Latest news with #DavyCrockett
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: As Disneyland turns 70, readers share their earliest memories of their visits
To the editor: In reading this article, I feel compelled to cast my vote for Disneyland's first decade as the best of times for those of us who were able to enjoy it ('What was the greatest Disneyland era? We look back on 70 years at the happiest place on Earth,' July 17). Shortly after I turned 5, my parents took the family to Disneyland just two weeks after its opening in 1955. Even in its early days, it fit the definition of 'magic kingdom' to a T. While I was watching a parade, Zorro himself (Guy Williams) stopped his horse right in front of me and scrolled a familiar 'Z' in the air with his famous saber. He then dismounted and signed my autograph book after having his merry band of characters do just the same. The icing on the cake came when Walt Disney himself suddenly appeared, patted me on the head and told my parents 'nice kid.' I suppose it helped that I was wearing an official Davy Crockett coonskin hat. To this day, I feel like Disney royalty as a result of his kind words. Those of us who remember what an 'E' ticket is are a dwindling horde, but even after all these years, I still remember that day and the kind pat on the head from the man himself. Stephen Lash, Carlsbad .. To the editor: Thank you for this wonderful overview of the 70-year history of Disneyland. Seventy years ago, when I was 8, my sister was 12 and my brother was 6, my parents decided to take us on a five-week drive across the country from the Boston suburbs to Los Angeles to be part of the grand opening of Disneyland. We drove without GPS, but with the old AAA booklets, to see our beautiful country. Along the way, we stopped at Yellowstone, Bryce, Zion and Yosemite national parks. But what was most memorable was our wonderful time at Disneyland's grand opening. All our neighbors came out to say goodbye as we started our journey, and we drove in an old DeSoto without air conditioning. But we didn't care because we got to see so much. We collected small pendants from each state and learned to appreciate this great country's beauty and natural wonders. Because of this experience, I am still an active traveler all over the world, and it all started with my parents' desire to imbue in us a love of seeing this country and the world — and of course, Disneyland. Fran Lyons, Encino .. To the editor: My dad began working at Walt Disney Studios in 1956 just after the opening of Disneyland. He would tell us that the Disney motto was 'Never stop creating.' All Disney employees were given free tickets to the park annually. While driving from Hollywood to Anaheim took about two hours since the 5 Freeway was just being constructed, my mom would pack a lunch to eat in the car during the long journeys. Very special memories. Cheryl Ortega, Los Feliz .. To the editor: Disney may have created "70 years of magic" but, elsewhere in the same edition of the paper, the Los Angeles Times noted that Disney pledged $15 million for President Trump's library to resolve a defamation lawsuit ('After CBS and ABC's Trump settlements, Democrats want to curb presidential library gifts,' July 16). That pretty much cancels out Disney magic in my book. Mary Montes, West Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
14-07-2025
- BBC News
'Heart-breaking': Locals devastated by loss of Grand Canyon Lodge
Davy Crockett watched from miles away as the first small plumes of smoke began to rise in the Grand Canyon's North Rim. It was not long before the small plumes transformed into huge flames. Mr Crockett, vice-president of the non-profit Grand Canyon Historical Society, went to bed but worries kept him up. The historic Grand Canyon Lodge, with its panoramic views of one of the natural wonders of the world, was in the path of those Sunday, park officials confirmed the beloved lodge was destroyed in raging wildfires."It broke my heart," said Mr Crockett. "I was devastated."Hundreds of people are sharing his sadness and posting tributes on social media to the stone lodge perched at 8,000 feet (2,438m), the only accommodation available within the national park's North was "stunning, a balm for my weary soul", one person wrote. "Heartbroken to hear the historic lodge, visitor center and more were destroyed." Many of the dozens of cabins at the lodge were also lost in the Dragon Bravo Fire, which has burned over 5,000 acres. Honeymooners, hikers and runners all treasured the lodge and its views, historians and locals said. Karne Snickers has led tours in the North Rim for 24 years. She said the area sees fewer tourists than the South Rim because the view in parts is slightly obscured by "majestic" ponderosa it was clear on the deck of the Grand Canyon Lodge, she said. "It's very spiritual there," she said. "Sitting on the deck of that lodge, there