Summertime Fun!

Thumbody enjoying playing amoung the lilies in our front yard, on this particular Summer's day. He knows not to pick them, and only touch them gently, so we can enjoy their beauty for a long time to come.

The 2 photos above remind me of a song that is sung on a Dr. Suess VHS tape we own called The Hoober Bloob Highway. The song goes like this: "... "and we had fun among the daisys, under the bright, beautiful bright, blue sky... where we can lay about, nice and lazy..." The song is about Summer. I can't remember the rest, but the minute I saw him in my lilies, I thought of the song. I am sure it will be a scrapbook title of some sort, when I'm done with it. I guess I will have to watch the movie again, to refresh my memory on the lyrics.

This photo is of Truthseeker's first bike ride in the street. Mind you, we live on a dead end street, so there's no outlet. It's pretty safe, and the neighborhood kids ride up and down it every day. Truthseeker (6) still uses training wheels, and a helmet. (Which none of the other kids use, but I feel is necessary, and a good habit to get into.) It was definitely an enjoyable day.

Little Morton Salt "Boy"?

This photo I took of Thumbody, (who by the way, I am thinking about changing his "on-line" name to "stubborn as an ox"), at the park on this sunny Summer afternoon. Doesn't he remind you of the little Morton Salt Girl? Well, boy in this case. I just love these little bucket hats. I am totally drawn to them at the store. They always seem to catch my eye right away, and how can I say no? This is Thumbody's 2nd bucket hat, as he outgrew his orange one, a year ago. Have I ever mentioned that I love Baby Gap? I can't help myself, and they have great clearance racks. Whenever I go to garage sales, I look for anything nice that is Baby Gap. It wears wonderfully, and the resale value is very good. I purchased this hat on my last outing to the mall, at of course, Baby Gap, along with the cutest pair of leather tennis shoes, on sale for $12. Even Wal-Mart's shoes are more than that. The hat was $8. Well, worth it, in my humble opinion. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I am not a name brand shopper. Most everything I buy, is penny-wise. I just can't help myself, when it comes to this particular store. Luckily, I only venture in, a few times a year. BTW, Thumbody loves his hat, and wears it all the time. In fact, it's hard to get him to take it off inside the house. I just think he is such a cutie. Now, if I could only work on his stubborn attitude. Strong willed is an understatement, with this child.

8th Grade Graduation a Huge Success

Last Saturday, Scott and I hosted the 2008 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony at our home. It was a cookout/potluck/swim party. A lot of people from our local homeschool coop attended.
As you can see from the photos, there were a lot of people here, and these photos were taken just as the party started. About 15 more people showed up, after these photos were taken. The yard was a mass of guests. It was an enjoyable time.
Our Kindergarten graduate. Skaterboy wore this cap and gown, when he graduated kindergarted, however he was a bit smaller than Truthseeker at that age. I remember the gown reaching mid-calf on Skaterboy, and as you can see, it is at Truthseeker's knees. This is a photo of my parents and Truthseeker.
Here is a photo of both of our boys, with their other grandma. My dh's mom.
Everyone enjoyed the cookout, and enjoyed the beautiful day God had provided for us.
The pool was a mass of kids, and got quite a workout. Our pool is on the small side, compared to many pools, but the kids enjoyed it, all the same.
Beating the heat, and having fun in the pool.
The 8th Grade Graduating Class of 2008 - LIAHE Homeschool Coop Group.

Happy Apron Day...

No it's not a national holiday (although, National Apron Wearing Day, was last month...) I designed and sewed this apron for my mother's birthday, and gave it to her this past weekend. I am also in the process of sewing one for my grandmother, but it's not quite finished yet. I found the initial design on-line, and it's called the Emiline Apron. I did not purchase the pattern for this apron, but used what little design skills I obtained in college, to design the one I made, pictured below. My mom was thrilled btw, and it fit her perfectly.
As you can tell my my sewing mess on either side of the photo, it took time to find just the right fabric for this apron, from my stash. All is put away now, and all is quiet in my house, as the guests have left for home along with my teenager, whom I miss terribly, but am enjoying an almost empty house.

