An image I created back when I took a couple photography classes during my nursing school phase. The assignment was Self Portrait, and this reflects how I felt then, and sometimes still now.
NightOwl Cat wrote:
And I have done the long sits at graveside, just talking to him in my mind. There are many active duty and retired women service members who are buried in our national cemeteries, too.
Laura, I am aware of the contributions and sacrifices women made in our war efforts. I truly apologize for not adding “someone’s daughter, sister or mother “ in my description of the headstones in my previous post! In fact I saw some female names by themselves on headstones yesterday, apparently they were not just wives of military persons who were buried there. Every headstone has a story behind it, or should we say “underneath it”? When I loaded the files on my computer, I noticed one of names on a headstone had a foreign sounding name on it, out of curiosity, I googled that name, and it showed several links of this brave marine from Tahiti. He lost his life to an enemy round after many tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Purely from a photograph point of view, I find the rows and rows of uniform headstones much more appealing and emotional than the sections where the headstones are in different shapes and sizes, and were not arranged in geometric lines. In one of the selective colors pictures I posted, if one looks carefully, two headstones with Star of David on them did not have a Christmas wreath on them. I guess this was done for religious reasons? Or their families will show their respect in their own way later? To me, these wreaths are more of a symbol of respect than Christianity. Before I became a Christian and learned the meaning of Christmas, i had Christmas trees in my house and was happy and appreciative when people said “merry Christmas” to me even though I wasn’t a Christian that time.
On a side note, when I was looking at general Claire Chennault and his wife’s headstone yesterday, about 5’ from it was the headstone of general Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur.
When it comes to family backgrounds, my inquiries stopped when my dad told me my ancestors were horse thieves from Missouri. Since I stopped the historical tour at that point, I don't know if that is the reason for my surname.
msalvetti wrote:
Wow, very cool Dan. Is that home still in your family?
Jim, that's a fascinating family history you have there! I don't think I knew all that.
My Mom's Dad came over in the late 1800's. I have a copy of the manifest and a photo of the boat somewhere. The manifest has names and heights of each passenger. My grandfather was 6'-2" and the tallest passenger on the ship. He was a laborer before starting the business. He went back to Italy to get my grandmother in the early 1900's, and they had their first child here in 1914. Buried their second on Christmas Eve 1917 (we found the receipt). My grandfather died in 1935 when my Mom was just 8 years old. I knew my grandmother, she died in 1973 when I was 12.
My Dad's parents came over from Italy later than my Mom's, maybe around 1920-1925. There was a large group of families from northern Italy that settled in Marshfield, MA. They were laborers, farmers, masons. Often all three at once. All those families are still well known in town.
All four grandparents were from northern Italy, around Lucca.
Dan, my Dad started out as a farmer, and then a cabinet maker. Never built a house, but he left us many fine pieces of furniture.
Mark...Show more →
Mark unfortunately NO! It is now an office with a few tenants!
My family was from Serrastretta. They are still there...
My mother and her sisters, brother and parents spoke no English upon arrival. As I stated, my g'father went to the Philly shipyards and learned it there. The family then moved to Kennett Square, a very large Italian and Irish immigrant community and the "Mushroom Capital" of the World.
My family returned their gratitude for America's acceptance by serving in the Army, Navy and Coast Guard during WWII.
Ray Swindle wrote:
When it comes to family backgrounds, my inquiries stopped when my dad told me my ancestors were horse thieves from Missouri. Since I stopped the historical tour at that point, I don't know if that is the reason for my surname.
The "West" was indeed wild Ray! Especially Missouri! A haven for men(ex-soldiers on both sides) that rebelled from the outcome of the Civil War and other "occupations".
We, at least I, don't hold him accountable for his occupation. It was life back then. Have we become more civilized in 2020? I don't think so!
Great story Ray!!
Dan
NightOwl Cat wrote:
An image I created back when I took a couple photography classes during my nursing school phase. The assignment was Self Portrait, and this reflects how I felt then, and sometimes still now.
"NOC" I find that I am most at peace among my "family" at Arlington. I have many childhood friends there and men I served with in Vietnam.
The history of Arlington is a story in and of itself. I have written much about this Field of Stones.
All of you new Americans....
Our family came to Texas about 1820.
These are mom's Republic of Texas ancestors... William Williams and his wife Cinderrella (Lucinda) Jane, married in 1819. Lived and raised their family in Nacogdoches, TX, was a Mexican soldier against the Fredonian Rebellion, then was a soldier in the Texas Army during the rebellion against Santa Anna, he was Texas Rager after that. Moved to Mt Calm, TX in the 1840's and then to Eastland County, TX in the 1880's...they are buried near Ranger, TX
This is one of my Dad's Republic of Texas ancestors, Joseph Meadors... he moved to Texas from Missouri @1820. He was killed "by some men" while "traveling" from Corsicana to Arkansas. Supposition runs anywhere between that idea that he had angered some men while playing cards, to the most likely story that he was on the run from a posse after he escaped from county jail during a fire at the courthouse...notice the pistol in his right hand... He looks like a bad hombre for sure...
