Sherlock Thanksgiving 2012

Mom and Dad were watching over us as we continued the tradition of gathering on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Over the years, as each of the siblings got married, the question of where to go for the holidays came up. We decided to go to the other side on the day and to have the Sherlock's gather on the Friday after for Thanksgiving and some convenient day after Christmas.

Not the best quality photo but it does show some fun was being shared!

Around the table from left to right: Avery, Keegan, Celia, Allison, Carolyn, Joan (just the tip of her head shows), Brianna (has more showing with half her face appearing), John, and Oliver who apparently is getting pushed into the center!

Using Google Hangout Franklin connected with other members in NJ and IL. This may be a new addition to the evolving tradition!

Celia continued one other prime tradition by making cheesecake using Dad's recipe. Dad's recipe it turns out was the one Mom used but really originated with Lillian Canton. So the more correct term should be Lillian's Recipe. In any case, Ceclia did a great job. Dad (Papa) would have had a couple of pieces for sure!

Joyal Brouillard Brunch

Albert wrote "the few, the proud, the family" as he sent out this photo from the Joyal Brouillard Brunch which was held this past Sunday at The Pines in North Smithfield.

If your ears were burning, maybe it was because the discussion mentioned you somewhere along its winding path!

237th Birthday of the Marine Corps

Tonight at West Valley Inn in West Warwick distinguished members of the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS will gather to celebrate.  The occasion is the 237th Birthday of the MARINE CORPS.

This year it is one day early due to scheduling conflicts.  Several members of the Providence Police Department who I work with have organized it for several years.

Ed Malloy, Steve Cileli and Carl Weston along with several others have been working feverishly to bring a great format of events.

I met for breakfast and of course they are a little off as their good friend Jerry Sherlock is not with them tonight.  He has reported for duty on the streets of Heaven where all MARINES return.

Ed was very somber when he sent out the invitations in August.   Steve Cileli was excited about all the additional food that would be put out this year.  He chuckled fondly about Jerry always circling for crackers and cheese and of course holding out for dessert.   Carl Weston spoke of how much humor Jerry brought to the table.  If thats true Jerry was the ringmaster of that cast of characters.

Ed slipped me the sheet for the Roll of Honor that will be called tonight.  That list is read of the MARINES who have travelled on to the final journey.

It is a little quiet around here tonight.  Jerry would make this the first stop on the way to the Dinner posing for pictures.  Steve Cileli or I would drive him to the Dinner.

Of course the Corps marches on in History.

Ed Malloy tells me a photo of Jerry will be present at the head table.   He is not forgotten and sorely missed by his fellow MARINES.

Happy Birthday and SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES!

Odds in our favor

The Mass Saturday evening at St Michael's was a simple ceremony with a full church. After the homily, the names of the deceased were read in the order by month that they passed. A member of the family brought up the candle, had it lit, and then placed it on a table to the side on the altar. There was quite a collection when all was done.

The full listing of names:



Dolores and I took Mr and Mrs Proulx with us to the Mass. We stopped at Chelo's on RT 44 for dinner after. What would the odds be for us to be seated at the same booth where I last sat with Dad?

HONOR FLIGHT from Rhode Island

Tomorrow morning several veterans will be departing TF Green Airport for Washington, DC via HONOR FLIGHT.

Several friends of Jerry donated in his memory to HONOR FLIGHT.

It is fitting that members of the Providence Police Pipes and Drums will be playing several Tunes for these veterans.  Several of Jerry's friends and fellow MARINES will be playing.  Pipe Major Manny Soares and Lead  Tip Drum. Carl Weston will be present.  

The Veterans will be honored with the Minstrel Boy and the Military Set.  Army, Navy Air force and MARINE CORPS HYMN.  

Jerry was able to see the Pipes and Drums play at the half time show last year at Providence College Basketball season opener.  

The march out was MARINE CORPS HYMN.  As usual Jerry shot to attention upon hearing that.  As did every other MARINE in the house,

By Tradition MARINES drop what they are doing and come to attention upon hearing the USMC Hymn.

I am out of town or would otherwise be there.

I thank the organizers of HONOR FLIGHT.

My fellow members of the PPD Pipes and Drums.

Above all the veterans who will be going to Washington.  Of course the Service members KIA, MIA and those who have made the final journey home.

"The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death ye may find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
With his wild harp slung along behind him;
Land of Song, the lays of the warrior bard,
May some day sound for thee,
But his harp belongs to the brave and free
And shall never sound in slavery!"

Lyrics from the MINSTREL BOY

Andy's Story

Steve,

I love getting the updates on "Jerry's Story".