So you have a lot of questions about homeschooling?

Homeschool at our house - Skaterboy building atoms... (ie: protons, neutrons, and electrons)

QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING?

First of all, you are not alone. Before I started homeschooling, I had tons of questions, and a lot of generic answers, which I'm afraid didn't help me very much. A lot of the answers I got were the well meaning types such as, "you'll have to figure out what's right for your family", or "don't worry, everything will be fine". Those types of answers. So, I decided to compile a list of questions that I had in the beginning, that I didn't get concrete answers for. I wanted to give you honest answers; concrete answers, like I would have liked to have been told when I first pondered this idea in my head.

Please keep in mind, that I have homeschooled for only 2 1/2 years. I am nearly a newbie. So this comes from a semi-newbie' s point of view.

First question... 1) Where to start?? So many types of curriculum, so many approaches - what is the best and how to decide?

Yes, all the types of curriculum can be overwhelming. I had a difficult time initially adjusting to homeschooling because I had worked at a public school for many years. That was the only way I knew how to teach. That is the only way I had been trained to teach. So at first, I ran it like my classroom at school. Big Flop!!! My kids were tired, and sick of worksheets, and hated every minute of it. There was not much difference between home and school, and their friends were at school. I knew that I had been called to homeschool so I proceeded forward. This year, I finally got it, and Charlotte Mason helped me. She had more insight on a child's education, than anything I had ever read. She explained that children need real books, about real things, written by real people who had real life experiences, in order to learn. She also said that children need to see, and explore, and have the freedom to sit for hours watching things in nature, and enjoy learning about real life. These things they would hold dear to their hearts. Rich literature tells more about history, than any textbook IMHO. Books about astrologers, the first scientists, adventurers, the Bible. All these things tell real stories about real people that lived on this earth. Children remember these things, and they become a part of them for life. They don't forget them. Of course, in order for a child to have a well rounded education, one needs math, and there are many different math curriculum's out there. I use Forresman Wesley for my 6 YO, and I use Saxon for my oldest ds. I really like Saxon. He really knows what students need to learn math. It's not at all confusing, and very easy for even the slow learner to achieve. I chose Forresman Wesley for my 6 YO because of the hands-on activities, and colorful pages.
I am using A Beka for 6YO's reading program. It is quite advanced, so we are taking it very slowly. He is learning and grasping it in small amounts, but I enforce a no pressure atmosphere in my homeschool. There is no pressure to learn. If one of the kid's is struggling with a subject, and I see that they are getting frustrated, instead of pressuring them to push forward, we take a break from it for a week or two. Then we go back to it. Low and behold, in most cases they are ready to receive the information, and press forward, after that little break. Sometimes after a break, they will easily complete the assignment they struggled so hard with the first time. They just needed time to process it. My homeschool is run so totally different from when I started, and everyone is happier. Everyone is excited to learn more things, and about new people. They are enjoying learning, and IMHO that is when learning is cemented in their brains.

Second question: 2)? What to say to so many who express strong doubts (esp. parents, neighbors, etc.)

Okay, there will always be people out there that express doubts or opinions about what you feel is best for your child. At first, I was rather defensive. Now, they can have whatever opinion they want, but I know in my heart I am doing what is right for my kids, and no one can change that. For over a year, I didn't tell my parents that I was homeschooling, because they were so anti-homeschool. When I finally told them, they said that they had wondered if I was, and that of all their kids, they knew that I would be the one who could do it, and do a good job of it. They said that their opinions of homeschooling had changed dramatically, and that they thought that homeschooling was becoming so common, that it just wasn't an issue anymore. I find that people who are judgmental at first, only react that way, because they don't really know what we do. They always relay the most extreme cases, that they have heard of, but when they find out how very normal we are, and how normal our kids are, they usually end up asking me how I do it. Some have even considered homeschooling themselves after I have told them all the great things about it. I have had many people approach me and ask me questions about how to get started. I think if you approach people that are skeptical with an open mind, and not get defensive, they too will form an open mind, and be more accepting.

