We see them everyday on our travels; an adopt-a-mile cleanup sign erected along our country's roads and highways, emblazoned with a local organization's name, usually the local Girl or Boy Scouts, the electrician's union, Phi Beta Kappa, maybe even the Knights of Columbus - pledging to clean up the next mile or so of roadway. Over where we live there's one of these not-at-all-uncommon signs. However, the sponsor's name was certainly eye-catching: "Bomber's Rugby Football Club."
Being a fan of military aircraft, I immediately conjured scenes of brave men wearing their scuffed-up leather jackets with thick wool collars headed towards their bombers, tonight's target: "Top Secret!" My imagery was reminiscent of that scene from "The Right Stuff" where the seven Mercury astronauts walk down that long hallway, purposely and in slow motion.
The rest of that phrase still held a bit of a mystery: "Rugby Football Club." The words "rugby" and "football" in the same sentence gave it away. I Googled it. It turns out that here in St. Louis there is a rugby club called St. Louis Bombers Rugby Football Club:
"The Bombers were a result of a merger between “The Old Blacks” and the “Sisler-Hummel” rugby clubs, two of the most powerful and successful clubs in St. Louis during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Coached and captained by Frank Hauff from 1962-1965, the Bombers immediately took control of St. Louis rugby, winning the Missouri Rugby Union Championship in their first two years and five out of their first six. From 1964 to 1965 the Bombers were undefeated and shut out all league opponents."
- (http://stlouisbombers.insiteadvice.org/about-the-bombers/club-history/)
Knowing that fact took the mystique away from that road sign. Nevertheless, every time I drive by and see the sign I still see those brave lads in their bulky suits and leather jackets, patting the pinup nose art on the side of their aircraft for good luck as they clambered into their bombers to fight the evil Nazis…
Hey, it's my story. I think mine has more allure.
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