This is one of my Dad's Republic of Texas ancestors, Joseph Meadors... he moved to Texas from Missouri @1820. He was killed "by some men" while "traveling" from Corsicana to Arkansas.
Zane, was he riding a horse? A third version could simply be horse thievery.
Not so new to Texas. On the matriarchal side, my great grandfather worked on the railroads in the late 1800's until a few months after my grandfather was born in 1901. His railroad career ended when he became coupled between two cars. Amazingly, he lived long enough to see his wife for the last time. He expired as soon as the make shift tourniquet created by the coupler at his waist was decoupled and he fell to the ground in two pieces.
A tale of two sons. My grandfather had an older brother. After their dad's demise, their mother, looking for security and income, married an abusive drunk. My grandfather made it to the 3rd grade before he quit and at an early teenage life left the abuse in search of a fortune he never found due to his lack of an education; he couldn't read or write.
His older brother, not one to take abuse, ran away from home before he turned 12. He waited tables in Wichita Falls and slowly migrated to the Texas Panhandle area of Pampa, TX. He began a dry cleaning shop and continued to add stores until he saved up enough money to buy a 3000 acre ranch in Lake City, CO. He became quite wealthy from the raising cattle and his continued dry cleaning business. He set his son up with a new car dealership in Pampa. The son wanted to sell Oldsmobiles because they were his favorite, however, my grandfather's wife liked Cadillacs, so he was forced to add that line to the dealership. My great uncle went on to fund churches and politicians who did not drink.
He was asked to attend a fundraiser for a TX candidate for the U.S. Senate. When the candidate arrived, he could barely walk on his on without assistance from his aides. My great uncle walked away without a donation, which would have been substantial because he would not donate to a drunk. The candidate was a fellow rancher named Lyndon B. Johnson. My great uncle was a dedicated Democrat until that day. He slowly switched to supporting the Republicans.
Ray,
He was in a wagon with his wife and 2 daughters. He was killed on the road to Texarkana in front of his family, his wife, Mary, died the next day...fear, despair, broken heart? Who knows. The daughters went on to live with her grandfather in Rusk County,
Texas
I meant to post this before Christmas. My grandparents had a shop in Boston's South End in the 1920's and 1930's that made religious statues. Many were the large type you would find in churches. This is my grandfather's business card, probably from around 1930 (he died in 1935).
Besides making large statues, they also imported and sold small Nativity sets from Italy. We still have a few left, and I've had one set up at Christmas for as long as I can remember. So I'm guessing this is about 100 years old. My Dad made the barn.
Wow, my family had a creche set that looked identical to that. Not sure where it came from though. I'm first generation here with Dad coming from Germany and Mom's family were from Athens (how's that for a melting pot?) The creche is probably still in storage from when Mom passed on.
Ray Swindle wrote:
His older brother, not one to take abuse, ran away from home before he turned 12. He waited tables in Wichita Falls and slowly migrated to the Texas Panhandle area of Pampa, TX. He began a dry cleaning shop and continued to add stores until he saved up enough money to buy a 3000 acre ranch in Lake City, CO. He became quite wealthy from the raising cattle and his continued dry cleaning business. He set his son up with a new car dealership in Pampa. The son wanted to sell Oldsmobiles because they were his favorite, however, my grandfather's wife liked Cadillacs, so he was forced to add that line to the dealership. My great uncle went on to fund churches and politicians who did not drink.
RobMoser wrote:
Wow, my family had a creche set that looked identical to that. Not sure where it came from though. I'm first generation here with Dad coming from Germany and Mom's family were from Athens (how's that for a melting pot?) The creche is probably still in storage from when Mom passed on.
Rob
I think this one is the set my parents had and that was set up as far back as I remember. I have a couple more sets that are meant for my kids someday.
A project of mine that's been on the back burner for a few years now, was documenting the symbols on the headstones. I started it to give size to the emblems, and that what the printed paper they give you shows, and what's actually on the stone, looks like. The flying eagle one looks good on paper, but terrible in execution.