Third question: 3) How to address internal doubts - WILL my child succeed if I take this non traditional approach?? Will my child blame me exclusively for every doubt that she ever has about herself.? ("If only I'd gone to regular school, I'd already know/be/think.)

Yes...Yes... Yes... more than you will ever know. They will flourish like you could never have believed. No, your child will thank you for making school interesting and a positive experience for them. My 15 YO ds, who attended public school until 7th Grade, loves being homeschooled. He still has friends from his old school, that he sees when they get home from school. His best friend lives down the street from us. My ds is in school the same time as he, and when they are both done for the day, they are either here, or at his house. My 6YO, who has always been homeschooled, also has a friend down the street that is 6. He attends kindergarten at a public school. They play after school as well. Their friends don't think of them any
different than any of their other friends. My 15YO even has a girl who likes him that goes to his old school. She never really showed much interest when he attended school there, but now she likes to email him, and stuff.

I can totally relate to this paragraph, can you? (This is quote from an acquaintance, who is contemplating homeschooling, emailed me...)

"I live in a community where there is very little support or understanding. The schools are all rated very high and so the attitude is, "we have the best, why bother?"? There is also so much materialism (I'm the only one I know who cleans my own home and one of very few who?raises our children without a nanny) so much competition (how many activities can you sign your children up for?!), and so many condescending attitudes toward God and religion (for the uneducated, is the attitude, though I did just get my doctorate!)? I want the best for my children, but defining that in ways that aren't supported (or understood) by the community can be so hard.? BTW, that's why I do love reading your emails - so affirming! - and I have so much deep admiration for everyone who is part of this virtual community. "

My answer to her:

I live in the same sort of area. The public school that ds used to attend, was in a very wealthy part of town. Most of the students that attend the school come from very wealthy families. The school has a lot of money, and the students have a lot of high cost material possessions. This was very difficult for my son at first, because he wanted what they had, and we just couldn't afford all that fancy stuff. Even if we could afford it, I don't think 5th-7th graders need $200 cell phones, expensive I-pods, and laptop computers. He was always saying that so-in-so had this or that, or these expensive shoes, or cloths. It was making my ds very materialistic. Thank goodness he is no longer that way. People were very snobby there too, especially the parents. A lot of them go to our church too, and are snobs at church as well. Well, what comes around, goes around, their kids are snobs too. I'm just so glad that I don't have to deal with them anymore.

Last question: I'd like to address the socialization issue.?

It really depends on how you look at this question. We have a huge homeschooling support group, and coop in our town. This helps a lot, knowing other homeschool families in the area. Our group meets on a monthly basis, and the kids have a ball together. We are also in 4-H. Our 4-H club is predominantly made up of homeschool kids. We consider them family. Our local YMCA hosts homeschool PE for the kids, 3x a week, and there are group field trips we take, picnics in the park, you name it. Our kids are very social, but with kids we want them to be social with. I am sure you can agree that you don't want your child to be social with every kid out there. Homeschooled kids are usually very polite, good natured, and are able to communicate with all age groups, where as some children who attend a school outside the home, can be the type of child we don't want our kids to be friends with. So you have to ask yourself this
question: Do you want your child to be friends with a few really nice kids, or a lot of kids, that are rude, obnoxious, and bullies? I mean, how many people do you hang out with on a regular basis? You probably have a few good friends, and a lot of acquaintances, right? That's perfectly normal. This is normal for your child too. In answer to your question about a child not having people to play with during the day, when his friends are at school, just tell them what I tell my kids, that you are in school too, and you can play with them after school. This works with no problem, with my kids.

So I hope I helped a little. It's hard being a newbie. I had so many questions at first, and had all the same one's you have. The only thing I can say is (and this is the truth) the longer you do it, the more comfortable it will become. Children are very perceptive, and know when we are unsure of ourselves. The more comfortable you become homeschooling the more comfortable they will be learning.

Blessings,

Amy

What I did today....And the day's not over yet.

