A seed lying half buried in the ground and stepped on by many feet, has no idea it will become the largest and greatest apple tree in the woods and that for years to come it’s apples will feed generations of animals and people.

© by Dan DeMarle 2018

Beautiful

This time of year many people on one side or anther get upset about the doing away with Christmas Traditions.  As for me, I say bring them back…I think we should start with the very first one. The murder of all male children under two years of age. That should kick off Christmas morning with a bang.

© by Dan DeMarle 2018

Professional sports and professional Politics are really the same thing…Spectator Sports.  The new quarterback comes in from nowhere to play for your favorite Monday night Football team, and you instantly love them, until they stink, then you can’t stand that goddamn  mother F%#ker, and can’t understand why they have not yet been replaced by those f&%king idiots in the front office.

The same goes for Presidential and State politics, but mostly for Presidential. You never heard of this guy or girl before, but just like that quarterback, now they are the candidate of your team, which makes them YOUR candidate!!! They may beat their spouse on a regular basis, but by God they are going to lead your team to the god damn Super Bowl! ur White House!   Then they will be right up there next to God, Good old Damn Kentucky Fried Chicken, and American Pie.  Sorry American Apple Pie, not that freaking way too long and confusing American Pie song from the, what freaking 60’s?

You love that guy or girl, until, of course, they stink, and then you will vote that freaking idiot right out of there and all of his friends to, because…there’s a new fresh face. Doesn’t matter who it is, because they are on YOUR team.

Now, your team may have used to have a slightly different name, and may have moved from one coast to another, or one city to another, but it is still your right as rain, bet your bottom dollar team. The same team that your father or mother loved. So what, if it is completely different then that team, but it is still your team.  Just like that guy or girl is now your guy or girl, until they aren’t.

© Daniel DeMarle 2018

People think there are only two ways to rise up.

The first is to push the people near you down lower so you become higher.

The second is to work really hard and somehow magically lift your self up and as such surpassing your starting point.

There is, of course, a third way.  Its simply to lift the ground you are all standing on. To use another analogy you could fill the bathtub with more water, and everyone will rise.

It does not have to be you versus them.  It can simply be all of you together.

© words by Daniel DeMarle 2018

CECIL JOSEPHINE COCHRAN
Rochester, N. Y.

Cecil Josephine Cochran was born in Le Roy, N. Y, January 12, 1894, daughter of Elliott P. Cochran. She was graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Training School. Entered the service at Rochester, N. Y., May 10, 1918, at the age of 24 years, as a Red Cross nurse. She was sent by the Red Cross Organization to Huntsville, Alabama. When she arrived there, the Field Agent told her of the terrible epidemic of pneumonia which was raging, and gave her the opportunity to turn back, but she insisted on going into action to aid the suffering and dying boys. After faithfully nursing ten days among the soldiers, she contracted the disease and died of pneumonia a week later, October 15, 1918, at Huntsville, Ala. Her body was brought back to Batavia, N. Y., where a military funeral was held in her honor and she was then taken for burial to St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Le Roy, N. Y.

Official notice from the American Red Cross, Washington, D. C, signed Clara D. Noyes, Director, Department of Nursing, announces: “A bronze medal and citation has been awarded, posthumously, by the Red Cross, to Miss Cecil Josephine Cochran.”

Three other Rochester Nurses lost their lives in the service during the influenza epidemic: Miss Lillian Frances Cupp, who died of pneumonia at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., October 7, 1918; Miss Catherine Rose Connelly, who also died of pneumonia at
Camp Gordon, October 16, 1918; and Miss Anna Marie Williams, who died of pneumonia contracted in the line of duty at Vichy, France, October 16, 1918, while serving with Base Hospital No. 19.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/21/1918

From “World War Service Records Rochester and Monroe County, NY” The Du Bois Press, Rochester, NY – published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© Daniel DeMarle 2018

The biggest problem with our political system is not the excessive polarization of one party versus the other, but instead that we are fighting the problems of yesterday instead of working to prevent the problems of tomorrow.

