Back in a city I know pretty well; it's one of my fairly frequent destinations, and I'm beginning to feel fairly comfortable making my way around. It's got a restaurant that has some of the best wings I've had anywhere.

This city is where one teenager wanted to join the Marines so much that he lost more than 100 pounds (bet he wasn't taking in any of those wings) in order to qualify. He stated that he wanted to join the Marines "because they’re the best of the best."

In April, the amphibious transport dock named for this city (the third U.S. Navy ship to be so named) hosted a naturalization ceremony for 59 servicemembers, while at port in San Diego. This is her:

Her motto is "Promptus et paratus"

Winner this month (first correct answer via email) gets a copy of Ron Winter's book "Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam" (Really good book - a definite must-read)

Labels: contests, Where Am I

Finally have my car back, and wouldn't you know it, they couldn't find anything wrong with the sucker. Figures. No, I wasn't imagining it. Well, one thing's for sure - I'm not stopping on the way home! Kudos to the repair shop, though - I had 'em change the oil, since they had the car. After spending most of the day trying to solve the problem, they only charged me for the oil change - got out of there for under $20.

At any rate, for one more day at least, I'm in a town that is the oldest original township in its state, settled in the 1660's! It is said to be the site of one of the earliest anti-slavery meetings in the U.S., held in 1783. And yes, George Washington slept here. One of the famous residents of this town was the man for whom Pike's Peak was named.

The area is known for fine clay deposits, and the bricks made from it.

The town has its share of Heroes - one former resident was a famous ship captain who, alone, fought to save his sinking ship for nearly two weeks, before finally surrendering her to the North Atlantic. The story made worldwide headlines.

Another Hero fell on a sunny summer day in September, 2001. A Port Authority police officer from this town, an avid fisherman, had already earned his part of a group valor citation for actions taken during the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center. Serving in his current assignment - the emergency services and hazardous material response team there, he would lose his life in the collapse of the towers.

This town is also the home base of Heroes of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-113th Infantry, and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 50th Armored Division.

First correct response via email to iraqwartoday-AT-sbcglobal.net gets a copy of Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam, by Ronald Winter.

So...


Where Am I?


UPDATE: We have a winner! Margaret correctly guessed that I am in Woodbridge, New Jersey - for a little while longer, anyway - I head home this afternoon. Watch for details on some of the clues I gave, coming later.

Labels: contests, Where Am I