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Mike Floyd

George, thanks for mentioning the Merchant Marines.  There is an interesting book titled The Mathews Men about the heavy toll on the Merchant Marines from Mathews County, VA during WWII.  For most of the war they transported good without any protection or escorts.

Many natives of Mathews were lost within sight of our coastline.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Thanks for your feedback, George and Mike.  Jo-Ann, I was one of the lucky ones!  My ancestors were very intelligent people who came to the U.S.A. long before World War I or II.  They left Poland and Ukraine in the very late 1800's & early 1900's, during the era of the Pogroms. They were survivors!  One Great Uncle ran away from serving in the Russian Army, and when he was not allowed to serve in the U.S. Army, because he was an Immigrant, he joined the British Army instead and went to help liberate Israel from the Turks!  He then brought over his Parents, Sisters, and Brothers to Anerica. Those men and women in our family who served in the U.S. Armed Forces came home without scars, because they were not on the "frontlines!" So the  stories we heard were not ones of "The Horrors of War," but of my parents' growing years in the U.S.A. between 1907-08 until we were born in 1939-44. My Grandparents were all gone from this world by the time I was a child, except for one American Grandfather who did not speak much to kids, and only briefly to his family and business associates. So I have no sense of my family's history, other than a few stories that my mother recorded in a little book published after she passed away, and a few tales from my Dad!  The history  of the era of "The Shtetl" is most clearly explained in a book my Sister bought called "Photographing the Jewish Nation," by S. Ansky, and the people of the previous generation pictured inside look a great deal like my Mother.  Many Jewish people of that generation were superstitious and afraid of cameras, like the Native Americans, so there are probably only one or two photos of my Grandparents in existence! Jewish History of that era  is mostly recorded in Story-telling, by authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer, Sholom Aleichem, Isaac Peretz, and the next generation of American and Israeli writers like Bernard Malamud and S.Y. Agnon. Jewish immigrants moved around so much that a lot of Family History got "lost in the shuffle.". What is missing  from documentation belonging to us can only he found in the history books like those written by Abba Eban and Nathan Ausubel, etc. My Mother & my Aunties were very patriotic people, who would probably be horrified about what is going on today in Washington, D.C., and on the Border, because their Grandparents were all Immigrants, and my Grandfather's Wife and parents were also, but they had no tales to tell of "The Old Country."  Recently, I have discovered that several of my Jewish classmates had grandparents who lived in "The Old Jewish Neighborhood" near Main Street Station in Richmond.  I can remember visiting there as a child, but I never knew my Sunday School classmates had grandparents who lived there also!  Here we are,at age 75, " connecting across thousands of miles," and our grandparents lived next door to each other, or just a block or two away! Jewish History doesn't dwell on Wars, but good times with family and friends.  The rest is "just a blur in memory!"

Jo-Ann Olkowski

I'm very glad we went to school when we did.  Between many of us whose paths in life took us in many different directions, our individual interests, etc., we are still in a sense educating each other.  Like your ancesters, Marilyn, my Polish great-grandparents came to the US in 1888 ... but they did so legally, with papers in hand.  Under our immigration laws at the time, they were detained in quarantine until they could have medical exams and other processing procedures before being released to travel to their destinations or told they would not be admitted.  It should be no different today.  Come here legally, go through the process ... and Welcome to America!

For anyone who is interested but doesn't have an Ancestry account, I would highly recommend that you give it a try.  There is a wealth of information available and new records coming out all the time.  You might discover some relatives you never even knew you had!  They may know stories that you didn't know or pictures you don't have that can be attached to your family tree.  Actually, when my son went to boot camp right after high school he and his bunk mate struck up a conversation only to discover they were cousins.  His bunk mate was an Olkowski from Buffalo, NY!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Jo-Ann

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

PS - George, your comment about "Picnics in the Cemetary" reminded me of"Dia de Los Muertos," a holiday when Mexican people visit the graves of their ancestors and eat their picnic meal there and/or leave a meal on the gravesite of the Departed!  It is THEIR "Memorial Day!"

