It has been almost 57-years since that party in South Pasadena my freshman year in college, when this “Kid from the kennel” gathered around a circular table with friends, illuminated by flickering candlelight, holding hands we prayed to Dylan. I surely am “younger than that now.” Lyrics at https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/my-back-pages/
(See below for link to Byrds cover version of this classic)
I was scheduled to be flying out (non-stop flights) to the coast on Thursday for a Burbank High School (BHS) Class of 1965 gathering (celebrating our 75th birthdays), but my medical conditions resulted in an eight-day visit to hospital (heckuva way to lose 8-lbs; I think I'd now qualify to be part of the famous '62 Bulldog "B" football team that won the Foothill League, of course age would certainly bump me back to JV.). It was challenging, but eventual success wrestling with my continuing saga of biliary duct infections (after pancreatic cancer Whipple surgery last year). Thank you medical team! However, it does mean NO TRAVEL for me for a bit. Gives me time and pause (I guess that be “paws”) to think about my fortune having the friends and relationships I’ve enjoyed with BHS Bulldogs, Navy shipmates & service vets, fellow Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt) travelers, and of course National Park Service (NPS) and NM Historic Preservation colleagues. A lot of talent and energy there, with many accomplishments by these folks – they’ve truly made the circle a wheel.
I was recently asked to reflect on professional endeavors from my life’s work with NPS. Several come to mind – the one most far-reaching had a hometown (Burbank) nexus, but more about that in a few moments. By far the greatest “take away” was getting to work alongside so many outstanding professionals protecting our national parks for future generations. Oh sure, there were some bureaucratic clunkers, but by-n-large what a cadre I was privileged to serve alongside. Small, medium & large parks all had gems. THANKS to YOU all.
A cherry on top event was most likely getting to speak on behalf of the United States at the INTERPOL/UNESCO Conference (Dec. 1999, Mexico City) on the Trafficking of Stolen Antiquities (poster atop page). I was an 11th hour addition to the program (thank you State Dept. + getting to travel with a Red/diplomatic passport was cool): I enjoyed every minute of it. I recall thinking, as I walked up on stage: “OK, kid from the kennel in Burbank, this is for Dr. Blucher” (a professor of mine at Humboldt that had accomplished her graduate field work at Teotihuacan –outside Mexico City). The Conference may not have resulted in long lasting effects; we’d have to research worldwide efforts post-9/11 to see. For me it was pure ego blast. I sure loved the experience and at least a temporary illusionary accomplishment.
Certainly the emergency incident responses for wildfires and hurricanes come to mind: working with Incident Management Teams (IMT) has been a blessing. I’m forever thankful I could help with Katrina (2005) efforts after having lived in New Orleans when working Jean Laffite NHP in the early 80’s. Getting to work with Park Rangers and the Tourist Police at Petra Archaeological Park and Wadi Rum Protected Area in Jordan, both UNESCO World Heritage Areas, didn’t suck either. OK, it was another cherry.
When I think about significant cases I was involved with, East-West Trading Co./Richard N. Corrow comes to the forefront. Corrow was the first trial in U.S. District Court under the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). It resulted in a jury trial conviction that was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court (after a full en banc review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit). The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case and the conviction was thus reaffirmed. There was also the Joshua Baer case repatriation (pictured).
Probably the most emotional and “feel good” incident was the repatriation and reburial of over 2,000 individuals at Pecos National Historical Park in May of 1999. I was the Operations Section Chief with the IMT that was a small cog in helping the park achieve their time sensitive objectives in a respectful manner. It was the subject of a “National Geographic” article (Nov. 2000, vol. 198, No. 5, page 118, “Pueblo Ancestors Return Home”) and covered by the various news organizations, including the NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/23/us/pueblo-indians-receive-remains-of-ancestors.html
OK, so what was the far-reaching event mentioned above?
The most educational effort of all started one Saturday afternoon in the early 1990’s. I was with the interagency ARPA (Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979) Task Force (T/F), as a Special Agent & then as T/F Coordinator. When home on Saturday afternoons I liked to watch “Star Trek: The Next Generation” with Meme and our son, Justin (he was <10 then). Towards the beginning of an episode, the character Captain Jean-Luc Picard is showing off an archaeological artifact he found and brought back from shore leave, just as a “Looter” would do. I looked at Justin and thought: “This is not the message he should be hearing from Capt. Picard.” A couple of days later I got out my stationery with ARPA Task Force letterhead and wrote the President of NBC (pictured). Since the TV show was carried by the NBC affiliate, I surmised that the NBC studios and offices in Burbank would get the mail through to the proper individuals (thank you Burbank Public Schools).
About a year later, we were again watching the continuing adventures of the USS Enterprise and crew when Capt. Picard was reunited with his shipmates after he’d been tortured by adversaries (probably the Cardassians). In a show of support his Executive Officer (“# 1”), Commander Riker suggests that he should take some time off and relax, and dig at some ruins. Picard’s immediate response is something like” No number 1, that’s best left to the professionals.” Bingo! I drafted another letter to the President of NBC, this one for the signature of our National Park Service Regional Director. I basically said: way to go, this is the kind of message that needs to be heard – it will pay dividends for generations.
Captain Picard’s lifelong fascination with history, heritage & archaeology is revealed in subsequent episodes and seasons: he goes undercover (using the alias Galen) with galactic looters and traffickers to unveil and stop their nefarious intents. He is re-united with Galen, his archaeology professor, and we learn that as a youth he once wrestled with becoming an archaeologist or pursuing a career with Starfleet (adrenaline won out: I can relate). His mentor tries to recruit him to assist with studies that will reveal ancient secrets of the universe, but Picard stays on course with his Starfleet missions.
I obviously wasn’t the only one watching the evolution of Jen-Luc Picard. I’ve been told, several years later the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) awarded Star Trek: TNG for their public education efforts. You know, education: the gift that keeps on giving – one generation to the next. “Engage.”
So, I’m thinking long after we’re all gone some positive vestiges of heritage resource protection will still be alive and passed along. Besides space, time is also a frontier.
To everyone please: “Live long and prosper…”
“My Back Pages” - covered by the Byrds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80l4XIPJC4
