Author Archives: Michael K. Barbour

About Michael K. Barbour

Michael K. Barbour is the Director of Faculty Development and a Professor of Instructional Design for the College of Education and Health Sciences at Touro University California. He has been involved with K-12 online learning in a variety of countries for well over a decade as a researcher, teacher, course designer and administrator. Michael's research focuses on the effective design, delivery and support of K-12 online learning, particularly for students located in rural jurisdictions.

Want to Participate in the Online Commemoration Day Service?

The Commemoration Day Virtual Service began during the first year of the pandemic.  Everything had been shut down, including all of the activities of Royal Canadian Legion US Branch #25.  When the closure began in March our members watched as the annual inspection of our local division of sea cadets cancelled. Then March became April, and then May – and the annual ANZAC Day events and our US Memorial Day service were both cancelled.  By June, the branch had cancelled its third monthly membership meetings, and planning to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations charter, which occurred in San Francisco, was postponed indefinitely.

Around that time a Canadian ex-pat organization called the Digital Moose Lounge contacted us to see if the branch wanted to participate in the virtual Canada Day celebration that they were planning.  One of our executive at the time was a native Newfoundlander, and we saw an opportunity.  As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are aware, in addition to being Canada Day, July 1st is also Memorial Day or Commemoration Day in the province – a day when we remember the tragic events of the Battle of Beaumont Hamel. To honour that tradition, and as a way to begin to engage both the members of our branch and our local cadets again, we sought to create a virtual sunrise service for Commemoration Day.

The tradition of this virtual service continues as a way to engage our members who are not local to the Bay Area.  Branch 25 is in the process of planning its annual Commemoration Day virtual service.  The virtual service will feature individual videos combined into a single virtual service.  As such, we are asking our members to submit three videos for inclusion in the service:

  • a video where you say “Lest we forget”
  • a video where you say “We will remember them”
  • a video where you say “Happy Canada Day”

You do not need special equipment to record these videos.  A cell phone or tablet video is fine.  We just ask that videos be taken in landscape format, not in portrait.

If possible, dress in their Legion uniform.  However, any formal attire is appropriate (e.g., what you might wear to a Remembrance Day service at your local cenotaph).

Videos can be uploaded to https://tinyurl.com/RCLcommemorationday2023

Bart Simpson or UFO’s?

An item from Legion Magazine.


Front Lines
Front Lines

Warner Bros./Wikimedia

Runaway Bart Simpson balloons and rogue microwave ovens: NASA debunks most UFO reports

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

The world’s top space agency says American authorities have investigated about 800 reports of what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) in recent decades, but only a small number cannot be explained.

A NASA research panel has been looking into reported sightings of airborne phenomena “that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective.” It is expected to release a report in July.

Addressing the group’s first public meeting, which included a live broadcast online, panelist Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the U.S. Defense Department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, said authorities receive 50-100 UFO reports a month. Only two to five per cent are “possibly really anomalous.”

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BBQ apron
Veterans Benefits Guide
Military Milestones
Military Milestones

Archives of Canada Library

The Trojan Horse of the 1700s

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

George Etherington was a man who took his military service seriously, spending the mid- to late-1700s climbing the ranks of the British army. But Etherington had one weakness—and that was for sports.

Born in Delaware in 1733, Etherington rose to the rank of captain in 1756 while serving in the Seven Years’ War. So, when he took command of Fort Michilimackinac, at the confluence of lakes Huron and Michigan, in 1762, he carried the confidence of British military superiority with him—but that wouldn’t last for long.

Etherington and his garrison were responsible for salvaging the tenuous relationship between the Brits, French and the Ojibwe and Sauk tribes, but even for Etherington, that was a big feat.

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MBP Partner

Recording/Monitoring of Calls Consultation

A request for feedback from Veterans Affairs Canada.  I would ask that our Canadian members please contribute.


We need your input about the option of having calls with your Case Manager or Veteran Service Agent recorded or monitored for better service and record keeping.

Visit Let’s Talk Veterans before June 19, 2023 to provide your feedback.

Thank you!

You’re receiving this email because you are a registered participant on Let’s Talk Veterans.

Honor D-Day heroes

An item of commemoration for today from a fellow veterans organization in the Bay Area.


Remember their courage and sacrifice.
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MARINES’ MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION - 1946 - MARINES’ MEMORIAL FOUNDATION - 2015 - D-Day 79th Anniversary
Remember those who fought for freedom
Today, 79 years ago, America’s land, sea, and air forces invaded Normandy as part of one of the biggest military operations the world had ever seen. It was the start of a long, brutal battle to liberate Europe and end the war.
We bow our heads in deepest gratitude for these valiant heroes who put their lives on the line for the cause of freedom. Their legacy of courage and sacrifice inspires us to this day.
Semper Fidelis,
Michael A. Rocco Signature
Michael A. Rocco
Lieutenant General (Ret.), USMC
President & CEO
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Facebook Web Email
Marines’ Memorial Association & Foundation
609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 / 415.673.6672
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.

Remembering D-Day, 79 Years Later | Se souvenir du jour J, 79 ans plus tard

An item from the Juno Beach Centre commemorating the heroic actions on a beaches in France 79 years ago today.  Note that the ceremony referenced in the message has passed, but you can view it at https://www.facebook.com/JunoBeachCentre/videos/1132902744779289


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Offrez le cadeau du souvenir
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