Well, yesterday dh finally got the garden tilled, and mixed in all the organic hummus manure, organic peat hummus, sand, and top soil. It was quite a chore, since he had to mix each in one at a time with the tiller. That's about 4x back and forth across the garden. He finished just before dinner. After dinner, I went outside (before cleaning up the kitchen), so I could plant before it got dark. Wouldn't you know it, we got company. And company that had never been to our house before. Isn't it always the way it works? So my kitchen is a mess, and I am covered in dirt from the garden. Yippee!!!! But we visited until it got dark, and after they left, I went inside to clean up the kitchen. I did manage to get a row of potatoes, a row of carrots, and a row of radishes planted. Tonight after supper, I will plant the rest of my rows.

This morning I read a story from Uncle Wiggily, to Hunter and Ethan, and also the story of Moses. He completed a dot-to-dot on Moses, and drew a picture of him in a basket. He has been working on 3 syllable words, and completed an assignment on that. In math he is learning about money, and was able to use nickles and pennies to add different amounts of change.

I have laundry out to dry on the line, and have been watching the kids swim most of the day. It's a scorcher, that's for certain. I finally punched holes in all the kid's assignments from the last 3 months, and put them in their respective binders. I can feel school, slowly coming to an end for the semester. At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have also been searching my Charlotte Mason websites, and planning and purchasing books for next year. This is a task in itself.

I still have laundry to finish, and dinner to fix, and then of course the kids need baths tonight, and then there is the planting, I fore mentioned. It doesn't seem like the day will end soon enough.

Dh is finally home from work. I am thrilled to tell him that our stimulus check is set to arrive by June 6. He will be happy with this news. So I will say farewell for now.

Just Like Back When....

Today, was just like any other day, except that we didn't have any power. For 10 hours to be exact. Last night we had a terrible storm, and when we awoke we found that our street was covered in tree branches. This is not an uncommon sight in our area. Last year I watched as the huge cottonwood tree next door got hit by lightning. I literally saw sparks and fire, and then a huge branch fall to the ground. It was a blessing that it didn't hit anything, or anyone. Anyway, with no power for most of the day, the neighborhood suddenly came alive. Most everyone decided to sit outside and visit with each other. This is an uncommon sight. I even got the chance to see our next door neighbor's wife, that I have never seen or met, for the 4 years we've lived here. Everyone was commenting on the storm, while the men cleared the branches from the street. It made me think of how life should be. Or at least, the way life used to be. It was a nice treat, for those 10 hours or so, and the weather was perfect. Sun shining, and not too hot. Perfect visiting weather. I can't say that I hope the power goes out again, any time soon, but it sure was nice for today. As you can see by my post, the power is back on, and everyone is again, inside their little comfort zones. How sad that makes me, as I look out across the street to the house where everyone just a few hours ago, gathered to chat, because there was nothing better to do.
In a way, I hope it happens again....soon.

Little Picassos

This is Truthseeker's take on Cubism. Age 6 This is Skaterboy's take on Cubism. Age 15.
I think they both did a great job, don't you?

Backyard Painting

As most of you know, I am very fond of art. I was an art major in college for 2 years. I still enjoy art, and still do some dabbling in it, for fun, from time to time. One of the things I want to impress on my children, and one that Charlotte Mason's teachings recommend, is to study the famous artists. We started our art study a few months ago, with Pablo Picasso. I asked the kids who they wanted to start with, and the answer was of course, Picasso. We studied his painting called "Three Musicians", and learned all about cubism. Each of the kids painted their own picture using the cubist style. I will will post their paintings later.

Our second painter we learned about was Jackson Pollock, who is famous for his modern style painting called "Lavender Mist". Jackson Pollock was an American citizen, and died at the age of 44, in 1957. He is considered one of the most well-known Abstract Expressionists in our country.
His style of painting is better known as "splatter painting". Below are pictures of the kids painting their own pictures using the "splatter paint" technique. Of course, I sent them outside to do this one.

My views on Obama, and why I will not be voting for him. .

