September 8, 2014 (Monday)
This is the Angelina County courthouse that stood in Lufikin, Texas, for 50 years until replaced by a modern structure in 1955. Notice the statue in front of the building. It is the World War I Doughboy Memorial, and engraved on its pedestal are the names of Angelina County soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
This is Joe Ross, an Angelina County boy who returned home after the war as a Purple Heart Veteran. He was my grand-uncle, brother of my grandmother. I remember he walked with a limp, so I assume he was disabled as a result of his wounds.
Uncle Joe had two kids, a boy and a girl, slightly older than I. On our infrequent trips to visit, we always had a good time playing together as young adolescents. Their cousins lived nearby, and we enjoyed each other also. They were older, but we had good times together. The boy’s name was Linwood Rowe, and I made him my hero. I admired him greatly. I remember he came by my grandparent’s home in Houston as he reported for induction during WW2. Sad to say, I’ve lost track of him and his sister. I was first cousin, once removed, to all the “kids” I’ve mentioned. Distance separated us and I visited them a very few times growing up.
This is the WW1 Doughboy Memorial, now displayed at the 1955 courthouse as it was at the one that preceded it. The Doughboy Memorial has been joined by the Veteran’s Memorial, which honors those from Angelina County who served in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam. All I know is what I’ve seen on the internet, so perhaps by now veterans of other wars are honored there.
As the Bible says, there will be “wars and rumors of wars.” World War I began in 1914, 100 years ago, and the century has been literally filled with wars. As terrorists in the Middle East continue to grow in number and get louder in their threats against us, our leaders are developing a strategy to deal with the new threats. The swords are not yet plowshares, and the lamb is not yet ready to lie down with the lion. It goes on.