What a fascinating and touching story. It feels like stumbling upon a secret door left slightly open and catching a glimpse of your mother’s younger years. Seeing that photograph, and learning about Corky’s sad fate at the end, gave me chills.
"... My mother, I was told, had taken all of his letters, and some items of clothing he had left with her, and burned them in a bonfire in the backyard..."
What a treasure is the scrapbook that she didn't burn in her grief. So moving, after going through the search with you, to see the photo of Corky in his Navy uniform. Thank you so much for this post.
Your memories are luminous and so is the way you crafted this account. Thank you for pointing the way to honouring the life and all the lives that ended too soon.
This is so moving Beth! I am sad to hear about your cousin Barbara...I remember you talking about her and how close you were growing up. And I am glad you were finally able to identify Corky although finding your old quilt would have been a great way to discover it. But the best part is hearing how your dad rode into town on his motorcycle and I am sure swept your Mom off her feet! He was such a handsome dashing character....very fitting! Thank you for sharing!
Such a beautiful moving story. The web of threads that weaves us all together. Thank you for holding this one and the love it mirrors up to the light for us.
Such a beautiful, moving story. I'm so glad you were able to track down Corky's identity. You have so many precious memories of your family, more I think than most people. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Thank you, Ann. I think stories were important to my grandmother and her sisters, one of whom was a historian who taught American History all her life. She wrote a memoir about their childhood that I hope to publish so that it has some life beyond mine. That's how I felt about this story of Corky and I wanted to honor his memory by telling the story in a more public way. My friend says he will include what I wrote with the scrapbook when he donates it to the Naval museum.
Beth, this is just beautiful. I was very moved. May I share it with a historian friend of mine who just shared something he wrote on reconstructing people's lives and memory?
Thanks Nancy. I was pleased that I was able to find this much about Corky, even though it made me sad, and I was glad I could honor his memory this way.
What a fascinating and touching story. It feels like stumbling upon a secret door left slightly open and catching a glimpse of your mother’s younger years. Seeing that photograph, and learning about Corky’s sad fate at the end, gave me chills.
What a story. Thank you for bringing it to us. This post was a haunting a beautiful read. Very moving.
"... My mother, I was told, had taken all of his letters, and some items of clothing he had left with her, and burned them in a bonfire in the backyard..."
What a treasure is the scrapbook that she didn't burn in her grief. So moving, after going through the search with you, to see the photo of Corky in his Navy uniform. Thank you so much for this post.
This is a moving and touching story, Beth.
Thank you, Anna.
Your memories are luminous and so is the way you crafted this account. Thank you for pointing the way to honouring the life and all the lives that ended too soon.
Thank you. It was not an easy piece to write, I kept working on it for several days...
This is so moving Beth! I am sad to hear about your cousin Barbara...I remember you talking about her and how close you were growing up. And I am glad you were finally able to identify Corky although finding your old quilt would have been a great way to discover it. But the best part is hearing how your dad rode into town on his motorcycle and I am sure swept your Mom off her feet! He was such a handsome dashing character....very fitting! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Kathy. You knew some of these characters and their personalities! I appreciate your sympathy about Barbara too.
I keep thinking about the quotation from Ecclesiasticus: "Let us now praise famous men...
There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise.
And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived;
they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them.
But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten.
Such a beautiful moving story. The web of threads that weaves us all together. Thank you for holding this one and the love it mirrors up to the light for us.
Thank you very much, Sible.
Such a beautiful, moving story. I'm so glad you were able to track down Corky's identity. You have so many precious memories of your family, more I think than most people. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Thank you, Ann. I think stories were important to my grandmother and her sisters, one of whom was a historian who taught American History all her life. She wrote a memoir about their childhood that I hope to publish so that it has some life beyond mine. That's how I felt about this story of Corky and I wanted to honor his memory by telling the story in a more public way. My friend says he will include what I wrote with the scrapbook when he donates it to the Naval museum.
Beth, this is just beautiful. I was very moved. May I share it with a historian friend of mine who just shared something he wrote on reconstructing people's lives and memory?
Thank you, Elizabeth. Of course you can share it with your friend. (see also what I replied to Ann, above.)
How wonderful, that you were able to find the man you were seeking. And what a moving story. Thank you for telling it.
Thanks Nancy. I was pleased that I was able to find this much about Corky, even though it made me sad, and I was glad I could honor his memory this way.