isn't one dry eye from any trip that I've ever done when you turn away and have to go back to the van." The destruction of the lodge has been like "losing an old friend"."I shed many tears yesterday," Ms Snickers 61-year-old tour guide was there just before the fires began, when a lightning strike ignited a blaze on 4 July that officials initially thought would be containable. But after the winds picked up, the fire exploded, Mr Crockett said. Firefighters were there to protect the lodge, but when a water treatment plant burned down and released toxic chlorine gas into the air, they had to evacuate. Along with the lodge, much of the surrounding nature has been lost too, including 400 year-old trees. Ms Snickers believes one large tree she would have hikers on her tours hug is no longer there. "Much of the beauty is gone," Mr Crockett said. "It'll take decades for things to grow back." This was the second time the lodge burned down. A version that opened in 1928, designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, was lost four years later from a fire that started in its a new structure during the Great Depression took years and perseverance, repurposing much of the original building's stonework and lumber.A smaller, temporary lodge that housed construction workers also burned down for unknown reasons, according to Mr a massive snowstorm dropped 12 feet of snow in the area one winter, cutting the workers and their families off from food and the outside world for weeks, he said. Finally, some of the workers hiked down to the trailhead in snow shoes to call for help, bringing in snow plows to rescue the rest of the group, Mr Crockett the lodge opened once again, in 1938, it became a "summer getaway that people have just cherished over the years", he said. Lodge guests might encounter an occasional buffalo while walking beside tall pine trees. Inside, they could take in views from the massive windows in the lodge's sun room, or from their table in the dining room, with its high ceiling that was crossed with ponderosa beams. Park officials have yet to say whether they plan to rebuild the iconic lodge, but many visitors and locals are holding out hope. "We have to rebuild this place," Ms Snickers said. "It's going to take time, but it needs to come back. It was a part of history."
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee football announces Volunteer Spirit uniform for 2025 season
Tennessee will honor the United States Armed Forces with a Volunteer Spirit football uniform during the 2025 season. Volunteer Spirit is the next football uniform in the Nike Smokey Grey series. Tennessee will wear Volunteer Spirit uniforms against New Mexico State on Nov. 15 at Neyland Stadium, four days following Veterans Day. NIke Smokey Grey uniforms returned for Tennessee in 2022. In 2022, the Vols announced their Nike Smokey Grey Series for the 2022-25 seasons. More: Photos of Tennessee debuting 2024 Smokey Grey uniforms versus Chattanooga UT press release: Tennessee's defining pillar of service and selfless leadership for more than 200 years, the 'Volunteer Spirit' provides the inspiration behind the newest Nike Smokey Grey series football uniform that will honor the United States Armed Forces during the fall of 2025. The 'Volunteer Spirit' uniform also pays tribute to the ultimate legendary Volunteer, Davy Crockett, and was brought to life in collaboration with the Tennessee Military Department, the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee and the Tennessee National Guard. The Volunteers will wear their newest Smokey Grey series threads on Nov. 15 when they host New Mexico State for the annual Salute to Service game, which honors our nation's service members, veterans and their families. The Homecoming contest is four days after Veterans Day. For centuries, Volunteers have answered the call on the front lines to protect our freedom. Crockett and over 30 Tennesseans made a heroic last stand at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. 'The Davy Stripe,' a modern take on Crockett's famous, fringed uniform in grey, flanks the orange center stripe of the helmet and is prominently displayed on the sleeves of the jersey. A striking, two-tone Smokey grey jersey and pants combination resembles a similar look of steel forged from military artillery. Volunteers is proudly etched across the chest of the jersey. Each stitch woven into the fabric of the uniform serves as a tribute to the state's rich military heritage. Sharp, stencil numbers on the front, back and shoulders of the jersey, as well as the back of the helmet, are inspired by military standard font. The popular 'Star Vols' logo returns for the first time since the turn of the century. It appears as both a military-inspired patch on the front of the pants and on the front helmet bumper. Tennessee's in-house creative agency, 151 Creative, worked in conjunction with the UT equipment staff and Nike to create the new uniforms. One of the unique pieces of the project was the conception of a 'Volunteer Spirit' Tennessee Tri-Star logo as an homage to the 134th Air Refueling Wing. The creative team brought all of the elements to life during a content shoot in May thanks to the service members at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. 