Honoring our veterans and celebrating the holidays

       On Friday a week ago, I was at the new American Legion Post 169 building in Montezuma to visit with Ron Hensel, commander of the local legion.
       I was there taking some photos for a story on the new legion hall building just completed in August.
       I mentioned to Ron that my grandfather on my dad’s side of the family was a World War I Veteran. I asked Ron if that qualifies me to become a Sons of the American Legion member.
       “I believe it does,” Ron told me, mentioning that it doesn’t cost much.
      My uncle Orval, my dad’s younger brother, was a Korean War Veteran and my Uncle Carroll, my mom’s oldest brother, was also a veteran and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. I don’t recall if either of them was stateside or served overseas.
      I have a large black and white photo in an oval frame of a veteran on my mom’s side of the family in uniform holding a rifle. I remember it hanging at my grandparent’s home in Tulsa and later in the hallway of my parent’s home in Bixby, Okla.
        I do have his name, but don’t know anything else. I would like to know more about him and hope to dig in to family history soon.
        Inscribed on the tombstone of my grandfather, James Parker, are the initials PFC BTRY B 72 ARTY CAC. According to Rootsweb.com, the initials PFC BTRY B 72 ARTY CAC are as follows:
     “The Field and Staff of the 72nd Artillery was organized on May 4, 1918 at Ft. Williams, Maine. Headquarters Company, Supply Company and Batteries A and B were then organized soon after also at Ft. Williams. These Companies were organized from Personnel transfers from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 17th, 18th 19th and 23rd Companies, Coast Defenses of Portland, Maine then stationed at Ft. Williams, and from the 13th Company stationed at Ft. Baldwin.”
        I don’t recall growing up talking about the military or about my grandfather’s military service. He and my grandmother both passed before I was born.
       My grandfather was born on April 27, 1887 and died on Nov. 19, 1952 at age 65. My dad was born on June 30, 1929. 
      As with other family members, I hope to dig in and learn more about my grandfather through the National Archives Military Personal Records in St. Louis or another military data base.
       As a community journalist, I have written a number of stories through the years on veterans. I’ve attended many Veterans Day programs at schools and at community events. I have taken photos of veterans on Memorial Day and at Veterans Day and in parades, during flag presentations at football games and at Quilts of Valor presentations.
         I’m honored to be able to share these many stories and photos with my readers through the years. I look forward to sharing many more.
Moving on
      I’m so thankful for all the veterans and for their service to our country. I’m also thankful for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays on the horizon.
          The family Thanksgiving in the Parker house will be a bit earlier than on Thanksgiving Day this year as we will celebrate on Nov. 22. I’m charged with making a green bean casserole, one of my favorites. I hope someone brings deviled eggs.
            And Christmas may be thinner than usual this year in the gift department and that is OK. It’s nice to be able to give and receive gifts, but that best gift is having a loving and caring family and wife who have my back.
            I’m thankful to God for his many blessings and the gift of life.
            I encourage you to take time from the businesses of life during the holidays and enjoy time with family and friends.
          And this is a perfect time to give to local food pantries and holiday gift outreaches or volunteer and make Thanksgiving and Christmas better for others.
Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.