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"My American Hero" an essay by Lena Willit

 My American Hero is Sergeant William Bruck, currently serving in Iraq.  He's not only my Hero, but he is a close cousin too. William is the son of my mom's sister Rose. He is the fifth born of eight children. William was a mischievous child. He might have been a real trouble maker, but everyone still loved him. After High School, he joined National Guard, then switched to Army Reserves while going to college in Wisconsin. While in Wisconsin, he met Natalie, his future wife. After their marriage they moved to Carleton, Michigan and had a baby boy.  His name is Gregory.  Two years later, Zechariah was born. Despite Zechariah being very sick, when he was a few weeks old, William re-enlisted again. Shortly after, the Country was shocked by the events of September 11th. Even though William was a  "weekend warrior" his unit was called up for active duty. He packed his bags, said his good-byes and did his duty. He had a lot of reasons not to go to Iraq...He didn't wan...
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"My Personal Hero" by Julia Joblinski 3rd place essay contest

 When I read the word hero, I at first thought of some World War I veteran, or maybe a real famous person that you want to be when you grow up. But then I thought of my cousin, Donna Bruck.  Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. It runs in the family. Grandpa Joblinski had it and Aunt Rose (Donna's mother) had it. Donna thought she was too young to have this type of cancer, she was only twenty-four years old.  Once she was diagnosed, she never gave up hope.  She has an amazing courage that outshines almost everybody I know. She had o have a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments. All of her hair fell out because of the chemo.  It finally grew back in, and I remember how excited she was to finally be able to put a barrette in her hair after the treatments were over.  She has used her experience in fighting and overcoming the cancer to help others that have been diagnosed with this dreaded disease.  She is now the coordinator of an orga...
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My Germans to America, part 2 : Thekla Rabitz

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 I never knew very much about my second great grandmother, Thekla REBEL WICKENHEISER.  I knew she was married to my second great grandfather Josef Anton WICKENHEISER and they immigrated from Germany with my then 12 year old great grandfather Niclaus.  Through the years I have gleaned more information, a little at a time. Thekla was born in Rohrbach Aichen-Friedberg Germany on 31 December 1832, and married Josef Anton WICKENHEISER  on 24 January 1856.  The children came in quick succession. Franz Josef born and died in 1856, Franziska born and died in 1858, Agnes born in 1859 and died in 1868, Niclaus born in 1860, Elisabetha born in 1863 and died in 1867, Maria Anna born in 1866, Valentin born and died in 1868. Rosa born in 1869, Franz born and died in 1871, Emma born and died in 1873.  In 1875 the family and their three surviving children left their sorrows behind and emigrated to the United States, hoping for a better and healthier life.   Accor...
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 THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH   It all started with a book.  A very good book.   First read by Doris, she recommended it to her friend Linda.  Liking the book, Linda recommended it to her daughter Alison, her sister Rana (me), and her friend Diane.  Diane recommended it to her sister Julie.  The book, “The Widow of the South” by Robert Hicks was the fictionalized story of a true event that happened at the end of the Civil War. The synopsis of the story was this: There was a huge battle fought in Frankfort Tennessee that should never have been fought.  The war was all but over. Still, the two opposing sides met on field of battle, and after the battle. 9200 men and boys lay dead and dying. The Confederate leaders commandeered a nearby plantation Called Carnton House as a field hospital, and soon its’ corridors and bedrooms were filled with the detritus of war. The mistress of the house, Carrie McGavock and her lifetime companion (and slave)...
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Joe's Coat

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edited Greatest Generation

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  THE GREATEST GENERATION: A VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE They called it the “Greatest Generation,” the time when all America pulled together to preserve our way of life and to protect our Allies.   The men and women of the 1940’s gave their all.   The men lined up at the recruiting centers to enlist; the women took off their aprons and went to work at the factories and businesses that were left without sufficient manpower.   Victory gardens replaced front lawns, as the army was sending canned goods to the troops and families had to grow and preserve their own food, Children took their wagons to the streets to collect tinfoil, metal, and other things that could be used in the war effort. Food, gasoline and other products were rationed.   My grandmother, Lena RIVARD WICKENHIESER sent three sons to war. Her eldest son, Lawrence WICKENHEISER was a Navy pilot.   He   spent much of World War II as a flying instructor at Grosse Ile Naval Air Base. He stayed acti...
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                                                             THE GREATEST GENERATION       They called it the “Greatest Generation,” the time when all America pulled together to preserve our way life and to protect our Allies.   The men and women of the 1940’s gave their all.   The men lined up at the recruiting centers to enlist, the women took off their aprons and went to work at the factories and businesses that were left without the manpower that formerly kept things running.   Victory gardens replaced front lawns, as the army was sending canned goods to the troops and families had to grow and preserve foods to replace those things. Children took their wagon...
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