The Pride of Philadelphia

Army Navy - Echoes of Pride in Philadelphia

2006-12-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

“I want an officer for a...dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player.” (General George C. Marshall, U.S. Army, 1942).

Twenty five years after Marshall said it, those words echoed back into the mind of Major Donald Holleder. The helicopter he was riding in suddenly had given him an unwanted birdseye view of a horrifying scene down below. In October of 1967, in a field near Ong Thanh, Viet Nam, two U.S. Army rifle companies were being ambushed by North Vietnamese regulars. Outnumbered four to one, his comrades were sitting ducks.

“Get me down. Get me down now !!” Holleder screamed at his commanding officer. Author David Maraniss would later describe him as an “untamed mustang.” When finally given permission to land, he burst out of the chopper, grabbed a .45 pistol and began running hell-bent across an open field toward the bloody jungle.

He motioned for the few soldiers who had landed with him to follow. He looked back over his shoulder and watched as the guys immediately fell in formation behind him and ran toward the enemy.

Although Major Holleder rarely talked about his days as a West Point football player, he couldn’t help but flashback to it now. He had the same feeling he had eleven years ago, when as the All American captain of the Army football team, he had also looked back over his shoulder. On that day, he saw his team mates follow him onto Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium field against a heavily favored Navy team.

Although the stakes were vastly different, he felt the same pride now that he did then. That memory gave him a moment of peace and confidence. Just then, a single sniper bullet cracked the sky, shattered the moment, and echoed across the field.

Read the rest of the story and see the photos at http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/onceuponatime/armynavy.html

Philadelphia Art by William Ressler

2006-11-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

"Liberty Trot"

The Pride of Philadelphia.com is very proud to showcase the artwork of William C. Ressler. He truly loves Philadelphia and has been creating beautiful paintings of our City for more than forty years.

To go to the Pride of Philadelphia Collection go to

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/prideofphilacollection.html

Philadelphia Hosts"Greatest Fight In Boxing History" Dempsey vs. Tunney - But Was It Fixed ?

2006-11-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

www.ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

To see all the amazing photographs with this story, read it here: http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/onceuponatime/dempseyvstunney.html

Heart of a Cheerful Servant - Alex Scott & Family

2006-11-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

Alex Scott & Family

Welcome to Alex's Lemonade Stand

Not A Bitter Lemon In The Bunch

From ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

Alexandra “Alex” Scott was born on January 18, 1996. Her Dad and Mom are Jay and Liz Scott, originally from Manchester, Connecticut, but now from right here in Wynnewood.

Before they could even celebrate Alex’s first birthday, the Scotts were dealt a bitter blow. They were told that Alex was inflicted with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. Even if she beat the cancer, which was unlikely, she would never walk.

Somebody forgot to tell Alex. A few weeks after that diagnosis, at her parents’ urging, Alex moved her leg. A tell-tale sign that the Scotts had a fighter – in what would prove to be a family of fighters - on their hands.

The ensuing months gave rise to hope in the Scotts. Not based on any better diagnosis. No, the hope was built on just watching Alex. They were bearing witness to one gritty and determined spirit. Alex pushed herself – first to crawl; and then with the help of leg braces, to stand up. She didn’t stop there; she wasn’t stoppin’ til she was walkin’.

And sure enough, she did.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/heartofcheerfulservant/alexscott.html

Giant of Philadelphia - Marian Anderson

2006-11-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

A Voice That Comes Along Every Hundred Years...

...And Echoes Forever

See Other Features Like This at

www.ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

At the Union Baptist Church at Fitzwater and Martin streets in South Philadelphia, they taught Marian Anderson how to pray on her knees. As it turned out, the young Marian would have to spend a lot time on her knees.

When her father and grandfather passed away, Marian was forced to forego her education to help support her family. Both Marian and her mother had to take on any work they could find. For Marian, that meant scrubbing a lot of floors – on her knees.

