Under the baobab: Devoted volunteers ensure fallen heroes are honored
Last Saturday morning, Terry McGrory rose at the crack of dawn, as he has for the last 40 years. He gathered the flags he had gotten from the Veterans Association. He called his family to meet him at the Centre County Memorial Cemetery. Then he called a dozen or so volunteers with the same message. Rob Brown, a Vietnam vet, wasn't feeling well. His wife Linda asked if she could go instead.
When the sun came up and they could read the tombstones, they fanned out over the cemetery. They erected 2,000 flags before 9 a.m. 'We want to get them in place before their families came to visit,' Terry said. The CCMC was the first of several cemeteries the team would service that morning. One of them, the Marysville African Methodist Episcopal resting place, had been abandoned years before. The church that cared for it has also disappeared. Only one grave site could still be recognized, Aaron Delige.
Terry located Aaron's grave through info from the VA. He had graciously called to ask if I would like to place the flag on his grave. I was honored. Two other members of Aaron's family are listed among the U.S. Colored Troops from the Civil War on the monument in front of the Centre County Courthouse. They are among the 200,000 African Americans who enlisted in the Union Army. One of these was my great-great grandfather, Curtis McKenzie. My dad, also a vet, served during World War II in the segregated American Army. He later served in Korea and Vietnam.
Behind the scenes Terry, Rob, Linda and the rest are heroes, paying tribute to our veteran ancestors who defended our country with their last measure of devotion. We thank all of them for their unheralded efforts.
As part of the weekend, The Boalsburg Village Conservancy presented the 161st Memorial Day Service. Boalsburg is arguably the birthplace of Memorial Day, which began in 1864 when three women — Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller and Elizabeth Myers — decorated the graves of their loved ones. On Saturday, Jeff Brown acted as Master of Ceremonies. Pastor Jody Reese gave the invocation and benediction. The Level Best Quartet sang the national anthem. A presentation of stories about Boalsburg Civil War vets was given by Daughters of Union Veterans, Tent 62 which included Rebecca Crossley and Karen Hazel. The traditional firing of the cannons was conducted by Battery B. John Leskowicz played taps and Tracey Moriarty played 'Amazing Grace' on the pipes. Local political leaders including state Rep. Paul Takac and County Commissioner Mark Higgins were present.
Other Happy Valley happenings
Penn State music professor Tony Leach's spirit cascaded through the hundreds of people who overflowed Pasquerilla Spiritual Center for his 'Celebration of Life Through Song' tribute. The program lifted our hearts as we celebrated Tony's life, work and grace. Rev. Tabitha P. Lewis was officiant and gave the eulogy. Members of Tony's family, Bishop Myron Leach, Makayla Leach, Cynthia Leach and Neal Holter offered remarks and songs. A 200-voice choir, conducted by Eric Williamson, included many former Essence members including Orieyama Linebarger, Alfie Parker, Melanie Gerald, Kiena Williams, Sean Lynch, Fran Bettyow, Cori Avery, Christyn Geary, Ron Johnson. Clergy and dignitaries also included: Rev Elizabeth Eckman, Rev. Herbert Jones, Rev. Viola Bradford and Robert Drafall.
Centre Safe Executive Director Jennifer Pencek welcomed folks to their 50th anniversary awards luncheon. Gina and John Ikenberry were recognized as Philanthropists of the Year. Douglas Hearn received the Community Service Award; Corporate Partner of the Year was Mount Nittany Health. The Bellefonte and Penns Valley area school districts shared the Partners in Prevention Award. Also present were Sue Paterno and County Commissioner Amber Concepcion.
Après la pluie le beau temps.
Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Growing up in a house with 5 sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of parenting — then I had a boy
I grew up with five sisters and my first child was a girl. I wasn't sure I knew how to parent a boy. I learned that he expressed himself differently, often coming to me with actions instead of words. I now know that love adapts to each child's unique needs and expressions. Growing up in a house with five sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of what parenting might look like one day. Our home was loud, emotional, and deeply connected. I understood tears and tantrums, giggles and gossip. I knew what it meant to comfort, to share space, and to navigate a sea of emotions with grace and empathy. In many ways, I felt prepared for motherhood, especially when my first child, a daughter, arrived. I slipped into the role with a kind of natural ease. Dressing her, understanding her emotions, encouraging her independence, it all felt familiar. But when my son was born, everything changed. This experience was new to me Suddenly, I was parenting someone whose experience I had never lived. I had no brothers, no real exposure to the everyday world of boys growing up. And as much as I knew that love and care are universal, I couldn't help but feel unsteady. I was flooded with questions: How do I connect with him? Will I understand what he needs emotionally? How do I raise a kind, gentle boy in a world that too often tells them to be the opposite? In those early days, I doubted myself. Not because I loved him any less, but because I didn't feel equipped. He was energetic and physical in ways I hadn't seen before. He climbed, jumped, wrestled with the couch cushions. He needed space to run, to tumble, to roar like a dinosaur, and I didn't always know how to respond. I kept asking myself, "Am I doing this right?" Eventually, my thinking started to shift What I slowly learned was that I didn't have to "figure him out." I had to meet him where he was. I had to let go of my assumptions and listen with curiosity. While my daughter often came to me with words, my son came with action. His love language wasn't always verbal, it was climbing into my lap without warning, bringing me a toy with pride, or shouting "Mom, watch this!" before a wild leap from the sofa. It took quiet patience to understand that his emotions looked different. They came out in bursts of energy, sometimes in silence, sometimes in frustration. I had to tune in with a different kind of attention, not to what he was saying, but to what he was doing. And slowly, we built our rhythm. Wrestling turned into giggling. Bedtime stories turned into moments of deep, whispered connection. I realized that my son wasn't unreachable, I just needed new tools to reach him. There is no manual for parenting Raising both a daughter and a son has taught me something powerful: love isn't one-size-fits-all. It stretches and shifts to meet the child in front of you. It challenges you to grow beyond what you thought you knew. It reminds you that connection doesn't always come easily, but it's always worth pursuing. There's no perfect manual for parenting. And while my background with sisters gave me one set of instincts, my son opened up an entirely new world. One filled with mess and motion, yes, but also incredible tenderness, curiosity, and joy. Today, I see each of my children not as puzzles to be solved, but as people to be discovered. And I'm so grateful they've each invited me into their world, even when I felt unsure of how to enter it. If you had asked me before motherhood what kind of parent I'd be, I would've said "prepared." But now, I know the truth, parenting isn't about being ready, it's about being willing. Willing to grow, to learn, and to love without limits. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Good luck selling Cincinnati Reds playoff hype in a city that feels unsafe
I read Enquirer sports columnist Jason Williams' article ("Cincinnati needs Reds to help save city's reputation as brawl fallout continues," Aug. 7) about how the Reds' qualification for and win of a playoff game or series would be a wonderful stimulus for Cincinnati's morale and national reputation. I agree. One thing, however. Who wants to go downtown? More: Cincinnati City Council passes new curfew for minors and more money for police As the saying goes, "what and who you vote for is what you get," and Cincinnati residents have voted for, and will continue to vote for, officials, judges, and policies that are often completely incompetent. An example is Councilwoman Victoria Parks, who stated that the lady who was sucker punched and possibly permanently injured "begged for that beat down!" I hope the city has a good lawyer. Some council members and city officials have remained silent about her comment. As for me, the Reds could be 162-0 and the 82nd Airborne could be patrolling the streets, and you won't find me downtown. I remember when the city was a vibrant, safe place to go. Now, it's run by a bunch of incompetents. More: Never easy: Cincinnati Reds lose to Cubs, face one of MLB's toughest remaining schedules Go look at all the other major cities − St. Louis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and so on. They all have followed the same pattern. Andrew Egloff, Kenwood This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds playoff baseball can't mask Cincinnati's crime problem | Letter