Jo-Ann, I assure you that my Great Uncle, my Grandparents and Great-Gradparents, and their Sisters and Brothers came here legally, and it probably was because of the precedent to the Asylum Act, which was passed to protect victims of War!  If that idea did not exist, my ancestors would all have died in East Europe, and I would not be here to tell you about it!  "Papers" may not be available when people are running out the door of their burning homes and trying to prevent being  killed!  "Survival" is of the utmost importance!  So emergency situations call for emergency solutions! The "papers" can be drawn up at the Border or Point of debarcation with Lawyers who are trying to help victims of war or persecution obtain "a fair hearing" at the Immigration Court!  Thus, that Law was passed in these United States, which was once a more Humane Country, honoring the philosophy of the Statue of Liberty. We can't ALL plan our lives to be perfect!  Crises DO occur!

PS- Citizenship requires 5 to 10 years of an Address, a Job, payment of Taxes, English lessons, U.S. History & Government Lessons, and a Test on the same, plus $5,000-$10,000 Cash Payment. In Arizona, I have had 7 different addresses, 10 different jobs, have been hit in 5 car wrecks by Gang Members and have seen them invade my once peaceful and attractive neighborhood, am currently unemployed, and I lack  $5,000-$10,000, so I guess if I was living 15 minutes North or 30-45 minutes South of here "on the other side of America," I would not be admitted either, and would probably die in my native country which I was fleeing from violence!  As it is,   I am an American citizen, and my daughter helped  me to find a new home in a safe place!  I studied history and government, and I speak English, so I am luckier than the immigrants!  And I will never forget that were it not for my Great-Uncle, I would never have been born in this country, nor would my parents.  Therefore, I believe in helping others achieve their goals of someday becoming American citizens, because "There but for the Grace of G-d go I !"

Arizona seems like it is still "The Wild West!". But living here IS "A Learning Experience!" The Native Anericans say: "Never judge a man until you have walked in his shoes!" My Granddaughter returns today from her 3 week visit to Israel, and I think she may have learned something THERE, also!

William Anderson

In our remembrances, let's not forget those classmates of ours who lost their Dads in World War II. The Moms had to deal with their grief and figure out how they would survive and look after their kids, our classmates.

Bill Anderson

Mike Floyd

Thanks Bill and Linda.  My brother, sister and I were raised and put through college by a single mom.  I think about not just those that lost husbands in the war, but also those that had to deal with husbands that came home damaged by war.  A Vet once said he died in Vietnam, but just hadn't stopped breathing yet.

Once a year our yacht club takes a bus load Wounded Warriors out for a day on the water followed by steamed crabs.  I was surprised to find that more than half of these warriors were women.

Belle Landrum

First of all:  Happy Birthday, Mike.  Thank you for your efforts to keep all of us in touch with each other and for you updates.

Memorial Day or me has changed of the years - from a day out of school evolving to memories of my relatives who served in the army.  My father's oldest brother was killed in the fields in WWI.He was conscripted  in Richmond.  He was seventeen.  He was given two weeks of training and send to France.  Two weeks  later he was killed.  October 9th, right as the war was declared over.  This past week we put a flag on his grave as well as on another brother of my father's, and another uncle who had been a chaplane(sp), landing at Normandy and  at the Battle of the Bulge.  He always said  that General Patton saved him.  Now that I am older I remember these uncles and think of the awful things they must have seen.  I don't think my Father ever  got over the death of his oldest brother and the circumstances of his death. 

We are all so fortunate that our families served our country. We had care-free childhoods due to their service.

Marilyn I'm with you on the immigratioin situation (maybe I can learn to rap).  There is very little going on with Westhampton School.  B.S. had a groundbreaking last week, but they still haven't handed in a traffic study.  A year late and counting.  They should have gone to Westhampton and learned to  hand in things on time!  So far, they've gotten away with it.  I'll keep you posted as best I can.  Wish they would let people in  the school to find a keepsake or outside to take a brick.  I've heard that the Grove Ave. merchants want to take the over-the-creek playground for parking.  Well, it is a beautiful Spring in Richmond with dogwoods and roses blooming.  A place to enjoy life - as long as the tornados avoid us and streets aren't flooded.

Sally Kincannon (von Rumohr)

Sally Kincannon (von Rumohr)

oops!  Bronze Star.....

Russell Flammia

Hi Sally

            What an interesting story about your Dad. I'm sorry some of it was sad but interesting. If he were here I'd certainly thank him for what he did. Thank you so much for sharing. He may have had PTSD but he also had two wondeful children.  God Bless. 

