfast, but to no avail! We were warned that the next night might be even colder, so we brought the feeder in.
About the eclipse we missed it. Around 6 p.m., the sun disappeared behind Mt. Expectation. If we had been in climbing shape, maybe we could have viewed it from the top of Dolores Mountain!
Next week we will have a full report on the Fourth of July plans. The Fourth is on a Wednesday this year, and that does complicate things. The parade and fireworks (if permitted) will be held on the Fourth, for sure. Also, the Rico Womens Club Craft Faire will be ongoing at the school. The Old Timers event, hosted by the fire department, will be held the following Sunday. This gives you an idea of what is happening.
Marlene Hazen has lived in Rico for over two decades. An active member of the community, she participates in organizations such as the Rico Womens Club and Rico Historical Society.