Happy Birthday America!

I just come in from being outside our home and watching our neighborhood celebrates our nation’s 237th birthday. This first 4th of July in Florida had streams of colors from all parts of the rainbow. The reports of the smallest firecrackers, sizzling sparklers and huge blasting skyrockets, all from backyard BBQ’s to town sponsored shows, fireworks were sounding and lighting up the sky. The street became thick with the smell of powder and a smoky haze developed. It was then I thought back to what I read about John Adams and what he meant when he stated, “the nation should celebrate the freedoms they gained when becoming a nation and gaining its liberty”.  I was here today, to see this festive display, but how?

 

Thinking back to my 8th Great Grandparents, Joseph and Mary Bolles, I wondered if they realized, that through their actions, leaving England and coming to a distant wilderness of what was a British colony in 1640’s, their descendants a few generations later, would be part of establishing a new country with the freedom and liberties they had not have.  Did my 4th Great Grandfather, Amos Terrill, who served in the NJ militia during the Revolutionary War, dream that he and his fellow patriots were giving their descendants and people from other nations a place that their dreams and aspirations would have the opportunity to becomes part of what America is today?

Whether our ancestors were rich or poor, educated or not, freemen or indentured, farmer, merchant, whaler, dressmaker, clerk, clergy, journalist, teacher, blacksmith, student or homemaker, they owe our thanks for the life’s that they lived, the hardships they faced, the drive that they had and the ideals they upheld.

It is for those reasons, I and my family, my neighbors and friends, live in a nation that gives us the opportunities to go where we like, do what we wish, say what we believe, live the life’s we wish and still know as was stated in the Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

Happy Birthday America…. May God Bless you now and Always.

Preserving Our Families Traditions

We have just begun a new year and during the past few months many of us celebrated the holidays with our families and friends. Thou you might not have notice, but during those holiday festivities, subconsciously or not, certain things happened that we had none repeatedly from years past.

 



Rockefeller Center

It could be the way you decorated your home with ghosts and goblins, that special recipe that Mom or Gram liked or cooked every Thanksgiving, going to the “Tree” at Rockefeller Center or the telling of stories around the dinner table, the games played after “the meal” or photos viewed from days gone while on the porch. These are the family traditions that we all have and are sometimes lost as time slips by.

I mention this while in the mist of packing for a move. With so many things to box, both large and small, I’ve asked all members of our family if they would like some things before we sell or donate them. My one nephew quick said “Yes, I would like the old buffet cabinet”.  I was surprised, the buffet cabinet was my parents, solid wood, 30’ish design but it was well used, wobbly and it didn’t really “fit” with his house, but was more than happy to say “OK”.  As I did, I asked him “Why the interest in that piece of furniture?” His response was clear as yesterday, it was related to an old tradition that my father did every Christmas at our old home in Irvington when we both were much younger.

As part of the holiday decorating, Pop would get corrugated paper with a red brick like printing on it. He would then use this to wrap around the upper part of the buffet and also wrap it around the two side storage areas of the cabinet. The center area was left open.  Mom would use the top of the buffet for other Christmas decorations, sometime a little village, other times just candles, fruit, pine cones and other trimmings. With the buffet transformed, it now looked like an open health fireplace with mantle, the perfect spot for Santa’s present on Christmas morning!  Donald had remembered that from his youth and he wanted the buffet cabinet to be able to not only remind him of that tradition, but to duplicate it for his family’s children.  Even if the cabinet never gets transformed again, I know that piece of furniture and the story about it will live on. That’s a nice feeling.

So, on at the next birthday, anniversary, family picnic, wedding or whatever occasion you and your family gathers, sit back, observe, think and remember the times, ways, activities and wonder of the traditions your branch continues to past down to the next generation.  If you would like to share any of them with our, please do. The Bolles Family Association newsletter is a great way to let others enjoy your traditions too.

 

To be continued.......

Memorial Day - 2012

This holiday has been set aside to remember and honor those individuals that have served our country, both in time of war and peace. Since the start of our line of Bolles', past generations have made their mark in all major conflicts, sometimes fight cousin against cousin (Civil War),with many continuing to serve even today.  Most have lived to tell about their military experience while some have died fighting for their cause. On this Memorial Day, I would like to tell the life story of one of those who we remember for their service.

 

Raymond with his sons, Larry and Phil, Asbury Park, NJ cira 1920

The person I write of is my uncle, Lawrence Alan Bolles. He was my father's older brother, born 21 May 1910. Larry & Phil grow up fast, as they lost their father, Raymond while still young teenage boys. Their mother, Laura, saw that they continued their education, learned about country living during summer vacations and grew up to be well rounded men.

Raymond, Lauram Phil and Larry Bolles, cira 1920

 

Larry worked as a clerk in Newark, NJ during the early '30's and towards the end of the Depression, joined his mother, "stepfather" Chris, his brother, Phil and cousin, Walter, in a family business, Chris Chophouse, at 258 Clinton Avenue, Newark, NJ.  It was a popular place; both Larry and Phil worked as waiters, as well as any other chores that needed to be done. Members of the Newark Bears, a farm team of the NY Yankees, ate at the chophouse and became friends of both brothers and the rest of the family.

Larry got married to Emma Grybowski, on 30 May 1941.  Life was good, but like everywhere else things changed after 7 Dec 1941, a few months later.  World War II changed the way of life; the chophouse closed due to death of Chris, a child was on the way for Larry and Emma and then Larry's life changed even more with his enlistment into the Army on 13 September 1943. He went off to war and Emma soon after had their child. It was a difficult time for both of them.

Lawrence Alan Bolles 1943

With his restaurant experience, it was natural to find Larry in the mess tent, feeding his fellow comrades in training, overseas in North Africa and later in Italy on the southern frontier of the war. I remember hearing of his stories of being on board troop transport ships, one of those trips not being too smooth, as over half of the troops were sea sick for most of the trip, including Larry. The letters he wrote home told of the hot dusty desert conditions the troops faced, his not so pleasant experiences with camels and the never ending tasks of setting up and tearing down location after location as the lines moved throughout the war. Though not in any major combat role, Larry and others like him served their country proud. He was honorably discharged as a corporal

Larry (second from the left) with his buddies 1943

Larry's life after the war prospered. He continued in one fashion or another in the food industry, waitering, bar tending, and later becoming the head matre’d with an executive staff for a large corporation. The family expanded, with the marriage of his son, soon followed by several grandchildren. After retirement, he traveled, enjoyed cruising and was a snowbird, between New Jersey and Florida until 9 January 1992.  This is but a brief look into one soldier's life.

It is on holidays like this, that members of our families are to be remembered for their call to duty. It is our duty, to take the time and listen to their memories, both good time and bad; to open an old truck and see young faces in old photos, the places their footsteps took them to; and most important of all, to thank them for maintaining the freedoms and privileges that we can still experience today because of their service to our country.  Thank you Uncle Larry and all of the other soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, all past, present and future that have gave service to our great land.

 

To Be Continued……