Week 11--November 3-9, 2019

We are sad to see the Johnsons go home next week. It has been great to serve with them.

Jennifer Nielsen, an author from Utah, was in the area doing a workshop. She writes books for teens and young adults. Garnalee is very excited to get her books. She came to the Independence Visitor's Center for a tour. Sister Smith attended one of her workshops before coming on her mission. She was very excited to see her at the VC. All the sisters asked her for her autograph. 

Pictured: Sister Durfee, Sister Barajas, Jennifer Nielsen, Sister Smith, and Sister Flindt. 

 The huge tree in the background is a Tulip Tree. We have wondered why it is called a Tulip Tree. This week the maintenance crew for the cemetery trimmed some branches from the tree. Some smaller branches didn't get cleaned up and were left under the tree. We picked one up and discovered that possibly a Tulip Tree got its name because of the shape of the seed pod.

This plaque is at the base of the Tulip Tree. It is a Greater Kansas City Champion Tree. 

A picture of Clarence James Harrington, Tom's biological father, that was done before he went to Korea. Garnalee has been searching for years to find out what happened to him.

A final picture with the Johnsons before they go home next week.

Left to right: Elder and Sister Dunn, Sister and Elder Johnson, Sister and Elder Harrington, Sister and President Cannon.

The sister missionaries wanted a picture of the senior couples being goofy. Only the sisters participated in the goofiness.

Left to right: Elder and Sister Dunn, Sister and Elder Johnson, Sister and Elder Harrington, Sister and President Cannon.

Sister Richins and Sister Hales are also going home next week.

Front: sister Holdeman.
Middle: Sister Barajas, Sister Nabhan, Sister Villegas, Sister Price, Sister Smith, Sister Mickelson, Sister Durfee, Sister Johnson.
Back: Sister Hales, Sister Spencer, Sister Flindt, Sister Richins, Sister Salois, Sister Herrin, Sister Moritz, Sister Lynsky, Elder Johnson.

Sister Hales, Sister Richins, Sister Johnson, and Elder Johnson.

Elder Henry J. Erying was assigned to come to Independence for the Independence Stake Conference. On Friday he came to Independence Visitor's Center. Sister Smith and Sister Moritz had the opportunity to give him the history tour. Elder Eyring is serving as an Area 70 at the same time he is the President of BYU-I.















On Saturday Elder Eyring visited Liberty Jail and was there for the Saturday Morning Training Meeting.
Front: Sister Banner, Sister Stubbs, Sister Smith, Sister Matalolo.
Back: Elder Eyring, Sister Parkin, Sister Ells, Sister Horman, Sister Harris, Sister Taylor, Sister DeLeon, Sister Smith,  and Sister Henderson.

On Saturday for our P-day we went to the National World War I Memorial and Museum. On either side of the Memorial are Assyrian Sphinxes. Assyrian Sphinxes differ from Egyptian Sphinxes in that they have wings. The Sphinx on the left is "Memory" and faces east toward the battlefields of WWI shielding its eyes from the horrors of war. The one on the right is "Future" and faces west, shielding its eyes from the unknown future. The Memorial was built in Kansas City because at the end of World War I a group of prominent Kansas City residents formed an association to create a memorial to those who had served in the war. In 1919, 83,000 contributors donated $2.5 mil in less than 2 wks. The museum is a treasure to visit and should be on everyone's "Bucket list."

As we entered the museum we crossed a glass bridge that was over a field of 9,000 poppies. The Memorial can be seen as reflected in the glass bridge.

Part of the field of poppies. Each poppy represented 1000 combatants deaths.

 Model of a trench to show would-be soldiers that it wasn't so bad in the trenches. In actuality, during the war, the trenches were often filled with mud and waist deep filthy water.

 Model of a plane from World War I. The circles on the wing identified this plane as British. The propeller is mounted at the rear and is therefore called a "pusher."  Planes with the propeller mounted in front were called, "tractors."  Until they figured out how to synchronize machine gun bullets to rotation of the propeller so as to NOT shoot off their own propellers, planes were mainly used for spotting troop movement on the ground and artillery guidance.

 The gardeners, who cared for the White House lawn during World War I, were also drafted. There were no men to hire to take of the lawn. Edith Wilson, the President's wife, bought sheep to graze on the White House lawn. The sheep were then sheared and the wool was auctioned off to make items to send to the troops overseas. Mrs. Wilson even participated by knitting the socks exhibited here.

Tom is standing next to the case that displays the 48 star flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol when President Wilson gave his speech to Congress encouraging the Congress to declare war on Germany. In the case is the speech that he gave.

 This is a model of a caisson pulled by mules from Missouri. The caissons carried cannons, ammunition, powder, or food for the troops overseas. An interesting fact: Missouri supplied more mules for the war than any other state.

Artillery used in the war.

Posters such as these were used to encourage people to enlist or to buy War Bonds.

 This two-man tank was used during the war. It was damaged by a German 7.7 cm artillery round. The damage could still be seen on the rear left side of the tank. Though disabled in a fire fight in France, names of the American soldiers who were driving it are written on the inside.

The replica crater is based on the measurements of a 17 inch, 2,500 lb. artillery shell that hit and utterly destroying a French farmhouse.  This crater was 30 feet across and 17 feet deep.
















The U.S. supplied more than 20,000 motorcycles like this Harley Davidson that was used for reconnaissance, communication, and medic operations.

X-ray was used for first time during the war. It greatly improved the operations doctors performed as they could discover the problem before making exploratory incisions.  Mortality among the injured dramatically improved.

Prosthetics were developed to help those who had lost limbs or fingers to fit back into society.

The white glove on the left would be worn by a soldier who had lost fingers to appear more normal.

Union Station is located behind the Memorial. Union Station is where many of the returning service people passed through on their way home from World War I. This shot is taken from the top of the 217 foot tower. The 360 degree walk way gave us a beautiful view of Kansas City.  It's only about 20 miles from our apartment.

It was a beautiful fall day for visiting the Memorial. Here we are in November and it was 62 degrees outside.  No coats today, but Monday is forecast to have a high of 28. For lunch we had the obligatory Kansas City Bar B Q beef brisket sandwich with a Chicken Caesar salad. We're loving the people and the rich history of this area.