SEPTEMBER 2025

Remembering Brian Piccolo

- His Enduring Legacy - 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Every Autumn marks a new season of NFL Football and a chance to reminisce about favorite or special players while being optimistic about your favorite team's prospects for gridiron success.  This month we honor the memory of Brian Piccolo (Oct 31, 1943 - Jun 16, 1970) who was an NFL running back for the Chicago Bears for four years and played collegiate football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.  Piccolo's life story transcended the gridiron as he was a role model of courage for his heroic battle against cancer and raising public awareness about this dreaded disease.  As a collegian Piccolo led the nation in rushing and scoring in his senior year, finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy balloting.  As an NFL player, he played on special teams and largely in a reserve role at running back.

His biography, Brian Piccolo: A Short Season, was written in 1971 by award winning journalist Jeannie Morris whose husband was Johnny Morris, a Bears record setting receiver and teammate of Piccolo.  This book helped to not only upgrade the sports biography genre in a respectful but insightful manner, but with its female author helped to break glass ceilings in both the publishing and sports journalism fields.  Its title reflects dual tracking themes: (1) Piccolo's short life span and (2) career statistics typically associated with a single season - 5 touchdowns (4 running, 1 receiving), 927 yards rushing and 537 yards receiving.  He exemplified mastery of fundamentals - blocking techniques, disciplined running routes, film study and consistent effort on special teams.  On a personal level, Piccolo showed leadership through character - unwavering optimism, genuine camaraderie and selflessness.  His best statistical year was 1968 in which he rushed for 450 yards on 123 carries (a 3.7 average), two touchdowns and 28 receptions for 291 yards (a 10.4 average).  It was during this season that Piccolo stepped up after injuries depleted the Bears backfield by delivering decisive touchdowns in tight contests while maintaining constant physical and mental readiness to answer any call - even on short notice.  Piccolo's toughness in critical moments and integrity helped keep the Bears competitive while showing them what could be achieved when working together.  The 1968 Bears showed unheralded resilience that reflected Piccolo's intensity and grit.  On a team largely recalled for its Hall of Fame players Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, it was Piccolo who inspired the Bears' refusal to quit in the face of enormous adversity.   It was this same mindset that Piccolo later brought forth in his battle against cancer.  In sum, Brian Piccolo's story offers insights into the lives and careers of the vast number of men who make up professional football's rank and file.

Brian Piccolo: A Short Season is truly a worthwhile read. Jeannie Morris, at the request of Joy Piccolo (Brian's widow) was able to complete this book originally started by Brian, thereby giving us a poignant, insightful and ultimately inspiring biography.  There are a vast number of passages throughout the book in italicized font which are the words and thoughts expressed by Brian Piccolo himself (all recorded on tape) as he reflected upon his love for his wife Joy and their three daughters Lori, Traci and Kristi.  His non defeatist attitude in battling cancer, love for family, football and his teammates resonates deeply as it illustrates a spiritual man whose record as a human being far exceeds any statistical metric that measures gridiron performance.

To close this tribute to Brian Piccolo as we embark on a new NFL season, here is an excerpt from the foreword of the book we have highlighted.  Teammate and friend, Johnny Morris, wrote the following:

"Brian Piccolo was a friend and former Chicago Bear teammate who lost a seven-month battle to cancer. Pic was one of those 'special' people, a man with solid character and a wholesome sensitivity towards others......Brian had to overcome many obstacles to achieve success.  During his short life he sustained his share of disappointments, but rarely complained.  Pic was a fan's ballplayer, a coach's ballplayer, but above all, a ballplayer's ballplayer.  Brian Piccolo made it to the top at 26." 

Please join us here at Galaxy Nostalgia Network in starting the NFL Season with a salute to the life and legacy of Brian Piccolo.

NOTE: All photographs are from the Public Domain.

 

AUGUST 2025

Honor the Past ~ Embrace the Future

- 250th Birthday of the US Marine Corps - 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This year marks the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  Founded on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Marines are the "Nine-One-One" unit of the US Armed Forces.  Historically, the Marines have been known for its rapid deployment capability to be anywhere in the world at any time, and usually in expeditionary if not harsh environments.  On any given day, there are nearly 38,000 Marines around the globe always ready to do whatever it takes to make a positive difference in combat as well as humanitarian missions.  Like the ancient Spartans, the Marines have shown remarkable adaptability and willingness to win against any adversary and against all odds.

