Of birthdays and family visits
By MARCELLA BRUCE
Contributing writer
Where to start? How to begin? How to keep from boring the nice people who read my column by writing either about family or things that happened umpteen years ago! But so-be-it.
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To start with, my Florida family, Glenn and Marcia Wiederstein, have been in and out of my home the last two weeks. They have shared time with his family members in Wichita, the annual Wiederstein reunion at Hesston (which I also got in on) and with me. I've loved it all.
Now we're planning to join son Skip and wife Lois at Pratt to celebrate another birthday, mine.
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Recently I received a newspaper account concerning Gary and Helen Sosnieckie. They spent two years in Hillsboro where Gary was editor of the Star-Journal. When they left, they returned to Missouri, bought a newspaper, and have been in the publishing business since. The article reported that they just received the prestigious Eugene Cervi award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors. The presentation was made in Galway, Ireland. Both Gary and Helen are journalism graduates form the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
In commending the Sosnieckies, a fellow publisher said, "In my 39 years in the newspaper business, I have never met a couple who better exemplify community journalism than Gary and Helen."
A great honor to a most deserving couple.
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Marcia and I visited the Seelye Mansion in Abilene last week. What a pleasant experience: one that was made even better with our gracious and knowledgeable guide. Afterward we had lunch at the Kirby House.
Then we visited the Fashion Museum, also in Abilene. Someone had told me about its existence, and it proved to be really interesting too.
It has a well done display of dress from the 1870s through the 1970s. Since I have several vintage items of clothing, I thought perhaps they would be interested in them on an "on loan" basis.
But they only take donated items. The young woman in charge said they have received more than 5,000 items, so they are able to change the displays and also are able to put together style shows on various occasions.
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Call me "biased," not "with it," prejudicial, and opinionated, all of which I am when it comes to some of the musical groups that currently draw unbelievably huge crowds of people.
So many of the performers look like shaves, haircuts, and baths would be of great benefit.
I know, I know
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I really envy folks who know how to use computers. Wish I had the courage to try them. But I feel that I'd have to have a live-in instructor for more than a few weeks, and about the time I became proficient, there wouldn't be enough years left of my life to get things done. So, I guess I can rely on my two families to supply such information as needed.
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Skip recently pulled up some information that he thought would be of interest to me, and it certainly was.
It concerned the amphibious ship LST222 that Bud served on as executive officer 60 years ago in World War II.
The ship earned four battle stars with action in the Pacific in 1944 on Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Palau.
Following the war, the ship was redesignated and performed occupation duty in the Far East until 1946 and served with the Military Sea Transportation Service from 1952 to 1972. Then she was transferred to the Philippines as a loan, where, as of 1979, she remained active as Mindora Occidental. She has probably been retired by now, but she had quite an illustrious record of service, and I was glad to read about her.
I was privileged to have dinner aboard while she was being outfitted in New Orleans, and the Captain's wife and I later stood on the dock and saw her sail out as she headed to the West Coast en route to war.
Brought back a lot of memories.
