Saturday, July 20, 2013
Good Conduct Medal
"Efficiency, Honor, Fidelity" are the words which appear on the obverse (front) of this medal.
An eagle with wings displayed and inverted stands guard on a closed book and a Roman sword which is encircled by the words given above. The ribbon is of scarlet moire' with three narrow white stripes at either edge. It is the Army Good Conduct Medal authorized by Executive Order 8809, on June 28, 1941. During wartime, this medal was to be awarded on completion of one year of continuous service.
The revers (back) has a five-pointed star, slightly above center, with a scroll beneath for the recipient's name. Above the star are the words "For Good", and below the scroll the word "Conduct". A wreath formed of a laurel branch on the left and an oak branch on the right, surrounds the whole design. The recipient of this award is shown in small print "Henry E. Jones".
Here he is...this Henry E. Jones standing in the Alps during the 18 months of his honorable service. For good conduct it says. Efficiency, honor, and fidelity is my Dad.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
A Stitch In Time
A counted cross-stitch is what it is. Done with Aida fabric, embroidery threads, needle, backing felt, and a full charted set of instructions. What a deal! My middle daughter, Lesley, with her heart and hands made this for me as a symbol of our family's heritage...the Welsh Dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales.
Now a symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, or convention. A red dragon...hmm...where in the world did this come from in the annals of history?
The earliest reference to a red dragon connected to the legends of Wales can be found in the writing of a Welshman of the early ninth century. [ ca. 829 AD] The writer introduces himself as "Nennius", and the formal title is Historia Brittonum or the "History of the Britons". He certainly had a chip on his shoulder because in his introduction he states:
"I, Nennius, disciple of Elvodugus, have endeavoured to write some extracts which the stupidity of the British nation had cast away..."
Well anyway, in his book, part III, chapter 39 - 42, he gives a fairly lengthy story regarding the building of a fortify city [citadel] by a fellow named Vortigern. After traveling "...far and wide..", he came to a province called "Guenet", and "...having surveyed the mountains of Heremus, they discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to the construction of a citadel." This of course is believed to be the mountain range of Snowdon.
To make a long story short, every time Vortigern built a foundation, it disappeared in one night. Frustrated, he got some help from a fellow named "Ambrose (in British Embresguletic)" who uncovered a "pool" with two vases in the pool. The two vases contained two tents, that contained "two serpents, one white and the other red". After a lengthy struggle, the red serpent "expelled the white one from the tent".
Ambrose explained "...this wonderful omen..." as follows:
"I will now unfold to you the meaning of this mystery. The pool is the emblem of this world, and the tent that of your kingdom: the two serpents are two dragons; the red serpent is your dragon, but the white serpent is the dragon of the people who occupy several provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from sea to sea; at length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the Saxon race from beyond the sea, whence they originally came..."
Wow, the red dragon of Wales...our first stitch in time.
A translation of this text can be found at Medieval Sourcebook: Nennius: Historia Brittonum, 8th century, for those who would like to stitch together the rest of the story:
http://www.fordham,edu/halsall/basis/nennius-full.html
Now a symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, or convention. A red dragon...hmm...where in the world did this come from in the annals of history?
The earliest reference to a red dragon connected to the legends of Wales can be found in the writing of a Welshman of the early ninth century. [ ca. 829 AD] The writer introduces himself as "Nennius", and the formal title is Historia Brittonum or the "History of the Britons". He certainly had a chip on his shoulder because in his introduction he states:
"I, Nennius, disciple of Elvodugus, have endeavoured to write some extracts which the stupidity of the British nation had cast away..."
Well anyway, in his book, part III, chapter 39 - 42, he gives a fairly lengthy story regarding the building of a fortify city [citadel] by a fellow named Vortigern. After traveling "...far and wide..", he came to a province called "Guenet", and "...having surveyed the mountains of Heremus, they discovered, on the summit of one of them, a situation, adapted to the construction of a citadel." This of course is believed to be the mountain range of Snowdon.