Marines have come from all walks of life and all backgrounds united in their core values of honor, courage and commitment.  Throughout its 250 years, the Marines have played an invaluable role in American history in securing and protecting our nation's freedoms: from the shores of Tripoli to the battlefields of the European and Pacific Theaters in World War II, from the Coldest Winter in Korea to the jungles of Southeast Asia and the rugged terrain of the Middle East.  In all of these places and more, the Marines have shown unparalleled courage and sacrifice.  Baby Boomers have witnessed the enormous contributions of the Marines in several of the aforementioned venues and can appreciate the spirit that "Once a Marine, always a Marine" as their leadership and experience acquired in military service has transitioned into business and in local communities.

For 250 years, the United States Marines Corps have exemplified its motto "Semper Fidelis" or "Always Faithful."  As a published author on US Marine Corps aviation history, I can personally attest to many examples of how the Corps has honored its glorious past while helping to advance the future.  If any reader would like copies or access to my published work, please contact me at: Haloulakos@gmail.com  In the meantime, please join us here at the Galaxy Nostalgia Network in celebrating the Marine Corps faithful service to our great nation.

NOTE: All photos are from the Public Domain.

 

JULY 2025

FALA

- Our Favorite Presidential Pet - 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Baby Boomers fondly recall from studying 1940s American History that a very special dog was a popular if not important figure during those times.  Fala, the Scottish Terrier, was the personal pet and constant companion to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and provided a pleasant diversion if not a morale booster to a nation embroiled in World War II.  He traveled everywhere with the President including long historic journeys (e.g., Atlantic Charter Conference in Newfoundland with Prime Minister Winston Churchill), visiting President Camacho in Monterey, Mexico plus nationwide inspection tours of various US defense plants, the Quebec Conferences and even a sea trip to the Aleutian Islands!  Fala can also be seen on film in newsreels highlighting FDR's 1944 meeting in Hawaii with General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz.

A constant presence in the Oval Office, the dog received thousands of letters from people and had a special secretary to answer his mail.  Fala was the poster dog for the US Army promoting its K9 Corp with the honorary rank of private as well as a symbol for war bond drives.  When FDR passed away in 1945, Fala was photographed attending his beloved master's graveside burial.  Fala was so popular that there are three (3) statues in his honor: the most notable is Fala next to his owner, President Roosevelt at the memorial dedicated to the 32nd US President in Washington, D.C., with another statue placed at Puerto Rico's "Paseo de los Presidentes" in San Juan and a third statue at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY.

 

Fala (April 7, 1940 - April 5, 1952) -- was presented at age four months to President Roosevelt -- with an official American Kennel Club name of "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill" after a Scottish ancestor.  However, over time the nickname "Fala" was the one used by FDR and the public.  When Fala became a member of the Roosevelt family in the White House, he came with the ability to do simple tricks: sit, roll over, jump and curl his lip into a smile!  In 1942, a film was made about Fala and his life in Hyde Park and is now shown to the many visitors to the Roosevelt Library and Museum.  Needless to say, FDR and Fala were inseparable.  In the years following FDR's passing, Fala became the companion of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt residing quietly in Val-Kill, Hyde Park until his passing in 1952.  America's favorite presidential pet is buried just a few feet away from his master and mistress with a memorial visited by thousands of dog lovers each year.  It is a stirring reminder of how the love of, and for a precious pet, leaves pawprints on our hearts.

There is a wealth of content on this amazing dog to be found on the Internet from the National Park Service, the FDR Presidential Museum, classic 1940s newsreel footage and many other sources.  If you have special memories and thoughts about Fala, please share them on the GNN FACEBOOK page or by writing to me directly at: Haloulakos@gmail.com

NOTES: All photos are from the public domain. 

