Graduation
This year has been extraordinary. We based our calendar around three specific things. One was our pet sitting in Wales, another was the Bataan Memorial March and the last was the graduation of our daughter and niece.
Here Jennifer is getting her Certified Nurse Specialist degree. We are so proud of her.
Here she is with her school buddy, Daniella Pulliam!
Here she is with her cousin, Stephanie, and roommate, Dawn.
Lake
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| Bill and Beth |
Alabama
And here is our niece, Molly, who graduated from High School!
Another opportunity to burst our buttons with pride!!
We got to spend another spectacular day on a lake in Alabama at her
grandfather's lake house. What a wonderful time!
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| Bailey, Roger, Travis, Molly, Randy (Bailey's boyfriend), Linda (Grandma, ultimate hostess, and all around great gal!), Christy, and Linda's stepfather. |
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| James (Grandpa, master chef, all around good guy!!) |
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| Noah, Bailey and Roger |
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| Roger and Travis |
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| Molly, Christy, and Travis |
Home
Poor Ruthie had cancer and we needed to take her to radiation.
The shirt was put on her in order to keep her from gnawing on her incision.
Sleep well!
My wake up call!!
Roger painted Jennifer's shed for her birthday!
Chicago
Our last trip of this year was a family visiting trip. We first visited my cousin, Jessica and her husband, Bob. These ducks enjoyed a feast our first morning there!
Here is Bob, Roger and Jessica on the deck outside my niece, Sarah's home!
I realized after the fact that I was so enthralled by the puppies that I failed to get a good picture of Bob and Jessica. My bad.
See what I mean. Plenty of pics of puppies!
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| Bernie, Sarah's dog |
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| Sarah and her boyfriend, Mitch. |
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| This is Manning, Mitch's dog. She is named after my favorite football player, Peyton Manning! |
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| Bernie needed to cool down a bit! |
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| Sarah's backyard and deck. |
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| This is Lima, Sarah's other dog! |
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| I found this picture in Jess's house, and was amazed at how alike we were as kids. If she was sucking her fingers instead of her thumb and Penny was not holding her, I would swear that was me!! |
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| We saw this bird in her nest at a rest stop. Had to take a picture. |
Notre Dame
We stopped at Notre Dame on the way to Toledo, Ohio!
This is inside their chapel. It was quite breath-taking!
Our Lady in Sacred Heart Church
When we went into the administrative building, we looked up into the dome and saw this!
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| This is Notre Dame's Rosary Crown. In 1866 Father Corby,
Notre Dame’s third President, sent Father Carrier to France to make several purchases for the University. Among the items was this crown, which had been commissioned by benefactors. Father Carrier designed the crown with 15 enameled plates depicting the mysteries of the rosary and 15 decades of crystal beads.
It was originally intended to hang over the statue of the blessed Mother which had been put in place on the dome of the Old University building in May 1865. Instead it was displayed in a room
beneath the dome until it was later hung over a statue of Our Lady in Sacred Heart Church.
In 1886 three thieves broke into the church and stole the crown which was recovered but mutilated. It was repaired then placed in Sacred Heart Church’s Sacristy
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| This is the dome and statue the crown was initially supposed to hang over. |
Toledo, Ohio
Onward to my childhood home of Toledo, Ohio!!
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| This was the park across the street where we frequently played! |
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| Front and back of our house. It was yellow when we lived here. My room that I shared with my sister, Christy, was where the bottom right window that is hid by the bushes. We sometimes snuck out of the window during our nap times to play in the park across the street with our friends, Steve and Jeff. |
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| This is the creek behind our house that we (Cathy and I) would pull Christy on the sleigh when it was frozen. |
Hawkins Elementary
Cathy and I went here when I was in Kindergarten and First Grade.
It was a single story then.
It was a single story then.
As we continued East, we stopped at a hotel on Lake Erie.
Gettysburg
We stopped in Gettysburg, PA. The hotel where we stayed was hosting a convention.
I do not know why, but we were tickled by this!
Downtown Gettysburg had these gourd birdhouses.
