Memorial Day memories 2013

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope everyone is having a nice day even if the weather could be better up here in the Northeast.  I thought you might enjoy seeing some of your favorite relatives in their military gear in honor of the day.

 Your dad of course--

Uncle Johnny --they are both so handsome looking!

I think this is Phillip Coffarelli

And I think you'll remember this is from your grandfather James' album

Now of course we all know that Memorial Day has come to signal the official beginning of summer.  And what would summer and Memorial Day be without a parade?  I don't know if these are Memorial Day parade pictures or not but they come from those sticky page albums.  I am sure you will recognize these much better than I.  Not sure who the photographer is but hasn't photography come a long way since?

 I think that's a Dalpiaz kid behind that man's arm.  Love this kid in the from with his glove stuck in his belt!  (I hope that's not James)

 I'm guessing Thomas is in this drum line. 

OK.  I'll need some help with these.  I'm sure you'll be able to give me some clues.  

I took a quick trip out to Erie this weekend and found myself with a little time on my hands.  So (of course) I visited a cemetery or two.  My first cemetery was St. Bonaventure in Olean so I could "see" my grandparents and other relations on my mother's side of the family.  At first I thought there was a funeral in progress because there were so many cars lined up but the dozens of little flags reminded me it was Memorial Day weekend.  There were several volunteers carefully placing those flags on the appropriate graves.  I had forgotten those flag reminders don't get there by themselves, so a huge thank you to those volunteers!  

 

In Erie, it was much the same.  The cemeteries were very busy with volunteers and family members sprucing up gravesites.  I was very moved by the sight of an older man down on one knee in front of a grave looking very pensive.  My imagination likes to think he was acknowledging his father, uncle or son.  Perhaps the reality was that he needed to rest but regardless, he was visiting a grave for a reason on Memorial Day weekend.  I wanted to ask if I could take his picture to show you how moving it was but it seemed to be much too private to interfere.  I'm glad for his family that he was there.

And I'm glad for all of you as well.  Happy Memorial Day and Welcome Summer 2013!

Home, James!

I thought you might be interested in seeing the evolution of your grandfather's chauffeur licenses and getting an idea of his place in New York state history with these.  Last March, the New York Times published the Evolution of the New York Driver's License  and it's an interesting walk down memory lane, especially in light of the valuable collection of licenses left behind and cared for by your family all these years.

According to the article, 1918 was the first year that driver's licenses were issues (without photograph) but you can see this is a chauffeur's license.  I've never been clear on what he did that required a chauffeur's license.  On February 1, 1918, your grandfather was 19 years old and although I think Ryan James looks pretty adult for his age, this picture seems to be of someone older than 19!  He had yet to go to Italy during his World War I term of service. 

A few years later after the War:

He was 24 years old by now and would be married by the time the license expired on June 30 (they were married June 23 1923).

Fifteen years later he weighs the same!  He certainly looks older now ten years later and was probably ill.  He died in February 1934 a few months after this license expired.  These licenses don't seem to have changed very much in this time period.  Updated New York state licenses are on the way:  (from the article) The newest licenses, made of polycarbonate materials, are laser engraved, not printed, and feature a pair of black-and-white portraits that help make the licenses more difficult to counterfeit.  I hope I look better in black and white ..........

Update on the Disabto family

Sometimes information literally falls into your lap when you least expect it.  Research has been on the back burner recently, giving way to the beautiful spring weather.  Blog writing sat right there next to research on that back burner.  Then it rained.  So here I am.

Anyhow, the rain apparently brought out the research instincts of Margaret Coffarelli Disabto's great granddaughter who contacted me offering some tidbits of information about this elusive family.  Remember that Margaret is your grandfather James oldest sibling.  She was born in Italy in 1880 shortly before emigrating to New York.  She married an older man who'd been married before:  Marco Disabto.  They had at least 9 children.  This new "cousin" of yours descends from Marie Disabto Cochrane.  Her name is also Marie.

This is what Marie has to say: "Talked to my mom today and she said that Mark came here through Ellis Island alone. His mother had died and father was remarried. He then was part of an arranged marriage with Margaret. I believe that they were a few years different in age. Margaret lived with my Grandmother Marie and my mom (when my mom was a child) in the upstiars of their house. Margaret told my mom about the arranged marriage and Margaret was told he was a good man. She told my mom you know what they were right he was a good man. Mark died from a possible cancer."

This gives me some valuable information as I pursue this family.  In a previous post about this family, I think I shared with you a newspaper article about Margaret's son Joseph who was killed in action at Guadalcanal in January 1943.  This is what Marie shares about that: 
"As far as Giuseppe/ Joseph death. The story I heard was that he was on duty that night and not sure if there was a party the night before, but everyone else was asleep. Joseph saw, heard the attack coming and single handedly killed/delayed the enemy until help arrived/woke up. He was killed saving and alerting a lot of men to the enemy sneak attack.
My grandma mare had a picture of Grandma Disabato dressed all in black sitting down holding all Josephs medals. Silver star, purple heart and I thought the congressional medal of honor. After my grandma died we think our uncle Jerry took it....but really don't know."

This may be a repeat appearance, but it's a good reminder:

You see Marie Cochrane is mentioned here.

 Here's an example of what's been taking my attention away from research and blogging:

I hope you all are enjoying spring as well!