“News from the Hut”
for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
by Gary Lanham

Today in 1876 Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call. He found a way of converting words into electrical current and back again and sent his first message using his new variable-liquid resistance transmitter. Bell’s telephone caused the current to vary smoothly in proportion to the pressure created on a microphone by human speech and got a patent. His assistant, in an adjoining room in Boston, heard Bell say over the experimental device: “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” On a page from his notebook, dated March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell described the first successful experiment with the telephone. Bell wrote: “I then shouted into M (the mouthpiece) the following sentence: ‘Mr. Watson—come here—I want to see you.’ To my delight he came and declared that he had heard and understood what I said.” (This Day in Military History)

Most folks don’t realize how that day has affected all of us. From that beginning words and data have been communicated over wire, air, and light. Some of the things we use every day and take for granted began then. That text you send, the Face Book funny video clip you shared and laughed about, all from this day in 1876. In my military career telecommunication meant information dissemination, and ultimately information is a weapon. During the Soviet threat many were concerned that a nuclear blast could do so much more than physical damage, it would create an Electro-Magnetic Pulse or Force (EMP-EMF) interfering with all exposed electronic information. Every measure has a counter measure. Fiber optics in manhole and conduit systems was the answer. USAF bases got rid of telephone pole and placed communication over “glass” with light carrying the information.

In our town we get our information from the local phone company, satellite dish broadcast, towers with antennas, and even systems in our automobiles.  Of course we also rely on what Alexander relied on before he started what he did; our local newspaper!

Jerry Sebert’s chicken noodles were a big hit last week at the Thursday meeting. While I languished over European and Mexican cuisine I secretly was envious of the crew at the Hominy meeting. You just have to experience it once to know how good Chef Jerry makes it! I heard there was plenty discussion on spiffing things up around the Hut. Painting and a few fix ups are in the plans and I heard a few “Sitting Benches” with Legion and Auxiliary emblems are in the works!

Don’t forget our regular meetings continue the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM (March 17^th). Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings in March are still scheduled for biscuits and gravy and maybe a waffle or two and always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). Keep your eye on the weather in case things have to be postponed. That will be most likely if the temperatures hit freezing. If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at website “americanlegion142.org”.