AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 136 of 153 Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead Celebrate the Beauty of Service 69. In the USA, November 6 th , is observed as National Service Day, a day in which you may want to provide selfless service to others. “Selfless service” means that you help others - with no thought of return. It can be a great aid in dismantling the ego and restructuring personality. Each day is a new opportunity to practice putting another’s interests ahead of your own. By giving your time, energy and presence to reduce the suffering or increase the happiness of others, you acknowledge that we are all one and that the happiness of each is connected to the happiness of all. The more you share in and experience the interconnectedness of all beings, the healthier you will be. Read “Making Connections” in the Mind/Body/Spirit section on Dr. Weil.com for more ideas about community and spiritual health. (contributed by AVM V Krishnaswamy, VSM) Life’s Like That By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder -- infinitely prouder -- to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build: the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death: the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son. when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle field but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer. “Our Father Who Art in Heaven.” ~ Gen Douglas Macarthur – (1830 - 1964: American Army general in World War II) A GREATER REUNION 70. I retired from the Army thirty one (31) years ago. Recently my wife and I visited various EME formations and units in Eastern Command. Our ten (10) days visit covered Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Tezpur, Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. It was a great and grand reunion with the Army and particularly with EME units. Incidentally, we celebrated our (EME) Corps Day on 15 Oct 2004 with EME units at HQ 4 Corps. 71. I have to thank the Army for making excellent reception, transport and hospitality arrangements. The warmth of reception at all the places was overwhelming, making me feel that I was still in active service. 72. We were accommodated in Formation Guest Houses, Guest Rooms of unit Officers Messes or MES Inspection Bungalows. Compared to the years while I was a serving officer the standard of such accommodation has improved vastly. They are well furnished, equipped with modern fittings, TV sets, microwave-ovens in a few places and even a washing machine at one of the guest houses. 73. The trip to various places included visits to some important temples. These included Kalighat and Lakshminarayan temples in Kolkata, Kamakhya and Balaji temples in Guwahati and the Japanese temple/Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling. 74. Opportunity was availed to visit the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary in Assam where Rhinoceros and wild Elephants were seen in their natural habitat. 75. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to meet Lt Gen A. S. Jamwal AVSM,