Douglas Liu wrote:
Laura, I am aware of the contributions and sacrifices women made in our war efforts. I truly apologize for not adding “someone’s daughter, sister or mother “ in my description of the headstones in my previous post! In fact I saw some female names by themselves on headstones yesterday, apparently they were not just wives of military persons who were buried there. Every headstone has a story behind it, or should we say “underneath it”? When I loaded the files on my computer, I noticed one of names on a headstone had a foreign sounding name on it, out of curiosity, I googled that name, and it showed several links of this brave marine from Tahiti. He lost his life to an enemy round after many tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Purely from a photograph point of view, I find the rows and rows of uniform headstones much more appealing and emotional than the sections where the headstones are in different shapes and sizes, and were not arranged in geometric lines. In one of the selective colors pictures I posted, if one looks carefully, two headstones with Star of David on them did not have a Christmas wreath on them. I guess this was done for religious reasons? Or their families will show their respect in their own way later? To me, these wreaths are more of a symbol of respect than Christianity. Before I became a Christian and learned the meaning of Christmas, i had Christmas trees in my house and was happy and appreciative when people said “merry Christmas” to me even though I wasn’t a Christian that time.
On a side note, when I was looking at general Claire Chennault and his wife’s headstone yesterday, about 5’ from it was the headstone of general Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur. ...Show more →
Zane Adams wrote:
All of you new Americans....
Our family came to Texas about 1820.
These are mom's Republic of Texas ancestors... William Williams and his wife Cinderrella (Lucinda) Jane, married in 1819. Lived and raised their family in Nacogdoches, TX, was a Mexican soldier against the Fredonian Rebellion, then was a soldier in the Texas Army during the rebellion against Santa Anna, he was Texas Rager after that. Moved to Mt Calm, TX in the 1840's and then to Eastland County, TX in the 1880's...they are buried near Ranger, TX
This is one of my Dad's Republic of Texas ancestors, Joseph Meadors... he moved to Texas from Missouri @1820. He was killed "by some men" while "traveling" from Corsicana to Arkansas. Supposition runs anywhere between that idea that he had angered some men while playing cards, to the most likely story that he was on the run from a posse after he escaped from county jail during a fire at the courthouse...notice the pistol in his right hand... He looks like a bad hombre for sure...
OK, now that Christmas 2020 is in the rear view mirror and the flip to 2021 is 48 hours away, I'm ready to put this all behind me and go back to work. Looking forward to the smell of Spring air and the saturated green landscape that comes with it. My friends at Legend aircraft are covered up with new orders since we did our big marketing push a few months ago and they have numerous new Super Legend variants coming down the line. I'm anxious to get in the air with them! This might be the year that I have them build me a new "MOAC", to keep 7PC company.
Lo and behold, in the midst of the craziness that is our daughter's "FaLaLa! 2020" event, up rolls Chandler. We're all scrambling to make sure everything stays lit, that the ice skating rink is in good shape, the hot chocolate is perfect, the S'more's are ready, the gigantic "Frozen" slide house is fully inflated. I look over and see Chili pull one of his Christmas presents from the bed of his pick up and head for the pond. What a character he is, always calm in the presence of chaos.......................
…… and in other news…… the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. The first production batch has been released, and inoculations starts this Monday. This is great news but it is no magic bullet. Speaking only for myself we need all the help we can get here in the UK, our medical facilities and people are stretched.
Same here Nick, with some areas worse than others. California hospitals seem to be on the brink, here in Massachusetts I heard on the news this morning the hospitals on average are 84% full. I suspect some of the more rural areas of the country are also in dire straights with respect to capacity.
Here so far we have Pfizer and Moderna vaccines approved. They've been rolling out, but it has been slow. I don't know anyone that has been vaccinated yet. I'm hoping I can get one by April, but maybe June or July is more realistic, or possibly even later (I'll be 60 in May).
With the recent surge in US COVID cases and SW Airlines not continuing the vacant middle row policy, our Arizona daughter/family decided not to fly here for Christmas. They would not drive this far to visit us. Therefore, the wife and I boarded the dogs, packed up the car and drove 15 hours to Phoenix. When we were 20 minutes from their home, my wife received a text from a friend who had recently visited us stating she had been tested positive for COVID. The day we arrived was 9 days from when our friend visited us, so we made the decision to drop off our packages and stay at a hotel. The next day had been 10 days, so later that afternoon we were able to visit our kids. This virus sux.
Our kids visited us las October and our son in law was iffy about buying a set of books by a British author on the history of the British Army. My SIL is a history professor and a book collector. (The Twilight Zone did a show with a character that could have been my SIL. The world had been destroyed, but the library and the character was saved from destruction. He marveled at the books in the library at his disposal. Then, the worst thing happened, the crushed his glasses and could not read.). My wife and I encouraged him to offer the UK gentleman with the book collection how much he was willing to pay and suck it up. Well, he did and the UK gentleman accepted the offer and sent the books. The books were written in the latter part of the 19th century over a 30 year period into the early 20th century. Most are first edition books with some second edition.
I was looking at one book with an Oxford Library identification label pasted inside the cover. I told my SIL the seller stole it from Oxford . Not getting the joke he told me the seller assembled the books from various sources. The author is John Fortescue. The set includes the books documenting the British Army history, plus about a half dozen separate books containing maps. Very interesting stuff. I took a pic of my SIL with his new collection...
