Sarajane Giere

A Presidents’ Day to Remember

Dr. Richard Bell’s latest book, which I loved, is entitled The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. How we view the American Revolution was the focus of his presentation at the Washington Association of New Jersey’s 152nd Annual Meeting on Monday, February 16, at the Madison Hotel in Madison, NJ.

Bell is a Professor of History at the University of Maryland, an engaging speaker who gave us an unforgettable synthesis of how the Revolutionary War ranged across the seas, upon every continent across the global canvas. Rather viewing it in only narrow and nationalistic terms, he explains how The American Revolution enfolded on a vast, unfolding scale, crossing continents, spanning oceans, and reshaping the lives of peoples from Boston to Bengal to Botany Bay.

Born in Britain, he is happy to be living and working in Maryland, and, as he told it, “I even married a gal from Missouri.”

I had the privilege of giving a book talk on Nov. 13 to the Caldwell-West Essex Club of the Kiwanis. Here I am with President Anthony Thomas, who invited me to talk about My Pilot during Veteran’s Day week, which falls during Military Families Month. This Kiwanis chapter is entering its 102nd year of service to the community! I was delighted to meet the members and learn of their many hands-on service projects that enhance the lives of their fellow citizens, children and adults alike. What a great day!

If you want to learn more about the Kiwanis, here is their website: https://k01139.site.kiwanis.org/

Here I am at the annual ALS Ride for Life Awards Dinner, with my son-in-law, Tom Conigliaro, and Adam Dikker, from S & P Global. With us is Ray Manzoni, President of ALS Ride for Life.

Every May, people come together to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (“ALS”). ALS is an incurable disease that destroys motor neurons, the nerve cells that send messages to the muscles involved in movement. My husband, Bernie, suffered from this disease, and ALS Ride For Life helped us through the ordeal of his terminal illness. If you’d like to contribute to this wonderful association in their fight to make ALS a disease of the past, click here.

I spoke on April 3rd, about My Pilot to the employees of S&P Global at their Manhattan Headquarters. What a wonderful reception! Their charitable organization, called VALOR, salutes and supports Veterans in countless ways. Its participants give their time and talents to the needs of our Vets, which sets an example for all of us. I felt blessed to be there.

The proceeds of the book, My Pilot, go to the ALS Ride for Life organization. Veterans are twice a likely to have ALS than those with no prior military service.