Linda Fiske (Wehrle)

Sally thank you for sharing your story. Sometimes I think George and I had an advantage since we were both veterans. We could share stories and talk about a lot of experiences with each understanding. We were back in Vietnam 2 years ago and that was a very interesting experience. He really wanted to go back and see if his service had done any good. My thoughts and prayers to all in Virginia Beach 

Belle Landrum

May I change the subject rather radically?

I assume most of us went to a house of worship or adult meetings fairly often and joined in the singing.  When I was young, perhaps, Jr. Primary One age, there were hymns that I  did not quite hear the words.  So, I sang what I thought I heard.  The one I remember best was the hymn " Love Lifted Me" in which I thought they were singing "love Lipton tea" so I joined right in.  Much later when my grammar school pupils auditioned for choir, I had them sing "My country 'tis of Thee....  Invaribly they sang...land where the pilgrams cried OR  land where my father died...  I did not correct them.

  I've always wanted to make a collection of these and was wondering if any of you had and did the same thing at some point in your childhood or heard some from others. It could have been any song or reading. It might be fun for all of us if you would share them.  (please).

Belle

Jo-Ann Olkowski

My Dad was career Army in the Corp of Engineers.  Prior to going overseas during Operation Overlord (D-Day) his outfit was in NC remapping a portion of the Atlantic coastline - German U-Boats (submarines) were known to be off our coast.  Dad was a talented artist and despite only an 8th grade education his math skills were extremely high.  He went to war in Europe and lost two younger brothers KIA in France and both of whom are buried in one of our American Cemeteries there.  He later served in Korea where he was badly injured and sent home on a medical discharge.  He also lost cousins in WWII.  So, yes, I definitely thank our Veterans every time I see them.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Jo-Ann- That explains your patriotism.  

Since moving to Arizona and seeing a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering in various parts of the State (which is only 100 years old), I have seriously wondered about the words to the last sentence of the Star-Spangled Banner:  "Land of the free."  I know there are many people in this country who are "Brave," but whenever I have read the News during the past 30 years, I have questioned  the word: "Free."  In many circumstances, it all depends on who is speaking and where they live.  Our American  society is so stratified, we often take for granted the freedoms that we have had, in contrast to those at "the other end of the economic scale," who are "held back" from reaching their goals due to many generations of insurmountable odds: lack of money, lack of opportunity, lack of community support, etc. I have cheered on those of the next generation who have become the first in their family to finish high school, obtain a job, or graduated from college.

There were young people who were trained at our local Marine Base and who sacrificed their lives in order to fulfill their dream of becoming United States Citizens.  The first local casualty in Yuma during the War in Afghanistan was a young man from Mexico who was a graduate of our local high school and its leading football star, and was killed in the line of duty as he practiced in Yuma  to defend our country, of which he was not yet a Citizen.......... A Native American woman from "The Hopi Reservation"  died in Iraq as she drove a jeep through enemy lines to deliver supplies to her troop. She is memorialized by having the second highest mountain, Piestewa Peak, and a major expressway in Phoenix, Piestewa Parkway, named after her, instead of the former titles: "Squaw Peak Mountain" and "Squaw Peak Parkway.".... It took over 100 years to remove the derogatory name. The fact that these two and many others have attempted to rise above their status and could not reach their goals during their lifetime gives me pause to wonder if "Freedom" is really FREE!......If you read U.S. History, you will also learn many stories about Afro-American slaves and Irish and Scotch immigrants who built The White House for little or NO salary, and whose descendents may still be living in poverty in the slums of Baltimore and the District of Columbia, where students lack teachers, modern textbooks, updated schools, and recreational facilities. In Arizona, it took 10 years to pass Legislation to declare Martin Luther King Day as a State Holiday! ..........Our prisons are full of those who are Falsely Accused and only a fraction of them are Released after years of incarceration for a crime they did not commit. America needs to question the phrase "Land of the Free."  It is a "Euphemism" to me!  We think we are so lucky, but there are many who are NOT!

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Belle- I always had trouble remembering the words to "The Chipmunk's Christmas Song!" All through my childhood,  I used to make up the words to the last 4 lines!  But my younger daughter heard the song on the radio when she was a little girl, picked them up immediately, and sang them to me! To this day, I have to ask for help with that song every December, rather than embarass myself at holiday gatherings!

