Citizenship Counts - Gerda Weissmann Klein

Woof! Woof! Kipp is Back!!

Journey — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:02:55 +0000

WOOF! WOOF!

I’ve heard from so many members of my fan club asking where I have been. Well, don’t blame me! I’ve wanted to talk to you for nearly 3 weeks but my dad has not cooperated. I finally put my feet down and growled at him when he made his 5th trip to the refrigerator in one hour. I think he got the message. He promised he would be passing on my thoughts to you at least 3 days a week from now on. I know he’s been busy biking with Tyler and walking with me but I told him my fans want to hear from me on a regular basis. So—-no more excuses.

Last time, I told you about my early life and my first wonderful home with Mort and Donna and Ed and Marilyn. In the future, I will tell you about my life before our journey began. However, we are now 3 weeks into our journey, and I better catch you up on what has been happening with me. On January 27, I, along with mom, dad, Kelly and Tyler, went to San Diego high school for our big launch. There were so many people there. I was a little scared even though my dad had me on a leash and he was telling me exactly what to do. Even though I am big and have large teeth, Jimi calls me a “gentle giant”. I think that means I’m big but won’t hurt anyone. I will tell you a lot more about Jimi in the future. We went into a large auditorium for the ceremony, and I lay down next to where my dad was sitting. Dad told me this was a Naturalization Ceremony where immigrants are sworn in as new citizens of the United States of America. There was music by the students and speeches by a number of people, most importantly, my grandmother Gerda Klein. I love Gerda and I know she loves me.

I saw some of my friends from Phoenix at the ceremony like Noel and Dan, the parents of Baci. He is a German Shepherd who lives across the street from me in Phoenix and, until recently, always growled at me when he saw me walking with my dad on the street. I think he is protecting Noel, but I would never hurt her. Only recently have Baci and I become friends, and I can’t wait to play with him after I finish our journey. There were many other people who came to the ceremony from Phoenix and other places to help us launch our journey. We went outside and I heard Gerda, a very tall man named Bill Walton and my dad speak to the students and teachers at San Diego high school. It was so funny to see Bill Walton and Gerda together. He is so tall and she is so short, and I know they really love each other. Dad says Bill Walton was a famous basketball player but, more importantly, he is a very nice and good man. Bill Walton is taller then Gerda even when he is sitting and she is standing. It is so funny, and it makes me laugh. My dad says that Bill told him that when he read Gerda’s books, it changed his life. Maybe my mom or dad will read her books to me on the journey across the U.S.A.. After the ceremony, Tyler, Dad and Bill Walton got on their bicycles and took off. I stayed with Mom and Kelly until we went back to the RV park in the afternoon. All in all, it was a very exciting day and I know everyone was happy that our journey finally began.

My dad and Tyler returned from their first 50 mile bike ride, and I was so happy to see them. The next day, Dad and I took our first 15 mile walk along a river canal in Chula Vista. Whenever it was safe, Dad let me off the leash and I ran all over the place smelling the ground and bushes, chasing birds and rabbits, and having a wonderful time. At times, we ran into other people walking their dogs. Some would bark at me but Dad told me to heel and I obey him—most of the time. Two things happened on the walk that I remember and want to tell you. First, Dad was looking down so that he wouldn’t trip on the rocks, and he walked right into a tree that had partially fallen over the trail. It knocked him down, and he was bleeding from his nose. I ran back to him, licked his face, and I know he felt better. Second, there was this large puddle of muddy water on the river bank, and when I saw it, I couldn’t help but run back and through the water and mud as fast as I could . I got all dirty but it felt so good. Dad was laughing at me for some reason but I’m not sure why. All I know is when we got back to the RV park, Dad took me out to the the lawn and I had my first bath of the journey. When I get clean I have a beautiful black coat and everyone who sees me tells my parents how beautiful I am. I guess if I were human, I’d get a real big head because everyone admires me. Being a dog, I just want people to like me.

Well, I’m getting a little tired tonight (and so is Dad) and I better stop. We are now in Willcox, Arizona, and soon we will be on our way to a place called New Mexico. I promise I’ll be talking to you again real soon. So good night. And one more thing: I’m proud to be an American!

Dad said this was the Presentation of the Colors by the students for the new citizens.

The students are playing the Star Spangled Banner for everyone, and most people have their hands on their hearts.

Gerda is talking to the new citizens, and everyone is very quiet, listening to her.

The new citizens are taking their oath of allegiance to the United States of America. Their family and friends are taking a lot of pictures.

