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Will the results of assessment be used to evaluate faculty performance?
Will the results of assessment be used to evaluate faculty performance?
No! Faculty awareness, participation, and ownership are essential for successful program assessment, but assessment results should never be used to evaluate or judge individual faculty performance. The results of program assessment are used to improve programs.
Will assessment data become a part of students' College records?
No. The assessment process is not intended to track the progress of individual students.
How does assessment differ from testing and grading?
Testing is a form of assessment, usually done in classrooms in individual courses. Grading is a form of evaluation and may use the results of assessment. The reverse is also true: assessment may use both test results and grades. Assessment often uses multiple methods, including testing, to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned and how they can use the knowledge. Assessment can address student learning in more than a single course, which testing and grading could do, but most testing and grading focuses on a single course.
Assessment also emphasizes consistency of judgment across individual students in a way that grading does not because grading is done by individual faculty members, each having his or her own standards.
When should I assess student learning?
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. For the results of assessment to be useful, it needs to be part of everyday processes, but the timing and scope of efforts should be logical and appropriate for individual programs. Because the purpose of assessment is to improve the quality of student learning through teaching, it's essential that assessment be ongoing and useful. Do not try to assess every program goal and student learning outcome at once; focus on a small number of fundamental goals over a period of time.
When is the Annual Assessment Report due?
Reports should be submitted electronically to the CASL c/o Darlene Gandolfi, Chair. Reports are due no later than June 15 each year.
What are the benefits of assessment?
For students, Outcomes Assessment will:
For faculty, participating in Outcomes Assessment will:
For administrators, implementing collegewide Outcomes Assessment will:
How are assessment results used at the institutional level?
All annual program-level assessment reports are reviewed by the CASL. The CASL then produces an annual report of assessment results for the Provost that provides valuable data for academic planning and decision-making.
How does one add assessment to the already busy schedules of faculty members?
To the extent that one can incorporate assessment into daily practice, assessment will not appear as an additional burden. Programs need to find creative ways to incorporate assessment into curriculum and instruction so that it is part of a normal work load. The burden will seem unbearable to an assessment coordinator who tries to pull together disparate elements of an uncoordinated assessment program on the weekend before the Annual Assessment Report is due. For the assessment coordinator who plans ahead and fully involves faculty in the collection, interpretation, and use of assessment data, the burden will be less onerous.


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Name: Reince Priebus
AKA: Reince R. Priebus
Born: 18-Mar-1972
Birthplace: Kenosha, WI
Gender: Male
Race: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Occupation: Attorney
Party Affiliation: Republican
Nationality: United States
Description: RNC Chairman
Reince Priebus has been in the spotlight for decades both good and bad. As far as celebrities go Reince Priebus is well known to the public. Born in Kenosha, WI and growing up there, Reince Priebus has for the most part led a very lucrative career which as let Reince Priebus accrue a very nice Net Worth and Wealth. Reince Priebus is United States and RNC Chairman.
Celebrity Net Wealth is proud to feature Reince Priebus on our site and notify their Celebrity Net Worth. Love them or hate them, Reince Priebus has massed a larger net worth than most regular people. Because of that you have to give Reince Priebus credit.
While they say money is not everything and can't buy you happiness , it sure doesn't hurt to have plenty of it like Reince Priebus.
If you want to know the exact net worth and wealth of Reince Priebus Please feel free to search their wealth page on our site , Celebrity Net Wealth. This is just the celebrity bio page where we try and advise you the readers on our Celebrites.
Thanks for checking out Reince Priebus biography page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Do your active little monkeys love to climb and crawl all over the furniture? Give them a better venue for their antics, with this offer for Base Camp at Rock Spot Climbing. Your child will spend either a half or full day (your choice!) at the rock gym, learning all about climbing safety and techniques. They'll be buckled into a harness by a climbing professional, and learn how to use their motor skills to tie knots, handle rope, and grip with their fingers and toes.
Base Camp at Rock Spot Climbing is a 5-day program that runs June 25–29, July 9–13, July 23–27, July 30–Aug 3, August 6–10, August 13–17, August 20–24, and August 27–31. All equipment is provided - please bring lunch and money for snacks.
Choose from two offers today: $25 for one half-day of Base Camp, or $43 for one full day of Base Camp. You can purchase up to 3 of these offers!
Rock Spot provides the ultimate rock-climbing experience! With two locations to choose from, it's great for climbers of all ages and levels of experience who want to hop on a rock wall in a safe yet fun and challenging environment.
Rock Spot Climbing, Boston
67 Sprague Street
Dedham, MA 02136
(617) 333-4433
Rock Spot Climbing, RI
100 Higginson Ave
Lincoln, RI 02865
(401) 727-1704


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Photos and Description of this 3 bedroom holiday apartment in Gros Islet - Blue Skies Apartments St Lucia
Quiet location minutes from sandy St. Lucian beaches, restaurants & nightclubs
Ideally located in the North of the island and centrally placed in the Tourism Mecca of Gros Islet is Blue Skies Apartment.
Stay at Blue Skies and be minutes away from Rodney Bay Marina, shops, night clubs, banks, supermarkets, exquisite beaches, and award winning restaurants.
Our three bedroom apartment, is luxuriously furnished and tiled throughout. There is a large open plan living area with comfortable sofas, 40' flat screen TV, DVD and High Speed Wireless Internet. Separate dining area with ceiling fans. A spacious fully equipped kitchen with range gas cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, blender, coffee machine, toaster and electric kettle.
All the bedroom are air conditioned, the master bedroom has a queen size bed, TV and ensuite bathroom with large custom built shower. The second bedroom has a queen size bed, the third has two single beds and french doors leading out to a patio overlooking the swimming pool. There is also a second spacious bathroom with custom built shower.
The apartment has two large patios, one with table and chairs for alfresco dining with steps leading down to the freeform swimming pool and spa tub. We have a large gas barbecue for guest use and this is all set in beautiful landscaped gardens.
Details for holiday apartment 3 Bed Apartment, 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, 2 Bathrooms
- Suitability:
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible
About Francine Anthonisz
My husband, Simon and I are English and moved to St. Lucia in 2007. We renovated this property and set up Blue Skies.
We love the Island and our ambition is to help our guests have a fantastic time.
We love the Rodney Bay area, it is where everything happens. You have the best of both worlds: the buzz surrounding the restaurants, bars and night-clubs along by Reduit Beach...The beautiful scenery and quiet sophistication of Rodney Bay Marina parading elegant yachts of every shape and size.
Within a few minutes we have Pigeon Island - a National Park, so quiet and beautiful: you can lay on a near deserted beach taking in the fantastic views with the calm waters of the Caribbean sea gently lapping.
For contrast, travel another 7 or 8 minutes to the wild side. Cas en Bas Beach is on the Atlantic Coast: here the constant warm winds provide power for the Kite Surfers and horses take their riders into the sea. The landscape is rugged and breathtaking.
We offer to take our guests to all the places mentioned, the day after they arrive, to show them the diversity of this part of the Island and hopefully help them to get as much as possible from their stay.
Throughout the time guests stay with us, we are available to assist; whether it is a small thing like where to buy a particular item or some thing larger -planning a major excursion of the Island for instance, we are always delighted to help in any way we can - we love St. Lucia and want our guests to leave with unique and long-lasting happy memories.
Francine Anthonisz purchased this apartment in 2007


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Chesterton Tribune
PCSP: Five pounds of marijuana found in trunk
A Cleveland, Ohio, resident who the Porter County Sheriff's Police said
admitted to being a drug runner was arrested Monday on a charge of
possession of marijuana in excess of 30 grams during a HIDTA interdiction
operation on the Indiana Toll Road in Jackson Township.
According to police, at 5:06 p.m. Brian M. Davis, 34, was stopped at the 36
mile marker in the eastbound lanes of the Toll Road after an officer stopped
him for speeding. Police said that the officer detected the odor of
marijuana from the interior of the vehicle and in plain view observed a
plastic bag in a fast-food beverage cup containing a "leafy plant-like
material." Davis advised the officer that he had bought the seven grams of
marijuana in Chicago for $25, police said.
The officer then informed Davis that he wanted to search the vehicle further
and that, if he found no narcotics or illegal weapons, would issue Davis a
summons to appear in court and release him at the scene, police said.
Davis gave his consent to a search, which yielded a duffel bag in the trunk
containing 2,281 grams of marijuana, or 5.02 pounds of it, police said.
When asked how much a pound of marijuana goes for in Cleveland, Davis
advised that "he's a 'runner' and doesn't sell the marijuana," police said.
Davis was transported to Porter County Jail on a charge of possession of
marijuana with a prior conviction and possession of marijuana in excess of
30 grams, police said.
The investigating officer had been tasked to drug interdiction operations
funded with federal moneys made available by Porter County's membership in
the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Posted 6/5/2012


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Hi! We are Darlington Studios, as featured on The Wedding Co., Toronto Wedding Society and Bride.ca. Welcome to our website! We are a photography and cinematic videography studio specializing in weddings and engagement sessions for modern couples. We award you with the opportunity to press rewind, to play back and relive all the incredible moments of your wedding day. We have many years of training and experience in the creative arts, which means you'll be ecstatic with your professionally produced videos and photos. Having captured hundreds of weddings around the world, we create lasting moments with the click of a shutter. We are located in Barrie, but travel to Toronto, Vaughan, Collingwood, the Muskoka area and beyond. We love what we do and would love to work with you! Check out our introduction video above to see what we're all about!
To see some of our favourite photos from the past few years, visit our Photo Gallery at the bottom of our Photography Page or check out our Blog. To learn more about our pricing and availability for your wedding, we would love to hear from you, Contact Us.
To see samples of our videos, check out our video gallery. To learn more about our pricing and availability for your wedding, we would love to hear from you, Contact Us.
Thank you for checking us out! We look forward to hearing from you!


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The Anti-Depression
Put the party into politics with VF Daily's Capital Cocktails. Come November, we're all going to need a stiff drink! Today's recipe was created by Peter Kane of New York City's Stanton Social (99 Stanton Street; 212-995-0099).
The Anti-Depression
1 1/2 oz. Herradura Reposado tequila
2 oz. finely chopped grilled pineapple
1 oz. fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1 oz. honey simple syrup
1/2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
Muddle pineapple. Add other ingredients. Shake over ice. Pour into martini glass and garnish with a lime chip.


