Happy Father's Day

special wishes to all the fathers on this day, and in particular, to Gerald Sherlock!





Thanks to Erik Kastner for Spell with Flickr

Brouillard Cake

Brouillard_90613 011, originally uploaded by shersteve.

You can have the cake and eat it too!

Brouillard's 50th Anniversary

Brouillard_50thFamily, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Deena, Millie, Dick, and Kristy pose at the beginning of the party held Saturday night at River Falls in Woonsocket.

Story of Taps

There was a printed handout available at the Jean H Joyal ceremony on 6/6/09 with the story of the origination of Taps. While the printout was a compelling read, according to the West Point web site, the more accurate version of the story can be found here.

It must be pointed out that other stories of the origin of Taps exist. A popular one is that of a Northern boy who was killed fighting for the south. His father, Robert Ellicombe a Captain in the Union Army, came upon his son's body on the battlefield and found the notes to Taps in a pocket of the dead boy's Confederate uniform. When Union General Daniel Sickles heard the story, he had the notes sounded at the boy's funeral. There is no evidence to back up the story or the existence of Captain Ellicombe. As with many other customs, this solemn tradition continues today. Although Butterfield merely revised an earlier bugle call, his role in producing those 24 notes gives him a place in the history of music as well as the history of war.

Read the full story of the origin of Taps here.

slide show - military honors for Jean H Joyal

This is the photo slideshow for the military honors performed by the Westbrook Veterans Honor Guard and the Patriot Guard Riders for Jean H Joyal on June 6, 2009.



The audio for the ceremony can be found here

Military Honors for Jean H Joyal

This is Steve Sherlock with a special edition of Jerry's Story. Dad and I drove down to Westbrook, CT on Saturday June 6th to participate in the military honors ceremony for Jean H. Joyal coordinated by his brother Albert. The Westbrook Veterans Honor Guard and over 60 members of the Connecticut Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders conducted the ceremony.

Time: 18 minutes, 34 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro My intro

This is Steve Sherlock with a special edition of Jerry's Story. Dad and I drove down to Westbrook, CT on Saturday June 6th to participate in the military honors ceremony for Jean H. Joyal coordinated by his brother Albert. The Westbrook Veterans Honor Guard and over 60 members of the Connecticut Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders conducted the ceremony.

This audio recording will replay the ceremony almost in its entirety. I say almost as there was about 3 minutes edited out from the recording. This was the period when the Veteran Honor Guard had taken down the town flag and were folding it according to military protocol before passing it to the First Selectman, Noel Bishop.

Master of Ceremonies was Ken Walker
The Blessing was given by Pastor Reverend John W Wilson

A couple of notes on the recording:

• This ceremony did take place on the green in Westbrook, CT. Some traffic sounds will appear in the background.
  
• The ceremony started at 10:00 AM and during the flag ceremony, you will hear the local church bells ring ten times.
  
• There is also a persistent minor clanking At first I wasn't sure where the clanking came from. Then as I listened to this again I found that the sound stopped when the flag ceremony began. I realize that the clanking was from the flag rope and connectors flapping against the pole in the gentle morning breeze.
  

On behalf of the Joyal family, I want to extend our thanks to all who made this event possible. It was a wonderful and moving tribute. Thank you!

---- ---- ----

This podcast has been a community service effort provided to extended Joyal family

For additional information, please visit jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network featuring Alexander Shulgin

Patriot Guard Rider's bikes lined up

Patriot rider bikes lined up in Westbrook CT to honor vets, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Over 55 Patriot Guard Riders showed up to honor Jean H Joyal with a brief and moving ceremony on the Westbrook, CT green on Saturday.

The Joyal Family is thankful for the outpouring of support.

More photos to follow.

John F. Sherlock Jr.

