THE SENIOR TIMES - JUNE 2026
- Jun 1
- 8 min read
THE SENIOR TIMESTM
A publication of The Senior Network
June 2026
OUR THEME FOR JUNE IS “AMERICANA”
We honor all active military and veterans!
GOLDEN NUGGETS
Hats off to all our military warriors and their families! Thank you for your service and sacrifices you have made to keep us safe. It is difficult to be away from family and friends for long periods of time. As soldiers you go into battles and situations where you are unsure of the outcome. Often the enemies are very powerful, and the victory could be theirs, not yours. Defeat could be imminent. But in spite of this possible outcome, you still bravely fight on, hoping for a victory. That victory is so sweet. You did your patriotic duty and answered the call and were rewarded with the win. Your nation honors you and your faithful service with hearts full of gratitude. Not all of us will join a military unit, but each one of us has battles to fight throughout our lives. There are endless trials ready to cause us to surrender in defeat. We are constantly facing hardships, heartaches and despair; often wanting to give up and lose our everyday battles. But there is someone who can ensure that we always win the day. The Bible states in Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” There it is! The victory we all yearn to have. This is victory in Jesus! He gives His children the victory in life, but also the victory in death. We are His soldiers and He conquers all. Jesus is always recruiting people, who are ready to join His army that can never be defeated! Are you part of this military unit? By faith, you can enlist TODAY!
Brain Teaser
(answer at end of newsletter)
Lily is a lily pad in a small pond. Lily doubles her size each day. On the 20th day, she covers the whole pond. On what day was Lily half the size of the pond?
MILITARY SALUTE
James Bond Stockdale
(December 23, 1923 – July 5, 2005) was a U.S. Navy vice admiral, aviator, and Stoic philosopher who received the Medal of Honor in 1976 for his leadership as a POW for more than seven years during the Vietnam War. Stockdale was the most senior naval officer held captive in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He led aerial attacks from the carrier USS Ticonderoga during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. On his next deployment, while commander of Carrier Air Wing Sixteen aboard the carrier USS Oriskany, his A-4 Skyhawk jet was shot down in North Vietnam on September 9, 1965. He served as president of the Naval War College from October 1977 until he retired from the navy in 1979. As vice admiral, James Bond Stockdale was the president of The Citadel from 1979 to 1980. Stockdale was a candidate for vice president of the United States in the 1992 presidential election, on Ross Perot's independent ticket.
GRANDMA’S COOKING CORNER
The US Armed Forces
Chocolate Mocha Cake
Ingredients:
· 2 cups flour
· 2 cups sugar
· 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
· ½ cup vegetable oil
· 2 eggs
· 1 cup buttermilk
· 2 teaspoons baking soda
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 tablespoon instant coffee
· 1 cup hot water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
Measure flour, sugar, cocoa, oil, eggs, buttermilk, baking powder, soda, and salt into a mixing bowl. Dissolve instant coffee in hot water and add to mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth; batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then turn out onto racks to cool completely.
Frost cooled cake with Coffee Icing. After it is frosted, melt some semisweet chocolate baking squares or chips in a double boiler. Drizzle chocolate around top outside edges letting it run down sides, or over top of cake.
Coffee Icing
Ingredients:
· 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
· 1/2 cup butter, softened
· 6 tablespoons strong brewed coffee
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
Beat together confectioners’ sugar, butter, coffee, and vanilla until smooth. Add more coffee or confectioners’ sugar as needed. Spread on cake.
Humor Me
A man was demonstrating a new type of drone to the military. He was the project tech and was showing them how you could give it coordinates and an image of the objective and off it would go. Multiple options existed for the target - identify, pick up and bring back small packages, or deliver packages to soldiers in the field.For some reason his boss named the drone REARY.They gave him multiple tests - North, East, South - and it behaved perfectly each time. Finally, someone requested a western target but the drone just sat there. He explained that this was the prototype and one of the subsystems had malfunctioned, but it would be repaired the next day. A General said "You mean to tell me..." and the tech completed his sentence - "Yes, until this is repaired there is no West for the REARY."
Non Profit of the Month
The Coast Guard Foundation is committed to ensuring all Coast Guard members and families have the resources they need to build resilience throughout their lives. Founded in 1969, it is a vital partner to the U.S. Coast Guard—tackling the toughest challenges confronting all heroes. Always there for members from enlistment to long after retirement, and its work strengthens the entire community. Through close collaboration with Coast Guard leadership, it is able to respond to new and emerging needs effectively. Each investment supports families, bolsters unit morale, honors the Coast Guard’s mission at the national level, and more. Every day, Coast Guard members risk their lives to protect our country.
Who’d A Thunk
Military styles heavily influenced civilian fashion in the 1970s. Army surplus stores became popular sources for counterculture clothing, with items like fatigue jackets, belts, boots, and rucksack bags being worn as fashion statements. The military/safari look, featuring khaki and olive tones, became a mainstream trend, blending utilitarian design with style. This aesthetic also appeared in music and pop culture, with performers and subcultures adopting military-inspired silhouettes and accessories.
