Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Ancestry.com Howards Cemetery Restoration Online Tree
Well with 133 interned at Howard Cemetery, the online tree has grown to include 995 people so far. Please if you are interested go to Ancestry.com and check out the public online tree associated with this project.
Little Ones
When writing about the Howard family I am struck by the number of children Lydia looses before her own death in 1883. As a mother of the youth coordinator, I can honestly say that every grave we record or clean, that is of a child or young adult, makes my throat dry up and my eyes water. I have been involved in Genealogy since as far back as I can remember, but this project brings the reality of those past lives to the forefront of my thoughts. When researching genealogy or any historical event you know your are researching and recording past events. But when you sit at a grave and take the time to clean, excavate or repair, you feel a bond to that person. Especially when you have spent hours researching their lives, and finding so many did not get to live full lives. When that person is a little kid or young adult, and you happen to be a parent, that bond is felt more deeply. I feel for the mothers, that they had to live without their children; no parent should ever out live a child; no matter how old the parent lives to be. I wish they could have all lived long lives; but that was not the reality of their lives. May they have found each other again in what comes after this life.
Memorial Day Weekend
Well our family started observing the Memorial Day Weekend on Friday. Ray mowed Howard Cemetery with his push mower, our riding mower was out of commission. It took Ray four and one half straight hours to walk mow the cemetery. I cleaning the stones of the Frazee family and did some rubbing of the motifs on the stones. Ray(Ray Keith/Rayke) was also my water carrier. I do realize that I am a perfectionist when it comes to cleaning a stone, and it could be done faster. The stone is first scrubbed with just water and elbow grease. Then the stone is cleaned with a water and ammonia solution. If the ammonia can be smelled the solution is too strong. I like a one to four ratio. Then the stone is rinsed. Then the stone is cleaned with an Orvus and water solution; extremely diluted. Then rinse, rinse and some more rinsing. Black lichen in my experience sometime needs a tad stronger ammonia and water solution, but this is for spot cleaning ONLY. We placed flags ate each veterans grave and snapped to attention and saluted them for their service. We also placed flags at the front on the cemetery Ray got done and I ordered subs with my iphone, just had to run into Jimmy Johns, they were all paid for. Got home and visited with Bud(husband/father) before he had to go to work. Both Ray(Ray Keith/Rayke) and I were exhausted, fed animals; took baths and then logged on to our computer, and found out our nephew who is a police officer was involved in a accident. He was in critical condition. He has gotten a lot better, and will make a full recovery.
Saturday rang early, as a bottle steer likes its bottle early. Then off to Dickerson Cemetery where Ray mowed and decorated that cemetery. He was tired from the day before. His feet were hurting, which I can understand as he has never been light on his feet; Stomp, Stomp, Stomp. He came home and saddled and rode his horse.
Sunday was working at the farm. Bud bush hogged and Ray trimmed and mowed the barn lots and around the fencing. A full day of work. I was the support personnel. I went to Lowe's and bought petunia to plant at my father in laws grave. After the boys were done at the farm, off to Bethesda Cemetery to plant flowers. Then home so the boys could ride horses. The dogs were so happy to see us, three days straight of us gone made them really miss us.
Monday was spent trying to hunt up lineage for the Howard interned extended family, but Ancestry.com was running too slow. Put the flag at the cemetery up to top at Noon. This is the only day that the American Flag after being at half staff is raised to full at Noon, other times the flag is half staff from sunrise to sunset The guys rode horses. So that is how we spent our Memorial Day, paying our respects to our fallen brethren.
Saturday rang early, as a bottle steer likes its bottle early. Then off to Dickerson Cemetery where Ray mowed and decorated that cemetery. He was tired from the day before. His feet were hurting, which I can understand as he has never been light on his feet; Stomp, Stomp, Stomp. He came home and saddled and rode his horse.
Sunday was working at the farm. Bud bush hogged and Ray trimmed and mowed the barn lots and around the fencing. A full day of work. I was the support personnel. I went to Lowe's and bought petunia to plant at my father in laws grave. After the boys were done at the farm, off to Bethesda Cemetery to plant flowers. Then home so the boys could ride horses. The dogs were so happy to see us, three days straight of us gone made them really miss us.
Monday was spent trying to hunt up lineage for the Howard interned extended family, but Ancestry.com was running too slow. Put the flag at the cemetery up to top at Noon. This is the only day that the American Flag after being at half staff is raised to full at Noon, other times the flag is half staff from sunrise to sunset The guys rode horses. So that is how we spent our Memorial Day, paying our respects to our fallen brethren.
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