We were celebrating after the Ceremony and posed for this photo. You will probably find people you know, including my sister, Jennifer, who is next to my mom. Bill Walton is in the middle. Tyler and my dad were changing their clothes for their bike ride.

The Principal of San Diego High spoke to the students before the bike ride began.

Bill Walton spoke to the students. You can see Tyler and my dad below the sign. My dad spoke too, but I don't have a picture to show you. I was very proud of him!

I just had to show you this one because of what I said about Gerda and Bill Walton.

Here are my dad and Bill Walton starting the first 50 mile bike ride.

Here is Tyler starting the first 50 mile bike ride.

Dan and Noel with my dad, my mom and me

Good night, everyone....

Cochise County and Wilcox

Journey — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:34:00 +0000

For those of you who haven’t been in this part of Arizona, it is very beautiful and has many attractions, which include historic and archaeological sites and remarkable scenery. Southeastern Arizona is also known as the birding capital of the world, where Sandhill Cranes spend the winter and many other species are found throughout the year. Please click on this link to learn more about Southeastern Arizona and Willcox: http://www.cityofwillcox.org/html/willcox_area_info_.html

We continue to enjoy our stay near Willcox, where we are residing in the small RV park that welcomes travelers and is also home to a number of people who live here year round. The caretaker told me he thinks there isn’t a better place to live.

Four of our party of five drove today to Chiracahua National Monument, where they had a very enjoyable hike on a perfect afternoon – cool and sunny.

To update you on miles biked and walked to date: John and Tyler have biked 508 miles. John and Kipp have walked 117.3.

Below you will find photos of today’s hike in the Chiricahuas:

Chiricahua View

Another Chiricahua View

Kelly and Tyler

A man and his dog

Arizona: So much to learn!

Journey — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:51:38 +0000

Below you will find some facts about Arizona and links associated with some of these facts. There is so much more to learn!!

Arizona Statehood was declared on February 14, 1912. Happy 100^th Birthday, Arizona!

The Cactus Wren is the state bird. Here is a link to more about this bird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/cactus_wren/id/ac

Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time. By clicking on this link you can learn all about the history, rationale and uses of Daylight Saving Time all over the world. http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/

Arizona leads the nation in copper production.

From about 700 A.D. to 1200 A.D. the Pueblo People flourished, building the great communal cliff dwellings that today, serve as testament to a remarkably unique culture: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/before1500/history/pueblo.htm

The Grand Canyon is one of the World’s Great Natural Wonders, a mile deep and 277 miles long. It took the Colorado River about six million years to carve out the Grand Canyon. In 1869 John Wesley Powell led the first expedition to travel the uncharted canyons of the Colorado River.

Apache leader Geronimo fought fiercely for his people before surrendering to the U.S. Army in 1886. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-geronimo.html

Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete-arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It was constructed between 1931-1936, during the Great Depression. http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

For 131 years, the London Bridge spanned the Thames River as it flows through London, England. The bridge was taken apart and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City. Reconstruction started in 1968 and was completed in 1971. For a history of the bridge and its move and reconstruction, click on this link: http://www.golakehavasu.com/activities/more_to_do/london_bridge.aspx

Biosphere 2 was originally built in Oracle to be an artificial, closed ecological system. On June 27, 2011, the University of Arizona announced that it would assume full ownership of Biosphere 2 to serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and life-long learning about Earth, its living systems, and its place in the universe. http://www.b2science.org/

In March 2000, Arizona was the first state to hold a legally binding primary election on the Internet.

From Tucson to Willcox: Peace

Journey — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:18:51 +0000

Below is a plaque that may be hard to read. Just below is the text. Below that is the photo of the plaque along with photos of the spectacular surrounding area.

“FOUR MILES SOUTHEAST, AT COUNCIL ROCKS, APACHE PEACE TREATY WITH COCHISE WAS RATIFIED IN 1872. NEAR DRAGOON SPRINGS, ON OCTOBER 12, 1872, GENERAL O.O. HOWARD AND COCHISE, CHIEF OF THE CHIRACAHUA APACHE INDIANS, RATIFIED A PEACE TREATY ENDING YEARS OF WARFARE BETWEEN THE TRIBE AND THE WHITE SETTLERS. COCHISE’S STRONGHOLD WAS HIDDEN DEEP IN THE DRAGOON MOUNTAINS BEYOND.

ARIZONA DEVELOPMENT BOARD A.H.D. 1962″

An important and beautiful place between Tucson and Willcox. The plaque says all that needs to be said.

