Veterans Remembered, and Veterans Day Observed.

This is my lovely Grandmother -

Mary Margaret Malcolmson Wilkinson Buckbee.

While yesterday, November 11th, 2018 was the traditional day for Veterans Day, Veterans Day is observed as a state and federal holiday in 2018 TODAY Monday, Nov. 12th this year.

A federal holiday means that local, county, state and federal offices and agencies are closed.  Which includes the Post Office – but not Quiltville!

Yesterday was a busy travel day for me, on the way to the Indianapolis airport by 7am, making my connection in Atlanta and home by early afternoon.  It didn’t give me much chance to write a veteran’s memorial post the way I wanted to, so like the federal agencies mentioned above, I’m observing TODAY and keeping these folks in my thoughts.

While not a typical veteran herself, my grandmother was raising small children while her husband, my grandfather was in the US Navy.

This picture was taken in 1943 when grandpa was serving as a Naval Officer in the South Pacific.  She occasionally earned money working as a photographer’s model.

When the Navy office in Minneapolis asked for a picture to use for WAVE recruiting, Mary’s friend, George Miles Ryan, photographed her and submitted the result.  

WAVES, my friends were lady sailors.

An explosion went off in the world of public relations.  The beauty of the model and the appeal of the picture caused it to sweep the country.  Ryan commented, “That picture was tacked on every telephone pole in the country.  Lord knows how many recruits it brought in.”  And it was published everywhere.

Neither George nor Mary accepted a fee for their work.  They worked for Uncle Sam. 

Mary did add, “One of the first showings took place at the old State Theater, and they sent me two complimentary tickets to the show.”

My Grandpa Wilkinson -

My dad in striped shirt and shorts on Grandpa’s knee.

The title to this article reads “Sees 7 of 9 in Squadron Hit, But He Escapes.”

Navy Lt. Bill Wilkinson figures Dame Fortune had him by the hand when he came through two years of Pacific campaigning unscathed. "And that’s unusual", Wilkinson said "because four of the nine ships in the destroyer squadron were sunk and three more damaged."  He was gunnery officer on one of the two of the craft untouched by enemy fire.

The Navy Officer, just discharged from service, was home today with his wife and three sons, William, 5 1/2, Frederick, 3 1/2 and Robert, 6 months.

When the American fleet began its defense of the Solomons, Wilkinson’s destroyer made daring night runs to cut Japanese shipping lanes.

In a two and a half month period, four guns on his destroyer fired some 3,500 rounds of ammunition at enemy targets. “The hunting was good.” he said.

The article goes on further from there, evidently but the scan I have is cut off.

I never really knew my grandfather – he died when I was two. Finding these stories through newspaper searches and genealogical sites has been so thrilling. Reading the words of both of my grandparents about their war efforts either from the home front or things experienced in the midst of the Pacific gives me a glimpse at their early life together.  It couldn’t have been easy.

My uncle Bob, shown in the above photo as a 6 month baby would grow to also serve in the military during the Viet Nam war. I don’t have a photo of him in uniform, but I remember him vividly when he would come visit us when we lived in San Jose, California.  He passed away a few years ago.

My cousin Jeff Wilkinson (Son of my uncle Fred) was also a military man – he lost his life to cancer while I was pregnant with my son, also Jeff.  The reason he is named Jeff, after my cousin.  His service to our country will also not be forgotten.

My brother Scott, another Navy man!

When I see this photo, I am astounded with how much he looks like my son Jeff.  Same eyes, same strength.  He served in the Navy for many years and now owns Wilkinson Pest Control in the Boise, Idaho area.

Favorite photo ever!

My brother Rick also, a Navy man (I sense a theme with this family!) served for many years and now works IT for a company in Utah.  I searched his Facebook profile for a photo of him in uniform – alas, I couldn’t find one!

We are also remembering Dave’s dad who also, remarkably, was in the Pacific serving in the army at the same time that my grandpa was on a ship with the Navy.  Fighting for the same cause.  Little did they know how our own paths would have the chance to cross while they fought for our country.

For all of those who risked all to give us so much – thank you!

There were cheers and great thanks yesterday at the airport when the veterans were called up to board our flights FIRST ahead of other passengers with gratitude for all they have given.

May it ever be so.

There was more stitching on the way home -

The perfect way to end a 2018 teaching year – with a first class upgrade!

Lola is reminding me it’s time to get back to work!

An order of 200 Simple Folded Corners Mini arrived while I was gone.  They are in the store, and bound to go fast.  I’ll have another order AFTER Thanksgiving. 

I will do all I can to get these out to you before my dad arrives one week from today – and Thanksgiving will be in full swing!  We will be up in Virginia for the week, and shipping will resume on Wednesday, November 28th after dropping Dad back at the airport the evening of the 27th. 

We will also have String Frenzy in the house around the last week of November, so if you are planning on ordering that as well as the Simple Folded Corners Mini, you may want to save yourself some shipping and wait to order both items together. It will also mean less packaging for me!

Quiltville Quote of the Day.

Vintage Irish Chain quilt found in Virginia.

Time and time again it happens.

What was once thought a failure was actually a blessing.

A bit of hindsight can show how you were guided to your greatest good all along!

Have a wonderful Monday -