Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
What a beautiful day this past Sunday to celebrate Father’s Day. This special day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June, in a number of countries around the world, including Canada, India, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The first known Father’s Day service occurred July 5, 1908, in Fairmont after hundreds of men died in the worst mining accident in the United States history. Grace Gordon Clayton wanted to honor the 360 men and boys killed, who left about 1,000 children fatherless.
Then, momentum gathered for this special day to take place annually, with Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd’s proposal to the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA to celebrate a “Father’s Day.” She chose June 5 for that special day since it was her father’s birthday. He had raised six children alone on a farm in Washington after his wife died giving birth.
The first bill was introduced in Congress in 1913 to have Father’s Day become a permanent national holiday. It did not pass. In 1966, Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation designating the third Sunday in June to honor fathers. Finally in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law declaring that Father’s Day be celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June. It has been an official, permanent national holiday ever since.
This holiday is more than a Hallmark holiday. It goes without saying that fathers should be honored every day; however, giving a special holiday to him definitely highlights all fathers. It is a day to express gratitude and love to fathers, or father figures, for their role in guiding, supporting, and nurturing children.
Life’s little instructions for each one include the following:
- Remember he who gossips to a person will probably gossip about one.
- When anger arises, think of the consequences.
- Drink eight glasses of water every day
- Seek out the good in people.
- Teach one’s children the value of money and the importance of saving.
The weather had been conducive to making hay, and the farmers have certainly taken advantage of that. Late gardeners are finishing the planting cycle, and the flowers adorning the yards are beautiful. Even the bees find them to be quite alluring. Hummingbirds are certainly thankful for the water in the feeders. Remember to clean them out periodically. Saturday/Sunday rains were well received. Forecasters are saying that more rain will be in store this coming week.
Quotes for the week are as follows: “It is better to be a young June bug than an old bird of Paradise.” — Mark Twain “The firefly only shines when on the wing. So, it is with us – when we stop, we darken.” — Jan Karon “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” — Mohammed Ali “I believe that we are here for each other, not against each other.” — John Denver “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” — Jerry West
Sitting on a chair under an umbrella is a wonderful place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Motoring to Marreo, Louisiana, was Evelyn Varner, Joyce Marshall of McGaheysville, Virginia, Judy Costello of Verona, Virginia, Janet Judy, Daniel Judy and Eugene Varner. They left last weekend for the long journey. Evelyn’s sister, Leta Billiot, is having her 100th birthday on June 20, and since this was quite an honorable occasion, the family from Leta’s West Virginia home, made the trip. The food was “out of this world,” outings amazing, fellowship was even better, but most of all, celebrating this momentous occasion was the best.
The VFW did a kindly deed by introducing a new United States flag to fly at the Sugar Grove Cemetery. Many thanks to this organization for this kindly deed.
The rains have forced the leaves in the ditches to bundle up in volumes to be extracted onto the roads. Some trees have fallen, causing drivers to be cautious.
Friday afternoon found Tom and Paula Mitchell pleasantly surprised with a visit from Michael Rayburn and family of Miller County, Arkansas. Michael was stationed with NSA at the former Sugar Grove Naval base, and he spent his “off” hours as a volunteer at the Brandywine Elementary School while stationed here.
William and John Rader of Florida are spending some time at their home in Sugar Grove. Tuesday marked the day of interment for both their parents, Greta and Clem Rader, Jr. at the Sugar Grove Cemetery.
Wesley, Becky, Ben, Emma and Nathan Puffenbarger spent the weekend camping at Natural Chimneys at Mt. Solon, Virginia. Ben assisted with the dust jousting events.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Eyeliner was used by both men and women in ancient Egypt as sun protection.
- In 1935, Parker Brothers introduced Monopoly.
- The first softball game was played in Chicago, Illinois. Players used a broomstick for a bat and a tied-up boxing glove for the ball.
- Alexander Graham Bell personally installed the first telephone in the White House.
- Tina Turner taught Mick Jagger how to dance and move on stage when she toured with the Rolling Stones in 1966.
The remainder of the June birthdays include Everly Gumm, 16th; Bill Nelson, 17th; Jaylee Brececk, 18th; Carroll Mitchell, 19th; Jeffrey Mitchell, 20th; Jesse C. Propst and Alda Propst, 22nd; Jerry Wimer, 23rd; Lester Propst, 24th; Donna Rader and Sheila Lambert, 25th; Bob Hurry, Don Vandevander, Marshall Harper and Mike Johnson, 26th; Amanda Kiser, 27th; Thelma Fleisher and Sunette Propst, 28th; Jeannie Koontz, 29th; and Meghan Keller, Walt Pitsenbarger and Polly Hartman, 30th.
Concerns are for the following: Mike Adams, Bob Adamson family, Charles Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Sharon Harr, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Henry Hodges, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Julia Homan, Keith Hoover, Delbert Olin Hoover, Debbie Horst, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Virginia Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Bernie Sasscer, the Sylvia Schrader family, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle and Don Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Amby Waybright, Jr., Mike Waybright, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams and Ann and Ed Wimer.
Leta Billiot, who turns 100 June 20, is the daughter of Roy Malcolm Smith (July 7, 1898 – Aug. 7, 1974) and Mertie Amanda Grogg Smith (Nov. 7, 1903 – Sept. 14, 1980. She lives at Marreo, Louisiana, and her siblings are Aubrey (d), Ethel (d), Viola (d), Calvin (d), Ona (d), Orville (d), Evelyn, Donnie, and Pat.
