Sweety and Sassy

0

I have to commend Bridget Swabb Ashley for suggesting a parade when the Traveling Vietnam Wall came to Winchester, Indiana, early last month.

Yes it was her dream to have the parade, which became a part of the 40th anniversary Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event. And, she worked hard to make sure it was a success.

It was because of the wonderful and unconditional love she had for her uncle, CPL Charles “Butch” Swabb, who served in Vietnam from 1967-69, that she wanted to honor not only him but other Vietnam veterans who didn’t feel the “welcome” when they returned home fighting overseas.

Her uncle was a 1964 graduate of Greenville High School and died in 1987 at the age of 42 as an alleged result of Agent Orange, diabetes, alcohol issues and quite possibly Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

She said she remembers her uncle taking her to the Traveling Vietnam Wall when it came to Greenville in the 1980s and seeing him kneeling down and crying.

“And, I didn’t know why,” said Bridget, who was very young at the time.

Now, she does.

That “welcome home” event is over, but Bridget’s mind, she said, keeps coming up with more ideas that are sure to honor veterans from the various wars down the road.

So, kudos to Bridget, who grew up in the Union City, area, and now living in Winchester, for her involvement in the Traveling Wall event and parade that many people came to see. And, for getting others in the area involved in this historic happening.

••••••

Happy birthday:

• June 10 to June Moody, Anna Price, Becky Everhart, Diane Weaver-Hahn, Jennifer Beam Plessinger, Martha Schrader Duncan, Michelle Dunevan (45), Teresa Clark Cromes, Kathy McGlinch Dapore, Ralph Crist, Tom Edwards and Cliff McCoy (70).

• June 11 to Phil Lawson, Rick Campbell, Eddie Bryant, Joan Hiestand, Tedd Pratt, Steven Mittermann, Derek Grote, Byron Brehm, Al Greiner and Bruce William.

• June 12 to Rhonda Enicks Werner, Michele Smith, Michelle Gibbs-Thornsberry, Mary Faller and Barb Schuh.

• June 13 to Ted Riegel, Scott Kaiser, Teresa Reier Neal, Michael Werts, Glenn Welch, Dustin Mullens, Helen Teeter, Tiffany Meckes Dickey, Kathy Fleming, Jerrolyn Burk, Norma Parin, Gail Godown and Darrell Gower.

• June 14 to Megan Johnson Connie Yohey, Scott Drew and Brian Jones

• June 15 to Janet Parsons Helmer (65), Debbie Cline Lee, June Singer, Larry Yohey (60), Julia Yohey (7), April Lynn Amspaugh Billenstein, Nathaniel Joseph Roof, Pam Widener and Charlie Lynn Dickey.

• June 16 to Bob Klosterman, Delores Partin and Marion Price.

Happy belated birthday to:

Happy anniversary to: Harry and June Moody and Marion and Shirley Price, all on June 10; Jack and Sherry Hunt (55) and Marilyn and Galen Wetzel, all on June 12; Nate and Betty Johnston Burnfield and Norman and Deloris Miller, all on June 13; Keith and Rikki Holton and Troy and Janet Kammer, all on June 14; Bob and Debbie Guthrie on June 15; and Cyril and Deb Hiestand, Bob and Kathy Wagner and Terry and Tammy Curtis, all on June 16.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Stacy Dorko, Larry Hartzell, Mel Grile, Robert Codling, Kenny Dunevant, J. C. and D’Arleen Waymire, Deanna Jones, Heidi Linebaugh, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Jennifer Yoder, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Teresa Brewer-Wilson, Darla Bowman, Jim Moody, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Hammons, Nancy Fetters, Linda Hartzell, Jim Crotcher, Tina Kiser Deaton, Alvera Schmitz, Jerrod Pratt, Vicky Henderson, Julia Frey, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Thelma Shade, Bob Coppock, Joan Toomey, Lee Moody, Greg Moody, Stephen “Brownie” Brown, Faye Schlecty, Neil Isch, Chrissy Neff, Ron Kreitzer, Michelle Sparks Reed, Kris Riffell, Bill Beasley, Candy Riegle, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Allan Addington, Doug Wright, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Joe Martin, Tracy Bailey, Jack Riegle, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Ray Dickey Jr., Penny Starns, Dave Sloan, Donna Arnett, Kathleen Floyd, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Suzy Heck Schilling, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Curtis Miller, Ron Kramer, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases as well as all of our military people serving and protecting this nation.

•••••

Jamie and I express our heart-felt condolences to the families of: Dorsa McCullough, Bob Fritz and Mary Ann Van Vickle.

•••••

Think about it: “Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Every day is a fresh start. Each day is a new beginning. Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life.” — Unknown

No posts to display