West Virginia Funeral Directors Gather in Charleston

While we were in Washington DC for the NFDA Advocacy day this year we made contact with the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and starting planning a visit to their 2010 conventions. Upon arriving in Charleston and finding out that we would be setting up right by the front doors of the hotel you couldn’t wipe the grin off of Josh’s face. We had hustled down from Michigan; stopping for a night in Parkersburg, where we participated in those holiday parades. I have said this before but we do enjoy joining state conventions and talking with the area funeral directors. Meeting them in an educational and social environment always leads to great conversations and we learn what has been trending in the state.

The local media took an interest in the week’s happenings and we spotted more than one reporter interviewing West Virginia Funeral Directors to get their take on the state of business. Both Frank and I were interviewed a few times for nightly news pieces and newspapers from around Charleston. One additional benefit to parking outside of a convention center is that the public is then welcome to come inside. We did have guests join us all day from offices and building all over downtown.

Curwood Festival in Owosso, MI

Two parades in one week is a huge treat for us, love seeing communities come out and have fun together. The Curwood Festival on Owosso, MI has to be one of the craziest parades I have been to. We were one of the early floats and pulled off to then set up, both Josh and I kept getting distracted by the other participants. Little motorcycles chasing each other, go-carts that looked like plains and more music then you could keep up with. The route was filled with drum and bugle corps, a bagpipe band and a few local marching bands. We had a such a great time, we were able to have the doors open before the parade ended and welcomed guests as they made their way around town for activities. The staff at the Jennings-Lyons Funeral Chapel passed out water bottles to guests and even had a vintage hearse in the parade.

As you can see we were right in the heart of the activities, luckily we had some time to walk a few blocks over and walk around the park and main festival area.

Memorial Day with Hinsey - Brown

What better place to spend Memorial Day then a wonderful small community like New Castle, IN. A close knit town that comes out in full force to say thank you to those who have served. the entire city participates in a variety of activities. We were there to join Hinsey - Brown Funeral Service at their facility for an open house and to be in the parade. For two days we greeted visitors there to see our exhibit and take tours. The staff from Hinsey - Brown chatted with the guests and served hot dogs.
Both Josh and I enjoy parades, I love to great everyone and pass out candy. I think Josh just likes to honk his horn for the kids. We had a wonderful reaction and a live about 40 people long before we were set back up at the end of the parade. For the rest of the day we talked with folks about their visit and the community. This was a special few days for us and a wonderful visit.

The Gardens At Olive Branch Cemetery

We often talk about Reflections being a unique way to view history but when a cities or churches records have been destroyed, the funerals might be your only key to finding the roots of a community. We joined GH Herrmann Funeral Home for the dedication of a cemetery that had been moved to allow for progress in the Greenwood community. The graves in the cemetery dated back too the 1800s and with two fires having destroyed the records it will take a team archaeologists to help. That's is just what is going on here, the family at GH Herrmann, while moving each grave to a new location within The Gardens At Olive Branch grounds are working with archaeologists to put some of the history back together. So many people have interest in ancestry these days and filling the gaps here could help many folks on their quest to trace back roots. I have often wondered how far my family goes back in the United States; it has been easier to find records in Scotland. I guess that is what makes it fun.

We shared the day with an open house and then a very touching dedication that included bagpipes and a dove release. These are both services the funeral home offers and for those not having experienced either it was a one of a kind day. The staff and family great guests all day, shared some history and fellowship then joined everyone for a lovely meal.

This is a wonderful group of caring funeral directors and an amazing facility.

Celebrating Armed Forces Day in Cincinnati

Our last event was hosted by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. This event was in the making for more than a year. We met the school’s administrator, Karen Giles last year at the Ohio Funeral Director’s Convention in Columbus. She was extremely impressed with our exhibit and worked with us to create an event at her school. It was our pleasure to be a part of Operation Welcome Home a 3 day event celebrating Armed Forces Day. It included a full day CEU program for funeral directors and alumni reception on Friday. Saturday was an open house with presentations, ceremonies, and cook out for the public to enjoy. On Sunday we moved to the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, the second largest cemetery in the country.

On Saturday Karen Giles who is a retired Colonel in the Air Force, gave a presentation about her experience as the director of the Port Mortuary Center at Dover Air Force Base from 2003-2008. This Base is the intake and preparation point for all military and government employee deaths overseas. The focus of her talk was about the process of returning our fallen service men and women to their families for burial. It was sobering and heart wrenching to hear about the reality of war and the terrible effects of IEDs and combat deaths. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for their families to cope with not being able to see their loved ones as they remembered them. I was also filled with a sense pride to learn how much attention to detail and care is ensure they are returned in their proper uniform and to allow the family to view the remains if possible. Colonel Giles’ presentation truly reminded me how important a funeral can be to give closure to the deads’ loved ones.

On Sunday we moved to the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. This is the 2^nd largest cemetery in the United States and is more the 800 acres. Frank and I were able to take a cemetery walk and view a small portion of this vast and beautiful cemetery. Our tour guide Diana Brake gave us a great tour. It was a fantastic history lesson. It is amazing that historical scope that can be found by researching the lives of those buried. We learned of Cincinnati’s heritage, history, its industries and its place in Ohio’s and America’s history. The architecture and burial customs were fascinating as well. I encourage everyone to go to cemetery pick out the most intriguing headstone and start digging into the past (figuratively of course). It is amazing where it can lead.