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Congratulations to all of our A-Levels students
Soaring set of GCSE results
Congratulations to our tennis team on winning the Aberdare Cup
Partner School in Rwanda receives £3.000 from sponsored walk
Mr Reidy 'Dorset Young Enterprise Link Teacher of The Year'
Former Head of Sport, Miss Vernon-Browne OBE. RD. Opens New Pavilion
Issy wins International Rotary Young Vocalist of the Year competition
New York Trip
Junior School Play, Alice: A Musical Fantasy
Jeremy Paxman and the BBC Film at the School
Guest Speakers Dr Ross Hill and BBC presenter Professor Iain Stewart
Talbot Heath features in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Album
Welcome to Talbot Heath, Bournemouth's leading independent school for girls aged 3-18 — a school that is proud of its tradition yet is modern and dynamic in its outlook.


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International Materials Institute
An International Interactive Conference on
January 6-11, 2013
Mini Interactive Web Course on GLASS in ENERGY
Spring Semester 2012
7 week course providing students a broad overview of the use of glass in different applications in the field of energy. It will start with a general introduction of the fabrication process and most relevant properties of glass, followed by a review of the specific energy domain where glass is currently applied or expected to be used in the near future. More details >
Mini Interactive Web Course on CHALCOGENIDE GLASSES
Spring Semester 2011
7 week course provided students a broad overview of chacogenide glasses (structure & properties) and existing and potential applications, such as in photonics, electronics and ionics. More details >
Relaxation Processes in Glass
Spring Semester 2010
New Multi Instructional Team Teaching (M.I.T.T) Glass Course.
This interactive web-based glass course offered participants the opportunity to learn from leading experts from the US and abroad on glass via live lectures on the internet. More details >
Physical Properties of Glass. Fall Semester 2009
Cooperative Glass Course. Series of lectures from 11 U.S glass experts.
Short Course on "Glass Science & Engineering"
Tuskegee University, Alabama. Sept. 26-27, 2008
Special course opened to students at Tuskegee University
US-China Winter School on New Functionalities in Glass,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
January 4-15, 2010
US-Japan Winter School on New Functionalities in Glass, Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Japan.
January 6-17, 2008
'Students Give High Marks to First US- Japan Glass Science School' Read NSF News Article>
Workshop: Applications of Synchrotron Techniques in Glass Research.
National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY, USA (April 6-7, 2009)
|Carmen Huber, National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research, prepares for her presentation "Materials Research and Education at DMR: Looking Back, Racing Forward", at the recent IMI Workshop in Pittsburgh.
IMI-NFG International Workshop : Solar Energy Workshop.
"Glass for Harvesting, Storage & Efficient Usage of Solar Energy". Pittsburgh. (Nov. 16-18, 2008)
Published Article on Solar Workshop Read>
International Workshop on Scientific Challenges of New Functionalities in Glass. Washington DC., (April 15-17, 2007)
Site Map | ©2009 Lehigh University
International Materials Institute
Sinclair Laboratory, 7 Asa Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Tel: 610-758-1112 · e-mail: email@example.com
Website by Zephyros


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Here's what the Bulls should do in 2011 NBA Draft
BY DAN CAHILL | AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB June 23, 2011 2:02PM
Marshon Brooks is exactly what the Bulls need—a shooting guard who can create off the dribble and take pressure off of Derrick Rose. | AP
Updated: June 23, 2011 4:40PM
What do Beno Udrih, Maciej Lampe, Ian Mahinmi, Joel Freeland, Tiago Splitter, Petteri Koponen, J.R. Giddens and Christian Eyenga have in common?
Those are all actual names of players taken in the past 10 NBA drafts at No. 28 or No. 30, the same first-round positions the Bulls will have tonight in the 2011 NBA Draft (6 p.m., ESPN).
First a little history lesson, before I offer the Bulls my draft advice.
The 2000 draft is widely considered the worst of the new millennium. Kenyon Martin was the top pick. The best player was probably Jamal Crawford (8), who later came to the Bulls. The Bulls took Marcus Fizer with the fourth pick, then A.J. Guyton, Jake Voskuhl and Khalid El-Amin with picks 32-34. Ugh. Eddie House (37) and Michael Redd (43) were chosen later.
The 2001 draft produced Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry for the Bulls, along with Trenton Hassell at No. 29. The 28th and 30th picks that year: Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas. Ouch.
The 2002 draft was almost as bad as 2000. Amare Stoudemire (9) was only proven star in the first round, if you discount the injury-riddled career of top pick Yao Ming. Dan Dickau and Roger Mason (Bulls) were the 28th and 30th picks. The second best player of the draft might have been Carlos Boozer at No. 34.
The Miami Thrice draft of 2003—LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade—is clearly the best since 2000, but not particularly deep. The Bulls took Kirk Hinrich at No. 7 . The 28th pick produced Leandro Barbosa (Spurs). Two current Bulls went later in the second round: Keith Bogans (43) and Kyle Korver (51).
Many thought the Bulls might have stretched, taking Ben Gordon with the third pick of the 2004 draft, but the undersized UConn guard led the franchise in scoring for four consecutive seasons. Chris Duhon (38) was a good find in the second round.
The deepest draft of recent vintage was 2005: Andrew Bogut, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum and Danny Granger. David Lee was taken with the 30th pick. Brandon Bass, Ronny Turiaf, Monta Ellis and Ryan Gomes were all second-round gems. Whom did the Bulls draft that year? Go figure … nobody.
The 2006 draft was another stinker, both overall and for the Bulls. The Bulls nearly made up for the draft void of 2005 by taking LaMarcus Aldridge at No 2 … until they traded him for Tyrus Thomas and Victor Khryapa.
In 2007, the Bulls nailed it taking Joakim Noah with the ninth pick. Next to Kevin Durant, Noah might be the most impactful player from that draft. Only two significant players slipped to the second round: Carl Landy (31) and Glen "Baby" Davis (35).
The 2008 draft brought Derrick Rose. Enough said.
Interestingly, had Rose gone four years to college, this would be his draft. A quick glance at the Top 100 high school players from his year reveals that most of the top players—Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, James Harden— are already making significant contributions in the NBA. It's the leftovers from 2007—Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Demetri McCamey—that are in this less-than-attractive draft.
The Bulls continued their draft success in 2009, finding Taj Gibson at No. 26. That offset the selection of James Johnson at 16.
In 2010, the Bulls traded their No. 16 pick (Kevin Seraphin) along with Kirk Hinrich to the Washington Wizards.
So, what should the Bulls do in this draft?
First, you need to understand this draft is AWFUL. Unless Enes Kanter becomes the next Dwight Howard, it might end up being the worst in 30 years. I'm not even sure about Kyrie Irving's prospects. So, does that mean some great player could fall to the Bulls? Maybe, maybe not. It's a real crapshoot, but history shows it's less likely to happen in weak drafts.
It doesn't make sense for the Bulls to mortgage the farm to move up into the lottery, but it might behoove them to package Nos. 28 and 30 for something in the 15-20 range.
I see two players in that area who could help the Bulls: Marshon Brooks and Kenneth Faried.
Brooks would be the perfect shooting guard complement to Rose. He can knock down jumpers, but more importantly, he can create off the dribble, something no one else besides Rose can do. He improved each year at Providence and was second in the nation in scoring last year behind Jimmer Fredette. Brooks is much longer than his 6-6 frame, sporting a 7-1 wingspan. If I'm Gar Forman, he's my primary target. But they'll have to move up to get him.
Faried is a combination of Noah and Gibson—high energy and long. While the Bulls seem set with bigs, I wouldn't pass on him. You can never have enough. Along with Brooks, he's the only player deep in this draft that I see making any significant contributions in the Association. At 6-8, some experts see the Morehead State product as undersized, but he makes up for it with his aggressiveness and 7-foot wingspan. How do you think Thibs would like a defensive frontline of Noah, Gibson and Faried?
Trade up for Brooks or Faried—that's my advice.
What's yours?


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Mrs. Ruth H. Ringstaff celebrated her 100th birthday on May 3, 2010, in Abingdon, Va.Ruth is a retired teacher who has always had a passion for teaching whether it was in school or in church. She continues to live in her home while enjoying the company of others to help her.A birthday celebration for Ruth was held at Abingdon First United Methodist Church on May 2, 2010. She enjoyed visiting with many friends, family, neighbors, former students and colleagues.In her words, "Good memories were shared and good memories were made that day."Submitted by her great-niece, Trina Hackney Rollins.
Amanda Dawn Sensibaugh of Nashville, Tenn., and David Neil Cox, also of Nashville, plan to be married at 6 p.m., July 17, 2010 at the Wightman Chapel, Scarritt Bennett, Nashville.The bride-elect is the daughter of David and Debbie Sensibaugh of Kingsport, and the granddaughter of Peggy Lavery of Blacksburg, Va., and the late William Lavery, and Betty Sensibaugh of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the late Hugh Sensibaugh. Ms. Sensibaugh graduated from Sullivan South High School and was a summa cum laude graduate of Carson Newman College. She is pursuing a master's in business administration degree at the Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University. She is employed as director of sales and marketing at the Nashville Airport Marriott.The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Neil and Marion Cox, and the grandson of Muriel Smith of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and the late Milson Smith, and the late Charles and Edith Ward. Mr. Cox graduated from Kenner Collegiate High School, Peterborough, and received a bachelor's degree in hotel & convention management from Centennial College in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Cox has been employed with Marriott International for 10 years and currently serves as a senior account executive for the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Marco Island, Fla.
Brianna Paige Williams of Kingsport, and Jarred Robert Landon Jennings of Gate City, Va., plan to be married in an open-church ceremony at 2 p.m., May 22, 2010, at First Baptist Church, Gate City.The bride-elect is the daughter of James and Karen Williams of Kingsport, and the granddaughter of Eva Jane and Larry Shelton of Gate City, and James and Barbara Williams of Gate City. She graduated from Gate City High School, and is a student majoring in music education at East Tennessee State University.The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Robert and Theda Jennings of Gate City, and the grandson of M.C. and Josephine Pafford of Kingsport, and Robert and Mildred Jennings of Gate City. He graduated from Gate City High School and Mountain Empire Community College. He is employed at VA Medical Center, Johnson City.
