A May Day Kind of Picnic 2023

Gathering with friends and family is always a delightful experience for me.  It makes me feel my roots and that I am connected. 

In this day and age, people move around so much, it's not always easy to get people together.

Click any photo for a larger view.

This group was in the old elementary school house in Singers Glen, Virginia.  Clarence May and Walker May were brothers.  These are cousins and kinfolk from the family of Franklin and Emma Swank May. 

Franklin  Henry May and Emma Swank May.  
(I always wonder why people didn't smile for photos in the "olden days?"

The house burned down and today there is a LONG chicken house built in that area.

Below is my favorite picture of Uncle Clarence and Granddaddy Walker May.  This was following a VERY successful day of gigging.

(Click the pic for a larger view!)

Maybe living away for 30 years has made me treasure my family roots more than some people.

Honoring John Glover in the Arlington National Cemetery

Yesterday Gary, Krista, and I were invited for the internment of  John Glover.  John was the brother of Gary's first wife, Kitty.  So he was Gary's brother-in-law and Krista's uncle.

John was a veteran of Viet Nam so was eligible for him and his wife to be interned there.

The trip up was rather rough with all the traffic and the pouring rain.  But with Gary's driving and Krista's navigating, we got there.  Thankfully, the rain stopped. 

I was amazed at how large the Arlington National Cemetery is -  624 acres! 

 
There were 3 services planned for the same time so we went to a parking area that was divided into three areas.  When everyone was there, we drove into the place. 

 

They had a 21 gun salute.

The Chaplain had a short appropriate message.

The flag was folded with perfect precision by a double line of soldiers.   The Officer in Charge turned and presented the folded flag to Rebecca.  

.  A widow in a black veil came to have some quiet words with Rebecca.

The group moved to the area where John’s vault is for more remarks.   

When Rebecca dies, her ashes will be put in the same vault.  

 

 

 

 

 

My dear handsome husband, Gary Lee Suter!

Hal Stickley (John’s first cousin), Krista Suter, and Rebecca Glover

Family after the service.  

 

That is where we walked to the vault.

This is a video clip that is 3:59 minutes long.  A good overview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmwwyuyWwQE

 · Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 400,000 men and women.

· An average of 25 burials are performed each day.

· Arlington National Cemetery covers 624 acres of land.

· More than three million tourists pass through the cemetery each year. There are about 8,500 trees at Arlington National Cemetery, in 300 different varieties.

· Two state champion trees reside in the cemetery, signifying that they are the largest trees of their species in Virginia.

· Those eligible to be buried at Arlington include active duty military and retired reservists, recipients of the military’s highest honors, and former POWs.

· About 95,000 burial spaces remain. But 22 million living Armed Forces members are eligible for them.

He Tried to Mess with a Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83YByQ2zhME

The Mistake That Haunts This Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG9o8FW1hdU

It was a moving and reverent experience to be with Rebecca and her family to honor John Glover in the beautiful Arlington National Cemetery.