Remembering Martin's Memorial Days

 Last Monday, May 27, was the official Memorial Day.  

Poster at a previous Ireland family celebration on Memorial Day

in Martin held at the Masonic Lodge.

Each year, graves are decorated with flowers at the cemetery on Memorial Day; and the American Legion holds a special service for all to attend.  The cemetery is lined with American flags, and smaller flags and poppy crosses are added by families for those who served in the military to preserve our freedoms.

At the Martin cemetery several years ago with American flags surrounding the cemetery.  (Rachel, Shannon, Scott, Jenna, Brittney, Kristine, and Matt)

Sam had two uncles who lost their lives in World War II, Melvin Ireland and Oscar Ireland.

Sam's two Ireland uncles:  Melvin and Oscar.  

Sam thinks this John Mansfield was the brother-in-law of Curly, Beanie, and Shorty Ireland (three Mansfields who married Grampa Harold's siblings). 

Oscar E. Ireland 1918-1945

Oscar was killed in a battle in Germany near the end of World War II.

Melvin L. Ireland 1920-1943

Melvin died during World War II in a plane crash in Kansas

in a training mission prior to plans to ship him overseas. 

The annual Howard and Mary Ireland Family Gathering was celebrated on Sunday, May 26th, at the Masonic Lodge in Martin. Although we were not able to attend, we did think about this special occasion and appreciated seeing some photos posted on Facebook.  

Curly and Wilma attended the event and are the only living members of Howard and Mary's original family.

Eulalia "Curly" Ireland Mansfield (born in 1924)

and Wilma Ireland Kindred DeBoir (born in 1932)

This year it was the family of Shorty and Betty to host the event.  Connie posted this on her Facebook page:

 Shorty and Betty's family will furnish drinks, paper products and main dish. All are welcome to bring salads and desserts. Be sure to bring playing cards or a favorite game. Lyndy will bring corn hole boards and bean bags for those who want to play.

Here are some photos posted on the Howard and Mary Ireland Family Facebook site:

Roy (right) and Barbie were there.

Barbie (in the orange jacket)

Tauna (center) 

Brent and Tauna visiting with relatives

Veggies and fruit beautifully displayed

Other photos posted show they had a delicious meal, but apparently the traditional rhubarb cobbler was missing this year!

Photo posted by the American Legion Auxiliary taken at the Martin cemetery when the flags and poppy crosses were being removed from the cemetery (May 29).

"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."

Fortunately my sister's husband, Angus Hyer, did not lose his life in World War II; but he was seriously wounded with a bullet going through his face resulting in serious surgeries needed to restore his face, which left him without the sense of smell and with a glass eye.

 

  Louise and Angus Hyer

A 2010 photo on Memorial Day of the living siblings

at the annual gathering held that year at the Masonic Lodge.

Bernice, Forrest, Wilma, Mable, and Eulalia

It's Your Attitude that Counts

 It's Your Attitude That Counts (by Ray Josephs)

Ever hear of a fellow named Tom Sawyer?

Of course you have.  And probably you also remember one of Tom's most famous achievements, the episode of the glorious whitewashed fence.  Tom it seems drew an assignment from Aunt Polly to whitewash a big board fence in front of the family place in Missouri.

Tom didn't particularly relish his task, especially on a bright, fresh blooming Saturday morning.  But he didn't sulk long.  As Mark Twain tells us, Tom, to overcome his own reluctance, simply shifted his viewpoint.

He put on a big smile.  Pretending he was an artist creating a masterpiece, he launched a display of energy that was contagious.  As he painted he gave a brilliant sweep here, a careful knothole fill there.  Before he'd gone two or three feet, his compatriot, Ben, was begging for a chance to take over what was obviously the town's most exciting job.

Well I needn't recall all the details for you.  Before long, Ben had paid Tom handsomely in boyish treasure for the opportunity of yielding the brush.  So did Bill Fisher, Johnny Miller, and the rest of the crowd.

Tom's achievement is worth remembering for one thing:  What he discovered was that in order to make anybody want to do something, it's vital to make that thing desirable, interesting and enthusiasm arousing!!!

Articles of Faith - 1941

An ongoing project I need to complete during my lifetime is going through the three filing cabinets in the storage room.  Sam and I have gone through one of the file cabinets and I am starting on a second one.  