Hope Hall of Gray announces the engagement of her daughter, Heather Anne Holloway to Adam Wagner Veron, son of Jill and Zeke Veron of Chattanooga, Tenn.The couple plan in be married in a wedding ceremony on May 22, 2010, at Gray United Methodist Church.The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late J.B. and Dorothy Hall. Ms. Holloway graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and received a bachelor's degree in biological science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She is employed as a benefit consultant with CIGNA Healthcare.The bridegroom-to-be is the grandson of Gale Veron, the late Frank Veron, Joi Wagner, and the late Rev. Gerald Wagner. Mr. Veron graduated from Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences and received a bachelor's degree in transportation and logistics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is employed as a freight coordinator at Usxpress.
Cynthia Renee Loftis of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Matthew Thomas Allen of Kingsport, were married Oct. 10, 2009, at Bluegrass Baptist Church, Hendersonville. The Rev. Matt Tullos, pastor of Bluegrass Baptist Church, officiated at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.The bride is the daughter of Sharon Lingerfelt and husband Jim Lingerfelt, and Teddy Loftis and wife Teresa Loftis, all of Hendersonville. She is the granddaughter of the late Betty Ann Loftis, the late Henry and Margie Phelps, and the late Jake and Dorothy Warden. The bridegroom is the son of Tom and Sandy Allen of Kingsport, and the grandson of the late Ira and Ruth Allen, and the late Walter and Elizabeth Peugeot.The bride was given in marriage by her parents and escorted to the altar by her father.Christy Loftis, sister of the bride, was maid of honor. Ashley Loftis, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid. Jessica McMurry, niece of the bride, was flower girl.Andrew Allen served his brother as best man. Wes Thaller, cousin of the bridegroom, was groomsman. Ushers were Michael Alexander, Chris Poole, Teddy Loftis Jr., brother of the bride, and Mike Royston, brother-in-law of the bridegroom. Caleb Royston, nephew of the bridegroom, was ring bearer.The bride graduated from Beech High School, Hendersonville, and received a degree in early childhood development/education from Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn. She is employed as a Pre-K teacher with Robertson County Public Schools.The bridegroom graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and received a degree in marketing from Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tenn. He is owner of Avallo Humidors, Nashville.Following a wedding trip to Gatlinburg, the couple resides in Hendersonville.


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Monday Morning Mailbag Extra: More QB QuestionsPosted by on January 31, 2011 – 9:41 am
Below is a question and answer that was too long for inclusion in this week's Monday Morning Mailbag. After you're done reading this entry, be sure to head over to this week's Mailbag feature to read more.
Carson Palmer has demanded a trade from the Bengals and has threatened retirement. Do you think the Vikings should pursue him? What do you think he's worth?
Pete R.
East Brunswick, NJ
I won't go as far as to say the Vikings should pursue Palmer, but I do think any team with a need at the QB position should at least look into the possibility of acquiring Palmer. It wasn't that long ago when Palmer was considered an elite NFL passer, but since a serious knee injury in the 2005 playoffs, he hasn't been the same player. I believe, though, that Palmer can be a top 10 NFL QB again if in the right situation.
In terms of the Bengals trading Palmer, I don't think it's a sure thing and that's largely because the Bengals have gone on record as saying they do not intend to trade him. Keep in mind that the Washington Redskins were reportedly willing to part with two 1st-round picks for WR Chad Ochocinco, but the Bengals refused to deal. That would have been a steal for the Bengals. That leads me to believe that if the Bengals say they aren't going to trade Palmer, they mean it.
As for what he's actually worth, that's ultimately up to the Bengals to decide. They'll set the market based on what they'll need to receive as compensation in order to send him away. Independent of the value the Bengals place on Palmer, though, let's take a look at a few other recent QB trades:
— In March of 2010, the Seattle Seahawks acquired Charlie Whitehurst from the San Diego Chargers in exchange of: swapped 2010 2nd-round picks and a 3rd-round pick in 2011.
— In April of 2010, the Washington Redskins acquired Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange of: a 2010 2nd-round pick and a 2011 3rd- or 4th-round pick.
— In March of 2009, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel (and LB Mike Vrabel) from the New England Patriots in exchange of: a 2010 2nd-round pick.
— In April of 2009, the Chicago Bears acquired Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos in exchange of: Kyle Orton, 1st-round picks in 2009 and 2010 and a 3rd-round pick in 2009.
— In March of 2007, the Houston Texans acquired Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange of: swapped 2007 1st-round picks and 2nd-round picks in 2007 and 2008.
Of those 5 QBs, I would compare Palmer's value with McNabb's the most. McNabb is older than Palmer, but he's also more accomplished. Palmer has a higher passer rating and a higher completion percentage, but McNabb throws fewer INTs and more TDs per attempt; they're just about even in yards per attempt (Palmer is 1 yard better than McNabb). Let's also look at each player's year prior to trade (assuming Palmer is traded this offseason):
— McNabb had a 22-10 TD/INT ratio, had the 3rd-highest single-season passer rating of his career (92.9) and guided his team to an 11-5 record and division title.
— Palmer, on the other hand, had a 26-20 TD/INT ratio, registered a pedestrian 82.4 passer rating and played for a team that went 4-12 and finished last in the AFC North.
So what is Palmer's value? I'm not sure exactly, and we'll only find out if the Bengals enter into trade talks with other teams. What do you think? Let us know by leaving your thoughts in the comments section below this entry.
Posted in All, Mike Wobschall | 93 Comments »
93 Responses
to "Monday Morning Mailbag Extra: More QB Questions"
By Justin on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
I disagree with pursuing Palmer. Personally, I don't think its worth giving up anything (picks or players)for Palmer as I see him as another fill in that has yet to prove himself as a winner. I mean whats the point of trading away valuable peices of our team for another 3-4 year fill in? I dont want to do that! Lets draft a QB forsure and put the team on his developing shoulders! i.e. Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan, and Joe Flacco
Oh and GOOOOOOOOO VIKINGS GOOOOOOOOOO
By soldier1986 on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
i agree with justin. palmer still has not proved himself a winner yet. but maybe he hasnt got to shine because of the team he is on. but i think we should draft ryan mallett. dude has a cannon for an arm. please do not pick up vince young. we dont need that crybaby on this team walking off the field and threating to kill himself cuz he got booed. we dont need his cr@p. he sucks anyways. i think we should try and go after kyle orton, or kevin kolb maybe
By bephil87 on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
I'm not thrilled about the Vikings trading for any QB over 30 years old for obvious reasons, and considering all of the question marks with this year's rookie QB class, getting our hands on a younger veteran that has the potential to start for at least a couple of years is going to be very important. In my personal opinion, it's going to come down to Vince Young as being a calculated risk, but the best and cheapest option available. Kolb is more unproven and will cost a king's ransom. I doubt that Kyle Orton is going anywhere. Colin Kaepernick or Andy Dalton drafted in the second round will have more upside than the rest of the assorted veterans available on the market. I'm not a huge VY fan myself, but I think he has the best risk/reward ratio, similar to Vick a couple of years ago–we know he can win if he works hard. He will also fit our new system. So, my prediction is that our QBs for 2011 will be VY, Webb, & a rookie TBD. The worst case scenario is that we have a bust year and win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
——– I made the mistake of watching a few minutes of the so called Pro Bowl !
Why don't they start calling it TOUCH Football ?? ?
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Maybe they should switch to having those elected to the game play softball, or have football throwing, and running contests.
I haven't watched the game in years, so I've been fooled. They used to tackle during that game !
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Disgusting, discraceful, diddly poo.
It's the NFL's answer to the WWF
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Was I the only one who watched that farce ? ? ?
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
NFL football (PRO BOWL) is not who we thought they were.
If you wanna crown em', crown em'
But don't let em' off the hook……………………..
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
…Pro Bowl
….Pro Bowl !
…………I just hope they never play it ever aaaggain !
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
You call that a Pro Bowl?
….You play to win the game
……….You don't just play it, to play it.
…You play to win the game.
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
There should be whole newspapers written about this farce called the ……..
Pro Bowl ! ! !
By Rick on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Fred who would be more responsive Kolb, or Palmer to Les?
By Rick on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
87, But how responsive to les do u think VY would be?
By Bigfan1 on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Off all the vet QBs out there I'd take a serious look at Hasselback and draft the QB from either Nevada, Mallet, or if possible Newton.
By packerfanfirst on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Trade ya Matt Flynn for AP and Harvin. ViQueens still suck.
By 4thememories on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
#4 for one more, please. I know he is still our best chance of winning. I'm sorry, I can't even type that with a straight face. You guys got what you deserve, DO NOT F#*K WITH THE GREEN BAY PACKERS!!!!!!!!
By Rick on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Get off the blog cheese whizzzzzz
By Bigfan1 on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
The cheeseheads must be so bored with their website and team they feel they must look up other teams.
By Parody on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
I'm just surprised that the Bengals turned down two first-rounders for 85. I'm not sure how long he's been a head-case, but even without that in mind the Bengals would have been able to do a decent job of plugging the void with one of the selections while filling another need with the second.
As for Palmer, I'd say let the staff take a look at him IF the Bengals decide to cut him. There are options in free agency already who will be just as successful or morseso as Palmer will be in Purple.
By Parody on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Check out the latest news on mock drafts: http://www.dailynorseman.com/2011/1/31/1966153/could-the-minnesota-vikings-have-their-pick-of-the-2011-quarterback
Apparantly SB Nation has indicated that QBs lost their appeal in this year's draft, having NOBODY select a QB by the time our selection comes around! That's right, if the Draft were today we'd get first dibs on a QB according to SB Nation!
Too bad that will all change after combines and what-not. But it's fun to consider the possibilities…
By Josh on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
How about we draft a QB like Mallet and then getting Palmer? Let the rookie learn behind palmer for a few years. wed have an expierienced QB playing and a potential QB of the future. I think people also need to realize that just because we draft a qb it doesnt solve our problem. not every player can be a frachise player. joe webb would be good to use in the same role that brad smith is used as at the jets, and as a WR and he could also play a RB role if we needed him too. this cba thing is messing this offseason up and i wish they would solve the problem. i understand its a buisness and not easy to do, but its gettting alittle old..