 

JUNE 2025

KENNY WASHINGTON

- A Trailblazer for All Seasons - 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

The National Football League (NFL) has truly become a sport that is avidly followed all year round, in large part due to the enormous if not insatiable worldwide fan interest by Baby Boomers.  Since this popularity has reached its zenith during what is termed the "Super Bowl" era (i.e., everything after January 1967 to date) there is a noticeable lack of fan awareness about the rich history of the NFL gridiron beforehand.  This month at Galaxy Nostalgia Network, we celebrate the inspired life of a truly great man -- Kenny Washington -- who is one of the most important trailblazers in the annals of American sports history.  Mr. Washington was the first African-American to sign a contract with an NFL team in the post-World War II era, thereby breaking the league's color barrier in 1946, one year before his fellow college teammate Jackie Robinson did the same in Major League Baseball!  Kenny Washington's life is a testament to strength of character, talent and resilience.  He overcame enormous adversity with grace, perseverance, dignity and honor.

A native Southern Californian who was born August 31, 1918, Mr. Washington played collegiate football at UCLA for three years from 1937-39 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1940.  As a left half-back -- which in the era of the single-wing offense required both prolific running and passing skills -- Mr. Washington achieved consensus All-American status by leading the nation in total offense while piloting the Bruins to an undefeated season in his senior year.  Institutional racial barriers initially kept Kenny Washington out of the NFL, so he played professionally for the Hollywood Bears, a minor league team, and then made history by signing with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL where he played three years from 1946-48.  During his time with the Hollywood Bears, Washington was paid on par with the NFL players of the day and he also worked as a Los Angeles police officer on the side.  Two serious knee operations slowed him down (thereby shortening his professional gridiron career) and kept him out of World War II.  Beyond the gridiron, he worked in public relations and as a baseball scout (reflecting his equally outstanding collegiate baseball prowess).  Of historic note, Washington's signing with the LA Rams marked the reintegration of the NFL (after twelve years of segregation) and thus helped usher in a new era of integration in sports after World War II.

There is much, much more to Mr. Washington's life story -- especially during the World War II years -- including his playing for yet another minor league team (San Francisco Clippers) as well as serving as a sports ambassador playing exhibition games for the USO (United Service Organization) while visiting the troops!  His legacy both on-and-off the gridiron has been commemorated with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Court of Honor and since 1949 his alma mater (Abraham Lincoln High School) annually awarding the Kenny Washington Trophy to the school's best football player!  This is a testimony to resilience, integrity, skill, and commitment to excellence.  In sum, Kenny Washington, is/was a trailblazer for all seasons, paving the way for generations of future athletes.  He passed away June 24, 1971 and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California with the inscription "Our Loved One." (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91537146/kenny-washington)

To learn more about this remarkable man, here are some books about Kenny Washington:

> Walking Alone: The Untold Journey of Football Pioneer Kenny Washington.  By Dan Taylor.

> The Black Bruins: The Untold Lives of UCLA's Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington and Ray Bartlett.  By James W. Johnson.

> The Forgotten First: Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, and the Breaking of the NFL Color Barrier.  By Keyshawn Johnson and Bob Glauber.

During this month of June, the anniversary of Kenny Washington's passing, please join us here at the Galaxy Nostalgia Network in saluting the life and legacy of this gridiron trailblazing pioneer.  Share your memories and thoughts by posting on the GNN FACEBOOK page or by writing to me directly at: Haloulakos@gmail.com

NOTES: (1) All photos are from the public domain.  (2) Special thanks to Dr. Herbert G. Ruffin III, History Professor at Syracuse University for his recommended reading list.

 

MAY 2025

VE DAY - 80th Anniversary

Saluting the Flying Fortress 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

May 8th marks the 80th Anniversary of the Allied Victory that ended World War II in Europe.  In honor of this landmark event, we salute the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, perhaps the most impactful, iconic American bomber in the European Theater of World War II.  Although the B-17 did not end World War II (that distinction goes to the B-29 Superfortress), nor did it have the range, speed, or payload of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, or the firepower of the Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster (aka "The Dam Buster"), the Flying Fortress nevertheless holds legendary status as the preeminent symbol of America's aerial prowess during World War II.  This has been embedded into the consciousness of multiple generations with media productions such as "Twelve O'Clock High" (film & TV), "The Memphis Belle" and many others.

