Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2235 for Friday August 28
2020
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2235 with a
release date of Friday August 28 2020 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST.
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KICKER: A FAREWELL NET FOR SILENT KEY LONNIE BLAND
N6RBR
NEIL/ANCHOR: Finally, we all know it's hard to say "73"
for the final time when a friend becomes a Silent Key. But hosting a
memorial net, as one group did recently in California, surely helps -- as
Ralph Squillace KK2ITB tells us.
RALPH: The August 24th net on the Western Amateur
Linking Association's repeater system was a gathering of grieving friends
and family who shared stories and comforted one another following the loss
of one of their own: Lonnie Bland N6RBR, who became a Silent Key on
Wednesday, August 19th.
Described by many as a ham radio ambassador, Lonnie was
celebrated with tears as well as tales, as one of the founders of
California's far-reaching repeater system. It was his dream to grow the
system from three linked repeaters to a network that now stretches up and
down the coast with worldwide links through IRLP, Allstar and EchoLink. One
of the first to check into the net was his wife, Graffie KC6ADB, clearly
emotional over the tribute to the generous, friendly radio operator who had
helped many newcomers discover their amateur radio voice. Net control
operators included Jeff W6JSO and Lonnie's grandsons Isaac KI6FXM and Justin
KI6FTP.
Throughout the one-hour-and-forty-minute net, many hams
addressed him directly. One ham, checking in from South Africa, said
[quote]: "You are a Silent Key on Earth but your voice will never be silent
in Heaven." [end quote]
Sal De Franco N6SPD, who manages the WALA system's
north hub, added: "November Six Radio Best Radio, 73 my friend."
Lonnie Bland was 88.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(SAL N6SPD, WALA via ECHOLINK)
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