SHERLOCK, JOHN F. JR. ESQ., 90, of Robert St, Pawtucket died Saturday, May 30, 2009. He was the husband of the late Leora A. (Balkcom) Sherlock. Mr. Sherlock was born in Pawtucket, the son of the late John F. and Mary A. (King) Sherlock Sr. He was a Lt. Colonel in the United States Army serving in Europe during WWII. Mr. Sherlock was an Attorney in the City of Pawtucket for many years. He is survived by his children John F. Sherlock III and his wife Karen of McLean VA, Matthew P. Sherlock and his wife Patricia of Seekonk MA, Mark P. Sherlock and his wife Paige of Pawtucket, Lauren Petrucelli and her husband Joseph of Duxbury MA, Moira Walker and her husband Ron , and Lisa Roberts and her husband Chris, both of Swansea MA, his brothers Gerald Sherlock of Smithfield, Henry Sherlock of Providence, his sisters, Martina Higgins of Narraganset, Angela Brousseau of Wakefield and Helene Mainor of North Kingston, 13 grandchilden and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Sherlock was the father of the late Leora Costa and the brother of the late Paul Sherlock, Edward Sherlock and M. Frances Campbell The funeral for Mr. Sherlock will be Thursday at 9:00am from the MANNING-HEFFERN FUNERAL HOME, 68 Broadway, Pawtucket, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Marys Church, Coyle Drive Seekonk at 10:00am. His burial with full Military Honors will be in Mt. St. Marys Cemetery, Pawtucket. The calling hours will be Wednesday 4-7pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leora Costa Scholarship Fund C/O RI Hospital 169 Point St, Providence RI, 02903 or Beacon Hospice 1 Catamore Blvd, East Providence RI 02914 in Mr. Sherlocks memory. For online condolences please visit www.manningheffern.com

Original published in the Providence Journal here

Lunch with Dad at Pepino's in Lincoln RI

- Posted using Mobypicture.com

Have faith

My cousin, Peter Joyal, got up to speak at the funeral mass of his father on Monday. I'll paraphrase but he said something very much like the following:

My father would not want a eulogy so I will be brief, I have one story to tell.

(Turning to Father Morse.) You mentioned faith earlier. This story is about faith.

I do not recall exactly how the conversation started. Dad and I were sitting at the table talking. You know he had always been self-employed. There were five of us kids, all less than 10 years old at the time. He did not have work at the moment. It was Tuesday. He did not have another job lined up to paint for someone or do carpentry. The rent was due on Friday. We needed to eat. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a quarter. That's all I have, he said.

What are we going to do? What is going to happen? I said.

I have faith, he said. It will work out. Not sure how, but I have faith it will.

On Wednesday he got a call to do some work. That work provided the money for the rent and food.

He had faith. A quarter, and faith.

I have put a bunch of quarters in a jar at the door to the church. Please take one as you leave. Think of my father, Jean Joyal, and how he had faith. May the quarter remind you to have faith.

Thank you!

Peter told a simple and effective story. As we filed out of the church, both Dolores and I left with a quarter. A reminder to have faith.

Jean Henri Joyal, 72

ATTLEBORO - Jean Henri Joyal, 72, of South Main Street, Attleboro, died unexpectedly after being stricken ill on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 upon arrival at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. He was the husband of the late Anita Louise (Proulx) Joyal, to whom he was married on Sept. 28, 1963 and who died on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008.

Born in Lawrence on July 3, 1936, he was a son of the late Armand and Ernestine (Brouillard) Joyal. In his infancy, he and his family moved from Lawrence to Pawtucket, where he lived for many years prior to moving to Attleboro in 1963.

He was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Central Falls, R.I.

He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and later served in the Army National Guard.

As a painting contractor, Mr. Joyal was the owner and operator of the former Jean H. Joyal Contracting Company in Attleboro for 38 years prior to his retirement in 1995.

Mr. Joyal was a faithful communicant of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church in the Dodgeville section of the City of Attleboro.

He was a former member of the St. John Council No. 404 of the Knights of Columbus in Attleboro where he was the former grand knight.

Mr. Joyal enjoyed gardening and woodworking but most of all treasured the time spent with his cherished family.

