© Dan DeMarle 2/17

Everyone runs about today stating that their goal is to be happy, happy all the time.  So I pictured my life with myself simply being happy. Then I pictured my life with me working to achieve a meaningful purpose.  A purpose to change a small part of the world to make positive change.  Then I put down my dream of happiness and got busy working.

© words and photo by Dan DeMarle 2018

For those of us who care about such issues, we often talk about inadequate representation and about the lack of representation.  This has all been brought home to me, personally, due to the death of my Congress person, some weeks ago.  When I say, I need to call my Senators and Congressperson about the latest injustice. I step back and say, oh right, I don’t currently have a congressperson.  I have no current voice in the House of Representatives, at  a time that it seems I need that person the most.  Let me tell you, it sucks!

 

© words by Daniel DeMarle 2018

 

Hoory Hooray

The blue is the sky.

As I wake up and stretch my arms

and say that I love you.

 

The green is the grass.

That i run through with my toes

chasing the flutter byes

as they flutter by and land upon your nose

 

The pink is in my tongue

that goes round and round inside my mouth

as I try to spell mississippi

while standing on my head

 

Yelllow is in the sunlight

shining in your eyes

as you sit and laugh as I run about

flapping my hands and trying to fly.

 

Black is the night

You tuck me in and say goodnight

and before you leave, before the day ends

You turn and say “I love you”

 

© by Daniel DeMarle 4/26/2012

Everyone was so concerned about the need to build a wall to stop the bad people from entering our country. They were going to do horrible things. Things like tearing babies away from breast feeding moms, and tearing kids away from their parents and throwing them in what look like dog cages in huge empty Walmart stores. Wait… Hey…Wait a minute.

The house stood for a long time.

Till the dawn smelled of smoke.

Now an empty lot, where once a house.

Those walls,

now gone.

Oh fire, you whimsical and mercurial being,

we think we control you,

like we think we control our lives.

We turn on the stove and feel, safe.

But you,

you mischievous Pan,

you lie waiting, waiting,

for just the right spark.

 

© by Dan DeMarle 2009

For a political party that has for decades claimed to be the party of family values and has fought endlessly to protect the right of unborn children, their complete capitulation to the fact that their leader is now separating  infants, babies, children, and teens from their parents is simply breathtaking. The apparent silence and capitulation of the religious right to these same policies, the past defenders of marriage and of family values, would apparently, in their own words, mean that they are all going to hell.  The people who have argued that a marriage is between a man and women, seem to have no problem tearing families apart and tearing infants from their parents.  Anyone who can still believe a word these people say must be smoking something very powerful.

© words by Dan DeMarle 2018

There is a tremendous amount of time spent wondering and questioning things such as how the hell can they honestly believe that or him or this.

There is not nearly enough a time spent asking “What do I believe?”

© words by Dan DeMarle 2018

Hooray, Hooray.

The blue is the sky.

As I wake up and stretch my arms and say that I love you.

The green is the grass.

That i run through with my toes chasing the flutter byes as they flutter by,

and land upon your nose.

The pink is in my tongue that goes round and round inside my mouth,

as I try to spell Mississippi while standing on my head.

Yellow, is in the sunlight shining in your eyes as you sit and laugh as I run about flapping my hands and trying to fly.

Black is the night.

You tuck me in and say goodnight,

and before you leave,

before the day ends,

You turn and say,

“I love you”

 

© by Dan DeMarle 2012

 

THERON E. DALRYMPLE
32 1/2 Pearl Street, Rochester, N. Y.

Theron E. Dalrymple was born in Mt. Morris, N. Y., May 21, 1892, son of Asa C. and Minnie M. Dalrymple. He attended Public School Number 12, West High School one year, East High School two years, and later went to the Wanakena School of Forestry connected with Syracuse University, where he was graduated. He entered the service at Rochester, N. Y., April 3, 1916, at the age of 23 years, as a Private in the Regular Army, being assigned to Company A, 1st Engineers. After three months’ training at Columbus
Barracks, Ohio, his Regiment was sent to Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas. While there he was detailed to surveying and map drawing of the surrounding country both in United States and Mexico. After nine months on the Border, Company A was recalled to the home barracks at Washington, D. C, where they arrived about April 12, 1917. He was appointed Guard at the White House, April 21, 1917, during the stay of the French Embassy. On May 15, 1917, the 1st Engineers were split up and Companies A, C and D were formed from old A Company. Dalrymple was promoted to Sergeant of Company A, then sent to Belvoir, Va., to survey and lay out temporary cantonments and train the new army officers. The Regiment embarked overseas on the U.S.S. Finland, August 7, 1917, and they encountered enemy submarines near Belle Isle, en route to the Harbor of
St. Nazaire, August 20, 1917. A lively battle ensued lasting one and a half hours. Two submarines were reported sunk, with no casualties to the Americans. The Regiment arrived at Menoncourt, September 4, 1917, where they were made part of the 1st Division. Sergeant Dalrymple was engaged in action at Toul Sector, Cantigny, Bonvillers
(Oise) Bois de Villers. He was promoted to Sergeant, 1st Class, December 18, 1917.

He was wounded in action, May 9, 1918, at Bois de Villers, and taken to Field Hospital Number 12, where he died, May 10, 1918. He was first buried at Broyes, France; reinterred American Military Cemetery, Bonvillers, Grave Number 49; later his body was brought back to America on the transport Somme, March 14, 1921, and reburied with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Grave Number 1189.

↑ from Democrat and Chronicle 5/14/1918

 

 

↑ from Democrat and Chronicle 6/26/1918

↑ from Democrat and Chronicle 6/30/1918

Sergeant Dalrymple was a very brave man and letters received from his superior officers speak in highest terms of his conduct and popularity among his men. He was posthumously awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross with the following official citation:

“At Bois de Villers, France, on May 9, 1918, he displayed heroic devotion to duty by rendering first-aid assistance to the wounded, by handling his platoon under shell-fire with coolness and courage, and by attempting to protect a comrade while he himself was mortally wounded.” Awarded the French Croix de Guerre with gold star under Order
Number 346, dated May 30, 1918, 10th French Army Corps, with
the following citation:

“In many circumstances he displayed courage and self-sacrifice in going out to aid the wounded in spite of a violent bombardment. Particularly distinguished himself by his calmness and coolness on May 9, 1918, in maintaining his platoon in the best order in spite of a most violent bombardment. Was mortally wounded.

Source:  World War Service Record Rochester and Monroe County, Vol 1, The Du Bois Press Rochester, NY, Published by the City of Rochester, 1924

© by Dan DeMarle 2018