Are We There Yet

Are We There Yet

Traveling with children is a challenge. I don’t remember too much about me as a child going on vacation, just a few snatches here and there.

Every year we went to Batavia, New York to visit family. We went by car and many of those trips were before interstate highways. It would take all day to travel from Gloucester City, NJ to Batavia. My brother and I must have had some entertainment. For me it was probably books or coloring books and crayons. I remember that all radio stations were country/western. We would always stop for a picnic lunch about halfway on a not busy road. I remember sometimes it was next to railroad tracks and sometimes a stream. We would have sandwiches, if made at home - cheese (mom didn’t want us getting food poisoning). There must have been coolers, I just don’t remember. If we made sandwiches at the rest stop it was canned meat – spam or deviled ham. Of course we had to have baked beans, cold right from the can. This was mom’s favorite and the first word she spoke as a baby – even before mama or dada. I don’t think I’ve had cold baked beans since for no particular reason. We would be excited for progress when we passed Painted Post and knew we were close when we reached Geneseo.

About every two years or so we went to Tampa, FL to visit my grandparents if they hadn’t been to see us in a couple of years. Today people routinely go to Florida but in the 50s and 60s rarely. It took Disney World to make Florida a destination for those of us in the northeast. I don’t remember driving to Florida that often back then. There was no I95 so small roads through towns for a 3 day trip. One time during a winter trip my brother was a baby, and he came down with chickenpox and the doctor said no problem going but keep him warm. My mom kept him in a snowsuit during the day and a different one at night while the daytime one aired out.  By the time we got to Tampa he was covered with pox from head to toe. Usually, it was a trip by train or bus with my mom. Dad used his vacation week to go to Batavia with us. Once when I had cereal for breakfast on the train it was awful – they put cream on the cereal. Another time at one of the stops it was pouring rain, and a boy came on selling peanuts. We bought a bag and didn’t think anything of the bag being wet since it was heavy rain. To our surprise they were boiled peanuts, something I never had and haven’t missed since. Some of these trips were during segregation or the civil rights era. Having not experienced segregation it was a surprise when crossing into Virginia and the bus stopped and all Black people were told to move to the back of the bus. At a bus stop somewhere in the south we got off the bus to go into the station food counter and stopped when all eyes were turned on us. We went into the side for “colored”. That’s when we noticed the water fountains on the platform were labeled “white” and “colored”. Then after protests started on another bus trip my mom and brother sat in the front seats and I behind them. I was about 10 or 11. A Black woman came on and sat next to me. She was very nice. The thing I marveled at was she had very large feet. Little did I know that my adult feet would match hers. I was too little to realize that her sitting in the second row of the bus and sharing the row with me, a white child she was making a statement. My family was fine with the situation but I’m sure there were some on the bus who didn’t like the changes happening. Another time when we went to Tampa on the train, the trip started out with some drama. My brother, Terry was preschool age and terrified of large buildings. We got on the train at 30^th St. Station in Philadelphia. My mom had to drag him through the station with him screaming at the top of his lungs.

My children’s first trip out west was when Travis was 18mos and Sean 4. It’s a long car trip. The places we visited were fun and sometimes with surprises but the drive itself was torture. Impossible to count the “are we there yet” and how it seems like the kids need to see every bathroom on the route. Coming home Bill said “How about I pull into the next airport and you, and the kids fly home? I’ll drive the rest of the way by myself.”

Traveling with kids definitely makes us want a vacation from our vacations.

#traveling with children, #Batavia NY, #Tampa Florida, #Segregation, #Civil rights protests, #Arlene Moore,  #Arlene Baker

Veteran's Day in Washington 2022

 

I had an amazing Veterans Day weekend. Reporting to Fort Meyer at 6AM to be Covid tested and go through 2 security checks. Then boarded a bus with others to the White House for breakfast. Another security check before entering.

A military orchestra was playing in the foyer.

A buffet was spread in the State Dining Room with Lincoln’s portrait looking over me. The food was lovely.

I also had a picture taken with Chief of Staff General Milley.

Then I went to the East Room to eat beneath the portraits of George and Martha Washington and hear remarks by the President (taped), First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

I sat next to two charming young Navaho brothers who were in the New Mexico National Guard. I was also so honored to have a picture with Medal of Honor recipient, Thomas Payne. 

Guests were then taken to another room but first another security check and leave our possessions (mine was a wallet and camera). In the next room each of us was introduced individually and had a picture taken with Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and her spouse (Joe Biden was in Egypt for the G20). Don’t know if I’ll ever get the picture – last year’s guests didn’t get theirs. Then it was back to the buses and on to Arlington Cemetery. White House guests were escorted to the rear of the amphitheater to see the Vice President lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was torrential raining and people on both sides of me had umbrellas that they kept aiming their runoff on me.

