Find a memory in every action ...

We are all dying, every moment that passes of every day. That is the inescapable truth of this existence. It is a truth that can paralyze us with fear, or one that can energize us with impatience, with the desire to explore and experience, with the hope―nay, the iron-will!―to find a memory in every action. To be alive, under sunshine, or starlight, in weather fair or stormy. To dance with every step, be they through gardens of flowers or through deep snows.

― R.A. Salvatore 

Best wishes for a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend ...

memorial thoughts

WT has been enjoying a few war films on TCM's 72 hour Memorial Day Weekend War Movie Marathon. The movies conjured thoughts of my own ancestors who served our country in wartime. I love this picture of Donald Pullen, Carroll County, Indiana, looking very dashing in his WWI United States Marine uniform. He was the paternal uncle of my paternal grandmother. Even though my father was his namesake, my family was not close, and sadly he died in 1976, before I was able to establish a relationship with him on my own. Not many in my direct family line were military men. In fact, more of my ancestors served in the American Revolution and Civil War, than in either World Wars.

Capt. Robert "Robin" Hanna, my sixth Great-Grandfather, fought in the American Revolution. Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, December 10, 1744, he attended William and Mary College had a close and enduring friendship with Thomas Jefferson. Capt. Hanna represented Little River District, South Carolina in the Fifth General Assembly (1783-1784). He was also a deputy for the surveyor general and surveyed a great deal of acreage on the North and South Carolina border. His lovely old tombstone, pictured above, in Sims Cemetery, Franklin County, Indiana, reads:

In Memory of Robert Hanna

was born Dec 10th 1744

And departed this life

The 24th of January 1821

He was A brave defender

Of his Country's Rights

And lived and died an honest man

This picture of my 92 year old grandfather was taken in 2006 several months before he passed away. I was able to spend a beautiful, crisp October day with him, tracking down old family gravestones in rural Indiana and stopping by his favorite orchard for some fresh apples and homemade cider. It's one of those rare jewel days, I keep tucked in a favorite spot of my mind's eye. The photo below was taken in Pete's Run Cemetery (supposedly named after an old Native American named Pete), Ervin Township, Howard County, Indiana. I wish I lived close enough to visit his grave this weekend and place a whole arm load of pink peonies, my grandmother's favorite flower. Rest in peace, dear GP. I'm thinking of you today.

Each man must for himself alone decide what is right
and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which
isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide
against your conviction is to be an unqualified and
excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country,
let men label you as they may. ~Mark Twain

mockingbird

for Mary Hopkins Hanna

I first took note, when you came to me

with that song about the mocking bird,

how it sings o'er Hally's grave.

You know the bird well.

Watching your brave poppa
return to the valley that dull day,
boxed in Confederate pine.

You heard it sing again
when you climbed on the wagon
headed west, pulling the little goat behind,
and held the hand of your widowed ma;
family split amongst Hoosier kin, forsaken.

You remember the bird, at its very worst,

as you stood at the open grave of a son,

the same age your poppa was.

Saddest song you'd ever heard,

mocking curse of that damn bird.

willow, 2010

Name: Bennett H. Hopkins

Residence: Franklin County, Virginia

Occupation: Carpenter

Enlistment Date: 24 May 1862

Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Side Served: Confederacy

State Served: Virginia

Unit Numbers: 819 819

Service Record: Enlisted as a Private 24 May 1862 at the age of 31

in Company D, 58th Infantry Regiment Virginia, 24 May 1862.

Died of disease Company D, 58th Infantry Regiment Virginia, 09 February 1864

Bennett Hopkins was my great-great-great grandfather. One day, several years ago, I spent an afternoon logging genealogical stats of his youngest daughter, Mary, my great-great grandmother. I wondered about her thoughts and emotions, having lost not only her father to an untimely death, but also her handsome son, Guy. That evening, as I cooked dinner, I found myself humming a peculiar tune over the stove. I couldn't get the odd song out of my head all week. After some searching, I found it was Listen to the Mockingbird, an American folk song popular during the Civil War. It was said to be Lincoln's favorite song. I believe it also happened to be Mary's. (click here for my post on Deep DNA)

This is a Sepia Saturday post.