|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Lifestyle
March 29, 2001
War bride speaks to Modern Study Club
PECOS, March 29, 2001 - The Modern Study Club met recently in the house
of Juracy and L.M. Ray, 1518 S. Park, for an Americanism Department program
with Iris Reddick and Juracy Ray, Department Co-Chairmen in charge.
The program, entitled "War Bride Comes to America", was presented by
Iris Reddick, who came to America in 1947 when she was 19 years old, as
the bride of Harry Reddick and the mother of a son, Michael, who was 13
½ months old.
Mrs. Ray prefaced her introduction of Mrs. Reddick by telling of a few
of their own experiences in coming to live in the United States from Brazil
as a young child, with her parents and two small siblings. Her father was
involved in ranching. Mrs. Ray told of becoming a school teacher, her first
job, the experiences of becoming a naturalized citizen and gave several
comparisons showing how unalike she and Mrs. Reddick's experience's had
been.
Mrs. Reddick began by speaking of some of her early life in Leicester,
England, where as a 16 year old lass, she began dating her future husband.
Harry Reddick was serving in the United States Air Force and was stationed
at the airbase in Chelveston, England when they met.
Among the memorabilia displayed and used during Mrs. Reddick's presentation
was the couple's wedding photograph, a wallet photograph of Iris as a lovely
17-year-old woman, the couple's marriage license and the original passport
the bride used to come to the United States. Mrs. Reddick explained that
at that time passports were a large, square sheet of paper instead of the
books we use today.
The military sent Mr. Reddick back to the States and his bride had to
remain behind in England for almost two years.
Mrs. Reddick commented about the heart-rending times that went on in
her life as she continued her courtship with her sweetheart, made the decision
to marry him, and prepared to leave her loved ones, as well as her home
country of England, and of how very hard the decision was for her. She
also told of her crossing to America on the Queen Elizabeth, with rough
seas and a toddler.
The Reddicks lived in Rising Star from 1947 until 1950 where Harry,
along with his dad and brother, were engaged in peanut farming.
In the early fifties, the Reddicks made their move to Pecos where the
Hess-Williams John Deere Dealership employed Harry and they raised their
family.
The thought-quote for the meeting was "Let's remember it takes both
the white and black keys of the piano to play the `Star Spangled Banner'."
_ Bonner. Roll call was answered with telling a reason you are proud to
be an American.
President Catherine Travland conducted opening ceremonies and presided
during the gathering. Joyce Morton lead the Club Collect and Bobbi Lang
led the pledges to the United States of America and Texas flags as members
repeated all in unison.
Secretary Joyce Morton read the minutes of the previous meeting and
Treasurer Bobbi Lang presented a report concerning club finances.
Western District President Peggy Kelton of McCamey had mailed out the
official call to the Annual Spring Convention slated in Marfa on April
6 and 7 and those activities were discussed.
During various committee reports, a bake sale at Security State Bank
was announced by Ways and Means Chairman Doris Moorman and the Operation
Smile April 11th deadline for contributions was discussed by Chairman Phyllis
Stool. Capitol Women, a book written by Nancy Baker Joues and Ruthe Winegarten
about Texas female legislators had been purchased by Bobbi Lang as a project
for the club. Projects Chairman Pearl Gustafson is in charge of getting
it to the Reeves County Library.
Lena Harpham, Federation Chairman, explained that Social Security was
not just about retirement but also included disability and other benefits
we need to be aware of.
The Texas Federation of Women's Clubs State Convention will be at the
Holiday Inn in San Angelo May 2-5. President Travland urged members to
attend if only for one day.
Bobbi Lang and Joyce Morton served as hostesses for the gathering.
Blood drive scheduled by OC
PECOS, March 29, 2001 - The Odessa College Student Activities Office in
conjunction with KOCV-TV and United Blood Services will host a blood drive
from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 3, in OC's Electronics Technology
Building, Room 130.
The blood drive is a replenishment drive to help boost the Permian Basin's
depleted blood supply.
In addition to a free T-shirt, donors will receive a mini-physical that
checks blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron level.
Interested donors may give blood without an appointment or may arrange
a time to donate. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact
the Odessa College Student Activities Office at 335-6403.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
|
