D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA where Ash Rothlein spoke tonight

If all had gone as planned and I had not taken a fall and then developed this respiratory problem, I would be in Bedford, VA tonight with my friend, Nadine Justice. I would have been there because our dear friend, Ash Rothlein, World War II veteran, is front and center at the events going on there.

Nadine sent me a photo of him speaking before the honors flight dinner Thursday night.

Ash Rothlein in red shirt at podium. He will be ninety on June 12.

Ash has been on a mission since 2008 to bring veterans together on this 70th anniversary of D-Day. Ash was there at Normandy soon after the first wave of troops landed on the beach. His writing about that day and the emotions he felt when he saw how many fellow Americans had been killed brought tears to the eyes of all of us in our writing class when he told his stories about that war. He was determined to honor those who died and those who are living today that experienced the war that saved our world. In my opinion it was the last war that we should have fought, the last one we have won, and the last one that was properly declared. 

Ash has been a leader in this large ceremony in Bedford this weekend. He managed to get over two hundred WWII vets brought there and given free accommodations. Of course each veteran has to have someone with him to look after his needs. Medical staff must be on hand in case someone becomes ill. All the hotels in the area are full, I'm sure. 

Ash spearheaded, with his own money, the completion of a statue, which he will help dedicate tomorrow, that pays tribute to the young men of Bedford, 22 in all, who lost their lives at Normandy or soon after. I hope Nadine will send me more pictures from tomorrow's events. 

Although I could not go, I am with them all in spirit. I am so proud of Ash. He has worked tirelessly to make this a spectacular event for those remaining WWII vets who are all near his age. Nothing he has done is for him, but for others. 

I tell him he is a symbol of what one man can do if he believes in his mission and in himself. 

Veterans, War and Women in High Places

A special friend is veteran, Ash Rothlein, who served in World War II. His mission to honor those who died in that war, is moving along swiftly. I hope to join him and many others at the memorial service in June of 2014 for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. For five years Ash has devoted all his time to a mission that has evolved into far more than he had expected with cooperation from leaders of military organizations, government and other veterans. Nearing 90 years old, Ash has a soaring spirit and a big heart that overflows with love and gratitude for those who lost their lives so that we can all be free.

Veterans Day, which we observed recently, brings to mind those I know and those I love who served our country in war time.

One of my uncles served in World War I. Many of my cousins served in the army and navy during WWII. My brother, Ray Council, and brother-in-law, Stan Hunter also served. Cousins I never met were killed during that war. I observed the never-ending grief of their parents. 

Both my husband and my sister's husband served in the military during wartime. In our world, war is constant. In some land at this moment, men, women and children are being murdered, hacked to death, blown to pieces and being tortured for no reason. Most of them are caught in a battle not of their making.

As the holidays approach my heart aches for those who have lost young loved ones in the horror of war. Those young men and women will not have the life their mothers dreamed for them. I'll never forget seeing my parents' tears when my brother left home to serve in the military. I am forever grateful that he survived his military years.

I believe if we had more women in government, not only in this country, but in other countries around the globe, there would be more use of diplomacy instead of arms to settle disputes.

Former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, believes that more female leaders included with the men who make major decisions affect the outcomes in very positive ways.
See her talk  at TEDtalks.com.

A Play Day

As I try to learn how to play again, I have to find friends who will have fun with me. I have been so busy, I let my work take the place of being with friends. Saturday my neighbor, Dot James, and I went to Sylva, a nice little town in western NC with the most impressive courthouse you will ever see. It sits up on a hill and can be seen for miles. At night with the lights on the building, it is even more beautiful.

We ate at the City Lights restaurant downstairs from City Lights bookstore. Chris, the man who owns and manages the book store that seems to thrive when all the other bookstores are falling away, is a friendly and kind man. I love to shop in that store. He still has tons of books, many, many regional books, and even a section of used books. The big all purpose room in back is perfect for programs and readings. Chris keeps something going there almost all the time. I would like to hold those type events in my county, but if I start that, I'll not have time to go play with my friends.

Soon I will get together with some special friends who were first my students. One of them is Ash Rothlein, WWII veteran, who is busy working on a mission to benefit other veterans of that war.
I'll post more about Ash later.

Anyway, I think I will play some more tomorrow. I will attend a movie I heard was good. I surely hope it will be.

How about you? Are you finding time to play?

Did Your Ancestors Serve in the War Between the States?

Do you know your ancestors or relatives who are veterans of some of America's wars? I did not know until I began researching family for my book, Profiles and Pedigrees, Tom Council and his Descendants.