 

 

The B-17 Flying Fortress was a decisive asset for the Allies because of its workhorse status in dropping the most ordnance versus any other aircraft during the war - in the deepest, most well defended territories of the adversary - while also being able to sustain heavy damage in battle.  This latter attribute is the one that was most endearing to the pilots and crews of the Flying Fortress.  To borrow the advertising slogan from Timex Wristwatch, the B-17 Flying Fortress could really take a beating and keep on ticking!  While this was immortalized in newsprint cartoon format, the legend was based upon actual combat footage of many damaged B-17 bomber aircraft that endured severe punishment that destroyed most other aircraft.  The most well known group to fly the B-17 Flying Fort was the US Eighth Air Force (aka "The Mighty Eighth") based out of England.

 

 

The Allied Forces were able to maximize the B-17's defensive and offensive firepower with its Box formation: staggered three-bomber formations with squadrons staggered within the group.  Each group was headed by a lead bombardier, dropping their ordnance at the same moment while each aircraft stayed in formation.  Along with its combat durability, the B-17 had a reputation for being relatively easier to fly and taxi versus other bombers.  Having long range fighter escorts such as the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang enabled the Flying Fortress to absorb brutal anti-aircraft attacks and return home with at least some of its crew members alive.  In all, 12,731 B-17 airframes were produced, making it the third-most produced bomber aircraft of all time, behind the B-24 Liberator and Luftwaffe's Junkers Ju-88.  As such, the Flying Fortress not only was a crucial capital asset in helping to achieve victory for the Allied Forces in Europe, but a technology and manufacturing driver for the American economy that produced enormous benefits and advancements for decades thereafter.

 

 

But the most impressive aspect of the B-17 Flying Fortress was the unparalleled courage of its pilots and crew members.  Despite the aforementioned capabilities and escort fighter support, the B-17s only had a 25% to 33% chance of surviving the 25 missions necessary to complete their tour.  With the average age for B-17 crew at 24 years or less, and being assigned to the busiest regions of the adversary, these brave young men pushed onward and did whatever was needed to complete their missions in the face of enormous odds.  All gave some, but many gave all by giving their last measure of full devotion in combat.  It is no wonder that after 80 years it remains difficult to fully express gratitude for the incalculable sacrifice given in defense of freedom that is symbolized by the Flying Fortress.

As a published author on military aviation, it has been my privilege and honor to have interviewed B-17 pilots and crew members who helped achieve Victory in Europe during World War II.  To those heroes who have now taken their final flight into Heaven, please join me in saluting them with heartfelt thanks and the call sign "CAVU" - Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited.  Do you have any special memories or thoughts concerning VE Day?  If so, please share them by either posting to the Galaxy FACEBOOK page or writing directly to me at: Haloulakos@gmail.com

Note: All photographs are from the Public Domain.

___

 

APRIL 2025

THE RITES OF SPRING 

AND COMING OF AGE

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

In the early 1990s, filmmaker Ken Burns included extensive interviews with Pulitzer Prize winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for his documentary on the history of baseball.  Ms. Goodwin shared her childhood love for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the ensuing public interest provided the impetus for her 1997 memoir Wait Till Next Year.  In this unusually poignant and moving book, Goodwin harnesses her research and writing skills as a historian to recreate the post World War II era of New York City as she recounts growing up in love with her family and baseball.  Baby Boomers will recall this as a time when the neighborhood establishments (e.g., drug store, butcher shop, soda fountain, churches plus various other public venues) were the places to share stories while neighborhoods were equally divided between fans of the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees.  Children would gather in the neighborhood streets to play from daybreak to dusk. What makes this a compelling read is how Goodwin's personal history is woven into the tapestry of her family, friends, neighbors and fellow church goers with the major events of the 1950s along with the decade-long dominance by the three New York MLB teams (1947-1956) as a backdrop to mark the passage of time.

