This week has been hard! Come join me as we talk about some of the challenges I faced this week. The HUGE rabbit hole I went down when looking for ancestors and I’m also going to discuss some more free websites for you to use when looking for ancestors.
If you haven’t subscribed yet I’d love for you to do so. This way you’ll never miss a post!
For some reason, I just love photos of June and Dick when he was a child. To me, there’s something so unique in how they are together. I’m not sure where the photo might have been taken as there was nothing on the back stating location. But there’s still lots for us to look at, let’s start with Dick.
For some reason he looks like a little star to me. I don’t think it’s all one outfit, but that he’s in serveral different items. Our base layer is comprised of a one piece combo. Pants and shirt all in one. Over that at first I thought it was a jacket, but it seems like it might be a sweater as well based on the cuffs and how it drapes on his arms. I also thought the hood was attached but upon closer inspection, I think that the hat is separate from the jacket. Why are baby shoes so cute? They just complete his outfit. And doesn’t he look ready to take a walk or run around a playground?
To me June will always be the very essence of style and grace. Her outfit is just so simple that you could wear it today and not be out of place. From her white shirt, dark skirt and open-toed shoes she is ready to hit the town with her child and wear him out so that he will take a good nap.
Here we have a better look at Dick’s cute outfit. Look how pointed his hat is. June certainly has her hands full keeping him in her arms. He looks like he will take off running the minute he’s put down. And the good old Kansas wind seems to be blowing. I’m not sure but based on June’s short sleeves, this must have been taken during the spring or fall.
I sure do miss their smiles, laughter, and fun times. If you haven’t yet subscribed to this page, I’d love to have you added to the subscription list. Just sign up with your email below.
I’ve found many of these photos. Of Dick dressed up and out socializing, whether it was with Sherigay or Fran, he seemed to love going out.
I’m unsure about dating etiquette in the 1950s, but they are attending a formal dance, possibly for school. I love how there are empty Pepsi-Cola bottles on the table. It also appears that there is a camera behind the bottles. What the bowls might be for is a mystery. They could have been there for dinner, but they could have been for snacks too.
At any rate, Dick looks handsome in his white suit coat and black tie. Sherigay is lovely in a baby blue formal gown and what appears to be a fuschia orchid corsage. I wish we could see more of their outfits. Their tablemates are also cute. The young woman appears to be trying not to look at the camera, but she is, and her date is talking to possibly friends on the other side of the table from them.
Even though they aren’t dancing in the photo, it’s a lovely reminder to get out of the house for a night out with your date/spouse/friends and enjoy life.
Don’t forget to subscribe to this page!
I love black and white photos. But the last several black and white photos I’ve found for this blog, have shown me that I’m not very good at trying to get them adjusted. They either come out too dark or remain too light.
But the focus shouldn’t be on how the photos look, but in who is in them. Here we have Audie Katz and some familiar children. Isn’t Nancy cute in her dress and ankle socks. And Dick look like he’s trying to be a tough guy with his hands in his pockets.
Now I don’t know who this little guy is, but I’m assuming it is probably a nephew of June’s. He’s pretty adorable with Audie in his overalls and hat. And you can just see a shoe, not sure if that’s Hazel’s or prehaps someone else’s. I’m assuming they are also at Audie and Hazel’s house it looks like one of the cabins in the background.
And at least it’s a nice sunny day for a photo. While I may never master adjusting black and white photos, I will continue to appreciate them and bring as many as I can for you to appreciate as well.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Cub Scout. It didn’t matter that I was a girl. My brother was first a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout and I did a lot of the things in his handbook right along with him. While, I didn’t get to be a Cub Scout I’m glad that Dick did.
Here we have Dick and a proud June. I love her outfit! And doesn’t she look proud. And based on all the badges on Dick’s shirt she has reason to be proud. Cub Scouts begins in First grade with the rank of Bobcat and ends usually in 5th grade with the Webelo rank. Boys then Cross over into Boy Scouts. Based on the badges on his shirt and his neckerchief, I would guess that Dick was about 10 here getting ready for Webelos.
Cub Scouts are a great way to provide opportunities for parents and their sons to do things together. Scouting aims to promote character development, citizenship, leadership and learning to leave this better then how you found it. And this time of the year is the time when a Scout is recognized for all their hard work at a Blue and Gold banquet. If you’ve never experienced one, they are a lot of fun and not easily forgotten.
While I don’t know if Dick continued with scouts after Cub Scouts, I am thankful for what he learned from the organization that he passed on to Todd, Kirk and Cris.