By Carl K on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
I don't think a new CBA agreement will happen before the draft. So if we trade for a QB, I think it will happen between the draft and the start of a new season, when ever that is. If that happens, I would be willing to trade a second round pick in the 2012 draft for Palmer or Orton if we don't land Gabbert or Mallet in the 1st round this year. I don't think McNabb or V. Young is worth a trade… but I would try to sign one of them if they would happen to get cut and become available.
Gabbert and Mallett are the 2 guys I think are franchise QBs that are worthy of the #12 pick. If 1 is available I think we take him. My gut feeling is they will both be gone.
Locker, Ponder, Devlin, Newton, Kaepernick and maybe Dalton could be available in the second round. If we were able to land Deviln, Ponder or Dalton with our second round pick, I would be happy with that.
I am a big Joe Webb fan and I like him over Newton or Kaepernick.
By Vikes fan in Mich on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Kolb is a better choice over Palmer. With the athletic Webb and pocket passer Kolb the Vikes could be set at QB for a few years. Need to beef up the O Line Sign Rice and Greenway and go win the SB next year.
By colin ervin on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
I think if we are going to be a run first team just about anybody could play QB. We went 10-6 w/T jack and Gus Freotte. The problem is who can complete a pass on 3rd down remember the Giants game? With that in mind I think Flynn in GB is a free agent but I am not totally sure on that, and the kid we picked up Bomar played at Oklahoma and finished up at Sam Houston may have potential, and Webb could possibly get the job done it was a shame he couldn't get on the field this year he might be one of the best athletes we have ever had that Philly game he looked like he knew what he was doing. In the past Vikings have done a good job of resurrecting careers so we will just have to wait and see what happens this off season!
By Carl K on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
In the 2005 Holiday Bowl the Oklahoma Sooners defeated Oregon 17-14. Oregan at that time was 10-1 with the only defeat to top ranked USC. Oklahoma's offense gained 365 yards with redshirt freshman quarterback Rhett Bohmar completing 59 percent of his p@sses for 229 yards and 1 touchdown. Adrian Peterson led the way on the ground with 79 yards on 23 carries.
Bohmar was the number #1 ranked QB coming out of high school.
By Carl K on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Can a rookie like Locker beat out Webb or Bohmar???
By IowaVikesFan on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Obviously I'm a little biased here, but Stanzi did a lot of good things at Iowa. He was a great leader for the team, and never seemed to let pressure get the best of him. Still has a lot to learn, but if he was available late in the draft…I'd be pumped to see the vikings grab him.
By Bubba on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Stanzi would be a good 4th round pick. That would give the Vikes a chance to draft the best O-lineman and a quality corner or safety with the first 2 picks. After the draft they could have the option to trade a 2012 draft pick to get a veteran QB like Kolb, Palmer or Orton.
If the Vikes draft a QB with the 12th pick in the 1st round…can't see them trading for a veteran QB too. But they could sign a free agent veteran QB.
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
@Rick Kolb is perceived as having a good attitude, and Young is supposedly bad, attitude-wise. So you have to pick Kolb. But I think the Eagles will keep him.
There are unknown backups in the NFL who might make good fill-ins for the Vikings.
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Did anyone, besides me, notice how this year's Pro Bowl game was as fake as the WWF?
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Next year they should have shuttle runs, throwing contests, and other football-related skill demonstrations. Maybe have some weightlifting contests.
What a joke, it looked like a TOUCH FOOTBALL GAME ! ! !
Why am I the only one enraged by this sham?
By Frederick Jones on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Maybe the Pro Bowl should be a touch football game.
By lui on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Kolb is the younger QB he look like a good QB FIT FOR OUR TEAM THEN PICK UP A ROOKIE FIRST ROUND DRAFT
By Titus on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
Fred, I did not watch the pro bowl– for a second i remembered and was going to catch a glimpse– but forgot and never turned the TV on— I don't recall the last time I watched a pro bowl and I know I have never watched an entire one.
By joshK on Jan 31, 2011 | Reply
idk if anyone actually watched the pro bowl but it was 4th and 4 and whatever team clearly didnt get the first down, but they moved the chains and it went straight to 2nd and goal? did anyone else see that?
By Scott on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
We need to find a QB that can assist Web in his learning. Right now anybody would be better than having Jackson as our QB.
By Paul on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune confirms that Vikings DE Everson Griffen was arrested twice in California in the matter of three days.
The first arrest was for public drunkenness Friday night in Hollywood. The second charge — felony battery of a policeman — is far more serious. Griffen allegedly told officers following the second arrest that he "did not want to go back to jail." (Who does?) Griffen, 23, had a checkered background at USC, one of the main reasons the first-round talent fell to the fourth round on draft day. He has a court date set for February 25.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
And this guy is going to replace Ray Edwards, i think you better find some money to re-sign Ray now. Griffen what a joke!!!!!!!
By Mike/Florida Viking Fan on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
The Vikings are facing another hard year in 2011. Without a proven QB it is very unlikely they'll go to the playoffs with the Packers and Bears playing good football. The Vikes need to focus on bringing in a stable QB like Matt Hasselback – who would provide good solid play. Draft another young QB and give Webb some number 2nd experience. It's likely he'd see playing time in 2011. I think the kid has potential with about 3 years under his belt. Focus on giving AP the ball more often and strengthen the secondary. Oh and we've got to sign Rice for the deep threat. In 3 years we'll be back in playoffs and on top of the division.
By windsor on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
I think Palmer would be a reliable veteran back up to Webb…He would be a good pick up if the price was right $$
By Jerry Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
I'm intrigued by Webb. Not convinced yet. But intrigued.
For a rookie, he showed some promise. In fact, he sometimes looked more like Michael Vick than Michael Vick himself.
I lean toward the idea of giving him some time to develop.
By justin on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
i just want to vikings did right by giveing up brad if they can do that then they will get the right QB for the job no kolb whatever u do i would go with young
By bephil87 on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
You guys are dreaming if you think we'll be able to land Kolb, Palmer, Orton, or Hasselbeck. Kolb will cost 2 high draft picks, and the other three won't be available. As far as veterans with decent starting experience there'll be McNabb, Young, Chad Henne, maybe Alex Smith. I don't care what you think of Young as a person, he's the best talent available for the price. The other guys have the same question marks as a draft pick. We can get VY for nothing and restructure his contract–he's going to want to go where the best opportunity is and where he feels the most comfortable. I think that a new environment with our coaching staff and system will turn VY around–I really do. I say sign Vince, a rookie stud like Gabbert, Cam Newton, or Colin Kaepernick, and let them honestly compete with Joe Webb for the starting job. The cream will rise to the top.
By 4eversteve on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Teams out of desperation will draft QB's in the first round this year and my hope is that the Vikings don't get caught up in these over hyped QB's coming out of college this year. The truth of the matter is that this is a very weak draft as far as QB's go, we may see one franchise QB from this draft and that pushing it.
By WebbHaterHater on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
I'd give a half bag of cheetos and and chili dog for Palmer. But we're the Vikings!, we should wait for him to retire, then bring him in for 1 season to go to the NFC championship game and be eliminated in OT by a kicker.
By Bubba on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Joe Webb is the real deal.!!!!!!!! Draft DE, C, OT, Safety and OLB.
By mr smiff on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
That had to be the softest Pro Bowl I have ever seen!!! Even an offensive linesman scored a touchdown!!! I can't believe I missed the SAG awards for that joke of a game!!!
By mr smiff on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
P3cker fans shouldn't be bragging. Goldenboy Aaron choked in the second half of that game, and the P3ckers had thier SB berth handed to them by an indifferent Bears qb.
By mr smiff on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
I like Blaine Gabbert, by the way.
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Titus, Josh K, and Mr. Smiff,
Thanks for the comments on the Pro Bowl. I thought I was going to lose my mind.
But I suppose it's old news that the Pro Bowl is lame. I never knew that IT WAS A TOTAL FAKE!
Some youngster said to me yesterday, "All of those NFL games are fake."
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Let's face it, it's hard to judge who's go to be a star at the QB position.
If you have followed the careers of Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, etc. then you know this is true.
What we have to do is get some offensive linemen who can, and want, to play football. That should be the goal for this year. Anything else is gravy !
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
It's alot more fun to talk about the quarterbacks, of course than the offensive linemen.
Some of you do know where the good offensive linemen reside.
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Is Rodney Hudson, 6-2 280 out of Florida St. U. a sleeper at the Guard position? He is reported to have run a 5.1 40 yd dash! Perhaps he might even be available in the 2nd round.
or how about Zach Heard of U Conn 6-7 325 and also a 5.1 40 yd dash. Heard is listed at a guard position, but I bet he could play tackle.
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Ryan Bartholomew 6-2 300 at Center for Syracuse could be drafted in the first round. Could he step in right away for the Vikings?
Tim Barnes 6-4 300 out of Missouri ran a 5.1 40 yard dash. It's possible that both will not drafted in the 1st round.
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Joe Webb AND Tarvaris Jackson are fine QBs behind a stalwart offensive line.
Hey, look what former Baltimore Ravens Trent Dilfer was able to accomplish behind a line that often gave him enough time to pass. Dilfer was an average NFL quarterback who led his team to the super bowl.
That's my point.
Get some great Offensive Linemen first !
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Dilfer used to play for Tampa Bay. He was so bad, were calling him Dilifer, as in pilifer dilifer. I know, but you had to be there ! ! !
By Frederick Jones on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
typo…there needed to be a "we" before "were"
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Fred, take it easy on the posts– you are going to start responding to yourself soon. The off season is upon the blog– one game left, and after the Steelers beat the Packers in a close game, we can rejoice that a new season will soon commence.
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Fred, I have wondered myself about what that youngster said to you. I doubt it, though.
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Not sure Dilfer was ever that great– even in the Superbowl– he managed the game well, but did not have a skilled performance as a passer — I think the score was very low, the defense won it.
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Who has been the best QB since 2000?
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
I wonder how many would say Carson Palmer?
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Matt Hassellback?
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Seriously, we know Brady, P. Manning, and Warner would be near the top. Maybe throw in Favre? Big Ben?