William Anderson

Belle, I sing so poorly that my only memory was from about 3rd. grade at Mary Mumford where the teacher said something along the lines of "Anderson, just mouth the words". I guess that was a safe bet for her and me.

Linda Fiske (Wehrle)

, Well I think I was about in 3rd grade also when we were trying out for a choir in singing class. After I sang “ My Country “, there was a lot of snickering. The teacher told the class that at least I knew the words . I was put near the boys bass section . Carrying a tune was not in my repertoire.

Belle Landrum

Hello Everyone ----I didn't intend to make singers of all of you.  I'm trying to get you to think back when you sang with loud voice the words you thought were there.  Hence, my "Love Lipton Tea".  Or perhaps words you made up when you didn't know the real words,or even those  verses you made up (about a teacher or professor!)  that fit a familiar tune.  I Know I wasn't the only one in my innocence that sang what ever seemed right at the time.  For my blunder I guess I was rewarded at Madison (JMU) with all the songs we sang on the steps to the dining room, waiting for the doors to open.  Some of them were set to old army tunes from WWI and WWII.  o, when you are sitting down in the shade, drinking for lemonade, pull up your memories.

Class dismisssed!

Lois Pollard

Belle:  Years ago in San Francisco we had a columnist who would occasionally write about mishearings such as these; they're called mondegreens. I never had a hymn one, but there was a pop song with the lyric "kind of a drag," and I thought it was an ad for Canada Dry. Thanks for this distraction!

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Lois, You are funny! "It's kind of a drag, when your baby don't love you!"  (PS-I LOVE "Canada Dry Gingerale!") 

I am trying to remember the words I made up to the Chipmunk's Christmas Song!  I will have to ask my daughter what the real words are!!

Mike Floyd

Survey

1. How many of you watched the movie The Longest Day this week?  Last Night
2. When was the first time you saw this film.? I saw if in Raleigh while in College in 1962 or 1963.
3. How many time have you seen the film?  Between 6 and 10 time.

Belle Landrum

I have seen the Longest Day  twice, iincluding this past weekend.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

I've seen it once or twice. I think Joel has probably seen it more than I have!  I don't always understand the "political negotiations" in "War Stories" & I don't like watching bloodshed!  There was a "Special" on  Educational TV about "Ian Fleming," and after watching it, I wondered WHY he was seen as such a "Hero," when he was actually such a ""Cad!". War stories bring out "The Worst in Me!". I have watched less and less tv shows, the older I get!  Maybe I'm regressing! Unless I see less violence and more humor and creativity, I prefer to keep my tv turned off!  We will never see tv stars again like John Wayne and Audie Murphy,  but until we do, I'll just wait until they surface, rather than recycling "old movies!"  

Jo-Ann Olkowski

The Longest Day ... a spectacular movie with an amazing cast.  I've watched it many times.  Had it been scheduled on tv here I would have watched it again.  Don't forget that in real life many big name actors of that era put their movie careers on hold and served their country during that time.

Another great movie was actually an old HBO series that ran for weeks - Band of Brothers.  I happened to see a package of the entire series redone on some 8 or 10 discs - AND on sale!  I snapped one up in less than a heartbeat!  The theme music alone takes my breath away!  At the time the series was made many of the real soldiers were still alive and shared their stories and memories on each episode.

Saving Private Ryan is probably the best recent movie.  I don't know if it was partially based on a real life story of a family (I think from Iowa) who had 4 or 5 sons, all of whom were KIA in WWII.  A ship was later named for them - the USS O'Sullivans - it's docked in Buffalo, NY and is a museum.

Jo-Ann

Linda Fiske (Wehrle)

Well George and I have lost count but between 6 or 8 times. And we have been to Normandy  and the cemetery as his uncle is buried there. 

George Armstrong

Hi Mike,  Don’t recall whe I first saw it nor exactly how many times, but several.  Thanks for the reminder.  I just found it on demand on TCM.  Have began watching it.  Surrounding the movie is a discussion of it — Ben Mankiewcz with Rob Citino.  They have started off talking about the role the French resistance played and will be talking about what went right and what went wrong on D-Day.  Has there ever been a movie with a more impressive list of actors?   Rob Citino latest book (2017) entitled, “The Wermacht’s Last Stand,” is a triology about the downfall of the German army.  I am hoping to read it this summer.  So, the answer as to when I last saw it is “in progress.”  Have a good ‘en.