trying out a new blog

there's been a bit of interest in an old post of mine - about reconnecting with former members of Project Christopher [a youth christian/social action program that ran in the 1960's-70's].  I thought I'd try reposting that original post and its responses in a special blog - and encourage others to respond.  We can set this blog up with multiple authors [more on that later].  For now, let's give it a try.

Comments

[Michael Callahan]

WOW! Finding this site was a real trip down "memory lane!" I was with Project Christopher during the Summer of '67; other folks my age and older called it “The Summer of Love.” (The Summer of Love refers to the summer of 1967, when an unprecedented gathering of as many as 100,000 young people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, creating a phenomenon of cultural and political rebellion. While hippies also gathered in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and across Europe, San Francisco was the epicenter of the hippie revolution,[1] a melting pot of music, psychedelic drugs, sexual freedom, creative expression, and politics. The Summer of Love became a defining moment of the 1960s, as the hippie counterculture movement came into public awareness.)

I joined this wonderful group, Project Christopher during a time of great turmoil in our country and my life: The Vietnam War and Protests captured the media and my father had just passed away a few months earlier. Little did I know that a couple of year later I would be in Vietnam and wondered whether or not I would ever live to see the age (48) my father was when he died.

I connected with Project Christopher through a group of "kids" (after all, looking back, we were just kids, weren't we?) from the Kansas City area. I remember the names of some: Angie Davis, Darcy Williams, John Drago, Christopher Rodman(?) and I know there were several others. Forgive me, if your names have slipped my mind …. But yours faces are forever etched there!. I know I still have a "telephone book" that I wrote down all the names all those I stayed in contact with. We all rode the train together on our way to Canada.

We did our "Summer Camp" training at Winnipeg and "my group" went off to Regina, Saskatchewan to do our summer project. That summer, my group ‘ran’ a camp for mentally disabled children. It was such a rewarding experience! We lived in the basement of a church and were very warmly welcomed by the community. I remember meeting two “kids” from Regina, Wendy and Wayne Kuntz (sister and brother), who always kept us busy. I would really love to hear from them again some day! John Drago, Darcy Williams, and Jane Skelton (from Montreal) were folks that were in my group, just to name a few. I believe that Christopher Rodman also was on our team. I know somewhere along the line I met Bev Brackman, too.

I have many fond memories of Father John Brayley. What an extraordinary human being and priest! Organizing the Project Christopher youth movement was an unprecedented humanitarian effort during those turbulent times in our history. I will never forget sitting around the camp fire singing the “Project Christopher” song….remember, “We have travelled far to work and sing on our way to Bethlehem. On horses we rode, and stories we told ….. And its freedom we want, and free we’ll be, to love our fellow man. So brother hold my hand, we’ll meet the Lord’s command, And make the world a better place to be!” Anyone remember all the words?

And who could ever forget the reunion at Bethlehem! Somewhere at home, I do have numerous black and white photographs of THE SUMMER OF ’67!

I can be contacted at [email protected]. Did I say I retired from the Army as a commissioned officer in ’89 and have worked for the US Army ever since as a member of the Army Civilian Corps conducting Leadership Seminars worldwide.