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| This is a picture of Gettysburg from Civil War days. |
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| Downtown Gettysburg, today! |
This is the most true-to-life statue of Abraham Lincoln. An 1865 cast of Lincoln's face
and an 1890 cast of Lincoln's hands were used. The bronze Lincoln points with his
hat toward the second floor of the Wills house, where it is thought he completed his
Gettysburg Address. A late 20th century tourist follows where he is pointing with his eyes.
The picture below is the only known photograph of Lincoln at the
Soldiers National Cemetery site, November 19, 1863.
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| The Wills house where Lincoln lodged before his Gettysburg address. |
In the cyclorama depicting the battle of Gettysburg hangs a
360 degree canvas that was painted over 100 years ago. It was awe inspiring.
The "Battle of Gettysburg" Cyclorama at Gettysburg National Military Park is a fantastic painting which brings the fury of the final Confederate assault on July 3, 1863 to life, providing the viewer with a sense of what occurred at the battle long touted as the turning point of the Civil War.
The culmination of the battle was captured on canvas by the French artist Paul Philippoteaux, a professional cyclorama painter and artist. Philippoteaux was not present at Gettysburg, but came to the United States in 1879 when he was hired by a group of entrepreneurs to paint this monumental work for a special display in Chicago. Philippoteaux arrived in Gettysburg in 1882 armed with a sketchbook, pencils, pens, and a simple guide book to help him locate the site of the climactic charge.
The artist spent several weeks on the battlefield, observing details of the terrain and making hundreds of sketches. To help him recall the landscape with accuracy, Philippoteaux hired a Gettysburg photographer to produce a series of panoramic photographs for his use. These images are some of the earliest detailed photographs of Cemetery Ridge, the Angle and the "High Water Mark", and the field of Pickett's Charge. Philippoteaux was also lucky enough to interview a number of veterans of the battle, who helped with suggestions on how to depict the chaos of battle.
After the introductory film and the cyclorama,
we ventured onto the battlefield.
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| This is a monument at Gettysburg to Albert Woolson, the last survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Albert Woolson was born on February 11, 1847, and went to war as a drummer boy at the age of 17. He died on August 2nd, 1956 at the age of 109. He was the last official survivor of the over 2 million men who served the United States in the Civil War.
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Brian Farm
In 1863, this was the home and farm of Abraham Brian. He and Jaes Warfield, who owned a farm and blacksmith shop near Seminary Ridge, were among a small, unique group of farmers the battlefield. They were free black men, and they were property owners.
When the Confederate army invaded Pennsylvania during the summer of 1863, Brian and his family left the area. On July 2, Union soldiers occupied Brian’s farm and home. They dismantled his fences to build breastworks, ad trampled his crops. Heavy fighting raged around the farm, particularly on July 3 during the Pickett-Pettigrew Charge, exposing the home and buildings to musketry and shell fire.
Following the battle, Brian returned to begin repairs to his farm. Like nearly all the area farmers he filed claims (with the federal government) for damages. Out of $1028 requested, he received $15. Many farmers received nothing.
The damage inflicted by the battle did not discourage or ruin Brian. He rebuilt his 12-acre farm and prospered until his death in 1879.
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| Memorial to the Alabamians who fought. |
The Valley of Death
On the afternoon of the second day of the battle, Union forces seized this strategic high ground which they held for the remainder of the battle. Many officers and men from both sides died in the struggle.
Looking at the terrain, and reading the various bits of information about the battle, I am overwhelmed with the sacrifice and dedication with which the soldiers fought.
Warfield Ridge
This wooded ridge, (Upper left area of woods), an extension of Seminary Ridge, helped screen General Longstreet’s attacking Confederates from the view of Union lookouts here.
The Slaughter Pen
Men of the 44th and 48th Alabama Infantry fell in great numbers in this rock-strewn area (foreground of this picture). The photo below was taken by Alexander Gardner on July 6, 1863. The bloated and rain-drenched bodies had not yet been removed by Union burial details.
Devil’s Den
Maj Gen Daniel E Sickles positioned the eft flank of his Third Corps at this unusual geologic formation (rocks in the center of this picture), thinking its rugged nature would hinder Confederate troop movements. However, Confederates captured Devil’s Den on the afternoon of July 2.