Words Of Wisdom
“Respect your elders. They graduated boot camp without Google.” Anonymous Veteran
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Grandpa’s Sports Stories
In December 1944, the United States was still very much in the middle of World War II. The June 6 landings in Normandy were fresh in the minds of troops on the ground and Americans back home, but setbacks throughout Europe and bloody battles in the Pacific theater left a nation fatigued by the strains of war. As the casualty counts increased and the war waged on, the air in America felt heavy. But for a moment in December, there was one thing taking everyone’s mind off the fighting: the Army-Navy game. Army was ranked #1 and Navy, #2. The media declared the match-up the “National Championship Game.” Well-known sportswriter Grantland Rice predicted it would be “one of the best and most important football games ever played.” It was Navy’s turn to host, and the game was slated for Thompson Stadium in Annapolis. As global excitement around the matchup mounted, government officials considered moving it because Thompson’s capacity was only 19,000. On Nov. 17, the Associated Press announced Baltimore’s Municipal Stadium as the chosen venue. There were 30,000 tickets available to the general public, but with a catch: you had to live within 8.3 miles of the stadium, and you had to purchase a $25 war bond through the Maryland State War Finance Committee in order to secure your seat. It was undoubtedly a cause Americans could get behind: all of the tickets were claimed within 24 hours, and the Army-Navy ticket drive raised over $58.6 million to support the war effort. A sold-out crowd of 66,659 attended the Army-Navy game on Dec. 2, 1944, in frigid temperatures. The teams arrived in style: the Navy, by boats, sailed across the Chesapeake; the Army, accompanied by Navy destroyers, arrived on troopships. The game didn’t disappoint. Entering the fourth quarter, Army led just 9-7. With two touchdowns in the 4th, Army won 23-7, snapping Navy’s five-year winning streak. It was such a monumental victory that Gen. Douglas MacArthur sent a telegram to the Army’s head coach, Earl “Red” Blaik. “The greatest of all Army teams—STOP—We have stopped the war to celebrate your magnificent success. MacArthur.”
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A good laugh can do more than lift your spirits — it may also benefit your overall health.
Experts say laughter can help boost the immune system, reduce stress, ease muscle tension, and strengthen social bonds with those around you.
Laughter and humor are more than just sources of joy — they are powerful tools for improving mental, emotional, and even physical health.
Research shows that intentional laughter, whether from shared jokes, comedies, or laughter therapy, can have lasting benefits.
Smiling more often, spending time with positive people, and finding humor in everyday situations can be very helpful.
Learning to laugh at yourself or watching comedies can also help bring more moments of joy – and potential health benefits into your day.
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SENIOR OF THE MONTH
June 2026
"SANDY" BARNARD
Our “Senior of the Month” was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and developed an interest in history at an early age. His birth certificate says Warren Barnard but he soon became known as “Sandy”. He graduated from Boston College and after serving as an intelligence officer for the US Army and being in Vietnam in 1968-1969, he returned to school at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Sandy Barnard has written numerous publications on the history of the Civil War and the Plains Indian engagements of the post-war period. He has especially focused on the life and legacy of George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh United States Cavalry in his writings. For almost 25 years, he was the editor of Greasy Grass, the annual magazine of the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association, and worked on projects for the National Park Service at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Sandy recently completed his 18th book, “Celebrating Custard’s Last Stand”.
Although he is still writing, Sandy is a retired professor emeritus from Indiana State University where he taught for 30 years. He and his wife Betty take extreme pride in their grandchildren.
REMEMBER WHEN
The F16 Fighting Falcon was first introduced in 1974. It remains a critical component of air power for the U.S. Air Force and allied nations, known for its versatility, cost, effectiveness and advanced capabilities. Its continued upgrades and adaptations ensure its relevance in modern aerial warfare.
Answer to Brain Teaser
Day 19, it’s not 10 because on day 20 she doubled from day 19, so 19 must be half the size of the pond.
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“Senior Day at the Mall”
If in the Raleigh area, on Friday, June 19th, please join us at Triangle Town Center for our monthly “Senior Day at the Mall”. The theme is “Americana” and we are honoring active military and veterans. Continuous entertainment on stage from 11 am until 3 pm. Seating available. Music, vendors, raffles, fun! Mini inside parade led by local dignitaries. Prizes for the best patriotic attire.
Other “Senior Days” in the next few months:
Friday, July 17th, Theme: “United Kingdom”
Friday, August 21st, Theme: “Disney”
Friday, September 18th, Theme: “Country/Western”. (Indoor Parade)
DATES TO SAVE –
*Saturday, August 15th, “Bridging the Gap Variety Show”, St. James United Methodist Church, Raleigh, NC.
*Wednesday, August 19th, “Golden Age Expo”, Rolesville Baptist Church, Rolesville, NC.
*Thursday, September 10th, Charity Golf Tournament, Heritage Golf Course, Wake Forest, NC.
*Saturday, December 5th, “Candy Cane Stroll and Expo”, Triangle Town Center, Raleigh, NC.
CALL 954-666-2040 for additional information
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