What do teenagers do in the summer: when you get a break from farm chores, who live 15 miles from the nearest town, only a few drive, but most of all you have an eleven o’clock curfew? You pile as many as you can in as many vehicles as you have and head to Moon Valley Access for a bon fire and wiener roast. We called it Moon Valley Beach but truth be told it was a low water crossing to get from pasture to another. It was open range land and many different farmers used it for summer pasture. In the fall the cattle would be rounded up and each farmer took his tagged cattle back to his farm.
But to us it was a way to have fun on a hot day. To swim and enjoy each other’s company. We all knew each other from grade school on into high school. We didn’t pair up because that would be like pairing up with your brother. We were just a big gang of friends who enjoyed hanging out together. Those were fun times. We would dance and sing around the fire. Somebody always had a guitar or a boom box or we would turn the radio on in one of the trucks.
Sometimes we would set and talk about our plans for the future. Most wanted to go to college, but knew that if it was called for they would stay and run the family farm. The war in Viet Nam had just started and the boys new they had to sign up for the draft as soon as they turned 18. We didn’t talk about it much but the thought still loomed in the back of our minds that the call could come at any time. Graduation was getting closer and lives would change one way or another.
While we could it was our time to lie on the beach, soak up as much sun as we could, eat hot dogs roasted on the fire and enjoy the company of friends. The war did come close to home many of the boys were drafted some enlisted and one of our group didn’t come home.
Rest In Peace our friend: You gave the ultimate sacrifice we miss you always.
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