“A – “Great” Grandma’s Birthday!”

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“Happy Birthday to our  “Grandma Lulu” – today…  on the 31st of May, 2015…   from little baby Al and big brother Lee!”

This photo was taken when baby Al was three or four weeks old  – in what you would call  “cold” weather  – if you lived in Saint Louis, Missouri  – but lucky for us this was in January, 1962 in much  warmer   weather  – Fort Lauderdale,  Florida.

In looking at this photo… here is what I see…  today – Little Lee  is still trying to get used to the fact  – that he NOW has a little baby brother,  Al   – and since  “Grandma Lulu” is not always living with us  – just came to stay for a few months from Saint Louis –  so.. little Lee is starting to feel like he is not the center of everything   – he has to share his time with the new baby  – so… he is trying to give his “Grandma” a couple of hugs and pats around her neck – – – just as she is giving to baby Al … so…. –  in this way he is  still in the picture of things going on  and all with getting used to sharing  in some or  all  of the time , too – – with his brother and everyone who comes to visit and see a new born baby???

(What do you think???)

Just in case  and for those who do not know “Grandma Lula” she was born in Germany in 1881 and that would be celebrating her 134th Birthday today!  Grandma’s full name – Louise Vosmeyer Aldrich Stanley – and if I remember correctly she had twelve children – my husband was the seventh and that made him extra special. Grandma Lula had told me  that – when she came to America from Germany – she had no special shills  – so she took jobs cleaning and cooking in homes of well to-do folks.

One special memory that I have is that  –  when I first met her  – she was living in Dixon, Illinois – taking care of a woman – older than herself – she did light cleaning and cooking  – – – and on this particular meeting – we were picking her up  – –  to bring back to the Saint Louis area — –  but she  had to finish  making a “Pumpkin Pie”  –  for the “woman’s dessert that evening – and when she came to live with us  – she could whip up a “coffee Cake”  faster than anybody  – – I had to get a “cook book” out  to make one. Nothing smells better than to have fresh baking “Coffee Cake” for breakfast.

Looks like to me  – that the Almighty Yahweh  watches over all of His creations – and sends extra blessings to them  – just when they need them – “Grandma Lulu” was well blessed with a wonderful   Family of some of the best of  the very best children!


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“Memorial Day” – and “Birth DATE!”

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“WOW!”  – “What a day to be born on May 30th – and guess what?   –  “My Mother always – called me her  “decoration” – since I  was born on the day – that she only remembered as “Decoration Day!”  “This is what “PAUL  A. JUNG”  – as you see – above –  in his military photo,  – so many years ago – told me !”  –  “Paul Jung” with his brothers and sisters were also in the “German Saint Vincent Orphanage”  and graduated in the same class as I did.” 

Today –  is the “DAY” that President Kennedy had requested  – that all of America  take the time at 11:00 A.M.  – – to spend a few minutes to remember all  of our “fallen soldiers” –  give a few  moments or minutes in prayer!   “A FEW”  – does that still mean at least “FIVE” ??? – why can we not give more –  than only “FIVE” minutes –  –  time to remember –  those who gave all that they had – their precious  LIVES!”

“Here’s one  more thing – might just say   – “Food for Thought” – give a few more  minutes in prayer for all of our “service men and women”  – and also include asking – the Almighty Yahweh for more protection for America – since we have so many people who want to change all of our “Biblical Beliefs”  which  would completely ruin America – should we ever forget  – that our Creator –  the ONE – who gave to  us – –  all that we have!”


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“Memorial Day” – remembers U.S. Servicemen…

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Memorial Day –  –  on the DAY   – 30th  of May   – that was originally called “Decoration Day” –  when the clock turns to 11:00 A.M.  – we are to all stop and take a few minutes in prayer to remember  all  men and women who gave their LIFE –  and for that  ultimate gift to us – we “Decorate their graves in all of the National Cemeteries across this  United Sates of America.

The National Moment of Remembrance is at 3:00 P.M.  on the last MONDAY of the Month of MAY – that time is local time –  – “MEMORIAL Day”  – – now taking in all of the “WARS” and “Conflicts”  – that  need more prayers –  – so that we never forget the extreme high cost of  LIVES  –  that are paid for our “FREEDOM” – –  – – – –  whatever time zone you may be  – remember and do not forget  – we all have plenty to be “Grateful and  Thankful” for…


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“Memorial Day” – remembers Dogs – Dolphins – Seals…

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“Memorial Day” remembrance would not be complete without  “Thanking” those who do not speak our language – but learn to speak and learn to serve and work  in necessary fields  in our Armed Forces – Army and Navy.

First the above photo is Thomas H. Aldrich with his War Dog “Shane” – serving in Korea 1964-1965  – – Dog Platoon – – K-9 Corp  – Tom always had a dog at home – before and after being in the service. His passion was having “German Shepherds”  training them for his own home and for those who wanted a well trained dog – a dog that would  be  a family member – to protect you and guard your home. His training of a dog was  superb – in that you could talk to your dog and the dog talked with you – in other words –  instinctively – you each knew what and where  and how to get a job done.