Urban and Rural RV Parks: Tucson and Willcox

Journey — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:18:00 +0000

Today’s drive took us from a large RV park of 365 spaces near the Tucson airport to a tiny rural RV park , which is near Willcox, Arizona, in the middle of wide open spaces. Each has something to offer the traveler, and we continue to marvel at the variety of RV parks/campgrounds and the great numbers of people who live in RV’s – for vacations or all year round. Please see the photos below for the contrast between urban and rural.

One of the people we met in Tucson is traveling with her husband in one of the Class A RV’s, which means the bus style that usually expand to provide additional space for comfortable living. (Ours is definitely more compact!) So this couple is thinking of selling their home and living in an RV while they work part time in national parks across the country.

We are learning about all of the equipment that is made for RV’s and about the national chains of stores that specialize in these products. There are online communities of RV travelers that share with each other about a myriad of topics, including travel – of course!

Returning to today’s drive from urban to rural Arizona, here are some photos:

Our street sign among dozens in the Tucson RV park

The office, restaurant and other amenities in Tucson

The city feel of the Tucson park

Willcox RV park with our RV's just to the right of the pole.

The RV office in the rural Willcox area

The laundry room and shower facility is very clean and just steps away from our RV!

And the twilight view in rural Arizona, accompanied by the sounds of birds!

Arizona Centennial Day at Mansfeld Middle School in Tucson

Journey — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:22:41 +0000

February 14, 2012: What a gorgeous Southern Arizona day!! It began with much wind that became a deluge of rain, followed by a blue sky and sunshine in the mid and late afternoon! This was the gorgeous day on which we celebrated – with Mansfeld Middle School – Arizona’s Centennial. With 200 middle school students, their teachers and school staff and with guests of Citizenship Counts all gathered in the school cafeteria/auditorium, the school chorus sweetly sang the National Anthem.

Paul Eckstein spoke about Arizona’s early history, about seven immigrants who were delegates to the Arizona Constitutional Convention in 1910 and about the opportunities American citizens, including our young people, continue to have in this country. Gerda Weissman Klein spoke about her life and her love for America. John Eckstein talked with the students about their rare opportunity to hear Gerda speak and what an inspiration she can be for their lives. He said that Gerda is a hero because of what she has done with her life. The students, who had been carefully prepared by their social studies teachers, listened quietly and applauded and cheered for the adult speakers and for their peers, who read their essays and poetry about Arizona and about being good citizens now and in the future. It was a wonderful and inspiring afternoon, and we are very grateful to the principal, teachers and staff at Mansfeld Middle School for collaborating with us.

Tucson Sunset

Happy Birthday, Arizona! Your future is in the hands of our young people who we must educate to understand that we are a nation of immigrants and that we all have a responsibility to be good citizens, appreciate our freedoms and opportunities and help each other by doing good works in our communities.

February 14, 2012

Photos at Mansfeld Middle School in Tucson and a bit of Mansfeld History

Journey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:09:52 +0000

February 14, 2012:

Link to a bit of the history of Mansfeld Middle School: http://sites.google.com/site/mansfeldmiddleschool/history

Some photos, courtesy of Flo Eckstein, from the student and guest point of view at the Citizenship Counts-Mansfield Middle School event on Arizona Centennial Day.

Marquee at Mansfield Middle School with Tyler the Photographer

Paul

John

Gerda, Diane, John and Kipp listening to Paul

February 14, 2012

More Mansfeld MIddle School Photos 2/14/12

Journey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:54:36 +0000

The Marquee Again!

Student Art

Students' Essays

Proud Principal

Proud Teachers

Proud Teachers with Gerda

Celebrating Arizona's Birthday and Good Citizenship from the Student and Guest Point of View

Riding through California

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:36:13 +0000

Check out where we have been for our very first week on the road! Enjoy watching John as he rides through California!

The first bike ride began at San Diego High School and went to Coronado Island and back inland to Chula Vista. The 2nd ride followed along the CA-94 for 50 miles between Chula Vista and Boulevard, California. The 3rd ride began in El Centro alongside farmland and cattle ranches to the Salton Sea.

From Yuma to Phoenix

Journey — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:46:43 +0000

As we were driving from Yuma to Phoenix, the desert was suddenly splashed with the color of brittle bush flowers. It was gorgeous and reminded me of how much beauty is added to our lives by flowers - whether growing wild, in our gardens or in our homes. The brittle bush in bloom changed the vista from pleasant to breathtaking!!

Here’s a link to show you a photo and also to tell you about the brittlebush plant, which is related to the sunflower. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/brittle_bush.htm

For those of you who live in or are visiting the desert, I hope you enjoy the views of spring!!