I spent the Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC with my family. We were there honoring First Lieutenant George Emerson Jones, my mother-in-law’s (Becky Shelby) brother. He was killed in action in a mid-air collision in Vietnam 40 years ago this summer. He was Missing in Action from July 7, 1967 until 1995. After DNA testing on the remains, Becky’s brother was buried in Arlington with full Military Honors. (click on the images to see them larger)
The Vietnam Memorial Wall
The littlest cousin, Mary, making an etching of her Grandfather’s name.
We were joined by very special guests, Sergeant Gary Ritter, his wife Kris and their daughter, Cheyenne.
Sergeant Ritter bought an MIA bracelet in Germany when he was 9 years old. He wore the bracelet on his wrist for nearly 10 years. The name on the bracelet was 1st Lieutenant George E. Jones.
Sergant Ritter found out so many years later that the remains of Lt Jones had been returned to the family. He wanted to return the bracelet to the family, too.
It took a few years of tracking, but he finally got in touch with Becky and she graciously invited him to join us in DC this weekend. Sergant Ritter presented the MIA bracelet to the youngest child of Lt. Jones, our cousin Krissy.
Lucy made a cake to mark the occasion. She got the receipe from Martha Stewart. The frosting alone has a pound and a half of butter!
Monday we went to Arlington Cemetary. Here’s the President waving at us from his motorcade.
Becky’s cousin, Rick, knew his Great Great Grandfather had been buried here. Here’s his grave stone, one of almost 300,000 stones decorated with the American Flag for Memorial Day.
Sergant Ritter and his family at the gravestone of 1st Lt. Jones and Capt Charles Blankenship. Both men were flying in the B52 when it went down over the South China Sea.
The family gathered around the gravesite for a while, sang a few songs, shared a prayer and some quiet time together.
