) ( ) Good Morning Family! .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . \| |// ...and we even have decaf, | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! \ / ------ Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. Memorial Day 3. Queries at the Homestead 4. The Retreat If you've been with the family [the BOWER-L list] for at least three weeks, you'll probably want to skip the following paragraphÂ… TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Bower[s]/Bauer/Baur lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Bower[s]/Bauer/Baur lines or any of the variant spellings that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. If you haven't visited the homesite of this list yet, you are encouraged to do so. The Bower Family Homestead [a.k.a., the Homestead] is our homesite and the gathering place for much of our information. It waits to join us all in welcoming you into the family at <http://www.crosswinds.net/~bowerhomestead>, or you can use or shortcut URL of <http://embark.to/Homestead>. MEMORIAL DAY Tomorrow we Americans celebrate one of our most sacred and patriotic holidays - Memorial Day. Initially dedicated in May, 1868 as "Decoration Day" to remember those killed during the Civil War, its significance evolved to honoring the dead of all U.S. wars. For veterans, Memorial Day is the time to remember those with whom they served in battle, but did not return. For civilians, veterans and military alike, tomorrow is a time to pause, to reflect, on the valor and consequence of the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our nation, and gave that which was most precious.... their lives. As genealogists and family historians, we know that to appreciate who we are today, we must appreciate who we were in the past. Had my line of military forbears not suffered through their perils, I might not be here today. How could I not then, honor them today or any other day? But you know cousins, I sit here and realize that it wasn't just Bower's [my spelling] who went to battle, nor were they only from the U.S. Many of us - American, Canadian, English, Australian, Welsh, German, French, New Zealanders -- had a Bower, Bowers, Bauer, or Baur, etc. somewhere in our lines who became a military casualty - whether it was during the 20th century or the 16th - it doesn't matter the surname spelling or the nationality. So, family - let's ALL celebrate together on Monday, and pay silent tribute not only to those fallen from our respective nations, but our own Bauer, Bower, Bowers, Baur, etc. war dead. Masses went to fight upon foreign soils Their faces have been forgotten, But the wounds, the pains and the cries remain. Tired eyes mourning from within, looking out at Blood covered promises and sorrow worn victories. Searching for, yet not wanting to find, ...Buddies that have fallen, the victims of war. Pride in serving, the pain in remembering Colors of the crimson soaked sod ...and blurred visions of the mind. How thankful we should be, We should sing the tune of memories Of forgotten heroes standing at past history's door They went and came home, many returned in part... Let us remember those who returned in lifeless form ...and never stop looking for those labeled M.I.A. and P.O.W. Memorial Day, a time to pay tribute for the ultimate sacrifice. Celebrate with your picnics, beach outings and reunions, But teach your children about the sacrifices made, Pride in the United States and the courage of the past. Men and women, no matter how large or small the part, Left their all behind, ...footprints of war imprinted in the annals of time. Let us give them bitter-sweet honor of a hero-respect ...and a heartrending thanks. Extracted in part from a poem entitled "Remembering Their All" by Colleen Cook "Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime... let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude -- the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." -- General John Logan. General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868. QUERIES AT THE HOMESTEAD Several cousins have reported to me that we have older queries at our home whose e-mail addresses are bad. Please, if you have a query at the Homestead from 1998 or 1999, check to make sure your e-mail address is current. If it isn't, let me know and I'll change it immediately. THE RETREAT Have you joined our private site at <myfamily.com>? No? Well, zip an email off to Vicky Bowers-Gielau and tell her you want to participate. She'll send you an invitation to which you must respond. We've been having some down and friendly chats in our private chatroom the last several weeks and the cousins who have joined in are enjoying the additional closeness these friendly discussion have generated. There will be a chat this afternoon at 1 p.m. US PST [4 p.m. US EST]. If you send Vicky your request early enough this morning, she can get you signed up in time for today's gabfest! Otherwise, we'll be back in the chatroom on Wednesday at the same time. Come join us! We'd love to get to know you better! To those cousins with June birthdays, the family and I wish you a very happy and special day. You are loved!! Family...it's what we're all about. I really enjoyed this time with you. I hope your upcoming week is filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love. ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'