To Christians, Christmas is both a commemoration and celebration of the fact that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If however, that first Christmas was all there was, there would be little reason for anyone to believe in Jesus and the promise of eternal life would be lost to all. But that’s not all there was. (more…)

This annual Thanksgiving reprint is a wish from the the Ole Seagull and the entire Groman family that you and yours will have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Common sense tells an Ole Seagull that something celebrated as “Thanksgiving Day” should be a day of “giving thanks.”  Generally speaking, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When thanks is given it is for something and is “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.

Yet, even as some would take “CHRIST” out of CHRISTmas they would take the “Giving” out of Thanksgiving. To whom are we giving thanks? From Coronado’s 1541 Thanksgiving in Palo Duro Canyon, in what is now West Texas, through the 1600 Puritan Thanksgivings in New England, history testifies to the fact that our modern day Thanksgiving is rooted on giving thanks to God for blessings bestowed. (more…)

In talking about what could destroy America, Abraham Lincoln said, “If it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” Is it just possible that we are committing suicide by “GIMME PIG?” (more…)

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Branson, Mo., August 5, 2012 – “They” are the City of Branson, Taney County, Branson Landing Transportation Development District, Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District, Taney County Ambulance District, all of whom have made the intentional decision not to join the State of Missouri in providing (more…)

How important are Mothers? Without them natural life as we know it could not even begin and the course of most people’s lives, after that beginning, is dramatically influenced by the person they call “Mom” or “Mother.” There are some, including an Ole Seagull, who believe that by age eight, or earlier, the mold of a person’s future has been cast and, to a very large extent, Mother’s form and shape that mold.

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The "Lily of the Valleys" has risen!

To Christians, Christmas is both a commemoration and celebration of the fact that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If however, that first Christmas was all there was, there would be little reason for anyone to believe in Jesus and the promise of eternal life would be lost to all. But that’s not all there was. (more…)

Somehow it just seems so fitting that the start of Branson’s 100th year and Centennial Celebration coincides with Palm Sunday and the spirit of what it represents. During its first year in existence the city of Branson had a fire with the potential to wipe it out and during the last year of its first century it experienced a tornado with the potential to wipe it out. Yet, as we celebrate the 100th birthday of the city we love and that many of us call home, Branson’s light burns brightly as a beacon of unique family entertainment for millions of visitors annually, natural beauty, fun, patriotism, and a place where the spirit of the One who rode a donkey into Jerusalem those thousands of years ago is honored.

Halleluiah and Happy Birthday Branson, Happy Birthday!

Although the Ole Seagull listens to Rush Limbaugh on the radio, much of the time he loses the benefit of his tremendous intellect and logic because of the “noise” of his self-aggrandizement. During a recent broadcast however, Limbaugh blasted through the noise and caught his attention when he defined “the Democratic Party base” as “The  poor and the disadvantaged and the put-out and the put-upon” and asked the question, “Why isn’t it proper [to] point out that the Democrat base is made up, for the most part, of the nation’s losers?” (more…)

This column was originally written over 14 years ago and is modified and republished each year as an Ole Seagull’s testimony as to what Christmas means to him. The political correctness of “Merry Christmas” may change but the true meaning of CHRISTmas will never change.

The “Grinch” never came any closer to stealing the true meaning of Christmas than has trying to be “politically correct.” In recent years there has been a strong move to change the traditional Christmas greeting of “Merry Christmas” to the “politically correct” terminology of “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.” (more…)

Common sense tells an Ole Seagull that something celebrated as “Thanksgiving Day” should be a day of “giving thanks.”  Generally speaking, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When thanks is given it is for something and is “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.

Yet, even as some would take “CHRIST” out of CHRISTmas they would take the “Giving” out of Thanksgiving. To whom are we giving thanks? From Coronado’s 1541 Thanksgiving in Palo Duro Canyon, in what is now West Texas, through the 1600 Puritan Thanksgivings in New England, history testifies to the fact that our modern day Thanksgiving is rooted on giving thanks to God for blessings bestowed. (more…)

Dedication: The republication of this evolving tribute is respectfully dedicated to a “Marines Marine,” the highly decorated Captain Dale Dye, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, who will be the key note speaker at the U.S. Marine Corps Ball being held in Branson on November 10.