From concealed places among rocks, Southern snipers and sharpshooters kept the Union soldiers on Little Round Top under fire.
The Valley of Death (the valley on the right side of this picture)
Many soldiers fell here during the struggle for Little Round Top. Correspondent Whitelaw Reid of the Cincinnati Gazette reported from Gettysburg: “Who shall say that they did not go down into the very Valley of the Shadow of Death that terrible afternoon,”
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Historic Breastworks
The increased range and accuracy of Civil War weapons made prolonged exposure to enemy fire extremely dangerous. In response to this, both armies made increasing use of rifle-pits, trenches, and breastworks. By 1864 it could be said that a soldier marched with a rifle-musket in one hand and a shovel in the other.
When the Union infantry of Col Strong Vincent’s brigade rushed to defend this hill on the afternoon of July 2, they quickly there was little time for construction.
That night, in anticipation of renewed fighting on July 3, and to provide cover from Southern sharpshooters, the Federals expanded their breastworks. Confederates across the valley heard the stones dropping into place all night. Remains of these defensive works are visible here today.
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Pennsylvania Memorial
This impressive landmark on Cemetery Ridge rises 110 feet and can be seen from many parts of the battlefield. Dedicated in 1910, it bears the name of each of the 34,530 Pennsylvanians who participated in the battle.
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Cemetery Hill
Site of historic Evergreen Cemetery overlooking the town of Gettysburg. Union troops rallied here late on the afternoon of July 1, then held this commanding ground during the remainder of the battle as part of the “fishhook” line.
Four months after the battle, President Lincoln dedicated the National Cemetery on this same hill.
The National Cemetery
Quotes on display in the Gettysburg Museum
Bits of Lincoln's own writing:
Covered Bridge
Built for the County by workers under David Stoner in 1850 the Sachs Bridge is an Adams County landmark. It was crossed by both armies during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and carried parts of the Army of Northern Virginia as it retreated.
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| This home was used as a hospital during the battle. |
Washington, DC
On our way to DC, we stopped by Gaithersburg Presbyterian to see if our past pastor, MaryBeth, was in. She, unfortunately, was on sabbatical in Scotland, lucky girl!! Our loss!
September 11th was a warm, sunny day in Washington, DC...
The events of September 11, 2001 are forever etched into the hearts and souls of the family members and loved ones of those who died, our nation, and the world. The United States experienced the worst incident of terrorism in its history; the coordinated hijacking of four commercial planes, the planned attack on symbolic targets, and the murder of innocent people were all tragic and shocking events. The extraordinary responses of individuals to the challenges they faced are inspiring and worthy of remembrance.
September 11th was a warm, sunny day in Washington, D.C., just as it was in New York City and all along the Eastern Seaboard.
That morning, five hijackers passed through security at Dulles International Airport at approximately 7:35 am. They boarded American Airlines Flight 77 bound for Los Angeles, California. At 8:20 am, Flight 77 departed Dulles International Airport ten minutes delayed.1 When the plane took off, it had 64 people on board: a crew of six plus 58 passengers, including the five hijackers with their weapons.2
The last routine radio communication with American Airlines Flight 77 occurred at 8:51 am.3 It seems likely that between 8:51 and 8:54 am over eastern Kentucky, the hijackers made their move and took over the plane.4 With one hijacker as pilot, the other four herded the passengers to the rear of the aircraft to prevent any attempts to retake control of the plane before it reached its target.5
Immediately following the takeover, Flight 77 made an unauthorized turn to the south.6 At 9:00 am, the plane turned eastward from a point near the junction of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. Hani Hanjour, who had received Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) pilot certification, no doubt piloted the aircraft.7
Tracking Flight 77 would not have been easy, even if controllers had been able to identify which plane to follow. Its transponder, a transmitter that broadcasts the course, speed, and altitude of the airplane, was turned off at 8:56 am.8 The hijacker pilot refused to answer any radio messages, adding to the uncertainty of making a decision to dispatch military aircraft to intercept the plane.9 For air traffic controllers, the lack of a transponder signal meant they could not find the Boeing 757 until it crossed the path of a ground-based radar.10
At 9:33 am, Flight 77 turned south and headed for the Pentagon.11 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport tower passed to the Secret Service Operations Center in Washington, D.C. the alarming word that “an aircraft is coming at you and not talking with us.”12 A minute later, the plane turned south below Alexandria, Virginia, circled back to the northeast, and flew toward Washington again.13 Its destination was the Pentagon, not the White House or the Capitol.14
At 9:37:46 am, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon .
