Memorial Day – 2013

This is in commemoration of my relatives, as well as Laurie’s father and one of her sisters husbands, all of whom served in the Armed Forces of the United States over the past 71 years… Each of them served in the defense of our country…and for the cause of freedom. 

This is a photo of Ronald Allen Myers…my father.  His home town was Jackson Michigan and he graduated from Michigan State College, now MSU in 1938.  He was a Staff Sergeant in the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division…the “Big Red One”.  He was killed in action in Europe on May 6, 1945, only 2 days before victory in Europe, (VE Day), when the Germans surrendered to the Allied Forces in Berlin.  I had yet to reach my 3rd birthday… This photo was probably taken in Georgia during training exercises.

My dad had been washed out of officer’s candidate school due to the fact that he was color blind…but due to attrition among the officers in his unit, he was serving in an officer’s role at the time he was killed.  Ronald Myers is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial near the town of Avold France. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=registry.asp&subpage=search&drawtable=YES.

This is Laurie’s father, Robert (Bob) Templeton.  He was looking pretty dapper in his new Army uniform.  He was 21 in this photo and served in the 6th Infantry Division.  He also served in a civilian capacity operating a warehouse during WWII for the Army Signal Corp.  Bob, his wife Doris and their 6 children lived in Maplewood Missouri.  Laurie was only 17 when her father suffered a massive stroke/heart attack at a Lion's BBQ picnic. He was only 55 years old when he died.  This photo was taken the year before Bob married Doris G. McCormick on Feb. 6th 1935.  They were married 34 years before he died.   In addition to Laurie, Robert Templeton is survived by his son Bob and daughters Glenda, Karole and Bonnie and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

This is Nathan Weed, my mother’s oldest brother. (He was named after his father) As you can see by the uniform, he served in the United States Army during World War II.  In this photo taken at his parent’s home in Jackson Michigan, he was holding his nephew…me.  He and his family lived in the Detroit area for many years.  Uncle Nathan is survived by two daughters and a son, Susan, Wendy and yet another Nathan.

John Weed was my mother’s youngest brother.  He served with the US Navy, spending much of his time shipboard in the Mediterranean Sea.  He really looked very young in this classic naval pose.  He lived in Jackson Michigan for most of his life.  Uncle John is survived by two daughters, Judy and Maggie, as well as two sons, John and Michael.

This is my brother, Robert J. Thomson.  Bob served in the US Navy aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Vietnam War.  He lived in Kansas City Kansas.  In recent years he had some very serious health issues, and despite the outstanding care provided by the Veterans Administration, he passed away on April 25, 2013.  He is interred in the military cemetery in Leavenworth Kansas.

This is my Uncle Nathan’s son, yet another Nathan.  He lives in Fenton Michigan with his bride Janice, (in the photo above), who he met while serving in the Air Force in England.  She was born in Scotland.  They have 3 children, Elizabeth, Nadine and…you guessed it…still another Nathan!  They now have a grandson as well.

This is a photo of Ken Gross, husband of Laurie's older sister, Glenda.  Ken served in the US Army in the mid-1950's.  He was assigned to an Army Artillery group as a Fire Direction Controller for a howitzer unit.  Since then, he and Glenda have raised a daughter and a son...and they have now have 5 grandchildren and one great grandson, with another one on the way.  Ken and Glenda recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.  

We are so thankful for the millions of service men and women, (and their families), who have sacrificed their life or a portion of their lives, to protect our freedoms and our country…  God bless the United States of America!

We appreciate you taking time to share this Memorial Day tribute with us… Don’t forget to display your flag in honor of our fallen heroes!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave and Laurie