Event Coverage 3rd Annual Poverty Flats Memorial Day Celebration

Well, it has been a very good weekend here on the windy plains of Kansas. We started this holiday weekend like we always do. Some of us neighbors get together and decorate 5 local cemeteries by placing flags on military veteran's graves. The American Legion provides permanent flag holders and we stroll along remembering the folks we used to know and pause to read about those who were here long before us. The weather was hot and a strong harvest wind is blowing......

 

Mrs. PF slow cooked some whole pork loins and made beans with sausage, 20 lbs. of potato salad, and etc.

 

We had been cleaning and painting the place and tried to make it presentable. There seems to be a fine line between a collection of old car parts and a junkyard.....hard to find a happy medium sometimes.

 

She also started making some homemade vanilla ice cream while I iced down a hundred or so bottles of beer, soft drinks, water, and many bottles of wine.

 

Old Glory was flying high in the strong wind and reminded us to be thankful for all those soldiers who have fought for our very freedom.

 

and speaking of America the beautiful------this nearby field of soon to be "amber waves of grain" was also moving in the wind like waves on the sea. This wheat will ripen quickly now and be ready for harvest in the next 2-3 weeks.

 

Nice job Paul!!! Gone but not forgotten.

We went to the cemeteries today and two memorial services.

My thanks go out to all the service men and women past and present.

A strong harvest wind is right. The flags were really popping in the wind.

Oh yea we ate a little too.

 

We had alot of chairs sat up outside for our "happy hour" which began at Noon. Guests soon started arriving.

 

Many of our guests drove their old cars and hot rods as always.....

 

We had a big variety of cars....

 

another car

 

Then at 1 pm or so it was time to eat. This time we didn't fight the wind but went right across the street to the Catholic Church Parish Hall which is fairly new and very nice. Mrs. PF did some decorating on the tables.

 

Very nice again Paul. Now that is what a Memorial Day celebration is all about. Family, friends and remembering the day, for what it stands for.

HellRaiser

 

It sure was nice of the Catholics to build us that new building with a kitchen. restrooms, and plenty of room to mingle and visit. I think we use it more than they do. It is a very small church.

 

Most of the guests brought food and Mrs. PF's sister Nancy also cooked a ton of good stuff and so there was plenty.

 

There were also a couple of cakes plus some homemade Moon pies.

 

Good food and good conversation. I think we had about 40 guests or so and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I keep hoping for a giant food fight someday but never seems to break out.....

 

Around 2 PM or so it was time for our private parade. The folks started piling into the cars. This year's Grand Marshall was my old buddy Bernard Eck, a decorated Korean War veteran who is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal and many other honors. He and his lovely wife Marge drove down from Beloit , KS to join us.

 

I wanted to videotape the parade down our small town main street myself. Didn't trust anyone else to do it. Well......I screwed it up. I had the wrong setting on the Ipad 2 and ended up shooting video of myself ! I'm still mad about it.....

 

Sadly, I have no photos of the parade at all, but it was nice and pleasant. The participants all waved flags and honked their horns at me as they went by. The entire downtown was eerily empty as the parade p***ed thru. No spectators except me......

 

Of course that didn't take long and before I knew it we were all back at the PF headquarters again and it was time for the ice cream social.....We had vanilla and strawberry. This seems to be a very popular part of our events. Everyone loves homemade ice cream.

 

Man... An afternoon with good friends & food sounds like a great way to spend the Holiday.

The Church hall and the Hot Rod cars doesn't hurt anything either.

Good for ya'll....

 

Then it was more visiting and conversation. Wasn't long before the guests starting drifting away and leaving us.

 

You sir, live a very rich and fulfilling life.

 

My neighbors who had helped put the flags out had left town but a guest from TX named Frank, my buddy Larry and his wife Sharon were nice enough to stay late and help me, my wife, and her sister pick up all the flags at the 5 cemeteries which didn't take all that long really. After that it was rocking chair time on the enclosed patio and more cold drinks to relax and unwind. Just a pretty good way to spend a Monday if you ask me.....

 

Thank you. I would have to agree that I am thankful to have alot of good friends and family.

 

I forgot to mention that after the parade I loaded up my favorite brother in law Lawrence and his son Travis into the Poverty Flats Limo "wheel stander" trick car and put on a brief exposition of precision driving on 2 wheels for all of my guests. I really wish that was true but the car was kinda squirelly on me and hard to control. The boys were good sports though and even though I tried hard to make them scream like little girls......they were brave and held on for their lives quietly.

 

I too am devistated about the parade footage! Been looking forward to it all weekend. All american day in Gypsum as usual. Midwest people know how to live life to its fullest, good friends and good food= GOOD TIMES!

 

Wish you would have been with us. Just don't feel safe without my personal bodyguard nearby.

 

Cool Mike, you guys always celebrate in similar style to us. Good times....