One of my favorite times with your Dad is one of my favorite stories to tell. My brothers Richard and Ray and I took your Dad to see the movie "Letters from Iwo Jima". We felt so honored to be sitting with a survivor of that famous battle, especially since our dad Del also fought there.

When the movie was over, we all commented on how "realistic" it was.

Jerry very soft spokenly said it brought back a lot of memories and that the makers of the film had done a great job recreating the scenes of Iwo Jima. As far as realistic, Jerry said it wasn't very realistic. The only way to recreate the realism of the day would be to have live ammunition fire flying by you from all sides and know that at any moment you could be dead!!!

He said this with such calm and authority that it has stayed with me every since. Only those who have lived through combat can really know the "realistic" fears and feelings that come with it.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

I miss your Dad and feel blessed that I got to know him the last few years of his life.

Sincerely,

Andy Brouillard



Andy,

Thank you for sharing this. And thank you for taking Dad to the movie. I know he talked of it frequently.

Steve

"make up for his lack of accuracy"

Jerry's son Bob recalls a conversation with him from Sep 2007. Jerry had recounted some of his Marine training in the conversation.

He is in good spirits, and told me some things about being in the Marines that I never knew - that he graduated from boot camp without having passed his marksmanship test on the M-1 Garand rifle that was the basic weapon for Marine infantrymen in WWII. He later qualified on it, on the 30 caliber machine gun, and also qualified on the carbine (a shorter weapon better suited for scouts and radiomen to carry. Papa liked it because it had a 15 round cartridge vs. the 8 rounds in the M-1, and he figured it would make up for his lack of accuracy. He also qualified on the 45 caliber pistol, because he did some assignments as a courier - bringing a briefcase of important papers from the officers on one island over to their counterparts on another island. The briefcase would be handcuffed to his left hand, and he had to be able to shoot the 45 if anyone messed with him.

Thanks for sharing this Bob.

If you have a memory or story of Jerry to share, please send it along.

Memorial Mass - Nov 3, 2012

St Michael's Church in Georgiaville, RI will be holding a memorial mass on Saturday, Nov 3, 2012 at 5:00 PM. This mass will remember all the parishioners who passed away this year. This was Jerry's most recent parish and where the funeral mass was held in February.

If you are in or around the area and want to join us at the mass, please let me know.



From the notification on the mass:

"Catholic tradition sets aside the month of November as a time to remember our loved ones who have died. During the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday, November 3, there will be a simple ceremony to remember our parishioners who have died since last November. As a family who has suffered the loss of a loved one, I invite you to participate in this mass. 

After the homily, the names of those who have died since last November will be read. As each name is spoken, we invite you or a family member to come forward to place a candle next to the altar. After mass, you may take the candle home with you. If you do not wish to participate in the candle ceremony, you are still welcome to come to the mass. 

A candle with Gerald Sherlock's name on it will be available on a table at the front entrance to the Church. Please take the candle before mass begins so you have it with you when the names are read. You may sit wherever you wish, as there will be no reserved seating."

Honor Flight

Honor Flight is still performing its mission. You can help other WWII veterans visit their war memorial in Washington, DC.

Why WWII veterans?
We are loosing over 1,000 a day. Time is short. More recent veterans will have their time to come but the WWII vets need to be addressed now





A virtual honor flight is being held today, more info can be found here
http://www.sarahhillstories.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-honor-flights-for-wwii-veterans.html

Happy birthday, Jerry

It would have been Jerry's birthday today. Likely something of a gathering of families to celebrate.

He is missed but not forgotten!
.

The power of music!

A wonderful story from a WWII veteran

On September 4th, the same day Mr. Garnett's fellow veterans will fly to Washington, DC on an Honor Flight, a group of volunteers will bring a Virtual Honor Flight to his house. Veterans United Home Loans in partnership with Central Missouri Honor Flight will offer the first-ever "Virtual Honor Flight" via Google Plus Hangouts.  Using this group video chat room and live streaming technology on You Tube, Mr. Garnett and other aging veterans will get to see their memorial and experience the magic of an Honor Flight from the comfort of their own homes, even if they're too sick to fly.

More info on the virtual honor flight to be held on Tuesday, Sep 4th can be found here
http://www.sarahhillstories.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-honor-flights-for-wwii-veterans.html


Regular readers will recall that for Jerry's funeral donations to Honor Flight were requested. It is good to see their work still going on! And that thanks to folks like Sarah Hill a virtual honor flight can happen through the wonders of the technology available today.

Another tribute for Jerry

When I returned home from vacation recently, I had a stack of mail to go through and found a large envelop from the Veterans Administration. It contained the following letter on heavy parchment paper.

Thank you!