Hank and his former priest adviser, Don Norton. He was from our old ward and the featured speaker for the services. Great man and one who has made a great impression in the field of teaching others to collect, save, record family histories of those who served in the armed services.
A vintage car parked at the Orem City Cemetery for Memorial Day event
Son, Hank salutes during the pledge of Allegiance at the ceremony.
This day is one that stirs my soul and my patriotic heart strings.
Yesterday, I had talked to son, Hank about attending the Memorial Day services that is held every year. Well, we both ended up going. He decided to take his daily run to the cemetery where it was held and I could give him a ride back. I called him as I came closer to the site and he had just arrived and was standing up on the amphitheater hill. I had some flowers to put on my grandson's grave there. I placed them before going up to see Hank at the hillside. I was armed with my sun visor and lawn chair. I had a great view of the podium and the flag poles.
The speaker was Don Norton, an old friend from our Orem 49th ward days and Cascade II ward. He was a BYU professor and taught our Sunday school Family and Personal history class. He inspired me over the years and I started to record an oral history from visits with my parents ever after that to preserve their voices and stories of their youth. Don had recorded many WWII veterans accounts of the war and their survival from wounds and being POWs. It was amazing to know some of the historical facts that are never in the history books. We found that the Germans like cigarettes. One of the gentleman he had interviewed told him that being LDS he did not smoke, but his mother asked him what he wanted her to send him. He told her cigarettes. Lucky Strike brand. She send him TEN cartons. It was like gold, and an exchange instead of money in the POW camps. The Germans, he said traded parts from a factory and the men built their own radio. The Germans would then come to ask the Americans the news of how the war was going. This is the kind of things we were taught and the faith promoting experiences of some of the Purple Heart heroes who never saw themselves as Heroes. "Just doin' their job." as they said.
Benefit picnic in the park at Orem City fundraiser for former Marines, Nigel Olsen and Carlos Aragon. It was a great turn out with a lot of locals to support this event.
This is the fundraiser benefit for a scholarship fund for the two young Marines who gave their lives for our country who died this last March. It was a barbecue in their honor. I met Hank, Lori and the Ks there for a nice lunch of hamburger, potato chips, baked beans and a quarter slice of yummy watermelon. The kids all had fun and enjoyed the whole event. Hank got them cotton candy, and chocolate chip cookies
Did you know Grandma loves cotton candy too? Ymmm. Reminds me of my youthful days and the circus. My dad, Grandpa Carlos would buy me cotton candy. What a sweet tooth. There was entertainment and great singers. One was a former Marine who sang some patriotic songs. We had a good time going around to see the LAVs. Which were like a small military tank. I would say Army tank, but his was the Marine Corp, since Nigel and Carlos were Marines.
The K grand kids enjoying climbing atop the military tank/floating barges at the City Center in Orem. We talked with some of soldiers and thanked them for being there and serving our country. Hank always gives his gratitude for them, and their service and never mentioned his own.
The Marines were out in full with their battalion, honoring two of their own. The "Charlie," company. My heart was touched to see so many people there to support this effort, and the dedicated comrades of the two fallen soldiers. May they rest in peace.
All in all it was wonderful day to spend with Hank and his family.
Later in the afternoon I went to the Provo Census Office and worked for 7 1/2 hours. I really liked that and it passed the time. I would have been home alone otherwise. Everyone was doing their own thing, and so was I.
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