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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Reunion time

We had a great McClure family reunion this weekend. We met Saturday at Block High School in Jonesville, and some of us got together today up in Stonewall, LA to visit with Aunt Estelle, Aunt Rena, and her daughter Robin. A good time was had by all.

Aunt Rena told us that Aunt Inge, Uncle Sam's widow, had passed away over a year ago. A friend of hers contacted Aunt Rena and was able to send her some of his military memorabilia. He died of a heart attack in December of 1973 while serving as a Battalion Command Sergeant Major in Germany. She had, among other things, several of his medals and awards which were mounted in a shadow box (which included a Bronze Star for valor he won during the Korean War), as well as some unit crests and the flag from his casket. He served in the Marines from 1942 - 1946, then served in the Army from 1948 until his death in 1973. Just another part of our heritage.

Another interesting thing she had was a copy of his funeral service. The hymn from the service was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". which I have loved ever since I joined the LDS Church. It was in our "old" hymnbook, but is not in the "new" one, published about 1985. It is an older hymn, but I don't remember who wrote it or when. Several churches have it in their hymnals.

I'll try to include more about the reunion soon.