I don't really like to get political with my blog, but this man has gone too far, in my opinion. I realize that I hail from the same state that this man occupied as a political figure, but I am not proud of that fact. This man sickens me from the core of my body.

I feel that I have a moral obligation to spread the word to those who may not know much about this man, and are considering voting for him.

Many of us grow weary of those who don't view our children as Scripture does - a blessing and a reward. But on March 29th, Obama claimed that some children (those born out of wedlock) are more than a burden - they're a punishment. I guess that's why he sees nothing wrong with allowing infants to be murdered only seconds before they're completely born. In fact, he's also against banning the murder of those who miraculously survive abortions.

"While in the Illinois state Senate, Mr. Obama voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. This Act addressed cases where, during an abortion procedure, the live infant was actually born. The act would have banned killing the living child." - Washington Times

"He [Barack Obama] has opposed the Supreme Court decision that finally upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act against that form of infanticide. Most startlingly, for a professed humanist, Mr. Obama in the Illinois Senate also voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act . . . . Furthermore . . . [Obama] “voted to kill a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state.” . . . - Nat Hentoff of the Washington Times

'In answering a question about abortion while campaigning in Iowa last year, the always-deliberative Mr. Obama said: "I think the American people struggle with two principles. There's the principle that the fetus is not just an appendage, it's potential life..."'

Potential life?

Testimony of a nurse who participated in a partial birth abortion procedure:

"The baby's little fingers were clasping and unclasping, and his little feet were kicking. Then the doctor stuck the scissors in the back of his head, and the baby's arms jerked out. ... The doctor opened up the scissors, stuck a high powered suction tube into the opening, and sucked the baby's brains out. ... Now the baby went completely limp. He threw the baby in a pan, along with the placenta, and the instruments he had just used."

"Then they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it." (Deuteronomy 21:7, NKJV)

It is no surprise; when many Christians don't live like they believe children are a gift from the very hand of God, society soon follows suit. Only now, society, and many of its beloved leaders, has gone beyond viewing children as burdens. Now they are "punishments" - mistaken bits of refuse worthy of death.

"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood." (Psalm 106:38, NKJV)

Memorial Day and My Hometown...

Many people can live in a town for a long time, and not realize that someone so profound, lives there. I grew up in Antigo, WI. A small town, in which I am proud to have belonged. In my younger years, I had heard of John Bradley, and his association with Iwo Jima. Although I had also heard that he didn't like to talk about it much. This didn't surprise me, as my own father, who was stationed in Taiwan, during the Vietnam War, doesn't like to talk much about that, either.

About a year ago, my dad encouraged me to watch the movie that was created by John Bradley's son. It really explained why it was so hard for Mr. Bradley to talk about his time at Iwo Jima.

My Grandmother's husband, was also at Iwo Jima, during that time. He has since lost his memory due to Alzheimer's, but one thing I remember most about him, was how he talked and talked about his time in Iwo Jima. How ironic it is, that a man that was well known in a small Wisconsin town, would be in the same place, at the same time, as a man that I consider my grandfather.

Here is an excerpt from The Antigo Daily Journal, printed on Memorial Day 2008. It tells of this man, John Bradley, and what he means to patriotism today. I hope those of you from Antigo, and those of you that have previously lived in Antigo, enjoy that which is printed below.

Hidden Places: Stunning model rescued from attic

May 24, 2008

Tom Bradley remembers the story well.

“I was playing with my friends up in the attic and we found this big old wooden box,” he says. “Well, of course we had to see what was in it.

“I came running downstairs and told my dad, ‘hey, did you know there was a statue of Iwo Jima in our attic?’ My dad asked, ‘Didn’t I have a big chair on that crate?’ I said yes.

“He said, ‘well put it back’.”

Thus lies the tale of one of Antigo’s greatest treasures, truly hidden for decades and decades.

And as the nation commemorates Memorial Day, it is a fitting subject for a not-so-lighthearted visit by the Hidden Places crew.