To make a long story short, every time Vortigern built a foundation, it disappeared in one night. Frustrated, he got some help from a fellow named "Ambrose (in British Embresguletic)" who uncovered a "pool" with two vases in the pool. The two vases contained two tents, that contained "two serpents, one white and the other red". After a lengthy struggle, the red serpent "expelled the white one from the tent".
Ambrose explained "...this wonderful omen..." as follows:
"I will now unfold to you the meaning of this mystery. The pool is the emblem of this world, and the tent that of your kingdom: the two serpents are two dragons; the red serpent is your dragon, but the white serpent is the dragon of the people who occupy several provinces and districts of Britain, even almost from sea to sea; at length, however, our people shall rise and drive away the Saxon race from beyond the sea, whence they originally came..."
Wow, the red dragon of Wales...our first stitch in time.
A translation of this text can be found at Medieval Sourcebook: Nennius: Historia Brittonum, 8th century, for those who would like to stitch together the rest of the story:
http://www.fordham,edu/halsall/basis/nennius-full.html
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Circa. 1920
"Gertrude Monroe Circa ; 1920" is written on the back of this family photo. We knew her as "Mam maw".
She was born August 11, 1904, and she would be around 16 years of age when this picture was taken. I have never thought of Mam maw as ever being a teenager until this picture crossed my path this morning. Flipping through a stack of family pictures, this one caught my attention. Mam maw as a teenager! What a deal. She certainly looks like she is ready to go to where ever life was to lead. Maybe it was one of those first dates with Pap paw. Hair fixed, purse in hand, and a hat of some sort that helped block the sun from the eyes. I am ready to go...she seems to be saying. There is a lot of life yet to live. She certainly did.
She died March 17, 1989 at the age of 84 years. She introduced me to cinnamon toast, coffee, and a great number of family stories that remain alive in my heart. Thanks Gertrude Monroe Circa. 1920...it is good to see you as a teenager. Your coffee cup sits on my mantel as I write... still dancing with your stories.
She was born August 11, 1904, and she would be around 16 years of age when this picture was taken. I have never thought of Mam maw as ever being a teenager until this picture crossed my path this morning. Flipping through a stack of family pictures, this one caught my attention. Mam maw as a teenager! What a deal. She certainly looks like she is ready to go to where ever life was to lead. Maybe it was one of those first dates with Pap paw. Hair fixed, purse in hand, and a hat of some sort that helped block the sun from the eyes. I am ready to go...she seems to be saying. There is a lot of life yet to live. She certainly did.
She died March 17, 1989 at the age of 84 years. She introduced me to cinnamon toast, coffee, and a great number of family stories that remain alive in my heart. Thanks Gertrude Monroe Circa. 1920...it is good to see you as a teenager. Your coffee cup sits on my mantel as I write... still dancing with your stories.
Friday, May 3, 2013
The Eyes Have It
Here she is, in living color. Taken around 1890, this photo is unique among the many, many, family pictures that have been captured among my ancestors. It is the only color picture taken during this time period that seems to have survived.
Her name is Lillie Henderson, and she was the older step sister to my maternal great grandmother Ellen Dorcas Henderson. Not much is recorded of her life among the family records. Her mother's name is not even recorded, but her father was Abraham B. Henderson (nickname Sonny) who by a first marriage had two children. She is recorded to have died around the age of 16 years.
Red hair, blue eyes, and a determined look, fills the camera. There is a certain sadness about her... shoulders straight, hair perfectly combed, blue dress and a red bow that surrounds a high necked, laced collar. But it is the eyes that captured my heart.
Some say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. In this photograph of a long forgotten ancestor, the eyes have it.
Her name is Lillie Henderson, and she was the older step sister to my maternal great grandmother Ellen Dorcas Henderson. Not much is recorded of her life among the family records. Her mother's name is not even recorded, but her father was Abraham B. Henderson (nickname Sonny) who by a first marriage had two children. She is recorded to have died around the age of 16 years.
Red hair, blue eyes, and a determined look, fills the camera. There is a certain sadness about her... shoulders straight, hair perfectly combed, blue dress and a red bow that surrounds a high necked, laced collar. But it is the eyes that captured my heart.
