This was written last summer and left in the tablet, but while trying to reorganize, I realized there would never be any more added to this account. Then I wondered maybe if I could share this story here, close to Veteran’s Day.
A back issue of the Smithsonian magazine had an article on shell shock from World War I. I knew I had seen many of these victims.
I was 8 and 12 years younger than my siblings so I was privileged to attend WWI reunions that they didn’t. After my parents could afford it, I went to many in Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska. I walked among many aging men who had been gassed and shell shock was a common word.
One of my favorites was so severe with tremors that he was tied in his wheelchair. He must have been the jokester of the company, but it was obvious that all the men treated him with a great deal of respect. His relativessaw to it that he was able to attend. There were many hellos, handshakes, hidden tears and deep breaths drawn when these 200 and more gathered for a memory day. I’m sorry I don’t remember the name or number of the outfit. All the pictures and info burned in our house fire in 1976. The reunion died the same year that dad did in 1971. One of the women had sent a card saying that they and another couple wouldn’t be able to attend anymore and that ended it. A notice was sent out to the few remaining veterans. Mom had been the historian for thegroup and my parents had hosted it a couple of times at Lake Aquabi, outside Indianola, Iowa. Mom had done a lot of interviews, being very careful to not offend anyone and accuracy was very important. Dates, places of battles, skirmishes, towns.
Sometimes when Dad would read her notes, he would say, “Boy, I didn’t know that.”
To be continued Nov. 9...◊◊◊
Editors note: Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years.
She can be contacted through The Times at 451-1196 or [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 4 on 11/02/2011