74th & 78th Wedding Anniversaries of Our Parents
As John and I honor our parents this June, we remember the 78th Wedding Anniversary of his late Father and late Mother, Dr. John and Helen Stewart, married on June 29, 1940, and Betsey's parents married the summer of 1944, Richard and Sara Wood, their 74th Wedding Anniversary. "Honor your Father and your Mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." —Exodus 20:12
Both of our fathers were World War II veterans, United States Army. Dr. Stewart was a battalion surgeon US Army, in the Battle-of-the-Bulge in Germany and Lieutenant Richard Wood served in India, US Army.
John and Helen Stewart were married at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, and their reception was held at Mr. and Mrs. Hunsdon Cary's Home, Helen's home, of Ampthil House, Richmond, Virginia.
Richard and Sara Wood were married at Saint John's Episcopal Church in West Point, Virginia, and their reception was held at Mr. and Mrs. Gooch's Home, Sara's home, on First Street, West Point, Virginia.
We honor our Fathers and our Mothers and thank them all for their many sacrifices for us children. Each couple had five children.
October 14, 1945
Dear Betsey,
You, my dear, are a little girl I have never seen, but you are a human who will grow up into a fine young lady. Do you mind if I tell you something? I hope not.
Betsey, you were born into a world of peace. That doesn't mean much to you, but it means a great deal to many people. Some of them you'll know, but many will only be a symbol of liberty - just equal crosses on far-away fields of death. Cherish and honor this birthright, Betsey. Never forget that many men fought and lots of them died that you may always laugh.
This was a beautiful Sunday, a Sunday full of sunshine. A lot of blood fell across the sun to wash it clean for a day like this.
Always, Betsey, honor your Mother and your Father. Your Mother bore you alone because your Father was a soldier. Telling a man goodbye with a smile in not an easy thing, and bringing new life into the world is unequaled in its pain and beauty. Your Father fought and someday soon you'll ask him why and what it was like. He'll be very modest, but never forget that it was for your tomorrow that all decent men left all that was theirs behind and went away. Pay them homage.
I guess I sound confused, but, Betsey, help to make this a good, clean, happy country. Keep your ideals high and your honor right, and you and your generation fight for the right of free men - fight without guns and deaths and goodbyes. Keep this country at peace so that you and your children can enjoy a slow, kind happiness, and never have to crowd many years of living into a few cloudy months.
Thank you for listening, my dear.
Jo Ann Coggin, West Point, Virginia
Our Fathers were decent men and we pay them homage.
May God continue to bless the United States of America, our President and his family, and our Vice President and his family.
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