PENINSULA MIX
Make sure you check out Pink is Not a Color by local author Lindsay Ward. This is another one of her wonderful books for children. The book is available at local book stores and Amazon.
A community welcome to Jeff Acomb and his family. Jeff is employed by the Boy Scouts at Camp Manatoc and Camp Butler. He is also a firefighter/EMT on Valley Fire District.
Memorial Day has been a big part of this community. Times change but it has been a day where the community gets together and many who have moved away come home for the occasion. I remember Reverend Benedict followed by Jack Mercer, and now Jerry Ritch leading the ceremonies. In the past, Willie Ritch was given the task of placing flags on all of the veterans` graves in both cemeteries. Willie had a list but it was mostly done by memory. At one point, quite a few years ago, he decided he should train someone else to eventually take over. I`m not sure why, but I was tasked with the responsibility. I was also informed that when I was no longer able to handle it, my daughter, Gretchen, was to take over. The first few years I walked around with him and listened as he related stories about most of the people. It was a history of this community.
As Jerry states, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who lost their lives for our freedom. Only one of the flags I place is for someone I knew that was killed in 1968. The Amvets provides us with flags to be used for all veterans and each year the list is bigger. This year we added our last World War II veteran, George E. Fisher, Jr.
Each year the program remains the same. Coffee and doughnuts at the road garage. The library has a memorial service. The parade with Woodridge Band walks to Cedar Grove Cemetery and then goes to Boston for a repeat ceremony. I hope next year, if you are new to the community, you will consider attending. Eventually this will be part of your history also.
| Amy Anderson |