Here is a newspaper clipping from the Syracuse Herald-Journal from 1968. Joanna Stouffer Wilkinson is meeting with the Mayor (as a representative of the D.A.R) as he signs a proclamation urging Syracusans to observe Constitution Week. Mayor Walsh would go on to serve as a Republican Representative in Congress.
Anyone who knew my mother knows that she is a list maker and a planner. Here are all her notes for Her and my father’s wedding in September 1966.
This is the grave of Captain Bernard Toft who died in the the Battle of Saipan during WWII. I haven’t been able to find that much information about him online, but I found this
“Capt. Toft picked up Sgt. Baker and was quickly shot in the stomach…Capt. Bernard A. Toft knew he wouldn’t make it due to blood loss from his stomach wound and ordered his Sgt. to standby with fixed bayonet until he died, so he wouldn’t see them chop his head off. He received no valor awards for his action that day and his family genes died with him. His remains are buried in the Punchbowl in Hawaii. Let us never forget the Capt. Bernard A. Tofts of our great nation on Memorial Day!” Source: Armchair General Mailbag
There is no date or information on this picture and I found it in with a letter from England, written in 1948. I suspect my father (Robert Wilkinson) took this picture in June of 1966 while he was on his way to Vietnam. While he was on his way to Vietnam, they plane broke down and they had to spend several days in Hawaii before heading on to Vietnam.
I am not sure why he took this picture. Toft was from New York so maybe he new the family.
10th Anniversary Yearbook/Directory for St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Camillus, NY.
I contacted the church and I am going to send this this and several other items for their historical archive. Apparently, the Pastor in this picture is still alive and is a member of the church.
I am not sure of the date or the context of this photo. It could be something related to the DAR or some of her co-teachers.
This is a newspaper article from the Syracuse Herald-Journal. Joanna Stouffer Wilkinson is working with some of her Students putting items into the Kiln. In case anyone was wondering, yes, I do still have the owners manual for this kiln. So if anyone needs it…
Undated water color done by Frank Wilkinson (Paternal Grandfather).