Vonnegut gift to Mayor Bloomberg

External Since: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 70

Mike's Fans are Present
By Maggie Haberman
New York Daily News
8 December 2003
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/143831p-127302c.html
http://tinyurl.com/37lev

Quote:

"Vonnegut sent a certificate from Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton making the mayor
a 'Kentucky colonel' along with a letter that read in part, 'I like what you
are doing as chief overseer of a complex and turbulent polity twice as large
as Norway or Denmark or Sweden or the Czech Republic, or Kentucky.'"

I can't tell if that means the letter was written by Vonnegut or by Paul
Patton, though it looks like something Vonnegut would write to me. Anybody
else have an opinion?

-Andre

External Since: Feb 18, 2004 Posts: 3

The honor of "Kentucky Colonel" is given at the discretion of the
sitting governor of Kentucky. How Vonnegut came to deliver the
certificate I can't say, but the letter appears to be from Vonnegut.

An interesting side note is that the article is dated December 8,
2003. As of December 9, 2003, the governor was no longer Paul Patton,
but Ernie Fletcher, the first Republican governor elected in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky in thirty (or so) years.

A little background on how one becomes a Kentucky Colonel
(http://www.kycolonels.org/mission/becoming.html):

How does one become a Kentucky Colonel?

The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels does not appoint Kentucky
Colonels. The sitting Governor of the Commonwealth can only do that.
As luck would have it, the sitting Governor, Paul E. Patton, is
actually sitting in the photograph. Others who have served as Governor
from 1963 to the present surround him. Governor Patton's wife, Judi,
is also in the photograph.

Only the Governor knows the reason for bestowing the honor of a
Colonel's Commission on any particular individual. In his 2,000
address to members of the Honorable of Kentucky Colonels, the Governor
did make specific reference to the qualities he looks for. The
Governor wrote, "The name Kentucky Colonel has become synonymous with
strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of
others. Just as Isaac Shelby declared his trusted militia members to
be his Kentucky Colonels, I see in you those things that place others
above self".

To obtain a Kentucky Colonel Commission, an applicant must be
recommended by an individual who holds a Colonel Commission. The
applicant must also be 18 years old. Further information can be
obtained by contacting the Governor's Office in Frankfort.

The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is an independent, non-profit
corporation with the purpose of aiding and promoting the Commonwealth
and its citizens. Membership is open to anyone who has been
commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. We hope everyone will consider
himself or herself a friend of the Honorable Order of Kentucky
Colonels.

"M Andre Z Eckenrode" <mazec RemoveThis @localnet.commie> wrote in message news:<10358v286s1j1da RemoveThis @corp.supernews.com>...
> Mike's Fans are Present
> By Maggie Haberman
> New York Daily News
> 8 December 2003
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/143831p-127302c.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/143831p-127302c.html</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://tinyurl.com/37lev</font" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/37lev</font</a>>
>
> Quote:
>
> "Vonnegut sent a certificate from Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton making the mayor
> a 'Kentucky colonel' along with a letter that read in part, 'I like what you
> are doing as chief overseer of a complex and turbulent polity twice as large
> as Norway or Denmark or Sweden or the Czech Republic, or Kentucky.'"
>
> I can't tell if that means the letter was written by Vonnegut or by Paul
> Patton, though it looks like something Vonnegut would write to me. Anybody
> else have an opinion?
>
> -Andre