1969 More than a Banner Year…
A recent flashback from the Atlanta Journal Constitution offered a reminder of the impact 1969 on American society, culture, and history. It touched every corner of American society, and especially the South.
I saw this flashback in today’s AJC post. Most of you reading this were not even born, but besides the fact I graduated high school in 1969, the year turned into one of the most iconic years in modern American history. Woodstock, Vietnam, Appollo Moon-landing, and iconic TV/Movies premiered:
- The Brady Bunch …
- True Grit….
- Midnight Cowboy.
- Easy Rider.
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid…
- Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ..
- Sesame Street….
And these and other songs shot straight to the top of the charts:
The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
Joe Cocker With a Little Help From My Friends
Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River
Peter, Paul and Mary, Leaving on a Jet Plane
Blood, Sweat and Tears, Spinning Wheel
and a host of other greats…
Since 1969, movies and books have been released regarding the events that occurred in 1969…
I would have to say, 1969 became a classic year in American history and culture that still reverberates today.
Can you offer another year in modern history that could match 1969? I sure can’t…
1969 Shaped My Life too…
From Hialeah High to U. S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT where I saw my first in-person anti-war protests at the gates of the Academy. I witnessed Neil Armstrong’s “One Big Step” on the Moon and watched from a distance Woodstock footage. I saw Midnight Cowboy with Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman in the New London Cinema that summer. I sailed on the USCG Eagle that summer and learned swashbuckle terms like halyards and sheets and climbed upon the masts to haul in the sails. I played football at the Academy while Otto Graham was the Athletic Director (NFL Hall of Fame QB, Cleveland Browns). And shared a special date with a pretty young local girl that I would never forget. The images and sounds of 1969 filled our barracks then, and still offer a reminder of that iconic year and its lasting impact only life.
Our Past Shapes Our Future
I can honestly state that an author cannot write stories removed from their personal experiences and history. The good, bad, and the ugly leave an indelible mark upon the soul that finds its way onto the pages of the books any author writes. That explains my love of history and time-lost small rural towns with its colorful characters dealing with modern challenges and threats. It also explains my appreciation and love of family and close friends. Life is not meant to be a lonesome, isolated journey. Our strength of character comes from our relationships along the way.
Order one or more of Mike’s novels this summer
Click either image to order one or more of Mike’s books. And please tell a friend!
