Billy Joins the Navy

With Memorial Day Weekend coming up, I had a idea. I got all my old photos of when I was in the Navy and made a video out of them. I loved making it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

May Flowers

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I'm having fun making these videos. This is my way of Creating Something. I don't even know what the video is going to look like in the end. That's what makes it so much fun. It's kind of a mystery until you are done with it. I hope you enjoy this one.

Happy Mother's Day

 I wanted to capture some of the beautiful memories of my Mom and growing up.

The beginning of this video starts off with some of my favorites pictures of my Mom holding me up back in 1945 when I was born. She took her life when I was 17 years old, but I never stop loving her. There is a saying that I heard one time that is one of my favorite: "If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever." I feel that Mom is still holding me up and watching over me.

 I am extremely proud of this video and the opportunity to be able to put it on Oprah's site so all can get a glimpse of my Mom here on Mother's Day.

Senate Bill 173 Defeated!

There was a reason why I posted my article about myself and about Schaumburg Township on my blog: Disabled in Schaumburg, "A Township You Should Know About"

At the last minute, I found out from Schaumburg Disabled Services that Senator Terry Link sponsored a bill; Senate Bill 173 down in Springfield Illinois. He tried to sneak it in without anybody knowing about it here in Schaumburg. This legislation would have created an appointed commission with extraordinary authority to abolish potentially thousands of local government entities. In other words they could have abolished Schaumburg Township where I live. We could not let that happen. So I did my part and wrote up my story about my plight and how the Schaumburg Township has helped me out through all the hard times since I moved here in 1985. I couldn't have survived without them.

Well, yesterday while I was at my Disabled meeting at the Schaumburg Township, they told me that the "Senate Bill 173 was DEFEATED" by 14 to 30 not in favor of the bill.

I was thrilled that it had failed in the Senate. Now I don't have to think about losing my great Township, not for a while anyway. I will always be there to defend my township. Just say the word and I'll be there.

William Kaufman

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Today Was No Ordinary Day for Me

Let me explain.


I had an appointment with my doctor at the Hines Veterans Hospital here in Illinois this morning. It was just a routine follow up. As I entered the grounds, I noticed all these American flags on each side of the road leading to the Hospital. There must have been over a hundred of these flags. "They must be celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, " I thought to myself. I parked and went to get a blood test first. Everything checked out OK. Then I went up and saw the doctor. That too went well.

After my checkup I asked my doctor where the medical records department was. I needed a copies of my V.A.medical records for my outside doctor that I also see. He told me where it was and I went down to get them. This woman came up to me and asked if she could help. I said yes and I told her what I needed. As I was filling out this form she noticed my name. With a smile on her face she said, "This is as close to seeing another "Kaufman" as I ever will. I didn't know what she meant at first but then she said that her last name was "Kaufman" too. We both were smiling by then and we got to talking.

After I was through getting copies of my medical records, she told me about "The Flag Stitching Ceremony" that they had going on in the Auditorium just down the hall. Her eyes were all lit up and she seemed excited while telling me about it. I didn't know what she was talking about but I had to go check it out. There were signs all over pointing the way to the Flag Sewing. When I got there, I saw this huge old American flag draped across the stage. It was the remnants of the 30-foot American flag that was found hung, torn, tattered, and blowing in the wind on Sept 11th 2001 at 90 West Street across from Ground Zero. WOW!!!

There were people standing there waiting in line. I found out that this flag has been going around the country. They are repairing this flag. Each person standing in line got to put one stitch in the Flag. As I stood there waiting for my turn to put my stitch in the 9/11 Flag, I couldn't help thinking what a perfect way to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden. I was proud of myself when I took that needle and put my stitch in Our Flag. It was only one stitch but I was proud.

They must be keeping a record of everybody that is participating because they made me fill out a card with my name and address. And then when they gave me the needle to put my stitch in the flag they took my picture. They did that to everybody that helped sew the 9/11 Flag.

Once the flag is restored and made whole again. The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center. What a privilege it was for me to put my stitch in the 9/11 Flag.

http://national911flag.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/N9F-Press-Release-Illinois.pdf

http://national911flag.org/
http://national911flag.org/?page_id=44

A Proud American
William Kaufman




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