After that ceremony myself and about twenty t other “VIPs” were escorted to the stage in the amphitheater for the national ceremony. Each of us was introduced to the audience and later when I watched the video of the ceremony on CSPAN my name was scrolled on the screen. It was very exciting. Vice President Harris gave the main address.

Then, as National Commander of the Army and Navy Union I laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After this we rode busses back to Fort Meyer for my car. I was staying in a hotel in Fairfax with the rest of the Army and Navy Union members. The next day ANU spent the day doing ceremonies and laying wreath at ten monument/memorials throughout Washington and Arlington.  

Great weekend.

#Arlene Baker, #Veterans Day 2022, #Arlington National Cemetery, #Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, #White House Veterans Breakfast, 

Video from Arlington www.facebook.com/ArlingtonNatl/videos/1939139263144596

www.c-span.org/video/?524171-1/vice-president-lady-participate-veterans-day-observance-part-1

www.c-span.org/video/?524171-101/vice-president-harris-veterans-day-remarks-arlington-cemetery

Traugott Vogel

 

Air Force Tech School and Emanuel Vogel

Today I shared a story with my church about a young man I met while attending “Aircraft Maintenance School” at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. The young man’s name was Emanuel Vogel, and he was born in Germany. We were in the same Sunday School class and were ushers in church. He told me about his family and that his father, Traugottt Vogel, had written a book called Under the SS Shadow. Traugott was in the Hitler Youth Corp. His father was a SS officer. When Germany got desperate they sent Youth Corp teens into battle during the Battle of the Bulge. Traugott who was only about 14-yrs-old was scared and ran away to find his father. When he did he found the father had been killed by resistant fighters. No one would help him bury him and the priest would not allow the burial to me in the graveyard. Only the town drunk would help him bury his father outside the graveyard. Eventually Traugott got a job on a US Army base. Eventually he was able to accept the Americans. He attended a Billy Graham crusade and gave his life to God, eventually becoming a minister of churches in Germany, Texas, Arizona and California.

#Chanute AFB, #Emanuel Vogel, #Traugott Vogel, #Under the SS Shadow, #Arlene Moore, #Arlene Baker

Beginning life in COVID-19

We’ve started living in a different world. It’s just the first week for most of us. If you’re a senior citizen (and yes those of us in our 60s and don’t think we’re seniors- we are) most of us are staying in and keeping distances. Since I have places to go usually each day it seems weird and confining. This morning I thought of Anne Frank during WWII. Many Jews were hidden in small spaces without access to the outside for years. We are so fortunate since we can go for a walk or drive. Drive through food is still an option.

Last night we asked our son, Travis to stop by the house. Today is a Friday in Lent and Bill is adhering to the practice of not eating meat on Fridays in Lent. We gave Travis money and asked him to pick up a pizza for us tonight. The scene seamed surreal. We stood on the top of our front steps, Travis halfway down the front walk and our grandchildren (age 4 and 5) riding their scooters on the sidewalk. A few times they started to run up to us and Travis had to remind them they’re not to come close to us to keep us healthy. A neighbor across the street came out and standing on her sidewalk joined the conversation. Later someone walking their dog came up the street and would cross the street to avoid coming near other people as she made her way up the block. A short time ago this would be strange but not in the new normal.

Some of my meetings have been postponed for a month and that is starting to seem too soon. Church has been canceled week by week. The Battleship NJ (where I am a part-time tour guide) is closed. Yesterday they announced that the encampment program is canceled until October 1^st. That far off date is a shock. Most places are canceling for two weeks and then reassessing. While that seemed too short, October 1^st seems like a lifetime away. Businesses are closed except to life sustaining businesses. So many people unemployed. Our savings and retirement accounts are being hit hard and we may face financial distress that our parents and grandparents faced in the 1930s. We’re now closing our borders to everyone. Non-essential travel is discouraged. This is a new era; one we hope will be past soon.

#COVID 19, #Coronavirus, #isolation, #Anne Frank, #Arlene Baker

At Work In the Grocery Store

For most of us we spend more time at work than any other activity except sleeping. I spent 37 years as a teacher and then school librarian. I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years both before and after being a regular teacher. Before that I worked four years in a grocery store working my way through college. I refereed high school hockey, basketball and softball for about 10 years while working at my other jobs. I wish I kept a journal all those years – so many memories lost.

