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Veterans Day Tribute to World War I Dead
In honor of Veterans Day I posted yesterday an essay about my uncle Frank Ebner Gartz, a World War II navigator. Today I’d like to post about a tribute to a family member who lost his life in World...
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Thankful for 100 years of family words
Like so many Americans on Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for a loving family and the ability to take for granted the basics of food, clothing and shelter; for having a warm bed to sleep in; for living...
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An Immigrant’s Gift: a New Year in America
In 1910, Eastern Europeans overall were inflamed with a passion to immigrate to America, where, some truly believed, the streets were literally paved with gold! (Seventy percent of immigrants to the...
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY—ACROSS THE DECADES
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL ACROSS THE DECADES! Here’s an adorable valentine, February 14, 1942, from Lillian Koroschetz to Fred Gartz – before they were married. Love is timeless. (Scroll down to see...
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Women’s History Month-Dressmaker Extraordinaire!
Aloisia (Louise) Woschkeruscha, wearing her masterpiece, 1912 Celebrating Women’s history month, I’d like to introduce you to an extraordinarily artistic and talented woman: my mother’s mother, Alöisia...
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Bethel Church helped the West Side rise from the ashes
At West End and Keeler Avenues in Chicago’s West Garfield Park, an elliptical blue-green dome rises above the surrounding bungalows and two-flats. It is the pinnacle of Bethel Church, a symbol of...
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1952 Love Poem celebrates Poetry Month
April is poetry month, and although there are many famous and fabulous poets to acknowledge and praise, I want share a poem my father wrote. Dad loved to write poetry. Dad was sensitive, and his poems...
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A Memorial Day Tribute – Infantry and Air
Lt. Frank Ebner Gartz DOB 1924 This Memorial Day, I’m remembering two relatives who each served in one of the 20th century’s two world wars. World War II – Frank Ebner Gartz My dad’s younger brother,...
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Veterans Day Tribute to World War I Dead
In honor of Veterans Day I posted yesterday an essay about my uncle Frank Ebner Gartz, a World War II navigator. Today I’d like to post about a tribute to a family member who lost his life in World...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Thankful for 100 years of family words
Like so many Americans on Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for a loving family and the ability to take for granted the basics of food, clothing and shelter; for having a warm bed to sleep in; for living...
View ArticleClik here to view.
An Immigrant’s Gift: a New Year in America
In 1910, Eastern Europeans overall were inflamed with a passion to immigrate to America, where, some truly believed, the streets were literally paved with gold! (Seventy percent of immigrants to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Veterans Day evokes Thanksgiving Thoughts
On Veterans Day, I always think of my beautiful, young, handsome Uncle Frank Ebner, whom I never met in person, yet I feel I know him intimately. Why? Because I have nearly 300 letters written to and...
View ArticleSanta and the refugees
Tis the season to spread the magic of Christmas to our children–and a letter from Santa can be just the ticket, especially when the letter comes directly to their door, in a real envelope, from a human...
View ArticleTerror atop the train!
On Christmas Eve 1910, my grandfather, Josef Gärtz, set off on what would become a harrowing journey toward America. His burning dream of a far-off land and the fiery drive he needed to get there,...
View ArticleNew Year Nightmare
On New Year's Eve, 1910, a young immigrant boards a steamship from the Port of Bremen to head out into the unknown, across the Atlantic to America. Using his wits, Josef Gärtz overcame every obstacle...
View ArticleLanding the immigrant dream
On Jan. 11th, 1911, (1/1/11) a massive steamship, named "Friedrich der Grosse" (for Frederick the Great, a one-time Prussian ruler) pulled into New York Bay. My dad's father, Josef Gärtz, was on that...
View ArticleHAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY—ACROSS THE DECADES & Remembrance:
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL ACROSS THE DECADES! Here's an adorable valentine, February 14, 1942, from Lillian Koroschetz to Fred Gartz - before they were married. Love is timeless. The post HAPPY...
View ArticleNotre Dame, Earth Day, and Resurrection
Notre Dame Cathedral fire on April 15, 2019 Notre Dame burned just days before my flight to Europe. April 19th, I’ll hop on a jet to cross the pond, flying to Germany to visit two special people. (More...
View ArticleVeterans Day evokes Thanksgiving Thoughts
On Veterans Day, I always think of my beautiful, young, handsome Uncle Frank Ebner, whom I never met in person, yet I feel I know intimately. Why? Because I have nearly 300 letters written to and from...
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