Tombstone Thursday - Mom, Dad & Sgt. Martin

.

Each Memorial Day, Becky & I decorate the graves of family members who have gone before us. We always place a U.S. flag on the graves of those in the family that served in the military. Below is a photo of my parents grave in Alexander Memorial Cemetery in Evansville. Earlier I had a small flag for Dad that would touch soil if I pushed the flag pole in the ground, so I had to put it with the flowers in the vase... it did not show well and it distracted the pastel colors that Mom always liked in the flowers that I chose for her. So, I got a larger flag with a longer pole and brought ti to replace that short one as seen below.

We parked at the curb as we always do to get to Mom & Dad's graves. I noticed the grave of Zerah Martin with his marker right next to the curb. I have never seen any flowers on his grave or even an American flag that he served under during World War II... so, I decided this Memorial Day, I would remember Sgt. Martin. I placed the flag I had exchanged from Dad's grave on this soldier's grave & placed a few flowers by his marker to say thanks for serving our country when we needed him!
- Photos taken by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Respect Cemetery Workers!

.

[Day 8 Lion's Head Location Final Clue/Hint: To discover the location of the lion's head, go to the North, exit by the very large grinding stone & look West . Check the previous daily clues. See TSGS Cruiser Blog ~http://tsgsblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/guess-where-this-lions-head-is-located.html]

Courtesy For Cemetery Workers & Volunteers

This Memorial Day weekend, I have gone to several cemeteries to decorate graves of loved ones & many of my ancestors. In Owensboro, I was surprised that a person had called ahead for the cemetery staff to look for the location of the grave he wanted to visit. I thought that sure was a good idea for him and the staff. I mentioned that to Chris Cooke at Evansville's Oak Hill Cemetery. Chris stated that it really helps him & the staff to look things up when they are not busy and then have it all waiting for the person when they arrive. At Owensboro they told me that some people request 20 grave locations at once and expect them to stop whatever they are doing and take them to each grave - they can not take that much time with photographers for Find-A-Grave or even genealogists. Most cemetery employees are happy to help you find the graves of your loved ones and even an ancestor or two, but remember that they have other work to do, as well, and in most cases it is preparation for a funeral or cemetery grounds maintenance. They maintain the grounds, inter the remains of the deceased, and maintain the cemetery records. Unfortunately, cemetery superintendents/managers have to deal with vandalism far more than what most of us might imagine.

The main thing is be courteous to these employees/volunteers at the cemetery... during holidays like Memorial Day, these people have to work! I have found that even if the person you deal with is not being friendly or seems aggravated that you are bothering them, that if you try to be nice & friendly - they will help you more. In Owensboro on Friday, the manager actually took me out to the unmarked grave of my grandfather's after I had searched and was not sure where it was. I had been friendly and they knew I had tried on my own first.

Sometimes, Mother Nature or Father Time causes deterioration or damage to tombstones or grave sites (let alone vandals). But, in these cases, it is not the cemetery's staff to blame. If it has been raining everyday for 2 weeks, the grass will not be well groomed. If there was a hard rain the night before, there will be mud on markers and possibly partial sunken graves. A heavy wind storm will break-off limbs all through the cemetery. Workers appreciate you letting them know where the problems are, but generally, they will not be able to run and take care of it immediately.

These past 4-5 days I went through 7 cemeteries... and I saw limbs down, mud on top of the flat markers, standing water in flat & low areas and grass that was a lot higher than I like to wade through. However, we have had some very bad weather conditions for quite some time. Grounds crews were on mowers flying around leaving tire tracks in the rain-soaked ground in an attempt to mow down the grass! You could hear or see crews using chain saws cutting up large fallen trees & limbs. Tough time to show-off the cemetery grounds after all of the rain & high winds in the tri-state area. I saw some really bad spots that mud covered several markers completely. And, if that was my Mother's grave, I would be upset; however, it is not the cemetery's fault - Mother Nature gets the blame. I could go to the office and put in a polite work request to have the mud cleaned off at there convenience... I might ask them to email me when they get it done so I could return to pay my respects.

We generally go to cemeteries to show our respect for our lost loved ones, please show some respect to those who work to maintain their final resting place.

- Written by JGWest

Guess Where This Lion's Head Is Located!

.

Have you seen this lion's head before?

Please do not respond here, send your guess to me at jgw.mylines@gmail.com Need more than just the name of where this building is located or the name of the building... where is it placed on or in this building. I will give you a hint - I found it by accident in Evansville, Indiana. I will give a hint everyday until someone gives me the correct answer or I give you the answer on Memorial Day. Good luck!

- Photo taken by JGWest

Graphic Photos of Viet Nam War

'
This day after Memorial Day,

I had nothing to post on the blog. Ed Hitchcock sent me a link to a very interesting site showing 141 photos surrounding the Viet Nam War. These photos show a lot of what the war was like for American soldiers and how those at home dealt with the war. Go to this link to know why we have Memorial Day!

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/04/30/captured-a-look-back-at-the-vietnam-war-on-the-35th-anniversary-of-the-fall-of-saigon-2/

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday - Memorial Day!

'

On this Memorial Day...

let us remember our soldiers who have died in the line of duty along with all U.S. veterans and U. S. troops around the world.


This monument is one of the best I have seen for a soldier. It is in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana. Photo is showing the upright portion of the tombstone.

Above is the military marker for SPC Darren Alan DeBlanc (Bronze Star & Purple Heart Medals). He died while on active duty in Iraq on 29 Apr 2005 at the age of 20.