I worked at Two Guys grocery store in Cherry Hill where I stocked shelves. Mary Matolla, an older lady, and I were the only female stock “boys”. The guys were a variety of young and old. I don’t remember all the names. Jack Cassidy was about my age. He was a typical young guy of that era, long hair, drugs, former college student. He was a pleasant guy to work with. Another one whose name I can’t remember was about the same age and went to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Reds Gilbert(?) worked part time at Two Guys and full time at another grocery was with my mom. He got me the job. John Slane was the assistant manager of the stock bunch. He was a homosexual whose adversity made him a little negative. But he was always nice to me and I counted him a friend. Myrtle Kennedy, Chris and Shirley were some of the cashiers. Myrtle was older and a little tough but nice too. Chris was about my age and like Jack Cassidy was a child of the hippie generation. Shirley was a large lady and a nice person, basically happy. Later my mom would occasionally see her at bingo. Earl was the produce man who lived in Westville. Minnie Rosencrantz worked in the meat department. I grew up in an Irish Catholic town and unbelievably I didn’t know Minnie was Jewish until after several years she was talking about a holiday. Mr. Hanigan was the receiver. Mr. Pratt was the area supervisor. He was a large heavy man who had been an Army officer and ran and treated us like we were his soldiers. Eugene Salzgruber worked in the department store side. I dated him a few times and was on a company bowling team with him. He was a big happy guy. I think he eventually married an older woman with children and died somewhat young.  My job was mainly the “candy aisle”. It ran the entire length of the row, quite long. I’ve never seen that much in any other store. Also, there would be displays on the endcaps. I also stocked other things as needed. The worst was the sugar. The pallet weighed 1 to 2 tons you and would pull it out with a manual hand truck that had the forks of a forklift truck. The aisles were wide enough that the pallet could be pulled down it. Occasionally it was puzzling when a customer would call you boy when my hair was to my waist and I wore a pink smock. OK, the guys at that time had long hair. I hated the beginning of the month when food stamps came out and I would have to jump on the register. No scanners in those day and items would be marked like 3 for 59 cents. That way if they bought just one the price would be a penny more. Registered didn’t calculate change. Sometimes I think I should have continued to work part time after I started teaching since I made less teaching. It wasn’t such a bad job.

#Work, #Grocery stores, #52 Ancestors, #Two Guys store, #Arlene Baker, #Arlene Moore, #52 Ancestors - Work

A Very Patriotic 4th of July

A Very Patriotic 4^th of July

52 Ancestors 2019 – Independent

In 1976 the 4^th of July was a big deal. We were celebrating our country’s 200^th birthday. This was the culmination of months of events marking the start of our nation. For me that day was especially memorable. I didn’t go to a parade, visit an historical landmark, go to a picnic or do any of the thousands of events observed throughout the country. I was in San Antonio Texas.

What was a Jersey girl doing there? Going through or as many know surviving basic training. I had joined the Air Force Reserve. I was 25 and had been a teacher for several years. I left for San Antonio the Monday after school let out on the previous Friday. I flew from Philadelphia to San Antonio. Once there I was met along with other trainees by a sergeant who took us to a room to wait for others and a bus to Lackland AFB. When we got off the bus on base we were taken to a room where additional information was given. I think most of us were feeling a little intimidated. We had to go to a bathroom and give a urine sample to check for drugs. Even though we were not in this reception room that long I made a few friends that would be in my training flight and later in my tech school class.

From there we went to our barracks. These were modern facilities ^nd floor with a “patio” underneath where we would form up into ranks. Another squadron was on the other side of the building. On the first floor between the two “patios” was the mess and the laundry rooms. The barracks was divided into two rooms with half of the 50 or 60 squadron recruits in each. Our bunks were singular. With a locker at the end of the bunk and chair against the wall. The drill sergeants had their own room. Only 1 sergeant stayed at night. Beyond that was the latrine and day room. The first days were tough. Years later I found a letter in a pension file in the US Archives that a 2nd great uncle wrote to his mother. In that first letter after joining the 7^th Cavalry, he asks her can you get me out of this. I think most of the people who join the military think this.

with air conditioning which was really welcomed in the Texas summers. The barracks were on the 2

The 4^th of July came, and we were only a week and a half into training. Basic training is a specific number of days and weekends and holidays don’t count. So, 4^th of July meant I more day added to basic training. We didn’t train that day and spent it in the barracks. But then in the evening we could go down on the “patio” and watch fireworks that were miles away. We were disappointed not to spend our country’s 200^th birthday with a little more excitement. But think of it. We were serving that same country perhaps not as dramatically as those Americans in the Continental Army but what a terrific 4^th of July.

