These last few years have certainly been strange as we continue to emerge from the isolation of the pandemic. March–Women’s History Month–was a mixture of virtual events and in-person events–some with everyone wearing masks and some with no one wearing masks. What I did learn was how rewarding it is to be in person sharing my mother’s story and hearing other people’s stories.

We traveled around the state from Kewanee to Lanark-Lake Carroll, Downers Grove and Rolling Meadows. We did one virtual event. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. I am finding very few WWII Veterans attending events, but their children–the Baby Boomers–do attend and even grandchildren. There also seem to be lots of people just interested in the WWII story. Everyone seems to have the same theme that their parents did not talk about their service, and we didn’t ask the questions. At one of my events there was a mother daughter team who both served in the Army at different times. One gentleman talked about his father’s service in the military at the beginnings of the space age–he told a story about his father and a monkey in space.

I think we all have to cherish any of the moments and memories that we have.