World War I – Professional Copywriter | Wyalusing, PA Bradford County

Will We Continue to Ignore History’s Lessons?

The perceptions of good and evil can be reversed if we can rationalize a cause as moral and righteous. We’ve had it pretty good in this country. We’ve never had a military coup or any usurping of executive functions by the legislature or the military. There was that unfortunate storming of the capitol in a misguided attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, but we can write that off a lesson learned. It’s just that we all [...]

By Wes Skillings|2022-06-02T14:39:22+00:00June 2, 2022|American History, Evil, Gun Violence, History, Morality, World History, World War I, World War II|

Discovering a Fading Gem in a Room at the YMCA

As with human triumph and celebrity, the sands of time eventually run out on us all. I was just a young reporter, still in my twenties, when I met Homer Baker. He was well into his 82nd year, had been blind for more than half of his life and he was living in a sparsely appointed room in the Williamsport YMCA. His vision began to desert him when he was still in his twenties and was totally [...]

By Wes Skillings|2022-05-24T21:23:05+00:00May 24, 2022|1914, Celebrity, death, Germany, Memory, Track and Field, World War I, YMCA|

When Patriotism Contorts into Nationalism

Calling all patriots who want America to be the best we can be. If you are looking for a concise definition of patriotism — a phrase that captures its general meaning— it would probably be “love of country.” There really is no simple definition of patriotism, because it is not so much about blind love as it is an affection for and allegiance to your country acquired over a lifetime. It is a love instilled and nurtured [...]

By Wes Skillings|2022-01-24T09:09:58+00:00September 2, 2020|1918, Baby Boomers, History, Hitler, Nationalism, Patriotism, Slavery, World War I, World War II|

Joining Forces against a Common Enemy

Since we crowd together to spread it, we need to join forces to vanquish it. Like it or not, this strain of the coronavirus is going to drastically change the way we live our lives. It’s started already. We can’t avoid it, and the transformation is going to be drastic, even historic. It has the dual potential of tearing us apart and bringing us together. I’m rooting for the latter. At last count, as I am writing [...]

By Wes Skillings|2022-01-24T09:10:01+00:00March 11, 2020|1918, Coronavirus, Fear, Politics, Public Health, Sacrifices, Self-Control, Spanish Influenza, World War I, Wyalusing Life|