Goodwin found that sharing her experience as a baseball fan could not be shared without telling about her life as a young girl reaching adolescence during the decade popularly remembered as the "Fabulous Fifties."  In this first person narrative Goodwin enables the reader to meet her wonderful parents: her mother who instilled in her a lifetime love for reading but was largely housebound due to a debilitating illness, and her father who taught her the joy of baseball (including how to keep a written record of fandom with score books) while encouraging her to be self-reliant while respectfully bringing her voice to any conversation anywhere at anytime!  The reader also gets to know Goodwin's two sisters, schoolmates, friends, neighbors, teachers and storekeepers.  Wait Till Next Year definitely evokes a "you are there" feeling but without being overly nostalgic.  What emerges is that Goodwin's childhood paralleled the ten-year career of her favorite player, Jackie Robinson, spanning 1947-1956.  Goodwin observed that the news of Jackie Robinson's retirement in January 1957 left her feeling empty as his career had been her childhood.  But this feeling of emptiness would soon give way to deep personal grief.  The passing of Goodwin's mother shortly after Robinson's retirement marked not the only end of her own childhood but occurred at the closure of a classic baseball era as the Dodgers (along with the Giants) left New York to relocate to the West Coast that very same year.  

  

Like every Baby Boomer, there are moments of joy, sadness, wonderment, frustration and all the feelings connected with coming of age that are all recounted in a personal but respectful tone.  For Goodwin, it was a time when neighbors formed an extended family, television was young and the street a common playground while the great festivals of the Roman Catholic Church and the seasonal imperatives of baseball combined to produce in her a lifelong passion for history, ceremony and ritual.  There is much more, but hopefully this may inspire you to read Wait Till Next Year as a way to celebrate Springtime along with yet another new season of baseball.  Goodwin's memoir is a unique time capsule that provides context for her childhood adventures at a very special time and circumstance in our nation's history.  In a sense, her story becomes our story, and we are all the better for having experienced it through her masterful narrative.

NOTE: Photos are from the public domain.

 

MARCH 2025

BABY BOOMERS 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Meet Colleen MacFarlane

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

Baby Boomers provide a living bridge between vastly different worlds.  Childhood was spent largely outdoors (often without in-person adult supervision) with neighborhood friends creating their own entertainment and developing life skills based on imagination plus hands-on, physical activity that included bike riding, playing ball, making handcrafts as well taking care of family pets (dogs, cats, guinea pigs and even exotic pets such as turtles).   As Boomers came of age, there were no mobile phones or Internet access for mass markets.  Personal computers (PCs) were in the very early stages of being introduced into the workplace.  No DVDs or streaming, but video cassette tapes, recorders and players were starting to emerge as "must have" consumer products in the 1980s.   Boomers were fully immersed into carving out significant corporate careers, and then following up with creating their own business enterprises or reinventing themselves several times over by starting entirely new professional and personal pursuits while building households, raising families and caring for aging loved ones.  Now fifty years later, we are a generation that has helped usher our parents into that "long day's journey into night," have seen children grow up and move on with their own lives while we now approach the end of our careers and our young selves are gone forever.  Yet Boomers have remained resilient by preserving time-honored traditions from the past while also helping to advance the future by passing along wisdom acquired through lifelong experiences.  This is the overarching theme addressed in this special Blog and accompanying GNN podcasts.

 

 

This month, Galaxy Nostalgia Network features two podcasts in which we interview published author Colleen MacFarlane.  Through the prism of Colleen's published work, we are able to reconnect with fun, meaningful pastimes we enjoyed as children while also gaining deeper insights and clarity on life issues that were often shrouded in mystery, misinformation or both.  Colleen's lifetime reflects a treasure trove of experience and wisdom that she has successfully translated into deeper, practical understanding about a wide variety of subjects: people with disabilities, genealogy, how our precious pets become part of our family, financial literacy, fun with a purpose through solving puzzles and word games, giving of herself by helping other aspiring authors, and connecting with people of different backgrounds and generations through sharing recipes plus do-it-yourself arts and crafts.

 

As one who has read much of Colleen's work (my personal favorite is Ivy's Epilepsy -- a story that helps us understand about people with disabilities and how pets can improve our overall well being) and given the honor to lead these conversations, I can fully attest that you will truly enjoy listening to her keen insights and humble testimony on how we can all make a difference through kindness to others.  The takeaway or realization from Colleen's testimony, is that learning never stops and life abounds with opportunities for each of us to be at our personal best.  Please join us for these very special podcasts featuring our conversations with this truly extraordinary person, Colleen MacFarlane.

 

 

We also invite you to learn more about Colleen by visiting her website at:  https://www.colleenbooks.com/