© by Dan DeMarle 2018

HAROLD CULLINAN SMITH
132 Curtis Street, Rochester, N. Y.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 8/13/1921

Harold Culllnan Smith was born in Rochester, N. Y, September 3, 1895, son of John G. and Anna C. Smith. He was graduated from West High School, and spent one year at Hobart College. Entered the service at Rochester, N. Y, April 28, 1918, at the age of 22 years, as a Private, being assigned to 12th Company, 3rd Training Battalion, 153rd Depot Brigade; transferred to Company M, 310th Infantry, 78th Division, May 11, 1918. He was trained at Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N. J. Embarked overseas, May 20, 1918. Promoted to Private, 1st Class, September 1, 1918. Engaged in action at Thiaucourt and Champigneulle. Killed in action, November 1, 1918, in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, at Bois des Loges. First buried in France; later, his body was brought back to America on the U.S.S. Cantigny, August 3, 1921, and reburied, with military honors, in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y, August 11, 1921, All 106, B.B., following services at United Presbyterian Church. Members of Memorial Post, American Legion, with which Harold C. Smith Post affiliated, had charge of the funeral. Members of the Gold Star Mothers, Corps Number 1,  Memorial Post officers, and members of the Women’s Auxiliary, attended the services.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 8/5/1921

From the Democrat and Chronicle 8/8/1918

From the Democrat and Chronicle 8/5/1918

From “World War Service Records Rochester and Monroe County, NY” The Du Bois Press, Rochester, NY – published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© Daniel DeMarle 2018

WALTER J. BAUER
354 Saxton Street, Rochester, N. Y.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/13/1918

Walter J. Bauer was born in Rochester, N. Y., December 22, 1894, son of August J. and Mary Bauer. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Entered the service, July 26, 1918, at Rochester, N. Y., as a Private. He was trained at Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N. J. He served in the 39th Company, 153rd Depot Brigade, from July 27, 1918, to August 12, 1918; and was then transferred to Company D, 336th Machine Gun Battalion. Embarked overseas, August 23, 1918. He died of influenza and pneumonia, October 24, 1918, at Nantes, France. He was first buried in Nantes Cemetery, but later his body was brought back to America and reburied in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y., September 21, 1920, Lot Number 83, Section South 6.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 12/11/1918

From the Democrat and Chronicle 12/18/1918

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/26/1919

From the Democrat and Chronicle 9/22/1920

From “World War Service Records Rochester and Monroe County, NY” The Du Bois Press, Rochester, NY – published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© Daniel DeMarle 2018

MAURICE D. BENEDICT
62 South Washington Street, Rochester, N. Y.

From the Democrat and Chronicle May 11th, 1918

Maurice D. Benedict was born in Holley, N. Y, April 11, 1899, son of Jarvis S. and Elizabeth Benedict. Entered the service, April 11, 1917, on his eighteenth birthday, at Rochester, N. Y., as a Private, in Company A, 3rd Regiment, National Guard of New York,
afterwards Company A, 108th Infantry. He was trained at Pelham Bay, N. Y., and Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S. C. He was promoted to Private, 1st Class, April 4, 1918. He embarked overseas, May 10, 1918, on transport Kursk, and arrived at Brest, France, May 25, 1918. He was engaged in action at Mt. Kemmel, Dickebusch, and the Hindenburg Line. Private Benedict was a runner for Company A, and displayed rare courage on many occasions.

On September 29, 1918, on the Hindenburg Line between Ronssoy and Bony, when Company A, went “over the top” in its biggest fight in France, he was shot through the abdomen with a machine gun bullet, while carrying messages for the Company Commander, across a shell-swept field. He was sent to the First Southern General Hospital at Stowbridge, England, and was operated upon, but died, October 22, 1918, from complications arising from the wounds received in action. He was first buried at Stowbridge, England, and later his body was brought back to America and reburied in Hillside Cemetery, Holley, N. Y., Lot No. 336, with military honors, under auspices of Company A, 108th Infantry, Major Arthur T. Smith in command, and Yerkes Post, Number 99, American Legion. His name appears on the West High School
Honor Roll.

From the Democrat and Chronicle 6/26/1918

From the Democrat and Chronicle 7/28/1918

From the Democrat and Chronicle 11/1/1918

from the Democrat and Chronicle 4/10/1919

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/15/1920

From the Democrat and Chronicle 10/17/1920

From the Democrat and Chronicle 5/29/1921

From “World War Service Records Rochester and Monroe County, NY” The Du Bois Press, Rochester, NY – published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© Daniel DeMarle 2018