In the "A" folder, I turned over the Articles of Faith chart to find this accompanying information:  (1) A copy of this card is being left in every Latter-day Saint home by the Relief Society visiting teachers during December, 1941.  

(2) The Articles of Faith will be the subject of theology lessons in Relief Society (first Tuesday of month) for three years.  October, 1941 through May, 1944.  The homes receiving this card are urged to preserve it for reference, either by framing or mounting or placing it on the wall where it may be frequently seen and consulted by members of the family. 

(3) The objectives in placing this card in each Latter-day Saint home are:  (a) to furnish a copy of the Articles of Faith in a convenient form for memorizing and (b) to prove a stimulus for home discussion whereby a more complete understanding of some of the doctrines of the Church may result.  

(4) For information as to how these Articles of Faith came to be written by the Prophet Joseph Smith, reference may be made to the Relief Society Magazine, June, 1941, page 403.  

(5) A key or plan which will prove helpful in memorizing the Articles of Faith appears in the Relief Society Magazine for October, 1941, page 705 (see image saved from the Internet):  

Homemaker - Harrison Butler's Commencement Speech

"Homemaker." This is the divisive part of Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College.

Listen to the speech. The WHOLE THING. Not just PART of it. NOT just a HEADLINE, or a snippet. The WHOLE speech.

Copied and posted from Facebook by Kathy Benne, another poster who agreed with an original post by Nicole Stevenson - and now shared on my blog:

COPIED:

Because I heard Harrison Butker say that many women will go on to have great careers, AND many of them are likely excited about being a wife and mother. Both. Both can be true. He said that.

The man then wept on stage talking about how well his wife cares for him and their children. He cherished her contributions to their family.

Because being a mom and wife IS the most important part of my life.

In a society that has seen multiple NFL players arrested for domestic abuse, it's absolutely bonkers to me that we're vilifying the man who stood up and said something like, "honor your spouse's unique qualities as a homemaker."

Harrison Butker is a Catholic man. Speaking at a Catholic university. To Catholic students. Espousing Catholic ideas that women are central to the home.

He didn't say women can't or shouldn't work. He didn't say women are lesser or "belong in the kitchen."

He said women are special and unique.

The homemakers.

And I loved it. (end of copied quote)

Fishing at the Farm

Going fishing while at the farm was on the bucket list for Joshua; and he was joined at the Little White River by Rachel, Rebecca, Beth, and even Grampa Sam and Brent.  Beth took the pictures.

Joshua

Joshua, Rebecca, Sam, and Brent at Bad Hair

Rebecca and Rachel at Little White River.

The following photos were also taken at

Little White River:

Grampa Sam, Brent, and Joshua

Grampa Sam and Rebecca made grass whistles to blow.

Sam

Grampa Sam and Joshua

Joshua and Rachel

Grampa Sam and Rebecca

Visiting Brent, Tauna, and Rachel at the Farm

We had a nice but short visit at the farm.  Beth, Joshua, and Rebecca went with Sam and me; and we left Spanish Fork on Thursday morning, May 16, and got home about 7:00 pm on Sunday (May 19).

Thursday was a nice day for traveling, and the blue sky and fluffy clouds were extra pretty.

Clear blue sky at the farm.  

Gramma Narene going for a short walk with Joshua and Rebecca.

A hired man loading silage to feed the cows.

At the "equipment cemetery" to see my special photo-op car.

Not as unique, but another one "retired." 

Now going with Sam in the pickup to see more of the farm/ranch.

Cattle lined up to eat.

Now going over East by what used to be "the Williams place."

Wet bales of hay wrapped in plastic that turns to silage for feed.

At the "Project."

Picnic area at the "Project."

Sam's name was left off the "Wetland Development" sign.

Sam attended LaPointe School at this location when he was a boy.

Corn planter and fertilizer tank

This used to be where Grandpa Harold had his special garden that was sub-irrigated and had such nice root vegetables.

Fertilizer tank and grain drill

Grain cart

Auger to load trucks from the bags.

Sprayer

Brent by the "nurse tanks" for his new sprayer.

The next blog entry has photos of fishing on the Little White River.