November 11th was the date for the 4 th Annual Patch & Badge Show up in the Great State of Georgia. It took me, and the wife, a tad over 6 hours to get there from our home in South Florida. It was chilly here when we left. Our temperature was dipping into the high 70's. On arrival I was shocked. The temperature needle was now showing 51 degrees. Having been promised a good day in Norman Park, Ga, the Sponsors got the "temp" to low 70's by "show time."
Those in attendance set up their exhibits in the Elementary School Gym. It was spaced nice with 4 rows with plenty of room to move around and do my favorite things: Talk; Take Pictures, and Trust my wife to Guard my Display. That usually means, I have a great time gabbing, and occasionally buying another piece for my collection.
In my travels up and down the aisle of the gymnasium I had to calm myself down, and be on my best behavior because of the man below. He was Chuck Snyder and he was there to maintain order. He certainly did a fabulous job. He reported, that his Community, Norman Park, just had an armed robbery. Although rusty with dealing with these type of crimes, it was nonetheless solved in two hours. All of our hat's are off to the Chief of Police, and his police force.
Now over at the "Blue Tables" were my displays. For this show, with our Grandson, Gunnar, on our minds, we did a USS NEW JERSEY Display to go along with my major collection of 60, beautiful, obsolete, and shinning, Municipal Badges from NJ. I am pictured with my "sixty" and the wife, Lois, is by the battleship display. At the center is a unique old antique in magnificent condition. It was issued for the Ships' title: "POLICE PETTY OFFICER." This particular badge is believed to have been from the WW II - Korean War era. These badges are no longer issued, and the old Battleship now resides in Camden N.J.
Across from my display's was Gary Taragawa. He has a fabulous collection of California Badges and a good number of stories that he tells. He apparently served as Police Chief for at least two communities at the same time. His badges were "good enough" to win the award for Most Unique Display last year.
I enjoyed talking with Gary, and enjoyed showing him some of my collection. You can see some antique "Cuffs" that I display at home to dress up my Badge Museum (office). Over in the corner is an old wanted picture. In the upper corner are four rare Detective Badges that are nearing 100 years of age. In the center of this table is an assembly of some rare badges dating to 1860 +/-. These two shield are marked "POLICE". At the bottom is a number box. The only way to tell this item comes from Newark is the raised impression of the City Seal.
Underneath are two matching sets of 1895-1899 Radiator type badges, along with matching Hat Badges. Both are numbered. Both are in great shape. Both are beautiful. One set of these badges was issued to a "Chanceman" a person with a one year probationary police appointment. The other set was issued to a "regular" police officer.
I enjoyed this show very much, and also enjoyed taking Gary's award away from him this year. He, and all those that I had the opportunity to "confabulate (look it up)" with, made my experience in Norman Park, Ga. a fabulous memory.
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