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to the tragic events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. All 184 lives lost in the attack on the Pentagon are represented by “Memorial Unit” benches. Surrounding the benches are 85 Crape Myrtles (trees that will grow up to 30 feet tall) and the Age Wall, which grows one inch in height per year relative to the ages of the victims.
The Pentagon Memorial has an emotive power that few other memorials have, due to both the recency of the tragedy it pays homage to and its comprehensive listing of victims.
When first approaching the expansive Memorial Gateway, visitors will spot a black granite stone stating the date and time of the tragic plane crash: September 11, 2001 at 9:47 a.m. Words describe its purpose: “We claim this ground in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, to honor the 184 people whose lives were lost, their families, and all who sacrifice that we may live in freedom. We will never forget.”
After our visit to the Pentagon Memorial, we stopped in a park by the river and
watched the airplanes take-off and land. A sailing camp was taking place, and
I realized that this was where my cousin, Leslie, used to teach sailing.
Alexandria
Uncle Jimmy and Alice to us on an historic tour of Alexandria.
Here is a picture of the narrowest townhouse.
This is a picture of the pied-Ã -terre of George Washington when he was in the area, away from his farm, Mt Vernon.
I think this is where Thomas Jefferson stayed when in town.
Christ Church is an historic church in Alexandria, Virginia. It was completed in 1773 for an Episcopal in 1765, it is one of the least-altered of Virginia's few surviving colonial-era churches. The Georgian church was designed by James Wren, and frequented by such notables as George Washington and Robert E Lee. In addition,Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill visited the church on January 1, 1942 to commemorate World Day of Prayer for Peace.
Lunch with Uncle Jimmy and Alice before we visit the Great Falls!
Great Falls Park
This jewel in our Nation's capital is a small NPS site in Virginia. It is situated on 800 acres along the banks of the Potomac River.
The Patowmack Canal, which George Washington partially funded, was a one-mile bypass canal that began operating in 1785 to give small barges the opportunity to skirt around the falls and to distribute manufactured goods upstream and raw materials downstream.
Rappahannock River
After our wonderful visit with Uncle Jimmy and Alice, we enjoyed
a few days at their river house on the Rappahannock River.
Roger fishing on the dock.
He caught two fish on one line.
Virginia Beach
After the river, we moved on to Virginia Beach to visit with our cousins, Keith and Patty!
We enjoyed watching their dogs, Ebby and Izzy, do tricks in the ocean.
Once again, my focus was so much on the animals, that I failed to get
a good picture of my cousins, Keith and Patty. Bummer! But can you blame me,
look at these puppies!
We also enjoyed the friendliness of one of their three kitties, Lily.
Suffolk, VA
We visited our cousin, Carolyn, in Suffolk. Cousins Melinda, Claughton, and Keith, joined us.
Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, VA
After lunch, we visited the graves of our grandparents.
Charles Constantinople (Papacristakis) Vanture
01/19/1872- 06/25/1942
My great-grandfather from Greece.
Lenore McGinnis Vanture
My great-grandmother
03/24/1877- 04-24/1924
Victor C Vanture
05/19/1906- 03/21/1942
My great uncle
Pictures of family from Carolyn's house
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| Lenore McGinnis Vanture my Great Grandmother |
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| Victor C Vanture Great Uncle, father to Carolyn |
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| Sullie and Carolyn |
Elizabeth City, NC
After visiting with Carolyn in Suffolk, VA, we followed Claughton and
Melinda to Elizabeth City, NC. We were in awe of our cousin,
Molly Miller (Claughton's daughter) as she entertained us with a few of her friends.
We got to visit Melinda's riverside house in Taylor's Beach.
This was her mothers place.
I snagged some more pictures of family members from photo albums of Melinda.