Today, thanks to the best-selling book, ”Flags of Our Fathers,” written by his son, James, and the movie of the same name, the nation knows the story of John Bradley. He was a private businessman, who years before carving out a life for himself and family in Antigo, was among the six men who raised the flag over Iwo Jima’s Mt. Suribachi in a scene immortalized by Associated Press photographer Abe Rosenthal.

Literally millions have seen that famous Iwo Jima image and millions more have looked in awe on the Marine Corps War Memorial in its likeness that dominates Arlington National Cemetery.

But only a handful of people realize that tucked in a quiet hallway off the Bradley Funeral Home’s main lobby, there is on display the original plaster model of the Iwo Jima Memorial, signed and presented by sculptor Felix De Weldon to John Bradley many years ago.

“It’s the only one that I know of,” John’s son, Steve, says.

For those who truly don’t recall the story, a quick recap.

The battle of Iwo Jima lasted from Feb. 19, 1945 until March 26, 1945 and was marked by some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific campaign. When it was all done, the Americans had suffered 6,821 casualties with 19,683 missing or wounded. The Japanese lost 20,703, almost the entire fighting force.

It was by all accounts, horrific.

The U.S. had been expecting a fairly straightforward rout of the much smaller Japanese force, and were battered by the enemy’s dug-in fortifications and wily tactics. Located on the island’s south side, Mount Suribachi was a tactical goal defended by the Japanese heavy artillery and an extensive network of underground tunnels.

On Feb. 23, 1945, Marine patrols managed to ascend Suribachi’s summit, with American flag in hand.

Rosenthal got the shot, actually of the second banner, and the rest, as they say is history.

There are six flag-raisers in the shot—Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, Mr. Bradley, Harlon Block, Michael Strank and Rene Gagnon. Mr. Strank, Mr. Block and Mr. Sousley died shortly afterwards while Mr. Bradley, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Gagnon became national heroes within weeks.

They led a war bonds tour that raised $24 billion for the military efforts, the largest total ever, and boosted the morale of the home front at a time when the war was far from won.

Mr. Bradley eventually returned to Antigo, prospered as the owner of the Bradley Funeral Home and gave generously of his time and money to local causes. He was married for 47 years and had eight children.

(An aside here gentle readers: The reporting crew at the Antigo Daily Journal had an outstanding working and personal relationship with Mr. Bradley through his business and philanthropic efforts for many decades. He was a true gentleman—his sons follow in his footsteps—and the word “courtly” does not even begin to describe his persona. John was a class act.)

What Mr. Bradley was not was a publicity hound. Reticent in nature, that has given rise to the mistaken notion that he was not proud of his Iwo Jima service. Nothing could be further from the truth. His was a patriotism that ran deep and fierce, exhibiting itself in his careful respect for the flag—a tradition his sons continue today—and his love of family and community.

As the Antigo Daily Journal wrote at the time of his passing, “If the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima symbolized American patriotism and valor, Bradley’s quiet, modest nature and philanthropic efforts shone as an example of the best of small town American values.”

Back to the tale.

Just a few days after Rosenthal’s image flashed across wirephoto machines in newsrooms across the nation, Navy Petty Officer Felix de Weldon got his first look at the picture. De Weldon was an Austrian immigrant schooled in European painting and sculpture assigned to studios at Patuxent Air Station in Virginia to paint a mural of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Jim Bradley wrote in “Flags” that “de Weldon could not take his eyes off the photo. In its classic triangular lines, he recognized similarities with the great ancient statues he had studied.

“He reflexively reached for some sculptor’s clay and tools. With the photograph before him, he labored through the long night. By dawn he had replicated the six boys pushing a pole, raising a flag.”

Just two days after the photograph was first seen, members of the U.S. Senate called for a national monument modeled on the image. The California State Legislature petitioned the federal government to build a memorial and thousands of ordinary Americans wrote to the president appealing for the project.

Soon, actual work commenced on creating a cast bronze memorial based on the photo, a painstaking and slow process. The surviving flag-raisers , Mr. Bradley included, posed for their likenesses, with pictures used to recreate the images of the three men who had died in the battle.