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Not many I can think of– Rivers is decent, but the real superstar type of QB– not many in recent memory– of course I am the whole blog tonight–
By Titus on Feb 1, 2011 | Reply
Any thoughts on the top QBs in the past decade? I know there are a million criteria– but let's stick with taking a franchise to the playoffs multiple times and at least one Superbowl win.
Drew Brees?
By Carl K on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
Aaron Rodgers is one game away from putting his name on that list.
By Nightdog on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
I do not like the Cheese Bay Packers, I do not like them, A viking I am. Karin Rodgers, son of Roy, will not win a super bowl. They are there by fluke .So to all packer fans,
your welcome…
The Vikings
By ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
please stop saying we should draft mallet….he folds under pressure like a lawn chair…..
By Titus on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
Carl, I think you may be right. But I really believe the Pack may be in for a fall on Sunday— GO STEELERS!! The Pack did not win that convincingly in two of the playoff games– Philly was in it the whole game– and at Chicago, the Packer offense only scored twice. Atlanta had the over- confidence syndrome and were caught off guard by the Pack. Steelers over the cheese whizz.
By Carl K on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
I will be rooting for Tomlin and the Steelers too.
By Carl K on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
@ are you kidding me – I am NOT kidding!!!! RYAN MALLET is a physically gifted productive QB with a very accurate CANNON arm. In 2 years as a starting QB he has thrown 62 TD and just 19 ints. 18-8 record as a starter (Arkansas was 13-12 the two years before Mallett). 64.7 comp% 3,869 yards 32 td 12 int 10-3 record last year with 163 rating. His 3 losses last year was to #1 Alabama, #7 Auburn and #6 Ohio State. In his first year as a starter he lost to #1 Florida and #3 Alabama. He has big wins over #6 LSU, #17 Auburn, #22 Mississippi State, and #18 South Carolina… Arkansas plays a very solid schedule. Mallett will climb back up the draft charts during the NFL combine… look for him to be a top ten talent.
Folding like a lawn chair is funny… I will give you that… but I would take him with the 12th pick for sure.
By Derek on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
Give Webb the 2011 season at QB! He showed promising! He looked comfortable, and he knew what he was doing, unlike T-Jack.
By Bubbs on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
There are no great QB draft choices this year. Take a corner or three find us a safety that doesn't suck and throw this season away so we can take. One of three great prospects next draft.
If we keep "building for now" we're going to fall apart.
By buck on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
i would say no i think we need someone younger
By vikesfan78 on Feb 2, 2011 | Reply
Let's face it guys…we are known for picking up older QB's. Culpepper was our last draft choice who did anything. I say we draft a QB in the first round, but take a Mcnabb or Kolb for them to mentor. We have an aging defense and no offnesive line. I would hate to put a rookie QB in our current status.
By Jv3rnon on Feb 3, 2011 | Reply
Vikings don't need Kolb, get McNabb and let Musgrave train Webb. Fix o-line and get Oakland's star corner. Draft o-line or DB. Sign Rice,Edwards,Pat,Greenway, and Longwell. Frazier will have Vikings right for 2011
By fcolby on Feb 4, 2011 | Reply
im a big viking fan,also a big auburn fan i think cam newton would be great for the vikings
By Juan on Feb 4, 2011 | Reply
i'd like to draft a qb and o-line, put everson griffin in instead of edwards, and possibly sign asomguha.
By Viking-ology on Feb 4, 2011 | Reply
I the Vikes can't get Gabbert in the first round, then they should pick up Locker in the second round. Don't give up on Locker- he has the potential and he is willing-that is the key. Look at Flacco- if a QB is willing, and he is in the RIGHT system, that makes all the difference. Lets hope Frazier has a great plan- so far it seems he has a good idea on what he is wanting to do.
By stephen mcgee on Feb 7, 2011 | Reply
i think the vikings need to get a quarterback that is hype and has the ability to run through and just make plays joe webb is that guy but this year in the draft the vikes should try to get cam newton he is one of my football idles and he is the guy who can do it all with in a year or so im a die hard vikings fan if yall listen to me things will start to happen and i wouls love to meet the whole vikings team
By stephen mcgee on Feb 7, 2011 | Reply
i spelled would wrong but for real if the vikes let go of jackson vince young is the player they should have in mind and the vikes need to be healthy period if not they will have a messed up season like this year this season will help the team in the long run on to survive and still work hard when things are tough
By mossforlife on Feb 7, 2011 | Reply
The best move for the Vikings to do is to start T. Jackson, Webb second, and a rookie 3rd. Tavaris Jackson did not get a fair shake, he knows the offense and has proven he can beat the teams in the division.. Pound for Pound the Vikings still have a better team than GB or Chicago. Save the money and get some O-line personnel!!! You sit a guy two seasons and then expect him to be Joe Namath. Throughout his whole tenure with the Vikes they set him up in lose lose situtations. When the Vikings went 10-6, prior to getting Farve, his development was equal to Aaron Roger & Culter plus he had first playoff experience, but we set him back Now Aarron has a SB ring, and Cutlter won the north. Stop trying immediate gradification.. Look what happened to this team!! believing in the hype one QB away from SB. It destroy a possible dynasty… SAD. BF gave us 2 more wins than TJ, and BF lost all 4 games against playoff contenders. Was that really a major improvement? Chances are that the other guy would have won two extra games in his development.. This it what the short run gets you, if you fail.
By vikings rock12 on Feb 12, 2011 | Reply
i say get vy or try the draft and get mallet, newton
By kevin on Mar 21, 2011 | Reply
Drew Brees wasnt a winner in San Diego but showed he had major potential and ended up becoming a major success on the Saints. Carson Palmer HAS proven he has teh potential to be elite, I dont know where people are saying he hasnt. If he was on a more stable team, such as the vikings, i think he woudl become a star again……the vikings need this guy in my honest opinion
By jerseys on Jun 1, 2011 | Reply
I think Palmer is a hot player.:)
By Spencer on Mar 23, 2012 | Reply
Chris Cook————————————————————————–?????
——————-Greenway————–?????—————–Erin H——————-
4 Trackback(s)
- Jan 31, 2011: Monday Morning Mailbag Extra: More QB Questions | Vikings Stop Blog
- Oct 18, 2011: seo
- Oct 18, 2011: seo
- Oct 18, 2011: seo


text:
During visits to dad in the Eisenhower Unit, a ward for demented veterans, I met many men with interesting backgrounds. In addition to Ray—who served on a famous World War II destroyer and insists he spent the day with Doris Day while recovering from severe battle wounds (See "A Gallant Vessel")—there is Marion.
Marion was a medical aide man in the Army during World War II, from the Normandy invasion to the conclusion of the war in Germany. Dr. Dan, the unit neurologist, says Marion can speak French and play a harmonica. Another veteran is a former military boxing champion. (For Dr. Dan's story, see "A Dementia Care Philosophy" in my blog entry on February 9)
One day I get the idea that someone could make an intriguing documentary about the Eisenhower unit. Why not me? I have a video camera, and there are several family movies to my credit. The latest project was my cousin's wedding, and she and the groom were happy with the DVD I sent to them a month later. Especially since, one year later, they were still waiting for the $1000 video they paid for in advance. I came to think of myself as an independent filmmaker.
I had a lot to learn.
I mention to Tammy, the hospital volunteer coordinator, that I am looking for families who are willing to cooperate with a documentary film project, and a few weeks later, she stops me in the recreation room at the hospital and says Marion's wife, Gwen, will allow me to film her and Marion.
I call Gwen and we discuss the interview. We soon discover that we share a similar Christian faith. She and Marion have faithfully attended church their entire marriage.
We set an appointment for the next Sunday afternoon in the hospital library and agree to pray about the interview and ask God to help Marion be lucid and understandable. Gwen says it is impossible to predict Marion's ability to communicate and stay focused, so she gives me a brief summary of Marion's life:
Marion Lee Bell was born on February 26, 1912 in Wayne County, Kentucky. He was 6 weeks old the night of the Titanic tragedy, 29 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and 57 when man stepped on the moon for the first time. Marion was the first of ten children. He attended a one-room school several miles from home, but quit in the fourth grade to help the family earn an income. He made 75 cents a day. Marion and his brother cut and shucked corn for a few cents a shawk (a bundle of corn stalks), and they also cut wood with a crosscut saw. Although Marion did not have much formal education, he had a thirst for learning throughout his life. He married Gwen on December 27, 1965. They never had children. Now Marion is legally blind, hard of hearing and has severe dementia.
The next Sunday, April 17, Marion and Gwen are waiting for me in the library. Coming straight from church, Gwen arrives first and brings Marion down to the library in a wheelchair. He was dressed in a navy blue sweatshirt, sweatpants and matching fleece jacket. His head is topped off by an old fedora hat with a white paint stain above the brim. Gwen says Marion has never gone anywhere without his hat, and he insisted on wearing it to the interview.
I retrieve two wooden chairs from one of the tables in the library and place them in front of a bookshelf. This is a good place because the light from the large library window falls on the shelf. It is an overcast April afternoon. Momentary breaks in the cloud deck subtly change the lighting, but I don't think this is dramatic enough to affect the filming.
Gwen and I help Marion from his wheelchair and place him on the chair to my right, and then Gwen takes the chair to his right. I kneel on one knee and hold Gwen's hand as I ask God to bring His Holy Spirit into the interview. Marion takes off his hat as I turn on my video camera.
Marion asks Gwen if it is 5 p.m. and she says no, it is 2:30 p.m. He often asks if it is five in the morning or five at night. I wonder what it is about 5 o'clock that makes it stick in his mind. Did something significant happen in his life at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m.?
My first question is, "Do you remember much about being in World War II?"
Marion stares in my direction for a few seconds, then leans over to Gwen and asks, "What did he say?"
I repeated the question, and Marion looked anxiously between Gwen and the sound of my voice. He smiles and politely says, "Sir, I can't understand you."
Gwen puts her lips close to Marion's right ear and says in a slightly elevated voice, "He wants you to tell him about being in the war."
Marion grins and answers, "Well, to be frank with you, I didn't have much time to learn much."
I ask him to explain.
"We had to keep movin' on, you see. And so, I wasn't scared too bad. I'd say the hardest part was about the first three days in there for me. Outside of that, I got along good sleeping in foxholes and dugouts. I think I got along about five weeks in that battlefield."
