• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: The Veterans’ List

By RD Blakeslee

Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife

Grandfather says he is a veteran, and his son served during Desert Storm.

With the help of the local newspaper, Grandfather compiled a list of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Many of the letters that came in with the names of their boys were heartrending.

Using an Apple Lisa and a nine-pin printer (that’s all a we had back in those days) Grandfather printed all the names on 8.5- by 11-inch paper, pasted them onto an insulation board, and then put the list on a float in the Union, West Virginia, Farmer’s Day parade of 1991.

The list was also printed on acid-free paper and placed inside a veteran’s monument, and erected the following year on the courthouse lawn.

Grandfather, and son behind him, marching with the veteran’s list in the Farmer’s Day parade. (Click to enlarge)

***

About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

November 8, 2018

Comments

  1. 1

    Erik Blakeslee says

    What memories…. 28 years ago today, as-a-matter-of-fact, VII CORP received orders for deployment to SWA. Iron Hogs!

  2. 2

    RD Blakeslee says

    More memories: Your Mom (“Grandmother” here) was distraught.

    Newly prominent Rush Limbaugh offered optimism on his radio program and eventually CNN did a great job offering us real-time, on-scene reporting of you guy’s Dessert Storm.

  3. 3

    Carolyn Blakeslee says

    What a labor of love, Dad. Were the names of those from Union, Monroe County, or the state?

    • 4

      RD Blakeslee says

      Monroe County only, Dear.

      There were several thousand of us on that list and I’m sure we couldn’t find all of them (e.g. nobody left to remember WWI veterans) but we tried.

      Our population today is about 13, 400 and declining slowly.

The Question of the Week:

Did you buy any fireworks to celebrate Independence Day this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • 100 Words On: Why You Should Never Ever Be Afraid of Failure
  • How to Retire Five Years Earlier Than You May Think You Can
  • 11 Dollar Store Bargains You’d Be Crazy to Buy Anywhere Else
  • What to Look for When Purchasing a Medical Alert System
  • What Everyone Should Know Before Depositing Their Money In a Bank
  • Black Coffee: Born on the 4th of July
  • How To Start Investing In Cryptocurrencies
  • Grandfather Says: The Travails of Working with Stone
  • 5 Expert Tips for Saving Money with a Credit Card
  • How to Implement Strategic Planning Processes

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
  2. 2. Series I Savings Bonds Are Now Paying 9.62%; Here Are Their Pros & Cons
  3. 3. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  4. 4. 7 Big Reasons Why a Roth IRA Isn’t the Best Way to Save for Retirement
  5. 5. 3 Ways That Great Sleep Helps You Get Richer
  6. 6. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  7. 7. How to Save Money on Dental Care So You Won’t Go Broke at the Dentist
  8. 8. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  9. 9. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022