Second, my younger son, Lee G. Aldrich  –  joined the NAVY  and was telling about when he was stationed in the San Diego base area – that –  they had  the NAVY’s Marine Mammal Fleet  – where they were training  the “Bottle-nose Dolphins” and the “California Sea Lions” – and the training was the same and or even better than   the training – –  that would be used for the “German Shepherds” – –  “Military Dolphins” did the same work that the “German Shepherd” did – but under the sea – in the water – along side the ships – – searching for the lost NAVAL swimmer or  even to do rescue work finding people and objects – where even the members of the ship could not go  – and or perform the work needed to done as well as this “K-Dag – Dolphin” making their work  highly   rewarded  – for what they were able to do.

One of the tasks that required specialized training was  to be able to equip the “Dolphins” in finding mines and this alone – saved LIVES of our young men – our specialized teams that do the training deserved every dime  – that – this government can give  – to promote their  work in the training of the “Dolphins” and the Sea Lions” for  the combined work – requiring the young men in the NAVY and the  best of our friendly mammals  in our oceans – those that can  make a  top notch match of performing jobs – that saves  LIVES!

My feeling is that we sometimes  forget the tremendous job  that our “Dolphins, Seals and German Shepherds” do for us  – – –  with the   specialized training  – they  are truly “LIFE Savers” saving  so many LIVES – that we just cannot  continue to work without their help to  provide protection  for the American People  and the American  Freedoms –  that  – and –  when we all work together   – standing United under our FLAG –  we are always willing to help each Nation requiring our help!

United  – we ask the Almighty Yahweh to bless  all of our MEN in all the Armed Forces  and  we  give Thanks – that the Almighty has thought to give  to us the “extra  special help”  we need –  – by providing us with some of HIS most talented   “Animals” that  – help “Save LIVES!”  We are Grateful and Thankful for YOUR protection  to each and every serviceman  and the special “animal” that he  will work with – in the care and  training to protect America!     AMEN     D.V.


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“Memorial Day” – remembers Family Vets…

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When there was a WAR  .. 1940s    – America  did call  several   members in the same  FAMILY – – –  and this is Al E. Aldrich from Saint Louis, Missouri  – – lived in Birmingham, Alabama  – – and later moved wife, Thelma and son  to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Al and his wife, Thelma operated the “Dobbs House” Snack Bar in Birmingham, Alabama  and were doing a very job  – – so much so that there was the possibility of opening up of the “Snack Bar”   market in Florida. Al communicated with his brother Lee, my husband – that –  the  “Dobbs” people were looking for someone to  open and run a new place in the southern part of Florida. This was just a terrific opportunity for my husband – – since he had been shot and was thinking of taking an early retirement from    the Saint Louis  Police Department  –  so we took a  “pre-view” trip to Florida and everything sure did look  “real” good to us!

Sometimes… we miss the boat – when we fail to communicate with our Family  – – -opportunities are  sometimes missed and also the relationship of brothers and  their  Families  – – – so that is  NOW – why I have to Thank the Almighty Yahweh – that there was good  – very good feelings between Al ‘s Family and my husband Lee  and all of us  – all together and forever! 

Thank you – Almighty Yahweh – you knew that Lee, my husband did not have many years  left here – after having been shot  – – but you worked special behind the scene  activities – so that Lee could have some very good years in Florida  – – with his brother Al and all of us. Thank you – – – for the best “Army Veteran  and brother-in-law, Al –  for giving so much thought to  the special needs  of his brother Lee and FAMILY!


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“Memorial Day” – remembers the wounded!”

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“Memorial Day”… will last the whole week – and maybe even a few extra days –  – at this time of the year – –  since I feel that we should remember  all  of  those who  – –  “fought the good fight” – –  for the “FREEDOM” that we all  …  now enjoy!

The above photo is of my father – Denny H. McClarren Sr. when he was stationed in Manila, Philippines – doing his  three,  two-year stints in the Army.  He was injured and this could be his passage back home – to the United States.

 At the time…  when  my FATHER signed up to join the Army – he was  not yet old enough – –  but “TIMES” were bad – and so –  from a small town in OHIO –   with  too many other mouths to feed in his home – the ARMY looked like the best place to go. This is probably the same situation for a lot of the young men in those times – and  in his signing up for the ARMY – he would be taken care of – – and those at home would have it just a little better  – without  an extra person  to feed – also in those same times – –  there was little or nothing in the line of work to be done by under age young men!

So, with the great plan of the ALMIGHTY –  – – my Father-to-be was protected and his injury to his back  –  his  having to be in a “body-cast”  for six-months – – was gradually leading him to the Saint Louis, Missouri  area – to where he will meet my MOTHER-to-be – – –   so…  then these two new “LIVES” – with lots of challenges… some good and bad choices… and a whole  load of consequences to  follow –  – – up and  down … over the years  of LIFE – turns out to be a sink or swim situation…

Since I do not know any other LIFE – I cannot comment  on some wild wish –  but I am grateful for the LIFE – that I was given…  and I can only guess that –  if … we all think about where we are and where we could  have been   – that  … somewhere else …would not  maybe …be as good… we should all be grateful and thankful  –  that the ALMIGHTY did  send   protection to and for all of our SERVICE MEN – who were injured and were able to come  HOME  – making a FAMILY  –  that we can all we proud of! 

With lots of PRAYER for all of the SERVICE MEN  that  served in all of the past WARS and CONFLICTS and for those who are still defending AMERICA – today   – –   we should daily…  Pray for Blessings –  for their Guidance and the continued Presence of the ALMIGHTY  – that –  those that served are always and forever…  remembered!


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