Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/05/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Barney, That's a very interesting story and an interesting photo. Thanks for sharing. Len On May 27, 2007, at 9:10 PM, Bernard Quinn wrote: > > Memorial Day, 2007...... One Saturday afternoon several weeks ago I > was driving along Route 16 on Maryland's Eastern Shore on my way to > Taylor's Island where I planed to watch work boats and take > pictures. As I drove through the tiny town of Madison which is just > a few miles to the west of Taylor's Island the late afternoon > sunlight and shadows in the grave yard of a very old United > Methodist church caught my eye. I stopped to take a look around. I > came across this scene. The church is old. That much I could tell > from the glass in the windows How old it is I don't know. The > church isn't wealthy. It has no running water and no parish hall, > not that these things matter as far as worship is concerned. The > cemetery is in need of some repair. The incongruity of this cross > among all the old stones struck me. > > Memorial day is a day for reflection and remembrance of those who > have gone before us, particularly for those whom have given their > lives in the defense of the freedoms that we enjoy in the United > States of America, as well as elsewhere. As I was thinking about > this the following image came back to my mind. I don't know the > story of Baby Willey. I wish I did. What I do know is that someone > cared very much. Baby Willey's marker had been very carefully made > from a PVC fence post. His name had been placed on it using the > kind of inexpensive self adhesive letters available at almost any > hardware store. It has no other details. No date of birth. No date > of death. No short, sentimental cliche which is almost obligatory > in these circumstances. That Baby Willey existed is what mattered. > Perhaps the same can be said of love. All that matters is that it > exists. The details are of little importance. > > Someone loved Baby Willey enough to make this crucifix for him. > They loved him enough so that they wanted him remembered and enough > so that they wanted what life he had celebrated. I doubt that they > had the resources for what richer people would call a proper head > stone. But, they didn't let that stop them. They did the best they > could with what they had at hand. I took this picture because it > said something to me about love, life, and caring. I thought that > Memorial day would be a good time to share it. What I wish for each > and every on of us on this Memorial day is that we will hold in our > hearts and minds people we care about as much as the person who > erected this memorial cared about Baby Willey. > > Please, take some time to remember this weekend. > > Barney > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Barney/Baby_Willey.jpg.html > > Comments and Criticisms Welcome! > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information