grandmother

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

As we experience the 75th anniversary of the day the Allied Forces invaded Europe it is worth noting why the day was so vital then and now.  The sacrifices of the men that day were monumental.  According to the U.S. Army, more than 160,000 men crossed the English Channel to five beaches in Normandy, France marking the greatest sea-borne invasion in history.[1]  Nine thousand Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded.  Over 100,000 of their brave comrades made it off those beaches and on to defeat Nazi Germany. 

The Gateway Arch is calling

The first time I experienced the Gateway Arch I didn’t really “see” it.  My mother was pregnant with yours truly the first time she and my father took the elevator to the top.  The Gateway Arch, finished in 1965 was still a new attraction so when my parents had the opportunity to visit St. Louis in 1969 it was their first chance to go up inside the arch and take in the view from the 630 foot vista.

A Day of Remembrance

Today is a special day for me and for Roma Mary Grace.  Thirty-one years ago today Roma Clara Josephine Rasa Siegel left the physical world and became a guardian angel.  She was a mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend to many.  To me she was an inspiration and since that day I have often felt her presence in my life.  In her hometown of Florence, Missouri, Roma was not only the keeper of family memories, she was known as local historian. 

Roma

Roma Clara Josephine Rasa Siegel (1909-1988) was my maternal grandmother. She passed away when I was a senior in high school but has nevertheless remained a presence in my life for a number of reasons. The biggest reason, perhaps, is that I’m fascinated with her life story.

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