Some say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. In this photograph of a long forgotten ancestor, the eyes have it.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Happy Birthday Mom
On the 18th of April, 1930, my Mom was born. Her family had moved from Kentucky to Indiana trying to find work at the period of our history called "The Great Depression". Being in the middle of 12 children born to this Ewen family, she would have to make her own way among the four brothers and four sisters. [two sisters had died earlier]
Myrna Jean Ewen was the name given. Myrna being an unusual family name, most in the family just called her "Jeanie". Here is her sixteenth year picture just after the family had moved from Slate, KY to my birthplace called Winchester, KY.
School days 1946 - 47 it reads. She was about to meet my Dad around this time and start that relationship that was to make our family.
Some two years later, she appears as Myrna Jean Jones in this photograph below, which was taken the second day of her married life.
May 9th, 1948 it would be. That "just married" look is evident.
Happy Birthday Mom! Thanks for your life, and giving our family such love.
Your heart pumps in my chest, and your gift of love will echo through our family for generations.
Myrna Jean Ewen was the name given. Myrna being an unusual family name, most in the family just called her "Jeanie". Here is her sixteenth year picture just after the family had moved from Slate, KY to my birthplace called Winchester, KY.
Some two years later, she appears as Myrna Jean Jones in this photograph below, which was taken the second day of her married life.
Happy Birthday Mom! Thanks for your life, and giving our family such love.
Your heart pumps in my chest, and your gift of love will echo through our family for generations.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
It's About Time
What time is it?
Some say "a time for every purpose under heaven".
Wait a minute, you mean all the time, part time, or just any time?
Well I guess over time it would be every time, thus timeless.
Wow, time after time...a never ending story. But, what about "once upon a time"?
That's certainly time-honored, however you would need a time-keeper, and we need to let the good times roll...certainly time-consuming...not sure enough hours in the day.
Wait a second, who's the timer anyway? Wouldn't they need a time sheet, with a time-piece, and a time-line to keep things straight? And at the same time, they would need a time-table, time zone, and maybe even a time-capsule? It would certainly take the summer time, and this is when the living is easy.
One more time, "a time for every purpose under heaven".
Time out! Time out! This is getting time-worn...and not sure it can be time-tested. Anyway, times up and I will need more time. Maybe even some time travel.
Well, it's about time!
Some say "a time for every purpose under heaven".
Wait a minute, you mean all the time, part time, or just any time?
Well I guess over time it would be every time, thus timeless.
Wow, time after time...a never ending story. But, what about "once upon a time"?
That's certainly time-honored, however you would need a time-keeper, and we need to let the good times roll...certainly time-consuming...not sure enough hours in the day.
Wait a second, who's the timer anyway? Wouldn't they need a time sheet, with a time-piece, and a time-line to keep things straight? And at the same time, they would need a time-table, time zone, and maybe even a time-capsule? It would certainly take the summer time, and this is when the living is easy.
One more time, "a time for every purpose under heaven".
Time out! Time out! This is getting time-worn...and not sure it can be time-tested. Anyway, times up and I will need more time. Maybe even some time travel.
Well, it's about time!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Catch Me...If You Can...
Playing "tag" always involved several folks. At least three or more would be necessary to make it exciting. Of course "hide and seek" could be played with two, but in "tag" chasing the same person around got less interesting as you came to recognize all the other's moves.
Now on a summer day, being alone would make it much more difficult to play any of the above. The following picture shows my Dad on such an occasion.
June 10, 1929...3 yrs...Henry Edward Jones...is written on the back. It must have been high noon since the shadow is perpendicular. The yard is grassy, with bushes, trees, and shade...even some possible hiding places. A man in the background is oblivious to this picture taking as he crosses the street. Anyhow, take this picture if you must. Then lets play...catch me...if you can.
Now on a summer day, being alone would make it much more difficult to play any of the above. The following picture shows my Dad on such an occasion.
June 10, 1929...3 yrs...Henry Edward Jones...is written on the back. It must have been high noon since the shadow is perpendicular. The yard is grassy, with bushes, trees, and shade...even some possible hiding places. A man in the background is oblivious to this picture taking as he crosses the street. Anyhow, take this picture if you must. Then lets play...catch me...if you can.
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