'The Volunteer Spirit' is the fourth ideation of the Smokey Grey series, which launched in 2022. That fall, Tennessee wore the 'OG' Smokey grey look in a historic road game victory at LSU. In 2023, the Vols donned the 'Artful Dodger' uniform as a tribute to legendary VFL Condredge Holloway, the first Black player to start at quarterback for an SEC program. UT opened the 2024 campaign against Chattanooga in the 'Volunteer State' uniform, an ode to the state and Tennessee's status as the flagship university with the Tri-Star state emblem serving as the centerpiece. 'Volunteer Spirit' Smokey Grey merchandise is now available through retailers and soon on Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When the Army tried out nuclear artillery
72 years ago the U.S. Army carried out its first and only nuclear artillery test. The military actually made an atomic artillery shell, loaded it into a 280mm cannon and fired it. And it worked. Task & Purpose has covered many of the dangerous, strategically questionable and outright bizarre Cold War-era nuclear weapon designs and programs. The nuclear cannon used in Operation Upshot-Knothole wasn't quite as risky as the Davy Crockett — at the very least the range that the 'atomic cannon' had was greater than the smaller Davy Crockett. The May 25, 1953 test came at a time when there was a wider attempt to add atomic weapons into more conventional military weapons. Operation Upshot-Knothole was a series of tests carried out between March 17-June 4, 1953. They were 'intended to test nuclear devices for possible inclusion, in the U.S. arsenal, to improve military tactics, equipment, and training, and to study civil defense needs,' the Defense Nuclear Agency wrote. Most of the tests involved air dropping or static, ground-based atomic detonations, according to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The artillery portion of the test, codenamed 'Shot Grable,' took place towards the end of Operation Upshot-Knothole. Technically overseen by the Atomic Energy Commission, Operation Upshot-Knothole featured a large U.S. military presence. Thousands of troops, alongside military scientists and observers, were there to help stage the tests and carry out their own training as part of the Desert Rock exercises. For 'Shot Grable,' the Artillery Test Unit from Fort Sill carried out operations on the cannon. According to the Nevada National Security Site, two 280mm cannons were brought in, and roads had to be paved for them to be put into place, given the weight of each artillery piece. Additionally, 2,600 troops were on hand for exercises coinciding with the test. The atomic shell was given the designation of 'W9,' while the special cannons made for it were called the M65, later nicknamed 'Atomic Annie.' At 8:30 a.m., May 25, 1953, they fired the cannon. The nuclear shell flew 6.25 miles, detonating a few hundred feet above ground with a yield of 15 kilotons. The blast was as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Soldiers in trenches and foxholes watched as the mushroom cloud rose over the Nevada grounds. Teams tried to get closer to inspect the impact of the blast but couldn't get closer than 0.9 miles from the epicenter of the detonation. Although the May 25, 1953 test would be the only time the nuclear artillery shells would actually be fired, the U.S. military liked the test so much it manufactured several more of the artillery pieces themselves. Only one cannon would fire a single round during Operation Upshot-Knothole, but the battlefield applicability of such a weapon was clear. Even just one of these could take out a large enemy position. And presumably one salvo would be enough. And the Army seemed to agree on the effectiveness. Nearly two dozen atomic cannons were made, but only were fielded for a few years. Despite the success of 'Shot Grable,' the atomic artillery approach would soon end up obsolete, like several other early Cold War weapons ideas. Smaller, more compact artillery designs as well as the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles meant the need for relatively closer range nuclear strike capabilities diminished. Army to eliminate 2 Security Force Assistance Brigades, reassign experienced soldiers Why the Army's new XM7 rifle reignited a debate over volume of fire Air Force delay on separation and retirement orders isn't 'stop loss,' defense official says F-35's close call over Yemen raises questions about how it's used An Army unit's 'extreme use of profanity' was so bad, they made a rule about it