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Waller Emerges as Favorite for Fed Chair Among Trump Team
(Bloomberg) — Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller is emerging as a top candidate to serve as the central bank's chair among President Donald Trump's advisers as they look for a replacement for Jerome Powell, according to people familiar with the matter. All Hail the Humble Speed Hump Mayor Asked to Explain $1.4 Billion of Wasted Johannesburg Funds Three Deaths Reported as NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak Spreads Major Istanbul Projects Are Stalling as City Leaders Sit in Jail PATH Train Service Resumes After Fire at Jersey City Station Trump advisers are impressed with Waller's willingness to move on policy based on forecasting, rather than current data, and his deep knowledge of the Fed system as a whole, the people said. Waller has met with the president's team about the role, but has yet to meet with Trump himself, the people said on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Kevin Warsh, a former Fed official, and Kevin Hassett, currently Trump's National Economic Council director, also remain in contention for the job, the people said, which will open up when Powell's tenure as chair expires in May 2026. 'President Trump will continue to nominate the most competent and experienced individuals,' White House Spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. 'Unless it comes from President Trump himself, however, any discussion about personnel decisions should be regarded as pure speculation.' A representative for the Fed declined to comment. Trump said on Wednesday that the administration has narrowed the list of candidates for Fed chair to three people. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are on the search committee, Trump said. Hassett has met with Trump to discuss the chair job and has also impressed both the president and the team, Bloomberg News has reported. Warsh interviewed for the job in 2017 but was ultimately passed over for Powell. In November, he was also considered to serve as Treasury secretary. Waller's Dissent Last week, Waller was one of two Fed board members to vote against the central bank's decision to hold its benchmark rate steady for a fifth consecutive time. He and his colleague Michelle Bowman, both Trump nominees, preferred a quarter-point reduction, citing growing signs of labor-market weakness. A few days after the Fed announced its decision to hold interest rates, a jobs report showed that job growth cooled sharply over the previous three months, lending credence to Waller and Bowman's dissent. Waller's views differed from those of Powell and other policymakers on the board, who have so far described the labor market as broadly solid and have supported a patient approach to adjusting rates so that the central bank can continue to gauge how Trump's tariffs will impact the economy. That view has frustrated the president, who has repeatedly assailed Powell for not cutting rates sooner. Waller, a Ph.D. economist, has attracted the attention of Trump's economic advisers over the past year as the president talked about the economy while on the campaign trail. Fed Experience Trump nominated Waller to the Fed in 2020. Before that, he had served as a research director and executive vice president at the St. Louis Fed. In 2020, senators voted 48-47 to support Waller's nomination to the Fed board. As a Fed governor in 2022, Waller engaged in a public debate with influential economists outside the Fed, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, with his argument that the central bank could successfully lower the post-pandemic inflation without significantly raising unemployment. In the end, Waller proved right as inflation came back below 3% and unemployment never moved back above 4.2%. Trump's dissatisfaction with Powell has triggered questions about whether his next pick to lead the Fed would back monetary policy independence for the central bank. Waller has said that the Fed's independence is critical for the economy, but added that the president is free to say what he wants the Fed. Last month, Waller told Bloomberg Television that he hasn't yet directly heard from the president about the Fed chair role. 'If the president contacted me and said, 'I want you to serve,' I would do it,' he said in July. 'But he has not contacted me.' While Powell's term as chair doesn't expire until May, Trump is getting an earlier shot at reshaping the central bank. He said on Wednesday that he planned to fill a soon-to-be vacant slot from Adriana Kugler's early departure from the Fed board with a short-term pick, and then later name a candidate for the 14-year term opening which renews in early 2026. —With assistance from Annmarie Hordern, Christopher Condon and Hadriana Lowenkron. The Pizza Oven Startup With a Plan to Own Every Piece of the Pie Russia's Secret War and the Plot to Kill a German CEO AI Flight Pricing Can Push Travelers to the Limit of Their Ability to Pay A High-Rise Push Is Helping Mumbai Squeeze in Pools, Gyms and Greenery Government Steps Up Campaign Against Business School Diversity ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