He says he was in southern France and it was so long ago he had forgotten. Despite his claim Marion continues, "I wouldn't want to go back now. I guess if I was as young now as I was back then, I wouldn't care to go back. But you gotta learn to dodge the bullets. Our foxholes were in the ground. I'd find out which way they were shooting and I'd get over on the other side and they'd shoot over my head into that bank above my foxhole. I'm sitting there laughing at them."
Marion looks at Gwen and laughs heartily. What kind of man laughs while the enemy is trying to kill him?
Marion's speech is slightly slurred, and it is difficult for him to pronounce words beginning with "t" or "r." I find after a few minutes that I can understand most of what he is telling me. The interview is turning into something completely different than I anticipated. This severely demented man is articulate, witty and entertaining. How long will it last?
Marion discusses waiting to go across the British Channel for the Normandy invasion.
"We were waiting around, and a British officer came up to us and asked how we were doing. I said when it gets dark we're going to slip across that water to the other side. The officer laughed and asked how we were feeling about that and I told him, well we're still on two legs."
Following a couple of chuckles Marion says, "Our casualties were building up over there. Most of my work was running back and forth between the front lines. I was a medic through it all. It was long hours sometimes. Sometimes when there was a raid, it was pretty hot and heavy, and sometimes it was light. But I lived it through it, and got back here, thank God. I didn't get homesick. I knew it was to win or lose. I didn't want to lose, so I stayed right in there."
After a moment or two, he starts talking again. "But now, I don't want to go back over there again. I done been there."
I ask, loudly this time, what he did as a medical aide man.
He replies, "I doctored lacerated wounds, broken fingers, cut legs and all that. If I found a guy who needed to go to surgery, I would have to holler at the surgery team. And if I'd find a guy that had to be sewed up, he had to go right over to the operating table to be sewed up. See? I would not take that responsibility."
He suddenly says, "All right now, we're movin' on."
After a short pause, he says, "I was in there 12 months as a medical aide man. I was a lot older than the other boys, too old to be in there, but I tried my best to do my part. I never drank any alcohol or whiskey. I never gambled a dime or a nickel. I never laid out nights. I wanted to get it over with and let me get back home.
"One time my captain came by and said Doc Bell, I better put you in the delivery room." Gwen and I laugh as Marion leans forward in his chair toward me, chuckles and says, "I asked him how many pregnancies did he have. He said a lot of these officers around here are in that way."
Marion drops his hat at the end of the story, bends over gingerly to retrieve it and puts it back on his lap.
The captain was a pleasant memory for Marion. "One day the captain came in and asked me, 'Doc Bell, which end of that boat did you ride comin' over here?' I said the wrong end. He said why was that? I said if I'd fallen off I'd of fallen in the water and then they would have run over me. And so that was a big laugh to him. The captain said, 'Doc Bell, you like to ride on the water, don't you?' I told him, 'Yeah, as long as I don't have a flat tar (tire).'"
Marion continued talking about the boat ride over to England from the United States in 1943. "One day as we were riding on the boat, I decided to go up to the crow's nest. I wasn't supposed to, but I did anyway. An officer said, 'By golly, if you can go up there, I'll go, too.' So here he was, right after me. We went up there and got in that crow's nest. You see, that thing was about 35-foot above the boat."
Marion stretches out his arm to the right across Gwen, and sways back and forth in his chair. He describes the rocking motion of the crow's nest as the ship crossed sizeable waves. Gwen folds her hands on her lap and smiles, as her husband again is a young soldier on the way to liberate Europe.
"We were w-a-a-a-a-y out over the sea, it wasn't no more than 20 feet down to the ocean from where we was sittin'," Marion continues. "The officer asked me, 'Are you scared?' I told him 'No, if I was, I wouldn't be out here.' Well sir, that tickled him good. Later we were walking on that rocking boat, and he said, 'You know water, don't you?' I told him I can walk that boat easy. I walked everywhere I went."
Marion waves his right hand back and forth to show me how the ship rolled in the waves.
"See, you had to keep your balance. The officer asked me, 'What do we do now?' I said, 'I guess you and me better take a boat ride.' We went up to where they had the boats hooked up. We got in and took a boat ride."
Marion raises his right hand to shoulder height, sticks out his forefinger and describes a large, upside-down arc in front of Gwen as he recalls the swaying action of one of the troop's transport lifeboats. Gwen eases her head back and out of the way as Marion rocks his upper body in rhythm to his tale telling.
"That thing went w-a-a-a-a-y over here, and it looked like you could reach right out and touch the water. People down on the deck down there started laughin' and clappin' their hands and said 'Throw water on him! Throw water on him!' I said, 'No, he's a frog and he'll jump in directly. Boy, we had a bushel of fun outta that—something to break the monotony. See, nobody wanted to go in there and face all those guns. But we had it to do it."
Marion lowers his hand, stops rocking and his face became somber.
"I was fortunate. I was a medical aide man, and I'm glad of it. It was nasty work, but somebody had to do that. And I did it. When it was all over with, I got a lot of handshakes, and I headed back to America."
Marion drops his head and a smile spreads across his face.
"I seen trucks transportin' soldiers, they're tryin' to get across a railroad track and the drivers of the trucks was soldier boys, you know. Alright, one of them trucks was loaded with soldiers and an ol' train come through at high speed, and the whistle blowin' and the truck drivers—they don't know what in the heck is goin' on, and a driver cut across."
Marion glances from me to Gwen. Since he is nearly blind, he never looks exactly at us. He makes a fist with his right hand and punches the air as he remembers the driver of one of the trucks trying to beat the train to the crossing.
"But the tail end of the truck hit this truck and it had some soldiers in it. It got up on two wheels and then rolled around to the other two wheels. The soldiers all hit the ground on foot and run off and left it."
Marion split the first two fingers of his right hand and moved it rapidly from side to side as he said, "You see them old tandem wheels kept it from rollin'. They just jumped out and got away from it."
His shoulders rock with delight at the memory of the soldiers jumping from the truck. Marion's expression suddenly changes again as he looks pensively in my direction.
"But you can expect anything in the midst of war when you're in it. Stay out of it, if you can."
Marion talks about using penicillin and how it was a lifesaver to the troops. He describes working from six in the morning until midnight, sleeping a few hours and then getting up with half a cup of coffee to start a new day. Maybe he got up around 5 a.m. Marion's days in the hospital were mixed with dangerous trips to combat areas to retrieve the wounded.
"I wasn't too well educated but I learned fast, thank God, and I didn't have a mishap," he says. "Belgium, France, and Germany was mostly where I was. German people were good, and the French people were good. I didn't have no problem with them." Marion grows quiet and waits for the next question. Gwen asks Marion if he will speak in French to me.
He doesn't hear her, and Gwen grins at me as Marion continues his last thought.
"You see southern France is big apple country," he explains. "They haul them apples across the ocean, and they cost five dollars a bushel. Well, when I'm not on duty, I prowl around. You need to speak two languages, so I took off on that, and I could have good conversations with them."
He looks at the space to my left and stops talking.
Gwen then makes a request directly into Marion's right ear, "Speak some French for him."
He is confused initially, but then says, "Would I …oh!" A huge grin appears. Marion waves his right hand as if he is gesturing to an audience and astounds me with, "Comment allez-vous, Monsieur? Combien d'heures vous travaillez aujourd'hui? Combien d'heures vous partez pour manger? Onze heures?" While keeping his grin and looking expectantly at me, Marion secretly taps Gwen's left knee as if telling her, "Let's see if he knows what that means." After another few seconds, Marion translates for us, "How are you, Sir? How many hours do you have to work today? How long do you have to eat? An hour?" I lived close to the French border. I had to speak French to the French soldiers and English to our boys. They didn't teach me to speak French, I picked it up as I worked, you see. He scrunches up his face in pure joy, enjoying how he is able to stump me with his French. I laugh with him.
"It didn't do me no good to speak English to the French soldiers," he says. " It's all unknown words to them."
Gwen asks him to count in French. Marion says, "Now that's easy."
Grabbing each finger of his left hand with his right hand and then repeating with the other hand, Marion counts while Gwen watches him tick off each number with a finger: "Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix. Wasn't that something? I used to pick the guitar for them, and they took a shine to that. They're nice people after all, but you got to get used them. They have their style of living, just like we do in America."
Marion continues to give me a French lesson. He tells me how to ask, "What time do we eat," and "where do you work" and other simple expressions. He says he did a lot of interpreting for the new soldier boys coming in as replacements. French soldiers who had been patched up by Marion before going to the field hospital came back to "parlez-vous" with him after they recovered. Marion described bombs dropping on a building and how he had to go in and dig out the soldiers who had been wounded. Some of the men were badly burned and blistered by the exploding shells. I ask Marion what it was like to be in combat.
"You're just about as safe in one place as you are another," he answers. "Now, the trench is the safest place. You should never stick your head up and start speculating. Keep your head down in there, and pretty soon you'll learn which way the bullets are coming in, and you know good and well you ain't going the way they're a comin' in. My foxhole was a square hole."
Marion makes a square over his lap with his long, slender fingers. He then pulls his hands apart and uses them to gracefully describe a road, the position of his foxhole in relation to the road and bullets hitting the ground above his foxhole.
"There's a big highway. They started shooting, and they hit this bank to the southwest," he says. "The bullets started hitting that bank, and from the top of that bank to where I'm layin' is about five feet."
Marion splits his hands vertically to indicate five feet.
"All those bullets are hitting the bank, they're just a rollin' in and all the dirt is pourin' down on me. I rolled over to the other side of the hole, and they started coming in on that side. They didn't realize that way was working. I was in combat for a year. It was dangerous as hell for a while."
Marion had moved toward me in his chair as he recounts some of his combat experience. Gwen still had her hands folded in her lap, and she has a far away look in her eyes as Marion talks about people trying their best to kill him. He shifts his head to the right and waits for a few seconds. Returning from his foxhole, he turns back to me and says thoughtfully, "I wouldn't want to go back over there. Of course, I'm too old now. Back then, I didn't pay no attention to it. I could jump pretty good and I could run like a rabbit."
Gwen shifts her loving gaze from Marion over to me and gently laughs as Marion brags on his athletic abilities.
"If I heard the signal, why, I took cover," the veteran continues. "Them that didn't take cover, they soon took it."
