Aunt Mary- Dave's Midwestern Ohio Memories

Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s

Aunt Mary

On Veteran’s Day, my 93 year-old aunt Mary gave an organ recital at the Landings, a senior living facility in Sidney. Watch her play this famous Marine hymn, From the Halls of Montezuma, in honor of her late husband, Leo, aka Legs Francis, who served in the Marine Corps during WWII. Impressive how she can still play the organ so well and also remember the significance of the song at the end when asked by her daughter, Glo.

Here are the lyrics to the poignant song with my favorite verse underlined:

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

My uncle Leo has been the subject of several previous blogposts, one about his business and the other about visiting their home in Russia with my parents as a kid.

Aunt Mary in 1928

All my aunts in 1945 at the end of WWII, with 19 year old Mary second from right

Here Aunt Mary on the left with her sister Ruth and their musical instruments in 1946

The happy couple's 1947 wedding photo

Candid photo from my parents wedding day in May 1947, showing Mary & Legs on the right

Dad and Legs taking a nip before the family Christmas party in 1947

Aunt Mary in 1963

Christmas 1988 photo with three of their grandkids. Legs unfortunately passed away 7 years later at age 75.

2016 photo of Aunt Mary and with all her descendants

Aunt Mary, please keep up the fine organ playing to the enjoyment of all your relatives as well as the Landings residents. And uncle Leo, keep guarding those pearly gates!

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