VERDUN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

LETTERS FROM WEB SITE VISITORS - 2000

Bill Harmon,

Hi Bill, I'm Gary Witt, class of '59. I recently discovered a large stack of copies of the school paper,
 " Falcon Feathers ". All date from the 58-59 school year and are in pretty good shape. Most are 
mimeographed, some are on good quality paper with photos. Be happy to research and send 
copies to anyone interested. Seems as if everyone enrolled got their name mentioned at least once.

Sincerely,

Gary Witt

Date:  09/21/2000
From: Paul Miller <worldtripper@yahoo.com> 
To: "W.L. \(Bill\) Harmon" <webmaster@vahs.org> 

Hello I am here in Verdun;I have a meeting tomorrow with the city and deputy mayor: 
I am trying to open a museum dedicated to all of us Americans who lived and
worked here since WW 1 and after: sorry for the bad letter: 
I am in a stress today: so please forward this to all time to do it:while i live on a small
va check and it cost to much to use this here:  best wishes from Paul E Miller;
I am in the Post office using a French keyboard.

Dear Bill, 

I have just found this site, after being contacted by John Everly, following my registering with the
Military Brats Registry.  What a great find this was! I had to laugh out loud at the Cooper et al picture,
which was taken the year before I arrived, but of course seemed familiar. I think I see a funny 
cigarette, but I may be wrong.  France was the first place I heard about marijuana, and I believe I 
recall a fellow named Tony clueing me on that. 

I had never seen the overhead view of the school and hospital, and was surprised by the size. One 
of my "adventures" there involved somehow wandering into the medical library at the hospital, 
where I was allowed to sit and read, even though I clearly recall warnings about the hospital being 
off limits. 

The music choices were on target, too. 

Thanks for all your work! 

Cheralyn Hendrix Powers

To:    webmaster@vahs.org 
From:  "Jill Murphy Spackman" <corndog@shentel.net> 
Subject: pin found in yard 
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 00:55:52 -0700 

I live in Maurertown Virginia.  I rent a pre civil war house there.  While gardening, I found a
pin of a bird with outstretched wings in blue and white, bearing a banner saying "Verdun". I'm 
curious if this has any connection to your school, or if it is a reference to a town in France,
noted in WWI.  Ironically, I found your sight while searching my neighbors name, "Red" Irwin, a
former football coach and FBI employee, but  I haven't found him on your site.  It is such a 
weird coincedence, I couldn't help but inquire.  I will ask him about it, but if you have any 
info, let me know.

Jill Spackman

To: <webmaster@vahs.org> 
From: "Candy French" <mlfrench@flash.net>
Subject: Just a note! 
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 17:00:15 -0500 

All Verdun students, graduates, faculty,

The Website and photos, etc. make me both happy and sad.  I wish we all had the age of
 "innocence" of the "60's!   Gee, wasn't life easier before we knew about "stress", cigarettes, 
chloresterol, Viet Nam, drugs, depression, divorce, and alcohol? Hey, if we were lucky, we had
a telephone, and radio. We now have to deal with Cell phones,
TV, Fax machines, Email, and we are all running faster and faster - going "where"?
 

My husband & I will be @ the "2000 Reunion" in San Antonio, TX. Pictures make me sad  - 
gives me the reality of  aging, although my mind (not body) says I'm 18.

Marilynn (Candy) Chandler (now French)

Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 16:54:41 EDT 
From:Jenelle Peterson <JPChad61@aol.com>
Subject: Former Students 
To: webmaster@vahs.org/postmaster@vahs.org 

Hi John:

I am Jenelle Peterson - class of 1961 - Chateauroux France - you and I have 
communicated before.

I'm sending you info about my brothers - Eric (Cave City, AR) and Stephan 
Peterson (Temple, TX)  - They attended Verdun when they were in the 6th and 
8th grades, respectfully, which would have been in 1964.  My brothers do not 
have computers.

If you need other information for your database, please contact me and I will 
supply the rest.

By the way - your website is wonderful.

Best regards,
Jenelle Peterson

From: Michael W Hicks  <sharshb@uswest.com>
To: Postmaster@vahs.org
Subject: Info.
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 14:24:39 -0400

John,

Just a short note to let you know how much I appreciate the Verdun American High School 
web page.  Over the years (40 in 2002 ) I have, at times, felt like a fish out of water; not really 
belonging - disconnected.  I always knew those feelings were, for the most part, attritable to 
my unique childhood.  Born in a foreign country, moving every three to four years, not having 
a home town, and a making and losing friends for the first eighteen years of my life made me 
a member of a very exclusive family.  It wasn't until I found your web page a couple of years ago 
that I realized I wasn't alone.  I knew, of course, there were others that shared similar 
backgrounds but what I didn't know was that we were reconnected through your page.  
I was estactic when I discovered your page.  There, after many years, were the names and 
pictures of old friends; some of which I have restablished contact and some for which I am 
still seeking.

Your page allowed me to connect with my past and verify that I was once part of something 
special.  

Thank You

Michael W. Hicks (Mike)

P.S. John, I would like to ask a favor.   When I was at Verdun, I established a
close relationship with the Secrest brothers and Yutta Billings.  I am aware
that Jack (Junior) died in Vietnam in 1967  but I have yet to be successful in
contacing John (Butch) Secrest.  It would appear that he and Yutta married and
are living, according to your mailing list, in California.  I have sent mail to
that address only to have it returned and, I cannot locate a phone number.
Could you please see what you can do to locate a more current address or phone
number.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks

If anyone has information as to how to contact John (Butch) Secrest please get in
touch with Mike via e-mail at:   <sharshb@uswest.com>
Bill Harmon - webmaster@vahs.org