We have a special page in the book to honor those who served in World War II and wars that followed. I had three cousins who died in plane crashes during training for that war. One was lost at sea, one was killed when his plane flew into a mountain. 

It is easy today to find military records for ancestors on the Internet. My two great grandfathers, John Monroe Robison and John Cecil Council fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy. I have their papers, their wills and their widows' pensions. 

My oldest brother, Ray, was a veteran of the second World War. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was so cute in his uniform. I know from the photos taken of him way back then. I don't think he ever saw combat. The war ended about the time he enlisted.

My brother-in-law, Charlie, served in World War II. I have a good friend who is celebrating his 88th birthday this month, Ash Rothlein, who is a veteran of that same war.

As I watched the Hatfields and the McCoys on TV, I thought once again, why do men want to kill each other? I hate war and the idea of war. Life is precious, especially if that life belongs to my loved ones, so why do they want to fight? I don't think I will ever understand war. Do you?

Senior Adults Have Stories to Tell

From left: Ginny, Ash, Nadine, students from one of my classes.

At present I am working on a writing studio downstairs at my house. Here I hope to hold writing classes. I have a couple of guest instructors lined up already.
Changing Barry's Bull Dog room to a writing studio means covering the red walls with a cool and comforting color, sending the 12 year old leather recliner out to live with someone else, and tossing out tons of paper, giving away cassette recordings, books, and some of the Georgia memorabilia. I could only give the Georgia keepsakes to family and our great nephews were happy to have DAWG stuff.
Some of the classes planned are: Stirring Up Memories, Focus Down, and How to Give a Good Reading. We've had requests for a class on Publishing and Marketing Your Work.

Life changes and we must change with it, it seems. Looking forward and setting goals for the future is my way of continuing to find purpose in life.
My goal is to have our first class in April, 2010. Much has to be done before then, but I feel sure we can make this goal.

More and more I see classes in other areas of the country for senior adults who want to write about their lives. It is such a joy for me to help people like Ash Rothlein, 85,  who has  written several pieces about serving in World War II. Now he tells me one of his stories has been accepted by a large Jewish magazine in New York.  He is bustin' his buttons he is so happy.
I am so proud of him!!!

Arts Expo in Hayesville

The Arts Expo in Hayesville last Saturday was a fun-filled day with many artists and crafts people and a goodly number of Netwest writers on hand.
Shirley Uphouse read from her book, My Dogs, My Friends, and Paul Donovan read his poetry from Ramblins of an Idiot. Carole  Thompson helped man the booth and shared her story from Clothes Lines, the anthology based on a theme of clothing.

Jo Carolyn Beebe, one of the authors in this book, read a short piece. On our table were books by Nancy Sales Cash, Ritual River and Patterns of the Heart, and the anthology Christmas Presence, an anthology edited by Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham, that came out last year.

Karen Holmes, our Netwest editor and publisher of the Netwest News, was a huge help to me in taking down the booth after the long day. Karen is also published in Clothes Lines and participated in reading and signing books.

We were happy to have Sonny Boyer from Blairsville, GA join us at our table. Sonny, like many writers, has published an excellent historical novel, but is finding that marketing his book is difficult.

I was delighted when my students Ash, Nadine and Ginny came to hear me read. They had their books in hand and I was most happy to sign them.
Ash, whose essay was published in our local newspaper for Veterans Day, was persuaded to come up and read his story. I learned later that someone came to our table and asked how to get in touch with Ash to ask him to speak to their group.

This was the first Arts Expo held here in Hayesville, but I hope it will be an annual event. We found it to be an excellent opportunity to reach a new audience of listeners, readers, and possible writers. We hope to be invited again.

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Veteran's Day Story in Clay County Progress

Once again I am proud of one of my students, Ash Rothlein, who wrote an essay that will be published this week in our local newspaper, The Clay County Progress. Ash served in WW II and has begun (in his mid-eighties) to write his memories This story is most fitting for Veterans Day.

While he never hesitates to shower me with appreciation for his beginning to write, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to know Ash. A gentleman, the like seldom seen in today's world, he shepherds his classmates to meetings held about every three months, as they share new memories. Unlike some war veteran who never want to speak of the war, Ash decided to tell of  his recollections in touching and sometimes humourous stories.

We learned more about the kind of man our friend was in his youth, and our eyes filled with tears when he took us back to a battle field in Europe and the sentiments he continues to feel about that day.

If  you live in the Hayesville, NC area, pick up the Progress and read Ash's story. And if you have memories you have been meaning to share, get out the paper and pen or get to your keyboard. Don't wait another day. No more excuses. Write now.