Edmund, was baptized at this sweet little church. Perhaps the other brothers and sister were as well, I don't know for sure. I've copied a short history of the church from their website. Find his baptismal certificate below. Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories!
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Below are the contents of the card holder Edmund carried while he was training in the Marines. The plastic spiral card holder itself, his liberty card from the base in El, Centro CA, U.S. Naval Aviation card (front & back), and the two photographs of Olga and Roberta.
Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! These documents are full of interesting facts!
They list the battles and campaigns that Armand was involved in during the war, his time in the army (3 years, 7 months, and 21 days), his awards and citations, and the hospital where he convalesced after he was wounded. Enjoy! Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! I have heard that in some states, cursive is no longer taught in schools.
If so, what will happen to hand-written calligraphy? This certificate (mostly typed, but filled in by hand) is not only a reminder of Armand's early achievement, it is also an example of the art of the hand-written word. Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! We are fortunate enough to know how the brothers contributed to the war effort... but what about the sisters? This wonderful article (thank you for sending, Idie!) highlights a time when Ida went out of her way to help a soldier connect with his girlfriend. As you can imagine, he was very appreciative. Enjoy!
Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! This document is absolutely huge!
I had it sized down because it wouldn't even fit in my scanner. I remember my high school diploma was 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller... I can just picture Edmund walking down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance, and accepting the paper proof of his accomplishment all rolled up into a scroll. Unlike the our newer, smaller, more manageable certificates, it must have felt pretty grand. Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! Armand's War Department card, complete with "im" scratched out of "Santomassimo" on his photograph, but clearly written out everywhere else. Anyone have an idea of when the "imo" was dropped, and why? I assume that the family wanted a shorter surname, but dropping one syllable doesn't seem to make all that much of a difference!
Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! A reminder of the importance of music and art in education. I know Armand loved music, and instilled that love of it in me and my sister. I imagine that all of the siblings at one time or another received a certificate like the ones below.
Here are a few certificates, given to Armand and to Edmund from the Ferry Street School (closed in 1938) and Fair Haven Junior High (still in operation). Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! This is a Japanese Government issued Philippine fiat peso (also known as Japanese invasion money). When these notes were demonetized, two punch holes were made through the notes to indicate they had been "cancelled" and no longer had redeemable value.
No doubt, this money was handled by Edmund, and perhaps sent or brought home to show the family. Read more about how this money was used during WWII as currency, as well as psychological warfare, here (wikipedia). Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories. Rose in Paris in 1955!
Expect to see more about Rose's travels around the world in future posts. Thanks Idie! Click on "comments" above to add your thoughts and/or memories! |