A Few of FR's Finest..Every Day..02-6,7-07..WW2: The War, The Era, The Monument, The FReeper Vets

February 6, 2007 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

70 degrees... ah that is like a wonderful dream... Here in ohio we get excited when it finally gets to high 30s.. it seems balmy in compaison. 50 degree is T-shirt & shorts weather & "lets work in the yard" mentality.

But I recall my years of living in Texas,Florida & NC.. you do get spoiled very easily

[DollyCali]

I am so OUT OF knowing the new/in roses. It was over 15 years since I lived in NC. I miss the orchids more than I missed the roses however. My ex was the orchid person but I loved them & shared his enthusiasm, if NOT the heavy duty amount of work involved in their culture/breeding

[GodBlessUSA]

I have to call my parents. My father served in Army after the war. I know with all the relatives we have someone has served in WWII. I know of the closer generations and their service. I really need to see who I missed that served in WWII. I'll check and let you know. Very interesting and I can't believe I have not asked them sooner.

[DollyCali]

Thanks jaycee.. here at FR we have so much more of an awareness & appreciation of the historical relevance of the wars,, they aren't just part of a history book & lesson but ARE the reason we are here at all..

[GodBlessUSA]

You still are a rosarian. The names change but they are the same plants. :) Orchids, how interesting Dolly.I'd love to hear about them some time. Sounds like a huge amount of work.

[DollyCali]

How I wish my dad were here to ask.

Please ask them & post a pix of dad also(recent one is okay).

For FReeper Wheelbarrow, he did not have (or wasn't able to locate) a pix in uniform. If he should ever find one, I can include it in the opening in the jpeg heading his offering.

[GodBlessUSA]

My Dad looked very handsome in his uniform. :) I will let you know. I love your post to Jaycee. How so very true.
Thanks Dolly.

[DollyCali]

Hi Beachy, cute table.. and I LOVE GREEN..

I love the Memorial. I have been there three times, the most recent(and where the pix I posted came from) was this past December.

The first time I was there was shortly after the dedication ceremony, It was hot & the fountain was loaded with children, adults & pets, cooling off & laughing & enjoying each other & the day. *the one pix I have on this thread of the vet in wheelchair is from that first visit, He had tears in his eyes recounting the war & was so thrilled to be threre,)

I could not help but sit on the edge of the pool & take it all in.. here were the symbols all around the circular display of the battles, people & events that let us here many years later live in the security & protection that they provided in that war.

It was as if they were looking over & approving.

I had my pup Oliver who also had a ball & like the other pets there cooled off in the pool.

The times of varing sun locations makes for interesting effects.

I have never been there at night yet.

I love the FDR memorial at night and am guessing that this memorial is also awesome with the spotlights & water sprays & falls around the display

[fatima]

My Father was a Sargeant in WW11,he was wounded twice but I'm not sure if they were from the Korean or not.I know he had awards and a Purple Heart and my son Joe has all the awards in a special glass case for them.I was born when he was away in 44.When I was six we lived in Georgia on the base and when we came back I talked so fast no-one could understand me:)

[luvie]

You're spackling? How much FUN! Not! LOL!

Have a great day. Maybe we'll talk when I get home tonight...at 9:30--10:30 your time. Drink tea! LOL!

(((hugs))))

[DollyCali]

thanks for stopping by & your comments and OH YES, a big thumbs up from me for the idea of taking dad ASAP,

The three times I have been there I make it a LONG visit. I walk around & talk to people. There are the "toursists" and also younsters who "walk & casually "look".

THEN THERE ARE THE VETS.. Often with children pushing wheelchairs, or helping them w/canes & walkers. Now & then with spouses.

I talk with them & the kids are very quiet & in awe. It is as if it is sacred grounds.. and to a degree it is. A memorial is for MEMORY.. and MEMORY is made up of memories which to me are sacred & precious.

Many say their dads have NEVER been willing/able to share re: the war, but by being there it opens a floodgate for many & the whole family is boo hoo-ing.