It is a sad fact of life that the politicians, and those in power, start wars and that the people of the nations involved bleed, die, suffer, and otherwise pay the price of war. Even in today’s world of terrorist attacks, as the people of countries or ideologies make war on each other they fall into two general categories, “Military” and “Civilian.” The Military or the fighters, generally kill each other and the civilians they believe are making war on them the old fashioned way, directly, with bullets, bombs, suicide or otherwise, terrorism, planes, etc. History testifies to the fact that they, and the civilians their actions impact on, are generally the first to bleed, suffer, and die. (more…)

As the Ole Seagull sat down to write a column this morning it hit him. At this stage of his life, with the remaining time he has left to write, he’d much rather be investing the effort and time it takes to write this column each week into writing something that would share what Branson has to offer with the world. Too, this week, as he celebrated his 70th birthday, he was reminded of the biblical passage, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Although perhaps not soon enough for some, the Ole Seagull’s “appointed time” as a weekly columnist ends with this column.
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When a resident of Branson goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson Hills they are paying a one percent retail sales tax to be used for marketing. Considering just the retail marketing tax, that’s $1010.00 for $1,000 in taxable purchases. When a resident of Kimberling City or Branson West goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson West and buys the same $1,000 in purchases their total is only $1000.00 dollars because they have no marketing tax.
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Seagull, “In your opinion, what would have the most impact on the total number of visitors coming to Branson in the future, the closing of all its live theatres or a combination of the closing of its RecPlex, city funded outdoor sports venues and Branson Landing?” “That’s easy, the closing of Branson’s live theatres.” (more…)

On July 13, in a thread in the Ole Seagull’s Forum at www. 1Branson.com Forums (www.1branson.com/forum/) poster BMOMAN said, “Recently there was an article in the NewsLeader that said Branson’s sales tax was down 20% for April and May. I spoke with members of the city and chamber commerce about that alarming number and found out a couple of unusual things. Restaurants and hotels were actually up. The state park had there [their] highest grossing 4th of July EVER!! but when asked how come the number was done [down] they regrettably said it was the theatres that were bringing those numbers down. Whats your thoughts?”

An Ole Seagull’s thought is, “That’s not only nuts, it’s stupid and inaccurate.” Given that scenario, how could shows alone possibly reduce Branson’s overall “sales tax” revenues by anywhere near 20%? However, in the opinion of an Ole Seagull, that’s not surprising coming from BMOMAN and those of his ilk who, to an Ole Seagull, seem hell bent on depreciating the economic value and relevance of Branson’s live shows to Branson, currently and in the future. (more…)

"Bronze statute in front of the Branson Veteran's Museum reflects the reason why America is able to celebrate each and every Fourth of July."

On March 3, 1836, Colonel William Barret Travis, the Commander of the Alamo, wrote to Texas Governor Smith, “…victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse for him than defeat.” In the early predawn hours of Sunday, March 6, 1836, after 12 days of almost constant bombardment and siege, the soldiers of Mexican General Santa Anna, numbering in the thousands, made their final assault on the Alamo, overwhelming and killing everyone of its 189 defenders. (more…)

If the “oxygen” necessary for America’s “life” is even remotely related to the way Abraham Lincoln described it at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, then an Ole Seagull would have to answer “Yes.” In concluding his speech that day Lincoln said, “…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (more…)

The purpose of the original Memorial Day was to honor those who died in the Civil War. Its purpose today has evolved into remembering and honoring all who have died in the service of our country. What better way is there to honor and remember them than to honor and remember their living comrades, those men and women who have and are currently honorably serving in America’s Armed Forces.
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Noah might have seen more rain quicker than the Branson area did Easter Weekend and into the first part of Easter Week, but the Ole Seagull hasn’t. If that rainfall wasn’t what some people refer to as an “Act of God” then nothing is. There wasn’t anything anyone on this earth could have done to prevent the comparatively minimal flooding that resulted in the low-lying areas below Table Rock Dam on Lake Taneycomo and its tributaries from that rain and the record releases of water from Table Rock Dam it caused, but “Branson” was never flooded.
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