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