Most of us wouldn’t find much joy in that – or certainly anything to sing about. And a lot of us would lose our dignity. But Marian Anderson wasn’t like most of us. And not by a little bit.
It was while on her knees - on those dirty floors - that Marian Anderson taught herself to lift up the songs in her heart and the dreams of her soul. And big songs and big dreams they were.

They were “Giant” size.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/theheartsofagiant/mariananderson.html

Giant of Philadelphia - Judge Edward Becker

2006-11-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

A Philadelphia Giant
…Who Never Got Too Big for his Britches
…And Never Forgot Where He Came From…

See Other Features Like THia at

www.ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

He was that guy who looked you in the eye and smiled as he sat down next to you on the el. Nothing special about him - not so as you would notice. Rode the el everyday wearing the same run of the mill cloth coat and funny looking hat. You think to yourself - in life there are show horses and work horses - this guy ain't no show horse.

Kind of old fashioned, you'd seen him offer a lady his seat when the el was standing room only. Friendly and quick with a joke if spoken to but pretty much kept to himself. Spent most of the ride reading and oh yea, if you listened hard enough, you'd swear he was humming or whistling under his breath. Pretty good ear for music.

The guy was like clock work - but he's not in his seat today. The conductor tells you, after thirty years, just like that - he won't be riding this el anymore. Something about him made you feel like you knew him, but you really didn't. So, who was that guy ?

His name was "Eddie" Becker. You come to find out that none other than Senator Arlen Specter describes him as "one of America's most respected and admired judges and one of the greatest Philadelphians in our city's history." You ask yourself - 'who, that guy?' He seemed like just an everyday guy. He certainly didn't act like a bigshot.

That's why he's a "Giant" of Philadelphia.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/theheartsofagiant/judgeedwardbecker.html

Giant of Philadelphia - John Chaney

2006-11-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

Never Lived in a Mansion

But He's Got Diamonds...

...and Diamonds Are Forever

See Other Features Like This at

www.ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

John Chaney didn’t grow up in a mansion, that’s for sure. He grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., with his mother, stepfather, stepbrother and stepsister. His mom worked in other people’s homes making very modest pay. The house wasn’t anything to brag about. It would often flood due to the heavy Florida rains. "There were frogs in the house," he exclaims.

The family soon moved to Philadelphia. Not many frogs there. What he saw jumpin’ were basketball players. And pretty good ones at that. He played on the streets with legends we’ve all heard of – like Wilt Chamberlain – and those we’ve never heard of. John remembers all of them.

You can imagine the dreams that filled the heart and soul of the fourteen year old. Developing his talents, watching his game become as good as anybody’s. Dreaming big dreams…

He attended Ben Franklin High, where he came under coach Sam Browne. He calls Browne, “my great white father.” Father Browne could coach, too. And that good coaching didn’t fall on deaf ears. Before John Chaney was a good teacher, he was a good student. Together, they polished John’s street game into something very special. John Chaney became the Public League Player of the Year in 1951.

Best player in the city. Opportunity’s gonna come a-knockin.’ Look out dreams, here I come.

…But nobody came.

To read the rest of the story go here:

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/theheartsofagiant/johnchaney.html

Sacred Ground - A Philadelphia Company & A 9/11 Story You Haven't Heard

2006-11-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

A Philadelphia Connection to

A 9/11 Story You Haven’t Heard

See Other Features Like This at

www.ThePrideofPhiladelphia.com

MARCOR Remediation, Inc. is a national contractor specializing in environmental remediation and disaster recovery. Mark Klotzbach, Senior Project Manager, is a Villanova Engineering grad now living in Valley Forge. He was the Unsung Hero for MARCOR, leading their efforts as they responded to the World Trade Center Disaster.

Over its twenty- seven year history, MARCOR has been involved in many Disaster Recovery projects before.

“But not like this one…this one was different”…

To read the rest of the story go here:

http://www.theprideofphiladelphia.com/onceuponatime/sacredground.html