OF FLAGS ON THE 4TH AND FUN IN MONONGAH TOWN HALL ON JULY 17TH

 

What a glorious thing the VFW and Boy Scouts do in Marion County for July 4^th, Flag Day and other holidays!

Homeowners send a check to the VFW once a year.

VFW gets Boy Scouts to plant flag on the lawns in containers. They are removed easily later.

That way an entire neighborhood is lined with flag lawns! What’s more America than that?

My sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1950, who lives in Rivesville, told me about it.

As Jackie posted: “It’s a beautiful sight when the wind blows!” Indeed. Old Glory waving as far as the eye can see!

More communities should do this, if they aren’t already doing it.

Makes me want to stand up with my hand over my heart and sing The National Anthem!

By the way, if you haven’t made your reservations for the July 17 J&J&Lions Get-Together in the Monongah Town Hall, call Jackie at (304) 278-7157. She will give you directions to her home where she has Reservation form for you to fill out, including stating that you have had you covid vaccines (NO entry permitted without prior vaccine shots). You pay Jackie $20 per person IN CASE ONLY at this late date, then show up at 6 p.m. in the Monongah Town Hall for dinner, music till 9 p.m. and a chance to buy raffle tickets for items that Alabama football coach Nick “Brother” Saban sent to me in a large box.

Mayor Johnboy Palmer and Councilwoman Susan Sanders will be there along with Jackie and me, the co-hosts (as in J&J).

You’re running out of time to join the fun. Be there or be square.

NO ONE will be allowed into the Town Hall July 17 without Registration in advance! We want this to be as safe and fun and full of nostalgia for family, friends, neighbors, Monongah High Alumni, residents of Monongah who did not go to Monongah High and anyone who wants to return to normal and chat with people they like.

Those who will be there include:

Lea Ann Barnes, Jackie’s daughter who works for the FBI forensics in Clarksburg (so watch where you leave your fingerprints at the Town Hall).

John C. Barnes, Lea Ann’s husband.

Jim Birdsell, 1982 North Marion grad and Monongah firefighter.

Jim Birdsell’s guest.

Charlette Borelli.

Donna Davis, Class of 1961, Monongah Alumni Association treasurer.

Bill “Carney” Davis, Class of 1958, on the Monongah Alumni Board and Donna’s husband.

Cora Fazio, my cousin, who operated Fazio Health Care on Stoneylonesome in Monongah.

David Fazio, Class of 1975, my cousin and Cora’s husband.

Jim Roy Foster, Class of 1971, husband of Linda Phillips Foster, Class of 1977.

Kathern Herndon Loss, Class of 1942, maybe the only one older than me (I’m 88) at the gathering.

Jay Holman, Class of 1971, super organizer for his graduation class. They have more reunions than any MHS class as far as I can tell.

Monnie Ann Johnston, my daughter from Brunswick, Ohio, named for her late mother, My Mona Lisa, who was named for her grandmother, Monty Compton.

Bob Johnston, Monnie Ann’s husband and one of two remarable sons-in-law that my two daughters married.

Aaron Justice, Class of 1972.

Judy Mills.

Belinda Morris, Jackie’s daughter, who is a lab tech at United Hospital Center.

David Morris, Belinda’s husband.

Christina Orwig.

Roseann Loss Orwig, Class of 1969.

Tim Orwig, North Marion Class of 1997.

Judith Lemley Shaffer Mancino, Class of 1971.

Kitty Morrison, Class of 1968, who is up to her eyeballs in charity work in Monongah.

Judy Niells  (no sure of spelling; handwriting was as bad a mine).

John Olesky, Class of 1950. Ahem, the co-host. 1954 WVU School of Journalism, 43-year newspaper career, traveled to 56 countries, 44 states and more than 30 winters in Florida of up to 4 months. Thailand is #1 place to visit in my book. If you’re thinking of traveling, talk to me in the Town Hall and tell me where you’re heading and I’ll give you tips about the best spots in that country.

John Larry Olesky, my son, who does all the heavy lifting for me these days.

Mayor Johnboy Palmer, who will draw the winning raffle ticket for the Alabama football autographed by both Nick Saban and his wife, Terry Constable Saban, both West Virginians.

Prof. Ron Pearse, Class of 1961, who once lived (maybe still does) next to the Olesky home on Church Street (although he was on U.S. 19/Camden Avenue).

Julie Pearse, Ron’s wife.

Mary Chris Ramsey, my cousin who once worked at the bank on Walnut Street.

Tom Ramsey, her husband.

Susan Schrader, Class of 1971, one of the amazing Ahouse siblings (along with Kitty and Mike).

Amelia Shenasky Zentz, Class of 1938, 101 years old and still going like 130 mph.

Amelia’s caregiver.

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, and on the Monongah Town Council and a major help to me preparing for the July 17 event despite providing constant care for her husband, Ron Sanders.

Jackie Straight Olesky, Class of 1955, my sister and co-host of J&J&Lions event who lives in Rivesville.

Renee Straight, Jackie's daughter and WVU Medicine pharmacist across from Mountaineer Field.

Kayla Tolssone.

Steven Tolssone.

Shelly Yankie, 1982 North Marion graduate who is helping Susan Sanders decorate the Town Hall for the July 17 yippee-ki-yay time.

If you want to have fun and chat with any of them, call Jackie and join the charming crowd.