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| Claughton Miller |
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| Melinda with her father, Billy Miller |
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| Claughton and Melinda and other unknowns. |
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| Carol (Melinda's mother) and to her left was Billy Miller |
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| Melinda |
All these aged pictures of people I have posted are cousins of mine on the Vanture side.
My grandfather was the 6th of nine children. I had such a glorious time
hearing and retelling stories of family. It is said that when you hear a
Vanture talk, only half is true, the other a fancied version of the truth.
Constantine Papacristakis
The story about my great grandfather's entrance to America is not clear. The most consistently repeated version is that he was studying to become a priest where he learned several languages, including French and English. He decided the priesthood was not what he was destined
to be, but he was the oldest in a family of Greek Orthodox priests,
(Papacristakis- the papa indicates the family of priests) and therefore it was expected of him.
He left home and stowed away on a ship. After some time, he was caught and given a job in the kitchens aboard the ship. While the ship (named possibly Ventura) was docked in America, he got violently sick, possibly appendicitis. He was put in the hospital, but the ship could not wait on him to recover, therefore he was left in America. One story goes that the nurses could not pronounce his name so they named him after the ship that brought him, the Ventura. Another story
states he just wanted to Americanize his name more and gave them this name.
Either way, the letters got turned around and he became known as Charles Vanture.
After Charles recovered, he met an Italian man named Ameda Obici, who offered him a job. He moved down to Suffolk to work a restaurant in Norfolk which became quite renowned. Ameda Obici and his partner, Mario Peruzzi, founded the Planter's Peanuts.
Sometime after my grandfather was born and before my Great Aunt Carol was born, Charles Vanture moved to Elizabeth City, NC to manage a restaurant and beer garden.
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| This is the hotel where Great Grandpa ran the restaurant and beer garden. |
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| Claughton and Melinda took Roger and me around Elizabeth City, enabling us to walk the ground where my great grandfather had walked. He moved to Elizabeth City from Norfolk, VA.Above is the church he attended. No red door, but it was Episcopal. The closest to Greek Orthodox that Great Grandpa could find. |
Inside this beautiful church.
Stained glass that tells the story of our Christ!
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| Aunt Carol is in the picture, fourth row, third from right. |
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| Charles and Lenore's home in Elizabeth City. |
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| It has been changed into a duplex. |
As we continued our tour of Elizabeth City, we were shown this home which was a wedding gift to the bride from her family. She still lives here.
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| The Courthouse |
This sign tells about a time in Elizabeth City's history, during the Civil War.
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| Cousin Claughton's house |
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| Blimp factory |
New Bern, NC
We had a wonderful time with our cousins, but needed to move on to our last
family stop in Myrtle beach. On our way there, we stopped at New Bern, NC.
family stop in Myrtle beach. On our way there, we stopped at New Bern, NC.
New Bern was named after Bern, Switzerland.
Christ Church
Episcopal, Craven Parish created in 1715. This church was erected in 1750.
Communion service given by George II, 1752 and is still in use.
New Bern was where Pepsi was created!
Myrtle Beach, SC
What an incredible experience to get to spend time with my family. As we spend more time with family, the more I know how wonderful of a family I have. They are generous, loving and fun!
I feel so blessed.
After visiting family and to complete our "almost year", we spent a weekend with some great friends, who in a sense are family. Friendship which began in college, and continues regardless of distance or time! I love these people!!!
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| We were entertained by Megan, playing her version of "Over the rainbow." (Megan, Bill, and Chris) |
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| Megan and Bill |
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| Beth, Kari, Chris, Bill and Roger |
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| Jennifer and Dawn joined us! |
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| Dawn and Jennifer try their hand at kayaking. |
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| Ruthie decided it looked like too much fun to miss out! |
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| Sharing funnies! This has been such a wonderful adventure for us. We have truly enjoyed sharing our trip with all of you who have viewed this blog. We have taken each of you with us in our thoughts and hearts. We are truly blessed to have been able to do this, but more importantly, we are blessed that you are in our lives. The richest person counts their wealth by their friends. Roger and I are now home preparing our hearts and lives to be directed by our Lord as to how He can use us to further glorify His name! We ask for your prayers that we will hear and obey! Love to all of you! Roger and Cheryl |
