Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Memorial Day, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day is set aside to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price to preserve their beliefs and defend the United States. Some were called by our country to fight and some did not wait but, volunteered with pride to serve this great country.
Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of the times during World War II. 
Blue Star FlagBlue Star Flag Blue Star Flag
I remember my grandmother proudly hanging the Mothers’ Blue Star Flags in the front window.   There were three.  My grandfather put together a huge world puzzle, glued it to paper and hung it on a bedroom wall.  He stuck pins in the map tracking the war and locations of his three sons.
Then one day, there were two blue-star flags and one gold-star flag hanging in the front window.
Blue Star Flag Blue Star Flag  Gold Star Flag
Thomas Davis Perry was born on September 26, 1912, the fourth of 11 children born to Robert Pierce Perry III and Mary Frances (Frank) Tubb Perry.  At age 32, my Uncle Davis was already a successful, licensed concessionaire traveling with his carnival of rides, concessions, games, and shows throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
127 Thomas Davis Perry, Sr.  29 or 30 Years Old
I was very young, but remember the excitement when his carnival came to Birmingham. I remember the chalk Kewpie dolls he gave us and most of all his silver Airstream trailer when parked in Mama & Papa Perry’s driveway.  I don’t remember the car, but I think it was a convertible.  During his travels he met Erna Estelle Sutton in Missouri.  I’ve always thought their meeting and marriage was very romantic (clearly illustrated in their letters to each other). After the war, Erna lived with us for a time before she moved back to Missouri.  I would sit and listen intently while she talked to Mother over a cup of coffee. I think that’s why I enjoy sitting around the kitchen table with friends or family, talking over a cup of coffee, even now.
The family called him Davis, but Erna called him Tom. Evidently, the carnival was playing in her town and they met. Since the carnival was seldom in one place for very long, they didn’t know each other very well, but it must have been “love at first sight.”  Over a meal one day before he left, he asked, “How would you like to do a lot of traveling, not have to do any house-keeping and live an exciting life?” She replied, “I’d like that.” He then said, “Well, marry me.”  He went on to the next town and wrote to her asking that she trust him and have faith in him …  that he would send for her soon.  They were married on January 22, 1940. Little did they know they would have such a few, short years together.
26 Tom, Sr. & Erna Perry, Horse
On November 6, 1944, Pvt. Thomas Davis Perry, Sr. was killed in the line of duty in France, leaving behind his beautiful wife, Erna, their daughter Erna Lea Perry and their son Thomas Davis Perry, Jr.,
9 ernakids
grieving parents, nine brothers and sisters and their children. After Davis’ death, his youngest brother, Leo, who was too young for the military, left school and joined the United States Navy Construction Battalions (CBs) known as the SeaBees. His brother Robert continued to serve in the Pacific and his brother John served with General Patton for the duration of the war. He is not forgotten. Will not be forgotten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Memorial Day began as a day to recognize those who died in the single bloodiest war in American history: the Civil War. The holiday was originally known as Decoration Day and many states and organizations take credit for its existence. Decoration Day got its name from the efforts of southern women decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers not long after the end of the Civil War. 
On this Memorial Day of 2010, I wish to honor my great-great grandfather,  2nd Sgt. George Washington Tubb, Company A, 8th Alabama Infantry, who fought at the Siege of Yorktown, April 5, 1862, was severely wounded at Williamsburg, May 5 1862 and wounded again at Seven Pines. He died June 10, 1862 in Virginia.
I would also like to honor Felix Tubb, eldest son of George W. and Mary Ann Massey Tubb, who was wounded and died  May 1865. Felix was buried at sea.
Although writing  commemorates Memorial Day for those who gave their lives during battle,  I would like to honor my great-great grandmother, Mary Ann Massey Tubb. She gave birth to seven children, three of which died at very young ages. She  lost her husband and first child during the Civil War. My great grandfather, George Martin Tubb, the youngest child was eight months old when his father died.  Mary Ann Massey Tubb raised her children alone and died in July of 1925 at the age of 97. Her strength and courage throughout her life clearly influenced her descendents.