He leaves five children: Jacqueline M. O'Brien of Attleboro, Jean A. Joyal of Plainville, Peter D. Joyal of Rehoboth, Christopher J. Joyal of Attleboro and Suzanne M. Candelet of Attleboro Falls; nine grandchildren; his siblings: Mariette Bruneau of Attleboro, Albert Joyal of Westbrook, Conn., Vivian Lejeune of Succasunna, N.J., Helene Geoffroy of Pawtucket, Colette Robichaud of Pawtucket, and Anne Brunelle of Pawtucket, and numerous nieces, nephews and several extended family members.

He was the grandfather of the late Karleigh Joyal, who died in 2000, and was the brother of the late Rita Sherlock, Pauline Barrette and Armand Joyal.

Visitation has been respectfully omitted.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, March 2 at 10 a.m. in St. Stephen's Church, 683 South Main Street - Route 152, Attleboro, with the Rev. James Morse, pastor, officiating.

Burial will be private.

Following services, an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of continued fellowship and refreshments at a location to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Visiting Nurse Association, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703.

To send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit an online register book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Ave., Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, 508-695-0200.

Originally posted in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle

Pauline Florence (Joyal) Barrette

Pauline Florence (Joyal) Barrette, 78

Bookkeeper and piano teacher

ATTLEBORO - Pauline Florence (Joyal) Barrette, 78, of Clifton Street, Attleboro, an accomplished classical pianist, died on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 at the Life Care Center of Attleboro where she had been a resident for the past month following a six-month illness.

Born in Pawtucket on June 11, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Armand and Ernestine (Broullard) Joyal. Raised and educated in Pawtucket, Ms. Barrette was a graduate of St. Jean the Baptiste High School and later earned her associate's degree in child psychology, and was a trained musician specializing in the classical genre on the grand piano.

Ms. Barrette will be remembered as a dedicated and devoted mother. She was employed as a bookkeeper for Fireside Motors in North Attleboro, V-Tron Electronics in Attleboro and A.P.V. in North Attleboro.

For more than 46 years, she utilized her musical talents and abilities to teach countless students the art of playing the piano. As a musician, she was a member of the Chopin Club of Providence.

A resident of Attleboro for the past 46 years, she had previously resided in Seekonk for 10 years, having moved to Massachusetts from her native city of Pawtucket.

She served as a volunteer for the North Attleboro Chapter of the American Red Cross for many years and was a "Jane of all Trades," being able to perform any task around her home, including home improvement projects, gardening or reconditioning antiques.

Mrs. Barrette leaves seven children: Elaine A. Farmer of Londonderry, N.H., Allen C. Barrette of Sanford, Maine, Christine M. St. Pierre of Forestdale, Ronald H. Barrette of Kensington, N.H., Linda C. Jarousky of Attleboro, Carol H. Domingue of Barrington, N.H. and Thomas E. Barrette of Holly Springs, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her siblings: Jean Henri Joyal of Attleboro, Mariette Bruneau of Attleboro, Albert Joyal of Westbrook, Conn., Vivian Lejeune of Succasunna, N.J., Helene Geoffroy of Pawtucket, Colette Robichaud of Pawtucket, and Anne Brunelle of Pawtucket; and several generations of nieces and nephews and extended family members.

She was the mother of the late David Michael Barrette, who died on Dec. 12, 2006, and was the sister of the late Rita Sherlock and Armand Joyal.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation on Sunday, Jan. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson House, 161 Commonwealth Ave. (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, 3/4 mile on left), Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro.

Relatives and friends are invited to a funeral service on Monday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson House, 161 Commonwealth Ave. (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, 3/4 mile on left), Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, with the Rev. Victor Chaupetta, M.S. of LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro, officiating. Children's room available during visitation and the funeral service.

Those in need of a local ride to visitation may simply call the funeral home at 508-695-0200 to make an advance reservation for such gratis transportation.

Following funeral services, an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of continued fellowship and refreshments at a location to be announced.

Private burial will be in the family plot in Notre Dame Cemetery, Pawtucket.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ms. Barrette's name may be made to the American Cancer Society - Centralized Memorial Processing Center, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.

For additional information or to send the family an expression of written sympathy, please visit www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Ave., Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. 508-695-0200.

This was originally published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle here