Earl sitting on the bombs waiting to go on a mission over Germany, and as he was leaving for the mission.
Notice the snow on the plane--they flew in all kinds of weather.
Ora waiting at home with babies in her arms. A Blue Blue Christmas.
With Christmas coming soon, my thoughts are wandering around the war torn areas of the world.
I think of the service men and women in harms way.
I think of their families back home, longing for the days when their loved ones will be home.
I think of their thoughts of what their loved ones might be like after their tours of duty. I remember when Karly's grandfather (my husband)
was flying bombing missions in Europe during World War Two. I remember the frightening thoughts that I may never see him again
and he may never see his children grow up.
But, on the other hand, I had the love and support
of two sets of parents which made life more comforting for me.
I also remember Christmas four years ago which was a completely different feeling.
I would like to share this with you because it was a very very special Christmas for me. Special because I was giving my three children a special gift
that would help them remember their father and what he did in World War two.
Their father, Earl R. Milne, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force
even though his I was pregnant with our first child.
It was a time of great patriotism for the entire country.
Most of his friends were already serving,
but his father had gotten him a deferment for working at
Milne Truck Line in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This was possible because the truck line was moving critical freight for the war effort. But Earl, with my approval, just had to serve his country,
so off to The Wild Blue Yonder he went.
When he returned from war duty in Europe,
at the end of the European engagement,
we lived with his parents in the old family home
on 163 So Main Street, St. George, Utah.
We stowed his army bag in the basement,
and as time went on and our lives became so busy,
we forgot about the bag.
Grandpa Milne, then Grandma Milne passed away
and their daughter Ruth and John Roundy inherited the old home
and lived there for years.
It was a fun place to live and I have VERY fond memories
of spending Christmas there before and after we were married.
Grandpa Milne always made Christmas such an exciting time.
And Grandma's house always smelled of wonderful things cooking in the kitchen.
But the army bag never showed up.
After Grandpa Earl died,
I asked Aunt Ruth several times if that bag was in the basement,
but she was positive it was not down in the gloomy basement.
After she passed away, her girls came down from SLC to clean out the house
and they called me to tell me Earl's army bag was there!
I took it home, dusted it off, opened it up
and found it contained only a few pair of army fatigue pants and shirts.
I asked several grandchildren if they wanted them
and they said "yes" but never took them.
Thank goodness.
I finally put them in the trunk of the car to take to the DI,
but as I drove there three different times,
something just wouldn't l et me drop them off.
Slow learner!
One night I was pondering what to do with Earl's clothes and a lite bulb went on.
Make a lap quilt for each of our children.
Of course I couldn't do that, so I tried and tried to find someone to do it-to no avail.
As a last resort I went to Scrap Apple Quilts
and asked if someone there could make them for me.
No!
While I was telling my sad story a man who works there part time came up to me
And told me he had been listening and he would make the quilts for me.
WOW!
I gave him a big hug right there.
It was difficult to decide on material, colors, pattern, etc.
I changed some things a couple of times,
and then worried if my "quilter" would come through in time for Christmas.
Anyway the object is to preserve some of my children's father's uniform
in some way that will remind them that their father served his country in war time.
That I am so proud of his accomplishment in becoming a war time pilot,
risking his life to serve his country.
These Memory Throw Quilts have some of the
buttons, pockets, epaulets, trim of hat, patches, etc. sewn on them,
with a label on one corner detailing
his name, serial, number, theatre of war, number of missions flown
and the types of airplanes he flew.
This was a fun and exciting Christmas for me and for the children.
Remember our service men and women
and their families in your prayers this Christmas.
Love to you all.
Grandma Ora
