A fund has been set up to help Willie and his family. Contributions from local lodges and individuals are welcome and would be greatly appreciated by Willie and his family. Please send contributions to:

David Williams Assistance Fund
c/o Jessica Riggin
Amtrak Track Department
Penn Station
1500 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Rich Minser
Newark, DE

On a good day the railroad industry is a dangerous place to earn a living, even with all the safety rules, safety committees and regulations. And on a bad day it can be a deadly place to work. Richie Hutchison, a member of Local 3095 in Wilmington, Delaware, lost his life on August 16 while working on a piece of M/W equipment in Amtrak’s Roadway Equipment Shop in Wilmington, DE. He was working on a Rail Stretcher, when it fell from where it had been lifted and crushed him. His coworkers kept their composure and acted immediately to free him and administer first aid, but despite their gallant efforts, Richie did not survive. Richie was 58 years old and had worked for 13 years as a M/W repairman. Richie will be sadly missed by his BMWE brothers and sisters, friends and coworkers. He is survived by his wife, three sons and eight grandchildren. Please keep Richie and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Rich Minser
Newark, DE

This is my story
It’s sad but true
Read it very carefully girls
I know there’s a lot of you.

I’m a railroad widow
I am a weekend wife
I’m married to the man I love
But the railroad owns my life.

Every week he leaves me
And again I’m left alone
To take care of myself
And also take care of my home.

I don’t mean to complain
What good would it do?
I walked in eyes wide open
The day I married him, I married the railroad too.

So I’m a railroad widow
And a weekend wife.
There’s nothing I can do
Except take every day in strife.

Here’s to all you widows
Don’t let it get you down
This way of life is not easy
At times we deserve a crown.

It does get pretty lonely
As the days go by
No one there to share things with,
No one to hold you when you cry.

Every week the same old thing,
A kiss and a wave goodbye.
I always find myself wondering
Will Randy come home alive.

I know the risks and dangers
Of him working on the rails.
Everyone thinks I have it so easy
But I live on pins and nails.

This job is his choosing
He’s in it for life
That’s why I’m a railroad widow
and only a weekend wife.

Written by Debora I. Mathes, Ft. Madison, Iowa, and submitted by Johnny Oeth, III

To all my friends:

If you will take the time to read these, I promise you’ll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis! They’re written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy.

I’ve learned ... that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve learned ... that when you’re in love, it shows.

I’ve learned ... that just one person saying to me, "You’ve made my day!" makes my day.

I’ve learned ...that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I’ve learned ... that being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve learned ... that you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I’ve learned ... that I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.

I’ve learned ... that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve learned ... that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I’ve learned ... that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I’ve learned ... that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve learned ... that we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve learned ... that money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned ... that it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned ... that under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned ... that the Lord didn’t do it all in one day, what makes me think I can?

I’ve learned ... that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I’ve learned ... that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned ... that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned ... that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned ... that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned ... that there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I’ve learned ... that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I’ve learned ... that life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve learned ... that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned ... that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned ... that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I’ve learned ... that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned ... that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned ... that I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I’ve learned ... that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.

I’ve learned ... that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned ... that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.

I’ve learned ... that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Ron Friend - E-mail