The completed statue rose 110 feet from the ground and weighed over 100 tons. The six figures averaged 32 feet in height, carrying rifles 16 feet long. The monument cost $850,000—the equivalent of $6.8 million today—totally covered by private donations. It was the world’s tallest bronze statue.

De Weldon used an unusual approach, first building the figures; bone structures with a steel framework and then adding sinew and skin and finally the uniforms and equipment.

The effect stunned onlookers—including Mr. Bradley, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Gagnon—who attended the unveiling on Nov. 10, 1954.

James wrote that his father recalled the moment as “awesome...The statue was just so huge, so impressive, I could hardly believe it was a reality.”

James suggested that at that moment, his father began to remove himself from public life.

“People around him noticed that he seemed already to have receded from the whirl of voices and faces around him,” James wrote.

Weeks, or perhaps months later, the wooden crate arrived by railroad, a final gift from Felix de Weldon to his favorite flag-raiser.

“Felix took a liking to my dad,” Tom recalls. “After the dedication, Felix boxed up the working model and sent it to him”

For four decades it never came out of the crate.

Mr. Bradley stored the sizable box for a time in the basement of the funeral home, then on Sixth Avenue and Clermont Street. When workers complained about having to shift the rather heavy packing crate around to get at equipment, he shipped it a few blocks east to his Fifth Avenue home, installed it in the attic, and added the heavy chair for good measure.

There it stayed, and stayed, and stayed.

A couple years after Mr. Bradley’s death, his two sons in the business, Steve and Tom, constructed a new funeral home on Neva Road.

The Bradley sons say it never really crossed their minds to have any sort of Iwo Jima tribute in the funeral home—their father had ingrained his reticence at that sort of display into them at a young age.

But their mother, Betty had a simple request.

“She said that she thought it would be appropriate if the statue was displayed,” Steve says.

And so, bowing to the matriarch, Steve and Tom modified plans and turned a storage closet into a tastefully lit alcove.

Today, protected by a simple velvet rope, the model stands atop a catafalque covered in dark fabric. The brothers have added four flags—representing the United States, the Marine Corps in honor of the five Marines who participated in the flag-raising, and the Navy, Mr. Bradley’s branch of service.

A fourth flag is also prominent. It is the Gold Star Mother banner, in honor of those who lost their sons on the Iwo Jima shores.

Mr. Bradley’s long-shrouded statue is hidden no more. Now, it serves as a tasteful reminder of a man, a moment in history, and a sense of enduring patriotism.

Some tales must be told, and some things deserve to see the light of day.

(Hidden Places is a weekly feature of the Antigo Daily Journal that examines some of the more unusual, unknown, or unexplored places, people and events of Langlade County and occasionally farther afield. The crew would like to thank the Bradley family for their willingness to share the story of the Iwo Jima model. To suggest an idea or offer a comment, call Lisa or Debbie at the Antigo Daily Journal, 623-4191, or e-mail them at hiddenplacescrew@hotmail.com.)

I am so Sad...

I just read on a friend's blog that my favorite Christian singer's daughter was killed accidentally last Wednesday. Her teenage brother backed over her in the driveway, with his SUV. It is so heart wrenching when something like this happens, and it seems so senseless. Last Friday, I watched an episode of Oprah, on this very subject. Please, I beg you, if you are reading my blog, anytime you are on your way to go somewhere, walk behind your vehicle before getting in. It could save a life. This very thing almost happened to us a few weeks back, when we went to pick up our new entertainment center. The truck was loaded full, and we decided to back into the driveway, instead of pull in forward. Before I knew it, my husband gasped, and I said what? He said that Thumbody was behind the truck. Before we could even see him, Thumbody had dashed out of the house, and was behind the truck. It nearly made me sick. Thank goodness Scott looked behind him before he continued to back up. This is so serious, and Oprah said is one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children today. So please, please, watch out for those little ones.

Here is the link to Stephen Curtis Chapman's blog about his daughter Maria:
http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/?roi=farm-12778976-

Please keep these babies safe... I beg you!!!