A Salute to Our Veterans!

 

One truly knows the meaning of Veterans' Day when you are in an Army city. Sierra Vista is home to Fort Huachuca, an Army Fort where currently hundreds of young Army recruits come for basic training. They also offer classes for officers to be.

Veterans Day here started off with a parade at 9:00am. All branches of the military were represented. It was a beautiful site of patriotism both by the participants in the parade and those viewing it on the sidelines. Makes you proud to say - " I am an American in the United States of America!"



Let me take you to the parade!  Be sure to stand and cheer for those who defend us and have defended us.


 Our flag is being carried through the parade and very proudly!

 The Knights of Columbus show their support in all their color. Many are veterans.

Army Band from Fort Huachuca.

 

Some of the Army men currently defending our country.

More ROTC recruits. Every high school in the area has such a program.

Candy and flags were passed out along the parade route.

 Fort Huachuca is home to the Buffalo Soldier. Many rode horses and still do.

 After the parade, Sister Joellen and I went to visit the Southern AZ Veterans Memorial Cemetery, which is very close to both of our parishes.

 Our flag flies proudly in front of the Huachucan Mountains behind the cemetery.

 Columbarium-many sections-beautifully done.

 The Roadrunner-State Bird of AZ - came to pay his respects as well on this Veterans' Day. For this roadrunner did not run from us but stayed close by our veterans.

 Each grave had a U.S. Flag. They have a special ceremony to place the flag at each grave.

 

 

Laid to rest near the mountains that surround the city of Sierra Vista.

 

After viewing the large columbarium and cemetery, we went to the other side of the cemetery and saw the carillon bells installed to play for all the fallen soldiers.

 

 Another cemetery was off to the side and all the stones were white. In reading the plaque, all of these soldiers died serving our country and their names remain unknown. Many were from the Civil War.

 Cemetery of the unknown Soldiers

 

 I was surprised to see this tombstone.

This plaque is for the soldiers who are known but missing in action here in Cochise County.

 Benches can be found throughout the cemeteries looking like this.

 A vivid reminder of how our servicemen and women are willing to give their life for our country. I was told this is still done today in the battlefield when someone is killed in action. Their gun, boots and helmet are used to make this military cross.
May God bless all of our Veterans - both living and deceased!
God bless America!

 

SEASON OF FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS!

The season of Fall is here in Sierra Vista amidst the mountains. We do not have any leaves changing colors but we know it is Fall because the temperatures are dropping. No more 90's and a jacket in the early morning hours is appreciated.

Part of our Fall celebration is the annual Blessing of Pets for St. Francis Day. Since Oct. 4th fell on a Saturday we celebrated on the 3rd with our school Mass outside. Our pastor and organist were both out of town so I recruited the chaplain from Fort Huachuca-Fr. Pete Uhde and three of our students who are taking piano lessons played the keyboard for us. (The puppy is taking lessons too. )

The pets lined up with their owners after Mass for a blessing.

This student's pet died last year so he brought a picture of him for a blessing-gone but not forgotten.

 This little altar server was proud to hold the holy water through all the blessings.

 The whole family was present as their two dogs were blessed.

 

After the blessing a parent gave me a Packer cheesehead. A great gift for the feast of St. Francis. You wouldn't believe how many students come to my office to look at it and say, "May I please try it on Sister?"  And some even say-"Is it really made of cheese?" :):):)

Now for the real celebration of St. Francis Day.

Sr. Joellen and I on the 4th went to Mass together at St. Andrew's Catholic Church and then out for breakfast. I was disappointed there were no cinnamon rolls. I was ready to celebrate with one. Then a stop at the Hallmark store to see if they started their Christmas card sale that is in October. (not yet). Off to Papa Murphy's Pizza where we ordered our pizza for dinner that night while we watched the Nebraska football game. (The pizza did not get eaten though until Monday.) One of our teachers from All Saints Catholic School picked us up to watch the Junior High football game that some of our 8th grade boys played in.

 After the game, he invited us to dinner at The Olive Garden. It was a four course meal ending with pumpkin cheesecake. There was no room for pizza that night.

Sunday, after Sr. Joellen got home from religion classes, I started to preheat the oven for our Papa Murphy's Pizza when the phone rings and it is our landlady who is also our school nurse, calling to invite us to her father's 90th birthday party at his house which is down the street from us. So off went the oven and off we went walking to the party-card in hand.

We enjoyed Filipino food and homemade chocolate cake. Again-no room for pizza.

Monday night we at last ate our St. Francis Day pizza and it was still good with the special ice cream we bought to go with it.

During this month of October, for P.E. classes, we are teaching how to jumprope in a variety of ways because we will be doing the Jump Rope For Heart the first week of November. I have improved my jumproping skills. I can now jump backwards and cris-cross and beginning Double Dutch. Many of our students bought jump ropes to practice at home and all of our non-jumpers are now jumping. :):):)

Since teaching P.E. this year I have discovered how little P.E. equipment we really had so I wrote a grant to the Huachucans to fund our program. I was given a check for over $1,700 to buy what I need. The students were thrilled and so was I.

 

Our week of Fall Break began and I took a day to celebrate it in Tucson with friends. I went to the installation Mass of Fr. Miguel as pastor of St. Odilia's Parish.

They also began that day the 50th Jubilee Celebration of their parish.

After that we went to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate a friend's birthday by enjoying a chocolate cheesecake.

During Fall Break there was  a funeral of a young border patrol agent who died. The funeral procession came through two fire trucks that held up the U.S. Flag. What an honor to a fallen agent.

There are still a few days left to our Fall Break!  I intend to enjoy them :):):) and this wonderful Fall Season!