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Veterans, charities and schools join in the harvest
Charities around the area share in the bounty of the MelonMan's harvest.
By Bob Dwyer
September 4, 2001
Our third 200 plus pound melon has been harvested this season weighing a whopping 215 pounds! The five vines have produced eight melons with one left growing. The weights have been astounding given the poor growing season (170, 188, 190, 194, 195, 200, 205 & 215 for a patch average of 195 pounds so far). Stay tuned!!!
The season is coming to an end and we want to extend thanks to all that have helped make this a successful year. We have received so many nice emails that it has been difficult to keep up with. All email will be answered but maybe slow until our giants have been properly attended to. We'd like to share the following letter in hopes that others are making a difference in their communities through volunteer sharing and caring.
 Dear Bob:
Thank you for the donation of the 200+ pound watermelon for residents of the Missouri Veterans Home at Cape Girardeau. It has caused more of a "stir" in the lobby than anything else I can remember over nearly 10 years.
The 146 men and 4 women Veterans here represent nearly 1,000 years of military service and participation in nearly 2,000 land, sea and air battles from WWII through Vietnam. (Our last WWI Veterans died last year at the ages of 104 and 105.) Some are here as a result of wounds suffered in those battles.
The new enemies of these Patriots are those common to all long term care facilities: loneliness, helplessness and boredom. We battle these new enemies with the activities, games, parties, special events and outings that cash, time and other donations allow us to provide.
The Veterans here appreciate your thoughtfulness. Such kindness and generosity is also a reminder to them that people think of them and care about them and appreciate their service to America.
Sincerely,
Ken Lipps
Volunteer Services
Missouri Veterans Home
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 Our neighbors, Randy Riley and Todd Williams, were recruited to hoist several of our giants from the field this year. This giant weighed 205 pounds and put them to the test. Their youth & strength prevailed.
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 Tommy Smith (LaBelle Plant World Inc) from LaBelle Florida, Mark Brooks & Eric Hammons (Southwestern Vegetable Seed, LLC) from Casa Grande Arizona (www.southwesternseed.com) were amazed over our field of giants.
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 Elizabeth St. John DVM, Aubrey Weddle & Steven Nast, DDS, supply the scale, enthusiasm and muscle to weigh our 215 pound giant.
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 Jerry Linhart and John Holifield eagerly assist us by setting up our 215 pound giant for display at Walmart in Sikeston Missouri. Thanks to James Miller (Manager) for allowing us to show off our plumper.
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 The MelonMan with his mom, Barbara Dwyer, at Walmart. We love you Mom!!!
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 Taylor Beggs, Brady Culver and Doug Beggs lean on a Caroline (sic) Cross watermelon that weights over 150 pounds that will be raffled off at the Benton Neighbor Day Festival. All proceeds from the $1 chances will be donated to the Kelly Elementary School to improve classroom technology. The monster melon will be on display at the Benton Neighbor Day Festival Friday and Saturday with the drawing at 7 pm on Saturday. MelonMan Bob and Tina Dwyer of Sikeston donated the melon.
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 The anticipation grew when we harvested a 188 pound giant for the Kelly Elementary School. The crowd was amazed and very generous. Our friends, Donnie & Sheila Beggs (Beggs Melon Company), worked extremely hard for this worthy cause. |
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Click on a picture to see it full-sized.
Please send your comments about this article to The MelonMan
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| Copyright 2010 by Bob Dwyer. All Rights Reserved |
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