Marion grabs the brim of his hat, now lying in his lap, and chuckles merrily as he remembers greenhorn soldiers diving into his foxhole after the incoming shells arrived.
Gwen told me earlier that Marion had picked up soldiers from the front lines. Now she asks Marion about going to the combat areas. His hat falls to the floor again, and as he retrieved it he says, "Oh yeah, I was on the front lines. I had an underground tunnel I could use for an air raid shelter."
Marion stares intently to his right and stops talking. Abruptly he resumes, accompanying his storytelling with elegant, flowing movements of his hands.
"Them tunnels over there—you run like it's right there—and you jump down in there, jump down. Now you don't know which way to go, and the enemy chasing you, they don't know either. So they think you gone that way, but you ain't cause you took back that-a-way."
Marion points back and forth with his fingers in front of Gwen to show us how he ran in the tunnels during an enemy attack. Gwen stares intently as Marion tells us more.
"When they get where you want 'em, then you shoot 'em down back in there. It was a crap shoot, wasn't it?"
Marion drops his eyes to the floor and slightly shakes his head as if it could have been him instead of the enemy who died in the tunnel.
Marion's entertaining and suspenseful monologue fascinates me. For a moment, I consider that here is a severely demented, 92-year-old veteran who is articulately recounting his experiences during World War II. Before today, I never heard Marion say much more than one or two sentences that were properly oriented with respect to time and place.
"It didn't last long cause the Germans give up," Marion says, regaining my attention. "We went across from where we had camp and sat down beside a highway, like I was a sitting here, and we would talk to Germans. And they would take German cigarettes, and one thing and another, and of course they had the whiskey."
Marion bends over, stares seriously at me and proclaims, "I don't drink it!" Relaxing his posture and flapping a section of his soft cotton jacket, he confided, "The American boys would slip a bottle of whiskey under their coats, and the Germans would start drinking it, and there would be lots of hand shaking."
He cocks his head to one side, raises his hands in a sign of innocence, and says, "I had nothing to do with that. But that's where old Hitler lost the bill. They give up."
I ask Gwen if Marion remembers growing up in the hills of southern Kentucky. Gwen draws Marion close to her and says, "Tell him what you did as a little boy."
He immediately shifted gears and returned to the 1920's.
"To get a little money in your pocket, come Saturday, your daddy might not have to work. Okay, but you got three boys. Getcha a hoe and go to the mountain and dig ginseng. Now that's for each one's money."
Marion spreads the fingers of his right hand and rapidly shakes it to emphasize the importance of what he is telling me. Ginseng is a medicinal plant found in thickly forested areas, and it resembles the figure of a man. Some holistic drug companies buy quantities of dried ginseng root.
"I drove with Daddy, Uncle High Jenkins, and two or three more uncles," Marion recalls. "Oh, I had a field full of uncles. We'd go out deep into the mountains, you had to look straight up to see the sky, and you couldn't really see it then."
Marion lifts his head and stares at the ceiling of the library. Lowering his eyes back to my level he says, "I'd find a bunch of ginseng. I'd say that's a two prong 'seng, and I'd put it over there, and that's a three prong 'seng, and I'd put it over here."
He points his hand to his right to show us the spot in the forest where he inventoried his ginseng plants.
"Now I'd get all my ginseng together and put it in a paper sack and tie that sack off. Then I'd put it on the porch, and the sun would come through and dry it out. Now, that was my spendin' money. One time I took 14 dollars worth, and one time I took 20 dollars worth. I took it to the freight house and sold it. But that bunch was a long time a diggin' it."
Marion says he was disappointed with the poor work ethic of his daddy and uncles when digging up the medicinal plant. I wonder if Marion's dad and Uncle High may have gotten a little high in the woods while young Marion excavated the ginseng.
Gwen asks Marion how much money he made per day working as a young man.
"Oh, when I started working I was making 75 cents a day."
Marion pats right knee and proudly says, "Then I went to work for a company and went up to a dollar a day. After that, I went a little higher to two dollars a day. Then we started in to counting the hour. Well, by the time we got to counting the hours, why, new makes of trucks made it too handy and too cheap to hire labor. So I lost out on that deal. I wasn't able to give 7,000 dollars for one of them hoister trucks, and I didn't need it no way; I was a poor boy."
At one time, Marion worked in the logging industry and lost a job due to the mechanization of logging with diesel power tractors and hoister equipment that began in the 1920's. The tractors pulled the hoisters, and both were used to transport logs.
Marion continues talking about the pre-war years.
"I finally growed up and went on my own," he recalls. "Got my own truck and went on. Now I broke down here like this and have to sit around and take it easy."
Marion has some idea of his condition.
"I did not get married on account of the expense. And, of course, 75 cents a day was big money. What did I want with a woman and a bunch of kids and not own no house?"
Gwen is smiling again now.
"The minute I'd get enough money ahead, I'd have to help Daddy with a delivery bill till he had 10 babies delivered," says Marion. "There went my money."
Gwen nods toward me in agreement, and whispers that it is true.
"Of course I couldn't say no," Marion says. "So Daddy wound up, I believe it was, with ten kids."
Gwen begins telling me how they met, but Marion jumps in and says, "I was 23 years old when they took me to the Army at the outbreak of the war." Marion is mistaken about his age—he was 30 years old in 1942.
"Before then, I had never stayed a night away from home. Daddy would come with a lantern at midnight to get me when I was playing checkers with my uncle and my cousin in front of the fireplace. My daddy would come in, and I'd have to go or he'd beat the hell outta me. So I'd have to give up and go."
Gwen raises her eyebrows in surprise and laughs. This is the first time she has heard this story.
Marion grasps his hat tightly; the aged fedora is his security blanket. Perhaps it is his only link to a past life.
"I came into this world in 1912," Marion shares. "As I went through life, I made many changes. My grandma on my mother's side taught me a lot. She had four girls—maybe six girls—I forget which, and one boy. He in turn made a lawyer. And grandma raised her family with no husband. The girls all married and went out. Grandma was a good worker. She had a good education. She was a good horseback rider."
Marion suddenly speaks French again. He teaches me French for several minutes and is having a grand time stumping me with questions. I become worried that we might lose him to dementia and if there are any more stories left.
Gwen tries to tell me again how they met, dated and married, but Marion interrupts her with comments like, "My daddy wouldn't let me leave the house till I was 22," or "Daddy would say 'Help me with these kids!,' and I'd tell him they're yours, Daddy, do with them as you please," or "Daddy didn't make no money. They was rich farmers but they wouldn't pay him nothing."
Marion hears a bit of what Gwen says about dating because he turns completely toward her and exclaims in a mischievous tone, "Ahhh ... now, you're gettin' private ain't ya?!"
The next moment is the most endearing of the interview. Gwen has her legs crossed, her right arm on a crossed leg and the other arm draped across the back of the yellow wooden chair; she is completely relaxed and enjoying Marion's jovial mood. He tenderly pats her right knee with his right hand and reflectively says, "I met many mademoiselles, but I never met one like you. Comment allez-vous? How are you?" Gwen's eyes soften as her husband expresses his love the best way he can. I think it must have been a joy to spend life with Marion. Still is. Gwen answers, "I'm fine. How about you?"
Marion's chin sinks to his chest. He stares at his hat and replies, "I guess I'm all right. I don't know."
Gwen speaks of the work Marion did as a carpenter and some of the things he built for their church, the Monticello First Church of the Nazarene, in Monticello, Ky. He made the cross that adorns the sanctuary. At that moment, I know I must visit Monticello to learn more about Gwen and Marion.
Marion is silent for several minutes while Gwen takes her turn in front of the camera. When she finishes Marion says, "I was a joy to the preacher. He liked to see me. Now I don't get out much and see much anymore. For the last two years, I been bogged down. I can't tell nobody about anything I saw here today."
He moves his hand in a wide circle to show he can't see what is going on in the library. Marion gazes at Gwen and adds, "Outside you. I saw you!" They chortle together and Marion reaches for Gwen's hand and holds it while she elaborates on the cross Marion built for the church. Marion interrupts her with, "I told her daddy I'd take care of that little girl." Gwen shushes him by patting his arm, rubbing his shoulder and gently moving him from side to side and Marion releases her hand while Gwen tells me how two song evangelists persuaded the preacher to let Marion build a cross for the Monticello church.
Marion takes Gwen's hand once again and says, "She was a good driver. I helped her buy a car. She would sit down in the driver's seat, hold the steering wheel and say Giddy up, Bess!"
Marion opens his mouth wide and lets out a series of guffaws that rock his whole body. Like a teenage girl, Gwen slaps his back a few times in embarrassment as Marion thoroughly enjoys a fine, long laugh. They remind me of a young couple sitting on a couch enjoying each other's company while they chat with a good friend. Marion lets go of Gwen's hand and says, "Lord, Lord" when they got the laughter out of their system.
Gwen had brought Marion's army uniform. The uniform is on a wooden hanger and in excellent condition. There are two stripes on each sleeve of the jacket, with a "T" underneath the stripes. They represent Marion's rank as a Technician 5th Grade. Four yellow bars are at the bottom of the left sleeve, and each equals six months overseas for a total of two years. One slanted black stripe below the yellow bars was awarded for Marion's three-year enlistment. Two ribbons and a medal are fastened to the left breast pocket, and the pants are on the hanger underneath the jacket.
Gwen holds the hanger and places the lower half of the uniform on Marion's leg. He feels an olive-green sleeve and says, "That's heavy quilt. That's army stuff." Gwen agrees and asks him if he knows whose uniform it is. Marion says he didn't know, so Gwen tells him it is his. Marion asks, "Does it have an 'old fogey' stripe on it?" Gwen says she didn't know about his stripes, and Marion replies it is a black stripe on the sleeve—he means the three-year enlistment service stripe. Gwen takes her husband's hand and rubs it across the service stripe.
"I can't see it," Marion says. "It's an old fogey stripe. That's for old soldiers. Why did you bring it here today?"
Gwen replied that she wanted him to look at it again. Marion glances at me and cackles while he says, "I've seen that thing enough!"
Gwen and Marion investigate the medals and ribbons, but Marion can't remember what any of them mean.