The Scout Oath On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Time spent outside in the winter is different then anything else. You are under a time constraint though you might not be aware of it. For there’s only so much time in which you can experience being outdoors. The first year I moved to Kansas I was so sick. I was not use to one day it being in the 60’s and the next day it would be 15 degrees with a wind chill of negative 5. I’m from the north. When it got cold it stayed cold and then the fun would begin. Making igloos with my friends and brothers, skating, sledding and staying outside until it felt like our hands and feet were going to fall off.
Here we have the newly joined Anderson and Belden families, enjoying a great winter day in Wichita. Dick only had eyes for Fran and the poor snowman doesn’t have any eyes. But, it looks like a fun family time that I’m glad I get to share with you all.
Winter Wonderland There are strange and mysterious sounds When the winds of winter blow, The long nights are crystal clear and cold, And the fields and meadows are covered with snow. The stars are frosty against the sky, And the wind's whistle is shrill, As the snow blows against the house And drifts against the hill. Yet, I like to see during the winter A white carpet on the ground, To plod aimlessly in the deep snow, where deer tracks abound. I like to feel the stillness Of a crisp winter's night, Watching a full moon rise over the horizon, Exposing a winter wonderland beautiful and bright. - Joseph T Renalid
I find myself wishing that I had been invited to this meal. Eating outside on a nice summers day when you can enjoy the food and the sun is one of the best ways to eat. The only thing on this photo is the date, June 10, 1951. That means that 70 years ago the Katz family got together and someone took this photo. I just wish I knew who was who.
I think that June is in the dark dress at this table facing the photographer. The scallop neckline on her dress and beads are so representative of that time. To me June was always fashionably dressed and what’s more fashionable then a dark garment and white beads. She appears to be looking at one of her brothers, maybe it’s Bill. I just love the lady sitting opposite him with her dark glasses, I just love her hair style. Every curl seems to be put in place. Behind June you can just see who I think is Howard and three others, one of which I believe might be our Dick. To the right of Dick, with her back to the camera is a curly head which might belong to Nancy.
The contrast between the light from the sun and the dark of the shade may be what appeals to me the most. And while, I didn’t get to participate in this meal, I think a meal like this would be such a nice experience.
To me there’s two times of the year when I look for military photos to showcase for you; Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This photo gives me all the feels for a great military photo. Proud solider, with his family looking on as he is advanced in rank. But then I got to thinking, what do you have to do to get promoted in the United States Army? How does the Army decided who gets promoted and who doesn’t?
The Army takes the number of slots for each rank that it can have and then allocates them to the different Military Occupational Specialities or MOS. Last year it was reported that there were 1.3 million Active Duty personnel. That’s just active duty. It doesn’t even include those in the Reserve Units. 231 of them are Generals. Lets say one of them retires, there is now a vacancy and advancement can occur. That’s one of the things that has to happen in order to advance, there has to be a vacancy.
They don’t just look and see which Lieutenant Colonel is worthy and deserving of advancement. No. If you want to advance, the first thing you do is go before the promotion board. There you are judged on your personal appearance, your conversation skills, knowledge of world affairs, awareness of military programs, knowledge of basic soldiering (Soldier’s Manual) and the soldier’s attitude. There is an assessment of their performance and potential. If you score enough points and pass, your name is then placed on the “Recommended List”. Then as vacancies occur, the Army will consult this list to promote.
Dick was a Major when he retired. That meant when he entered the Army he was lucky to enter as an officer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. As a 2nd Lieutenant you lead two or more platoon sized units of 16-44 soldier’s. Within two years most will advance to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and lead more specialized units. Captain is the next rank. As a Captain, Dick would have controlled Company sized units of 62-190 soldier’s. His final rank was Major and it held the most responsibility. He served as primary staff officer for Brigade and task command. It was his duty to manage personnel, logistics and operational missions. And this was all as a Reserve Officer.
This weekend you can search for military records for free at Fold3. This is a genealogy site, dedicated to military records. When I have searched on past Memorial Day weekends, I tend to get overwhelmed at all the names of the soldier’s who gave the last full measure of devotion. I am sure Dick probably found himself at some time in his career faced with the knowledge of the sacrifice he was being asked to make. Luckily, his sacrifice was to be made one week-end each month and I hope he felt blessed that he was not asked to sacrifice by being placed in a combat situation. For those left behind, the knowledge that your loved one is safe is enough to make that sacrifice ok. But at times I’m sure his sacrifice was felt as he was absent for milestones and events that he missed. So during times when all his hard work and sacrifices were acknowledged, it was a proud family that pinned his new rank on and told him how proud they were of him.
Thank you Dick, Todd, Cris, Coy and any other veterans in our family for making that sacrifice for us all. Happy Memorial Day.