LETTERS: Photo sparks trip down Memory Lane
To the Editor:
Thanks for the weekly Marion County Record. I really enjoy reading each week, especially the sports section and the 100 years ago recap. I have to confess many of the people "in the news" are no longer familiar to me. Anyway, thanks for keeping this the quality weekly newspaper it has been for these many years.
It has been a while since I posted a note to you. The picture in the May 28 edition showing Rev. Huebner standing in front of the Burkert Civil War Memorial reminded me of a great family story which some of you old-timers will enjoy. Some of you remember the Fred and Florence Hayen boys, Chuck, Bing, Fritz, Warren, and Don. Of course you also remember sister Carolyn who fit right there in the middle of us. I have a hunch she most often journeyed on the straight and narrow, pretty much. But those other guys. Another story.
Warren was grown and gone before I remember him, but a family story of a long ago Memorial Day has to do with that Civil War Memorial and the eagle majestically mounted on top, and little brother Warren, probably three or four years old.
Warren was a free spirit which my mom and dad had to nurture in a particular way especially when they were in public places: like the solemn moments which those memorial events sometimes bring about.
Imagine with me that herd of Hayen kids, most likely five at this point, but maybe six if Don was already "on the ground." I can imagine that might have been the case: Mom with baby Don, Dad with a firm hold on Warren, the rest of the flock standing at attention as the speaker finished the speech which always accompanied those events in the 1930s. Probably a really long speech.
And you can just picture a wiggling Warren, tired of speeches, seeking a way out of Dad's grip, when it came time for the honor guard to fire those volleys which preceded "Taps." Apparently Warren had been somewhat fixated on that eagle on top of the monument. The rifle squad prepared to fire their volleys, in the general direction of the monument and affixed eagle. They fired their volleys. And in that solemn queue, that special moment just before the bugler began "Taps," Warren blurts forth in loudest voice: "They missed him, Mom, they missed him!"
Meaning the eagle of course. I can guess some considerable part of the solemnity of the moment was suddenly missing for all but the most stalwart patriot in that gathered crowd. I can imagine Mom particularly, and Dad to a lesser degree were mortified by their kid blasting forth and ruining not only the mood but besmirching the Hayen family reputation for that fleeting moment.
I can report this story caused all of us great laughter in those private moments whenever the "gang" gathered for years after unto this very day. Maybe it brings a smile to others even now. Have a great summer.
Jan Hayen
Lenexa
