VETERANS DAY

Today is Veterans Day, and I encourage all who read these words to pause in prayer and gratitude for those brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. This day was once designated as Armistice Day in homage to the more than 100,000 Americans who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I, but was later changed to Veterans Day to honor all our service personal in all wars.
My keen interest, and support, for our military forces has been shaped by the past, and present, involvement of many of my relatives ---- from the Civil War on down to Iraq, and most likely will include Afghanistan before our grandsons come home.
I was named after my great-grandfather Francis Marion Yarbrough, a Civil War veteran. Although he died before I was born, his experiences were well known to us all. The fact that he was mustered out in Virginia and then walked all the way home to SC made a huge impression on me. Grandpa Frank built the old Yarbough Place after the war, and personally carved the date over the front door of the house. My Daddy proudly pointed the inscription out to Loyd on our first trip there after my marriage. Daddy and all of his siblings were born in that home, as well as his own father before him. Later on that house became our refuge during much of World War II.
Loyd's father, Robert Lee Tysinger, served in World War I, mostly in France. We still have his old trunk with his uniform jacket, plus several letters that he wrote during that time. Also my Uncle Mott Yarbrough, teacher, lawyer and historian, served in World War I.
World War II brought sorrow to my Mother's family. Uncle Seth, her youngest brother was lost on Leyte, the Phillipines , leaving a young wife, no children, his grief stricken parents and family. My grandfather, Daddy George Scurry, personally escorted his remains home after the war for proper burial at Butler Methodist Church.
Three of Daddy's brothers, William, Ansel and Capers (Junior) served in World War II, along with three brothers-inlaw. His sister, Annie Rose served in the Army Nurse Corps. However, tragedy struck Daddy's family with the loss of his nephew, Donald Yarbrough, and 98 others when the Submarine USS Scorpion disappeared on May 21, 1968 in the Atlantic Ocean, south of The Azores Islands, and was never found.
Loyd joined the Marines in 1946 for a two year enlistment, and was discharged from active service in May 1947, followed by Sterling's service in the Marine Corp. Reserves. Another grandson, Seth, enlisted in the Army and has been in Iraq since Dec. 2007, and Philip was deployed to Iraq on Oct 18, 2008.
Our military personal come from all walks of life, and today volunteer their services. Even though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not yet over those men and women in uniform are still heroes in every sense of the word. Let us remember them not only on Veterans Day but every day until they all come home again.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day will soon be here,and since Marianne and Jenni have advocated expressing thanks with various GRATITUDE LISTS recently, I decided to join in with my thoughts about both the Thanksgiving celebration and "thanks-living".
When I was growing up Thanksgiving was an important day in my family. My Mother's menu included all of the traditional dishes. Her baked chicken and dressing were delicious, along with perfect rice, giblet gravy, green beans, potato salad, candied sweet potatoes, turnip greens, pumpkin pies, and her homemade biscuits! We usually ate around 12:00 noon --- then spent almost as much time doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen as she and my older sisters had spent cooking! Our traditions made a lasting impression on me, and after my marriage I continued this tradition in our own home.
Well, perhaps I should say that I did keep Thanksgiving in the manner that my Mother had also been taught, but I didn't inherit the "cooking gene" !! My husband was always generous with his thanks,but cooking wasn't always easy for me. Loyd was very willing to give me a helping hand, washing up pots and pans before meal time, or taking care of our babies. And in time I did become a better cook, with the exception of cooking perfect rice or baking. We usually remained at home for this special day and enjoyed a family meal with Grandmother Tysinger as our beloved guest. Bless her for providing her delicious pies and cakes ! Who will ever forget her pound cake with chocolate icing or her wonderful coconut or sweet potato pies.
The males in my family usually went hunting on Thanksgiving Day morning if we were living in the country or in Saluda. Daddy and my brothers enjoyed their own tradition in this manner, and at times were quite successful. Like all farm families of that day the squirrels, rabbits, or an occasional wild turkey helped feed large families. And need I even say that my Mama made even the toughest critter tasty good? When Robbie and David were in high school they became interested in hunting --- but--- none of us really enjoyed eating little rabbits or squirrels,so that tradition fell by the wayside.
I am thankful for the memory of my parents, grandparents, other relatives, and my siblings, and for the traditions we shared. I am thankful for the memory of my husband's parents and sister. I am most thankful for my husband, our children, grandchildren and spouses of two generation. And our three great-granddaughters are icing on "the cake of life"!!
If this isn't "thanks-living" then I don't know what is.