#July 4, 1976, #Air Force basic training, #Arlene Baker, #Arlene Moore, #Bicentennial, #Air Force basic training 1976, #52 Ancestors Independent

First

First, 52 Ancestors 2019

I was the first in my father’s family to graduate from high school. I was also the first to graduate from college. The only reason for this was my amazing, supportive family. My dad, Earl Moore lost both his parents at the age of 5 and 6 years of age. He had older siblings, but they were hardly able to support themselves let alone take on him and his 8-year-old sister. My grandfather was a Mason in Fernwood Lodge in Philadelphia and so they were sent to the Pennsylvania Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown, PA. Orphanages were usually bleak places in the 1920s, but this home was a good place to be. The facilities were beautiful with nutritious food. There were music lessons, sports, and education in Elizabethtown’s public schools. He would have been educated through high school and even some possibility of college. But even a wonderful orphanage is still an orphanage, so he could leave at 16-yrs-old. He went to live with his sister and work took the place of school. His parents didn’t go to high school. His father, my grandfather lost his father at 5-yrs-old and went to a children’s home until his mother remarried several years later.

I was blessed with terrific parents. They valued education. They were interactive with me, teaching me all kinds of things. They encouraged, told me I was smart, and I could achieve. While many teens in my town had afterschool jobs, they forbid me to work. Instead they wanted me to take academic courses, play sports and be a Girl Scout. All these things enabled me to graduate from high school and go to college. They also instilled a sense of volunteerism. Something I’ve done all my life. So, while I may have been the first in my father’s line its is totally due to their support and nurture.

#First

#52 Ancestors 2019

#Earl Moore

#Arlene Baker

Going to the Chapel

Bill and I decided to get married while at Annual Training for  the Army National Guard in June of 1981. We picked July 18^th giving us about one month to plan. My parents were probably thrilled I was getting married but I’m sure my mom was a little disappointed that it would not be the wedding she would have like. My parents were married in the home of my dad’s sister, Caroline. It was a simple affair with just a few friends.

We planned a church wedding at the First Methodist Church in Gloucester City, NJ – my home town. We only planned for a matron of honor and a best man. My matron was Letitia Sarracino. We were both teachers at the same high school where we were students just one year apart. My friend Irma Zank was the soloist and we three were active in that church. Jimmy Ridge, a distant cousin played the organ. Bill’s best man was his uncle, Joe Baker.

I had picked a gown that I easily got off the bridal rack at Penney’s. No alterations necessary. The day of the wedding came, and it was a sunny, hot July day. The photographer was someone my dad knew who took the Little League pictures. Our neighbor loaned us his nice car and one of the students from school asked if he could be the driver. We arrived at church, but Bill’s mom wasn’t there. After about a half hour delay she arrived with her sister-in-law and nephew Bill and his family. Nephew Bill couldn’t find his shoes and that held them up. Meanwhile my Bill was the room at the rear of the church not knowing what was happening. He worried I might have changed my mind. The ceremony continued without any other delays.

The reception was in my parents’ back yard. Me, my mom, her friends and mine all helped to make the food. My friend Judy made sure the food was ready to eat and her husband served drinks at a home bar set up in the yard. My mom wanted music and so she got some sheets of plywood laid down in the yard and my brother’s boom box provided the music. Friends, neighbors and relatives were invited. The high school softball team I coached all came too as did some of our army friends. Everyone seemed to have a good time. I had chosen my cake with several pastel colors. Letitia ‘Tish’ was pregnant, and I had told her to pick a dress she like in whatever color she wanted. She chose a peachy, melon color so the cake was planned to go with what ever she picked. Bill and I cut the cake and left the rest to be cut by Judy. When our first anniversary came around I asked if we were supposed to eat a piece of wedding cake. That’s when I found out that the top layers of the cake had slid off and onto the floor due to the high heat. No air conditioning at my mom’s house.

Eventually the day came to an end and Bill and I left for a trip out west. We stayed in a nearby motel that first night and then headed to New Mexico and Arizona for a two-week honeymoon. My mother-in-law took care of Bill’s 4 kids at her home in Cape May until our return.

#52 Ancestors, #52 Ancestors 2018, #Weddings, #Arlene Baker

#52 Ancestors Challenge Week 2 Favorite Photo

Picking a favorite photo was a difficult choice to make. There are so many photos that I like. This photo was my mom’s favorite so since she has passed away feel a connection. That’s me on the left, my mom, Millicent (Wiedrich) Moore with the shovel and my grandmother, Hazel (Bristol) Wiedrich with the crutches. They spent all day burying car batteries upside down to make a walkway to their home. Environmentalists are gasping today but this was about 1953 in DeSoto Park Trailer Park in Tampa, Florida. Hazel lost her leg as a teenager, but she never thought of herself as handicapped and could do just about everything.

This picture is my favorite. It’s my mom and me on the front steps of our house in Gloucester City, NJ.  The picture below is my grandfather, Edward Wiedrich, my mom and her sisters about 1931 in Genesee County, NY. They were so poor it reminds me to be thankful for the many blessing I have.