Marion sings a little jingle for us, "This is the army, Mister Jones, no private telephone." Later, I enter these words into an Internet search engine and find they are the first two lines of an Irving Berlin song written in 1942:
This is the Army, Mister Jones.No private rooms or telephones.You had your breakfast in bed before, But you wont have it there any more.This is the Army, Mister Green.We like the barracks nice and clean.You had a housemaid to clean your floor,But she wont help you out any more.
Do what the buglers command.They're in the army and not in a band.This is the Army, Mr. Brown.You and your baby went to town.She had you worried but this is war,and she won't worry you any more.
I ask Gwen to give her husband one of the two harmonicas he owns. The area where Marion grew up was called Gap of the Ridge, and he honed his musical skills playing in a family band called The Gap of the Ridge Roughnecks.
Marion accepts the smaller of the two and tests its tune with a few short notes. With his hat perched precariously on his right knee, Marion wraps both hands around the mouth harp and expertly toots a few seconds of a familiar sounding bluegrass ditty. I am surprised once more at Marion's abilities. I push the zoom button on my camera and hope for a tighter shot, but he drops the harmonica too soon for me and sings in a warbling voice, "Ol' freight train blues …" Marion claps the harmonica against the palm of his hand to clean it out, then he tells Gwen that his mouth is too dry to play. She gives him a bottle of water with a straw, and Marion draws a refreshing drink of the cold beverage. Gwen say Marion used to play the harmonica frequently.
After the drink, Marion blows one chord as a warm up then plays a rift resembling a segment of the Christmas carol, Noel. He uses his hands to get a nice echo effect from the harmonica, and the melody is beautiful. Too soon again he stops, laughs, taps his palm with the harmonica and gives it back to Gwen while saying, "Lord, Lord."
After about an hour, Gwen and I help Marion out of the wooden library chair and into the metal and fabric wheelchair. Marion departs 90 years of memories and returns to his final foxhole and last campaign.
* * *
Gwen comes back to the library to review how she and Marion met and explain the struggles she has experienced when dealing with Marion's dementia. I also film this conversation.
Back in the day, Gwen's father was building a new home, and he hired Marion to help with the carpentry. That was when the couple met for the first time. As the work on the house continued, they got to know each other, started dating and fell in love. Gwen wanted to finish school and become a teacher before marrying. She graduated from Cumberland College in 1963 and started what was to become a 35-year teaching career. Gwen and Marion decided to elope, and they drove to Tennessee and married on Dec. 27, 1965.
Gwen and Marion started building a ranch-style, brick home on the outskirts of Monticello, Kentucky in 1966. Gwen helped Marion lay brick before she went to work in the morning and again in the evening when she returned from school.
Marion was self-employed as a carpenter and looked after his aging parents until they required long-term nursing care. In 1966, he developed a heart condition, and in 1976, his health began to deteriorate seriously. In 1991, Marion began to exhibit signs of dementia. He entered the Eisenhower unit in 2004.
I ask Gwen to discuss her trials while coping with Marion's dementia.
"Marion's sickness started about 12 years ago and it was very, very gradual, Gwen recalls. "It didn't happen overnight. I could see things, and I guess you deny it. I didn't want to think he was getting sick. Through the years Marion gradually got worse and worse."
Gwen recalls a specific time when she knew something was wrong with Marion.
"Since he was a carpenter, he began repairing things in the house," she says. "In the bathroom, for instance, he took the sink apart. When I came in from work, he couldn't get it back together. I had to call a plumber to come and fix the bathroom. We had always worked together, did all of our repairs ourselves. A big issue for me was to find people to do things. I didn't know how to do the things that Marion had done before. Like the lawnmower. He said I'd need to use it one day. But I refused to become a mechanic. Now I could use the ability to do some of those things." Gwen smiles and sighs as she recalls learning how to use a lawnmower for the first time.
She continues, "But, those were some of the things that were happening. Physically, he was also going downhill. He began to fall a lot, and he would fall on the concrete on our patio. I tried to pick him up, but I couldn't. He begged me to just drag him across the concrete, but Marion is six foot two, and I couldn't drag him. We have two nephews, Gerald and Eddie, and they're just like my children. They came to my rescue. I feel the Lord sent them at the right time. It had to be the Lord taking care of me.
"Eddie lived much closer to me than Gerald, and I would call him at two in the morning, at four in the morning, and he always came to help me. He never complained, Gwen says. "He always said, 'I'll be there as soon as I can.' It was a very difficult situation, a very stressful situation, and as you know, it's still stressful for them to be here."
Gwen describes how her life has changed due to Marion's dementia.
"There have been so many changes in my life to deal with. We had only been away from each other for three nights in 38 years, except for two deaths in my family and a few short trips to the hospital for me. When he was in the hospital, I just packed up and lived with him—if he stayed a week, I stayed a week. But the dementia takes its toll. I couldn't leave him and trust him to stay in the house, so I gave up any kind of life on my own. Nighttime seemed to be when Marion had most of his problems. One night he went to the garage and accidentally cut himself with a knife—we had lots of nighttime mishaps. All of his emergency runs to the hospital were at night.
Gwen credits God with helping her through the hard times.
"With the help of the good Lord above, I was able to take care of him, and I would do it again," she says. "My doctor warned me for four years that I was under too much stress taking care of Marion, but you forget yourself and do what you have to do. Since he's been here, I've been able to take care of my health problems. It's still stressful with Marion being here, but not like it was." Gwen stops to wipe a tear from her eye.
I share with Gwen how my mother misses Dad terribly, and occasionally wishes he were still at home, even in a demented condition. Mom knows this isn't possible, but the loneliness can be overpowering after decades of marriage. Gwen agrees and says, "You don't realize until they're gone how lonely life can be without them. I never came home unless Marion was there waiting for me, for years and years and years."
Gwen obviously has a strong Christian faith. She says, "The advice I would give to any wife would be to leave your loved one in the Lord's hands. Pray daily that He will take care of your loved one and also take care of you."
The last question I have for Gwen concerns what she thinks of the care Marion receives at the center.
"I thank God every day for this nursing home and the people He sent here," she says. "They are so efficient, they are God-loving people and I thank them so much for every act of kindness they show Marion. They never waiver; they are always the same." I feel the same type of gratitude.
We say our goodbyes. I ask to come to Monticello and visit Gwen and Marion's home and the First Church of the Nazarene. Maybe I can also meet their nephew Eddie and one of Marion's surviving siblings. Gwen says to call and set up a visit on a weekend. She suggests I catch her nephew Eddie and Marion's baby sister, Savannah, the next time they visit Marion. They probably will come in the next week or so. I eagerly anticipate meeting more of Marion's family, and seeing the church and the Bell's home in Monticello.Please pray for Marion and Gwen; Marion is not doing well.Art by my good friend, John Foster, a Louisville-based commercial artist.
To learn more about the Eisenhower Unit, please read my Blog and "Stories by our Users" entries listed below:
Reveille/August 15-January 1 (Blog)Bricks of a Different Color-January 4 (Blog)A Show of Love-January 10 (Blog)Moving Day-January 13 (Blog)Introductions-January 18 (Blog)Sharing Our Grief-January 22 (Blog)Love Stories-January 25(Blog)
Trashman-January 29 (Blog)Holiday Gatherings-February 2 (Blog)A Conversation About Alzheimer's-February 6 (Blog)Nursing Dementia-February 8 (Blog)A Dementia Care Philosophy-February 9 (Blog)Ministering Demented Veterans-February 12 (Blog)
In The Shadow-February 17 (Blog)
A Gallant Vessel-February 17(Stories by our Users)
Memorial Day-February 19 (Stories by our Users)
Dewayne Rudd
Please pray for Marion and Gwen; Marion is not doing well.Art by my good friend, John Foster, a Louisville-based commercial artist.
To learn more about the Eisenhower Unit, please read my Blog and "Stories by our Users" entries listed below:
Reveille/August 15-January 1 (Blog)Bricks of a Different Color-January 4 (Blog)A Show of Love-January 10 (Blog)Moving Day-January 13 (Blog)Introductions-January 18 (Blog)Sharing Our Grief-January 22 (Blog)Love Stories-January 25(Blog)
Trashman-January 29 (Blog)Holiday Gatherings-February 2 (Blog)A Conversation About Alzheimer's-February 6 (Blog)Nursing Dementia-February 8 (Blog)A Dementia Care Philosophy-February 9 (Blog)Ministering Demented Veterans-February 12 (Blog)
In The Shadow-February 17 (Blog)
A Gallant Vessel-February 17(Stories by our Users)
Memorial Day-February 19 (Stories by our Users)
Dewayne Rudd
To learn more about the Eisenhower Unit, please read my Blog and "Stories by our Users" entries listed below:
Reveille/August 15-January 1 (Blog)Bricks of a Different Color-January 4 (Blog)A Show of Love-January 10 (Blog)Moving Day-January 13 (Blog)Introductions-January 18 (Blog)Sharing Our Grief-January 22 (Blog)Love Stories-January 25(Blog)
Trashman-January 29 (Blog)Holiday Gatherings-February 2 (Blog)A Conversation About Alzheimer's-February 6 (Blog)Nursing Dementia-February 8 (Blog)A Dementia Care Philosophy-February 9 (Blog)Ministering Demented Veterans-February 12 (Blog)
In The Shadow-February 17 (Blog)
A Gallant Vessel-February 17(Stories by our Users)
Memorial Day-February 19 (Stories by our Users)
Dewayne Rudd
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Especially the cars! Dewayne your stuff is great. Thanks so much for taking your time to post and share this with everyone.
Thanks for your encouraging comments, Sam. I just uploaded a new photo in My Vault of Marion in front of three old cars. See the one titled "Marion and Cars."
Dewayne, I've been reading your stories and it's a beautiful service you are doing, talking with folks and getting their stories down. A ministry in itself. Love the drawings, too. You write with clarity and compassion. Thank you for doing this! Marion and the others are valuable people and I thank you for uplifting them! Will pray for Marion &Gwen!
Story of My Life by Eravita® 2014


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Check out recent style triumphs and trip-ups by the stars, then rate the looks yourself! By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg
Credit: Lalo Yasky/WireImage
Updated: Friday Nov 30, 2007 | 11:00 AM EST
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The supermodel gets in touch with her animal instincts in a feathered dress topped with a fur stole at the Marie Claire Prix de la Mode in Madrid.
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