I can't help but think it becomes one of the most poignant interactions of the life of the children/vets. You can normally tell it has happened as eyes are red & women have these black splotches under their eyes ( like foot ball players), where mascara, liner, eyeshadow have melted onto their faces from emotion released

[Aquamarine]

Thank you Aqua and thanks for the info on your family. Do you have a pix of your dad & maybe do a little write up about him?

His picture is in the Military Monday collage. I've talked about it here so most everyone already knows that he was stationed at different ports along the east coast, worked in the gunnery and not involved in any fighting. He did meet my mother while stationed in Jacksonville, Florida.

Did you see the movie Blood Diamond? VERY graphic movie/violence but a story that needs to be out there.

Yes, I did see it and as you say it was very violent. It probably was an agenda movie but did not make me feel responsible for they're sorry behavior.

[Aquamarine]

This is a dreadful disease. It can be heart aching. I'll be saying prayers for you DIL. I also wanted to say, God Bless your Dad for his service! :)

You're so correct, it is a dreadful disease.
Thanks for all your consideration.

[Lady Jag]

Heroes

Heroes come in different forms, Some, never known, Some, remembered forever. One who looks forward to a fresh days start, One to trust and respect. A hero will laugh, a hero will cry, Through rain, ice, hail or snow, A hero will be there. Dani Aronovitz

[beachn4fun]

Good afternoon, Dolly

They allowed people in the fountain? I wouldn't have guessed.

There are some new memorials that I have yet to see. Maybe, once the weather gets a little warmer, but before tourist season, I'll get Hubby to take me up so we can visit a few of them.

I agree with you. I bet that memorial is beautiful at night.

[luvie]

Yes, I am spoiled. Having been in OK over the weekend and freezing my kiester off...I am glad for the warm sun! LOL!

[Grammy]

Good morning DollyCali. You have started me thinking about my dad, step dad and FIL.

My dad, Ray, was in Panama running radar during the war. It wasn't really bad duty, as my mom and older sister were allowed to go to Panama with him.

As far as I knew, neither my Father in law, Walter nor my step dad, Jim were in the armed services. Then, 4 years ago, shortly before he died, we found out that my father in law worked on the Manhattan Project (his 2nd wife blabbed) We were astonished and asked him about it. The only thing he ever said to us was "that's secret". That is literally the only two words he ever said about it.

We went back home, and talked about how amazing it was. Told my step dad all about it, and how he had never said a word.

Last September my step dad Jim died. His brother, while we were at the funeral, told us that Jim had worked on the Manhattan Project. I was flabbergasted!!! The snot never said a word to me, even when I was talking about my FIL!

Those guys knew how to keep a secret.

[DollyCali]

I don't know if the policy has changed since I was in water. That was just after dedication as I said. The subsequent two times I was there it was VERY COLD & so no one in water, wading, etc.

The Korean memorial is NOT new nor is the FDR but both are very impressive and worth seeing. All the memorials are relatively close proximity & can be walked in an afternoon.

It has been decades since I have walked to top of Washington Monument. So often it has scaffolding on it for one project or another & not sure it is open then. I want to go back up that one again.

[DollyCali]

Men often do a better job at keeping a secret I have observed over the years. Yours is a great story ..esp about your step dad's closed mouth even after you talking about FIL.. amazing.

I cant help wonder if it had to do with secrecy (it was well after declassification, I would guess) or maybe rather embarrassment that so many were killed from bomb...etc. Not all say "war is war" as we well know. They may have thought it better to say nothing than chance the assault/scrutiny they might receive from others

Here is Wikipedia's INFO on the Manhattan Project,

[swmobuffalo]

Thanks for the ping Dolly!

My WWII veteran is no longer with us. My father served 44 months ETO and passed away in August of 2003. He was part of a group of 13 cousins that served in the military starting with WWI and on through Korea.

I don't have a photo to post of him that I know of. I'll have to look through a bunch of disks to see.