Above is a photo of his full marker.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

'

Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend...
is a great day to visit, decorate & remember those who died for our country while on military duty. We should take this opportunity to remember other soldiers, family, ancestors & friends who have gone before us. Becky & I each year remember about 80 people that have come before us. Friday afternoon, we traveled around to the graves near us to remember family. The following are some photos I took.

This little "lug" type flag holder is the first I have seen honoring a Viet Nam Veteran. It is at the grave of Sgt. William Payne in the James Parker Cemetery, Hatfield, Indiana. We were here to decorate a WWII vet Robert H. Meredith, Jr. (Becky's birth father).

Sgt. Payne's grave is well decorated. Note the inscription at the base of his marker: "A grateful nation honors his memory and gives recognition for his devoted and selfless dedication to the service of his country." These words summarizes what Memorial Day is all about!

It is important to remember family because we keep them alive in our minds & heart. I found this one to be special... notice the butterfly plaque and butterflies in the colorful boquet of flowers. This grave is in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana.

We decorated my younger brother's grave at Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville. Don did not serve in the military, but he was very patriotic. He love music and played guitars in several small bands. He died young of a heart attack. Don helped me often in researching our family history.

These praying hands at Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery reminds us to remember prayer for our troops around the world and to pray for family & friends.

And here is a link to some military & patriotic music & songs that should get you in the mood to remember those who have marched ahead of us: Gene Simmons (of KISS) Military Tribute.
- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

James Bethel Gresham

'

James Bethel Gresham...

On 03 Nov 1917, he became the first American fatality for World War I. This Memorial Day weekend we should all remember all of our family that have gone before us, but we need to remember the soldiers who served our country and the many that gave their lives for the United States of America!

I apologize for the quality of these photos that I took at the Evansville Museum, but I hope it is good enough to show how a community can remember a fallen soldier.

Below is the Gresham home that is in Evansville Garvin Park. He is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

"The Cannon is Back"

The cannon is back in the Civil War section at Oak Hill Cemetery!

(click on images to enlarge)

And she is beautiful!

This cannon seems to stand guard over this part of the cemetery.

Photo taken in the early morning of Memorial Day.


Looking down the barrel.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

"In Memory of Our Veterans & Our Ancestors..."

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Veterans Memorial Plaza

Veterans Memorial Plaza dedication plaque - 11 November 2001

The above plaques recognize the former Vanderburgh county residents who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.

Veterans Memorial Plaza near entrance to Oak Hill Cemetery.

Plaque on pedestal at entry point to the plaza. In memory of all american Veterans.

Becky West standing next to plaque at entry point to the plaza.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

"1933 Memorial Day Service"

The following article appeared in the 28 May 1933 issue of the Evansville Press.

Special tribute will be paid the seven living members of the Farragut Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and members who died during the year, at Memorial Day services in Evansville next Tuesday. Five of the “boys in blue” passed away during the year. They were Julius Tzchoppe, G.T. York, John Ziegler, John Reisinger and Richard Suggs, who was a member of Wagner Colored Post. Only three Civil War Veterans will be able to carry on with the services this year. Major Byron Parsons, William Warren and Robert Witzman will attend services at Oak Hill Cemetery and will occupy a car in the parade. John Smith and Fred Frank, Evansville members of Farragut Post, will not be able to take part in the services. The two other members, Joseph Hunnell and Silas Day, will not be here. Mr. Hunnell lives in Bloomington and Mr. Day at the Old Soldiers’ home, Lafayette. Surviving members of the Wagner Post are Albert Cosby, Fred Gibson, Andrew Stubbins, Moses Slaughter, George Winlock, Simon Walker and Charles Williams. Other war veterans who died during the year were Henry E. Elsea, Edmand Bichlein and Michael Matz, Spanish American War; Russell L. Newbit, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Walter M. Carter, Walter W. Gates, Lucian Gordon, Carl Minch and Frank Daugherty, World War.

Services will be held at McCutchanville Church on Sunday and at Camp Ground Cemetery, Salem. Each of the church services will be followed by the decoration of soldiers’ graves in the church cemeteries. Services will also be held at Locust Hill Cemetery and at Lutheran Cemetery. Line of march for the parade will start at the Coliseum and to Eighth Street. Twenty patriotic and civic groups will be represented. Services at Oak Hill Cemetery will conclude the program.


- Submitted by Brenda Jerome

"Happy Mother's Day!"

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I can not go visit Mom, but I can remember her today in a special way:

Bernadine Long

11 Jul 1921 - 01 Oct 1997

My favorite photo of Mom

One of my very first photos that I took as a kid was of Mom in our house in the country (Warrick County, Indiana)

She was the mother of four children: Glen, me, Tina & Don.

She told us story after story about her family that always fascinated me and kindled my life-long love of genealogy. Mom did not like country living and times were kind of tough for work for Dad as a construction worker during the two economic recessions of the 1950's. After I graduated from high school, we moved back to Evansville: Mom's beloved city and home. Every year, without fail, Mom went out to decorate all of the local family grave sites in all of the various cemeteries with flowers... it was a very important responsibility on Memorial Day to remember family members who had died. Don, took her around each year after Dad died with me taking her around every two or three years. Now that Mom is gone and younger brother, Don, passed away in 2000, the responsibility, actually duty, is for me to decorate the family graves. I try to make Mom's the first & most special grave to decorate & remember. I miss you, Mom!

While Mom was the first woman in my life, this is the second woman... the mother of my three sons! Becky McIntyre [adopted name... birth name Meredith] with our first son, Phillip G. West (the other two sons are JJ & James). Happy Mother's Day, Becky!

- Submitted by JGWest