I never grew up with my paternal family and once I started doing my family tree, I wanted to know more than the little bits I already knew. My father lived out West after he and mother separated. Each had a 'first' family before myself and my brother came along. So we have many 'half' siblings. I know them all but grew up with my mom's first 3 children. I don't call any of them 'half' siblings, cause family is the most important thing, and the more I have the better I am for it.
So I had download a free family tree program from the internet and start inputting all I know. Time consuming but enjoyable seeing how it all comes together. Then I viewed it and noticed how lopsided it really was. I knew my Dad's parents' names but never knew them. So off to the public library I go. I pull the obituaries for both and then head to the cemetery to pay my respect - and introduce myself!
Well, proudly I can say Grandpa, and 4 of his 5 sons served. His other son was our city's fire chief. I can boast here :) But sadly I never had the chance to meet one of them. I waited too long. I decided to take my son with me to help search at the cemetery. As we walked through the gates to the Soldier's Field - not a clue where they are in there - the name Parker was right there on the back of a big black stone. We found Uncle Bob. His stone even had a photo. Then Robert says, 'There is your Uncle Harry' just over there. I walked over and looked at the inscription and said, 'No, that isn't our Harry cause he just died in 1999 and this Harry died in 1941. Must be another Parker family, or maybe another family member.' So we walk around and not far off was Grandpa. William H. Parker. As I stood there and read his military information, I started to wonder what he did in the war and what he looked like. I was wishing there was a photo on his stone too. I'll have to ask my siblings on Dad's side if they have photos and such. I stood there awhile - not knowing exactly what I was feeling but somehow felt overcame with great curiosity. We then walked around a bit more and found our Uncle Harry and Uncle Charlie. There in that field, lay my Grandfather and 3 of his sons. My father who was also in the war, lays in rest in BC. As I walked back out through the gates, I felt such a sense of pride but at the same time I felt something drawing me back in. There was something - I just didn't know what at the time.The following are photos I took that day of each of the stones we came across...
 |
| Soldier's Field, Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, Ontario |
|
|
Robert "Bob" Parker / SA0947 / April 26, 1929 to Aug 9, 2002 / Paratrooper Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry / Korea 1950-53 |
I took this photo as well in case it ended up being a relative and saved it on my computer as 'maybe family.' Corporal Harry Parker 10th Battn C.E.F. / 16th March 1941 |
|
William H. Parker / DR. / 1892-1944 / R.H. & R.F.A. / B.E.F. France / 1914-1918 |
Footstone |
|
Harry Parker / PTE. Kent Regiment / 1919-1999 |
Charles H. Parker / Cook / RCNVR / 1926-2005 |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment