veteran's day
Traffic seemed a little lighter this morning on the way to work. That was about the only reminder of Veteran's Day, except for the fact that there was no mail.
My father and many of my uncles were veterans, including my uncle, Lt Booth Tarkington, who was killed in action in Germany on January 21, 1945. That was well before I was born, but I've heard about him all my life and I got my middle name from him. Everyone always said how smart he was.
This last week I've been reading some of the letters that one of my aunts collected over the years, including a letter that my uncle wrote to his mother and sisters while he was stationed in England. He writes about going to London on a weekend pass and seeing all the sights, Ben Ben and Westminster Abbey. He inquires about the cotton crop back home. He expresses a belief that the war will be over soon. But his only complaint is about the army's accomodations, "they would make good sheds for the sheep and cows."
Posted by Bill Hopkins on November 11, 2003 09:26 PMThat's the Booth Tarkington who was the writer?
Posted by: Joel at November 12, 2003 02:25 AMNot the writer. Different age group. Don't think there is any relationship and the name does not seem to be a family name. My grandmother was an avid reader and may have chosen the name because she liked the writer. At least that is one story I have heard.
Posted by: bill at November 12, 2003 08:46 AM