Memorial Day 2016

These photos are of the Marietta National Cemetery located in Marietta GA.  

My father

Rick gave all in Vietnam

We Shall Keep the Faith

by Moina Michael, November 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

Bryan Stevenson - Just Mercy

I am currently reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.  I cannot put into words how powerful this book is.  

Two quotes from Mr, Stevenson to ponder:
"Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done."
"The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned."

Do yourself a favor and listen to Bryan Stevenson on TED Talk.

Pimm's and Ginger Ale

One of my new year's resolutions is to try new things.  Food, drink, and travel are some of the ways I am going to stick to this one.  So I am starting a few days before January 1st with a new drink.  First up is Pimm's.

Pimm's No.1 is a gin-based drink produced in the UK. It can be served on ice.  It's also taken with lemonade ( a carbonated variety), with fresh fruits, and with ginger ale.  I tried it straight over ice and must admit that I did not like the taste at all.  So I decided to give it one more try using ginger ale.  I had on hand my favorite Ginger ale, Blenheim.  I adore it's spicy formula.  Just look for the red bottle tops if you like an extreme ginger flavor. 

 Classic Pimm’s Cup Recipe

6 ounces Pimm’s #1
12 ounces ginger ale

You can add slices of cucumber, strawberries, lemons, oranges, apples, and/or mint.  
I chose to leave out these out and concentrate on the liquids this time.




And the verdict?  I liked the taste of Pimm's mixed with the spicy Blenheim Ginger Ale.  The sweetness of the Pimm's softened the bite of the ginger ale while the ginger ale covered the Pimm's after taste.  It didn't make my top ten list so I doubt I will be drinking it again but I did love the frothy foam on top.

William Few Jr. (1748-1828)

This red oak stands as a living memorial to William Few, Jr.  It is located in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, GA.

William Few was a statesman and patriot.  He represented Georgia at the constitutional convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution.  His signature, along with Abraham Baldwin’s, is on the document.

Born in Maryland, Few moved to Georgia during the mid-1770’s.  In addition to serving as a delegate to the constitutional convention, William Few also was a judge, state representative, and U.S. Senator. 

In 1799 he moved his family to New York.  There he was active in politics and banking.  148 years after his death his remains were moved from New York to St Paul’s Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.  

Inspiring Words

"This is my invariable advice to people:  Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!"
--Julia Child, "My Life in France"

If you would like more information about the book, "My Life in France," please click on the link below.  It'll take you to Avid Bookstore, a wonderful independent bookstore in Athens, GA.

http://www.avidbookshop.com/book/9780307277695

Faces of the First World War

Fort Gordon, Georgia

There's a great site in the UK concerning the First World War. It's the First World War Centenary. According to it's website the   "IWM (Imperial War Museums) is leading the First World War Centenary Partnership, a network of local, regional, national and international cultural and educational organisations."  There doesn't seem to be much interest in the United States about remembering the 100th anniversary of this war.  It seems to me that we, as Americans, would be interested in the conflict that cost over 116,000 American lives.  It's also the conflict that made a whole generation grow up fast.  

Harold C. Hutchens is seated with the young man on his lap.

My grandfather, Harold C. Hutchens, was one of those young men.  He grew up in Tallopoosa, Georgia, a small town located in north Georgia close to the Alabama border.  He played baseball and studied law at the University of Georgia.  Then in 1917 he served in the 82nd Division out of Fort Gordon, Georgia.  After the war he stayed in France and studied at the University of Toulouse until 1919.

Here's his diploma.  I love how ornate it is.

City Lights of Commerce, GA

Recently I went back to Commerce, Georgia where I lived when I finished high school a long, long time ago.  Unlike most of North Georgia not much has changed in Commerce.  One thing I did notice was that the city had moved the monument to Bill Anderson.  At least I remember it being on the other side of the railroad tracks but then I have been away for a long time.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Bill Anderson was working at WJJC in Commerce when he wrote the song City Lights.  Ray Price recorded it in 1958 and the song spent 13 weeks as the number one record on the new Billboard County Chart.  I highly recommend you listen to Mr. Anderson's account of writing his first hit.  You can check it here:
http://uga.edu/livinghistory/video/bill-anderson-city-lights/

Whisperin' Bill went on to record over 40 albums and has had seven number one hits of his own starting with Mama Sang a Song (1962).  Yet with all of his success he continues to remember Commerce.  He has returned several times to perform at benefits and raise money for the Bill Anderson Scholarship Fund at Commerce High School.  In fact, as of today tickets are still available for his upcoming benefit on November 16th.  Tickets are available from WJJC at http://www.wjjc.net/billanderson.html

As a graduate of Commerce High School I just have to say thank you Mr. Anderson.  We love you.