JANET BROYLES introduced Elaine Todd, who lives with her husband, Ernest, at 12407 West Tippecanoe Ranch Road, Delphi, IN 46923, phone 765-564- 2945. She is the owner of Todd Financial Services, LLC., 302 Ferry Street, Ste. 204, Lafayette, IN 47901, phone 474-3220; E-mail: Elaine@pathtopossibilities.com

ROB GALBRAITH introduced Caroline Janney, Professor of History at Purdue, who gave us a better understanding of the origins of Memorial Day celebrations. She said the Confederate Ladies Memorial Associations, which began in Virginia and spread rapidly through the South, were originally instrumental in burying the dead. There were many unmarked and shallow graves, disturbed by farmers preparing fields for crops. These associations were later useful in glorifying the Confederacy and resisting reconstruction. In that time, women were traditionally responsible for mourning and could not be arrested for treason. It fit the political purposes perfectly. By 1870, May 30th was generally agreed upon as Memorial Day (or Decoration Day) in the North. Southerners celebrated their own Memorial Days from May to early June. In 1971 the U. S. Congress declared Memorial Day a national three day holiday.

TIM PARSONS introduced Pamela Beaman from Indiana Business College. She received a certificate and a travel mug with the Four-Way Test to commemorate meeting with us.

Money Collectors: VICKI BURCH and JAN FARKAS; Greeter: MAUREEN GRABOWSKI; Invocation: JIM HOBBS; Piano: RAY PEETERS; Song Leader: BOB VERPLANK; Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: JO WADE and TOM MORAN; Help with Ripples: BILL FULLER.

PRESIDENT JOHN'S THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Committing a great truth to memory is admirable; committing it to life is wisdom.

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