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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | On June 21, 2008, the Elks lodges of New York Southeast District 6400 held its annual picnic for the veterans at St. Albans Veterans Hospital in Queens, New York. The veterans were served hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on a charcoal grill, fruits and dessert. OFC members and some friends joined the festivites and performed three hours of live musical entertainment. This year we were fortunate to have a full band with bass and drums.
Once again many thanks to Gil/ignimbyte for some awesome guitar and vocals and to Phil Wong for the photos and video.
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | That day was alot of fun. Christopher my 9 year old was in charge of the video while I took pictures. My family had a full plate that day also. After the picnic we went to my other son Greg's Forest Hills little league award ceremony. His team finished first in their division but lost in the playoffs. I actually met a girl who I haven't seen in about 20 years. She was recording the ceremony. Her husband and daughter were receiving trophies. After attending the ceremony we all went home to drop off the camera and video equipment. Pearl, Greg and I then went to Roosevelt Field Mall to shop for a new baseball glove for next season. When we arrived we found out that ABC Family Channel was having a live concert with two bands. The band we saw was Cursive Memory. I have no idea who they were but all the screaming girls and Greg knew of them. The music was pumped up to the max and totally distorted. I wish Master Temp was there. I went to the food court on the second level to escape the noise and get a bite to eat. I ran into a doctor that I knew from work. We couldn't hear each other due to the noise/music even though we were about two feet apart.
All in all it was a unique day of meeting old friends expected and unexpected. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | excellent, guys! looks like red instruments were the uniform of the day. was that planned? |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Good on all ya for doing such a great thing.
BTW... what was Gil singin'? |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Comfortably Numb |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Phil Wong:
Comfortably Numb That's the last two photos. In the first two Gil did a great version of Sister Goldenhair. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by lanaki:
excellent, guys! looks like red instruments were the uniform of the day. was that planned? That was not planned, but it seems correct. My guitar is actually New England Burst, but it looks more like red sunburst in the photos. I just noticed each of us were wearing cargo shorts too. |
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August 2004
Posts: 709
Location: Germany | What brand and model is the red thinline guitar? Looks like a vintage Framus.
Karl |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Charlie Ramon:
What brand and model is the red thinline guitar? Looks like a vintage Framus.
Karl It's a Schecter C/SH-1. Made in Korea but nicely put together with quality hardware-Grover tuners, Duncan designed HB pups w/coil splitting, Tone Pros bridge, set neck, flamed maple top over semi-hollow mahogany body. Fantastic bang for the buck. |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Originally posted by lanaki:
excellent, guys! looks like red instruments were the uniform of the day. was that planned? Just think about what it would look like if I had showed up with my Elite T Red Flame!! |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I'm very thankful for allowing me to take part in it again this year. When I was asked three years ago and went, I never realized how special this event is/was for the veterans that I've been coming ever since. I am definitely looking forward towards next year. :)
It's good to be able to meet with fellow OFCers; Mitch and Phil once again. It's great to see you Phil continuing to pursue your passion for photography, and capturing the memories that make events (such as this one) very meaningful.
I especially want to thank you Mitch and Craig for the privileges to do the vocals on a good number of songs in your set list, as well as, perform a solo gig in between sets. In the past, I normally played about 3 to 4 (maybe 5) songs in between sets, and then you guys would return to the stage and continue from where you left off. This time, I never realized the amount of confidence and trust that you had in me to perform for over 35 minutes. My set list was not all that perfect, and I pretty much lost count of the numerous mistakes that I committed while on stage, but the appreciation and the encouragement that I received from you was more than enough for me to keep going.
As for the vocals, I will also admit that it wasn't perfect either. There were occasions where I omitted some of the lyrics, mumbled through and/or made up some words, and there were some passages where I thought I sang slightly out of tune. But considering that I came onto the stage without any prior rehearsal, I actually surprised myself. I think I nailed the vocals to "Something" by The Beatles spot on.
Again, thank you for allowing me to take part in this event. I'm hoping for more collaborations to come... :) |
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June 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Bay Area, N, California | Very Very Cool! :)
This is what more people should do is to give of themselves for others. I play down at the convalescent center once a month and I look forward to do what I can to comfort and bring some joy to their lives.
Music is a gift to share!
LM |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | I salute ya'll!!! |
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May 2008
Posts: 80
Location: On The Fringe Of Ground Zero | Hat's off to you! Next year I hope to join you. |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Jeannie,
How close are you to ground zero? My cousin has an insurance company on Beekman street. You can see and smell the fish market at South Street Seaport.He's one block away. I can't think of the name of the street that runs under the highway/FDR Drive. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Oooppsss... I forgot ...
many thanks to Andrew for helping me out. I would never have made it through if it wasn't for your assistance and backup. :) |
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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Well done! That was a very nice thing to do. I would have liked to be there, but I was leaving for vacation that day. |
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October 2006
Posts: 118
Location: Winter Haven, FL | A very worthwhile venue. Thanks for sharing with our vets. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Nice woik fellers! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by ignimbyte:
As for the vocals, I will also admit that it wasn't perfect either. There were occasions where I omitted some of the lyrics, mumbled through and/or made up some words, and there were some passages where I thought I sang slightly out of tune. But considering that I came onto the stage without any prior rehearsal, I actually surprised myself. I think I nailed the vocals to "Something" by The Beatles spot on.
That's what makes performing live in front of a crowd of people so special! |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Congrats and thanks to all who participated! We take our church choir to the James Quillin VA Hospital twice a year: we're a small group but we always get a tremendous lift from the visit; and I know the Vets/patients do as well. Listening to the stories and spending a few minutes with the patients means so much. For the ones too sick for us to be able to enter their rooms, we sing to them from the hallways. I take my Adamas 1688-5 12 string and it puts out a lot of sound as you can imagine. The staff loves having us as well as do the family members of the patients. Of course we always call in advance and ask the patients if they would like a song to two. I highly recomend it to everyone who can to go and give a little back to those who have given so much!
Thanks again folks! |
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OFC & Friends play at VA Hospital
