You've heard of "My Documents"...this is "My Page"!

December 16, 2011 IDVA Class of Veterans of the Month

I was raised in Milwaukee where I attended private school (Mother of Perpetual Help and Messmer HS). I am the widow of Frank Connolly with two grown sons that are former marines.I am a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and a retired state employee as a programmer for the IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of Jan 1, 2014. Military Service History

USAF 1972-1995

1973-1975 Barksdale AFB, LA;

1975-1977 RAF Lakenheath England UK;

1977-1981 Ellsworth AFB, SD;

1981-1985 Lowery AFB, CO;

1985-1990 Tinker AFB, OK (TDY to Saudi Arabia);

1990-1993 Allied Forces So. Europe NATO, IT;

1993-1995 Los Angeles AFB, CA

I graduated from SIUE in 1999 with a dual major in Human Resources and Information Technology.

I was named Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Veteranof the Month in March 2011 (the award has since been renamed Abraham Lincoln Veteran Champion Award). This photo is the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs ceremony celebrating the Class of 2011 Veterans of the Month held at the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago on December 16, 2011.

I belong to ABATE, VFW 755, American Legion Post 759, AmVets Post 61, Womens Overseas Service League, Air Force Sergeants Association, Catholic War Veterans Post 1916, WAF Association, Patriot Guard Rider , DAR and Soldiers Angels.

I have been a volunteer at the Old State Capitol giving my first tour to boy scouts in April 2000. Normally I try to participate monthly but more frequently since retiring. I became a Certified Interpretive Guide in May 2014 after having taken the class last January at my own expense.

I am a member of the Soldiers Aid Society (http://soldiersaid.yolasite.com/). I also administer the 114th Illinois Regiment’s website (http://114thillinois.yolasite.com/) and their facebook.

I am a first person presenter of Mrs. Major Belle Reynolds

http://ivetret.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-portrayal-of-mrs-major-belle.html

and have helped with "History Comes Alive: Distant Memories".

Script for Distant Memories

I’m a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Other sites that I have

It's Not About Me--It's about You

Don't think of it as getting hot flashes. Think of it as your inner child playing with matches. Feel free to click the easy button.

Riding makes me feel like Rose on the bow of the Titanic with arms spread out. But it is NOT Jack holding my arms to those handlebars but someone higher. Rose is feeling like she's flying but eventually she goes down with the ship and unfortunately survives to a ripe old age while others lost their lives including her true love. How unfortunate and traumatic a life for the survivor.

"I'd rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle."

__________________

"Every morning in Africa the fastest lion wakes and knows that it has to outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. That same morning the slowest gazelle wakes knowing that it must outrun the fastest lion or it

will be eaten. Whether you are the lion or gazelle, every morning you better be running."

I have a lifetime membership with Soldiers Angels which they decided to end in November 2016. That may be my exit strategy.