On May 28, I will have been with the Park Service for Fourteen years. Here's some photos.
Ranger Alann Schmidt and I during the transfer ceremony of the remains of a New York soldier that were found in the Cornfield at Antietam.
One of my favorite things was giving the orientation talk at Antietam.
The best day. Marrying my sweetheart in Dunker Church.
Talking artillery on an Antietam hike.
Wrapping up the two-hour driving tour above Burnside Bridge...always my big finish.
Ranger Mannie...finder of lost children.
Making a video about wildland firefighting at Antietam.
When I was at Antietam, we had a lot of leeway in uniform...here I'm in cargo pants, the Park Service barn coat, and my trusty ball cap.
Beer on tap made tours run long (kidding).
Class A uniform for my wedding and talking to long-time Antietam volunteer Bob Murphy.
Freezing my tail off at the 2009 presidential inauguration.
Freezing my tail off at Antietam.
Ranger Mannie in black and white.
Three interpretive legends: John Hoptak, Matt Atkinson, and yours truly. All three of us could really "bring the interpretive thunder."
Posing in front of the mural I painted for the Antietam 150th.
Antietam: the album cover photo.
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. I commute five hours a day because I work in Washington DC.
Having a good crew when working the Washington monument made all the difference, and this was one of the best: me, the supervisor Mary Collins, the legendary Mike Townsend, rockstar Jason Barna, and the incomparable Ed Flemming.
Operating the elevator at the Washington Monument.
The social media crew for the Gettysburg 150th. NPS director John Jarvis is at center.
Artillery projectiles were my thing at Antietam.
Swearing in two new Junior Rangers at Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument.
Park Rangers are always good role models regarding proper nutrition.
Me and my minions at the Gettysburg 150th
Painting murals at Monocacy National Battlefield; a fabulous experience.
Leading a toy soldier-painting workshop at Monocacy National Battlefield.
For as much as I loved Antietam, my two-month detail at Monocacy was the most affirming experience of my adult working life.
I had a flair for wearing the iconic campaign hat.
Ranger Mannie
In quarantine, in Boonsboro Maryland
4 comments:
I really enjoyed seeing all your photos this morning.
Stay safe.
congratulations! (i think)
i remember the first posts when you were a VIP - it seems like yesterday.
Hank, it was a long journey, with lots of ups and downs. I'm happy to be retired, and I've never been busier. Thanks for sticking with me.
Manne
Hello Mannie! I never got to meet you personally, but I have had the pleasure of viewing your videos from your time at Monocacy. You certainly have a gift for connecting with people and sharing history, even over the internet airwaves. I have met many park rangers over the years, and I can confidently say that the quality of the interpretive services provided by the ranger can make or break your experience at a national park site. You could certainly show the rangers at Ford's Theatre how to do it! I have yet to meet a cheerful and relational ranger like you at that site. Anyway, kudos on your retirement!
Paul Fisher
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